The road twisted and turned through the forest, and after about a mile, the dirt path switched to stone. Then I saw it. A Victorian house, sitting in the middle of an orchard of cypress trees. There was no denying this was Ethan’s home. His yellow sports car with the racing stripes sat in the driveway next to the house.
The asymmetrical, maroon-colored fortress, although faded with age, was still full of detail, from its intricate, gingerbread woodwork and its enormous sage-colored shutters to the round tower connected to the left side of the house. With a fresh coat of paint, this place could look truly awesome. But right now, it looked like a castle I wanted to storm.
I pulled my car next to Ethan’s car and stepped out onto the stone driveway. I walked toward the white wrap-around porch, thinking I should turn around before I made an idiot out of myself.
When I reached the door, I stalled. Ethan had been MIA for a week. What was I supposed to say to him? I played the scenario in my head: By the way, Erica, Ben, and I decided to go to Fort Delaware yesterday. And while I was fending off some invisible force that was trying to take over my body, Erica happened to come across some old book with your picture in it. And I have to hand it to you, you look pretty darn good for someone who is over one hundred and sixty years old.
I couldn’t say any of that to him. What was I thinking? And what was I even doing here? It wasn’t my business what he was. He didn’t want anything to do with me. He had made that obvious. If Ethan did want to see me, he would have shown up at my house.
I wanted to run, get as far away from this place as possible. But something on the other side of that door seemed to be drawing me in.
As if acting on its own accord, my finger lifted up and landed on the doorbell. The door swung open as my finger slid away from the button. And before I knew it—before I had time to prepare myself to see Ethan for the first time since he’d walked out of my house last Saturday night—I found myself face to face with the boy my heart refused to let go.
I mentally prepared myself for the worst. Prepared myself for him to tell me to go away.
“Allie,” he exhaled, with relief, almost as if he had been holding his breath.
His response wasn’t what I’d expected. Where was the yelling…the rejection…the telling me to go away? There was no sign of it in his eyes.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” His gaze moved down to my scraped knees, then back up until he was once again staring at my face.
I focused on the molding around the door, still refusing to look at him, trying to remember what I had originally come here for.
“Allie, talk to me,” he pleaded.
I opened my mouth, not realizing what was about to come out, helpless to stop the words. “I know you don’t want anything to do with me because of your parents and all, but for some reason I can’t stop thinking about you. Last week was a living hell. I tried to tell myself it was for the best. I tried, I really did.” I gasped for air as my eyes began to fill with moisture.
Ethan fell silent, like my sudden outburst surprised him or something. I forced myself to continue before he had a chance to speak.
“But every time someone would ask about you or even mention your name, a huge knot would form in my stomach. I thought it was the guilt of knowing you had to choose between your family and me. But it wasn’t. It was knowing that you chose them over me. I was stupid for not kissing you at the beach. Stupid for trying to push you away—”
“Allie,” he interrupted with a whisper.
“No, no.” I held up my hands, motioning for him to stop as the tears rolled down my cheeks. “I wanted to kiss you so much. I did. But I’ve spent my entire life trying to avoid relationships that only end in disaster. And I knew that night, after Kiera left, that ours would have ended in disaster. I overheard everything. Some of it had to be a dream, though. I thought I heard the both of you talking about mortals and immortals, so my mind must’ve been playing games with me. At least, that’s what I thought until earlier today, and—”
“You heard our conversation?” He swallowed hard, drawing his eyebrows in. I wasn’t sure if the look on his face was confusion or guilt.
“I wasn’t going to ring the doorbell. I wanted to run away. Because if I tell you what happened to me yesterday, you’ll think I’m crazy.”
“Allie,” he whispered again.
“What?” I yelled out of frustration, lowering my gaze to the wooden boards on the porch to hide my tears.
“Look at me.”
“Uh-uh,” I said, shaking my head.
“Allie, please. Look at me.”
