The Childe (The Childe Series, #1)

by C. A. Kunz

“Aww! They make such a cute couple,” Cat declared.

  “I can’t believe you agreed with me Matt, are you sick or something?” Amanda asked, staring at him in disbelief.

  “Well, every now and then you make a sensible comment. And I’ve decided I’ll let you know when that is. Of course, I won’t be saying it often.” He grinned and then let out a yelp as Amanda kicked his knee under the table. Bending down and rubbing the offended area, he noticed two beautifully shaped legs standing in front of him.

  “Would you like to dance, Matt?” He looked up and saw Julie in her yellow frilly dress, reaching out for his hand.

  “Yeah, I better. I don’t want my other knee damaged by that hellion!” he quipped while limping onto the dance floor.

  “I’m going to the restroom,” Amanda stated as she stood up and looked at Cat. Cat nodded, still watching Elle dancing with Ben.

  A slow song began and Cat watched as Ben tried to pull Elle closer to him. After pushing Ben away, Elle clenched her knees together and ran toward the restrooms. Oh no! I guess she’s not ready for slow dancing yet, Cat thought.

  Several minutes later, Amanda made her way back to the table, struggling to situate herself in her dress. Cat giggled to herself as Amanda tried not to flash anyone nearby. “Don’t you dare laugh Catherine Colvin! I don’t know what my mother was thinking! What mother in her right mind lets her teenage daughter leave the house wearing this? I pull it down so it doesn’t ride up. Then I pull it up so it doesn’t fall down,” Amanda groaned, clearly frustrated. “And fuchsia? Of all colors it had to be fuchsia? I knew I shouldn’t have trusted her to pick out my dress,” she rambled on.

  “Amanda, it looks…nice on you,” Cat choked out, trying not to giggle harder. “It would look even better if you weren’t pulling on it all the time. And that shade of pink suits you,” she remarked. “Oh by the way, did you see Elle when you were in the restroom?”

  “Yeah, she rushed past me mumbling, ‘I’ve got to pee,’ I thought she was dancing.”

  “Apparently Elle doesn’t do so well with the boys and slow songs,” Cat whispered as she saw a dejected Elle making her way back to the table.

  “How embarrassing. I could just die,” Elle moaned while plopping down in her seat. “The one time a boy asks me to dance I totally ruin it. I’m such a failure!”

  “Oh Elle, stop it! You’re not a failure. I’m sure he’ll understand,” Cat said. “Look, there’s Ben now, I think he’s looking for you.”

  Elle perked up and looked out onto the dance floor. They watched as Ben saw Elle and then ducked behind one of the inflatable goal posts. “That’s it, it’s official! I’m going to die alone…with cats!” she murmured, gently banging her forehead on the table. Cat and Amanda leaned over and patted her on her head, trying to console her.

  “Would you like to dance?” A familiar voice asked behind Cat. She turned and was met with Ryan’s piercing blue eyes.

  “Won’t Isaac get mad at you?” Cat replied smugly.

  “Don’t worry, I can handle him. Dance with me, please?” Ryan took her hand and Cat felt herself stand up and let him guide her onto the dance floor. He put her arms around his neck and then slipped his hands down about her waist.

  “I love your dress,” Ryan whispered in her ear. “Green is definitely your color.” She felt shivers running up and down her spine. The sweet fragrance of his cologne filled her senses. Her mouth felt like it was filled with cotton. She couldn’t breathe and her heart was racing. Cat, get a hold of yourself, it’s just a dance. Inhaling deeply, Cat looked up at Ryan who was staring at her intently, looking a little dazed. Could he be feeling the same way? Ryan moved one hand up and began stroking her hair over her ear. His touch was cold as ice, but she felt like she was burning up. The music slowly faded into the background. As he pulled her closer she could feel his muscles tense through his shirt.

  “Your hair’s beautiful, it’s so soft,” he said with his mouth near her ear. She blushed as she realized his face was moving toward hers. For a terrifying moment, she knew he was about to kiss her. Turning her head to avoid his lips, she felt them on her cheek as he pulled her even closer. Panicked over the feelings rushing through her, Cat heard the song end and mumbled a hurried “thanks for the dance,” and rushed off the dance floor, trying to calm her pounding heart. The smell of his cologne clung to her, making her blush even more. “Get a grip Cat, he’s just a boy and that’s all. A really gorgeous boy…who tried to kiss you,” Cat squealed to herself as she made her way back to the table.

