Clarity Castle
Page 16
“Yeah, sure. In that case, I won’t take a shower if we’re going to get all sweaty on the way. I’ll just change into school-approved attire,” I said and went to my room. I hadn’t planned on going to school this morning since I didn’t have an exam, but I was going to take this olive branch. I could always pop in on the science remediation session and come back home. I stashed my stuff in my backpack, grabbed a muffin, and kissed Mom goodbye.
I ate the muffin on my way to retrieve my bike from the garage and we were off.
“So, I don’t know if you read any of my messages from last night,” she started, eyes focused on the road ahead.
“To be honest, I didn’t. Sam and Mom suggested I just give you space,” I replied.
“That’s great. Be a friend and delete them all. I overreacted. I guess I just felt left out. Not that you and Sam were excluding me, but with Julie dating James, and you guys being a couple, I literally felt like the fifth wheel,” she said.
“I’m so sorry we didn’t tell you before. I guess we didn’t want to rock the group dynamic until we knew that things would work out,” I said.
“I get it. And, for the record, I would have done the same. It would just have been awkward for everyone if you’d said so right away and then found out it was a mistake,” she replied.
“I’m so glad you came over this morning and we had this talk. How does Julie feel about it?” I asked her.
“She said she knew you guys would end up together and she was happy for you. I think she’s so caught up in her own little love bubble that she wants everyone to be dating someone,” she replied with a chuckle.
“So, still friends?” I asked sheepishly, giving her a sidelong glance.
“Always,” she said, extending her fist for a bump. My hand went out to meet hers, but we nearly ended up colliding. We laughed so hard, we had to stop and catch our breaths a block away from the school.
We were early so Mel asked for details about my budding relationship with Sam. I gave her the short version. There actually wasn’t a long version anyway, we were still working on it. When I was done, we got back on our bikes and headed for the bike parking. I walked with her to her locker, wished her luck on her exam, and came back to get my bike.
I didn’t need the remediation sessions and would be much more comfortable at home studying under the gazebo. On impulse, I headed for Sam’s house. By then, it was past nine and he was home alone. We’d never been alone before, there was always someone around.
He invited me in and asked if I wanted anything to eat or drink. I declined. We sat on his couch, me still clutching my backpack I’d removed. We didn’t say anything for at least thirty seconds. My heart was racing, and the beat was getting deafening in my ears.
I jumped when Sam took my backpack and put it on the floor. My hands started fidgeting so he took one of them. The other flitting on my lap like a fish out of water. He took that one too and pulled it so that I turned slightly to face him.
His eyes were on our hands, his thumb tracing an invisible pattern on my hand. He got up and pulled me up with him, pulling me a little closer still. He looked up then and I got the full force of his gaze.
Our eyes were locked, golden sparkles going back and forth. He smiled a slow smile. My lips curved into a matching expression. We stood there, holding hands, absorbed in the galaxy we had created between us. Our faces gravitating nearer and nearer until our lips met. Softly at first as though they had accidentally bumped into each other like asteroids. Then more firmly.
I smiled. He smiled. Our teeth clanked and we burst out laughing which only made our foreheads knock together. But instead of pulling away and rubbing at the bruise that was sure to form, we stayed there, foreheads touching like elephants in love.
“I love you, Clare Knox,” he said in a clear, sure voice.
“I love you, Samuel Goodman,” I replied in a breathy wonder.
We kissed again, serious now but in no hurry to answer the call of hormones that were starting to rage. Sam let go of my hands and wrapped his arms around me. This was the closest, tightest hug we’d ever exchanged. It felt amazing. It felt like love, friendship, security, excitement, and even a little bit of adventure all rolled into one. This was a high vibration. This was the highest vibration. It was pure bliss. The best day ever.
And I knew then and there, that if I wanted to feel that way every day, all I had to do was start the day with a walk like today, or a meditation like Mom did, or anything that would put me in a good mood. It was barely ten o’clock and I had already had an amazing day.
We finally pulled apart and Sam asked if Mom was at my house. When I said she was, he suggested we go to my house to study as his parents wouldn’t like us being home alone and admitted he was having a hard time keeping his hands off me. I felt the same. We didn’t need to jump each others’ bones just because we were alone for the first time.
We had all the time in the world.
The End.
About the Author
Marie-Hélène Lebeault lives in Cowansville, Qc, Canada and is the mother of two young adults. Formerly a teacher, she now spends her days writing, translating academic manuals, and lending her voice to corporate training videos. She enjoys reading, hiking, and going to the beach. An avid traveler, she loves exploring the world on Solo adventures. Since the pandemic hit, she’s been riding her ebike all over the province of Quebec and appreciating the local spendor.
You can connect with me on:
https://www.mhlebeault.com
https://www.twitter/mhlebeault
https://www.facebook.com/mhlebeaultauthor
https://www.instagram/mhlebeault
https://www.linkedin/mhlebeault
Also by Marie-Hélène Lebeault
The Evers Series
The Ancestor’s Key - Book One
https://www.amazon.com/Marie-H%C3%A9l%C3%A8ne-Lebeault/e/B086JFWCDT?ref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Fifteen-year-old Lola just said goodbye to life as a loner. One minute she’s living with her mom in Baltimore and hanging out with her best friend Jane and the next she’s receiving the keys to a southern mansion, boatloads of money, and an ancient family secret. She has no idea how she’s going to cope with a long-lost dad, an eccentric aunt, and a drop-dead gorgeous boy that keeps popping up everywhere she turns. Not to mention the magical book and the skeleton key that just appeared out of nowhere . . .
The Academy - Book Two
https://www.amazon.com/Marie-H%C3%A9l%C3%A8ne-Lebeault/e/B086JFWCDT?ref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Just when Lola Evers was settling into her new life in Virginia, making summer plans with her aunt and her new beau Jackson, she receives a letter summoning her to a two-week Summer Program at . . . wait for it . . . Magic school!
It seems the magic Traveling key she inherited comes with a catch: mandatory attendance at The Academy. Within days of arriving at the Academy, Lola realizes that Traveling instantly between places is the least strange thing she has done so far . . .
The Time Walker - Book Three
https://www.amazon.com/Marie-H%C3%A9l%C3%A8ne-Lebeault/e/B086JFWCDT?ref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
When she returned from the Summer Program at The Academy, Lola thought the rest of her summer would be filled with family trips to the beach, lounging by the pool, and getting to know her new brother. Instead, life at the Evers Mansion is even more complicated than it was before with the appearance of new magical artifacts for Time Travel and World Jumping—which have caught the interest of some unsavoury players . . .
The World Jumper - Book Four
https://www.amazon.com/Marie-H%C3%A9l%C3%A8ne-Lebeault/e/B086JFWCDT?ref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
As the Evers Series reaches its climax, Lola and Devlin uncover more about their peculiar heritage and ancestors and spend some time with the High Elves on Summerset Isle - a world that no longer adheres to the constrictive notions of time and space. Between kidnappings, break-ins, the loss of her parents, an
d newfound magical abilities, will Lola find the happy ending she deserves?