by K J Bell
Brent sighed as he caved, his dark blue eyes burning. “You make me crazy. Do you know that?”
I shrugged and smiled.
“But…, I understand,” he said, his eyes softening, returning to their aqua blue color that I loved so much.
“Thank you,” I replied.
“I still think it’s dangerous.” I started to interrupt, but Brent put his finger on my lips silencing me. The feel of his fingers on my lips caused my cheeks to warm as well as other parts of me. “I get it, though. You’re a good friend, Claire. Logan needs you and you need to be there for him. As much as I don’t like it, it’s also the reason I fell in love with you in the first place.”
“You’re amazing,” I smirked.
“I know,” Brent laughed. “I need a cold shower and you should wake Reese if we’re going to do this. He’s your Aegis now, Claire. He may not be as easy to convince,” Brent suggested, grinning devilishly and closing the bathroom door.
I smiled, realizing Brent was softening his need to control everything to protect me. He still felt the urge, but loved me enough to quell the need in order to make me happy. I frowned knowing that Reese – as my Aegis – may not have the same restraint, and I had to go talk to him.
When I went to wake up Reese, he was sitting on the bed wide awake, jumping up quickly when he saw me.
“What is it, Claire? Is everything okay?”
“I’m fine, but are you all right?” I asked, questioning why he was wide awake at this hour.
“I’m good, Claire. Can’t sleep. Must be part of my new abilities.” He was gaining the abilities needed as my Aegis, which meant, he was going to be none too thrilled with what I was about to say.
“Oh, we’re going to Northfield and need you to come with us,” I announced, leaving out the reason for our departure.
“What? No way. We’re not going there, Claire, It’s not safe.”
“Uh, okay Brent.” I shot back at him sarcastically – annoyed that he had in fact joined the ‘control Claire’ club.
His lips pursed, my quip response not sitting well with him. “Don’t behave like a child, Claire,” he added, making me laugh at the irony.
“Uh, really? That’s the pot calling the kettle black, Reese. Wouldn’t you agree?” I smirked, calling him out.
“You’re impossible,” Reese yelled. “Why do you need to go back?” he asked argumentatively.
I turned my head mumbling under my breath. “Logan.”
He crossed the room remarkably fast to confront me. “Excuse me, what was that? I could have sworn I heard you say, Logan.”
“I did say Logan. He’s in some sort of trouble and needs my help,” I said, taking a small step backwards.
“He doesn’t need anything from you Claire,” he spit out, stressing the word need.
“Reese, he’s at Layken’s. He’s been drinking and he scared her a little. Right now, he’s passed out but she has friends over and asked me to come, so I’m going.” I walked towards the door, prepared to leave without him.
Looking back at him, I saw his brow was creased with worry. “Brooke?”
“I’m not sure. Layken didn’t say,” I replied.
“Okay then, let’s go.” His quick reply made me smile as it appeared he might actually have a thing for Brooke. Well, that made things easier than I thought they would be.
Leaving Reese so he could collect his things, I wrote Maggie a note, slipping it under her door, letting her know what happened, and to call Brent if she needed anything.
The drive was quiet. I was anxious. I started to wonder if Logan was really at Layken’s or if we were headed into a trap set up by Kace. Maybe Layken had been adhered to. Given our friendship, that shouldn’t be possible. Although, Logan said the Adherent could manipulate a human rather easily. Layken had a huge crush on Brent so an Adherent could have used that against her. I guess it didn’t really matter. If an Adherent anchored to Layken, then I needed to be there for her, regardless.
We arrived at Layken’s just before 7:00am. She answered the door in her pajamas and motioned with one finger over her lips for us to be quiet.
“He’s still sleeping,” she whispered.
Her house was beautiful and modern. It didn’t fit the traditional country style New England décor but then again neither did Layken. There were large abstract paintings throughout the spacious entryway. I noticed Brent eyeing them with appreciation.