  “What was that all about?” demanded Amanda, startling her. Looking up she saw her four friends surrounding her.

  “What do you mean?” Cat responded, trying not to make her feelings noticeable.

  “That little drama on the dance floor with Ryan,” Amanda replied.

  “Oh guys, grow up. It was one dance. I don’t hate him. I just dislike who he hangs out with. Now sit down, everyone’s looking at you!” Cat snapped irritably. They all sat down staring at her with questioning eyes. She tried to act normal, but she knew she couldn’t fool them, her friends knew her too well. Her eyes searched the room for Ryan, but he was nowhere in sight. For the rest of the night Cat watched, waiting to see if he would return, but was disappointed when he didn’t.

  I shouldn’t have asked her to dance. But she looked so beautiful, I had to do it, Ryan thought. When he first laid eyes on her as she entered the gym, his chest constricted painfully. He quickly realized he had been holding his breath watching her walk across the room. When she went with him on the dance floor, his heart had begun racing as he pulled her close. Thinking back, he groaned with embarrassment as he realized he had said his thoughts out loud. She must really think I’m weird now. The way she couldn’t wait to get off the dance floor, even before we were finished. He knew he had to leave after her hasty exit. He couldn’t stay and watch her dance with others. Watching her dance with Matt was torture enough, even though he knew they had been friends since they were in diapers. He still couldn’t stop the jealousy rising up in him like a green-eyed monster. Without a word to his group, he left the gym through the side door.

  Ryan’s home was not far from the school, so he decided to walk instead of waiting to get a ride from Isaac. It began to downpour the moment he left the gym. By the time he arrived home, Ryan was drenched from head to toe. He opened the front door and removed his shoes, dropping them on the floor in the foyer. The hallway was dimly lit by the night-light his mother insisted be there. Thankfully, no one was home. He needed to be alone. Slowly walking up the stairs, he pulled off his wet shirt and threw it on the banister. After taking off the rest his clothes, he stepped into the shower. The warm water rushing over his body soothed him, and he felt his embarrassment subside. With a towel wrapped around his waist, Ryan walked into his bedroom and put on a pair of boxers and a plain white T-shirt. He opened the tiny fridge in the corner of his bedroom and pulled out a drink. Ryan guzzled it down and then threw the can into the trash. As he looked out the window at the rain flooding the street, he wondered how Cat would get home without getting soaked. He pictured her wet hair tumbling down her shoulders. His heartbeat picked up as he imagined running his hands through her fiery red hair again, kissing her senseless in the rain. Looking up into the black sky he realized he’d have to reign in his emotions. She obviously doesn’t like me. I’ll just have to accept it. Deep down inside he knew it was going to be impossible, but he had to try. He wished he had someone to talk to, but he didn’t. No one would understand anyway, he told himself.

  Cat shivered as she rushed to her bathroom to disrobe. Her hair and gown were soaked. While standing in her bathroom toweling off, Cat thought about Ryan. I’ve got to stay away from him. I just have to. I know he’s a nice guy, but I don’t want to cause problems with him and his friends. Maybe he was insincere in what he said tonight. How could he like me? He doesn’t even know me. And why would he single me out? Is he just playing games to make me look like a fool
if I give in? Will he just go back after and have a good laugh with his friends about me fawning all over him? She thought. He’s not like that. Cat heard a voice deep down inside of her say. No, you’re wrong, I have to stay away from him, and that’s that. Great! Here I go arguing with myself again. Perfect!

  After getting dressed in a pair of colorful flannel pajamas, she felt truly warm for the first time since she had left the gym.

  “I have to get my mind off Ryan,” she said out loud to herself. Cat spied the journal Mildred gave her at The Purple Door and grabbed it. “This might just do the trick.”

  Today, I found this journal in the dusty attic we are hiding in. I miss the journal I used to have before we ran. I feel like I was meant to find this so I can express my fears, which I cannot express out aloud.

