Independence

by Shelly Crane

  My Maggie…

  I jerked her as easily as I could to come into my lap. I wrapped my arms around her small frame and held every piece of her against me. I breathed in the smell of her hair to reassure myself she was there. She was and she was just as shaken as me. My brain switched gears then and I instead leaned back and cupped her cheek, letting my fingers caress her lightly. "I’m sorry," I told her, but I had no idea what I was apologizing for.

  "It was a nightmare, Caleb," she lied badly.

  "It wasn't, and you know it, sweetheart." I sighed. "I think I must've borrowed your ability in my sleep. That was almost the same vision you had, but this one…" I choked and swallowed, "was so, so, so much worse."

  I pulled her to me, letting our foreheads rest. Now it wasn't just about Bish and Jen anymore. It was about Maggie. We had to figure out a way to stop the vision.

  "We will," she assured me. "I'm not going to stop until I do. After the wedding, it's my mission. Along with finding Marcus." It was her turn to sigh. "Both seem kinda impossible," she mumbled in defeat.

  "I won't stop either. None of us will."

  "Let's just…go back to bed. We both have a long day tomorrow."

  "I'm not sure I can," I said truthfully. I had just watched my significant die.

  She watched me, and then said. "Let's go somewhere."

  I looked at the clock. 3:34 a.m. "We've got lots to do tomorrow, baby," I reminded her. Our last day as single folk.

  "Tomorrow will still be there. Right now, come with me."

  I nodded. Anything she wanted, it was hers.

  We got dressed and she grabbed her cell and my iPod from the dresser. We took the bike again and she told me to drive to her town. So I did. When we got closer, I heard where she wanted to go and smiled a little as I took the necessary streets to get there. I parked the bike on the side of the road, took Maggie's hand as we crossed the abandoned street, and we stood there under the crosswalk sign.

  The place that started it all.

  She pulled the hoodie of my jacket up that she was wearing and towed me by my arm down to sit on the sidewalk with her, our feet and legs touching as they outstretched into the street. She took my iPod out and gave me one of the buds, put her head on her shoulder, and played Right Before My Eyes by Cage The Elephant as she tapped her foot. The song I was listening to when she saved my life.

  We leaned our heads together and listened as he crooned his words to a nameless girl. Right before my eyes I saw the whole world lose control.

  God, I was so thankful that I wasn't paying attention that day.

  We sat there, believe it or not, until day break. I turned to her and let my fingers sweep across her cheek. "It's tomorrow. Only one more day. I can't wait to have you in my space," I told her. "To hear you in the shower, or walk in on you changing clothes." She laughed a little. "Or smell your perfume in every room. Or hear you humming while you make coffee."

  "Don't worry," she said softly and kissed my palm. "I'm not going anywhere."

  When the sun peeked over the houses she sat up straight and smiled. "Ready to go?"

  "I'll go wherever you want me to, gorgeous."

  "Then let's go see Dad, get all this last-day stuff out of the way, and then let's go home. We can tuck in early. Get ready for our big day tomorrow."

  "Nothing sounds better."

  "You're very agreeable today, Jacobson," she joked.

  "I want your last day as a single lady to be a good one."

  She laughed and wrinkled her nose cutely. "You don’t have to put a ring on it," she said. "A house will do just fine."

  "You got it."

  "Come on. Let's go wake up Dad and Bish with some breakfast."

  I quirked a brow at her knowing exactly what she had in mind. "Are you seriously going to make me face Big John the day before our wedding?"

  "I've got to keep you honest, don't I?" she said laughing and tugged me to the bike.

  We pushed our way through the revolving door of the 25 Hour Skillet and the smell and music brought me back to the very first time I'd been in there. I looked around for John and his meat cleaver. They were nowhere to be seen. I sighed in relief just as I felt a strong, large, overly warm hand on my shoulder.

  "Bike boy."

  "Hello, sir." I swallowed and turned, looking up to his steely eyes. I could appreciate his protectiveness of my girl. I understood it more than anyone. But...dude was bigger than any man I personally knew.

