I shake the thought away before it consumes me and I try to breathe slowly. I try applying a third layer of foundation to my neck and hear a soft gasp coming from the doorway of the bathroom.
“Oh my gosh, El!” Kassy has one of her hands over her open mouth. She looks so distraught that I worry she might begin to cry all over again, so I put on a fake smile.
I wave my hand at her. “I am fine, Kass. It looks way worse than it feels. Trust me.” I lie.
She shakes her head in disbelief. “Don't give me that crap, Aella Mae! I know you are in pain and it's my fault! I brought him along with us and was trying to be flirty all night and I didn't see how completely psycho he is!” She sags against the door frame looking as defeated as I feel. “You should've gone for help or something before jumping in to save me like that. You're always saving me and I’m just a mess.”
“If I didn't stop him when I did, he could have put you in the hospital. Or worse, you'd be gone.” I bring her to me in a soft hug, remembering how she looked in my vision and hating myself for forgetting it in the first place. “I told you, I can't lose you.”
She nods against my shoulder before pulling away from me. “I just can't believe you were able to push him at all. When he was choking you, I was shoving him and grabbing at his arms and back, but he was practically stone. Even though you only knocked him back a step, that's pretty impressive.”
I shrug. “Adrenaline, I guess. I must be your surrogate mommy over here and my motherly instinct took over.” She rolls her eyes at me and is lost in thought again. I poke her in the arm to get her attention. “Anyways, we are both okay now.”
“You’ll have to tell Aunt Mags about this, you know. She called me already this morning and said she couldn’t get ahold of you last night and that she was worried. I just told her you were asleep but fine.” She hands me my phone. “I swear that woman has a sixth sense when it comes to you.”
I take the phone. “Thanks for not telling her. I’ll call later. For now, let’s move on from this upsetting subject.”
She sticks her chest out and fluffs up her hair as if she is preparing to take on the world in the next breath. But the words that come out are ones that I have been waiting to hear since the first time I came to her rescue in the 5th grade.
“El, I know you have some secret that we both just pretend isn't there. I’ve always thought it had something to do with your parents, so I haven’t pushed.” I freeze. “I don't expect you to confide in me right this second, but I really hope you understand that you can trust me with your life. I would never intentionally do anything to hurt you.” She holds eye contact with me, unflinching, to show she means what she is saying.
My eyes begin to water, and I nod my head. “I know it's time for me to open up. Soon, we will have an epic girl’s night and I will tell you anything and everything you want to know, I promise.”
She perks up and wipes the back of her hand across her pink cheek. “Works for me, now go find a scarf so everyone doesn't think you're living with an abusive best friend.” She gives me a real smile and pushes me out of the bathroom.
I see her lean into the mirror and touch up her hair and makeup even though it is already spotless. I raise my eyebrows at her in question. “Have a hot date or something?” I tease.
She just shrugs. “I guess you could say that.” She says like it’s no big deal at all.
“Wait, what?” I yell in shock. “There is no way I am letting you go anywhere with that maniac...”
She quickly cuts me off before I completely lose it on her. “Woah, calm down mamma bear! How dumb do you think I am? I'm not going anywhere with Max. Seriously, El.” She turns back to the mirror looking slightly offended but just scoffs and goes back to primping. “It's Liam. He asked if I'd spend the day with him and I thought it sounded nice. He is picking me up in a few minutes.”
I catch a light blush creep across her cheek and blanch at the sight. Kassy never blushes, well, not until now apparently.
“Now it's my turn to say O.M.G! You like him! You like him a lot!” I grin from ear to ear, enjoying this rare Kassy embarrassment.
“Nobody says O.M.G. anymore, El.” She rolls her eyes at me like I do at her when she is being dramatic. “Besides, he is cute and sweet and funny.” She closes her eyes for a moment before looking at me. “And I like him, okay? A lot.” She emphasizes the last two words, mocking my voice with a silly look on her face.
