Unfortunately, Reagan wasn’t sure she had a choice in the matter.
ↄↄↄↄↄ
Screaming. Searing pain. Ripping skin.
Darkness.
I’m not in the tent or on the ground. I’m running in the darkness, away from the screaming, following a large wolf. He’s leading me somewhere; somewhere safe.
ↄↄↄↄↄ
Reagan turned on the light next to her bed and sat up. Her candle was no longer burning, but she had her necklace on. Leaning over, she put her head in her hands. What was happening? There’d been no dreams for a while. This one was more intense than the others, more real. Yet it hadn’t terrified her. She woke up confused and disoriented, but not as scared as she thought she should be.
School was starting today, and she didn’t need to be exhausted. It was five in the morning, but she had no intention of going back to sleep. She walked downstairs to make a cup of tea in the Keurig machine. When she turned around to head back upstairs, the sight of her mom almost made Reagan drop her mug.
“God, Mom, you scared me.”
“Did you drink the tea I gave you last night? I so wanted you to get some sleep.”
“Yes, I drank all of it, but I had a horrible dream, so I couldn’t sleep.”
“I was sure you’d sleep better with the tea.”
Mom’s comments and the look on her face betrayed her. Truth came into focus. “Oh my God! Did you slip me something?”
“I just wanted you to rest. You’re worrying me to death, and the doctor said this medicine wouldn’t be as problematic as the other one.”
Reagan felt violated. But more than that, she realized her mom had no clue how to really help. “Mom, you just don’t understand. The medicine makes the dreams worse; it makes me feel worse. I can’t handle the nightmares, and you gave me the very thing that causes them.”
“I’m sorry, really. But this medicine isn’t what causes your nightmares. The psychiatrist says you have classic post-traumatic stress disorder. If you don’t like the sleeping medicine, then at least consider the anti-anxiety meds,” Mom said, desperation etching every syllable she uttered, “I just want to help.”
Nana helps me, Reagan thought. She wanted to be honest and tell her mom that, to give her a chance to explain what happened between them. But Reagan felt she owed it to Nana to hear her side first.
“I have to get ready for school.” With that declaration, Reagan went upstairs and picked out a teal t-shirt and flowered skirt. She then showered, put on makeup, fixed her hair, painted her nails, got dressed, and threw on her favorite flip flops before checking her texts, hoping to have details from Serena and Aspen on the pickup time. It was already almost seven.
For years, the girls had arrived on the first day together. This year it felt a bit strange. Reagan knew they would always be a part of her life, but she felt disconnected now. No longer being a cheerleader was part of it, but there was so much more.
Her screen lit up. Reagan remembered she’d turned the sound off last night before going to bed. Clueless to her spiked tea, she wanted to do everything to make sure she got a good night’s sleep. She’d put on her necklace, lit her candle, and turned off her phone. So much for the best laid plans.
A text from Aspen: B THERE N 10 MINS.
Reagan headed downstairs, grabbed her backpack, and walked toward the door.
“Reagan,” her dad said, startling her. He must have noticed her jump a little, because he walked up and put an arm around her. “I hope you have a good day. I know it’s been a rough summer, and I’m sorry I haven’t been around.”
Reagan appreciated his sentiment but wondered why the first day of school ended up being the morning for confessions and reaching out. “It’s okay, Dad. It has been a long summer.”
They hugged. When Reagan pulled away, she saw Nana standing there. “I hope you have a great first day.”
Dad walked away, not saying another word. Reagan sensed he was avoiding Nana. Of course, everybody but Reagan seemed to be avoiding Nana these days. “Thanks, Nana.”
“I see you have your necklace on.” She reached up to touch Reagan’s necklace and twist the clasp back toward the back. “There, all fixed.” They hugged. Before pulling away, Nana whispered, “I hope today goes well, and I can’t wait to have our weekend. I think it’ll be a huge help to you.”
“Me, too.”
Just then the door opened, almost hitting Reagan in the back. It was Aspen. “Come on. We have to go.”