We went into the family room, far from Logan, so we could talk. The walls were painted neutral and the furniture was mostly polished metal and glass. The room was dimly lit by a single crystal lamp resting on an end table. The white sofas were streamlined, and I was pretty sure they weren’t supposed to be sat on.
Layken grabbed my arm. “Claire, what is going on?” she asked, pulling me to the sofa and sitting down. I continued to stand, worrying I would make a mess of the stark white fabric.
“Logan is having a tough time at home and I’ve been helping him through it,” I said hurriedly, hoping she wouldn’t press me for more.
Layken squinted when she looked up at me from the couch. She crossed the room and flipped on an overhead light, brightening the room.
“Oh my God, Claire, what happened to your face?”
I reached up to cover the bruises, thinking of a quick lie. “I fell. Really, it’s nothing.”
“That is not ‘nothing’, and neither is what’s going on with Logan,” she said, lowering her voice mid-sentence when she realized she was screaming. “He showed up here talking about how much he needed you – that he had to find you. I told him there was no way I was helping him. He fell to his knees and begged, Claire. He begged! He said he was in love with you and would never hurt you.” Layken paused, glancing at each of us before continuing. “One more time, Claire, What in the hell is going on?” Layken asked forcefully.
I sighed. “He’s not in love with me. He’s just attached because I’ve been helping him with some things. Like I said, he’s going through some stuff, that’s all.”
“He told me someone named Kace just came to see him. He said the guy was going to kill you. That sounds serious, Claire. Who is this person?”
I couldn’t very well tell Layken what was really going on. Could I? She would think I was crazy.
How would that go over? You see Layken, the truth is, Brent, Reese, and I are all gifted children that are half human and half ghost. There is a man named Kace who is a full ghost and wants to kill me because I am the chosen one that is going to bring him and his merry group of henchman down. They are ghosts, too, and haunt humans for the fun of it. Logan was adhered to by Kace to hurt me. Logan ditched his Adherent and kidnapped me because he had no self-worth, but I saved him. Oh yeah, and we all have these abilities. Brent can jump anywhere, read my thoughts, and heal me after an injury. Reese can turn into anyone he chooses and never sleeps. And I can shake your house down like the big bad wolf or seal you up in a bubble. That pretty much sums it up, Layken. Yeah, the truth was definitely not an option.
“I have no idea what he was talking about.” I looked into her eyes and begged her to believe me. “He was really drunk, right? He was just talking crazy,” I suggested, noticing that she didn’t believe me.
“He was downright desperate, Claire.” Layken insisted, still trying to pry the truth out of me.
Brent interjected. His voice was hypnotic. Layken locked in on his stare, incapable of pulling away, completely entranced.
“Logan’s in a bad way and Claire has been a good friend. I’m sorry he showed up here and scared you but you have nothing to worry about, I promise,” Brent soothed Layken, charming her with his voice.
I watched Layken’s stiff body relax, her lips curving into a smile as she submitted to his words. “Oh, okay then. Should I wake him up?”
“No, let him sleep. Can you get us something to drink, please? Brent asked.
“Yeah, sure,” Layken complied, leaving the room.
I smirked at Brent.
“Another new ability or she just wants you that much?”
Brent’s lips formed a wicked grin and he wagged his eyebrows. “A little of both,” he retorted.
“Here you go,” Layken said, returning to the room with bottled waters for all of us.
Reese was sitting at a small side table, his trusty ear buds in place. Brent, Layken and I sat on the sofa. I found myself sitting on the very edge still worried about dirtying the fabric. Who buys white furniture?
Layken asked why we hadn’t been at school. We had missed three days last week already. With the three day weekend, we hadn’t missed a day yet this week, though we were due back tomorrow. I was pretty sure we weren’t going to make it but I didn’t share that with Layken. Brent continued with the story about helping Logan. Layken believed every word, even so far as to feel bad she had never noticed Logan was having problems.
It was 8:00am when we finally heard footsteps slapping down the stairs. Brooke and a girl I had not met before entered the room.
