A Spark Of Magic: Chosen Saga Book One

by J. L. Clayton

  Miss Wesley smiled as she handed the hall passes over to us. We headed to the nurse’s office, but before we opened the door, Dee stopped me.

  “Wow, Charlie, where’d that come from?”

  “Huh?” I replied, and for once I really didn’t know what Dee was talking about.

  “Back in the gym,” she pointed down the hall. “What you said to Molly . . . You know the girl that hit you with the volleyball.” I grimaced. So that was the linebacker’s name! “Brutal. I thought for sure she was going to tear your head off. The way she was looking at you was scary.” I frowned. “Know what the scariest part was?” Dee paused, she looked at me, and when I said nothing she shrugged. “The way you were looking at her. I mean, shit. You were freaky, and this whole time I thought you were a quiet, sweet girl, and you thought I was a bitch. Hah. Tell me, who is bitchier now . . . Me or you?”

  My mouth fell open, but she had a point, and I didn’t like it nor did I like this conversation. “I am—I’m sweet,” I protested.

  “Yeah.” She raised her eyebrows. “Well I’m just glad we’re friends now.”

  “Look, I’m not scary. I am not a bitch. She just pushed my buttons. I’ve been dealing with a lot lately, and I guess all the bad stuff that’s been building up decided to come out and it just so happens I took it out on her. Besides, she started it.” Lame!

  “OK, OK. Fine! I understand,” Dee smirked.

  I shook my head. Yeah, she understood my ass. “Good, now let’s get my mouth looked at.”

  “Wait, Charlie, I need to ask you something.”

  “Hello—life or death here,” I said pointing at my mouth.

  “Come on, it’s not that bad, Charlie, and I promise I will not ask why you’re not going to the dance with Tru. Which I have to say is stupid. Hello, he could be your boyfriend,” Dee said shaking my shoulders, putting her face close to mine.

  (Barf!)

  “But he’s not,” I corrected her. I wished he was, and yes, I could have made this easy and just accepted Tru as my boyfriend. But as my faithful readers already know, I liked Jace, so that’s why Tru was not my boyfriend. Everything was just confusing.

  “Whatever, but he could be. You’re just making it hard, Charlie.”

  “No. I’m. Not,” I replied deliberately slowly.

  “Yes. You. Are,” she said just as slowly. “Again, I say: Whatevze. My point is loser . . . you should give the boy a break. Charlie, he likes you, and I don’t for the life of me know why!”

  I crossed my arms feeling miffed. “What did you want to ask me anyway? As I can recall you promised that you wouldn’t talk about this.”

  “Fine, it’s dropped.” She smiled.

  “Good. So, if this isn’t about Tru. What is it about?” I asked.

  “Uh . . . I wanted to ask you if you would like to go pick out a dress with me for the dance.”

  I thought about it for a second. Did I want to hang out with her? Sometimes Dee was insolent, but I also liked her spunk. Hmm! “Yeah,” I shrugged. “That sounds good. Is it just us going?”

  “No, if you want Tammin to come, that would be cool.”

  “I would love it if Tammin came with us.” With Tammin going, I wouldn’t have to suffer an interrogation. I wounded why Z wasn’t coming, though. I eyed her. “So it’ll just be me, you, and Tammin?”

  “Yes,” Dee said slowly and inquiringly.

  “What about Z?” I asked.

  After barely half a breath break, Dee sighed then mumbled, “No she’s not coming.”

  Concerned now and a little mistrustful I asked, “Why?”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Dee shrugged.

  Well that answer didn’t get me anywhere. Pretty soon Dee would come to learn I don’t let up that easy. “C’mon, Dee, tell me why Z isn’t coming,” I demanded.

  “Just drop it, Charlie.”

  “Like you did about the dance?” I asked.

  “I did eventually drop it, if you remember.” She rolled her eyes.

  “Oh yeah, I remember, but if I recall, it took more than me saying drop it for you to drop it,” I grinned.

  “But I did,” she said in a low sweet voice.

  I glared at her, letting her feel my full gaze. Letting her know I was not going to drop it like she did. Unlike her, I didn’t cave that easily. I still hadn’t caved to Tru yet. We’d ride home, and he’d have to talk to me about what happened this morning.

