Perfection

by Melissa Koberlein

  “That pig. So disgusting.” Evie frowned. “Wait, what? How’s that possible?”

  “Steel is a mental manipulator. He can suggest thoughts and images into people’s minds.” She groaned and rolled on her side to face Evie.

  “Eww. Pass.”

  “It’s worse. Now, when I touch Gage, it triggers the memories.”

  Evie bolted upright. “Stop.”

  Iris nodded and pulled a pillow over her face to smother the hurt.

  “Oh, Iris. That’s awful. So, you’ve been forced to be around him knowing this?”

  She nodded from under the pillow.

  “Okay, this stops now.” Evie grabbed the pillow and pulled it away from her. “You’re coming back to Ashwater with me.”

  “I can’t. Gage needs me.”

  “No, he needs someone like you. Adam will stay.”

  “I can’t ask him to do that.”

  “Too late. I’ve already made the decision. Besides, he’s already fulfilled all his senior course requirements. He can take the time off. Let’s get you packed.” She hopped off the bed and opened the closet. It was jam-packed with some of Iris’s favorite outfits. “Jesus Christ! How long were you planning on staying?”

  Iris sniffed. “I like options.”

  Gage

  Gage grabbed two teas and headed to the patio outside the hotel. He handed Adam one and sat down next to him.

  “I’m glad you guys came.” Since his granddad left and he had to keep his distance from Iris, he’d been feeling lonely.

  Adam smiled and opened his bottle of tea. “Me too. You doing okay?”

  Gage shrugged. “All things considered, I guess so.”

  “Tell me what you’ve been doing.”

  “Dr. G. is in charge of my training. She’s a telepath like Steel and, I guess, me.”

  “I don’t remember her from my time at Bio-Core. So, your abilities are the same as Steel’s?”

  “Not exactly. Dr. G. thinks I have a more advanced skillset. So far, I can send my thoughts to others and suggest actions.”

  “What’s your training like?” Adam sipped his tea.

  Gage followed suit with his bottle and leaned back in his chair. “It sucked at first. Every time I tried to send thoughts to someone, the heat and energy that built up inside me consumed me, and I lost control. I knew I was hurting someone, but I couldn’t stop myself.”

  “Iris stopped you?” Adam glanced at him.

  “Yes.” Gage shivered. When she touched him, Steel was in his mind’s eye, mocking him. That was why he welcomed the oblivion Iris offered. It was also his motivation to get control of his abilities.

  Adam leaned forward and put his arms on his knees, squinting up at the sun. “I’m worried about her.”

  Gage knew this was coming. Iris was like a sister to Adam. She wasn’t sleeping, and spending time together with the distance between them had been almost as difficult as gaining control over his powers. “I know. I am too.”

  “Are you still upset with her?”

  “No. I can’t blame her for something she did before we ever met.”

  “So, why are you two still distant?”

  Gage explained the situation to Adam, who, considering the oddness of the matter, took the information in stride. “So, no touching. Well, except when I get out of control. Then I get a hefty dose of Steel’s memories.” Gage shuddered, trying to shake away the images.

  “Enough is enough,” Adam said.

  “Yeah, I’ll say,” Evie said from behind him, Iris instep behind her.

  Adam stood up. “Evie, listen. I know you’re not going to like this, but…”

  “Iris is going back to Ashwater with me and you’re staying with Gage,” she said.

  Adam opened his mouth to reply but shut it abruptly. He pulled Evie into his arms and kissed her forehead. “You’re amazing.”

  “I know,” Evie murmured. The two shared another kiss.

  Gage shifted in his seat uncomfortably and, finally stood. “All right, you two. Quit finishing each other’s sentences.” He looked past them at Iris. She had her suitcases with her. “Hey, you’re packed.”

  “Yes.” Iris smiled, but her eyes were glassy.

  Instinctually, he took a step toward her. “I—”

  Iris recoiled. “Evie, are you ready?”

  Evie glanced between Iris and Gage. “Um, sure. Just give me a minute with Adam.”

  She led Adam away, leaving them alone.

