by C. J. Abedi
She turned to walk away.
“Hold on. Just stop running away for one second.”
She practically sped up as she continued stalking off the field.
“I’m not running away, Devilyn,” she retorted. “And this conversation is over.”
Chapter Six
“It lies not in our power to love, or hate, for will in us is overruled by fate.”
—Christopher Marlowe
C
I was walking through a lush meadow that resembled something you’d imagine in a fairy tale. The trees were endless and abundant. Vines and leaves twirled magically together, creating a picture perfect feast for the eyes. The dirt on the ground even seemed to glisten against the moonlit sky. And there was a pathway that shined brightly in front of me as if it was made for me to walk down it.
Though it was dark out and I had no idea where I was, my surroundings felt somehow familiar. I knew this place. It called out to me as if I had some history that I was consciously unaware of, but I knew if I allowed myself to open up, I would know why I recognized it.
I watched as a raven flew right by me and landed on a branch not far from where I stood. The bird and I made eye contact, and it studied me curiously. As our eyes locked, I was suddenly pulled into a hypnotic trance. I slowly made my way toward the animal and wanted to reach out and touch it.
“Don’t,” a voice said to me from behind.
I twirled around and stared at the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. It was in the shape of a man, but I knew this ethereal being had to be something more. Something divine. Its whole body illuminated a bright light so magical it brought me to my knees.
“Rise, my child,” he gently said to me as he walked over and took my hands. Up close, I could see that his face was older. He had wide-set blue eyes that were wise with age.
“Who are you?” I asked, in awe.
“A friend,” he responded as he helped me to my feet. He looked over at the raven and narrowed his eyes.
“Why can’t I touch the bird?”
“Because if you do, you won’t be safe anymore.” I didn’t understand his cryptic words, but for some reason I believed him.
“Will it hurt me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” We turned to look at the animal, which had stretched out its wings.
“I don’t think he even knows why anymore.”
The man reached out and put a hand on my cheek. “You must wake up now.”
I looked around at the magical meadow with its serene beauty, and my body cried out in protest. “But I don’t want to. It’s so beautiful here.”
He laughed and pointed past a grouping of trees. My gaze followed his, and I looked past the meadow and just beyond, and suddenly all I could see was darkness. And it was everywhere.
“What is this place?” My euphoria instantly turned to great fear.
“You’ll soon find out, Caroline. Right now it’s time for you to wake up.” He snapped his fingers in front of my eyes and suddenly…
I was awake. I sat up quickly in bed and took a deep breath. I was in my room. I was fine. I was reassured by Famous’s soft breathing. I was okay, I kept telling myself. It was only a dream.
But it was the strangest dream I had ever had.
I turned my nightlight on and grabbed a book from my bedside table to distract myself. One Hundred Years of Solitude should do the trick, I thought. I started to skim over the words, but my mind continued to race.
And of its own accord, it raced right over to Devilyn.
I guess that was inevitable, considering what had happened during the day. My heart sunk as I replayed the kiss he shared with Jordana in my head. I couldn’t believe it. What did he see in her?
She’s tall, blonde, and gorgeous, I thought sarcastically. What wouldn’t he see in her?
Of course, the most humiliating part was falling on my face and having to endure his phony concern over my well-being. For a brief moment I had believed that he actually cared, and then he had ruined it all by mentioning the length of my shorts. So much for our truce.
I had to come to the realization that Devilyn and I would probably never get along. It seemed as if we were always on opposite sides. I wished that I didn’t care, but he had an effect on me that I couldn’t shake. I wished it didn’t matter at all to me what he thought of me—or my legs for that matter.
But it did.
I cared.
I wanted him to think I was attractive. The same way I thought he was. I heard Famous growl low in his throat. He was sitting in his bed now, staring up at me. I leaned down and picked him up and let him curl up next to me. At least he wanted to be near me.
I turned out the nightlight and closed my eyes. The only consolation I had was that one day, likely far, far in the future, probably in college, I would meet someone special, and I would look back on my high school experience—and this day—and laugh. At least I had that to look forward to.
When I arrived at school in the morning it was buzzing with news. Tatiana Reilly had finally arrived. I stood at my locker door and pulled out my history book. The hall was still filled with students loitering between classes. I put my book down and grabbed my sweater.
Someone ruffled my hair.
“Hi Teddy.”
Teddy leaned against the locker and stared at me as I shoved my arms into a bulky gray sweater.
“How was your night? I didn’t hear from you.”
“I had a lot of homework. How’s Tommy?”
Teddy smiled, “Fine. Annoying as any six-year-old can be.”
I rolled my eyes — Teddy loved his brother more than anything. He leaned in closer and brushed his blond hair away from his eyes.
“You going to Jordana’s party on Saturday?” I looked up at him, surprised, and shook my head. The last place I wanted to be was at Jordana’s party watching Devilyn and her make out all night. The thought tied my stomach in knots.
