by Kristie Cook
“That’s great,” Ingrid said. “Can we start tomorrow evening? Maybe after dinner?”
Cora squinted as though mentally checking something. “It’ll have to be after seven. Seven thirty? Where do you live so I can pick you up?”
“I think it’s better if you two meet at your club,” Maliina suggested. As Ingrid and Cora exchanged phone numbers, she shot me a triumphant glance. Whatever they were planning, it wasn’t going to happen. Not while I was around.
“So what do you guys do when not swimming or drinking coffee in quaint little stores?” Maliina asked, focusing her attention on Cora again.
“We hang out, go online. I have a vlog, which I update every week and visit every day to interact with my fans. Raine and I were discussing about volunteering more. We help adult immigrants learn English, but we might do more. Build homes for needy people.”
I rolled my eyes. Whatever happened to not waking up in the mornings on Saturday?
“We’d like to help, too,” Ingrid said.
Maliina nodded. “Count us in. What do you do for fun?”
“We go to the movies, concerts in Portland. Cliff House on 14th North has arcade games, bowling alleys, and rock walls if you’re into rock climbing. Friday nights at L.A. Connection is teen night, so that’s another cool place to hang out.” Cora frowned. “We were there last weekend during the blackout.”
“Isn’t that where a student died?” Maliina asked as though she didn’t already know. “I heard there was a party or something.”
Cora’s chin trembled, and I knew she was about to start crying again. Whatever game these two were playing had to stop.
“Cora, we should go,” I said.
“We threw Raine a birthday party,” Cora said at the same time. “Kate died at the hospital, but she was hurt at the club. She was really nice.”
Maliina reached out and gripped Cora’s hand. “I didn’t know she was a friend.”
“She was one of us. I mean she was on the swim team.” Cora stared at her hands, a tear rolling down her face.
Maliina knelt beside her chair and hugged her. “Did you know her too, Raine?”
I wanted to punch her, but I couldn’t without explaining why to Cora. I stood and gathered my things. “Let’s go, Cora. I promised Mom I’d have dinner ready by the time she gets home. Your drinks are ready, Maliina. You can take our seats.”
Frowning, Cora stood and picked up her jacket, keys, and coffee. “Nice talking to you.”
“See you at school,” Maliina said, moving to the seat I’d just vacated.
“Don’t forget to text me about tomorrow,” Ingrid added.
Not if I could help it. I ushered Cora outside.
“Ohmigod, Raine. What’s wrong with you?” she asked. “You were totally rude to them.”
“I don’t like them.”
“You don’t know them well enough to dislike them,” she retorted. “I don’t understand you.”
“It’s simple. They’re liars. I saw them at the club on Saturday. They came to the party, Cora. Andris even asked me to dance, but back there, they acted like they didn’t know Kate was hurt at the club.”
Cora frowned. “Then why bring her up?”
“Because they are not nice. I saw them after I turned down Andris, and Maliina was a total bitch. She acted like I was after Andris.”
“You hate him.” Cora was quiet as we drove home. “Is Ingrid as bad as Maliina?”
“I don’t know.”
Cora pulled up to my house and stared into space with a pensive expression. She glanced at me, a stubborn light in her eyes. “Okay, this is what I’ll do. I’ll coach her tomorrow night and then call it quits.”
It was better than nothing, but I planned to be there too, just in case Maliina showed up.
“Okay.” We hugged, and Cora drove off.
I glanced at Torin’s house as I walked toward my door. The lights were on downstairs. Should I tell him what happened with Maliina and Ingrid? It was obvious they were using Cora to get to me. I paused, thought about it, and reached a decision. This was my problem, not Torin’s.
DAMAGE CONTROL
“Thanks for making dinner, sweetie,” Mom said when she walked into the kitchen. She picked up a toast of garlic bread and took a bite. I’d just pulled out the tray from the oven. “Oh, crunchy. How was school?”
“Terrible.”
She frowned, putting the toast down. “What happened?”
“Kate Hunsaker died.”
