by K.E. Rodgers
Chapter 8-
Dawns early rays penetrated through clouds as Jackson walked through the open courtyard of Flagler College. He thought to leave her on one of the benches outside. Some early riser would likely find the woman and take pity on her. Perhaps they’d think she’d had too much of a good time. Maybe they would know who she was and return her to her room.
He placed the unconscious woman on a bench near the large water feature, tucking her legs in so she looked like she had just curled up to take a nap after one too many drinks at the bar. Just as he was sure she was made comfortable enough a thought occurred to him.
She was wearing his shirt. For some imperceptible reason that pleased him, to know that when she woke it would be with his clothing covering her skin, the faint smell of his body mingling with her own.
Crouching down beside her, Jackson ran his fingers through her still damp tresses, soft as her fur might have felt if she’d been in her other form. Watching as she breathed in and out, her full pink stained lips parted in sleep. He wondered then, as he pushed her hair away from her face what it would feel like to stroke her animal pelt. She was a wild animal and he’d likely never know. It was then he noticed something else. He touched a dark smear on the column of her neck where his thumb had pressed too deep leaving the mark.
Footsteps hitting stone made him stand back up in a protective position, his body unconsciously blocking her from the approaching figure.
Leah Moon ran across the courtyard, unaware at first that anyone else was around. Then she saw him. Standing as silent and unmoving as stone statuary, his body poised over the small form on the bench beside him.
“Jackson?” she questioned, “What are you doing here?”
“Leah,” he said her name on a heavy sigh.
“What kind of trouble are you getting yourself into this time?” She hurried over to him, one slipper shoe on and one under her arm. Hobbling a moment she managed to get the other shoe on her foot.
“Do you know her?” Jackson answered instead. He didn’t have time to make small talk with Leah. It was nearly full dawn and he had to be on the other side of the bridge before then. Clarissa was more than likely aware that he’d not returned home. He was sure to get an earful from her if she ever found out about tonight’s unexpected adventure.
Leah looked down at the blonde woman wearing only an oversized black t-shirt. “Where did you find her?” She looked Jackson up and down, her lavender tinted irises taking in his damp and shirtless body. “And where is your shirt? Is she wearing your shirt?” Of course she was.
Jackson made an aggravated sigh. “I don’t have time to get into it with you, Leah. Just tell me, does she go to school here or not?”
“Yeah,” Leah answered him. “I know her. She’s roommates with Natalie Quinn. Kevin’s roommate, Chris, is sort of dating Natalie.”
Leah had been seeing Kevin on and off for a few months now. She’d just left Kevin’s dorm room, hoping to escape the rush of other students and any curious George’s and Georgina’s who might blab to her family that she’d been out all night when she had to be at work early the next morning.
Working at the family business, the local book store Psychic Imprints, had been a temporary position which had turned permanent as of late. She was also an S.S. (Spectral Services) which gave her an extra monetary allowance. Jackson used to come to her store all the time to hang out when business was slow. They were a specialty store and couldn’t compete with the conglomerate book depots in town.
She hadn’t seen Jackson in months, not after his accident. And here he was, at her boyfriend’s college, half naked and with an equally scantily clad woman.
“The question is, Jackson, how do you know her?”
“I found her.”
Leah shook her head at that obvious lie. “Sure you did. Well, she lives in this building. I do know that the girl's dormitories are in the Ponce De Leon Hall. I think I remember where her room is.” Leah pointed to the large main building in front of them. Sweeping her dark midnight hair streaked with lavender highlights to match her otherworldly eyes off her shoulder, Leah contemplated the best strategy to get the sleeping woman back in her room. “You think you can carry her up the stairs?”
Jackson nodded an affirmative.
“Okay,” she said. “Then if you could carry her in, I think I can keep the livings from noticing us.”