  Gage’s heart ached. He hated how things were between them. “Listen, I’m going to fix this…whatever it is that’s keeping us apart.”

  “How?” Iris shook her head and looked away.

  Good question. “I don’t know, but I have to try. You mean too much to me to just let us go.”

  “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

  “Why not?”

  “Even if you were somehow able to get over the past, your grandfather made it very clear to me that I was to stay away from you.”

  “He told you stay away from me?” His hackles rose.

  “Yes. He said that when this was over, I was to stay away from you.” She looked up at him, her bottom lip trembling. “Maybe it’s for the best.”

  Desperation took hold deep in his stomach, compelling him to reach for her. Gage shoved his wanting hands in his pockets, holding them hostage. He wouldn’t lose her. Not to Steel and certainly not because his granddad was feeling overprotective. “Listen to me. No one tells me who I can and can’t date, especially my granddad. I’m going to get this figured out. Please, just don’t give up on us.”

  “I have to go.” A tear slipped down her cheek. Iris grabbed her suitcases and headed back to the lobby.

  Gage willed her to stay, but he had no power over her.

  24

  Separation

  Iris

  A few weeks passed after Iris left Gage in Limbo. Having files of every second she spent with him was excruciating. She tried her best not to access them and failed. Missing him was the worst. She was still miserable, but at least she was cocooned by beautiful clothes.

  Dalia pushed fabric through her machine at a wicked pace, humming along to “The Look” by Roxette from her runway playlist while Iris organized the orders they had ready. Dalia was happy she’d returned from her college visits to help fulfill orders from the fashion show. Despite the illness that befell the guests, the orders stood. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, what are your plans after graduation? Back to Canada?”

  The question took Iris by surprise. She’d not gotten beyond her plan to join the human race, so doing anything besides that wasn’t on her radar. She definitely wasn’t going back to a fake family in Canada. “I’m not sure.”

  “Well, if you’re interested, I’d be more than thrilled to have you here full time.” Dalia smiled and fed more fabric under the foot of her machine.

  Iris’s heart did a flip. Work with Dalia permanently, designing clothes? She couldn’t think of anything she wanted more. Her mind drifted to Gage. He lived in Ashwater, and staying would be too painful. She sighed. “I don’t know. Gage lives here.”

  “I’ll never understand why the two of you didn’t work out.” Dalia lifted her foot from the pedal. “You seemed like the perfect couple. But honey, you shouldn’t base your future on where a boy is or isn’t.”

  Iris looked around at the back room. She reached for a dress she’d helped Dalia design for the show. The fabric was soft and supple in her hand. Dalia was right. This was her home now too. “I’d love to work here full time after graduation.”

  “Good.” Dalia looked back at her work. “Because I’m going to need a business partner who knows the difference between chiffon and organza.”

  Iris certainly did know the difference. But what was a business partner? She did a quick search and dropped the sleeve in her hand, her mouth forming an O. “Are you saying—”

  “I am. I can’t think of anyone I’d want to partner with more. Maybe someday, I�
�ll even retire. Then you can take over. But I’m nowhere near that yet.” Dalia smiled and started her sewing machine up again.

  Iris smiled and read the next order on her printout. Partner. She’d found a home in Ashwater, and she couldn’t imagine wanting to ever leave. If only she had someone to share her happiness with.

  As if on cue, Evie, Sloan, and Mazy entered the back room.

  “Hey, sexy.” Sloan sidled up to a bare mannequin and put her arm around it.

  Evie and Mazy rolled their eyes. Mazy said, “Hey, we’re going to grab some food at Dixon’s and head over to Jack’s. Evie’s been practicing DP to impress Adam when he gets back. Wanna come?”

  Iris looked up at the clock. Her shift ended an hour ago. Ever since she got back into town, the girls had been trying to include her. They knew about Gage’s new abilities, but Evie had kept Iris’s more personal issue with him private.

  Dalia waved her away. “Go. Have fun.”

  “Okay, let me get my bag.”

