by Lucy Rains
I looked behind him in the distance, eyeing the young male teenagers that had appeared and were climbing on large boulders then jumping off into the water. They were close enough that I could hear their laughter and shouts, but far enough that they would never know if I was swimming in the nude.
When I looked in the other direction I could see a tall, dark haired figure walking in our direction.
Kyson.
Turning back towards Alex, his face came closer to mine, his nose almost touching my own. “I think this is the last time I swim with you,” I said.
Alex’s eyes went wide, “I was just playing around!”
“That doesn’t even begin to make it okay!” I shot back. “Respect, Alex. You want to get anywhere with me? Respect. You know, like bathroom privacy? Changing privacy?”
“Okay-”
“Not taking off my clothes in public?”
“Okay! Geez, I got it.” He paused for a moment. “You never know though, someday you might want me to.”
I shook my head, but couldn’t help the smile he had brought to my face. His desire was present and pushing into my mind. I brought my mouth up to his and he opened to allow me entrance. His hands pulled me close, his body flush with mine. His thick tongue was warm and tangled with my own. My breasts pushed harder into his bare chest and the sensation on them was intoxicating.
My legs shifted softly in the water, instinctually treading water, my feet dangling in open space. His thigh came between my legs and I gasped with my own heated desire that rushed through my body. My leg went between his and the presence of his male genitals on my own thigh was unmistakable. Warm, and firm. My hands went around his waist and gripped at the fabric of his swim shorts.
When I began playing with the idea of letting my hands wander farther south on him, a prick of fear pushed into my mind. And then again. Stronger. And then shouting.
I pulled back from Alex, my head turning towards the shouts. More fear, painful anxiety.
"What is it?" Alex’s hands gripped the skin on my waist, pulling me back into his chest, his chin resting on my temple. My eyes widened as I found the source of fear.
One of the boys had gotten swept up by the ocean currents and carried away from the safety of the rocks he had been playing on. His friend shouted at him from the rocks, on the edge of jumping in to help him. The boy in the water was shouting back frantically, but his shouts were suddenly cut off when a towering wave crashed over him, and he disappeared under the surface.
The source of fear flickered like a dying lightbulb and I knew we were running out of time. He was becoming weak, probably sucking in too much water in his flailing state. When his head didn’t appear above the surface I ducked beneath the water to begin swimming forward.
Alex grabbed my elbow, pulling me back up.
I jerked out of his grasp, spitting water. “What are you doing?! He needs help!”
“No, Jade!” Alex shook his head, his eyes full of fierce assertion. The look on his face more serious than I had seen it since the lab. “Do not overexert yourself! I won’t risk you for him.”
I spun back, searching the water for a dark head of hair. His friend was shouting even louder, his emotions frantic. Kyson was running towards the rocks, but I knew I could get to the water before him if I let myself go at full speed.
The fear from the friend was increasing with each second, and the other source had vanished. The waves were unrelenting, the wind encouraging the water to raise even higher.
Looking back to Alex, “Then you go! Go get him!”
Alex grit his teeth, his eyes darting up, then down. He pressed a hard kiss to my mouth, and then disappeared under the surface.
I ducked down, following behind him at a steady pace that was nowhere near as fast I knew I could go. Still, I couldn’t help but hurry.
I channeled my 6th sense onto Alex, keeping a close watch on his anxiety and state of mind. I felt him searching, felt his apprehension.
My feet kicked off the bottom of the ocean floor and I surfaced above the water. Bringing my hands in front of me, I kept them half submerged, half above the water and released a strong rush of energy over the water, forcing the water to calm around me. The surface stilled, but it wasn’t enough to make a difference. I pushed it out farther, spreading its reach to widen over the waves to calm the surface.
I made a point to stay low, keeping my visibility small. The guys would kill me if I drew too much attention.