Reagan was glad she and Aspen were okay, that their relationship wasn’t hurt by the whole Rafe thing—whatever the Rafe thing was. Aspen and Tucker now seemed to be an item, and she was completely distracted by her newest infatuation.
“Hurry,” she urged as they headed to the car. “Tucker is meeting me at the front of the school.”
Serena was in the car, waiting on the street just outside Reagan’s house. “Sorry I kept you both waiting. All the adults in my house were being strange this morning,” Reagan said as she slid into the passenger’s seat. Aspen sat in the back.
“I still wish you’d cheer with us. It won’t be the same without you.” Serena pulled away from the curb.
Reagan knew she’d miss cheerleading, but she also knew she’d made the right decision. “I know, but now I can come to the games and cheer for you.”
“Will you also be cheering for Dex?” Aspen was nothing if not subtle.
Cheering for Dex, my ass, Reagan thought. She knew everyone was going to be talking about her brother’s death and what happened between her and Dex.
They pulled up to the school and found a parking spot. All three of them piled out of the car and headed toward the back entrance. Aspen flew past them looking for Tucker near the front, and Serena and Reagan headed toward their lockers. They were a bit early, so there weren’t too many students milling about just yet. Reagan was relieved. She had some time to settle her nerves.
“You can’t avoid me forever,” the voice said.
God, not today. Please. Reagan chanted it to herself. She headed to the bathroom for a few moments to pull it together. Just before she walked in the door, Rafe blocked her with his body. “Reagan, we really need to talk. Do you mind stepping outside for a few minutes?”
Dread filled her, but so did the intense pull she always felt when she was around him. She didn’t answer, but she followed him outside. Reagan saw several people watching them, and a couple of younger girls started whispering when they walked by. Guess Reagan would have to get used to all that.
Pushing open the door, Reagan ran into Sam’s best friend, Paul. She hadn’t seen him since the funeral, and that was a blur of people and faces.
“Hey, Reagan,” Paul said.
“Hey, Paul. How are you?” Part of her was putting off her conversation with Rafe, but the other part was genuinely worried.
“Okay.” Paul looked up and must have sensed the desire for him to move on, because he started walking away at the sight of Rafe. “Hope to see you around.”
“That was rude,” Reagan said, turning to Rafe. “He was my brother’s best friend.”
Rafe kept walking until he got to a bench and sat down. “Sorry, but we really need to talk. You’ve been avoiding me.”
There was no reason to lie. “Yes.” She wanted to offer an explanation as to why, but she wasn’t completely sure. Now that she was sitting there with him, on the bench in the sunlight, all she could think about was kissing him again.
“Reagan, focus,” Rafe said. “What are you doing Friday night?”
“If all you wanted was to ask me out, you could have called or shot me a text.”
“So does Friday night work?” he asked. Clearly he was not interested in being charming right now.
Reagan was torn. Her gut said no, but her voice said, “Yes. But I can’t stay out too late. I have to work Saturday.”
“How early do you go in?”
“I think I have to be there at two,” Reagan said.
>
“Okay, that works. I’ll pick you up at six on Friday night.” Rafe stood up and put his hand out to Reagan. She took it. He pulled her in for a long kiss. When they pulled apart, Reagan was on fire. She’d never felt like this with Dex. It was exciting, but it also sent warning signals throughout her entire body.
Rafe turned to go, and Reagan followed. Right at the door leading into the school stood Dex. Reagan wondered if he saw them kiss. There was no choice but to walk right past him. The first bell rang. Rafe seemed oblivious to Dex standing there.
“Slumming are you?” Dex asked when Reagan came closer. She couldn’t tell if he was aiming his insult at her or at Rafe.
“Cool it, Dex.” Rafe stood between Dex and Reagan.
“What if I don’t?”
“Let’s go, Reagan.” Rafe grabbed Reagan’s hand and pushed past Dex, who stumbled backward. Way too many eyes were on the three of them now.
“Who the hell do you think you are asshole?” Dex slammed his hand against Rafe’s shoulder, but he barely flinched.
“Don’t ever touch me again. Or Reagan. You won’t like what happens if you do.” Again, Rafe grabbed Reagan’s hand. This time he pulled her into the school building.