  It has been weeks since I have slept in my own bed. We ran the night of my sixteenth birthday, the night of my transition. I came down with a fever, I felt like my blood was boiling. I awoke to the sound of my father frantically throwing clothes into a traveling trunk, his face full of fear, not answering my questions. My mother stood at the front door as we descended the stairs, a bag at her feet. Maisey, our housekeeper, had her arms around my mother. I noticed the tears sliding down their cheeks. I asked why they were crying and my father told me to be quiet, quiet as a mouse. Reaching my mother I was embraced by the two women I love so dearly. I felt their bodies shake with sobs even though they didn’t make a sound. My father pulled me away from Maisey and pushed my mother and me through the front door.

  A carriage sat outside, the horses impatiently waiting, pawing at the ground as the rain poured down on them. Slivers of lightning lit up the night sky revealing the tears on my father’s face. A quick hug and then I was hustled into the waiting carriage. The bags lay on one side, where the stable boy had placed them. My mother followed behind me and the door was slammed shut as the driver yelled above the storm and we took off.

  I hear footsteps below us and muffled voices. My mother pulls me to her and I can feel her shaking, her heart pounding. Joshua has informed us that we have to move quickly, so I do not know when I will be able to write again. I feel in finding this journal I have a purpose and a hope that our situation will resolve itself, and we can be a normal family again. I know now our pursuers are pure evil and that they will stop at nothing to carry out their deadly quest in ending our lives.

  H.B. September 21, 1848.

  Cat’s cell phone rang, startling her. She stretched to reach for it on her nightstand, and saw that Julie was calling. “Hey, Julie. You can’t sleep either, huh? So what did you think of the dance?” Cat set the journal down beside her on the bed as Julie gave her opinion of the night’s events. Julie’s voice became a droning buzz in Cat’s ear, as her mind was consumed by thoughts of what she just read in the journal.

  8

  The Tutor

  Mr. Crawley walked into his seventh period algebra class whistling, with a bounce in his step. The students groaned. This behavior meant only one thing, a pop quiz. Mr. Crawley delighted in giving pop quizzes. Not to test if the students actually comprehended his math lessons. Oh no, it was to trick them. He loved seeing them fail.

  Cat’s head hit her desk with a thud. “Not another pop quiz. Why couldn’t I have been sick today?” she said under her breath. She hadn’t been doing well in algebra, and knew part of the reason was because creepy Crawley didn’t like her. He constantly gave her a hard time, calling her the silver spoon girl, lazy, and yes, even stupid for missing questions on topics that the class hadn’t studied yet. When he did teach, it was so confusing that after class students could be heard moaning in the hall. Though Cat was constantly harassed, she was not alone. He didn’t like anyone and nobody liked him. His hatred did not discriminate.

  Cat asked her father if he knew him, and he said he did, and that he knew him well. Mr. Crawley had applied to teach at his college but was turned down since he had no positive personal recommendations from his previous places of employment. In fact, Mr. Crawley was a very well-educated man, and Sam guessed that’s why Astoria High School had hired him. Her dad even went so far as to say that Mr. Crawley would be a great teacher if he never opened his mouth, which made her laugh.

  After setting his briefcase on his desk, Mr. Crawley reached into it and pulled out a stack of stapled papers the size of a Physicians’ Desk Reference. With an evil grin, he began walking past every desk, throwing a quiz at each student, and purposefully missing so the student would have to retrieve it off the floor. Cat watched him get closer to her desk. She thought about all the excuses she could present to get out of the quiz. I could faint, fake sick and go to the nurse’s office, or fake feminine issues. Oh, the options! She was startled as Mr. Crawley threw the papers in her vicinity, missing her desk completely. He walked to the front of the class and looked at his watch. “You have 30 minutes to complete the quiz! So stop gawking at me, and get to work!”

  Cat sighed as she thumbed through the packet. It all looks Greek to me. I’ve never seen any of these problems before. It just isn’t fair. How can he give a pop quiz on material he hasn’t covered? I swear this guy is mental! She looked up from her quiz and caught Mr. Crawley staring at her.

  You’re going down, Miss Colvin. Cat was stunned. How did I hear him say that? He didn’t move his mouth. Looking around she saw the others looking over their packets, but nobody was writing.