Time passed painfully slow, each second like a punch to my heart. Kyson had reached the rocks and jumped into the water to help Alex, his arc graceful, yet swift. His thick body disappeared beneath the water and I let my feet rest on the sand floor. I was in shallow waters now, and with each passing second, could feel my body tiring.
When both Alex and Kyson appeared above the water with the boy with them, my breath rushed out of me. I continued pushing out energy into the water until they were close enough to the shore to walk.
Blood.
Crimson red streamed down the boy’s neck, down his arm and dripping off his hand. The punches to my heart were replaced with flutters of fear in my stomach. The boy hung slack over Kyson’s shoulder, his eyes closed.
Dropping my hands, I ran out of the water, then was forced to slow down as my head began to spin, and my legs shook with each step. Kyson carried the boy to the shore and laid him down on the said. His friend was climbing down the rocks and starting to sprint against the beach.
“Jade!” Alex called to me. He pointed at Kyson, “Go stand in front of the kid.”
I glanced at Kyson and back to the friend who was running over. Alex turned away from me and went to block the kid from approaching Kyson.
I snapped out of my trance and trotted over to the unconscious boy, setting myself up to block the view from his friend. Blood poured from a gash along his knee, his forearm, and temple. Small scratches sliced across his shins and abdomen. He couldn’t have been more than sixteen. His skin was so clear, so soft and youthful.
“What happened?” I whispered.
“Got caught between reefs on the side of the rocks. Don’t know what all happened, he was pretty banged up when we got to him.”
Kyson laid a hand on the boys wrist and closed his eyes, concentrating. His friend was shouting at Alex, and Alex had to keep shifting his body in front of him to keep him back.
When I looked back at Kyson, the boys wounds were already closed, and the bleeding stopped. His chest began jerking, his mouth gaped open and water spilled from his mouth. My hand went to my heart and I let out a heavy breath. Kyson pulled back at this point, letting out a whistle in Alex’s direction.
Alex stepped out of the way and let the friend run over to us.
“Jade,” Kyson said my name suddenly, his tone full of astonishment. His thick hair waving in the wind, the water droplets along his chest shining in the sun.
But it was his eyes that I focused on. The relief I felt in the young boy being okay vanished when I saw the lines that tightened around Kyson’s eyes as he scanned over my body.
“Go back to the house with Alex,” Kyson said in a low voice. “I’ll finish up here.”
“But,” Alex’s hand was already under my elbow, pulling me up from the sand. I pulled away from him. “I’m fine!” I hissed.
“You’re not,” Kyson argued. “Your muscles fibers are torn, the acid in your stomach is overpowering your lining and your blood pressure is dropping again. You need to go lay down.”
At his words I realized how nauseated I felt and was struggling to remain upright. Kyson turned away from me when the injured boy tried sitting up, shaking his head and coughing.
Alex laced his fingers through mine and pulled me away from the trio, guiding me back to the house.
The walk back took much longer. My feet moved a little bit slower, my stride a little smaller. The crowds of people had only grown and we were constantly weaving around beach walkers and families.
By the t
ime the house was within sight I felt almost a hundred percent again. “We don’t need to mention anything about this to him,” I said nonchalantly, hoping Alex would be on my side.
“Really? You would lie about this?”
“I’m not lying,” I drew out the word nice and long.
“Lying by omi-”
“Yeah, yeah I know,” I cut him off, while stepping around a decaying sand castle. “I feel fine now.”
“You know you can’t hide anything from him. He might not have my ability but he can detect deception just as easily. And you most of all,” he paused for a moment, “he can read like a book.”
I stayed silent, not knowing how else to argue my case. Mostly because I knew Alex was right.
I blew out a long sigh and ran a hand over my soggy ponytail. “Maybe he won’t be home,” I muttered.
“Don’t count on it,” Alex chuckled. I looked up to see what he was laughing at. When I followed his gaze, Pierce was standing on the back patio. Waiting.
