Lucid, YA Paranormal Romance (Brightest Kind of Darkness Series, Book #2)

by Patrice Michelle

  While Lainey dabbed on my makeup, then pinned up my hair, she babbled about the plans she and Matt had made. When she slid the last bobby pin in my hair, she commented casually, “By the way, my dad told me that they have a new lead on the guy they suspect killed Mr. Holtzman. They went through his P.O. box and found a gym membership. They’ll be staking out the gym this weekend, hoping he’ll show.”

  My heart leapt a little. I felt a bit lighter, knowing the police were on the right track. There would be justice for Freddie! “Thank you for keeping me up-to-date,” I said quietly.

  Lainey nodded, then switched back to dance plans. “As far as transportation for tomorrow night, now that there’s four of us going, I’m thinking of calling a driver to pick us up. It won’t be a limousine, but probably a town car. I’ve checked and it’ll be a tight squeeze, but four can fit in the back.”

  Before I could answer, she turned me toward the stand-up, full-length mirror beside my dresser and squeezed my shoulders. “You’re so freaking gorgeous!”

  I blinked at the girl staring back. She looked beautiful, almost perfect. Like a Barbie doll. Only this doll’s smile didn’t quite reach her kohl-smudged green eyes. It was fun getting dressed up, but the one person I wanted to see me looking so elegant wasn’t going to be there. The sad thought eclipsed my brief excitement.

  Lainey pouted at my reflection in the mirror. “Smile, Nara. Do you have any idea how many guys’ jaws are going to drop when you walk in the dance?” She smiled and gave an evil chuckle. “Or how many girls are going to want to claw your eyes out.”

  When I pursed my lips in the mirror, she suddenly snapped her fingers. “Oh, I almost forgot.” She reached inside her purse, then caught my gaze. “Close your eyes and don’t open them until I tell you to.”

  I snapped my eyes shut and waited for her cue. When I felt something cover my eyes, then her fiddling with my hair and tucking edges in, a mischievous smile tilted my lips. A mask. I’d forgotten we had to wear one. I could be totally anonymous, someone else for the night. Someone without any worries.

  “Open your eyes, vixen!” Lainey said.

  The secret smile was still on my face when I opened my eyes. The mask seemed to emphasize my smoky eyes and full, pouty lips, making me look much older. Now I really didn’t recognize myself.

  A sudden flash of light blinded me. I glanced in Lainey’s direction to see her lowering her phone and grinning like a proud pageant mom. “You’re going to knock the wind out of everyone, Nara Collins!”

  “Thank you for the dress, for trying to cheer me up…” Emotion made my voice crack. “And…for everything.”

  Lainey adopted a stern look and wagged her finger. “Don’t you dare cry. You’ll ruin all my hard work.” She swept her hand up and down to cover my entire outfit. “Do you think you can duplicate this look tomorrow night?”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “Hurry up, Nara!” Lainey fusses and pulls me out of my bedroom into the hall. My thigh muscles protest the sudden, jerky movements, but I grit my teeth and let her take the lead.

  When she starts to tug me down the stairs, I almost trip on my dress. “Lainey,” I squeal and yank my hand from hers to grab the handrail. “I’d like to make it down the stairs without breaking my neck.”

  “Fine,” Lainey huffs, then hikes up her pale blue gown’s skirt to quickly skip down the stairs.

  I follow at a slower pace, one hand on the rail, the other holding the hem of my gown away from my shoes. Each step tightens my calf muscles, so I stop for a second to flex my right calf to keep it from cramping. I’ll never go running endlessly again!

  As I reach the midway point, whistles pierce my ears. Matt, Lainey, and Drystan stand at the bottom of the stairs, looking up.

  “Wow, Nara. You look fantastic!” Matt grins and wraps his arm around Lainey.

  Lainey’s red curls cascade down her back as she presses her hand to his white tux’s lapel, then tweaks his pale blue tie. Straightening it, she grins at him. “I know, right?”

