The Chronicles of Winterset: Oracle

by K. G. Reuss

  We laughed and talked a bit more before Kellin and his crew walked in. I quickly hung my head, not wanting to make eye contact with Kellin. I was still super pissed at him over the whole woods ordeal.

  Mel looked from me to Chad, who was in the group, and I saw her tense. I knew she wanted to hang out with Chad, and I didn’t want to take that away from her.

  Kellin and his crew made their way over to our table and Chad leaned down and kissed Mel on the lips.

  “Mind if we join you guys?” he asked, the question directed at me as Kellin stood silently beside him, his gaze anywhere but on me.

  “No, it’s OK,” I said softly. I saw Mel’s face light up and I knew enduring this thirty-minute meal would be worth it just so she’d be happy. She’d have done it for me.

  The guys slid into the booth and I bit my lip as Kellin sat down beside me. The group fell into easy conversation as I pushed my piece of cold pizza around my plate.

  “Ana,” Kellin cleared his throat and said my name barely above a whisper. I stopped pushing my pizza around and stared down at my plate, feeling frozen in place. I didn’t answer him, and he didn’t say my name again, taking the hint that I was still mad at him.

  “So, Ana,” Jared said, causing the table to quiet down.

  I grimaced wondering what words of wisdom he was about to spew.

  “I was wondering if you have a date to homecoming yet. I figured if you don’t, we could go together.”

  I cast a quick look at Mel, who seemed just as surprised as I was over Jared’s seemingly kind invite.

  “Um, I’m sorry, Jared. Someone has already asked me,” I answered softly.

  “Really?” Jared asked, sounding let down at the news. “Damn. That figures.”

  I shrugged and went back to poking my pizza and was surprised when Kellin spoke up, his deep voice causing the group to quiet down again.

  “Who are you going with?” he asked, studying me with his tired blue eyes.

  “Calix Night,” I answered, deciding I didn’t care if he approved or not. I saw him grip his fork tightly, and it bend beneath the pressure he was inflicting on it.

  “Christ, Ana! You seriously couldn’t find anyone better to take you?” he asked through gritted teeth.

  “I guess everyone else had already decided I was more of a drunken mistake than anything,” I shot back. I felt the uncomfortable silence flow from the group, and I immediately regretted my choice of words. Now they were going to think we’d hooked up or something. Oh, well. I was tired of worrying about what everyone thought.

  “I never said I regretted you, Ana,” Kellin whispered.

  Jared gave a low whistle, and I knew the rumor mill would start spilling out all sorts of stories now.

  “No, just that it was a mistake. I need to go,” I said, rising to my feet. “I think I’ve had enough fun for one night.”

  Kellin rose to let me out, then followed me. “Ana, wait!” he called out as I stalked through the parking lot. I’d ridden with Mel so this was going to be a long walk home. I silently vowed to start driving myself places.

  I kept walking without acknowledging him. His hand caught my elbow suddenly and he pulled me to a stop.

  “Where are you going?” he asked staring down at me.

  “I’m going home,” I pulled my arm away from him and turned to continue my angry march through the crowded parking lot.

  “Ana, come on,” he said exasperated, grabbing me and stopping me again. “I should have done this sooner. I’m sorry. What happened last weekend shouldn’t have happened.”

  “Yes, I know that!” I snapped at him. “You made that abundantly clear as you drove away, leaving me all alone in the middle of nowhere!”

  “For Christ’s sake, Ana!” he shouted, running his hands through his thick blond hair in frustration. “That’s not what I meant! I meant it should have happened. I wanted it to happen. I just didn’t want it like that. Not without you knowing the truth about me first.”

  “You displayed all the truth I needed to see, Kellin,” I spat at him. “You know, I always thought you were a good guy. I looked up to you, and I hate to admit it, but I actually wanted you. I wanted to be with you. How messed up is that?”

  “It’s not messed up, Ana,” he sighed and stepped closer to me, effectively blocking me in so I couldn’t run if I needed to. I thought about my flame hand and decided it had better work when I needed it or it would be an absolutely worthless ability.