  "BJ!" Maggie said excitedly and let the man lift her feet off the floor. I searched for weapons on the man, but found none. "You look like you've lost weight."

  "I have, but don't tell anymore," he said gruffly and cleared his throat as he set her on the floor. "Smarty's been on me about my health."

  "Well..." she said carefully. "You have owned the place for a while and all this fried food can't be good for anybody."

  "Oh, not you, too," he complained.

  "I'd miss you if you weren't here anymore."

  He sighed and then perked up. "Speaking of not here anymore," he said and shot me a little glare before turning his glare on her. "Where have you been?"

  She thought, her mind running through the scenarios she could give him that he'd believe. "Just…trying to get my life together. You know, college, housing, making sure Dad's taken care of…getting engaged."

  He stopped all movement and I sighed knowing what was coming. "Where's your ring if you're getting engaged?"

  "Well," Maggie started, "I don't have one yet."

  He turned a deep crimson before yelling over his shoulder. "Smarty! Get my meat dicer!" Every customer is the joint turned to stare at the ones causing the commotion.

  Maggie tried damage control. "Big John, it's fine. I didn't want one. Caleb's family is very…traditional. He has other things planned for me instead of a ring."

  "Like what?" he boomed and got closer to look down at me. "What kind of dolt doesn't get his girl a ring?"

  "The kind that buys her a house instead," I said quietly. He looked confused. "It's a family tradition. Besides, the only jewelry Maggie really wears is that bracelet you gave her. She's not really the big ring type, as I'm sure you know."

  He pursed his lips. "Course I know that! It's just weird, that's all."

  "And Dad got engaged, too," Maggie intervened.

  Big John stopped and looked at her, his face softening. "He did?" She nodded. Smarty came from a back table and eyed the situation carefully. When she saw his face, she put her arm around him and he pulled her into his side. "Well that's something else, Sweat Pea."

  "It is," Maggie agreed. She scooted closer to me to move out of a customer's way and stayed close. She gripped my hand and I welcomed it. "Fiona is her name. She's really sweet."

  "That was kind of fast, wasn’t it? For both of you."

  "When you know, you know, right?"

  He tried to stay mad. He scowled, but it quickly melted away with Smarty rubbing her hand over his large stomach. "Yeah," he agreed. "Yeah."

  They took our order and Big John went back to pretending I didn't exist. That was OK. I knew he thought that I had taken her away, and I pretty much had. If I were in his shoes, I probably wouldn't have liked me either.

  When we left they all blubbered and kissed and fawned all over her. I couldn't help but smile at the display. She promised to come back and visit. Her dad still lived here after all. Smarty smiled and patted my back, saying her congratulations. Mena said I better take care of Maggie and then winked at me as we left.

  Maggie wasn't regretful though as we decided to leave the bike and walk to the few blocks to her dad's house. That gave me some comfort about being the bad guy in the scenario.

  Almost as soon as we knocked, Fiona answered. She was wearing a bright purple robe and her hair was in a messy bun on the top of her head. She gawked as Maggie said good morning and pushed her aside. "We brought breakfast."

  "I see that." She shut the door and followed us into the kitchen. "Honey,
you didn't have to. I would have made breakfast if I'd known you were coming."

  "It was spur of the moment," Maggie said as she pulled out the take-out pan of sausage. Her moments slowed and she stopped, biting her lip.

  Oh…I don't live here anymore, do I? I guess I should have called or…something.

  Fiona noticed Maggie's sudden mood change and went to her side. "Listen, I'm not telling you that you can't come over whenever you want-"

  "No, it's fine." She started to pack up the sausage again, mumbling in her mind about being stupid for thinking things could be the same. "I shouldn't have just come over like this."

  "Maggie, stop." She did, but didn't look at her. I did though. I was surprised that Fiona had said that. It hadn't taken her long to get over the Visionary thing. "Honey, I'm not saying you're stepping on my toes. Your father will always be your father, and this will always be your house. Me coming here doesn't change that. What I meant was that if I had known you were coming…I wouldn't be standing here in my purple silk robe with nothing on underneath and my hair a crow's nest!" She laughed and Maggie reluctantly joined in.

