Dusk (Young Adult Paranormal Romance)

by Amy Durham

  I said a silent prayer of thanksgiving that, with help, I’d managed to pull myself out of that mire. I would never take my good fortune for granted again. And I would never again gamble with my life.

  Chapter 36

  I sank down into the seat between Adrian and Vivian just as Mr. Austin stepped up to the stage to begin the ceremony.

  “You’ll never guess what I saw in the parking lot,” I whispered.

  Adrian leaned toward me as Viv did the same.

  “Nikki and Courtney were handcuffed. I saw them being put into police cars in the lot across the street.”

  “Everyone’s talking about it,” Viv said, her voice hushed as Mr. Austin began to speak. “They’re saying the dogs found marijuana and pills in their lockers, and more in their pockets once they escorted them out of the building.”

  Adrian’s hand gripped mine, as if he knew I was thinking back on my disastrous summer and how close I’d come to being in the thick of it with Nikki and Courtney.

  Brett, who sat on Viv’s other side, leaned over. “They’ve had it coming for a long time. Nikki’s been supplying pills to people for over a year. Glad she finally got caught.”

  With the kind of money her parents gave her, I’m sure Nikki had found any number of unscrupulous people who sold her drugs, which she then turned around and sold for profit to kids at school. I’d been cavorting with a drug dealer all summer. The potential for lasting repercussions and outright tragedy had been immense, and I was overwhelmed yet again to know that somehow I’d escaped all that insanity intact.

  We settled in to listen as Mr. Austin began his announcements.

  “In the position of Administrative Liason, I’m proud to announce a newcomer to student government, Nick Henry.”

  Applause rang out as Nick moved to take his place in the fifth seat on the stage. Secretary was the next office to be announced. I took a deep breath and squeezed Adrian’s hand.

  He leaned over, lips to my ear, and whispered, “I love you.”

  Before I could even respond, Mr. Austin continued.

  “Zoe Gray, running unopposed for Secretary, returns to student government after serving as your president for the last three years.”

  I took note of the clapping as I made my way to my seat next to Nick. No tomatoes were thrown, and no boos were shouted, so perhaps I was in the clear.

  “Your new Vice President for Class Activities, Carla Mabry.”

  “Congratulations,” I said as Carla sat down beside me.

  “Thanks,” she said, smiling.

  So far, so good I thought to myself.

  Andrea Bishop took her seat next to Carla after being announced as Vice President for Publicity, followed by Daniel Williams as our new Class President.

  Once the officers were seated, Mr. Austin invited Nick to the podium to make his acceptance speech.

  I tried to listen, truly. But my pulse pounded so hard in my ears I could barely hear. The last time I’d stood at that podium I’d laid myself bare, and here I was about to step up to it again. My eyes sought Adrian, only to find him smiling. Around me air started to stir, and I felt the soothing calm begin to seep in. He’d seen my panic and given me his comfort.

  Talk about thankfulness.

  “And now, your class secretary, Zoe Gray,” Mr. Austin announced, turning to smile at me as I stood.

  Stepping up to the microphone, I gripped my note cards in my sweaty hands. I’d spent some time thinking about what to say, and without any big revelation to share, I planned on sticking to my script this time.

  “I’ve learned a lot about grace and forgiveness over the past few weeks,” I began, looking around the room to the people who mattered most to me. Mr. Austin. Vivian. Adrian. “And I’ve learned a lot about second chances. I thought I didn’t deserve any of those things, but thanks to my friends and loved ones, I’ve learned that everyone deserves a second chance. I’ve been given a second chance, not only as a member of student government, but as a part of this school and community. I want all of you to know that I’m grateful. And that I will not waste it. Thank you.”

  I stepped back from the podium, ready to return to my seat, when I saw it begin. People were standing. Whole groups of students rising to their feet at once, until everyone in the auditorium stood.

  And then they started clapping.

  It took a few seconds to realize what was happening.

  A standing ovation. They were giving me a standing ovation.

  A movement near the door to the auditorium caught my eye. Glancing over, I saw my mom, clapping and crying, looking up at me with such pride in her eyes.

  It had been so long since I’d felt like she was proud of me, and I promised myself I would never again give her reason to doubt me.

  She waved at me and I smiled back, as a tear spilled down my cheek. This time the tear wasn’t full of sadness, but rather joy and accomplishment.

  Scanning for Vivian, I found her not only clapping but jumping up and down. How had I ever thought I could do without her exuberant friendship?

  And then my eyes landed on Adrian. The one who brought me out of the darkness. The one who brought me back to life and filled that life with happiness.

  “Love you,” he mouthed, his clear blue eyes staring up at me with a love so deep and profound I knew I’d done nothing to earn it.

  He was God’s gift to me. And I would cherish him always.

  Epilogue

  Adrian and I sat at the picnic table in my back yard after dinner one evening in April, seven months after that day in the auditorium. After a typical Kentucky winter of seemingly endless cold, gray days, spring was beginning to make its appearance. We took advantage of the warm evening to resume our habit of homework at the picnic table.