  “I can see you’re not going to let this go.”

  I laughed, rolled my eyes, and rested my hand on her shoulder. “Dee, I guess then you can see just fine.”

  “I guess so,” she grumbled in a sharp tone, placing her hands over her face.

  Dee shook her head back and forth, making her short brown hair sway. I watched as the silken strands slid down her face. I thought she was OK-pretty, but I never really saw her until that moment. Maybe it was the dark-as-night eyes that always made me feel like she could unveil my darkest secrets, or maybe, it was how we never got along. But now, I could see Dee was beautiful in her on way.

  So I relented. “Dee, I’m sorry. If it’s bad, you don’t have to tell me. But we’re friends now, right, and I’m just trying to be a good one. So if you need to talk, I’m here.”

  Dee sighed, looking sad. It must be bad if she and Zitkala were not hanging out. Tru said they were more than just friends. They were like sisters. So something bad had to have happened, right?

  “I don’t think Z would like Nolen,” Dee finally said.

  “What? Why?” I asked surprised.

  “I just think she wouldn’t like him. See . . . She always thought we would be sisters, so then she thought Tru and me, well. . . ”

  “Oh—I see.” I looked at her and smiled. I also rolled my eyes. “She thought you and Tru would grow up, get married, have 3.275 kids, the white-fence and everything . . . Am I right?”

  “Eww! That was so not a visual I wanted.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at her. What . . . Not a visual she wanted! Puhleeze! Three days ago that was probably the only visual she wanted and saw in her future. “Whatever. What—ever! You were practically forcing yourself on Tru, but now you can’t even picture it? Give me a freaking break.”

  ”No . . . I can picture me and Tru, but not the kid thing . . . Too many.” She giggled and covered her eyes. “But I’m so over Tru, Charlie. I like Nolen.”

  “Yeah, Dee, I can see you do like Nolen, which makes me happy for you.”

  “Really, Charlie?”

  “Yes really. I’m very happy for you. However, I think you should tell Z! She is your best friend, and I don’t know her all that well, but I never would have pegged her to be the kind of person to tell someone who to marry, even if it’s her brother,” I pointed out.

  Dee sighed and opened the door to the nurse’s room. I guess the discussion was over. Nurse Betty, (yeah that was her name) told Dee she could go to her next class. Dee left as Nurse Betty looked me over. After visiting the nurse and her telling me that I would live (thank God, I thought I was a goner), I headed to my other classes and the day dragged on. Three o’clock couldn’t get there fast enough. The good thing was that school ended, and it was time to go home—I could finally talk to Tru about this morning—the bad thing was that Tru wasn’t having any of it.

  “C, let’s not talk about it anymore. Let’s just play things by ear.”

  “So, you don’t want to talk about what happened this morning? You’re telling me you don’t want to talk about it at all?”

  “Nope, not at all,” Tru replied.

  “Okay,” I said hotly.

  “Okay,” he said briskly.

  “But doesn’t it bother you?” He frowned but I couldn’t let it go. “You know, me liking some other guy?”

  Tru put his head down and clenched his fists. Through clenched teeth he hissed, “Yes, it fucking bothers me! Fuck!” He shouted clenching the steering wheel. It groaned under his hands. I flinched. He looked into my eyes sadl
y as he continued. His voice sounded a little more subdued, but still he was in the grip of fury. “It bothers me more than you know! It hurts. I want you, and you want us both. I don’t want anyone to have you but me! Yet, you can’t say the same. God, it hurt. Hello, you like someone else. Of course it bothers me. C, I don’t like, nor want anyone but you! So yes . . . It’s . . . Fucking . . . Killing me! Thinking of you wanting someone the way I want you!” He shuddered.

  The pain on his face and the look in his eyes was too much. I just wanted to wipe it away, but instead of me comforting him, he comforted me. Tru leaned over and gently kissed my lips. That touch was all I needed. It was more than I could describe, and more than I deserved.

  “You’re home,” Tru whispered into my ear. He pressed a soft kiss on my forehead and murmured something so sweet, so wonderful—something that once again no one has ever said to me in the way he did. Even if he didn’t say I love you, it still sounded that way. “C, I’m willing to fight for you, and this is going to sound crazy, but you’re the light that my soul is missing. You! You’re my heart, and I have to fight for my heart, because without you I will never be whole.”

