by Rue Volley
Josh looked to me and back to Johnathan, “I'm not doing this with you.”
“What...? What are you not doing?” Johnathan said.
Josh grinned, “Whatever…” He turned and walked out of the room.
Johnathan came back to me and sat down on the bed… He reached out and took my hand, placing it to his mouth, kissing it gently.
179
“Are you Okay?” he whispered.
I nodded.
“What happened?”
I looked out my window… “Nothing…nothing happened. I should of stayed in bed, but I wanted to take a bath... I fell asleep and sank in the water.”
Johnathan reached behind me and pulled me too him. I could feel his heartbeat strong through the front of the towel that Josh must have wrapped me in, awesome… It didn't hit me until that moment that I may be naked.
I pulled back from him. “I need to eat...food.”
He smiled at me, “Thank god...food, that's a good idea.”
180
Chapter 9
Think of Yourself Lightly
181
I didn't really talk to anyone for days. I was thankful for Josh, but I had no words. I wanted to have Johnathan hold me, but I couldn't stand the thought of being consoled. I wanted blood and I spent most of my time snacking in my room. I had dream after dream...green grass, a tree bursting with life's blood...
but no whispering… Nothing. Elin was gone. My mom and dad were gone… I walked and walked in my dreams hoping to find them…but nothing. I wanted someone to take it all out of my head...but knowing that the receiver would suffer, it stifled my want to dump it on someone else. Josh was right…I needed to own it.
I didn't even know what day it was, but I decided to get up and walk down stairs. I spent an hour thinking about it first... Coming to the conclusion that I needed my friends, really needed some normalcy. I can't live in my room forever.
I made it to the bottom and looked around. Kai was playing a video game on the couch… Theodore was cooking in the kitchen and Sam was sitting at the kitchen table playing with one of her blades. Sam noticed me first. She stood up and smiled at me...a genuine smile. I grinned a little… Smiling was not an option, as of yet.
“Theodore here is making the most amazing meal, Rue.”
I started to head towards her. I reached into the basket on the table and pulled out a peach, taking a bite out of it in one fluid motion.
I looked at the peach then to Theodore.
“What are you making?” I asked him.
Theodore spun around with an apron on that said…“Shut up and eat it”
I smiled, as I bit into my peach...obviously reading the front of his apron.
Theodore looked down and smiled. “I like that it is written in glitter. Curious it falls off everywhere…but no matter…I like it anyway.”
“Well I like it…it suits you,” I said grinning.
“Thank you... Samantha here thought it was cheap…I fear that she has no humor… Have you happened to come across it somewhere? She may have dropped it...her humor, that is.”
Sam kept staring at her blade, turning it in her hand. “Shut up Theodore.”
I laughed… I could hear Kai laugh behind me and I turned around.
He looked at me and then he hugged me like a three year old hugging a teddy bear.
“Ohhh…okay, okay Kai.”
He let me go from his grip and grinned at me.
“You"re a turd Rue.”
“You"re the turd,” I shot back.
He jogged back to his couch potato position on the couch and continued his game.
“Where's Josh?” I said.
Samantha looked up at me… “He's in the woods, playing war games with Johnathan… They like to hunt each other for sport…passing the time I guess.”
“Hunt each other?” I said it with some concern and Theodore turned around from the oven, “Oh…no worries my dear… Boys have to release their frustration some way or another.”
182
“I'm going out there… Can you take me Sam?”
Sam rose from her chair and lifted her pant leg. She slipped the blade in a holder she had concealed on the side of her leg.
“Lets go show them what girls can do Rue.”
Kai jumped up... “I'm in.”
Samantha grinned at him. That's new…no comments shot his way. I must of slept too long.
We all headed towards the door…Theodore cleared his throat.
“I will need everyone back here in two hours to eat… Two hours.”
“Sure…will do,” Kai yelled back at him.
Theodore winked at me… “Go kick their asses Rue.”
I looked at him with a look of “I don't know what you mean.” He waved his hand at me, towards the door and I hurried up, remembering that Sam and Kai would probably be there already. I stepped out onto the porch and neither one of them were in sight. Awesome…how the hell was I going to track them down? I stood there for a moment and I heard the door open behind me.
Theodore stepped out. “You could have been there already my dear… I am positive that you are faster than anyone of them.”
“I don't even know where they are.”
“You do...close your eyes…”
I closed them, I figured it was my best shot.
“Now you need to focus… You'll see it when you open your eyes, my dear.”
“See what?”
“Focus on them...you'll feel it.”
I started to focus and I felt a vibration welling up in me...a shot of adrenaline shot through me.
“Ohhhh,” I whispered.
“Listen for their heartbeats, little one…”
I focused and slowly I started to hear beating... It was so faint, at first it sounded like someone off in the distance beating on a drum…but it grew louder in my ears…
“I hear them,” I said.
“Good…open your eyes.”
I opened my eyes and I could see swirling color in the air… I sucked in my breath.
“It's beautiful,” I muttered.
“That it is...now look at the ground.”
I looked at the ground and patterns started to emerge, a trail leading into the woods.
