by Clark, Bekah
“No,” he could hear her yawn, “I was just getting ready for bed.”
“I won’t keep you.”
“No,” she said earnestly, “you aren’t keeping me. I’d like to talk.”
“You doing anything Saturday?”
“No, unless, you know, some hot guy asks me out. Then I might do something,” she laughed and then immediately yawned. He loved when she thought she was funny.
Grinning, he said, “Speaking of a hot guy asking you out, wanna go boarding on Saturday?”
“Um, boarding?”
“You’ve never been before, have you?” he asked with a grin.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. What’s boarding?”
“Snowboarding. If you don’t know how, I’ll teach you.”
“Oh,” she said, sounding confused and sleepy still, “we talked about that before right? We were gonna go during winter break. I don’t board or ski. But, don’t we need snow for that?”
He grinned, for someone so smart, she could be so unaware of things, “They make snow. And I know it isn’t winter break, but I want to go with you. We’ll go to Nashoba Valley, it’s not too far and we can eat there, after. It’ll be fun. Just you and me.”
“Well,” she sounded like she was thinking about it, “What am I gonna do about Lexa?”
“Are you stalling?”
“Maybe?”
He laughed, “Why?”
“Because I don’t know how to snowboard and this is going to be embarrassing.”
He laughed, “It’s going to be fun.”
“Why do I feel the idea of me falling into the snow time and time again is amusing to you?”
He could hear the grin in her voice, he liked when she smiled. He could picture her pink lips as they’d spread just a bit. The way she’d bite her bottom lip if she were embarrassed or thoughtful. Damn, he wanted to kiss her right now.
“It is. But it’s more of a chance for me to show off by teaching you. Come on, Lyssa, it’ll be fun.”
For a moment, she kept him in suspense. He wondered if she’d say no. Finally, in a little voice, she said, “Yes. We’ll go.”
He grinned from ear to ear and started planning their trip.
Chapter 16
Lyssa sat in the living room watching a snowboarding video. Why people, who seemed to fall a lot, wanted to do such a thing was beyond her. It was dangerous. And she was going to have to let herself be taught by Kyle at the end of the week. She wanted to know enough to make sure that she didn’t fall. However, it seemed even professionals fell a lot. This was going to be an embarrassing date.
“Whatcha doing?”
Lyssa looked up to find Lexa leaning over her shoulder, grinning down at her sister. She blushed, “He’s taking me to do this on Saturday.”
Lexa grinned, “Well, you are athletic, but that’s not martial arts so… I wonder how many times you’ll fall.”
Lyssa tossed a pillow at her, which she barely dodged. Laughing, she headed for the door, “Come on, we gotta get to school.”
Rising, Lyssa grabbed her bag and her lunch from Lexa and they headed to the car. The drive to school was uneventful, in part because Lyssa drove the speed limit as they passed a few cops on their way to school. She had come to rely on her sight a little too much, but she couldn’t help it. Lyssa loved driving fast, but she didn’t want a ticket.
Her morning was average. Talking to Kyle as they usually did made her smile. After the library, they headed to lunch. On this day, Lexa had made a very spicy Thai curry and Lyssa was happily munching on her chicken. Kyle sat next to her and leaned over. He looked at her with playful eyes.
“Smells delicious. Is it spicy like you?” He laughed and she rolled her eyes.
“You can try it if you dare,” her voice held a challenge.
“I wouldn’t,” Missy leaned forward, “Lexa gave me some of her spicy food the other day and I nearly died.”
Kyle took up the dare. At first he just chewed and smiled, “Mm, it’s good.”
Lyssa watched as his eyes slowly widened and teared up. She grinned when he grabbed her water and downed it. She rose and kissed him on the brow.
“I’m going to get you some milk,” she said, trying not to laugh.
When she returned with chocolate milk, which was all they had left, Kyle was downing Lexa’s cold chai tea. Anna, Missy and Lexa where watching him, amusement in their eyes. Lyssa sat next to him, feeling a little bad and handed him the milk. He finished the chai and moved on to that.
“You keep that up and you’re going to get yourself sick. Slow down,” she said, worry tinging her voice.
He paused long enough to look at her, eyes narrowing, “How the hell can you eat that? It’s like… atomic chicken.”
Finally, she cracked and laughed, “Lexa, that’s what you should call it. Atomic chicken. And it serves you right; you’re always picking at my food.”
He glared at her and drank the chocolate milk. And that’s when it happened. She closed her eyes when the flash took over her and she knew where the Hunter would come from. He’d be getting himself ready for an attack in an hour from now. She had to get there first.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Kyle asked, his voice filled with concern.
“Just a headache. I’m going to head to the nurses office after lunch.”