  Dressed in a steel gray tux, Drystan’s blond-streaked hair stands in messy abandon behind a gray mask with black edging. I continue down the stairs and self-consciously touch my hair. Has one of Lainey’s carefully pinned, dangling curls come loose? Nope. I glance down at my strapless dress to make sure it hasn’t slid down. Still in place. Drystan’s green gaze is impossible to decipher behind that mask. Why is he being so quiet? Why hasn’t he uttered his usual quips, like, “You clean up well.” Or “Glad to see you own a dress.” Not that I expect him to load me with compliments, but the lack of comment is deafening.

  “I think you’ve struck Drystan dumb.” Lainey giggles as I reach the last stair.

  Her words seem to jar Drystan into action. “For once, I’m speechless,” he says, his accent heavy as he takes my hand to help me down the last stair. “Bravo, Inara.”

  I grin, brave behind my mask. “Back at you. Ready to show me how Welsh boys dance?”

  Lainey insists that Matt slide across the town car’s back seat first, then she follows. Once she’s inside, she beckons to Drystan, “You next, Drystan, then Nara.”

  Lainey wasn’t kidding about the tight fit in the back. Before the stern-looking driver closes the door, he suggests both Drystan and Matt put their arms around our shoulders. They do as he asks, which gives him just enough room to close the door without pinching my shoulder.

  “Cozy.” Matt chuckles as the driver pulls away from my house.

  As music begins to float through the speakers, Lainey snickers and whispers something in Matt’s ear. He leans close and whispers something back, but the music drowns out their words. I shake my head as I realize they’re hatching their plan for the evening.

  The weight of Drystan’s arm on my shoulders reminds my body just how hard a workout it has had this past week. “I’m so sore,” I moan.

  Drystan flashes a mocking smile. “You’re the one who went running for the hills yesterday.”

  “I was referring to your insistence I learn how to do a landing roll on a hard surface.” I close my eyes and lean my head back on his arm, heaving a sigh. “That soreness is all your fault.”

  He taps the tip of my nose. “One day, you’ll thank me.”

  “Thank you for your help, Drystan,” I begin in a sincere tone, slitting one eye open. Shutting my eye once more, I smirk. “And for making me one big walking bruise.”

  “Every bruise is a step toward constant motion.”

  Lulled by the music and the car’s smooth drone, I smile my agreement. “Being still isn’t so bad.”

  “I can think of one benefit. Carpe diem, Nara,” Drystan says in a low voice, right before his lips press against mine.

  His kiss shocks me into immobility, but when Drystan’s hand slides along my jaw, and his thumb tilts my chin toward him so he can deepen our kiss, my heart jerks. I grip his hand and pull my mouth from his, whispering desperately, “No, Drystan!” I love Ethan. Only Ethan.

  As I stare into Drystan’s eyes, time seems to stand still.

  This can’t be happening! No, no, no. This didn’t happen. I didn’t kiss him. I didn’t betray Ethan. I tell myself the same thing over and over, my breathing turning rampant. As my heart pounds in time to the freak-out going on inside my head, suddenly everything begins to blur.

  The spinning of lights and colors is so dizzying, I close my eyes and curl my hands into fists in an effort to settle the nauseous sensation swirling in my stomach.

  Finally the spinning stops, and I open my eyes.

  I’m standing in my bedroom while Lainey slides a bobby pin into my hair. “By the way, my dad told me that they have a new lead on the guy they suspect killed Mr. Holtzman. They went through his P.O. box and found a gym membership. They’ll be staking out the gym this weekend, hoping he’ll show.”

  I blink at Lainey, speechless to be experiencing yesterday all over again. My heart races so fast, I sway a little. I feel as if I might pass out, but I catch myself and
straighten, then manage to speak. “Thank you for keeping me up-to-date.”

  Lainey nods, then switches back to plans for the dance, “As far as transportation for tomorrow night, now that there’s four of us going, I’m thinking of calling a driver to pick us up. It won’t be a limousine, but probably a town car. I’ve checked and it’ll be a tight squeeze, but four can fit in the back.”

  You can’t get in that car! “I—I’m going to run a little late for the dance. My aunt asked me to do something for her. I’ll meet you guys there.”

  Disappointment flits across Lainey’s face, but she nods and turns me toward the stand-up, full-length mirror beside my dresser. She squeezes my shoulders and grins. “You’re so freaking gorgeous!”

