Back to You (Don't Forget Me Book 2)

by Sia Wales

  “What do you want to know exactly?”

  “Exactly? What happened on Saturday night?”

  “He took me to the coast and we stopped off at one of those observation points overlooking the ocean. Then he took me home,” I explain, nonchalantly, trying my hardest not to betray the slightest emotion.

  “How did he manage to persuade you to go?”

  “He had a driver. Donn drives like a madman!” I hope he’s listening in, even though I know that’s practically impossible.

  “Was it a date? Did you arrange to meet?” I didn’t think of that. “No, I was surprised to see him there.”

  She purses her lips, disappointed. My tone tells her I’m not making it up. “But he brought you to the coast.”

  “Yes, but that was a surprise too. Actually, we only stopped so that I could take a call from my mom.”

  “So will you be going out again?”

  “He offered me a ride into the city on Wednesday because he’s convinced I need to get to know the real Donn. Does that count as a date?”

  “Uh, yep,” she nods.

  “Then yes.”

  “Jesus Christ!” She almost yelps the words. “Donn Brooks!”

  “I know.” Though I’m not quite sure if a date with Donn means Jesus is blessing me or otherwise.

  “Hold up,” she says, actually holding up a hand. “Did he kiss you?”

  “Yes,” I blush. “But it’s not what you think.”

  Again, she seems disappointed. I’m not though.

  “Do you think that on Wednesday?” She raises an eyebrow, a mischievous grin on her lips.

  “I seriously doubt it.” I squirm with embarrassment.

  “What did you guys talk about?” She’s digging for as much information as possible. Tess is listening in, but too occupied with her food to join in.

  “I don’t know, Jamie, a lot of things.” I try to brush this question off. “We talked about his past for a bit.”

  “Come on, Stella,” she implores. “Give us the juicy details.”

  “Well, you should have seen the driver, he looked like a gravedigger! He didn’t even bother to look at me.” I really hope he is listening in!

  “That’s a bad sign. I don’t know how you can be alone with him,” Jamie says incredulously.

  “Why?!” I’m kinda taken aback by this, but I think she misinterprets my reaction.

  “Well… I’d be so in awe of him, I wouldn’t know what to say, how to behave.”

  My eyes roll skywards, as I think about that evening, when Donn hit me with the irresistible force of his gaze.

  “To tell the truth, I have some problems keeping my head when he’s around… but he does try to put me at ease.”

  “How sweet of him!”

  “Very.”

  “That means he likes you.”

  “I think he does, but it’s not easy to tell with him.”

  “Why?” asks, Jamie, curious.

  “He’s always so hard to read,” I say for the benefit of Donn.

  “Yeah, but he’s so freaking gorgeous!” She shrugs, as if that excuses any other defect he may have. Maybe for her it does.

  “There’s so much more to him than that,” I add.

  “Like what?” Jamie’s curiosity is fit to burst.

  I wish I hadn’t started this whole conversation. As much as I wished Donn had been joking when he said he could read my mind.

  “I’m not sure how to explain it, but underneath the façade, he’s even more incredible.” The bad vampire who wants t be good, who goes around saving my life so as not to feel like the monster… that he is? My gaze wanders to the window, to the bright light shining in through the fast moving clouds.

  “Really?” she giggles.

  “No doubt about it.” I hope this is the end of the interrogation.

  “So… you like him?” She has no intention of giving in so easily.

  “Yep.” Curt.

  “How much?” She’s digging so deep, she’s beginning to seem like a gravedigger too!

  “Too much,” I whisper. “More than I should.” I blush, hoping he can’t pick up on this detail, even if he is listening in. “But I don’t think I can do anything about it.” The words are tumbling out before I can stop to think.

  Tess notices me squirming, and with a barely perceptible wink of an eye, she begins asking Jamie questions about her weekend. Not a bad diversion tactic at all! Thanks, Tess.

  But maybe this explains why I go out with Jamie more than Tess, who I actually like better, truth be told. Tess is too instinctive, I can’t hide anything from her. But she’s easy to be around; she’s chilled out and talking to her doesn’t involve wasting time in pointless chit-chat. Jamie doesn’t get a chance to bring the subject of Donn up again for the rest of the lunch break, thanks to Eliot and Josh joining us at the table.

