Dentelle #3 Guardian series

by Bowhay, Heather

  “Really?” he asked, dumbfounded. “They’re allowed to do that?”

  “Of course not. I’m pretty sure phones are supposed to stay in lockers except during lunch. But I was sitting in the back of the room and noticed several kids messing around, rather covertly, inside their desks, not paying any attention to the lesson.” I chuckled at the memory. “I got up and nonchalantly walked around, trying to get a better view.”

  “What did you see?”

  “Two people were texting, a couple more were playing games, and one was scrolling through the app store. I didn’t say anything, of course. Didn’t want to be a nark. But I did make a mental note to talk to Ally about it. When she starts student teaching, she’s gonna want to teach from all angles of the room, keeping her eyes wide open.”

  “When we have kids, no cell phones until they’re like 18,” he said stubbornly, but his eyes were twinkling.

  “Oh, so we’re having kids now?” I asked. And a passing thought had me wondering if the Senior Council really expected me to marry Ash and have kids right away.

  His eyes shot up. “Absolutely. But not for a while. We have to live a little first.”

  “Good to know,” I said. “By the way, guess what Ava Rose asked me to get her for her birthday.”

  “Not a cell phone?”

  I nodded. “Yep. Apparently, ‘all the third graders are getting them.’”

  “I doubt that.”

  Sitting up, I took a sip of my cherry 7 UP. “Me too. But don’t worry. I told her not until middle school.” Lying back down, I propped myself up on my elbow. “Here’s an interesting tidbit for ya. In one of the 8th grade classrooms I observed, the students were discussing the results of a communication survey they’d recently completed. The overwhelming results indicated that the majority of their social interactions with friends came via texting, gaming, or Instagram. What’s even more amazing is that phone calls, e-mails, and face to face conversations were at the bottom of the list.”

  “Okay, absolutely no electronics, including TVs, until our kids graduate from high school.”

  I smacked him on the arm. “Oh, come on Mr. Inflexible. You’ll have to relinquish a little bit. They’re gonna need laptops or tablets for schoolwork. And anyways, you don’t want your kids to be technological outcasts.”

  He stuck out his tongue. “First of all, we’re talking about our kids, Miss Extremist. And second of all, I’d rather they had the ability to communicate face to face so they won’t be socially awkward in a room full of people.”

  “I agree with that,” I responded. “But I just think there are benefits to both.”

  “Ah, hah,” he said with a grin, pointing at me. “So it all comes down to balance.”

  “Absolutely. When doesn’t it?”

  “That’s why I love you,” he said. “We are like two sides of the same coin – or rock in our case, like the one you gave me up at the waterfall. Distinctly different, one half logic and one half emotion, but together we are balanced and can’t exist without the other.”

  “Nicely put, Mr. Walker. And I believe your exact words that day were, ‘One side dark and mysterious with tiny glimmers of hope, and the other side light and pure with obvious beauty.’”

  “Your memory astounds me.” He shook his head with appreciation and smacked his lips together. “We are going to have brilliant children.”

  That’s when it hit me. Brilliant children? Duh. That’s why the Senior Council wanted me to marry Ash and have kids right away. They were hoping we might bring another Dentelle into this world. Why those scheming control freaks. I sure wanted to give them a piece of my mind. But I didn’t want to ruin my time with Jason, so I locked my anger away and kept those theories to myself. Aloud I said, “So, now that we have all that figured out – brilliant children who will be socially savvy…”

  “Five of them by the way,” he interjected.

  “Huh? Five what?”

  “Five kids. That’s how many I think we should have.”

  I rolled my eyes, and despite my anger toward the Senior Council, I laughed. The idea of children with Jason was romantic. And it would be my decision, not theirs. “Don’t even get me started,” I said. “Actually,” I paused, tapping my chin, “Maybe we should have five. Five girls that is. And maybe I shouldn’t mention that when I was at the middle school, one girl freely admitted she’d dated a guy for three weeks but conversations were only via text or while playing “Call of Duty” together, and then they ended the relationship through a text, as well.”

