“I know him!” said Sable jumping in. “That’s Bradley Morrison; he’s a dream, ain't he?” she added.
“Oh sorry! I didn’t know you liked him,” replied Kenna sadly.
“Oh! No, no, no, I have a boyfriend,” Sable added quickly.
“Oooh, so you have a boyfriend! Who’s he?” I asked with a wink and a giggle. “Magical or non-Magical?” I added.
“Yes, and yes, he’s magical, he goes here,” she said smiling. “His name is Thompson, and he is a capital D R E A M,” Sable added giggling.
“So, miss Anna, do you have a boyfriend?” she inquired.
I stared down at the floor depressed thinking about Davis. Thinking about his number that he left in my yearbook that I was unable to use. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes and a tickle in my throat. I fought back the tears so they wouldn’t see and replied simply, “No.”
Sable just smiled and nodded. We all gazed at the TV screen and stared off into the distance for a few moments.
Kenna jumped in with, “How about we play a game?”
“What kind of game?” I asked.
“How about getting to know each other by asking twenty questions?” she spurted out.
“Huh?” Sable and I added in confusion.
“Twenty questions, but we ask questions about each other to get to know each other better,” Kenna replied.
“We’re in,” Sable and I said in unison again.
We glanced at each other and all started laughing.
Kenna climbed back into her designated position on the couch and set a big plastic punch bowl full of popcorns onto the coffee table. I placed the bottle of soda and cups on the table and reclaimed my seat.
“Okay, let’s do this thing!” Kenna stated. “Anna first, then Sable, and then me,” she added quickly.
Sable looked at me eagerly.
“Sable, I’ll ask you. I already know Kenna like a book.” I laughed. “What’s your power?” I asked excited for an answer.
“Think of a number, color, and book,” Sable said.
“Uhm, okay, got it,” I replied. I had my lucky number eight, favorite color green, and a favorite book, One for the Money by Janet Evanovich in my mind. “Okay, what now?” I asked anticipating.
“Eight, green, One for the Money,” she stated without a doubt.
My jaw dropped open. “How did you do that?” I asked shocked.
“I’m a telepath, or more simply stated, I can read minds,” she said.
Kenna and I held eye contact for a moment.
“Guys, please I can hear your thoughts, remember! I’m not going to read your mind all the time, relax,” Sable pleaded.
“Okay, okay, Sable, your turn,” I said.
“Okay, same question for both of you. What are your powers?” she said.
I used my power to manipulate the popcorn bowl into my lap. Kenna and Sable both jumped up from the couch yelling out, “OMG, Awesome!”
Sable turned to Kenna reminding her of the question. Kenna told her her power and explained that she couldn’t demonstrate because she was unable to turn time with others. “At least not yet maybe after some training I’ll be able to,” Kenna added.
We all sat back on the couch.
“Okay, Kenna, your turn,” I said.
“Okay, let's see. Sable, have you had your first kiss yet?” She giggled obnoxiously.
Sable’s cheeks turned brighter than a tomato. “Yes, and it was with Thompson. We’ve been together for two years now,” she added assuring us.
“I had mine at eleven. It was on the bus. He was gross.” Kenna said laughing. Just then we heard the door slam shut. We all jumped, giggled, and looked towards the door.
Lorraine stood in front of the door Gucci bag still in hand.
“Hello,” she said promptly with an attitude. “We’ve only been here a few hours and you are already giggling and laughing like a bunch of twelve-year olds,” she added, attitude remaining.
We glanced at each other scrunching our eyes in disbelief. “It is ten o’clock at night I expect you all to go to bed soon,” she added. “I need my beauty sleep and I will NOT be disrupted by your childish giggling,” she snarked while beginning to make her way through the living room to the hall.
“Jeesh, who gets the pleasure of bunking with her?” I asked laughing.
The girls made eye contact, giggled, and looked back at me stating, “We kind of already claimed our beds before you got here and you already put all your things in Lorraine’s room.”
I held my head in disbelief. “This is not fair, I can’t believe I’m stuck with her,” I thought to myself.
“I’m sorry; I know it's not fair,” Sable said.
I was confused for a moment and then made an annoyed face and looked up at her saying, “Sable, absolutely no mind-reading my thoughts ever.”
She looked down ashamed and saddened replying, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to, it’s a habit. Won’t happen again scouts honor.”
I sat on the couch alone. Kenna and Sable had made their way to bed. I looked around the room admiring all the paintings and photographs. I let out four yawns in a row and convinced myself to make my way to bed. I stood up and made my way to the hall. I opened the door to the girls’ room and saw them both sound asleep. I slowly closed the door making sure to do it quietly. I made my way to my room and opened the door as cautiously as possible trying not to wake the queen B. I looked at Lorraine who was lying flat on her back with her silk pink blanket pulled up to her chin. Her blonde hair was spilling off the side of the bed. She wore a sleeping mask that matched her blanket perfectly. I used the flashlight on my phone to find some pajamas and put my luggage on the floor. I climbed into bed pulling the blanket over myself and sent a quick goodnight text to my mom before closing my eyes. Not a moment later, I was sound asleep.