  As we eat, I let my mind drift to what is going on in my life. A series of images flash through my mind, some clearer than others. But each of them is of vital importance and stamped on my memory for life. And I know where the difference lies, and it bother me. The clearest images are those that involve not only Jason but also Donn.

  Seth and Amber join us at the table, then along come Mark and Jonathan. I turn to them.

  “You enjoy your weekend, Stella?” asks Seth curiously. Or rather considerately, as if he actually cares. He must already know the details about my recovery, thanks to Ronald who played golf with Jeff at the weekend. Everyone except Jamie turn to me, awaiting my reply.

  “I went to Boston with Jamie on Saturday night to see Bryan Austin, a friend who used to work in Jeff’s bar. I spent most of Sunday at The Pats.”

  Everyone’s eyes flick from Jamie to me. Jamie seems pissed. Maybe she didn’t want everyone to know that we’d been out together, or maybe she just wants to be the one to tell the tale of our evening out.

  “What bar was it?” asks Eliot.

  “Rise,” I reply, throwing a furtive glance at Jamie. “The one on Stuart Street,” I add, smiling at him. Maybe I could make up for some of the damage done during my weeks as one of the walking dead.

  “I heard you had a ball. That so?” Seth plans to keep this conversation in full swing.

  “Stella had to leave early, she was so out of it,” cuts in Jamie, a spiteful smile on her face.

  I nod, and try to cover my embarrassment. “Yep, she sure knows how to show a girl a good time!”

  Amber laughs out loud, and discussion about my weekend seems to come to a close. Josh and Eliot discuss the weekend games, paying no further attention to the girls. Seth talks about his climbing excursions to Mark, Jonathan and me. Tess begins to tell Jamie about having started to research the giant cougars she’s sure she saw. The rest of the table begins to pay

  attention.

  “Seth and I really did see them!” Her voice is almost pleading, and her eyes flicker almost imperceptibly to me. Jamie’s expression speaks volumes; she’s not about to give her the benefit of the doubt. Even Amber, despite being the ‘new girl’, isn’t taking her seriously.

  Tess looks at me, but not with the usual ‘I’m talking to a zombie’ look. She seems troubled, and I can’t work out why. Is she looking for back-up?

  “Actually, she’s right,” I cut in impatiently. “Four hikers were in the bar at the weekend and they said they’d seen the cougars too. Huge, golden, big as bears, in the Green Mountains forests.”

  Everyone is silent for a moment, all eyes turned to me. Eliot’s mouth is wide open, as if he had just seen a ghost.

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, one said he’s seen a giant cougar on the Baker Peak path, bigger than a grizzly. Another two guys mentioned a pack of four giant cougars.”

  “Oh yeah?” asks Josh skeptically.

  “Oh,” exclaims Jamie stiffly. She turns to Amber, a perplexed expression on her face, and changes the subject. Everyone goes back to talking about their own business except for Tess and me.

  “T
hanks for speaking up there,” Tess smiles weakly.

  “Sorry?”

  “Thanks for taking my side, for defending me,” she whispers out of the earshot of the rest of the gang.

  “Are you kidding?” I ask. It’s the least I could do, especially after she proved to be one of the few people ready to forgive my moment of madness.

  “Anyway,” she continues. “Are you feeling better now?”

  “Not really,” I confess. “A bit maybe.”

  “Well I’m glad you’re back with us again. I’m sorry you ran off from the bar on Saturday night.”

  I shrug. I’d really rather put the whole evening behind me.

  “I guess I’m too much of a wimp,” I reply, an apologetic smile painted on my face.

  “We should arrange a quieter night out,” she adds. “Next week, maybe?”

  Again, I’m totally flabbergasted, speechless.

  “Something that won’t knock you out,” she continues, a hint of sarcasm still tangible.

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  “Maybe we could go to the South Boston shopping mall? Come on, let’s have an afternoon together.” Jamie eagerly awaits my reply, her friendliest smile shines on her face.