  We’d each already been accepted to the University of Kentucky. I had plans to study history and government, while Adrian planned to major in mathematics. Since our acceptance letters came in December, we’d gone about making plans for college under the assumption that Adrian would be able to go.

  Even though Adrian was sure his Boss wouldn’t separate us, I still worried. A new assignment could come down at any time, and the thought of Adrian leaving made me feel sick to my stomach.

  Homework finished, I slid my notebook into my backpack. When I turned back to Adrian, he was holding an envelope. His name and address were printed neatly on the front, with no return address in the corner. He stared at it without looking at me, and my stomach sank to the soles of my feet.

  This was it. A new assignment. He was going to have to go away.

  Could I follow? Maybe there was a college close enough to where he’d be that I could attend.

  “This was waiting for me when I got home,” he said, his voice almost a whisper. “I recognized it right away.”

  I swallowed hard. “What does it say?”

  “I don’t know yet.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I wanted to wait and open it with you.”

  I reached for his hand, wrapping my fingers around his. “Whatever it is, we will be okay.” Even though the thought of being apart killed me, I knew in my heart that nothing would change the way we felt for each other.

  Adrian nodded and tore open the envelope.

  He pulled me closer so we could read together. Taking a deep breath, I looked at the words that could change everything.

  Adrian Shaw:

  A new assignment has been given to you. It begins in August of this year. In your dormitory, on the floor you’ve been assigned, you will find a young man named Chase. This young man is recovering from an addiction to prescription pain pills, and will need support and guidance as he is away from home and his family for the first time. There is no end date to this assignment, as it is our plan for the two of you to remain friends and for you to help him stay grounded and steadfast throughout your time at the University of Kentucky. Remember to ask if you and your partner need assistance or resources.

  I burst out laughing as joy bloomed inside me.
Although Adrian had been so sure, in the moments before he’d opened that envelope, I’d seen the concern in his eyes.

  But he’d been right all along.

  We weren’t going to be separated!

  And I was his partner. The letter said so.

  Adrian jumped up from the table, pulling me with him. He wrapped his arms around me, and lifted me off my feet.

  “I knew it!” he said, spinning us in circles.

  “I’m so happy,” I said, giggling as he slowed, gently setting my feet back on the ground. “I think this is why you were assigned to me. Not just so you could help me or so that we could fall in love, but so that I could work with you. I know I’m not a Messenger, but I think your Boss had a purpose for me, too. To be your partner.”

  “You’re absolutely right,” he said, kissing my forehead. “Wherever we go, whatever we do, we’ll be together.”

  “Always,” I whispered, gazing deep into his baby blues. Behind him the sun glowed orange on the horizon, lighting the sky with brilliance before it disappeared for the night.

  Dusk, I thought. How appropriate.

  “Always,” he whispered, bringing his lips to mine. “Always.”

  THE END

  A Note From the Author

  If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review at your place of purchase and/or any other online review site you frequent. Customer reviews are one of the best ways to show an author you enjoyed his or her work and can be invaluable for other readers as they browse for reading material. This author reads all reviews and greatly appreciates each one.

  About the Author

  Amy Durham discovered her love of writing in the sixth grade. What began as a love of writing poetry soon turned into stories scribbled into school notebooks. In the eighth grade, her English teacher told her she was good at it and encouraged her to continue to put pen to paper. At that moment, the die was cast, and writing would forever be a part of her life.

  As an adult, Amy focuses her efforts on writing Young Adult Fiction… adventure, romance, and life-lessons… woven together as imagination and escape for young readers. Amy holds a firm belief that books are not only entertaining, but have the ability to transform young lives. A book can educate. A book can teach compassion and kindness. A book can spark interest. A book can be a companion. Simply put, books can accompany and guide young readers as they try to navigate their way through the twisted, confusing roads of adolescence.

  She lives in Kentucky, where she is a middle school teacher. She and her husband are raising three wild, intelligent, and creative boys, giving her plenty of fodder for the love and adventure she enjoys putting in her stories!

  Amy loves to hear from readers. You can contact her at:

  amybdurham@gmail.com

  www.amydurham.com

  twitter.com/Amy_Durham

  facebook.com/AuthorAmyDurham

  Turn the page for a sneak peak at For Once: A Sky Cove Short Story, coming soon from Amy Durham.

  Coming Soon

  For Once: A Sky Cove Short Story

  Netfilx online streaming was the cause of my insomnia. And if I wasn’t careful it would be the cause of my GPA plummeting. I looked at the clock and almost cursed the day I discovered Dr. Quinn. Almost, but not quite.

  I smiled, replaying the moment that Sully finally told Dr. Mike that he loved her, right before they jumped off the cliff and into the river to escape her captors. How romantic was that? And how pitiful was I that my crazy romanticism had me up at all hours of the night watching old TV shows because my own life was so totally void of anything close to romance?

  Sighing, I laid my glasses aside, shut my laptop, and snuggled down under the covers. January in Maine was brutal and required at least twenty pounds of cover on the bed. Looking at the clock, I groaned. At 2:00 a.m., I could still manage about four hours of sleep before I had to be up to get ready for school. Junior year at Sky Cove Senior High was tough, but I could do this. Jessie Spencer did not let her grades slip. Not even for Sully and Dr. Quinn.