“I can’t. Because if I look into your eyes I’m going to get lost. I don’t know why and I don’t know how, but every time our eyes meet, I get drawn in. It’s like I go somewhere else, some place where only we exist. Just like the first time we met at my old job, just like the day in the cafeteria when Erica had to shake me back into reality, and just like the night on the beach when I almost—when I should have kissed you.”
Ethan wrapped his arms around me, something I hadn’t expected to happen, and I turned my head as my arms fell limply to my side. Then I did something I had spent what felt like my entire life vowing I would never do. I opened up my heart, pushing all my tears onto his chest.
“I’m so sorry, Allie. I never meant to hurt you.” He pulled me through the doorway, then shut the door behind us. “I wish you could understand why I had to stay away from you. It wasn’t because I had to choose between you or my family. If that had been the case, I would have never left you. There isn’t anything or anyone that is more important to me than you,” he whispered into my hair.
I lifted my head from his chest and searched his eyes, not caring this time whether his gaze sucked me in or not. “Then why, Ethan? Why did you leave me?” A wall of tears blurred my vision.
He took my face in his hands. Conflicting emotions that I didn’t understand flared in his eyes. “To protect you,” he answered. Then he pressed his warm, soft lips gently against mine.
I closed my eyes, allowing his energy to flow through my entire body, refusing to run away this time. As our lips parted, the warmth of his breath became a blazing inferno that raced through my veins. I had no idea who or what this boy was. But I didn’t care. It didn’t matter. I wanted him. I needed him.
He slid his hands slowly down the sides of my neck, his palms moistened by the heat of our bodies. I trembled as his hands glided over my shoulders and down the length of my arms. His hands landed on my hips, then pulled me closer to him. My heart accelerated, nearly pounding out of my chest.
I wrapped my arms around his waist, then tightly clutched the back of his shirt, binding us together like super glue. My knees buckled and we dropped to the wooden floor as a soft moan escaped from the depths of his throat.
Then I heard noises, appliances roaring to life from a room to my left. And just as suddenly as our kiss began, it was over. I gasped for air, opened my eyes, and looked up to see Ethan standing over me.
He stared down, his flushed cheeks cooling as his breathing slowed. “I’m sorry.” He shook his head.
“Sorry for what?” I asked, not sure what he was talking about. “Sorry for kissing me?”
“Sorry for everything. Sorry for entering the store that day. Sorry for hurting you. I should have never walked into your life.” He closed his eyes. The noises stopped in the other room.
I was furious. How could he say this to me? This wasn’t how it was supposed to end. No. I wouldn’t let it end.
“What is your problem?” I lashed out as I pulled myself to my feet. “First I give you a run down on every single feeling I’ve ever felt for you. Which wasn’t easy for me to do. Then you tell me that I’m more important than anything or anyone else just before you kiss me. And now you wish you’d never met me? What is it Ethan? What am I missing? Do you feel sorry for me? Was my kiss not good enough for you? Please tell me. I promise I can take it.” In reality, I knew I couldn’t.
&
nbsp; Ethan sighed deeply and brought his hand up, then pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger. “No, it’s none of that, Allie.”
“Then what is it?” I demanded as warm tears burned my eyes. “Tell me something that will make me want to stay. Because if you don’t, I won’t hesitate to walk out that door.”
He opened his eyes and dropped his hand to his side. “I’m just saying I should have kept going that day instead of walking into the store.” His eyes glistened.
My temper flared. The heat building inside me was undeniable. The bulbs in the ceiling fixture exploded under my pressure. Glass rained down and pinged across the floor. “Could have, would have, should have, but you didn’t!” I glared at him, ignoring the noise and the mess. “So, I guess this is our goodbye, then?” I struggled to fight back tears as I balled up my hands beside me. I wanted to hit something.
He just stood there, his lips pressed together tightly, staring at me as if he didn’t know what to say. His dark eyes no longer drew me in. His force was no match for the force I was using to push him away.
