Luminescence (Luminescence Trilogy)

by J. L. Weil

  Walking inside the house, I leaned up against the closed door. The roar of his engine rippled through the night and I sighed with a content smile on my lips.

  Chapter 6

  THE NEXT MORNING I WOKE up mystified. On one hand I was ecstatic about spending time with Gavin. On the other he was a puzzle. I was pretty good at puzzles so the idea of trying to figure him out was appealing to my nature. As I lay there staring at the ceiling, I tried to sort the little I already knew about him. I couldn’t let go of this nudge that there was something peculiar with him. Call it a hunch or whatever, but it gnawed at the back of my mind.

  Sunday’s were lazy. I didn’t work and mostly spent the day catching up on household chores, finishing my homework and watching my DVR. Regrettably I got up when it became clear I wasn’t going to get any answers glaring at the ceiling. Pulling a hoodie over the tank I slept in, I padded my way downstairs.

  My aunt was at the breakfast bar with her morning coffee – the aroma tempting. “Morning,” she beamed between sips of her steaming mug.

  There was a hint of something sweetening the air mixed with the bitter coffee grounds. Plopping down on a burgundy stool I ran a hand through my tousled hair and grumbled an incomprehensible response.

  “Coffee?” She spun around going to the pot still on the warmer.

  Our kitchen was ornamented in cranberries and ivy. They were woven around the chains of the chandelier and intricately staggered above the dark cherry cabinets. The whole ensemble had a country living vibe.

  Nodding my head, she set a roasting cup in front of me. Placing my hands on either side of the mug, I let the warmth soak into them.

  “I made cinnamon rolls if you would like one,” she offered, leaning her elbows on the counter grinning at me.

  It was killing her, waiting for me to say something about last night. She was all but bursting with fervent impatience. I glanced over at the clock and noticed there were only a few more minutes before she needed to leave for the shop.

  “You’re killing me.” She echoed my thoughts.

  I rolled my eyes. “It was nothing,” I insisted.

  She didn’t believe me. “He sure didn’t look like nothing.”

  You’re telling me. “I know… this is so bad,” I whined, shoving my face into my hands.

  She laughed at my theatrics. The sound was like home – comfort and security.

  “I think he wants to be friends,” I scoffed. The last word was said with annoyance.

  “The way that boy looked at you was anything but just friends. Just give it time, you’ll see. In the meantime, be yourself. He won’t be able to resist.”

  Who was she kidding? How was I supposed to be myself when I rarely even knew who that was?

  Exhaling I said, “I think I’ll take one of those cinnamon rolls now.”

  Placing the sticky bun on a plate she handed it to me. “I can’t believe my angel has a boyfriend.” She had a silly grinned on her face.

  Groaning, I laid my head on the countertop. “He is not my boyfriend.” The words were muffled by the granite.

  “See you by five,” she called over her shoulder and headed to the garage.

  ***

  The DVR was currently playing the previous week’s episode of my favorite series. I had my feet tucked beneath me; a blanket wrapped around my legs and I still wore the hoodie from this morning. The bad reality show on the screen only had part of my attention. Before I could prevent it, the memory of last night with the sinister Gavin came back to taunt me. What was it about him that caused my hairs to stand up and get my blood pumping all at the same time?

  He struck a chord in me and I started to regret not pressing him on our complication. Maybe that was part of his angle, to remain aloof, mysterious to keep me interested. Little did he know, I was way past just interested. I might have just slammed into what I was sure was an unhealthy obsession. Why couldn’t I get him out of my head?

  Halfway into the show, my phone vibrated the cushion beside me. Unlocking the home screen the text icon blinked with a new message.

  What are you doing? It read, popping up Gavin’s name next to the message. The secret of my phone last night revealed itself. He must have added himself to my contacts.

  Nothin. Did you steal my number too? I sent the response with a squiggling smiley face.

  The phone hummed again seconds later. One of my many tricks.

  Oh I’m sure it is. Grinning I tapped away on the keys. I would have given it to you.

  Not as much fun!

  And you’re all about fun… I replied.