  “How about next week?”

  “Great! We’ll go after class.” She begins to squirm a little out of agitation. “You know, Bryan asked to see me again.”

  “You’re kidding? What did you say?”

  “I said yes. That I had a good time. He seemed pleased,” she replies, grinning.

  “You have to tell me everything that was said, word for word!” I exclaim.

  We spend the rest of the lunch hour deconstructing every word uttered that night. But as we get up to leave, my haste in leaping from my chair and slinging my bag over my shoulder arouses Jamie’s suspicions.

  “Aren’t you coming to professor Keynes’ class?” she asks.

  “I don’t know.” I’m pretty sure that my disappointment would only be intensified.

  On our way out, she describes the minute details of Bryan’s expressions and gestures. I wouldn’t be giving her the third degree if it weren’t a tactic to avoid having to talk about my Saturday night with Donn. My eyes search for that familiar face as we reach the exit of the building. There is hardly anyone milling about and I ready myself for the worst. But, waiting for me outside, leaning against the wall is the closest thing to a Greek god I have seen today. Vuk.

  Jamie looks at me then rolls her eyes, shaking her head as she walks off.

  “See you, Stella,” she calls out over her shoulder.

  Vuk seems amused but annoyed at the same time. He tries to stay calm and collected, but it’s obvious that he’s on his way back to the library. I’m not swallowing this act. Only one person in the world manages to rile him this way––Donn Brooks.

  “Hey there.” I eyeball him, fearing that his plans for the day involve something inexorable. His constant absences from school mean he is hiding something from me. Fear? I sense a touch of impatience too. He seems to want to say something, but I speak up first.

  “We should go or we’ll be late.”

  “I’m not coming to class today,” he says, a veil of arrogance in his tone.

  “Why not?”

  “Skipping a few lessons is good for your health,” he smiles, but anxiety flashes in his eyes. “Professor Keynes won’t mind.”

  “Well, I’m going,” I reply. “I’ve struggled too hard to catch up to let myself fall behind now.”

  “See you later then,” he calls out as I head toward my class. I look back at him; he’s still standing there, immobile, a dark look on his sculpted face, his body almost slumped. I feel a wave of compassion wash over me. I know I’ll spend the whole class brooding over his expression.

  “Oh no, economics,” I groan.

  “Just follow me and chill, little girl.” I didn’t realize that Vuk had caught up with me until he was whispering in my ear. I do as I’m told and follow him out to the car lot. Walking with Vuk in the middle of the lunchtime crowd takes me back to my first day on campus here. Once again I’m the center of attention.

  He doesn’t say another word, but keeps glancing at me pensively. I fiddle nervously with the zipper of my jacket. He slows down to my snail’s pace, the short walk and the bright sunshine seeming to wash away his nerves. If the forecast predicts no rain soon, we could organize another visit to Wolfeboro. I try to show some enthusiasm about a trip there, a kind of payback for the disappointment of my visit last Thursday. I didn’t even manage to set foot inside the house. But rain or no rain, we won’t be going swimming in the lake. The highest temperature we can expect is still 50 degrees.

  We lean against the side of the pickup, parked next to my car to have a little chat.

  “Are you heading off?” I ask.

  “Drake has just finished patrolling, he’ll be expecting me to take over so that he can have a rest.” He starts to walk off toward the driver’s door of his vehicle. Then he stops.

  “Why don’t you come to Wolfeboro? We could go for a walk, build a fire in the hearth, stuff like that.”

  “I don’t know, Vuk. This is a weird time for me right now.”

  “Come on, do you think anyone could take on me and Drake together? Or are you worried about your guardian?” He’s referring to Donn. But that little dig is enough to convince me, so I wordlessly climb into the passenger seat, relax, and close my eyes.

  I hear Vuk getting into the driver’s seat and starting the engine. He pulls me closer toward him, close enough to slip an arm around me. The feeling of warmth is nice, comforting, and familiar. I feel protected, safe somehow. I rest my head against his chest.

  “I’m not sure that this is a good idea,” I suggest doubtfully.