“Finally! I'm just going to say this once and then we can move on.” I point my finger in her direction, unable to hold in my excitement. “I was right!” I revel in her happiness. “Oh, and I don't sound like that.”
“Fine. Happy now, sore winner?” There is a knock on the door and Kassy has to wipe her sweaty hands on her pants before answering it.
Liam steps inside, full grin showing, with a single red rose in his hand. “So, I’m hoping you like flowers.” He holds out the rose.
Kassy takes the flower from him and smells it. She stands on her tiptoes and kisses him on the cheek. “You are such a cheese ball; you know that?”
He smiles even wider, which I didn’t know was possible. “Hey, I love cheese balls, so thank you very much.” He scoops her up in his arms and tickles her senseless. Kassy squeals and hits him softly through fits of girlish laughter.
I lean against the wall with my arms crossed and clear my throat loudly. Liam sets Kassy down and stands up straight. “Sorry, El. Do you want to be tickled too?”
I shake my head. “No thanks. I am just realizing how quickly I have become the third wheel and it’s quite depressing.” I try to hide my smile when I see their hands entwined. “Okay, not that depressing. Can you guys not be so disgustingly cute though?”
“Nope.” they say at the same time and they both burst out in laughter. I actually could faint at the cuteness.
Kassy turns to me. “Okay, we’re leaving but I’ll text you later. Don’t get too bored all alone.”
I wave her off. “I’ll be fine. I’ve got books, television and junk food. My three favorite things.”
“Later, then!” Liam drags Kassy away and they both wave goodbye as I settle in for the day with a good book.
***
As I lay in bed, my ever-running brain is relentlessly keeping me awake with the fear of falling deep into a nightmare. Since I’ve arrived in Jacksonville, my whole world has changed. I don’t have Aunt Mags to take care of and reassure me anymore, and it feels like something dangerous is closing in. There is something dark out there that seeks to ruin me and my friends for seemingly no reason.
Not everything in my new life is negative though. I have, somehow way too easily, fallen for two guys. Growing up, boys never interested me much. Could it be that my boy crazed teenage years are just a little behind? If these kinds of feelings are going to come bursting out for every cute boy I run into, I may need to have Kassy lock me up.
Just as the early trickle of sleep starts to fog my racing thoughts, I hear a soft tapping on the outside of my window. I crawl out of bed and hesitate before I dare peak behind my closed curtain into the night. I’m able to build up the courage and shock washes over me as I stare through the single pane of glass.
He stands just outside my bedroom, still covered completely in black, except for those miraculous irises. I unlatch the center of the casement window, swinging it outward like double doors, and set myself on the sill. “What are you doing here?” I ask, not at all surprised that he found where I live. I’m well aware that I should be frightened by this development but yet, his presence calms me deeply.
When he doesn’t speak, I hang my bare feet out the window and lean against the frame.
I’m disappointed that he still won’t communicate with me, but I don’t plan on giving up. I wait in silence for a few minutes as he just watches me before I start getting frustrated.
I sit up straight. “Okay, is this how all of our exchanges are going to happen? Please just say a few words so I know you’re at
least capable of some form of communication.” He doesn’t speak right away so I sigh and start to turn around, but he steps between my legs and places a gloved hand on my cheek.
My entire being stills as I fail to anticipate his next move. He tugs down the collar of my faded Tweety Bird pajama shirt and surveys my sore neck. His eyes close like he is the one covered in painful bruises. He leans his forehead against mine and growls slightly inside himself.
“I’m sorry.” he whispers to me.
I realize that I am holding my breath again and let it shudder out slowly, causing my body to become less rigid. “What do you have to be sorry for? It’s not…” I pause when I take a deep breath in through my nose and am overwhelmed by a familiar spicy pine scent.
I snap my eyes up to my savior’s still closed ones and softly push on his chest, so he lifts his head from mine. His eyes open and he watches my every move with anticipation. I lift my hands to his black hood and slide it off of his head, running my fingers through his smooth but messy hair in the process. You’ve got to be kidding me.