  There’s nothing wrong with a little fun. You going to school tomorrow?

  I rolled my eyes after reading the last text. Where else would I be?

  Somewhere with me?

  Funny… See you in Chem.

  Ugh… Fine. If that’s the only way I can see you. I could almost hear the aggravation in his text.

  Returning my attention to the last half of my show, the night wore on and on and on.

  Finally out of sheer boredom I climbed the stairs to the sanctuary of my room, my homework was done and the laundry made. The walls glistened in lilac frost accentuated by the silvery moss comforter that lain spread across my bed. There were always fresh flowers in the vase at my nightstand, a perk for having an aunt who owned a floral shop. I believed the current flower was hydrangea filling my room with its sugary aroma.

  I whipped my hoodie off in the corner and headed to the small desk housing my ancient, barely functioning laptop. Hitting the power switch I waited for it to boot up. My mind wandered against my will. His dark poetic features clearly impressed into my memory.

  Heaving a deep sigh, I shook my head mentally trying to erase his image.

  The homepage on my computer loaded and I logged in to check my emails. Nothing significant, a bunch of spam, a few jokes from Austin and one from school reminding me to sign up for email updates on my grades. I shifted through the junk, read Austin’s and sent most to my trash folder. Frustrated with the snail speed of my internet connection I shut the computer down and close it with a satisfying snap.

  Grabbing my iPod, I flung myself on the bed and scrolled down the menu of songs. Selecting a loud angry Alanis Morissette track, I pumped up the volume, determined to drown out all images of Gavin Mason.

  The dream hit me faster than normal. One instant I was listening to Alanis belt ‘You, you, you oughta know’ and the next I was in a clearing – enclosed by fields of lavender. The transition was typically gradual. When I closed my eyes there was usually some interlude to let my body and mind unwind. This time it was like being sucked down a water slide.

  Lukas was sitting next to me, close enough that I felt the bush of his arm. It was easy comfort with him. The sandy blonde of his hair moved slightly with the gentle breeze that mixed with the lavender essence. His emerald eyes sought mine.

  “Hey.” The warmth of his breath flushed my cheeks.

  “Hi,” I replied. “I didn’t think I’d see you so soon.”

  He smiled charmingly, illuminating the golden boy face. “Me either…I’m not complaining though.”

  At times he seemed too good to be true or in this case dream about. I was pretty sure my mind wasn’t that ingenious.

  “Earth to Brianna,” he called mockingly.

  “What?” I startled from the random thoughts.

  He was eyeing me coolly. “You were somewhere else.”

  “Sorry, it’s been a hectic week,” I apologized.

  Taking both my hands in his he pulled me effortlessly to my feet. “Good, let’s do something.” The rush caused a little hitch in my breath. “Common on,” he said a second before taking off into the meadow of lavender, his golden hair bouncing with his hurried movements.

  Not missing a beat, I bolted out after him. “Lukas,”
I shouted. “You better not lose me.” Forgetting that he was way more athletically built than most guys at my school, yet this was a dream, how far could he really go? Hey if you are going to dream, dream big. Well it seemed pretty far because it wasn’t long before I lost sight of him or he was in an extremely great hiding spot.

  Reaching the edge of a lily pad immersed pond, I paused in my search. My lungs were ragged from chasing and losing him. Maybe it was time I hit the gym. He snuck up behind me, encircled his arms around my waist and spun me in dizzying circles. His arms felt amazing. Real or not I still appreciated being held by him. Collapsing us on the ground he took full advantage of his position and tickled me till I couldn’t breathe – choking on my laughter.

  “Stop,” I sobbed between giggling gasps.

  His fingers hitting just the right spots to make me curl in tickled torture. “What did you say more? It’s hard to understand you when you’re laughing so hard,” he teased in his honey smooth voice.

  “For real – can’t – breathe,” I spit out between gasps. Playfully I knocked at his hands.

  “Okay, okay… I give,” he conceded but grinned impishly. He rocked back into a sitting position, swiping grass off his clothes.