“Oh, honey. Come here.” She gave me a hug, then leaned back and rubbed my arms. “You should have called me.”
I shrugged. “The principal talked to us, and there were grief counselors for those who needed one. Some stupid guy confronted me and Cora in class and said it was our fault. You know, because of the party.” Mom’s back grew stiff, her green eyes flashing. I couldn’t believe I’d said that to her. “That was before we were told Kate died.”
“Who’s this guy? What’s his name?”
“It doesn’t matter, Mom. He’s an idiot.”
“People are always lashing out when they grieve.” She peered at me. “Listen to me, sweetheart. I feel terrible Kate died, but it wasn’t your fault or Cora’s or Eirik’s. If the blackout was meant to happen, it was going to happen. If it was her time to die and move on, nothing and no one could have stopped it. You should not feel responsible for what happened,” she stressed, starting to repeat herself. “None of you should.”
“Do you really believe everyone has a time to die?”
“Oh yes. Death is the one thing you can’t escape. When it’s your time to go, you will go.”
I bit my lower lip. Did she believe it wasn’t Dad’s time to go? Was that why she didn’t believe he was dead? Or was she just being delusional like Mrs. Rutledge claimed? I didn’t dare ask.
After dinner, Mom disappeared upstairs. I was surprised when I didn’t hear from Eirik. Sleep didn’t come easily. I kept checking to see if Torin was home.
“Wake up, Raine.”
Mom’s voice reached me as though from afar. I squinted, trying to find her. “What?”
“You slept through your alarm, sweetie. You’re going to be late for school.”
I flung the covers aside and saw the time. I had twenty minutes to get my butt to school. I showered and changed in record time and raced downstairs. There were several texts from Eirik and one from Cora asking if I needed a ride. I called them back, but they were already at school.
“Do you want me to come get you?” Eirik asked.
I stared at my car and chewed my lower lip. He was so sweet, but I didn’t want him to be late for his first class just because of the stupid runes on my car. “It’s okay. I’ll drive. See you later.”
I closed my phone and slowly walked toward my car, staring at it like it was a viper. I could ask Mom for a ride, but she would want to know what was wrong with my car. Of course, finding out that it was okay would only reinforce her belief that something was wrong with me.
“Need a ride, Freckles?”
I exhaled and turned to face Torin. “No, thanks.”
“I could get you to school in two minutes flat.”
It took me ten minutes most mornings. “Is that before or after you get a speeding ticket?”
“The cops would have to see me to give me one,” he bragged and extended his helmet toward me. “Unless of course you want to drive your car and learn firsthand the curse associated with those runes.”
My stomach hollowed out. “Curse?”
“Or blessing. Depends on how you look at it. Come on.” He disappeared inside his garage.
I studied my runes-covered car, then crossed our yards. He was playing with my head again, yet curiosity drew me to him. Could he really get me to school in two minutes? He was already straddling his bike when I reached him.
“How come you live on your own while Andris and his harem are living with a host family?”
“No one would have me.”<
br />
Was he serious?
He grinned, and I knew he was teasing me again. “You should have seen your face. Don’t ever feel sorry for me, Freckles. I have money and can afford to live on my own. Come here.” He lifted the helmet.
My heart pounding, I moved closer. He placed the helmet over my head and tucked my hair behind my ear, the gesture so gentle and unlike the violent guy I knew him to be. He snapped the strap in place, then rolled a lock of my hair between his thumb and fingers.
“You have soft hair,” he murmured in a husky voice.
I somehow found my voice and said, “Thank you.”
He smiled. “Okay, uh, do you have a waist strap for your backpack?”
I nodded and secured it with hands that weren’t steady. Usually, I went toe-to-toe with him on anything, but today, a shyness I couldn’t explain had crept in on me, and I hated it. I glanced up and found him staring at me.
“It’s going to be okay,” he said, his voice gentle.
I believed him. I didn’t think he’d hurt me or anything like that. It was just that being close to him messed with my head. Having to actually wrap my arms around him scared me. I straddled the bike and sat.