  His jaw dropped. “What?” He tapped his hand against the seat. “No. No dating. Not ever. And I’m back to no cell phones, too.”

  “Oh honey,” I said good-naturedly, “The future looks bright.”

  Despite my words, I knew, deep down, that wasn’t true. My future was a black hole. There might be light, but it was trapped inside and needed to find its way out.

  Fortunately, we were both saved from further discussion by the flight attendant offering refreshments. I asked for three water bottles, and Jason teased me about having a dehydration problem. I told him that I always downed two to three water bottles on a plane. Maybe it was an anxiety thing. Before long we’d uprighted our seats, adjusted our table trays, and were feasting on a lavish assortment of fresh fruits, cheeses, cold-cuts, and crackers, with honey-roasted cashews for dessert. Other than the hum of the engines, the first class cabin was quiet. It was easy to forget we were cruising along at 30,000 feet in an enclosed space with a ton of other people.

  Cozy and isolated in our own little section of the plane, we discussed everything from work, to our final exams, to how nice it was to be homework free for a couple months. Curious, I inquired about the Guardian games – how they were organized and the expectations. I couldn’t help but listen intently, because Jason spoke with such enthusiasm when he was passionate about something. On top of that, he was stunning, and I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

  Sounded like the games were highly competitive. A variety of challenges were scheduled so everyone could participate in multiple events. Some individual contests catered to specific Flairs, while others, like swimming, martial arts, and archery were open to most anyone. Kayaking, speed and agility trials, and obstacle courses were popular for the “linked only” division. Of course, that meant Ash and I would be competing together, while Jason and Madison were paired off. While I wasn’t thrilled about that, there was nothing I could do about it. Jason assured me we’d still see each other, especially when we played paintball, football, and capture the flag. Those games were geared at pitting one Circle of Guardians against another, so we’d be on the same team then. At the end of the competitions, points would be tallied and separate awards would be given out for individual, linked, and group events. Medals, trophies, and a few vacation packages were awarded as prizes, but mostly everyone fought for bragging rights.

  All of a sudden, we experienced a little turbulence, and I grabbed hold of my glass. Raising the shade on my window, I blinked rapidly when sunlight flooded through the acrylic layered window. I couldn’t see anything below us because a blanket of white pillow-top clouds buffered any view. Above the clouds, blue sky extended for miles and miles. Our plates jostled around as the airplane shook again.

  There were two loud “bings” as the seatbelt light lit up, and the captain’s voice boomed over the intercom, “Ladies and gentleman, we are passing through an area of local turbulence. I’ve turned on the ‘Fasten Seatbelt’ sign, so please remain seated until our ride evens out. Shouldn’t be more than ten minutes or so.” I secured my seatbelt, because turbulence freaked me out. For added comfort, I grabbed a piece of gum and then offered one to Jason. After I was finally situated, I rested my hand on his leg and said, “So, how do you feel about bumpy rides?”

  “I like ‘em a whole lot when I’m with you. Your touch is amazing.” His eyebrows fluctuated up and down, like he was trying to be flirtatious and sexy at the same time, but he looked absu
rd. “Oh, and your Essence isn’t bad either.”

  “Glad I can please,” I said. “Just keep that positive attitude when we’re at the Ranch and we have to act indifferent toward each other.”

  “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that,” he said, suddenly solemn.

  My nerves flared, and I pulled my hand away. The tone of his voice had my stomach experiencing flip-flops. “What do you mean?”

  “Well,” he sighed heavily, “I was talking with Michael, and he thinks maybe the Senior Council has heard some rumors about you and I having a relationship. If that’s true, they’ll be pushing harder for you to move away from Bellingham.” Worry etched into the lines around his mouth. “I suspect that’s why they want to talk to you.” He bit his lower lip and shook his head. “I don’t want to lose you. I can’t lose you. So, I’m thinking you and Ash should put on a good show– pretend you really are a couple. You know…hang out together, eat your meals with each other, and hold hands… just to throw them off our trail.”