Most girls would have been thrilled with two guys fighting over them. Not Reagan. Macho toughness was not her thing. Dex was the one who wanted a break, and Rafe had paid very little attention to her. The fight seemed more about a pissing match than who won Reagan’s affection.
Not the best way to start what proved to be the longest first day ever. Reagan had to endure many condolences and sad faces. A couple of teachers even stopped to say how sorry they were about her brother and to tell her what a great kid he was. In addition to all this, she had to see Dex walking through the halls with a bevy of freshman and sophomore girls following him. Go ahead, ladies, trail after him like dogs in heat. He’ll screw you and move on, ask for a break or something. They’d find out soon enough he wasn’t all that.
She hadn’t seen Rafe at all since that morning, and she was bummed they didn’t have any classes together. Reagan stopped by her locker to grab a few of her personal items, including her phone; students weren’t allowed to have them during class. She checked it and saw a text from Nana: HOPE IT WAS A GOOD DAY. Reagan didn’t even know Nana had a phone that would text. It was the first time there’d ever been a text from her. Then there was another one: CAN’T WAIT TO MEET YOU! LOVE YOU. It was Aunt Sarah.
“Hey, let’s go,” Serena said.
Reagan jumped back and hit her locker.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize you were so into your phone message. Is everything okay?”
“Yes. It’s just been a long day. Let’s get outta here.” Reagan turned to close her locker door and twirl the combination lock. “Where’s Aspen?”
“She said she’d ride home with Tucker,” Serena said. “She’s falling hard for him.”
“He seems like a nice guy. What about you?” Reagan was thrilled to be talking about other people’s lives for a change. “Anyone you’ve been noticing lately?”
“Not yet, but I have my radar on high alert. After all, Homecoming will be here before we know it.”
Homecoming was the last thing on Reagan’s mind, but she knew it was important. Homecoming court was a big deal, something Reagan used to think about a lot. Now, she wasn’t all that interested in being crowned Queen of a high school.
Serena went on about her day and some possible Homecoming date solutions during the ride home. Reagan kept quiet, but nodded and tried to show interest. When they arrived, Serena put the car in park and turned to face Reagan. “Are you sure you’re okay? You really don’t seem like yourself.”
Warning alarms went off. “Whatever you do, please don’t talk to my mom about stuff like that. If she has her way, I’ll end up in some kind of padded cell in a straightjacket.” Reagan had never voiced that concern, but she’d been thinking a lot about it. Mom was on the edge and smothering her daughter with the need to fix things.
“Your mom would never do that. She’s so cool. She’s just trying to help. I’m here, too, if you need me,” Serena said, and Reagan knew it was sincere.
“Thanks. Really.”
“So, I heard you kissed Rafe this morning.” Although it wasn’t shocking Serena knew, it was annoying word traveled so fast. “I’m your best friend, you can tell me anything.” She paused. “Are you guys going out now?”
“No. Well, not really. He did ask me out for Friday, and I said yes. So we’ll see.”
“He’s cute, but I know your mom doesn’t want you seeing him,” Serena said, squirming a bit.
“How did you know?” Reagan asked, again on alert. Her mother sure had been busy sneaking around finding out information and using people to get it.
Serena looked down into her lap. “Your mom asked me to tell her if you were hanging out with him.”
“Damn it, she’s getting crazy. You’d think I robbed a bank or something the way she’s hovering.”
“She’s trying to help, but I told you because I’m your friend. I’m not going to tell her anything about Rafe, but I hope you’ll be careful. You’re my sister from another mister. I know Aspen feels the same way. Please tell me you’ll come to me if you need help. For anything.”
Reagan was angry that her mom put Serena in such a tough spot. “Thanks for telling me, and of course I’d come to you if I needed anything. I’d better run in. I wouldn’t want Mom to start calling all over town wondering where I am.”
As Reagan stepped out of the car, her mom opened the front door. She waved to Serena and waited for Reagan to walk up. “How was your first day? I made some cookies. Do you want some?” Her mom extended a plate of snickerdoodles, Reagan’s favorite cookies.