  "I wasn't thinking about intruding. I just thought since we were here anyway we'd bring breakfast," Maggie tried to apologize again.

  "It's all right." She smiled and turned to me with a wry smile. "I think I'll go get dressed now."

  "OK," I said and tried not to look at her. She quickly scooted out of the room and Maggie turned to me to complain about her being an idiot when her dad came in. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, which was…weird.

  "Mags. Hey, baby girl," he crooned softly and happily. Fiona may not have been the happiest to see her, but her dad sure was. "Mmm, is that sausage and gravy?"

  "And biscuits," Maggie supplied. "I'm sorry I barged in on Fiona."

  "You didn't," he insisted and looked at her full on. "This was your house first and you can come anytime you like. Fiona understands that."

  "But I wouldn't want someone to barge into Caleb's apartment in the morning," she said and sneaked a quick look at me. Her dad may have missed her blush, but I didn't. "Lynne and Kyle did that the other day and I hated it. I just wasn't thinking."

  "No worries, baby." He turned to me then and I was surprised to see a smile there. He usually just seemed to tolerate me. "Hey, Caleb. How are you, son?"

  Son?

  I felt my scowl, but tried to hide it. "Good, sir. Maggie also got you coffee." I handed it to him and then took a sip of my own.

  He sipped his, too, and made a noise of contentment. "Well, as soon as Fiona gets dressed, we'll eat and then-"

  My phone went off with a buzz. "Sorry," I muttered and peeked at the screen. Vic. I smiled and answered as I excused myself into the den. "Vic, what's up?"

  "What's up, brother!"

  I laughed. "Not much, man."

  "Not much? You registering for classes today or what?"

  I almost slapped my forehead. "Ah, crap. I forgot that was today."

  "And coach set try-outs for today, too."

  I groaned. "You've got to be kidding me."

  "Afraid not. So get your rich butt up to the school."

  "All right. I'll be there in a couple of hours."

  "Later."

  "Later." I could've punched something. And Maggie had to register for classes today, too.

  I relayed the news and we ate quickly. Maggie changed into something other than my hoodie and when she came down from the stairs I felt my grin take off. "Those jeans are nice, too."

  "Thanks. Sorry I don't have any clothes for you to change into."

  "Nah, I'm fine. It's just school."

  "Just school…" she muttered. "Right."

  "It's not a big deal," I soothed and we waved to Jim and Fiona in the kitchen as we left. "I'll be there to tell you what classes suck and what teachers will rip your heart out for being late."

  She giggled. "That does sound pretty good. My own personal tour guide who's already been through this."

  "Yep."

  We walked to the bike and made it to the school in record time. I parked in my usual spot on the side lot under the trees and helped Maggie de-bike. I smoothed her hair back and she let me with a smile.

  I took her to Freshman registration. She was a little shocked when she said her name and they had her packet all ready to go. She gave me a kind of wild look before taking it and thanking her. And then we went to my own registration. After we got our packets and everything turned in and filled out, ran through the ringer and got our student IDs, we made our way to gym.

  As soon as we walked in, the cat-calls began.

  "Oh, so that's where Caleb's been all summer," Mark said.

  "Shut it, Barker!" I said laughing and pointed to Vic across the pool. "There's Vic, babe. Why don't you go wait by him while I get changed so the uncaged animals don’t eat you alive."

  "Hardy, har," Mark yelled and dove in splashlessly.

  "OK," she agreed. "And you're going to be wearing that when you come out?" She pointed to Vic's Speedos with the VOLS 'T' on the front.

  I heard myself make a throaty noise. "It's the uniform, babe."

  She grinned and walked backwards slowly. "I can't wait to see that." She then turned and looked at me over her shoulder. I groaned.

  Holy hell, Maggie.

  I heard her giggle in my mind before she greeted Vic. He recognized her immediately and hugged her to him before waving to me, telling me he had her.

  I sprinted to the double doors leading to the locker room and hurried. Several people tried to talk to me, but they didn't understand. It was the day before my wedding. I couldn't tell them that, of course. They'd want to know why they weren't invited. They wouldn’t understand. So I'd tell them later that Maggie and I had eloped, but until then, I just needed to get this practice over with and get everything that needed to be done, done.