“I see a trail Theodore.”
“You follow that my dear… It will lead you to where you want to go.”
I hugged him big time. He was surprised that I did it, but I didn't care. He sucked in his breath.
“Ohh my…you are quite the touchy feelie kind aren't you.”
I smiled at him.
“Thank you.”
183
He waved a hand at me... “Go play.”
I turned around and flashed into the woods.
******
Everything passed by me so quickly and yet to me it looked as if it were in slow motion. Colors swirled all around me, I wasn't out of breath…my heartbeat didn't even speed up. I just glided through the forest at lightning speed. I suddenly stopped, when I felt something strong pulling me to the right. I stood there and crouched down to the ground. I put my hands on the dirt floor and felt I vibration I knew all to well. It was Josh. I spread my fingers apart in the dirt and a trail started to materialize, leading me in that direction. I stood back up and flashed in that direction, I could hear his heartbeat…strong and steady. I looked up and colors were starting to become thicker and I knew I was close. Suddenly he flashed out of nowhere and came to a dead stop in front of me. I know I surprised him, because the look on his face was that of shock. He stood before me tall…all dressed in white…leather strips criss crossing his body. He looked like a warrior… I looked down and realized I was in my t shirt and jeans and I felt like I had shown up at the wrong party, way under dressed. He grinned at me.
“Rue...you came to play?”
I tilted my head to the right.
“Someone is coming.”
“I know, it's Johnathan.” He reached out and grabbed my hand and we
ran straight ahead…trees flying past us. We came to a stop.
I pulled my hand from his. “Why are we a team?”
He grinned, “You found me…not the other way around… I'm assuming you want to team up.”
“I am here to win...me, not us,” I said.
He flashed from me, it blew my hair in my face... I pushed it out of my face and lowered to the ground.
“Oh my god!” I cried out.
I ducked down, just in time for Johnathan to frog jump me… He ran headlong into a tree and rolled to the side. I jumped up in shock… “Oh God…Johnathan I am sorry!”
He rolled onto his back laughing, “Geezus…I didn't know you were here, I almost ran you over Rue!”
I reached my hand down to him and he took it, but he pulled me down on top of him.
“Hello, Rue Volley.”
I grinned, “Hello, Johnathan Graph.”
“Oh shit!” he yelled out.
He rolled us, in a flash, to the right and Josh landed where we were. We both stood up brushing leaves out of our hair.
“Way to lose Johnathan.”
Johnathan started to laugh. “Well I had a distraction… I'm assuming you let that happen.”
184
“Sure did…I knew you were behind me, so…”
I put my hands on my hips… “What…? I was bait Josh?”
“What else…? Best way to take an enemy down...weakness.”
“I found you Josh…that means I win.”
“No it does not,” he said.
Sam and Kai flashed up to us.
Kai looked at all three of us. “Who won?”
Johnathan, Josh, and I all said, “Me” at the same time.
“My money is on, Rue, boys,” Sam said as she laughed.
Josh started to brush dirt off of his pants. “Really...? I don't think so…not a girl.”
Samantha started to laugh harder. “Hurts doesn't it?”
“No, because it is not true,” Josh added.
Samantha walked up to him. “Just can't admit that a 90 pound girl took you out.”
Josh sighed, “What a thought…wrong, but a thought anyway… Rue and I were a team.”
I stepped up… “No...I found you fair and square… Me being bait, is not a team.”
Josh winked at me, “All's fair.”
I crossed my arms. Johnathan came up behind me and put his arms around me and whispered in my ear.
“We know you won.”
Josh turned and looked back from where we came from, he looked back to all of us.
“Well then...first one home takes the win.” He flashed away from us.
“Oh shit...! No count to three?” Kai yelled out.
We all flashed after him.
******
I reached the house first. I blew past all three of them, with no problem. I even turned around and ran backwards in front of Johnathan at one point…don't know if he was amused, but I was... It was nice to have fun…really was. I stopped at the steps and Josh was sitting on them like he had been there all day.
“I see that your way includes cheating,” I said.
He stood up grinning. “I never said not to.”
“You never said anything at all...ass.”
I started up the steps and he jumped in my way, “Are you considering messing me up, by any chance?”
I looked up at him. “I am not.”
“We got…ohhh, about 45 seconds to get busy, before your boyfriend shows up.”
I hit him out of my way… “I think you over estimate yourself.”
“I am exactly what you need Rue Volley.”
I had to look back, to make sure he had that evil grin attached to that statement, but he wasn't smiling.
“You cannot be serious.”
He started to laugh... “You can do what you want to me Josh… I'll let you.”
My eyes got wide… “Shut up!”
185
“I will collect on it…trust me.”
“You will not,” I muttered.
“10 seconds for a quicky... Clock is ticking Rue.” He faked a tap, on his imaginary watch.
“Oh my god you"re a dick.”
“But you love that about me…right?”
Just as I was about to respond, even though I was trying to figure out why the hell I even wanted to, they all skidded to a stop.
Kai came up behind me. “Geezus Rue you are fast!”