It was impossible to remember the last time her mom had been at the door with warm cookies. “Sure.” Reagan threw her backpack by the front door, and headed into the kitchen.
“Sit and tell me about your day.” Mom pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and motioned for Reagan to sit.
“There’s not much to tell. You already knew my class schedule, so no surprises there.” Reagan took a bite of a cookie as her mom slid over a cup of milk. “I did run into Paul, though.”
“I always liked Paul.”
Reagan knew she’d have to talk about Rafe and their date on Friday. She wondered if she could find a way to go out and use Serena or Aspen as an excuse, but didn’t want to keep up with a bunch of lies or run around in secret. “Mom, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”
Mom looked up and reached over, laying her hand on Reagan’s. “Sure, you can talk to me about anything.”
“Rafe asked me out for Friday night,” Reagan wasn’t sure what to say next, and the words hung in the air.
“Reagan, we’ve talked about Rafe. I’m just not sure I’m comfortable with him. And it’s not just the rumors. There’s a darkness about him, a feeling I have.” For the first time, Reagan sensed her mom was a lot more like Nana than her mom ever wanted to let on.
“Mom, I’m seventeen. Next year I’ll be at college. At some point, you have to trust me.”
“I know. I want to. You haven’t seemed yourself lately, so I’m more worried than usual. But, I’m glad you were honest with me about Friday night.” Mom took a bite of her cookie and continued, “I’ll feel better if you have him come here to pick you up, spend a few minutes with me and your dad—so we can officially meet him.”
“You mean give him the third degree.”
“Reagan, why are you so hostile to everything I say? You were never this way before.”
“I’m not the only one who’s changed. You never used to drug me or go around behind my back and ask my friends to rat me out.” Anger burned in Reagan’s veins. It was becoming an all too familiar feeling these days.
“What are you ladies talking about?” Nana asked, walking into the kitchen.
“Nothing, really. Right, Mom?” Reagan shot her
mom a nasty look before continuing to focus on Nana, “I just have a date with Rafe Friday night.” Might as well have both of them critiquing my boyfriend. Or, is that what he even is?
“Good, I’ll get to meet him, too. Sounds nice.”
“Glad someone is trying to be supportive.” Reagan grabbed a cookie and walked out, leaving her words hanging. She hoped her mom felt the sting.
She hadn’t been this nervous about a date since her first one with Dex. Back then, she lived to impress him. Either girls were telling her how lucky she was or were making it clear they would be willing to pick up the pieces if it didn’t work out. She couldn’t remember now if she had the same pit in her stomach back then.
Rafe was handsome, there was no doubt about that, but he was also mysterious and disconcerting. When she was around him, her senses were on high alert; but she wasn’t always sure she could trust them. Since their kiss, they’d only exchanged a few texts. She hadn’t even seen him at school, and she’d tried to bump into him a few times. He said he’d pick her up around six and then they’d go over and meet his family.
Reagan stared in the mirror and fluffed her hair. Curly and an intense red, she could never blend into a crowd. She usually wore it up to lessen the attention, but tonight she wore it down and let the curls stay wild. Dex hated her hair like that; she’d have to see what Rafe thought.
Her phone alarm beeped, signaling it was thirty minutes before Rafe would arrive. She set the alarm so she wouldn’t go downstairs too early, not wanting to talk too much to her parents before he got there. Tomorrow they’d have plenty of time to hash out what everyone thought of him and how the date went.
She shouldn’t have worried about forgetting the time—she’d been on high alert all day about the date and about him meeting her family. A wave of sadness came over her as she realized anyone who ever met her family from now on wouldn’t know Sam as part of it.
“I miss you, too.”
Reagan inhaled sharply. The voice! It was Sam’s! Why hadn’t she figured it out before? She was definitely losing it. Shake it off, Reagan thought, you’re just thinking about him and your mind is playing tricks on you. But part of her wanted him to stay, and all of her wanted him to know how much she loved him. So she whispered, “I miss you and love you.” It couldn’t hurt.
Tala Prophecy: The Complete Series Page 9