  “Whoa! Stop there. Right now.” I held a hand out for emphasis. “I can’t do that. How weird and uncomfortable and…and besides, I can’t ask Ash to do that.”

  “I already did.”

  “What?” I clutched the armrest.

  “He said he’d play along if that’s what you and I wanted him to do. He doesn’t want to move away from Bellingham either, and he understands that we need the Senior Council off your back.”

  “I can’t believe you two,” I steamed.

  He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Alex, I don’t like it any more than you do. Believe me. The last thing I want is to see you guys laughing and holding hands or kissing…”

  “Excuse me. Who said anything about kissing? That’s where I draw the line.” I sliced the air with the edge of my hand. “And you aren’t making all the decisions here. Are we clear on that?”

  “Fine. I’m just saying…your relationship with Ash needs to appear authentic to anyone watching. If people see you and Ash together a lot, and they see you working well as a team, especially during the linked competitions, they might assume you are more than friends, which is what the Senior Council seems to want. So that would be a good thing.” His voice sounded so calm and reasonable, but his eyes were full of raw emotion.

  I wasn’t so certain, nor was I excited about spending all my time with Ash. And while I might not be happy about it, I knew it might be the right move if we wanted to keep the Council fooled. “Maybe,” I said sulkily. He touched my face for the briefest of seconds, and then let his hand fall away. Gazing directly at me, he continued with candor, “I’m confident in our relationship, so I will do whatever’s necessary to protect it. That is why I’m suggesting this, but you need to play the part – as much as you don’t want to – and you need to be convincing, or we could end up separated for good. And even though I won’t let that happen, I don’t know what that will mean for our future with Guardian Network.”

  I put my head in my hands and tried to gather my thoughts. The seatbelt sign beeped, and I imagined the signal light had turned off, because we hadn’t bumped around for a while. Desperation and panic rose within me, and my stomach continued churning.

  “Alex?”

  I raised my head and stared into those bewitching eyes of his. “I get it. I will play my role when I have to. But don’t you ever forget, my heart is – and always will be – with you.” I could feel tears gathering in the corners of my eyes, as I fidgeted with my opal necklace.

  “I know, sweetheart. And mine will always be with you.”

  For a while after that, we sat in thoughtful silence, as close as we could without him getting burned. I reflected on his words and contemplated what I might say to the Senior Council. Eventually, I gave up. Instead, I sparked a conversation about Maine and all the sights I wanted to visit next time. We kept things light-hearted, as both our hearts were burdened enough. A red-headed flight attendant, who hadn’t been attending our area, appeared and cleared our trays away but left a lingering floral fragrance behind. I took a couple short, stifled breaths but couldn’t hold back the sneezing frenzy that descended upon me like an angry swarm of bees.

  From somewhere, Jason came up with a tissue and handed it to me.

  “Thanks,” I blathered.

  “Anytime.” He laughed. “Brings back memories, though.”

  I laughed too and dabbed at my eyes. “Are you referring to the bug-repellent-smelling guy at Village Books?”

  “You know it. Despite your incredible Essence, I thought you were gonna die that day.”

  “But you rescued me.”

  “Like any good Guardian would do.” He cocked his head and studied me. “Serious though. When that guy started talking to you, jealously took the place of all rational thought. I wanted him gone. If I remember correctly, he even used the old ‘big brown eyes’ pick-up line, and I wanted to puke – or punch him.”

  Glancing at my feet, I wiggled my toes. I always took my shoes off on airplanes. Chuckling, I looked up at him. “I’m glad it worked so well.”

  “What worked well?”

  “I only spoke to that guy, because I was trying to make you jealous.”

  He looked at me as if I’d fallen from space. “Really?” He rubbed his chin. “I should have known. Women can be devious creatures.” He paused and took a deep breath. “I knew I was in trouble the first day we met – when I nearly plowed over you on the sidewalk.”