His golden eyes close briefly for just a moment before opening again and watching me with that same intense gaze, the one I have grown to crave.
Suddenly feeling shy, I tuck my hair behind my ear and look down at my feet. He removes one of his gloves and uses his warm fingers to lift my chin back up, which causes those crazy tingles to spread to my lips. His eyes are pleading with me for something, so I continue my unveiling.
I reach up to pull away the black cloth covering his face and find the beautiful man that has slowly been wiggling his way into my soul. Gavin bites on his bottom lip, in a nervous way, which makes me immediately stop breathing again. Such a natural thing that I keep failing to do properly.
He takes off his other glove and shoves them both in his back pocket. “Your hair is a beautiful part of you that you hide away when you're scared.” He reaches behind my ear and untucks my hair, sending electricity all the way down my neck. “I don't want you to be scared of me.” he speaks in a low voice, his eyes never leaving mine.
Gavin sighs and then presses his forehead to mine once again. “I'm so sorry, Aella. I should have gotten to you sooner last night.” His voice is laced with agony. “I didn't know he would grab you like that. I didn't see it. I should've seen it. Everything is so screwed up.”
“Gavin, you couldn't have even known we would be there in the first place. It's not your fault Max flipped out on Kassy.” I try to calm his worrying. “You saved me. It was amazing.”
He opens his eyes and gestures to my neck. “This is my fault. I should have been able to prevent it. It's my job.” he blurts out.
“Your job? What are you talking about, Gavin?” At this moment I feel more confused than ever. “I thought you worked with your family.”
He takes a step back from me and runs his fingers through his dark hair. Noticing his apparent slip-up, he tries to change the subject. “It's nothing. You should probably get some sleep after everything that has happened.”
I cross my arms in defiance. “No. I really do need some answers now. For starters, why in the world are you running around helping people in a black ninja suit? How do you always know where I am, even when I was being strangled in a dark hallway?” My voice raises a notch with each question. “And what is going on with your eye color? Are you wearing contacts right now, or do you wear them at school?”
He chews on his bottom lip again, mulling over my interrogation. “I'm not wearing contacts right now, though I usually do during the day. My golden eyes tend to freak people out and draw attention.” He points to each of his eyes. “As for the other stuff, I can't tell you anything here or now, okay?”
Of all of my questions, that's the one he answers? I shrug and shake my head. “Okay, where and when then?”
He steps back into my personal space and grabs both of my hands with his. “Tomorrow. I will take you to meet my family and have them help me explain everything to you then. It’ll be easier for more than one person to tell our story.”
I feel nervous and excited about going off alone with him and seeing where he comes from. Really, I don't know much about him, but he makes me feel so comfortable just being near him. I'm meeting his parents tomorrow. Are we dating? My heart races at the idea.
“Okay. Tomorrow, then.” I nod.
He moves so close to me that I can feel his warm breath on my cheek. I freeze, not sure what to do next. Slowly and with sadness in his eyes, he leans in further and presses his lips in a feather-light kiss on the bruises spanning my neck.
I suck in a sharp breath at the zing that hits my tender muscles and takes the pain away.
The kiss lasts only a second before he turns, pulls his hood back on and disappears into the night.
That is way better without the mask on.
Chapter 7
Kassy and I slept in for once this morning and I woke up feeling energized and ready for what I’m sure will be another emotionally taxing day. I’m ready for Gavin to give me some answers, but I’m also extremely nervous to meet the family of both of my big crushes in one day.
Of course, the two boys I’ve been crazy about turned out to be the same guy, to my amazement. I’m starting to feel like I’m in some sort of soap opera and I’m about to get caught in a love triangle between Gavin, myself and his evil twin.
After today, I hope to be able to confide in Kassy completely. Who knows where I’ll end up? I want my best friend to know the real me.