  My lips tremble as I smile at her in the mirror. I exhale an inward sigh of relief, and my head reels with what has happened. Ohmygod, I’ve gone back in time. Freaking back in time!

  Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof, woof!

  I sat straight up in bed as Houdini threw himself toward Patch behind the window’s glass. Oblivious to the fact his back leg had entangled in my backpack strap, my dog continued his frantic lunge-and-growl movements until I got out of bed.

  A loud, crackling jolt of electricity zapped from my hand to his head when I moved to pat him, making us both yelp in pain. His brown eyes snapped to me, a mixture of confusion and contriteness. “Sorry, boy.” But at least I had his attention. “Settle, Houdini.”

  Did that really happen? Did I change the conversation I’d had with Lainey? I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. Eight. Lainey usually didn’t get up until at least ten, but I couldn’t wait. I had to know.

  Electricity hung in the air, raising the tiny hairs on my arms. When my hand moved within a few inches of the cordless phone on my desk, a long, white-hot arc zinged from the phone, hitting my fingers and throwing me back. I landed hard on my butt. I couldn’t feel my lips or my teeth, and my arms and legs tingled as if they were full of crawling bugs.

  “Stop it!” I growled into the air and retrieved a dirty sock from my floor. Fate was beyond pissed, but I didn’t care.

  I hadn’t consciously controlled what just happened in my dream, but this extreme reaction from him told me I had done something. Once I’d shoved my hand inside the sock, I grabbed the phone, dialed Lainey’s, then changed it to speaker. My face wasn’t going anywhere near the phone. Why give Fate another target?

  “Hello?” she said in a sleepy voice.

  “What time did I tell you I’d meet you at the dance?” I asked, breathless.

  “Huh?”

  Maybe my odd dream was just me wishing I could change it. My heart thumped as I repeated my question.

  Lainey yawned. “You never did say. I’m still bummed you’re not riding with us. What time should I tell Drystan to walk outside to meet you?”

  My legs gave out and I fell toward my bed, hanging halfway off. “About a half hour after you arrive.”

  “So, seven thirty?”

  “Yeah,” I croaked. “See you there.”

  “You’ve got to break this habit of getting up so early,” Lainey said in a tired voice. “See you at seven thirty, not a minute later.”

  I punched the Off button with my sock-covered finger, then stared at the phone. I’d changed my future…inside my dream. What was that called when a person manipulated events in a dream while they’re dreaming it? Lucid dreaming…that was the term. Except my lucid dream changed my future before it ever happened.

  And I had no idea how I’d done it.

  * * *

  Drystan stood outside the school as I walked up the sidewalk. My breath frosted in the air and my toes in the silver-heeled sandals had started to tingle from the cold. I picked up my pace and shifted the silver shawl I’d borrowed from my mom’s closet to cover my exposed cleavage. I felt better…and warmer for wearing it.

  Drystan looked just like he did in my dream—handsome and confident with his blond-streaked hair standing up in defiant haphazardness behind his gray mask. I’d bet money the girls I’d seen hanging around him at school this week had been all over him ever since the dance began. When I stopped in front of him, I smirked and wiped at least three shades of lipstick smudges from his jaw with my thumb. “Looks like you’re doing just fine without a good luck charm.”

  He bowed and smiled, saying in a formal tone, “My beautiful rescuer has arrived. I’m now the luckiest bloke here.”

  His compliment surprised me, and even though I knew he was teasing, I couldn’t help the blush that shot across my cheeks. I’d never been more thankful for a mask than I was at that moment. Seeking a distraction, I held my keys out and rambled, “Would you mind holding onto my keys? Keeping up with a purse will be impossible in there.”

  Drystan tucked my keys in his pocket, then stepped close to touch my jaw, a knowing smile tugging on his lips. “Did you know you blush all the way down your throat?”

  His mask’s black edging only enhanced the sparkle of amusement in his eyes. I swatted his hand away and tried to ignore the heat suffusing my face. “Stop teasing me, Drystan. How’d it go with your uncle last night?”

  “It’s a start, at least. Thank you for your help.” He gave a sincere smile, then tucked my hand in the crook of his arm. “Let’s go have some fun.”