  “I’m glad you want me,” he said softly.

  “Wanted, Kellin. Past tense,” I interjected.

  “Regardless, Ana. I want you too. I’ve wanted you for so long it hurts. I never thought I would, but then I got to know you, and I knew I’d made the right decision coming here for you.”

  “You came here for me?” I asked skeptically. “Tonight?”

  Kellin let out a sigh and looked up to the sky. He looked like someone asking for help from a greater power.

  “Sure. Tonight, Ana. I screwed up last weekend. I panicked. It all became too real for me and I hurt you. You have no idea how much pain I was in as I drove away. When I realized how much I messed up, I turned around and came back for you, but you were gone. I looked for you. I called your phone even. I was terrified something had happened to you.”

  “And yet you never found me. I’d think if you were so worried about someone and couldn’t find them, you’d let someone know they were missing!”

  “I did find you,” he answered sourly. “I knew you were with Calix. I’d called Mel after I scoured the forest for two hours looking for you. She told me he’d called her and told her you were with him.”

  “Good thing my knight in shining armor showed up,” I snapped at him. “If it weren’t for Calix, I might have died out there!”

  “Ana, I’m sorry. What do I have to do to prove it to you? I’ll do anything. It’s going to be a rough life if all we do is fight with one another.”

  “You’re kidding, right? After we graduate from here, I’m gone, Kellin. You won’t ever have to see me again.”

  “I don’t want that, Ana. Not being near you would kill me. I meant what I said that night. I want you more than I want the air I breathe!”

  “You sure have an odd way of showing it. I mean, you were right back in Courtney’s arms on Monday,” I pointed out, folding my arms across my chest.

  “What am I supposed to do? You have no idea what I’m going through! And the damnable part about it is I can’t even tell you! So I’m stuck here confessing my feelings for you without a shred of goddamn proof other than my word, and since I already screwed that up, I’m left here with nothing. And there you are. Beautiful, intelligent, strong, courageous, and about to be swept off your feet by someone I hate and don’t trust. How is that for a love story?”

  I didn’t say anything as he stared down at me. His blue eyes no longer had the brilliant color to them. They had dulled in appearance, and he looked like he’d aged tremendously in the last week. The dark circles beneath his eyes looked like bruises, and I knew there was more going on with him than he was telling me.

  We were both liars in the grand scheme of things. Me not telling him about my visions and dreams or telling him I could burst into flames. And him not telling me whatever he was hiding. As odd as it sounded, we made the perfect tragic couple.

  “How has it been possible to be with Courtney when you claim to have feelings for me?” I ventured. The pained expression returned to his face, and he frowned.

  “She’s been awful to me, Kellin. She’s a cruel, vindictive, jealous person. I quit the squad today. I can’t stand her.”

  “I heard,” he whispered staring down at me. “I’m sorry you felt you had to do that, Ana. I know how much gymnastics meant to you and how this was all you had now. I blame myself for that as well.”

  I remained silent as I stared past him. I wanted out of this situation. Even going home to my awful dreams beat standing here hashing it out with Kellin.

/>   “Don’t go with Calix to homecoming,” Kellin said softly. “I know I don’t deserve to have a say in what you do, Ana, but please, at least hear me out. Something about him isn’t right. He’s dangerous. Too dangerous for you. I’m so worried about you, I can’t eat or sleep. Please, just promise you’ll consider what I’m saying. I don’t want you to get hurt. If something happened to you, it would kill me.”

  I sucked in a shocked breath at his words and stared up disbelievingly at him. “What?”

  “You heard me,” he said, his voice wavering. “I don’t want you to get hurt. I love you.”

  “Kellin—” I started, but he silenced me by placing his finger softly against my lips.

  “Ana, I know I don’t deserve your trust now after I ruined it, but please, I beg you to consider what I said to you. He’s a danger. I want you to be happy. Always. You won’t find that happiness with Calix.”