“You’ve got to be joking,” I almost laughed.
“Come on! You’re so boring. We never do anything fun.”
“Since when is going to Jordana’s considered fun?”
Teddy looked away from me. “Since the new girl in school asked if I was going.”
“What?!”
Teddy looked around and made sure no one was listening then leaned in closer.
“I sat next to Tatiana Reilly in Bio-Chem today, and she asked me if I was going to the party. She actually told me to come.” He seemed so flattered by that invitation that I couldn’t help but smile. Teddy was completely unaware of how handsome he was with his blond hair and blue eyes. He had the kind of all-American good looks that girls loved.
“We could have a good time. At minimum we’ll have plenty to laugh about. Come on, you owe me.” The last words were uttered almost desperately.
I hoped my mouth wasn’t hanging open in shock. I could see the light blush creeping its way up Teddy’s cheek, and by the look of it I knew that he had a crush. I couldn’t help myself when I reached out and put my hand on his cheek. There was no way that I would ever disappoint him.
“Of course I’ll go with you Teddy.”
Before he could respond, a locker door slammed with a resounding thud next to us. Teddy and I jumped away from each other.
“Sorry. Was I interrupting something?” the unmistakable voice snarled at us.
Devilyn.
The look he shot both Teddy and me was full of disdain.
What is his problem?
“No actually. I’m late for class. See you at lunch, Caroline,” Teddy said as he retreated away in what seemed like fear.
“Bye.” I shut my locker door and started off to History class, completely ignoring Devilyn.
He came up next to me and looked down. From the look on his face, he still seemed like he was in a bad mood.
“How’s your knee?” Of course he had to bring up my embarrassi
ng fall. I wasn’t sure if I was in the mood to talk to him. But I shook off the anger I had from the day before and decided to stay positive and continue pursuing a truce, even if it meant that it wasn’t reciprocated.
“It’s not as bruised up as my pride,” I told him with a sigh. He actually smiled and looked over at me.
“Nobody saw. Don’t worry.” That was wishful thinking on his part, but I didn’t have the heart to tell him. It was another rare moment when he was actually trying to be nice to me. Perhaps he was also seeking a truce?
“We didn’t get a chance to talk about what you want to do after school today.”
Hold hands and stare into each other’s eyes, I thought wistfully.
But instead I said, ”I’m working at the restaurant again tonight. Do you want to meet there at six?”
“No problem. Should we work there again?”
I contemplated it for a second and decided against it. My mom and the crew would be watching us like hawks, and that was the last thing in the world that I was in the mood for.
“I think I know a place we can go to mix things up a little.”
“Great. I’ll meet you there, and I can drive you home again if you like.”
“My car is actually still in the shop,” I said, “so that would be great.”
We entered class together and parted ways as we took our seats. I stared at the clock. Exactly six more hours until I got to spend another evening alone with Devilyn.
I guess life could be worse.
D
Practice couldn’t end soon enough. I found myself anxious to meet with Caroline and just be around her. My blood still boiled every single time I thought about her hand on Teddy’s cheek in such a loving gesture. I was almost envious. Her hand should have been resting against my cheek. She should have been comforting me. I wasn’t sure how much more of this I could take.
She occupied every corner of my mind. It had to take every ounce of my strength to control myself around her. I practically berated her on the field; I frightened her friend Teddy. What was I becoming, some kind of monster? I was furious just thinking about my childish actions. I shook away the thoughts and took a deep breath.
I looked around the restaurant and noticed that Frank, the cook, was watching me from the kitchen. He obviously had his doubts about me—and rightfully so. Even I doubted myself. I smiled nervously, and he nodded back. Clearly he didn’t think I was good enough for Caroline. And he was right. The more I stood there, the more paranoid I became. And then I heard her enchanting voice.
“Sorry to make you wait.”
She walked out from the back room with her oversized backpack once again overpowering her slight frame. She looked refreshingly beautiful with her long, wavy hair swaying around her shoulders and the smile. Who could forget the smile?
“Hi.”
“Hi,” I responded, staring at her. “How was your shift?”
“Totally fine.” She seemed surprised I asked. I reached out and took her backpack from her.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I do. This thing weighs a ton.”
“I know. I think I need to invest in a roller bag.” She smiled.
We stared at each other for a moment.
“You ready to go? I actually got us some pizza. It’s in the car. Hope you like pepperoni and mushroom,” I said, pointing at the parking lot.
“Yes. Love it.”
I opened the door to the diner and waited for Caroline to exit before me. Again, this gesture seemed to make her uncomfortable. She obviously wasn’t used to chivalry.
Side-by-side, we walked out to my car.
“Here we are,” I said as I opened the car door for her. Caroline quickly got inside as I shut the door behind her. I put her backpack in the backseat and rushed over to the driver’s side. When I sat inside my car I was hit with the sweet smell of her hair, I closed my eyes for a second.
“Are you okay?” she asked, a concerned look on her face.