  How could I have affected someone so profoundly in such a short amount of time? Was it even possible? And did he know that he was affecting me just as fast? I swallowed as a tear rolled down my cheek. Tru looked and me and brushed my tears away.

  Hugging me he said, “Don’t cry. I don’t want you to cry. If you cry, I will start and that’s not pretty.” He pulled back, breaking the spell trying to make things light. I wiped my eyes and tentatively hopped out of the truck and slowly without speaking turned around as Tru waved goodbye. I stood there speechless not wanting to move . . . feeling the whole weight of what just happened crash down on me. This had to be the worst thing one person could do to another. I was like a succubus! I was sucking the life out of love . . . Out of Tru . . . Out of Jace . . . Out of me! Why couldn’t I just pick one? Why did I have to make things so hard? The worst thing was I knew what I was doing. However, I was still doing it. Was I trying to play God with emotions? What was I turning into?

  Dee told me that I scared her more than Molly, which was bad. Molly was the mean one not me! Although, I thought I was turning into something I hated. Saying mean things, pulling two guys along . . . was that me? I didn’t really know. I’d never been in this situation. With my head down, I headed up to the house. Suddenly, all I wanted was Mom. I wanted nothing as much as I wanted my mother. She was my safe-haven, the one person I could talk to, tell all my secrets to. My mom was that for me, the one I had always counted on. However, as I opened the door, I felt the air shift around me. I knew something was about to happen. Oh man, I could not believe that I forget what happened that morning. Was I so caught up in my emotions that I could forget our argument, (well guess I was the one arguing while Mom listened, but still!) I suck. When I saw my dad and mom sitting on the sofa waiting patiently for me, I knew something was going to happen. Crap! Whatever I felt seconds ago was gone.

  (Boy, this’ll be fun!)

  “Mom, Dad . . . What’s going on?”

  “Sit down, Kiddo,” Dad said in a harsh tone.

  So I did.

  “Charlie . . . Um . . . How do we put this?” Mom spoke sweetly, as she twisted her hands together in a nervous gesture.

  “How do you put what?” I asked in a not-so-sweet tone. Mom was looking at me in a way I had never seen her look at me before. And Dad was quiet. Too quiet. What was going on? “What is it? Mom? Dad?” I waited. “Okay, will someone please tell me? Mom—Dad is everything okay? If it’s about this morning, I’m sorry.”

  Dad let out a low breath and said, “You’re not allowed to see Tru Clayton anymore.”

  “What?” I gaped at them. “You’ve got to be kidding me?” I laughed bitterly. “Mom . . . would you please tell Dad that there is nothing wrong with Tru.” Mom just sat there with her ankles crossed, hands folded in her lap, and her eyes closed. Mom didn’t say one freaking word. “Mom, please tell Dad what happened this morning!” Silence. “Mom?” Still there was nothing but silence. “Mom, would you tell him already? Like now.”

  I was freaking getting ticked off. I narrowed my gaze at my mom, ready for whatever she had to say for herself.

  “Oh, Charlie . . . Sweetie, I think your father’s right. You don’t need to see Tru anymore,” Mom said with a hint of regret in her voice.

  Damn, I knew she was being too nice to him this morning for some reason. I shot straight up out of my seat and glared at them. I was so mad. God, parents suck. I wanted to punch something, maybe my mom and dad. I felt like crying. They couldn’t do this to me! Could they?

  “No, I’m not going to stop hanging out with Tru. Can you give me one good reason why I should?”

  Dad looked at me with thin lips. His jaw was clenched and in a low voice he said, “Because I told you to.”

  “Because . . . you told me to . . . Because, uh . . . you told me to?” I threw quotations in the air. “What the hell, Dad?”

  “Charlie, watch your mouth.” Dad narrowed his eyes.

  “No. And that’s not a good enough reason. I’m not going to listen to you.” I threw my hand’s palms up in Dad’s direction. My eyes went wide, and this strange burning heat rolled off me. Mom and Dad looked at one another, and then at my hands that seemed to be smoking. What the hell. I shook my hands, but the heat increased.