“Layken, Why is Logan asleep on your couch?” Brooke asked, freezing when she saw the three of us. Her gaze stuck on Reese and Reese stared back. He pulled his ear buds out, providing her with his full attention.
“Hey,” Brooke whispered softly.
“Hey,” Reese responded shyly, walking toward Brooke. “Can we talk?” he asked and she nodded. They left to go to another part of the house.
The other girl obviously had an effect on Brent as his posture went erect next to me when he saw her. She was staring open-mouthed at him. Great! Another girl in love with Brent, I thought briefly. Suddenly I noticed Brent seemed awed by her presence. I was flooded with insecurity. Did he know her? And worse, did he like her?
No way, Claire. You’re being ridiculous. He loves you. You have nothing to worry about. Sealed to match, remember.
“Hi, I’m Claire.” I moved towards her with my hand stretched out for a handshake.
She put her warm soft hand in mine. Limp fish, I thought. Now I got what my father meant.
“I’m Mandy,” she introduced, her eyes never leaving Brent.
I noticed she actually looked similar to me with blonde hair and green eyes and we were about the same size.
“Do you go to school with us?” I asked, not having seen her before.
Mandy didn’t respond as she was still staring at Brent. I noticed the uncomfortable expression on his face. He was looking down avoiding her, which meant something was up.
“She goes to a private girl’s school in town, but she lives next door to Brent,” Layken responded for her friend.
“Oh, so you two already know each other,” I said, addressing both her and Brent. Her expression was distressing. I thought I saw tears swelling in her green eyes. She flitted from the room without answering. Layken followed her, leaving Brent and me alone.
I spun around and glared at Brent. He was still looking down. Something was definitely wrong. I went to him and grabbed his hand, but he jerked away.
“What the hell was that, Brent?”
Brent looked up at me, his brows coming together. “I have no idea.” he barked.
“You must have some idea,” I said through clenched teeth. “That was a girl who looked heart broken, looking at the person responsible for that broken heart.” I hoped I was wrong and merely being my typical insecure self.
He took my hand, holding it close and continued to look down.
“It is nothing. Honestly, I love you, Claire,” he said slowly, trying to convince me but I wasn’t sure I believed him.
“You’re a terrible liar.” I threw his earlier words back at him. “Start talking or I might assume it’s much worse than appears. I don’t have the advantage of reading your thoughts, remember?”
Brent’s squeezed my hand when I tried to pull it away. “She has a crush, that’s all.”
“No, that’s not all Brent,” I commanded, pulling my hand away, knowing there was more to the story.
“All right, she likes me and I might have led her to believe, once, that I liked her too.” Brent was looking at his shoes and I knew he wasn’t finished.
“You might have?” I pressed, not letting him off that easily.
He started pacing in front of me and my imagination started to run wild.
“Okay, I did. I tried to like her. I couldn’t, because I was in love with you. She looked so much like you and I knew you were going to be with Reese. I thought I could replace you with her but it didn’t work out, and it hurt her.”
I recalled Layken talking about Brent and the girl everyone thought he left behind. Apparently he wasn’t interested in any of the girls in town. There was a girl – me – but I wasn’t left behind. I was off limits, supposedly sealed to Reese. He tried to replace me. I didn’t want to be happy about this but I was. I felt bad Mandy was hurting, but Brent and I were designed to be together. She would have been a lot worse off if Brent had forced the relationship.
“I’m sorry, Brent,” I said.
“Why? It’s not your fault. I feel really bad about how I treated her. I never should have become involved with her. I knew my heart belonged to you even if I could never have you,” Brent confessed, my heart going out to him as shame was evident in his expression.
“But you do have me,” I reminded, drinking in his smile when he heard the words.
“Claire!” Logan stormed in to the room and grabbed me, pulling me off my feet as he hugged me. “I’m so glad you’re here and you’re safe,” Logan cheered, setting me down and saying hello to Brent.
“Logan,” Brent grimaced.