I opened my eyes and looked over at her and nodded curtly. Too curtly, it seemed, because she immediately withdrew from my gaze.
Get a grip, Devilyn, I told myself. Seriously, get a grip.
I started the engine.
“So, where would you like to go?” I asked.
Caroline held her hands together and said in an almost nervous tone, “The Elizabethan Gardens?”
I gripped the steering wheel.
“It’s really pretty and peaceful. It’s one of my favorite spots,” she said, trying to make the gardens sound as appealing to me as possible.
“Caroline.”
“Yes?” she asked as I looked over at her.
What was I going to say? What could I say? She had no idea that the Elizabethan Gardens, the shrine dedicated to the Lost Colony, was the exact spot where her ancestry ended and where our destiny began.
C
I stared into his eyes and waited for him to speak. I loved it when he said my name. Words, in general, kind of rolled off his tongue in an incredible way. He made my name, for instance, sound almost magical.
“Devilyn?” I prodded.
I don’t know if it was my imagination or simply wishful thinking, but I thought I saw warmth in his eyes, a vast difference from the usual frost. But just as quickly as I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, the mask was back in place, along with a healthy dose of his indifference.
“It’s nothing,” he said brusquely as he turned his gaze back to the road. “The Elizabethan Gardens are fine.”
“Cool,” I mumbled as I sat back in the large leather seat suddenly realizing that I actually liked his car. It was understated despite how expensive I knew it was. It suited him.
“Shall I turn the seat warmer on for you?” he asked politely.
“I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”
Well, that was nice of him, I thought. In fact, his actions seemed to defy his words.
He reached out and turned the radio on. “Do you have a preference?”
“No, whatever you like,” I said to him as I tried with all my might to remain as cool as possible when all I wanted to do was scream outside the window like a giddy little girl. I was sitting in Devilyn Reilly’s car, and I was about to get firsthand knowledge of the music he liked to listen to.
I silently vowed I’d buy the CD that night from iTunes. I changed my mind immediately when I heard the screaming cacophony that spewed out of his speakers. I honestly don’t even think that what I was hearing was a known language. He tapped his hand on the steering wheel to the appalling beat. I couldn’t seem to help myself.
“What is this?” I asked him in complete horror.
He looked over at me in surprise then turned down the volume.
“You don’t like it?”
Not liking it was the understatement of the year.
“It’s…different,” I said diplomatically.
Devilyn smiled sheepishly as he turned the volume down. “I guess it’s an acquired taste. They’re a small band I saw back in Australia a few summers back.”
He looked over at me and must have seen the look on my face because he continued on with a simple explanation, “The lyrics are pure poetry.”
I had no idea what poetry he was referring to, but the fact that this perfect man had just made such a profound statement made my heart beat even faster. He was romantic. Another fabulous attribute to add to the never-ending list.
He turned up the volume and then skipped over the last song.
“This is the acoustic version, Caroline. And this one was in a different language, old Celtic. This is in English. Just listen to the lyrics.”
“How could you even hear the lyrics through that God awful guitar?” I couldn’t seem to help myself.
“His voice is great,” he said almost gently.
“He isn’t singing, he’s screaming!” I said back to him, trying my hardest not to crack a smile.
And that was the moment.
He threw his head back and started to laugh. Really, honest to goodness, laugh. He was even more gorgeous when he didn’t have that stern look on his face. He made me want to reach out and take his hand. Or kiss him.
Whichever came first.
Get a hold of yourself, Caroline! He only kisses cheerleaders—and probably models.
Devilyn pulled into the parking lot of the Elizabethan Gardens and stopped the car. He turned to look at me straight on. I tried to focus on what he was saying rather than the perfect formation of his mouth and teeth.
“I’m not letting you out of this car until you really listen to what Toby is saying.”
“Toby?” I asked.
In that case I’m never listening, I thought. I willed myself to concentrate. I couldn’t come off as a total idiot.
“The lead singer is my friend. His band is London Cries.”
Of course.
I was about to retort, but he put his finger up to his mouth and said, “Shhhh. Just listen. Close your eyes. You’ll feel it if you close your eyes.”
“I don’t know…” I was unsure.
“Trust me.”
I stared at him for a second, and I knew that I did. Trust him. Completely. I closed my eyes and suddenly I could feel it.
I felt like I was floating slowly away as I started to really listen to the lyrics.
And they moved me.
The song was about love. Not fleeting love, but true, perfect love. The kind that makes your stomach churn, your whole body flush with an inner peace knowing that you’ve found your one true soul mate. The kind of love that’s worth dying for. Or living for. If you are lucky enough to find it.
I opened my eyes and met Devilyn’s penetrating gaze. He was watching me. His eyes smoldered with something that I did not recognize.
“What did you think?” he asked as he cleared his throat.
“I understand.”
“You do?”
“I understand what you’re talking about. It’s pretty powerful stuff.” I couldn’t tell if his heart was beating louder or mine.