He softly stroked back her hair and she smiled weakly at him. She hated lying, but what could she do? Tell him she was off to kill a man in order to protect her sister and herself? He’d never understand and she couldn’t blame him. He wasn’t one of her kind. Moreover, he never would be.
When she got to the nurses office, she told the woman how she had a massive headache and didn’t feel well. As soon as the woman put her hand on Lyssa’s brow, she smiled up at her and spoke, “If anyone comes, you tell them you sent me home. You’ll sign off that you sent me home sick for the day.”
The woman’s eyes went blank, “Yes.”
The halls were empty as she made her way to Lexa’s locker, leaving a note inside that she’d pick her up after the last bell just outside the school gates. She headed to her car and placed in the trunk her backpack and purse. Sighing softly, she walked leisurely across the school grounds and to the wooded area around it.
Quickly and quietly, she climbed the tree where he would be waiting. High in the remaining brown oak leaves, she kept watch. Fortunately, this tree hadn’t shed yet. It wouldn’t be long. The wind blew among the leaves and lifted her hair. She pulled out a band and coiled her hair, tying it up and out of the way. It was a warm day, for early December anyway. Not that she ever minded the cold, her body temperature tended to run just a little high.
It was a beautiful day, even if it was a bit overcast and Lyssa closed her eyes, trying to absorb what little sunlight came through. Days like this reminded her of her home world at dusk. The days were so bright, but once night came, it was incredibly dark. So dark…
There was a noise beneath her. Looking down, she saw him settling against the tree. He wore sunglasses; probably he was still adjusting to this world. It didn’t matter, however, as he didn’t have much longer for it.
She dropped out of the tree, planning to simply fall on his back and snap his neck. Unfortunately, he looked up and sprang back. She landed in a crouch and fixed her gaze on him. He pulled a knife, as if that would protect him from her. In that moment, she realized he, like her, didn’t want to draw attention from the school by utilizing whatever powers they had. It would be hand-to-hand combat. She could handle that.
They circled one another slowly. She eyed him cautiously, it wouldn’t do to allow herself to get too arrogant and end up being hurt or killed. She had to protect Lexa, which meant also protecting herself.
He struck quickly, trying to incapacitate her with his blade. She deflected and twisted her hand to grab his wrist and pull him towards her as she brought up her knee to strike his gut. He let out a little groan as he backed up and prepared another str
ike. But she didn’t let him prepare. She hurled herself to him in a barrage of fists, landing several punches to the man so that he stumbled back. She pressed her attack because she didn’t want to wait for them to be noticed. Springing at him, she swung onto his back and wrapped her arms around his neck. With a pull and a twist, she felt pain in her heart when she heard a pop and knew she’d killed him. Now, however was not the time for that.
Dragging him off, she took him deeper into the woods to dispose of the body. When it was done, she made her way back to her car. Sliding into the driver’s seat, she pulled out to the gate and waited just outside for Lexa.
She had thirty minutes. She tried to keep it from happening, but soon tears were dripping down her cheeks. It didn’t matter that she had to do it, she had killed a man. Yes, she knew he was seeking out, if not Lyssa specifically, others of her race that came to hide on Earth, but that didn’t matter at the moment. All that she cared for was the ache in her heart and the tears that wouldn’t stop.
“Hey.”
She looked up to find Lexa beside her. She shook her head when she saw the pity in her sister’s eyes, “Don’t. Strap in, we’re going home.”
“Kyle was worried about you.”
“I’m sure I’m not the first woman who’s had a headache,” Lyssa said as she pulled out onto the road and quickly made her way home.
“No. But I think he realized it was more than a headache.”
Lyssa frowned. She didn’t want to have to leave, but maybe she should consider it. Since they had been here, two Hunters had been in the area. Sure, they tended to work independently, occasionally with a partner.
“Stop.” Lyssa looked at her sister when she spoke.
“Stop what?” she asked.
Lexa rolled her eyes, “I can see your mind in overdrive from here. We aren’t leaving. Such things are not more or less unusual. Do you sense any others knowing about us?”
“No, I don’t. I think he was alone.”
“Good. So, we aren’t leaving. Besides, you have to go snowboarding on Saturday.”
“You had to remind me. What if I fall? Everyone seems to fall a lot.”
Laughing, her sister said, “Then you’ll be like everyone else.”
When Saturday came, Lyssa was anxious. Dressing in the pale pink snow gear Lexa made her buy, she waited for Kyle outside. It was a cold day. Normally, she’d not dress so warmly, she didn’t really need to, but Kyle didn’t know that. Once again, there was a pang in her heart. Kyle knew her, but he really didn’t. And if he ever found out, she feared he’d run for the hills.
When he pulled up, he hopped out of the car and grinned at her, “Look at you, all dressed in pink. You look cute.”
She felt her cheeks go red and she skipped off the porch, “Stop being silly.”