I smiled and looked down at my hands… “Yea…I didn't know.”
Sam walked by me, “Don't be shy about it girl... You rock.”
Johnathan came up behind me and lifted me up, kissing me on the neck. He looked at Josh when he did it. “I think it's hot…”
Josh turned around and went inside.
Johnathan set me down and I turned around facing him, “I appreciate that you have accepted defeat sir.”
He reached down and took my hand, “I'm sure that Josh isn't so gracious.”
“Oh…he's not so bad, some days I guess,” I said as I started to turn towards the door, he pulled me back to him.
“I've missed you Rue… Try to stay with me, okay?”
I thought about that for a moment. “Stay with me” sounded like “I might leave you”
“I'm here Johnathan... I will always be here…right here with you.”
He pulled me close to his chest and hugged me. “I want to hear that everyday, from you.”
I put my arms up around his neck and looked into his eyes...those eyes my god…really?
“You sound a little paranoid, Johnathan.”
He looked towards the door. “I'm not paranoid.”
“Listen…I know that you and Josh have this thing.”
He leaned down and kissed me... He was hungry at my mouth, like we had not been together for a year. I wanted to drag him down onto the porch and do all the things I shouldn't do, all the things I wanted to do to Josh a few days ago. I stopped kissing him when Josh crossed my mind. What the hell was he doing in my mind anyway? What an ass.
Theodore interrupted… “Ahhh, I see…oh I remember some 80 years ago there was this young man, quite the gentleman, well, until we closed the doors at night… He had the most peculiar birthmark on his.”
“Theodore...!” I said.
“Oh…well...neither here nor there… Dinner is ready…and I do appreciate the fact that you have all been so kind, as to show up on time for once.”
He winked at me and went back inside. I ran my fingers across the top of Johnathan's hand and we followed.
******
186
The meal was amazing… Kai complimented Theodore, who ate it up and claimed that it wasn't his best…although I think it was a lie. I was glad to have someone in the house, who didn't spend all his time trying to poison me. I ate everything on my plate and went back for more… I have a hunger that is never ending. I would have normally been embarrassed to eat so much, but everyone did, so I felt right at home. I looked around the table and it hit me…this is my family now. I lowered my fork and stopped chewing for a moment, staring off in space. I was snapped out of my stupor, when I heard the words.
“I don't know why you are so opposed to pink... A library doesn't need to be offensive to the eye.”
Josh started to laugh. “I don't think that the people in this town are going to appreciate your taste level Theodore.”
“I think you under estimate my powers of persuasion, Josh.”
I knocked my glass over and spilled my drink all over the table. “Oh god…sorry,”
I said.
I looked at Josh… “The library?”
Theodore came over to me and knelt down… “Oh sweetie…the library you knew is gone, burnt to the ground…but I am building you a new one…bigger and better and…” He looked at Josh, “With impeccable taste…I guarantee you will adore it.”
Josh got up from the table and took his plate to the sink. “Minus the mirrors of course.”
I
scooted my chair out and carried my plate to the sink. I stood there for a moment looking down.
“No mirrors…of course… Good,” I said.
I walked toward the stairs.
Johnathan called after me, “You okay?”
I turned around and everyone had their eyes on me. “Trust me, I am not getting in the tub.”
Sam stood up and smiled at me. “No one thinks that we are on a suicide watch.”
“Good…because I am fine…just perfect, really,” I said.
Theodore came towards me. “Why don't you stay...? It's movie night.”
I scratched my head…went perfect with the “what?” look on my face.
“Okay…movie night… When did we start that?” I said.
Theodore grinned… “Oh while you slept, we all decided.”
Josh came in and dropped on the couch. “You decided. We…” he punctuated with a hand motion, “ had nothing to do with it.”
Theodore gracefully picked up a pillow and smacked him in the head. I put my hand up to my mouth, to muffle a laugh.
“WE have movie night… It is MY night, so we are watching a romantic comedy.”
Kai came in and took his regular spot on the couch. “Yea about that…I have this awesome horror…”
“And that would be a no. You had last movie night and I am not going to allow you to disturb me again this evening… I have to get my sleep..”
“You've lived like what 1000 years…? What would scare you?” Kai asked him.
Theodore hit him in the head with the pillow he still had in his hand... He hit Josh too…I guess, because he wasn't done with him yet.
187
Josh gave him a nasty look. “What the hell?” Josh said.
Theodore grinned. “Ooops...anyway, it is my turn… I will get the popcorn…sit my dear.”
Sam came in and sat next to Kai, Josh scooted over on the couch, making room for me. I looked at him and then to Johnathan…who strolled in and grabbed our oversized pillow that adorned the chair… He laid down on the floor and motioned me over. I gave Josh a quick look and took my place on the floor next to Johnathan. I snuggled up against him with my back and he placed his arm over my waist and ran his hand across my stomach. For a moment, I wished we were alone…but no such luck.
Theodore returned with the largest bowl of popcorn I had ever seen… He passed it around insisting we all take some, then plopped down on the couch next to Josh. I munched my handful and laid back down.