I woke up to the sun streaming in my face. The door was ajar. I glanced over at Lorraine’s bed to find it empty and perfectly made. I jumped up pulling my robe around myself. I started toward the bathroom to wash my face. I opened the door to see Kenna and Sable already in there doing their makeup.
“Good morning!” They giggled happily.
“Morning,” I said while closing the door and continuing down the hall. I grabbed a mug from the kitchen and filled it with coffee that I was so grateful to see someone had made. I walked out onto the porch and sat on the steps enjoying the breeze and looking at the view. I watched as groups of teens walked around enjoying the morning, some were jogging, some also sitting on their porches. I stared into my cup of coffee looking at the swirling of the milk as it was still self-mixing. The smell crawled through my nose and I felt an overwhelming warmth caressing my body.
“Hey there, cupcake,” I heard entering my ears. It replaced the warmth my body had been experiencing with the cold breeze of a blizzard storm. I dropped my cup spilling it all over my robe causing permanent stains.
“Can I help you?” I asked angrily while fighting the urge to cry caused by the blistering of the boiling coffee I had just poured on myself.
“Oh shit! I mean crap! I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m sorry I just saw you and thought I’d apologize for yesterday,” he said apologetically. I looked up meeting my eyes with his ready to scream at him with everything in me. My body was, unfortunately, overtaken by the warmth of a hundred suns when gazing into his eyes. I looked farther into his vividly detailed cognac eyes. My mind wandered miles. His eyes seemed to let off a glow that intrigued me. The enjoyable warmth that was spreading through my body started to turn into a burning pain, which snapped me back to reality. I shook my head and focused my view on the puddle of coffee at my feet. I was interrupted with, “I don’t think I’ve had a chance to introduce myself. I’m Jonah.” He stretched his hand forward to shake mine. I took it mostly because my brain was still swirling in a pond of confusion.
“Sorry, I’m Annalisia,” I replied with hesitation.
“Pleasure to meet you, cupcake, a
nd sorry about the coffee,” he said.
His body was radiating with heat it felt as if I was being sucked into a fire. He noticed my discomfort and left gracefully with a smile.
Chapter 12: Annalisia
I plopped onto the couch next to Kenna and Sable listening in on their conversation about supernatural problems. I looked over at the clock which determined it was eleven in the morning. The sun was beaming through the windows causing all kinds of shadows to bounce around the walls. I couldn’t get Jonah out of my mind. “Why?” I asked myself. I don’t even like him he seems like a jerk plus he’s Lorraine’s brother and I’m not dealing with that. I also had Davis on my mind. “What would have happened with him if I was home for the summer? What if we did get to hang out? Would he like me? Would he ask me out?” I had these thoughts rolling around my head. “Not like it matters I’m never going to see him again,” I reminded myself with a frown. I looked at my hand. I had the weirdest tingling sensation radiating through my fingertips like electricity. “I can’t take this headache I wish I had some Tylenol,” I said out loud accidentally.
Just then both Kenna and Sable fixated their eyes on me.
“What? Why are you staring at me?” I asked annoyed with pain.
“Uhm sorry, I guess we're just not used to your power yet,” Sable responded.
“What do you mean?” I began saying when I looked down and saw the bottle of Tylenol lying in my lap. I scrunched my face like I had just sucked on a lemon. “Damn! I keep forgetting that happens!” I said. I picked up the Tylenol and wished it away. “Why can I summon things, but I can’t force them away?” I asked followed by throwing the bottle across the room.
“Are you okay, Anna?” Kenna asked me worriedly.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m sorry that I’m in a bad mood I just have a lot on my mind and a splitting headache,” I answered apologetically.
“Well, it is the weekend, why don’t we find something to do to take your mind off things?” Sable said trying to be helpful.
I sighed silently. I didn’t want to do anything except catch the first bus home. “Sure, what do you guys want to do?” I asked anyway.
“Ooooh, oooh, can we please go swimming?” Kenna begged.
Sable and I nodded in agreement.
I pulled the cabin door closed behind me as we stepped out into the blazing sun. According to the weather app on my phone, it was 94 degrees today here in New York. I looked at the girls who were coincidentally both in almost matching pink bikinis. I was wearing my new bikini my mom had just bought me. It’s probably my favorite suit I’ve owned in years. It was a mint green with white polka dots.
“I should’ve worn shoes.” Kenna sighed while stumbling over rocks on the trail clenching her teeth in pain.
“We already asked you multiple times if you were sure you didn’t want your shoes,” I said laughing.
“Yeah, well, I didn’t expect so much gravel!” Kenna said with a little annoyance.
I heard Kenna gasp and turned my head as quickly as I could to see her tripping over a branch. She was quickly caught by a very cute guy.