“Whatever,” I said, turning toward the door, desperate to make my escape.
He grabbed my arm as I drew back to clock the wall next to the molding.
“Allie, please,” he pleaded. His voice sounded broken. But not as broken as my heart.
I shrugged myself free and raced to the door. Once outside, I fled to the safety of my car. I never glanced at Ethan, even though I knew he was at the door watching me as I started my car and drove away.
Chapter 9
Buzzing alarm clocks are annoying, especially when you have no reason to get out of bed and no desire to go to school. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. Over Sunday, my heart had withered up like the petals on a weeks-old flower arrangement. Dry and crumbly. Even the slightest breeze would blow it away.
“Why couldn’t I do the same?” I whispered into the empty room, hot tears boiling up in my eyes. Why couldn’t I just blow away, piece by piece, until there was nothing left of me? Nobody would miss me. Well…maybe Erica. Jeremy, too. Knowing him, he would probably take the next flight out of Dothan Regional to Philly International in order to find me.
I tossed my blanket aside, flipped the switch on my alarm clock, and slipped out of bed. I was surprised I’d even made it to my room last night, given the condition I’d been in. But at least I’d known I would be able to pull the blanket over my head and wrap my arms around my pillow, which had given me a little bit of security while I wept.
I shuffled into the bathroom and used my zombie hand to turn on the water in the shower as hot as I could stand. I wanted to be the steam and float up, up, and away. Or get caught up in the whirlpool and spin and spin and spin until I got sucked down the drain. But none of this happened.
“Go figure,” I mumbled as the water beaded and raced down my face.
I turned off the faucet and grabbed a towel from the rack, then wrapped myself in the soft cotton and continued back to my room. I stepped slowly into a pair of khaki shorts and slipped on a white tee, a color that Erica had always said complimented my pale blue eyes, which she called my best trait. Then I pulled my hair into a ponytail and headed out the door.
When I reached the school parking lot, I shoved the historic book, the one I’d intended to show Ethan, under the seat before making my way into school. Even though we were officially finished, I didn’t want anyone to see his picture in that book. It was none of my business who or what he was, but I had a feeling he wouldn’t want anyone to know what I suspected. But still, I should have asked him why he was so different when I’d been at his house. Why his picture was in a book over 150 years old.
The morning seemed to linger on forever. Coach Richardson split the class in half for a game of dodge ball.
“Great,” I grumbled. As luck would have it, Aaron was on the opposing team. My sneakers scuffed along the freshly waxed gymnasium floor as I dragged myself into position.
Coach blew the whistle, and in no time at all, balls were whooshing through the air. I backed up against the wall, behind everyone else, praying I wouldn’t be hit. But Aaron had other plans. Because I was his main target.
He threw his ball hard. So hard veins popped out of his neck as his arm released the missile. I watched it come, soaring through the air, locking onto its target, but I had nowhere to go. If the wall hadn’t been there to stop me, the ball would have knocked me backward. But instead, it struck me in the gut. I fell to my knees.
“Allie!” I heard Marie’s voice wail across the room as I curled my body into a fetal position, gasping for air.
I closed my eyes. Don’t scream. Don’t scream. Don’t scream. If I opened my mouth I would hurl.
The whistle blew and suddenly everyone was around me. I didn’t want them there. It would only make me feel worse.
“Allie! Allie! Are you okay?” Coach spoke with urgency from beside me.
I nodded, unable to speak from my lack of oxygen.
“Do you need to go to the nurse?” He placed his hand on my back.
I shook my head stubbornly. That was the last place I wanted to go. The nurse would probably try to contact my mom. “No…no. I think I’m okay,” I answered. My voice was weak. Fighting the pain, I slowly lifted myself up.
“Everyone get back,” Coach yelled as he placed his hand around my arm to offer his support.
“I just need to go to the restroom,” I told him. I pushed past him, and still partially bent over, made my way to the door.