  Smiling into his emerald eyes I felt a huge boulder lifted from my back. A few stolen moments of childish pleasure relaxed my body. I felt weightless.

  “You have no idea how special you are.” His dreamy voice had softened.

  Who doesn’t dream of a guy saying those exact words? The problem was… it was a dream. I fleetingly pictured Gavin’s dark looks and his smirk that was becoming all too sexy.

  “I’m really not,” I protested. “I’m just some girl.”

  “Not just any girl – trust me.”

  Trust him. Did I, trust him? How could some mysterious guy show up in my life and I trust him uncomplicatedly, but Lukas who I’ve dreamed of forever, I couldn’t decide if I did indeed trust him.

  Our feet dangled over the ponds edge. He sighed, the carelessness gone. “Who was the guy that showed up last time?” There was a disapproving edge to his tone. He tried to hide it.

  Strange that for only a moment Gavin had been on my mind and now Lukas was asking about him. Anxiously I shrugged. “A new guy at school,” I confessed.

  His lips thinned in a straight line. “Is he something more?” There was a detest quality about the way he asked, like a bad after taste.

  “No,” I said shaking my head. “Just a friend. Why?” I wanted to know why he even cared.

  “It was just… weird.”

  I assumed he was referring to the nightmare ending from our previous encounter. Weird was an understatement. I was still unclear how my mind came up with these dreams. “It was weird. I don’t understand any of this.” I threw my hands in the air on a whim of aggravation.

  “Were you thinking of him while you were with me?” he asked, a speck of jealousy lacing it.

  I didn’t like the insinuation behind his tone, like I’d done something wrong. Chewing at the bottom of my lip, I contemplated my answer. No matter that Lukas was being unreasonable I didn’t want to hurt him. Was it possible to hurt a dream’s feelings, because that’s what I was afraid would happen – craziness.

  “I don’t know…I guess I was,” I grudgingly admitted. “Does it make a difference whether I was or not?”

  The expression in his face fell and it sunk my heart. “Not really. I’m just not using to sharing you. You’ve never brought anyone else into the dreams.”

  True I hadn’t, but I never really realized that I could. I mean it hadn’t been intentional. I thought about Gavin and somewhere my subconscious thought it was a good idea to include him to the mix. Regardless that it ended in a very strange nightmare. My mind was playing tricks with me.

  I’m sorry,” I said sincerely. “I’ll try not to do it again.” Was I really apologizing for something I couldn’t control? I wanted to appease him – to see the lightness in his emerald eyes. Not the heavy emotion that shone. It didn’t feel right upsetting Lukas, I mean what harm could it do appeasing my imagination and he seemed satisfied with my admission – for now.

  Entwining my fingers with his, he played with our hands. “I believe you.”

  Well that only made one of us, because I wasn’t so sure I could stop thinking about Gavin any more than I could stop dreaming about Lukas. Just his name was enough to have my heart race even while I was sleeping. As guilty as it made me feel to think about him when I was dreaming of Lukas, I couldn’t stop my mind from drifting. Lukas used to be all I dreamed of and I don’t know what changed, which made it worse because he was also aware of the alteration. The whole thing bothered me more than it should, considering none of it was real.

  As if on cue from my straying thoughts of Gavin – a growling roar erupted.

  I awoke with the sound still ringing in my ears.

  Chapter 7

  THE FOLLOWING WEEKS AT SCHOOL were the most exciting. Gavin made the day. His mysterious presence in my daily life was becoming something I depended on. My friends casually accepted the newcomer as part of our group as easily as he fit into mine. Austin found him extremely sexy, like a magazine cover he could ogle and appreciate. Tori was more watchful. She was aware that there was something between us but couldn’t figure us out. There was no denying the attraction we sparked, yet both us tried to tramp it.

  And Rianne, well she continued to eye me with disdain.

  There was a connection between Gavin and I that I couldn’t ignore. However, I was no closer to figuring his angle. And meeting his sister only amplified my inkling that something was different about them and it had nothing to do with his dark and dangerous front. I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Something inside me demanded there was more to him than he let on.