  In that hazy place that’s not yet sleep but not quite awake, I couldn’t help but replay the scene in my mind. And as the dream began to spin behind my eyelids, I allowed myself to be pulled in.

  * * *

  The crowd in Thornton’s General Store was always large the day of a delivery. It was quite the event in a town as small as Sky Cove, and today was no exception. Even I could not resist wandering up to the second floor to have a look at the new bolts of fabric, despite the fact that I was only here for basics such as flour, sugar, and soap.

  Outside, I could hear the beat of horse hooves as more folks arrived at Thornton’s to have a look. Dressed in typical 1850s fashion with a long, brown skirt, off-white shirt with long sleeves, and a brown shawl about my shoulders, I looked like any other lady browsing the fabrics. The assembly upstairs grew, and as I was not terribly comfortable in large crowds, I began making my way toward the stairs that led downstairs to the main room of the store.

  As I neared the edge of the room, Mr. Herman Smith and his wife Myrtie, who were known for being rather cantankerous, began arguing. She, apparently, was fond of a fabric he thought frivolous and too expensive. Not one to be dissuaded, Myrtie insisted, picking up the bolt of fabric herself. Herman grabbed it away from her, taking her roughly by the arm and swinging the both of them toward the stairway.

  And unfortunately, directly into me.

  The force of Myrtie, propelled by Herman’s strength, knocked me off my balance and I started down the stairway not of my own volition. It seemed to happen in slow motion, the first few steps looking like a clumsy attempt at hopping down the stairs. But midway down, my feet flew out from under me and I tumbled and turned, heading for a landing that would put me directly on my back.

  But just before the impact, I crashed into a solid body, not made of wood, but of flesh and bone. The collision didn’t seem to affect him. He simply put his arms around me, effectively stopping my fall and keeping me from a very unladylike sprawl on the floor of the General Store.

  Looking up, intending to thank my rescuer, I was struck speechless by the deep green eyes of Will Harlow, who I’d long admired from a distance.

  In his usual brown trousers and white shirt, he was as easy rescuing me from a fall as he was splitting logs at the mill or throwing heavy sacks of grain over his shoulder. He never seemed to take much of anything seriously, which only added to his allure.

  “Might want to be more careful there, Miss Spencer,” he said, a sly grin crossing his face. “I can’t be around to catch you every time.”

  * * *

  My cell phone alarm sounded, and I opened my eyes. Blinking and looking around, I assured myself I was in my room and not in some pre-twentieth century general store.

  Sheesh, what a dream. I had to stop watching sappy TV re-runs before sleeping.

  Because no way was present-day Will Harlow, high school athlete and popular guy, going to look at science-nerd Jessie Spencer as anything other than a friendly acquaintance.

  * * *

  Normally I used the front door of the school at the end of the day, but an unexpected trip to my locker to retrieve my forgotten calculator made it easier to use the door near the back of the building. As I worked the combination lock, I mentally checked off each class, making sure I had what I needed for homework and studying.

  I was nothing if not conscientious.

  I’d fought distraction all day long, forcing myself not to think about that stupid dream. Thankfully, I’d managed to stay awake despite my lack of sleep, but I figured once I got home, a nap would be the first thing on the agenda.

  Grabbing my calculator and closing the locker door, I allowed myself one second to swoon over that moment in my dream where Will’s arms had locked around me and I’d looked up into his green eyes. I’d had a major crush on Will for a long time. A crush which was only made worse by my new friend Layla’s relationship with Will’s best friend Lucas.

&nb
sp; Now I was around Will pretty regularly, since Layla and our group of girls hung around with Lucas and Will and the rest of the cross-country guys.

  Will was super-nice, but I knew he didn’t notice me. At least not in the way a boy notices a girl.

  All of a sudden, a group of guys ran down the hall toward the back door. I could hear the commotion from outside when they pushed the door open. Hitching my backpack up on my shoulder, I headed that direction to see what the fuss was about. After all, I had to leave the building anyway.

  A fight in the school parking lot had apparently inspired the stampede that now flooded down the hallway behind me. Looked like school jock Todd Miller was pounding on one of the other popular dudes. Over what, was anybody’s guess. The cause of the fight didn’t really matter. Kids just wanted to see it, and most of the crazy people in the herd didn’t seem to care that I was in front of them. They pushed and shoved me like a ping-pong ball in their effort to get outside and witness the brawl.

  I’d finally managed to get my footing when one last group of guys barreled toward the door. One of them hit me full force and as the doors to the outside pushed open under their assault, I tumbled out, the freezing January air smacking me in the face.

  There were only four steps between the door and the pavement, but in the split second that I sailed downward, I imagined the scene that would result. Me, flat on the blacktop, while the large crowd of onlookers turned their attention from the fight to the awkward nerd who’d fallen down the steps.

  I closed my eyes, mentally preparing for the mortification that was imminent.

  Just when I expected to hit the ground, I landed against a solid body, not at all made of asphalt. Instead, a pair of arms locked around me, efficiently keeping me from face planting in front of the crowd of people.