  I emerged from the locker room to find Maggie right where I left her. And Vic was charming the smile right out of her. I shook my head and somehow snuck up on her. She must've been listening pretty intently. I wrapped my arms around her and she didn't even jolt. She just sighed and leaned back further into me. I stopped that right then, pulling her under my arm.

  She gave me a once over. And then repeated it. Her eyes held mine for a couple beats too long.

  Stop that right now.

  What? she said innocently.

  You know what.

  Your underwear are cute.

  Speedos. Uniform. Required.

  Call them whatever you want, Jacobson. They're hot.

  Will you go bench yourself before I have to drag you outta here?

  She giggled. Giggled at me.

  Gorgeous, you're torturing me.

  She rolled her eyes good naturedly and made her way to the benches behind the pool. I took a deep breath and swung my arms to warm up. Vic flanked me and grinned like an idiot. I could hear every thought in his brain with Maggie's ability there to borrow. "Shut up," I muttered before he could say anything.

  He laughed. "She's the cutest little thing I've ever seen. You're gonna be fighting the boys off with a stick. You gotta know this."

  "I know this," I told him and felt a growl rise in my throat.

  "Did you just growl?" he asked through his belly shaking laughter. "My man's got it bad!"

  "I'm not the only one, am I?" I nodded my head to his girlfriend sitting in the stands. And she was sitting next to Ashley. I didn't look that way again.

  "Oh, Vic ain't whipped!" he said loudly and sniffed as he rolled his shoulders. "Vic ain't whipped."

  "Who's whipped?" Mark asked.

  I ignored him and went on. "Talking about yourself in the third person doesn’t make it less true, Vic."

  Mark laughed along with me while Vic mumbled, "Laugh it up, yuppies. Laugh it up."

  Coach called the meet to a start and we got in starting position. I could hear Maggie silently cheering me on in her head. I smiled as I took my stance. She had never seen me swim befor
e. I actually missed it. A lot. Swimming was something that came naturally for me. I was fast, clean and efficient.

  When the buzzer sounded, I leapt into the water. I felt calm though my arms and heart beat with exertion. I swam and pushed myself. I didn't look at the other swimmers. I didn't want or need that kind of motivation. I wanted to swim for me.

  When I finally made it back to the platform, I didn't even look to see what order we had come in at. I just got out and grabbed a towel. She sat there on the bench, her lip between her teeth, contemplating if she was in the way of me being with my friends. I smiled and shook my head.

  Come here, gorgeous.

  She made her way down the bleachers carefully and stood in front of me. "You did awesome," she said kind of breathlessly.

  "Did I?" I glanced back at the board. I came in second. Daggum Vic. He was egging me on, shooting me the rock-first. I turned my back on him and heard his laugh echo across the pool. "I guess."

  "I had no idea you could swim that fast."

  "I love it," I admitted.

  "I know. But in your head it's just fun for you. You don’t see yourself as being awesome at it. I had no idea that you…"

  I gulped at the look of reverence on her face. "That I what?"

  "That you were this amazing at everything," she whispered.

  With my towel wrapped around my shoulders she leaned in and kissed me, sucking on my bottom lip. I could taste the pool water through Maggie's mind.

  "Holy mother…." We turned to find Vic watching us curiously.

  I cleared my throat and started to dry off. "So we've got to get going, Vic."

  "You can't! You just got here," he complained and threw his towel at a Freshman who muttered a 'Hey', but went no further. "Dude, you can't leave!"

  "We've got to. Sorry. So much stuff to do."

  He scoffed and turned to Maggie. "When can we see your pretty face around here again?"

  "Day one, I'll be here."

  "Awesome. Later, dude." He bumped my fist as I waved to the rest of the team and snuck Maggie into the locker room. Big no-no. The things I did for this girl.

  She sat on the bench in front of my locker and I jumped into the quickest shower I'd ever taken. I heard Maggie's thoughts as she checked her phone once more. She'd texted Beck four times already today and this was the third text she'd gotten from Chad.