“I’m glad you’re here, Brent, because Claire’s in trouble,” Logan reported, looking at him for help.
“What are you talking about?” Brent asked condescendingly, eyeing Logan’s position as an outsider.
“Kace came to see me when I went to get my things from my parents’ house. He wanted me to bring Claire to him,” Logan explained anxiously.
“Did you tell him anything?” Brent asked, with a warning in his tone.
“No! Of course not. He was irate that I removed the Adherent and warned me he would find Claire.” Logan looked at me when he said my name and his concern made me proud.
“We are the Chaser’s, Logan, and we’ll deal with Kace when Claire is ready,” Brent scoffed.
“I don’t know about that, Brent,” Logan responded. “Kace said he could feel Claire’s presence, and it was growing stronger. He said he would find her…Claire,” Logan said, cupping my face in his hands. “He said he was going to kill you. I was so angry, but of course he disappeared, and there was nothing I could do.”
“So you got hammered and came here to harass Layken?” Brent mocked.
“Brent,” I scolded.
“He’s right, Claire. I felt helpless and I didn’t know how to handle it. Looking for help in the bottom of a bottle is what I do. I lost my cell and didn’t know how to find you so I came here. Poor Layken, I think I scared the hell out of her.” Logan said, having a seat on the sofa.
I sat next to him and draped my arm over his shoulder. “It’s okay, Logan. Layken’s fine, now. She’s in the other room with her friend. You just confused her a little.”
He frowned. “Was that because I told her I was in love with you?”
“Partly,” I admitted, biting my lip.
“Sorry about that. Both of you. Alcohol and I don’t mix. I guess I screwed up again.” Logan wallowed in his failure to stay sober. He looked like he might cry so I squeezed his hand. Logan had cried enough and I wanted him to stay focused.
“You can’t change what you did, Logan, let’s move forward, okay? Are you still going to your uncle’s?” I asked, hoping that was still his plan.
“Yeah, my truck is all packed.” He perked up a little.
“Well, that’s a start. You have to stay strong, Logan. It’s not going to be easy. But you can do it. You’re not your father. You need to remember that,” I reminded him, reassuring him that he was capab
le of making the changes he needed to get his life back on track.
“You’re such a good friend, Claire. You know that? I don’t know what I did to deserve you,” Logan praised, putting his arm around me, kissing my cheek just shy of my lips. I heard Brent huff.
“Back off, Logan,” Brent warned.
“Relax, dude. I know she’s yours. Don’t hurt her though, or you’ll answer to me,” Logan teased, standing and facing Brent which made me anxious. Brent was still wrestling with his inherent protectiveness over me, and Logan knew all the right buttons to push.
“Yeah, I’d like to see you to try, asshole,” Brent threatened, moving closer to Logan. My anxiety started to grow as they sized each other up.
I jumped up and shot between them. “Brent, enough! Stop it!” I shouted, placing my hand on his chest, attempting to force him back a few steps, but he wouldn’t move. “I don’t belong to you, for Christ sake.”
Surprise flashed across Brent’s face and he grabbed both my arms just above the elbows. “The hell you don’t, Claire.”
Was he serious or totally out of his goddamn mind? “You know what? You’re being ridiculous. Logan was joking, Brent. Why don’t you go in the other room so I can talk to him without you freaking out?”
“No way, Claire!” he snapped.
“Arghh! You’re acting insane. Nothing is going to happen. You’ll be in the next room. Please, Brent,” I urged, grabbing his hands and holding them close to my chest, looking into his eyes, pleading with him to calm down.
Brent finally relented, spinning around to face Logan, staring at him menacingly. “Keep your goddamn hands to yourself while I’m gone, Logan,” Brent warned, before reluctantly treading away to leave the room.
“If she really loves you, then what are worried about, man?” Logan taunted. It struck me immediately that Logan was looking for a fight. Fighting was the only mechanism Logan knew to use when handling conflict. Looking at the two of them, I couldn’t decide which one of them I was more upset with.