  The girls headed out of the store, and Iris felt more than one set of eyes on her as they made their way down to Dixon’s. She glanced behind them and thought she saw someone duck into an alleyway. She blinked a few times, reviewing her vision. The recording was inconclusive. Only shadows. She turned back around and quickened her pace. It was probably nothing. Besides, if someone from Bio-Core was after her, she wasn’t easily intimidated.

  Gage

  So this was Purgatory.

  “Concentrate, Gage,” Dr. G. said in his earpiece.

  Gage looked around at the busy nightclub. The cover band was playing “Start Me Up” by The Rolling Stones, and the booming drums tested his limitations. There were about a hundred people packed in the club, most of them on the dance floor. Adam was few feet away, fighting his instinct to dance.

  “You know this is torture for me, right?” Adam tapped his hands on his thighs to the beat.

  “I know. Sorry,” Gage said.

  “Concentrate,” Dr. G. said again.

  Things had gotten easier with Adam by his side instead of Iris. The memories Steel had implanted had dissipated greatly, and he didn’t worry about them surfacing with Adam. Gage closed his eyes and lassoed the minds of the people on the dancefloor. Once he had them, he thought, Don’t move.

  The club-goers froze mid-motion while the music continued. Gage breathed in and out slowly. He approached a girl next to him who had her hands outstretched. “Do you want to dance?”

  She looked down at her arms. “I, um, I don’t know.”

  Before panic could set in, Gage released them. People continued to dance as if nothing had happened, although the lead singer had an odd look on his face.

  The girl in front of him smiled. “Sure.”

  “Cool. My friend’s a great dancer.” He grabbed Adam.

  Adam narrowed his eyes at him but couldn’t resist the opportunity. Gage left them and headed outside. Dr. G. and Garcia were waiting for him in the car. He climbed in the backseat.

  “Where’s Adam?” Garcia put the car into drive.

  “He’s taking the night off.”

  “That’s just as well.” Dr. G. glanced back at him. “We need to chat. Do you think you’re ready to go back to Ashwater?”

  He could see Iris again. His heart did a quick skip. “I do. I haven’t had a slip up for over a week now.”

  “I agree with you. In fact, I’ve never seen a telepath gain control as quickly as you have.” Dr. G. turned forward in her seat. “There are some ground rules. Bio-Core still wants to bring you in, and Sam is still on the outs. We’ve been lucky that they haven’t sent anyone to retrieve you. Although I think your friend, Adam, may have something to do with that. You are not under any circumstances to go to the facility. And, two, you should stay away from Iris. I don’t want you slipping, and that girl is like a luge track for you.”

  “No deal.” He would not stay away from Iris.

  “Which part?” Dr. G. asked.

  “Iris.”

  She rubbed her forehead. Look, kid, I’ve grown fond of you, and I don’t want to see you hurt. You see her with your brother every time you touch her. Why on Earth would you want to be around her?

  Any time she didn’t want Garcia to hear, she thought to him. He’d gotten used to it.

  I have a plan to deal with it. He did too. It was dangerous and crazy, but it was a plan.

  This can’t be good. She turned and faced him. What are you planning?

  None of your business.

  “You’re doing it again,” Garcia said. “Just because I can’t hear you two doesn’t mean I don’t notice the awkward silence when you’re thought-chatting.”

  Dr. G. narrowed her eyes at Garcia. “Just drive.”

  Gage leaned back against the seat and watched the street lights pass. He was going back to Ashwater and to Iris. He felt stronger and more confident than he ever had. He prayed he would be strong enough to overcome the distance between them. He had to be.

  25

  Reunion

  Iris

  Mazy wasn’t kidding. Evie was hardcore practicing DP. They’d spent all last night and most of today at Jack’s. Iris’s stomach rumbled, reminding her that they’d eaten lunch at the snack bar. If Iris never saw a soft pretzel or hot dog again, it wouldn’t be soon enough. She didn’t know how Adam ate that stuff all the time. The Dance Paradise results screen lit up with their scores for “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper. Evie was firmly in second place behind Sloan, followed by Mazy. Iris was sitting this one out. She could outscore all of them, but that wouldn’t motivate Evie.

  “Yes!” Evie fist-pumped the air.