  “Five minutes remaining, better hurry,” he yelled across the room. Cat began scanning the problems frantically, trying to make sense of them. “Time’s up! Pass your papers forward. No more writing. Too bad if you haven’t finished. Pass them up!” Mr. Crawley collected the quizzes, returned to his desk, and pulled out his favorite red marker. “I’ve decided I’ll grade these now.” Everyone groaned in unison. Cat was used to seeing red all over her paper, and she knew today would be no exception.

  One by one he called each student up to see their grade and not one happy face could be seen returning from his desk. “Catherine Colvin!” His voice sounded louder than it had when he had called the others. Cat approached his desk with dread. She saw that she was right. The first page was covered in red, and there was no mistaking the big fat F circled at the top.

  “You’re failing, Colvin. After class I’ll be making a special trip to the gym. A horrible place mind you. It reeks! But I must go have a chat with your swim coach. I don’t think she’ll be happy with this. No, I bet Miss Star Athlete won’t be spending much time in the water in the near future,” he uttered mockingly with an evil glint in his eye. “That is all,” he said, dismissing her away with his hand.

  Cat returned to her seat angry, and wanted to slap Mr. Crawley upside his oblong head with his stupid quiz. Sadness overtook her as she realized that he was right though, she might not be swimming in the near future.

  Seeing her friends gathered by her locker after math class, Cat tried to smile.

  “What’s wrong Cat? You look like the end of the world is near,” Amanda asked concerned.

  “I failed my math quiz today. I’ll probably be kicked off the swim team now. I hate that jerk!” Cat yelled, throwing her books in her locker.

  “Want me to take him out for you, Cat?” Matt asked, trying to make her laugh. He hated that Cat was so upset. She was always the positive one in their group. Always taking care of their problems. He couldn’t stand anyone hurting her.

  “I’ll kick him once you get him down,” Elle announced fiercely. Everyone turned to look at her, surprised at the vehemence in her voice. “Well, I can be angry when I want to be! Besides, I’m tired of being a pushover, and nobody hurts my Cat!” she declared, shaking her fist in the air.

  “Maybe it won’t be that bad, Cat. Maybe you can work something out. They’ll see you’re making A’s in all your other classes. That’ll show you aren’t slacking off,” Julie piped in.

  Cat looked at her friends’ faces, thinking how she couldn’t have asked for better people to be in her life. “T
hanks guys, I needed that. I guess I better go see what my fate is.” Cat hugged them all and then started down the hall.

  “Call us when you get home! We’ll be waiting,” Amanda called down the hallway after her.

  “Yeah, don’t forget, Cat!” Matt yelled.

  “I won’t!” Cat replied, turning the corner, heading in the direction of the gym.

  While walking past the coach’s office toward her gym locker, Cat saw Mr. Crawley through the window. His hands were planted on Coach Hutchins desk. She hurried past, not wanting him to see her. Cat sat on the bench with her head hung low. She knew the coach would be looking for her soon to tell her she was off the team, so she decided not to get changed.

  “Colvin! In my office! Now!” Coach’s voice echoed around the locker room. Cat sighed as she made her way to the office. Not making eye contact with anyone, she could hear all the girls in the locker room whispering.

  “Sit down, Cat, we need to talk,” Coach Hutchins said as she reclined in her chair.

  “I know what this is about. I’m failing algebra and I’m off the team, right?” Cat interrupted her.

  “No, Cat, you’re not off the team. We just need to get you a math tutor. You see, I know Mr. Crawley would love nothing more than to have you kicked off my team. I guess I’ll need to remind him of our school policy. I pulled up your file and saw that you are making A’s in all your other classes. So I feel that something’s not quite right here. I called the office and had them set up a meeting with a counselor to arrange for a tutor ASAP. You’ll report there before you go to class tomorrow. Don’t worry about missing class. Your meeting shouldn’t take that long. The most you’d miss is about twenty minutes and I’ll just make you do laps or something to compensate,” she said, smiling brightly at Cat with determination shining in her eyes. “Don’t look so defeated! I’m not about to lose one of my best swimmers to…well, I better keep my mouth shut. My mother did always say, ‘If you can’t say anything nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.’”