  “Charlie! You need to calm down,” Dad said still looking at my hands.

  “No!” I shouted. With that, I turned quickly away and ran.

  Chapter Twenty

  I’m Always on the Ground

  I shot out of the house and ran to the end of the road and kept on going, pushing my body forward when it just wanted to stop. My muscles protested with pain, and I felt like passing out, but I didn’t stop. I was running for my sanity. However, I ended up running for Tru. Finally I’d had all I could take. I stopped and fell to the ground, gasping for air as I held my chest heaving with agony. I was so sad and freaked out. What happened back there? Did that—whatever that was—really happen, or was I seeing things? And could Mom really let Dad stop me from seeing Tru? What had just happened? I didn’t get it! What was going on? Why did my parents not want me to see Tru?

  I tried to shrug all the thoughts I was having out of my head! And what was with that bizarre smoke and that intensive heat? My mind was whirling and nothing was helping. I took several deep breaths. After running for so long and being very tired, plus hurting as all get out, you would think my mind would have shut down. But, no, it didn’t seem to get the memo! My heart was racing, and my brain was going into overload. I tried again to breathe deeply in a calming technique, but trying to calm down didn’t seem to be working for me. I needed to hit something. I needed to hit something really, really bad. I got up and started walking until I found myself standing in front of Jace’s shop. I looked around to see if anyone was inside. Once I saw for sure that no one was there and the coast was clear, I opened the door and walked right over to a big punching bag. I promptly started kicking, punching, and pushing the bag with everything I had. After I was spent, I fell down on the concrete floor and started crying yet again.

  I don’t really know how long I sat there crying. Time had no hold on me, that is until someone put their arms around me, pulling my head into their chest . . . then I knew I had to have been sitting there crying for a while. I took in a deep breath and knew it was Jace. His scent all too familiar enveloped me: musk, smooth, sweet tang! Jace! He smelled good! He smelled safe! He smelled like home. Jace sat beside me, a comforting presence not saying one word. Not asking what was wrong, nor asking why I was here. He just held on to me, rubbing my hair and rocking me back and forth. After what felt like a lifetime and I had no more tears to cry, I looked up into Jace’s bright-blue eyes. He smiled down at me.

  “Sorry,” I said snuffling.

  “It’s OK. I’m here for you anytime. It’ll be OK. I’ll make sure it will
be, Charlie,” Jace said it in a whisper.

  It was sweet what he was saying, but if he only knew why I was crying, Jace might not be this sweet. I leaned in and hugged him closer. That was all I needed: A big hug. Jace hugged me back with vigor. It wasn’t the intense feeling I would always get when Jace touched me. This was sweet, nice, something I needed—Jace was giving that to me—Jace was being a friend. After a few more minutes, we pulled apart, and still he never once asked what happened. We just talked and laughed like we were longtime friends. A thought came to me: We have been friends a very long time. However, it faded as quickly as it came. I knew that thought process was crazy so I shrugged it away.

  Jace said, “Are you ready to go home?”

  Even though I loved hanging out, I was ready. It was time to go back home—time to see what was going to happen now that I’d run out on my mom and dad.

  “Yes, Jace, please I’m ready now.”

  He smiled. Putting one hand over mine he pulled me off the floor. However, he pulled me up with too much force and I crashed into him. The crash sent Jace flying. He hit the floor with a thud. Jace let out an oath as my body slammed down on top of him.

  “Hey, did you do that on purpose?” I asked smiling down at him thinking that if he did, I bet he didn’t think we would hit that hard.

  “Who me?” He asked innocently. “Now why would I do that, Fox, when you know I like to be on top?” Jace pulled me down and flipped me over him. I was starting to think this was becoming a pain in the neck. I was always on the ground. Ugh!

  Jace smirked. “I told you so . . . I like to be on top,” he purred.

  Now the friendly thing we’d had going turned into something more. Something I thought about countless times, but always forced out of my mind. To have his lips on me . . . To taste him just one more time would be ecstasy. Gosh, wasn’t I just crying over Tru. Now look at me!

  “Jace, you’ve had your fun, but now get off me,” I said, mad at myself.

  “What’s the matter, Fox?” Jace all but crooned. “Now that I’m on top it’s not fun for you?”