“Closer. I don’t bite,” he teased. “No, that’s not true. I do, just not when nosey neighbors are watching.”
I glanced over my shoulder at Mrs. Rutledge’s and caught a movement behind a curtain. Oh well, here’s something for you to gossip about. I scooted closer to Torin’s back, our bodies touching, his warmth enveloping me. A shiver shot through me. I didn’t understand this effect he had on me. It was both scary and exciting.
“Give me your hands,” he said huskily. I did. He took my wrists and wrapped my arms around his waist. “Hold on tight.”
I tightened my grip. He slipped on his sunglasses and started the engine. Talk about sitting on such a powerful machine and hugging an even more powerful one. The difference was a bike could be controlled. Torin couldn’t. He was an unknown entity. Unpredictable. All muscles, heat, and forbidden desires.
Firm muscles flexed under my knuckles as he took off. The T-shirt he wore was so thin he might as well be shirtless. I tried my best to pretend he was Eirik, someone safe, loving, and kind. It wasn’t happening. Both men had their special scents, and Torin’s was intoxicating.
As soon as he hit Orchard Road, he picked up speed. My hands curled, grabbing his T-shirt since his jacket was unzipped. His broad shoulders made it impossible to see in front of us, so I felt rather than saw the runes. It was as though an electric shock shot through him and leaped to me, charging us both. Everything became blurry as he picked up speed. Soon it felt like we were moving at five times the speed of a rollercoaster. I closed my eyes and laughed. Instead of fear, I felt exhilarated, free, like I was one with the wind.
How could we move so fast without hitting something or someone? Just like he’d picked up speed, he slowed down. I opened my eyes and smiled. He was entering Riverside Boulevard, the street in front of our school. No wonder he’d appeared suddenly near Longmont Park the day of Ultimate Frisbee.
He found a place to park and turned off the engine. A few students hurrying to the school turned to look at us. I looked at my watch and grinned. Two minutes. “That was … wow. How can you ride like that and not hit something?”
“Practice.” He unsnapped the helmet, lifted it from my head, and brushed hair away from my face, his knuckles lingering on my cheek.
I laughed to cover my hot cheeks and exhaled with relief when he turned and picked up his backpack. We walked toward school, so close our hands almost touched.
“You did great for your first ride,” he said. “I heard you laugh.”
“I closed my eyes.”
“I know.”
I rolled my eyes. “How?”
“Because I know everything there’s to know about you, Lorraine Cooper.”
“Yeah. Right.”
“Ask me anything.” He held the door and followed me into the main hall. The first bell rang, and the few students hanging around hurried away. I had no time to take my backpack to my locker. “I dare you,” Torin added as we headed upstairs to our math class.
“I hate the name Freckles. Why?”
He chuckled. “Some idiot teased you about the cute ones on your nose.”
Cute again. This time I forgave him. “Any two-bit shrink would know that. Tell me when, where, and by whom.”
“At the playground, Kayville Elementary School, by Derrick Gregory, who had an awful crush on you and hated that you and Seville were best friends.”
I’d stopped walking as soon he mentioned Derrick. How could he know such details of my life? First, the light signal Eirik and I used, now this? Could he read minds? See the past?
“How did you know?”
A wicked smile lifted the corner of his mouth, but all he did was push open the door to our math class. He indicated I walk ahead of him. Eyes followed us. Mrs. Bates was already in class. Frank Moffat pressed against the back of his chair, his eyes fixed warily on Torin. Yeah, Torin had definitely been behind Frank’s meltdown. I sat at my desk while Torin continued to the back of the class.
How had he known about Derrick Gregory? I glanced back. He winked and indicated that I turn around. I wrinkled my nose and faced forward. I must have glanced back a hundred times and caught his twinkling eyes on me. I couldn’t wait for class to be over.
“How did you know about Derrick?” I asked him when the class ended.
“That will have to wait.” He glanced over my shoulder. “Golden Boy is waiting.”