The concerns about my health vanished from my mind when I saw him. My feet stopped moving, my jaw fell slack. Standing there in his button up, white, oxford style shirt with the sleeves rolled up was Pierce. Only it wasn’t the Pierce I had left. It was a new Pierce, with short hair.
His eyes twinkled at my expression. His mouth stayed pressed together, his arms folded.
“Holy shit,” Alex mumbled.
I began walking again, taking longer strides now, forgetting that I was wanting to avoid being in Pierce’s presence.
When I reached the wooden patio and stood in front of Pierce, I gapped, wide eyed. He cracked a tiny smile as I reached out to touch his head.
“Your hair?” I whispered. My hands went up, touching the smoothed sides that were shaved short and blended up to a longer length atop his head. “Why?”
He shrugged, not offering a response.
“Why didn't you say something?” I asked.
“Would you have told me not to?”
I thought about his question, realizing I would have protested. But seeing him now, I didn’t miss it. The shorter hair allowed the sharp features of his high cheekbones and narrow jawline to stand out.
My eyes left his hair and landed on his eyes. Eyes that were focused on my mouth. We were beginning to lean towards each other when Alex had to open his damn mouth.
“Jade almost passed out again.”
My lip curled and I almost snarled at him. He leaned against the wooden railing, looking out at the ocean. I wanted to shoot out my energy and knock him backwards.
“I hope the bus you just threw me under swerves to hit you on the sidewalk.” My voice was full of hot contempt at him for ruining yet another intimate moment. And not only that, but turning Pierce on me.
Pierce took a step back, his eyebrows coming down.
“But I didn’t,” I countered, “I was fine.”
“What happened?” Pierce asked looking to Alex.
“There was a situation,” Kyson spoke up from behind us. We all turned to see him climbing up the wooden stairs and stopping when he reached the porch.
“What kind of situation?” Pierce asked.
“Some kids were messing around,” Alex answered, “one of them got pulled under and beat up pretty bad. Jade stayed behind, but was using her energy in the water to help.”
Pierce looked at me, his eyes soft, full of concern. My chest unclenched, knowing he wasn’t going to be upset with me.”
Kyson continued, “When she got out of the water, her blood pressure was dropping again. Her body wasn’t repairing her fatigued muscles.” He shook his head, “Something is off.”
“Do you think it’s the water?” Pierce asked.
“Only one way to test the theory,” Alex said.
We all turned to look at him, waiting for him to finish.
He shrugged, “Make her run ten miles, climb a tree and then pick up a car with her energy.”
Kyson nodded, “He’s right. The only way to know is to test her physical stamina on land. Need to see if her body reacts in the same way.”
I shook my head. “I don’t feel like being a science experiment right now.”
Pierce rubbed his jaw, lost in thought.
I narrowed my eyes on him, “You can’t keep me from swimming,” I stated.
Pierce’s mouth turned down. “I know.” His eyes flicked up to Kyson and I knew they were conversing mentally.
When no one else said anything for a good minute I stepped away from Pierce. “Good.” I nodded once, throwing a glare Alex’s way. He winked and threw me a kiss. I sliced my index finger along my throat.
Exhausted and worn out, I left the three guys on the porch to go take a nap in solitude.
Chapter 6
My legs gave out and I collapsed on the ground, dragging in deep breaths of air.
The hum of anxiety beat into my skull as I knelt on all fours, trying to catch my breath. I had lasted four miles of running on the beach before my body could go no more.
“Think she can use her energy right now?” Alex asked.
A growl came from someone, my gut told me it was Pierce.
“Leave it up to her,” Kyson responded.
I hated being on display, being studied. But I knew their intentions were good. My right hand came up, my arm outstretched. I gathered as much energy power as I could and pushed it into a nearby log, attempting to roll it backwards. The log swayed slightly, as if no more than a gentle breeze had blown over it. My hand dropped back down to my lap as I leaned back on my heels.
“How is she?” Gavin asked, his question directed to Kyson.
