Minutes Before Sunset

by Shannon A. Thompson

15

  Eric

  My ears were ringing, and my head thundered with every single sound. Fingernails scraped across keyboards, lips hissed in whispers, and machines roared, steaming with hot liquids. Weren’t coffee shops supposed to be quiet?

  I pulled on my headphones and cranked my music to drown out the little noises. Two elderly women glared as I disturbed their peace, and I fought a cringe. If they only knew what their bickering did to my ears, they’d smile with sympathy.

  Sweet smells and warm air circled around my skin, but I chilled. After the sun set, it was draining to be a human. I was constantly fighting the urge to shift, and my human skin felt like solitary confinement—something the elders enforced when a shade broke the law. Which they’d do to me if they knew what I was doing.

  The nameless shade flickered over my closed eyelids, and my lips pulled into an uncontrollable grin. She was mystifying. Just her presence affected me. When I was around her, I actually felt like an average shade—not Shoman—and I relaxed. Even when she was upset with my attitude, I was happy. In fact, her frustration delighted me. I’d always reacted that way with girls. They looked so adorable when their cheeks flushed. I couldn’t help grinning, and they’d only get madder, which made my grin spread. It was a lose-lose situation. Just like the one I had with Jessica.

  My partner’s aggravation grew so easily, and I couldn’t help but enjoy it. She got angrier, and my sarcasm enhanced—only when it wasn’t serious.

  I actually felt bad for her when the classroom gaped at her, but that wasn’t my fault. Correction: It was. I should apologize when she gets here.

  My responsibilities had truly clouded my judgment. Just because I wasn’t human, didn’t mean I could discount human life. The shade girl had taught me that much. In fact, she made me want my human life again.

  In only a few days, I was opening up to Mindy and Noah more—not a lot, but more than I ever had before. I stopped ignoring them completely, and my father relaxed, lecturing me less.

  Being a human wasn’t as bad as I thought.

  A memory of Abby flashed through me, and my senses dipped into the day of my father’s wedding. My entire body spun with the screeching tires and smoke. Glass shattered, and pain slammed through my temple. I’d smacked my head against the car door, but my hand remained wrapped around my friend’s. I prayed for the Dark to save us, but no one came.

  I remembered every little sound, every single movement. The noise damaged my hearing for weeks, but the damage was nothing compared to the days afterwards. I could still taste the gasoline and smell the blood. I always saw her death.

  “Eric.”

  Someone tore through my memories by yanking off my headphones. I leapt into the air, spun around, and, automatically resorted to a fighting stance.

  Teresa and Jonathon stepped back, and the entire coffee shop silenced. I froze, darting my eyes around, and dropped my shoulders. “What are you guys doing here?” I hissed, and their eyebrows rose.

  “We were hoping you could hang out, jumpy,” Teresa said, letting her eyes flicker over me. “What’s gotten into you?”

  I ignored her. “How’d you find me?” I’d never been here before, and I hadn’t told anyone where I was going. Not even my father.

  Teresa grinned, and, immediately, I knew. My muscles stiffened.

  “You tracked me?” I asked, realizing Teresa—as Camille—used her Light powers to zone in on my energy.

  “Does it really matter?” she asked, sitting at my table.

  “It’s dangerous,” I spat, falling back into my chair next to her. “What if the Light sensed you?”

  “It’s more dangerous to speak about it,” she said, waving her arm toward the customers who’d returned to normal. “What are you doing here anyway?” she asked, toying with my stack of notes.

  I yanked them away. “I’m meeting someone.” So get out.

  Jonathon raised his brow as he pulled a seat over. “Jess?” My grip tightened, and Jonathon rolled his eyes. “The whole school was talking about it.”

  I groaned, and Teresa leaned toward him. “Who’s Jess?” she asked, whipping toward me. “Do you have a new girlfriend?”

  “No,” I said, fighting my past again. “I’m not allowed; remember?”

  She whistled low. “Don’t get so defensive.”

  “I’m not being defensive,” I argued, and Teresa fiddled with her short hair.

  “It’s not like you’re not allowed to have friends,” she said, raising her brow, and I glowered at her. She was testing my emotions.

  “I don’t have any,” I said.

  “You have us,” Jonathon said.

  I laid my head on the table. “Why are you guys here?” Please leave me alone.

  “Saving you,” Jonathon said, shooting up from his seat. “We’re going out for a flight, just us three.”

  “We haven’t done it in ages,” Teresa added, and I shook my head.

  “I can’t,” I said. “I have plans.”

  Jonathon adjusted his thick-rimmed glasses. “With a human.”

  “So what?”

  Teresa slammed her hand on the table. “She is your girlfriend.”

  “No, she isn’t, Teresa,” I said, forcing my guard’s human name on her.

  She frowned. “I don’t like this, Eric,” she said. “You never do homework.”

  “And you never talk to anyone, let alone girls,” Jonathon added.

  “It doesn’t mean anything,” I said, dreading their suspicions. I did not need them studying my every move when I spent most of them helping an unregistered shade. “I’m completely focused on training.”

  “Then why didn’t you show up today?” Jonathon asked, reminding me of Urte’s training sessions. They were supposed to start today, and I avoided them like I avoided the elders.

  “I needed a break,” I dismissed my actions, and Teresa grabbed my arm.

  “So come out tonight,” she coaxed. “And don’t hesitate, or I really will think you’re into this girl.”

  “Let’s go then,” I said, collecting my things before my current situation threatened exposure. I wasn’t about to risk my freedom for Jessica Taylor’s homework. I had priorities, after all. Even if my priorities involved lying to the Dark.

  I rushed out of the coffee shop before they could further their interrogation, and they skipped behind me. The door rang as it slammed shut, and the streetlamps blurred against my night vision. Beside me, Jonathon took his glasses off, revealing his burning green eyes, and Teresa’s black hair slowly grew. My blood began to simmer, and I fought the urge to morph completely in the street.

  “Good luck, Jess.”

  My feet dug into the pavement as I heard Robb’s shout fly over us. I turned, leaning against the brick wall, and watched as my partner jumped from a blue Chevy. Robb waved out the window, and Jess waved back, clutching her purse with her free hand.

  “See you around, Robb,” she shouted, running into the coffee shop.

  “Is that her?” Teresa asked, grazing against my arm.

  My jaw popped as I turned away. “It’s fine,” I said, leading her toward the nearest alleyway. We could change and leave from there. “Let’s go.”

  I had the weekend to avoid Jessica anyway.