I turned and saw Eirik by the door. Dang. Sighing, I went to join him. Eirik slipped a possessive arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer, then glanced at Torin and nodded briefly. We moved away from the door and headed for the stairs.
“I didn’t know Torin was in your class,” he said. “Isn’t he a senior?”
I shrugged. “I think so. I was surprised to see him in my class, too.”
“What’s up with the backpack?” he asked.
“I didn’t have time to drop it off. So … what are you doing tonight?” I asked before he could bring up my car.
He shot me an easy smile. “Nothing. Want me to come over?”
“Sure. You can have dinner with us and, uh, bring your swim suit.”
“We’re going swimming?”
“Yeah, around seven thirty.” The sound of giggles reached me, and I turned to find the source. Torin stood in the hallway surrounded by girls. I recognized a few cheerleaders and swimmers. Even though he was talking to them, his eyes were on us.
“How’s your new neighbor?” Eirik asked, following my gaze.
His voice sounded strained, and I berated myself for letting Torin get to me. The problem was he was like a magnet. Not just to me, but to other girls from the looks of things.
“Torin is … Torin. He keeps to himself and causes a lot of ruckus with his bike. He’s your typical high school guy.” Yeah, right. Between ten years in Land of Mist and rune magic, he might be a lot older than he looked. An Immortal, whatever that meant. Eirik, on the other hand, was very much the guy next door, normal and human. He was also my boyfriend. I should’ve been happy, content.
Downstairs, we put my backpack in my locker, collected the rest of the books for my morning classes, and Eirik walked me to my next class, leaving me with a peck on my cheek. He was sweet. Safe. Why, then, was I drawn to Torin? He wasn’t nice or even remotely safe.
***
Gina Lazlo, a student aid, walked into my computer tech class and handed the teacher a note. Mr. Finnegan looked around the classroom then walked to my row. “Lorraine Cooper, you’re wanted in the main office.”
My stomach hollowed out. Students turned to stare. We were rarely summoned to the office unless we’d done something wrong. I collected my books and hurried out of the class. I ran to catch up with Gina.
“What’s going on, Gina?”
“I don’t know, but Mrs. Underwoo
d is with Principal Elliot.”
Mrs. Underwood was my counselor. I hadn’t done anything that would interest her. One tardy didn’t count, and I wasn’t failing any of my classes.
Inside the office, the secretary looked up and impatiently waved me in. My stomach churned faster. Principal Elliot stood when I entered the office, though Mrs. Underwood stayed seated.
“Lorraine, sit,” the principal said, indicating the seat next to Mrs. Underwood’s.
I sat on the edge of the chair and licked my lips, which had suddenly gone dry.
“How are you doing, Lorraine?” Principal Elliot asked.
“Fine.” My hands clenched the books.
“How are things at home?”
Was this about my father? Was he back? Or had they found his body? I swallowed, heart pounding. “Uh-hmm, okay.”
“We want you to know that we are here for you, Lorraine,” Principal Elliot said. “If you need to talk, my office and Mrs. Underwood’s are always open. We want what’s best for you and all our students.”
I nodded when he paused.
“But if a situation arises that makes it impossible for students to learn, it is our job to find out what’s going on. If it’s something we can take care of, we do it. If they need help coping, we help them cope.”
This was definitely about my father, the one subject I didn’t want to discuss with anyone at school. I bit my lower lip and hoped I wouldn’t start crying. I wasn’t a crier, but every time I thought of my father, the waterworks started.
“Is there something bothering you that you’d like to discuss with me or Mrs. Underwood?” Principal Elliot asked.
I shook my head. “No.”
“Kate Hunsaker’s accident was not your fault, despite what anyone says,” the counselor said, shifting in her seat so she faced me.
“I know. My mother told me the same thing.”
Mrs. Underwood’s brow furrowed. “Do you talk to your mother a lot?”
I smiled. “Of course. With my father go … Yes, we talk,” I finished quickly.
“There’s still no news about your father?” Principal Elliot asked.