“OMG! Thank you,” Kenna said as she reclaimed her balance. She then looked up to meet Bradley’s eyes and stood unable to speak.
“Are you alright?” he asked her.
She smiled and nodded still lost in his eyes.
“Uhm, Kenna, we’ll meet you at the lake,” we said giggling as we took off running.
As we approached the lake, we saw that groups of teens were there already congregating along the sand. We found a spot and laid out our towels. I lifted my hand over my eyes to block the sun and looked around. At the far end of the beach, I could see Lorraine tanning with a bunch of friends. “What’s her deal anyways, what’s her power?” I asked Sable.
“Oh, she can turn into a bird and fly or something. I’m not 100 percent sure,” she replied.
“Does her brother have the same power?” I asked.
“No, I don’t think so. He’s her half-brother. He has a different father,” she responded quickly.
I looked back at Lorraine squinting my eyes.
“Come on, girl, let’s go swim!” Sable insisted.
My skin was burning from the sun already. “I’ll be there in a second; I need sunscreen,” I said shooing her to the water. I sat down on the towel and reached into my bag and pulled out the bottle of sunscreen. I started applying it when I heard, “You missed a spot, need me to put it on your back for you.” I knew that voice. I scrunched my face and swung around saying, “No, I most certainly do not.”
“Okay, chill, I was just joking, didn’t mean to make you angry,” he said with a raised eyebrow.
“Jonah, please just go away,” I said rolling my eyes.
“Yes, ma’am!” he said with the tip of his imaginary hat.
I watched him run off towards Lorraine. I stood up to go join Sable in the water when I heard, “Thanks for ditching me.”
“Kenna! Oh, I’m sorry I thought you’d want some alone time to thank your hero,” I said teasingly.
“Actually, I owe you thanks. Guess who got a cute boy’s number today?” Kenna said with a bigger smile than I’d ever seen on her.
“Good for you, Kenna! But if we don’t go join Sable, she might tear our heads off,” I said laughing.
We ran and plunged into the water sending water straight to Sable’s face.
“Hey! No fair,” Sable said while splashing some water back at us.
“Oh, you’re soon!” Kenna yelled as a water fight emerged.
I climbed out of the lake. My eyes were burning from the amount of water that had been thrown into them.
“Need a towel?” I heard and saw one being held out in front of me.
“You again?” I sighed with disbelief.
“I mean, I prefer you without the towel, but I figured you might want one anyway.” He giggled annoyingly.
“Did I do something to earn your attention if so let me know so I can ask my friend to turn time back and stop me from whatever I did,” I said annoyed.
“Can I just ask what I ever did to earn your hatred?” he asked. His face was tense as if he no longer wanted to be here.
“You have done nothing, there is just something about you that bothers me and makes me want to stay away,” I said rudely. “Is that a good-enough answer?” I added.
“Yes, perfectly clear,” he said angrily and took off.
“Woah. Do you think maybe you were a little harsh?” I heard Kenna say from behind me as she grabbed her towel.
I sighed. “Why was I so nasty to him? He’s right; he hasn’t done anything,” I thought to myself. There was just something about him that brought out my frustrations.
Sable came running over to us. “Guys!” she shouted, quickly adding, “Lorraine and some of her friends are having a party at ten o’clock tonight and she said since we were cabin mates we could come.”
Kenna and I exchanged glances.
“A party?” Sable asked.
“Kenna, you know curfew is at ten, we could get in a lot of trouble,” I said.
“Please, Anna, let’s go to the party. Bradley asked me to meet him there,” she begged.
Kenna stood staring at Sable and I with puppy eyes and a quivering lip. Sable looked at me with the same look now joining Kenna’s team.
“Oh fine, but if we get in trouble, it’s not my fault.”, I said sternly.
We went back to the cabin, had some lunch, and mingled around the house. I was just about to turn on the TV when I heard my phones ring coming from the bedroom. I ran down the hall and into my room belly flopping onto the bed. I turned over and grabbed the phone from the nightstand. I looked at the screen to see “MOM” floating across the screen and the picture of us from when we went to NYC. I hesitated before answering.
“Hello,” I mumbled through the line.
“Hey, sweetie, I miss you! How is camp?” she asked.
We exchanged pleasant conversation for twenty
minutes before she said, “Alright, sweetie, I’ve got to get back to work. I love you and I’ll talk to you soon. Bye!”
I ended the call without a return “bye”; I was still upset with my mom for sending me here.
I opened my eyes realizing I had fallen asleep. I glanced at my phone to see that it was 8:55 pm, there was only an hour and five minutes to get ready for this party. I could hear the girls giggling and running around the house. I called for Kenna. I wanted her opinion on which outfit to wear; I had two picked out. I showed her the first outfit, which was a simple black dress, a distressed jean jacket and a pair of black flats. The second outfit choice was jean shorts, a white button-down blouse, and black vans.
You Call This a Gift? Page 4