  I met his sister in the parking lot Wednesday morning on my way into school. She had ridden with Gavin. I caught my first glimpse of her as I stepped out of my car. He pulled in next to me. Each morning the rumble of his engine announced his arrival, sending my innards on a roller coaster. I wouldn’t be surprised if I started getting ulcers from the amount of activity my stomach went through around him. It couldn’t possibly be healthy for me.

  Stepping from the passenger side, she wasn’t at all what I expected. I pictured a hardass with purple hair, raccoon makeup and Goth wear. What I got was an eyeful of an intimidating beauty. She had shiniest midnight hair that blanketed her shoulders and framed her delicate face. Her eyes were the same piercing blue as Gavin’s but outlined with thick lush lashes. The floor length dress she wore had a hippy vibe and contoured to her perfect body in way that I envied. She was downright stunning and immediately inviting.

  “You must be Brianna.” Her voice sung in the morning air like a hummingbird. “I’ve heard so much about you,” she admitted before Gavin jabbed her playfully in the side. “What?” She batted her lashes innocently. “You’re all he’s talked about since we moved here,” she softly added as we walked toward the lockers.

  “Sophie,” he growled low in warning.

  She was unfazed by him. “I’m Sophie.” She smiled genuine and warm.

  “Wow, you are really pretty,” I lamely complimented and cringed inside. Sometimes things shot out of my mouth that I could thump myself over the head for. This was one of those times.

  She tossed her head over her shoulder at Gavin. “I like her already.” He trailed behind us. Glancing back at me she enclosed me in her liveliness. Sophie was such a disparity to Gavin’s dark and brooding looks. I wouldn’t have guessed them brother and sister if it weren’t for the eyes. “I don’t know how you stand this brutes company.” Her musical tone lit with bantering affection.

  “It’s a gift. I’m irresistible,” Gavin stated smirking.

  We both snorted and then smiled at each other over our duel action.

  “Please, don’t f
latter yourself,” she countered. Their sibling repartee was amusing and reminded me how much I missed out on not having a brother or sister.

  Her hand causally looped my arm with hers, spurring a zing comparable to the one I occasionally felt with Gavin. Yet not exactly, with her it didn’t have the essential tension. It lacked the zeal of intensity. Everything with Gavin was intense. Her familiar eyes quickly sought mine – judging my reaction. I knew then that the energy, or whatever it was – meant something. Recovering quickly, I didn’t want to let on that I thought something was amiss. We walked side-by-side into the school.

  “I don’t know many people yet and I know you’re a senior, but… maybe we could hang out sometime? My family would love to meet you.”

  “Sure, I would like that.” And I was being sincere. I initially thought her beauty would intimidate me, but just as quickly I realized there was kinship I rarely felt, something in her hummingbird voice that I had an affinity with.

  Her smile twinkled in excitement. “See you later.” She gave me a quick hug. Sophie was impossible not to like. I sucked with people, but I felt like I had just made an ally and hopefully a friend.

  “I’m going to kill her,” he half-heartedly threatened when Sophie was out of reach.

  Walking next to me, he brushed my arm occasionally. “Why?” I wondered aloud. He smelled like heaven.

  “Why – because that was embarrassing,” he confessed, grinning sheepishly.

  I laughed at his uneasiness. “Hardly…she’s amazing.”

  “Amazingly annoying.”

  “She’s your sister. What does that make you?”

  He smirked recovering his insolence. “Dashing.”

  So true. I rolled my eyes as he opened the door to my first class. “See you in Chem.”

  “Wouldn’t miss it,” he assured, strolling across the hall to his class.

  Chemistry soon became my favorite class and it had nothing to do with atoms, molecules or particles. I always thought of myself as an English buff, how quickly that can change. Gavin somehow had found a way to finagle his way into becoming my lab partner. I haven’t the slightest idea how. Before he joined the class my partner had been Adam Joyhart. The class had been equally divided, with Gavin’s addition he should have been just added to a group. Instead Mr. Burke moved Adam to another pair and assigned Gavin as my partner. I was tempted enough to ask Gavin about it, but he just shrugged it off.