  After we’d handed our invitations to the teachers manning the entrance of the gym, Drystan chuckled in my ear as he escorted me under the dangling silver icicles hanging across the arched entry. “It’s a good thing I know how to kick some arse. I have a feeling I’ll be the one knocking blokes away from you all night.”

  The thumping music and amazing decorations inside the dimly lit gym distracted me from responding. I couldn’t believe the complete transformation from domed building into a winter-themed fantasy world. Pale blue, white, and silver swirled swaths of fabric had been artfully hung to not only cover the dome structure’s ceiling beams, but with its iridescent glittery coating and the main door opening and closing, the constant push and pull of air created an overall effect like waves of icy water floating above us.

  On the far side of the gym, a popular local band, dressed in white tuxes, played the latest pop song on a huge stage that had been decorated with jagged blue and silver edging made to look like shards of icy stalagmites. Food tables stood on opposite sides of the gym, flanked on either end by sculptured fountains dribbling punch over the fountains’ iced edges.

  Special lights hung from the ceiling projecting snowflakes on every wall surface, while blue and white lights strobed the dance floor packed with guys and girls gyrating in a sea of silver, white and pale gray formal outfits to an upbeat, fast-paced song. As we moved farther into the room, heavy fog hung at knee level, puffing away from our legs with each movement we made.

  The masks made it near impossible to recognize anyone right away, but we hadn’t stepped too far into the room before Lainey came running up, one hand holding her skirt’s hem off the floor, the other latched on to Matt’s hand, tugging him behind her.

  “You made it!” Releasing her dress, she swept her arm wide. “What do you think about the decorations?”

  I grinned and glanced around the room once more. “It’s truly amazing, Lainey. You should be involved in all the dance decorations from now on.”

  She made a slight choking sound. “Oh no! Never again. This about killed me.”

  “Us!” Matt grunted and wrapped his arm around her waist. “You look great. I’m glad you could come, Nara.”

  The fast-paced song had come to an end, and the lead singer announced a newly requested song right before the guy on keyboards started up with slow, melodious notes.

  “Come on, Lainey,” Matt grinned. “They’re playing our song.”

  Gingerly touching her pile of auburn pinned-up curls to make sure none had fallen, Lainey surreptitiously glanced around the room until her gaze landed on Jared and Tarra snuggling close on the dance floor to the slow song. “Yes, they are!” She waved to us and all
owed Matt to lead her into the throng of people, where they began to dance up-close and personal just a few feet away from Jared and Tarra.

  I sighed. “Why do I have a feeling that isn’t going to end well?”

  Drystan glanced at me, surprise in his eyes. “Wait? You don’t know what happens tonight?”

  Crap, I was so used to others not knowing about my ability. “Uh, I um…didn’t sleep well last night. Most of tonight is a blur.”

  A secretive smile lit his face, sending road flares of panic shooting straight through me. “Let’s dance—”

  “Drystan,” A thin, blonde girl, who always sat at the front of my Spanish class interrupted and stepped close to grab his free hand. She tilted her chin toward her chest and looked at him through her mask with flirty doe eyes. “You promised me a dance earlier, and then you disappeared.”

  “Hi, Shell.” Drystan’s grin turned to an apologetic smile. “Nara’s here now, so—”

  “You promised before I arrived.” I smiled and nudged my shoulder against his. “You should keep your promise.”

  “Thanks for understanding, Nara,” Shelley said at the same time she started to tug Drystan away.

  He stayed rooted beside me, looking skeptical. “Are you sure?”

  “Remember, luck is on your side,” I reminded him. “Go on, I’ll be right here.”

  His eyes lit up and I could tell he remembered my promise to give him the scoop on the girls at the dance. “Okay, be right back.”

  As I watched Shelley practically wrap herself around Drystan on the dance floor, I realized that encouraging him to dance with other girls might be the answer to avoiding what happened in the car on the way to the dance in my dream. Maybe I’d misread it, and he hadn’t developed feelings for me. Maybe he was just reacting to our close proximity in the car and he really was just “seizing the day.” I breathed a little easier once I’d reasoned it all out in my head. I could work with that.