My head came up to see Kyson’s reaction. He narrowed his eyes on me and his full lips pinched in displeasure. Everyone waited in silence for his response.
I knew what he was seeing. I knew my body wasn’t cooperating. I felt the burn in my thighs. A sensation I had only felt after a twenty mile run. My heart pumped hard in my chest, harder than it should have for an exercise I would have considered effortless a week ago. My speed had not been faster than five miles per hour and in the past I had averaged seven, sometimes eight.
“Kyson?” Pierce called, wanting answers.
Kyson let out a heavy sigh and folded his arms. “It’s not good.”
“No shit, Sherlock,” Alex grumbled. “We can see that. We need you to tell us why.”
“What’s going on inside her body?” Pierce asked, in a much calmer tone than Alex’s.
“Her heart is working much harder than it should be. She doesn’t have enough oxygen in her blood. She would have passed out if she went much farther.”
I brought a knee up and pulled myself to a stand. Sand stuck to my skin and I got to work brushing it off. The effort was too much too soon and my head began to spin. I was forced to take a step forward to keep from falling. Pierce was suddenly in front of me, his hands on my forearms.
I made a feeble attempt to smack his hands away, but he didn’t move.
“Her quad muscles developed muscle tears during her run,” he paused, his hand reaching out to my upper leg. “Which is normal for others but not for us. The ligaments are inflamed.” He took a step back, looking at me. “They are healing, just slower than normal. Her body burned through all of its glycogen stores within the first mile.”
I looked beyond Kyson’s shoulder, at the ocean waves behind him. The white crested waves drawing me in. It was a peaceful retreat beckoning to me. “How about we go for a swim?”
“No,” four solid male voices said together.
Had I been in better shape I would have argued. But I realized then that I had four miles to retrace my steps to get back home. I almost started crying.
“We could swim back to the house, instead of walking?” I suggested. “It will go much faster?”
"We have plenty of time," Pierce countered.
And there was no shortage of males willing to carry me home, I was sure.
I looked at the log again. Gritting m
y teeth I grimaced in determination, brought both hands up and pushed out a rush of energy. This time the log flew backwards, rolling several times up a grassy sand dune.
My hands dropped and my spirits rose. My chest swelled with hope that I was okay. When a rush of vertigo hit me upside my head I had to lean against Pierce to steady myself.
Mixed response came from the guys. Curse words, a hiss, a groan.
"What is wrong with her?!" Gavin bellowed.
I dug my teeth into my lower lip to keep it from trembling. Hot angry tears slid down my cheek. I brought my head over to my shoulder to swipe them away subtly.
What was wrong with me?
Standing on the beach wasn’t going to bring me any answers so I turned and began walking home. Frustrated words were exchanged but I shut them out, not wanting to be dissected anymore in that moment. Every word from Kyson scared me.
“Jade, wait.” Alex grabbed ahold of my hand to stop me. “Pierce, why don't you run home and get the car? We’ll head up to the street and meet you in front of the nearest parking lot.”
There was a beat of silence, as everyone thought about his proposition, waiting for my response. I didn’t like it. I hated it. It was another blow to my ego, catering to my weakness. But having to walk four miles along the beach to get back to the house because my body couldn’t run, was too hard physically and emotionally. And I knew Alex’s idea would be much faster for the guys. Making them drag along with me on the beach would make the process even more painful, knowing they could be home in minutes, rather than hours.
My head gave a single nod, signaling my defeat.
******************
When we arrived home, Kyson prepared lunch for everyone. In an attempt to lift my spirits he made grilled cheese, my favorite. But I was too upset and too busy feeling sorry for myself. I didn’t even have an appetite. So, after two bites I pushed my plate away and went to sit on the back porch.
Gavin said a few words and then disappeared out the front door.
The guys could feel my dark mood. I worked hard to block out their emotions, not wanting to even think about what they might be feeling. I was too busy trying to sort out myself.