Aaron mixed in with the crowd, smiling smugly. Marie, on the other hand, looked as if she was about to have a heart attack. I tossed her what I hoped was a reassuring smile. Then I stepped out into the hallway.
The halls were empty as I walked to the bathroom. By the time I made it, the pain had started to fade. I pushed the door open, then walked over to the sink, turned on the faucet, and splashed my face with cool water. When I opened my eyes to look at the mirror, I saw Becca standing behind me.
It didn’t take me long to realize that Aaron’s actions had been part of a plan. That’s why he’d been smiling. He’d done what he was supposed to do. He’d known I would come here rather than going to the nurse. Now it was Becca’s turn. And I had a feeling her revenge was going to be worse. I knew I should have stayed home.
“Hey, Allie,” she said, trying to appear friendly. Shivers raced down my spine. I knew what she wanted. Me. Bleeding.
“Becca.” Her name slipped through my trembling lips. I slowly turned and faced her.
“Cassie didn’t want to tag along with me today. She said she wasn’t messing with a witch. As for me, I don’t give a damn what you are. I have a score to settle.”
The bathroom lights blinked. It was happening again.
Becca glanced up, and I took that opportunity to push past her, out the door, and into the hallway. I raced down the hall, searching for somebody—anybody—who could help me, knowing Becca was probably already in pursuit. But the fear of losing speed kept me from looking back. I had to keep moving. Then I saw an exit door.
“You can’t outrun me,” Becca yelled from a short distance behind.
I slammed against the door, the force of my body nearly ripping it from its hinges, and I was outside. The sun was hidden behind a cloud and everything seemed dark. But I had no time to stop and evaluate the weather. I had to see if there was a way for me to access the parking lot from here. It was my only hope. I had to make it to my car.
A chain-link fence caged in the area. It trapped me in like an animal, a lab rat. My breath came in heavy gasps. I had no idea how much longer I could continue to run. Then I noticed a tiny alleyway that disappeared between the two sections of the school. Safety.
I sprinted down the alley, only to find it too was enclosed by a small section of fence. Deciding to take my chances and climb it, I increased my speed. Becca’s footsteps pounded the pavement behind me, her breathing hard and heavy. Just as I was about to jump on the fence
, something hard hit my body. My feet slipped out from under me. I fell to my knees and threw my hands up to protect myself. A warm, sticky wetness seeped through my fingers as a fire raged inside my face. She had me right where she wanted me.
Becca was saying something, but the ringing in my ears overrode her words.
“Haven’t you done enough?” I screamed, knowing this was crazy, even for Becca. All I did was knock her down the stairs. It was a freaking accident.
“I haven’t even begun!” She picked up her foot. Then she rammed it into my ribs repeatedly.
I pulled my hands away from my face and clenched them to my sides, attempting to shield myself from her vicious attack. I glanced up and noticed her eyes. Something wasn’t right. Her eyes appeared black.
Looking at her seemed to anger her more. Each kick became harder and more excruciating than the last. Her mouth was moving, her lips twisted upward so that her teeth were showing, as if she was growling like a dog, but I couldn’t make out a single word.
My side popped and crunched and cracked in unnatural ways. I dropped my gaze down to the pool of blood on the asphalt. My blood. I couldn’t scream. Couldn’t call for help. And the earth was spinning. Spinning fast. I lost the world a few times, but only for a moment. Then I managed to fight the pain and bring it back. All I had to do was survive.
I fell over and landed on my side in the pool of blood. Becca continued to ram her foot into me, but now she’d targeted my face. That’s when I slipped away.
My body floated in a peaceful darkness, and I was surrounded by warmth. It reminded me of Ethan. The way I felt when I was around him, when we weren’t arguing or trying to push one another away. The way I felt when I got lost in his eyes, or like when we kissed. If this was what dying felt like, then I would gladly accept it.
“Allie. Allie, can you hear me?” A voice broke through the barrier.
Other Side Of Forever (Other Side Of Forever Series Book 1) Page 8