He suddenly snagged her around the waist and pulled her close. His lips pressed to hers, strong and insistent. She moaned softly in his arms.
“I’m not being silly,” he said and then led her to the car.
The ride was only just over twenty minutes and she teased him about his board that was sticking out of the trunk and through the backseat, which he had laid down. It had a shark on it that was chasing a snow boarder. She shook her head.
“It’s goofy,” she said.
“Are you trying to embarrass me?” he asked with mock pain on his face.
Grinning, she turned to look out the window as they turned into the place, “Just teasing. Is this place it? I thought it’d be bigger.”
“Where did you think we were going? Killington? Nashoba Valley isn’t the biggest, but it’s close and it’s a great place.”
“Hey! I wasn’t knocking it. I’ve just… never been to a ski area before. I’ve only seen them in movies and I thought that they were bigger.”
“I love this place. I grew up going here with my dad. And it’s so close, it’s easy to come here a lot. I’ve only been to other areas about once a year. Here, I can go every weekend.”
She looked at him, “So, I’m going to have to learn to board or lose you every weekend?”
He grinned, “Maybe. Or maybe I’ll have to change my priorities.”
She smiled softly, “I’ll learn to board.”
“And I won’t go every weekend.” His board under one arm, he tucked her in under the other. Even as excited as she was to be in his arms, it still felt so natural. As if, she belonged to him and him alone. Why did she have to be an alien? One day, she was going to have to leave this warmth. Her heart felt shattered at that thought.
“You ok?” he asked and she looked up.
“What?”
“Suddenly you look, I don’t know, really sad.”
She smiled, “Nothing to worry about right now. Right now, I have to worry about this boarding you are making me do.”
“Oh, shush! You’ll have fun.”
After he rented her some gear, he took her up to the beginner slope. She had to admit, it wasn’t that intimidating. And as he showed her how to lean to turn and encouraged her to fall when she couldn’t stop, she found that she really enjoyed the sport. By late afternoon, she was exhausted as she stood at the bottom of the slope watching him weave down to her. When he cut the turn to stop and blew snow all over her, she laughed. Grinning, he walked over and kissed her.
“Sorry,” he said with a grin.
“Yeah, sure you are. Jerk.”
Laughing, he said, “Me?”
With a shove, which caused him to fall back, she said, “You.”
He was laughing and with a grin, she reached down to haul him up. He, instead, hauled her down and kissed her soundly. As they laid there kissing, someone yelled out for them to get a room. Blushing, she pulled back and stood up.
“Um, anyway.”
He grinned at her, “Let’s eat.”
Soon, they were sitting by the window in the restaurant, with a view of the slopes. They ordered appetizers and a large meal. Both of them were starving and Lyssa was never embarrassed to eat in front of him. He knew she ate a lot and didn’t care. She looked out, watching the people.
“I love this place. I want to come here again.”
“Often as you like,” he said and when she turned, she found him watching her with a soft smile on his face.
“Maybe not every weekend, but maybe once or twice a month?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
They ate together in companionable silence. Sometimes, they’d make comments about their meal or something someone said at school, but mostly they just enjoyed each other’s company. For once, Lyssa felt completely at ease. But, she had to admit, for the most part, she always felt at ease with Kyle. He was like her other half.
On the ride home, she must have dozed because in no time they were back at her house. Kyle came around and opened the door before helping her out of the car. He was always thoughtful like that and she enjoyed it.
“Um,” she blushed, “want to come in?”
He kissed her brow, and slipped an arm around her, guiding her to the house, “Am I to finally meet your elusive parents?”
She sighed, saddened by the fact that he’d never meet them, “Out again I’m afraid. How about I take you on the nickel tour?”
He laughed, “The what?”
“Just a little tour of the house.”
“Do I get to see your bedroom?”
She stumbled at that and looked at him with wide eyes.
“A guy can dream, can’t he?”
Trembling, she whispered, “Someday. Soon.”
He kissed her brow and she died a little inside. She’d have to move on beyond just kissing one day. Kyle was a boy after all. The thought just scared her. If she made love to Kyle, she doubted she could ever leave him.
They shed their winter gear when they walked into the house and she guided him around the downstairs, even stopping to show her weapons display.
“This is awesome,” he said with a grin, “Can I touch one?”
�
��Have you had any training?”
“Uh, no.”
She smiled, “Then no, they are all live steel and the blades are very sharp.”
“You’re such a weirdo.”
“You love it,” she quipped.
“I do,” he said intensely and when she looked up at him, her heart tripped before racing.
“Um, let me show you the kitchen again.” And quickly headed in that direction. “Want a drink?” she asked when they got there and she leaned to reach up for a glass. Suddenly, his warm arms were around her and his lips at her neck.