  “And you think I could find it with you?” I inquired. “After what you did to me?”

  “I hope someday you’ll forgive me, Ana. I understand it’s not at this moment.”

  I remained quiet as he regarded me carefully.

  “Do you really not trust me?” he leaned in closer so our faces were nearly touching.

  My heart thrummed nervously in my chest and my stomach was in knots. “I want to,” I said softly. “I really do, but I can’t. Not now.”

  “It won’t always be this way,” his eyes searched my face quickly, and I swallowed hard. He leaned in even more, and I closed my eyes because seeing his face was painful to me.

  “Ana! Are you OK?” Mel shouted.

  Kellin pulled back, running his hands through his hair quickly as he cast me a hasty glance.

  Mel looked from him to me, her confusion evident.

  “Uh, yeah. Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, noting how breathless I sounded.

  “Well, I was worried,” she said slowly, looking over to Kellin, who was staring at the ground. “Do you want to go home?”

  “Yeah, we should,” I said, straightening up and pushing past Kellin. I was surprised when he grabbed my arm and pulled me into a tight embrace. Mel stared wide-eyed at me, and I averted my eyes, not knowing how to react to his sudden hug.

  “Just think about what I said, Ana. I’m sorry for everything. Remember our dance last weekend? Remember how much fun we had?” he whispered into my ear. “I’ll dance with you all night if it’ll help. I’d dance with you forever.”

  I didn’t say anything as he pressed his warm lips to the top of my head affectionately. He pulled away suddenly and without a backward look, he returned to Crust Lust, leaving both me and Mel staring wordlessly after him.

  “What the hell was that?” Mel breathed, pulling her gaze from the doors Kellin had disappeared behind.

  “An apology,” I answered softly.

  Chapter 21

  I tossed and turned all night with Kellin and Calix’s faces dancing in my dreams. At one point, I was jolted awake because I felt someone or something touch my hair. I groaned as I pulled my pillow over my head.

  When I woke up the next morning, I was groggy and irritable. I quickly got dressed in a pair of faded jeans and a soft black sweater. I pulled my long, blonde hair back into a ponytail and dabbed cherry lip gloss onto my lips. That expended just about all the energy I had.

  I skipped breakfast, citing my rush to get to school to talk to Mel. I drove slowly to school and arrived a few minutes before the bell rang. When I saw Courtney and Sasha waiting for me by my locker, I cursed under my breath.

  “Well, well, well, look who it is,” Courtney simpered, looking me up and down while Sasha glowered at me.

  “What do you want, Courtney?” I sighed, opening my locker and pulling out my chemistry book.

  “I heard you were out with Kellin last night. In fact, I heard a few things. You’d better stay away from him,” she snarled at me, her eyes flashing menacingly.

  “I wasn’t out with Kellin. I was out with Mel. Kellin and the guys showed up and had pizza with us. That’s it,” I explained, not knowing why I was bothering. It’s not like it would matter to her. She was looking for a fight it seemed.

  “I don’t really care, Ana,” she hissed, advancing on me. “I want you to leave him alone. If you don’t, I swear I am going to make your life a living hell.”

  “That goes for Calix, too,” Sasha added, sneering at me. “Tell him you aren’t going to go to homecoming with him.”

  Courtney reached out and knocked my books out of hands. I glared at her angrily, my entire body on fire from embarrassment as people walked by snickering. My hands started shaking and I felt the burning coming on. I quickly turned around and shoved my hands deep into my locker in the hopes no one would see what was happening to me.

  “Pathetic,” Courtney snarled. I heard the click of her heels as she and Sasha swaggered down the hall.

  “God,” I winced, tears pricking my eyes as I tried to stave off the pain that was overwhelming me. A light blue and red flame danced around my hands and I bit my lip hard, the metallic taste flooding my taste buds.

  “Everything OK?” Calix asked from behind me, and I groaned softly. Why did he think now would be a good time to try to talk to me?

  “Y-yeah. Everything is fine,” I breathed out, noting how shaky my voice was.