She sits across from me where I stand at the kitchen island, absently playing with my fruit loops. She just informed me that Liam is picking her up soon and they’re seeing a matinee at the theater in town. I figure this is a good opening for my news, so I stand straighter.
“So, Kass, speaking of boys... Uh, Gavin is taking me to meet his family today.” I blurt out, sporting my signature pink cheeks.
Kassy's jaw drops, nearly to her chest. “Are you guys boyfriend and girlfriend already?!”
“No. Well, I mean, I don't think so. I’m sure I would definitely know if we were…right?”
She laughs. “Aw, my sweet El. Usually, the girlfriend knows when she is, in fact, the girlfriend. You knew with Mason Kendrick, didn't you?”
I wrinkle my nose at the name of the only boy I ever dated in high school. Mason was a senior when I was a junior and we dated all of his last year, up until he left for college and decided we were just too different for it to last. I knew from the beginning that we wouldn't stay together. He didn't look at me as if he were in love with me and we were very opposite in most things.
“Well, this is an extremely different situation. I loved Mason but I don't think it was ever
‘couple’ love. We dated because we were friends and wanted an excuse to be near one another. I mean, we barely kissed. I honestly couldn't even tell you what it feels like to kiss someone I'm in love with.” I pause. “But, with Gavin, he just sweeps in and is so sweet and makes me feel like the most important person in his world.”
I sigh at the memory of waking up in his arms in the school parking lot after he had swept me away. “Then, he just disappears without another word only to pop up again, causing me to nearly faint at the way he looks at me and then leaves me drooling at his retreating back. We met a week ago, haven’t kissed or gone on an actual date but I can’t get his stupidly perfect face out of my head.” I shrug my shoulders at her. “Define that, Kass.”
“Wow…I have absolutely no advice on that one.” She sighs and then looks out the front window again. “But, Luckily, you can just ask him what he thinks. He's right outside.”
It suddenly hits me just how important this day could be. My palms start to sweat so I quickly wipe them on my faded jeans and make sure my trusty bruise-covering scarf is in place before opening the front door.
Gavin stands in front of me on the porch with his fist in the air, as if he were about to knock. He is wearing relaxed dark blue jeans and a plain white t-shirt that fits snugl
y across his broad chest. I can’t help but think that he could probably make anything look good. He could show up on my doorstep dressed as a clown and I'd still want to wrap myself around him and never let go.
As I peruse him, the corner of Gavin's lips lifts on one side, showing me his one perfect dimple. His fake brown eyes, which I can now see specks of gold through, rove over my face until they land on the scarf wrapped around my neck. His crooked smile disappears and is replaced by a sorrowful expression.
He finally breaks the silence. “Good morning, Aella.”
“Good morning, Gavin,” I say back.
Kassy clears her throat. “Are you guys going to just stand in the doorway all day, cause I kinda have somewhere to be?” She gestures behind Gavin to a patiently waiting Liam.
Heat rises to my cheeks as I realize that Kassy and Liam have just been watching Gavin and I gawk at one another.
Gavin steps aside and gives Kassy a short wave. “Good morning to you too, Kassy and Liam.” He turns and shakes Liam's hand.
I step outside and stand on my tippy toes so I can give Liam a hug. “You two are perfect for each other,” I whisper in his ear, so the others won't hear.
He steps back and winks at me before turning to Kassy and taking her hand in his. “You ready, shorty?” he teases her.
She shoves him on the arm, barely moving him an inch, and fake pouts. “You don't know that I'm done growing!” she whines.
He just laughs out loud like he has never heard something so funny, which only makes her pouting lips stick out further. Seemingly forgetting that Gavin and I are still here, Liam’s hand cups Kassy’s face and he rubs his thumb along her bottom lip, effectively stopping her pouting in its tracks. She sighs at the contact and then pulls him off the porch with her.
“We'll be home before dark, El. Have fun with the fam!” She throws over her shoulder with a wink of her own, before giggling and disappearing through the gate with Liam.
Captivated: Part 1 of the Intended Series Page 5