  “Way to go, Evie.” Iris clapped. “Adam’s going to love this.”

  “Get after it, girl.” Sloan danced her way over to Evie, her hips swaying seductively. Dancing came naturally to her, along with everything else sensual.

  “Can I please tag out?” Mazy asked. “Please…” she mouthed to Iris.

  “Sure.” Iris smiled.

  The back door opened, and Daisy walked in. Her hair was hot pink. “I love that you girls are spending all this time together without the boys. I sent Jack home too. Girl power.”

  “Yeah, it’s been great.” Mazy rolled her eyes and whispered to Evie, “You so owe me a shopping day.”

  “Can I get you girls anything from the snack bar?” Daisy asked.

  Iris groaned. Please, no more snack bar food.

  “Yeah, let’s all take a break. All this dancing has me famished.” Evie patted her stomach. Iris didn’t know where she put it all. She must have a super-fast metabolism.

  The girls left the DP room and settled on some stools at the snack bar. Iris swiveled around on her stool. As much as she liked spending time with her friends, her heart was still broken, and she didn’t know if it would ever heal. She missed Gage today as much as she did the last time she’d seen him. She hadn’t heard anything and didn’t feel comfortable asking Evie if Adam had said anything. It was better not to know about how Gage was doing.

  Daisy approached her. “Want anything, hon?”

  “No thanks.” Iris shook her head.

  “Hey, he’ll be back.”

  “It doesn’t matter.” She didn’t want to get into the details of her past with Daisy, so she led with the other truth. “His grandfather doesn’t want us to be together.”

  Daisy made a pfft sound and waved her thought away. “Sam Strickland can suck it.”

  Iris stared at Daisy, not sure how to respond. She had grasped many human sayings, but “suck it” was new. The only reference she had was some lewd gestures Sloan did when she thought people weren’t looking. “I’m sorry, but even if he sucks it, he’s still going to say no to Gage and me dating.”

  Daisy pressed her lips together, her eyes dancing, as if holding something in. She let it go and keeled over in a fit of laughter. “I adore you. Please, don’t change.”

  “Okay, I won’t.” She didn’t know what she sai
d that was funny, but she smiled back.

  The front door opened, and Derrick and Luke came in.

  “Hey girls,” Luke said. “What are we eating?” He grabbed a chip from Sloan’s nachos.

  “Get your own.” She swatted at his hand.

  Derrick punched his brother’s arm. “Yeah, get your own,” he said, swiping a length of soft pretzel from Evie.

  “Hey!” Evie said.

  “All right, boys. What do you want? You’d think you would have had plenty to eat, considering you just came from working at the diner,” Daisy said.

  “Thanks, Aunt Daisy,” Derrick said. “I’ll have tot-chos and a Coke.”

  “Dos,” Luke said, raising up two fingers.

  Iris’s stomach turned over. Maybe she did want a ginger ale.

  Mazy smiled at the boys. “What have you two been up to lately?”

  “Well, this guy’s been pining over Celia like night and day.” Derrick rolled his eyes and pointed at Luke.

  “At least I like someone.” Luke punched his brother’s arm.

  Derrick glanced at the girls and blushed.

  “You do like someone, don’t you? Is she sexy?” Sloan asked, catching on.

  Derrick avoided the group’s eyes and swiped at his mouth, and whispered, “Very.”

  None of the others could have heard it, but Iris did.

  Luke clapped and rubbed his hands together. “Okay, so what’s on the docket? Who’s up for some serious DP?” He pointed at Iris. “You. You look like you want to get your groove on.”

  Nothing could be further from the truth. She frowned. “I’m good, actually.”

  Luke turned his finger toward Sloan. “You’re up.”

  “Sure. Just don’t bore me with Celia deets.” She hopped off her stool.

  A loud noise at the front of the arcade startled everyone. The door opened, and a massive plume of smoke rolled inside, filling the large room almost instantly. Smoke grenades.

  “Get down,” Iris said, crouching. She engaged her infrared vision. A group of armed men wearing gray Bio-Core fatigues poured into the arcade. She counted fifteen. All human too.