  “That was just because of my…”

  “No. I mean, yes, I was amazed by your Essence, but there was more. Besides, you were so damn cute with your paint-flecked face. You were ticked too, because your body was shaking, and your skin was flushing – either from outrage because I’d run into you or outrage because I was checkin’ you out.”

  “Both,” I admitted. In a quieter voice, I asked, “Did you really feel something that day? Something other than my Essence?” His expression softened. “Yes, I did. And every day after that. You were like gravity, pulling me toward you and I was helpless to resist.”

  “That’s how I felt about you,” I said with an engaging smile. Completely oblivious to what else was happening in the first class cabin, we continued on like that for quite a while. When we were together, face to face, we could laugh and speak for hours without ever tiring of each other’s company. Our relationship felt so natural. So right. Except I hated we couldn’t hold hands or snuggle like normal people. We definitely didn’t have balance when it came to the physical aspect of our relationship. And that was frustrating.

  Eventually, I excused myself. I needed a bathroom break but headed toward the back of the plane rather than utilize the first-class bathroom because I wanted to stretch my legs. My eyes widened, and I gaped as I passed Ash and Madison sitting in the same row. Granted, Ash was on the aisle and there was an empty seat between them, but I wondered how they’d ended up together. Across the way, Max, Laci, and Hannah all sat together. Laci, who was in the middle and appeared to be asleep, had her head of golden curls resting against Max’s shoulder. Max was working on his laptop. Hannah, who would be catching a connecting flight from Montana to Seattle when we landed, was utilizing the overhead light to read on her Kindle. Neither of them noticed me.

  “Wow! Hot chick alert! Sexy lady walking by.”

  I started cracking up. “Where? I don’t see her.”

  “You know I’m talkin’ about you, woman.”

  He flirted and called me all sorts of names when we spoke telepathically; I typically refrained from scolding him because I knew it was just in his nature. Luckily, he understood how Jason and I felt about each other, and Jason was confident in my love for him – which is probably why they were both okay with all of us playing charades at the Ranch.

  I’d been so surprised when Ash and I had successfully linked and lived to tell about it. Then, after we had survived our stand-off with the Ray-pacs, I’d had high hopes for a promising future with Jason. I’d truly believed w
e’d link at the next full moon, and our forbidden relationship would become permissible. I’d imagined us working together, saving Innocents, and remaining part of the Bellingham Circle of Guardians for the rest of our lives. And life being perfect.

  Wrong. Those foolish dreams came to a crashing halt with that first full moon when Ash and I remained linked. To make matters worse, the first couple months after that, things between Ash and I had been awkward, too. But then one day he’d sat me down for a heart to heart and said, “Lexi, you know after my family died I hated myself for being alive and I hated life because I’d been left to live it alone. I was an emotional wreck. Bitterness came easy. Then one day I grew up and realized I was on a dead-end street. That’s when I decided I couldn’t let the moments of my life define me. I needed to define the moments of my life.”

  At that point, there had been some tears, and I’d tried to respond, but he hadn’t been finished. He’d continued on, “The people in my premonitions still needed me. And I had the ability to save them – and save their loved ones from the same hurt and pain that almost destroyed my life.” He’d grabbed me by the shoulders. “Lexi, I don’t like how our relationship has been strained lately, and I can’t take the thought of losing you, too. I told you before; you are like family to me, and I mean that. We’ve been through so much together, and even though we seem to be permanently linked and you’re in love with Jason, I need things to be normal between us again. I respect you and accept your relationship with him, but I need our friendship back.”

  That little speech was all it had taken, and we were back on track with a friendship that was, and always had been, comfortable and antagonistically fun. A few days later, he’d had a long conversation with Jason, which I had not been part of, and after that, the two of them were friends, as well.

  “Looks like you haven’t been able to captivate, or should I say melt, the Ice Princess with your charms, yet. That pretty boy smile and cocky attitude not working for ya these days?” I teased, as I continued down the aisleway.