  He just laughs his angelic laugh and revs the engine, speeding off northwards. His big green eyes search my face.

  “The house is by a huge forest, we could take a nice walk. But not before warming ourselves up in front of the fireplace, though.”

  I nod. I like the sound of that.

  “You’re free all afternoon, right? Jeff won’t be home for a while.” He relaxes into his seat, his body giving in to the exhaustion of a few days of keeping a close watch on the borders. I wonder if his frequent trips to the library have anything to do with it.

  “Yep, I’ve got the whole day free,” I say stiffly. “But Vuk…”

  He holds his hands up in that disarming way of his. “Don’t worry about Drake. So what do you want to do today?”

  “Let’s just go to your house and chill out there for a bit,” I suggest. He doesn’t really look like he’s capable of doing much else. The black rings around his eyes contrast sharply with the emerald green of his eyes. Plus, I like just hanging out with him; he’s my port in a storm. I remember wishing he was my brother when I was listening to his music pouring out of my speakers.

  Now I can’t imagine life without him. It doesn’t even bear thinking about. But some of the hugs we exchange seem to go beyond brotherly. And I know that what I really want to do, need to do, is mark out the boundaries between us clearly. Just as I’m thinking that, Vuk’s hand searches for mine and clutches it tight.

  “Jeez, you’re so hot!” I exclaim. “You could almost melt a person.”

  Vuk laughs, pleasantly taken aback.

  “Yeah, I never feel the cold, not even in a snow storm. We wolves are… warmer than you humans. But our body temperature never goes above 50 degrees.”

  “And you get over your injuries pretty damn quick, too.”

  He tilts his head to one side to think about it.

  “Yeah, that’s helpful when you’re hunting or in battle.”

  “And you can see things far away, hear noises, and smell traces of things like vampires, right?”

  “Right,” he replies patiently. “And we have super-human strength, agility and speed too––even faster than the pickup. Those bloodsuckers have got nothing on us,” he says proudly. “I
guess you can understand that better than most.”

  “I do,” I murmur. “When you guys run, you become almost invisible, you go so fast!”

  He ponders something for an instant. Maybe it’s best if I don’t ask what. Then he finally speaks up.

  “Come on, tell me something about vampires that I don’t know. Something about Donn. Doesn’t he scare you?”

  “No,” I reply laconically.

  “How can you stand to be with a whole family of vampires?”

  “Actually, I wonder how they managed to accept my presence.”

  As we approach the Wolf house, he presses his cheek onto the top of my head. The house again seems strangely empty and devoid of life, just like last time. Vuk and Drake are probably the only ones to live here, or maybe the others are all out patrolling the borders.

  The truck comes to sharp halt, skidding on the gravel, right next to the brown porch, which is already starting to look homely to me. I look around at the clearing, which, just a week earlier, had been the Coliseum of Wolfeboro, and a knot forms in my throat.

  “Are you ready? I can hear him,” he says as a kind of warning that Drake is present.

  I nod nervously, trying fruitlessly to feign enthusiasm and fearlessness.

  The engine is still running when I spot Drake, who has suddenly appeared at the doorway. He looks at me in silence, a triumphant gleam in his eyes. Vuk turns off the engine and we start to climb out.

  “And being stubborn. Is that another wolf thing?”

  “No, that’s just the way Drake is,” Vuk replies.

  I hear Drake snort.

  “That’s just the way the Wolves are,” he corrects him. “It’s a family thing,” he says pointing to his bare shoulder and the ‘W’ tattoo. Then he looks at me, a crooked grin on his lips. “Stella!” he cries. “I can’t believe you’re here. It must’ve taken a lot for Vuk to convince you to come.”

  “Hey, Drake,” I shrug.

  Vuk is lost in thought, then he suddenly seems to shake out of it.

  “Can’t you put on a shirt or something?” he asks his brother irritably. He must just have come out of a transformation, as he’s wearing only the essential pair of Bermuda shorts, with no top or shoes.

  “You know, my body temperature is between 43 and 45 degrees today. I feel like a walking heat wave, I can hardly even breathe.”