  “Are you sure? It looks like you’re trying to crawl into your locker,” he continued, taking a step closer to me.

  “Stop! Don’t come any closer,” I said, feeling frantic. The last thing I needed was someone seeing this. “I’m fine.”

  “No, you’re not,” he said stepping forward and tugging me away from my locker. A sharp jolt of his electricity zapped me and I felt faint. I stared up into his dark eyes guiltily.

  “What were you doing?” he asked.

  I looked down at my hands and frowned. The pain was gone, along with the dancing flames. There wasn’t even a mark on my hands. I couldn’t have imagined it. It didn’t make sense.

  “I-I don’t know,” I admitted. “I don’t understand—”

  “You’re acting weird,” he commented. “Do you want me to take you to the nurse?”

  “No, I’m fine,” I said breathing out and wiping my hands on my jeans, looking at them again.

  “Yeah, Ana, those are your hands,” Calix said slowly, watching me closely, a peculiar look on his face. I was pretty sure I was losing it.

  “I know,” I said, biting my lip again.

  “I’ll walk with you to class,” Calix said snatching my books up. I didn’t object and fell into step beside him.

  “Calix?” I asked after a moment, having calmed down.

  “Yeah?”

  “Is there... I mean, was there anything going on with you and Sasha?”

  “I already told you,” he answered, his voice tense.

  “I know, I guess. She’s really adamant about me staying away from you. I sort of figured you two had something more going on than what you said because of how you were together. She told me not to go to homecoming with you,” I finished, feeling lame for asking him about his personal life.

  “What did you tell her?” he asked, slowing his pace.

  “I didn’t really say anything. I mean, look,” I said with a sigh. “She’s obviously into you, and she and Courtney are not great people to be enemies with. I don’t want any more problems. Believe me, I have enough going on as it is without their added drama.”

  Calix stopped and turned toward me, the peculiar look still on his face.

  “Ana, what aren’t you saying?”

  “I guess I’m saying maybe we shouldn’t go to the dance together. I don’t want any more problems from anyone. I can just hang out at home. I had sort of planned on doing that anyway before this,” I finished, feebly gesturing between us.

  “No,” Calix said firmly, his coal-colored eyes flashing. “You are going to that dance with me. You are not a back-down kind of girl, Ana.”

  “It’s just—” I start
ed but he silenced me at once by pinning me to the wall and moving up against me so fast that I barely had time to register his movements. I looked up into his eyes, my knees weak from his nearness, the electricity between us jumping back and forth as he gazed down at me.

  “Take what you want,” he murmured, his melodic voice dancing on my ears. “You want this, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” I whispered without giving it a second thought. I frowned at my immediate response. We didn’t have that great or friendly of a relationship, but now things were different between us, and I couldn’t figure it out. Had I let my guard down?

  “Maybe you’ve changed, Princess,” he said gently, nudging my chin up with his soft fingers. “Maybe I’m everything you’ve ever dreamed about.”

  His words took me by surprise because they hit so close to home. I had been dreaming and seeing things lately. I looked up at him curiously but his handsome face remained impassive, as if he spoke words that had no bearing on whatever was happening in my life.

  Just a coincidence.

  Chapter 22

  We made it through class without any major issues other than Sasha’s villainous glares. Calix was kind, sweet even, and it was like being around a completely different person—one I liked.

  He walked me to every class, and at lunch, he came and sat down at the table with me. Mel and Chad smiled knowingly, and I averted my eyes from them, embarrassed.

  “What?” I asked nervously as Calix turned and gave me a tiny, knowing smile. I grinned back shyly, still trying to get used to this new, nicer Calix.

  “Come with me?” he murmured, his eyes searching mine quickly.

  I wordlessly got to my feet, following him without question, and was surprised when he led me to the deserted third-floor girls’ bathroom.

  “Uh, what are we doing?” I asked as we stopped outside the door. He only turned and grinned at me before pushing open the door. I followed him inside and was surprised—no, shocked—to see he had a small basket of food sitting on the sink waiting for us.