The Awakening
Page 26
“Areyougoingtotellmewhathappened?”
Shewasn’tgoingtoanswerhim—hewassureofit—butbeforehecould
feel secure in his defeat, Eve looked up at him, her eyes bright and oddly
forthcoming.
“Haveyoueverfeltlikeyourlifewasjustaseriesofthesameevents
happeningoverandoveragain?Likeyou’reahamsterrunningonawheel—
justthesameshitdayafterday,andnomatterwhatyoudoorhowyoutryto
change it, despite how much you think things will be different, you’re still runningonthatsamedamnwheel?”
“Yeah.Iknowwhatyoumean.”
“IjustthoughtfightingtheInterloperswould—”
“Getyouoffthewheel?”
Shedidn’trespond.
Jasonstudiedher.Shelookedtired;drained.Yeteveninherwearystate,her
underlyingstrengthwasundeniable.Itwasasifshewasvulnerableand
indestructibleatthesametime.
“Comehere.”
Evewrinkledhernose.“Huh?”
“Ihaveasurpriseforyou.”
“Asurprise?”
Heshuffledtothesideofhisbedandpattedtheemptyspacebesidehim.
“Getoverhere.”
Eve’seyeswidenedandhernostrilsflared.“Youwantmetogetin bedwith you?”
“God,Eve,it’snotlikethatatall.”
“Some‘surprise,’pervert.”
“Eve,”Jasonlaughed,“come here.”
Evesulkedandtrompedtowardthebed,finallytakingaseatnexttohim.
“Fine,”shemumbled.
“Okay,liedown.”
“What? ”
“Eve!”Jasongroaned.“Justtrustme.”
Sheploppedherheadontothepillowandsighed.“Yousurearebossy
today.”
“Onlybecauseyou’reespeciallystubborntoday.”Jasonfidgetedwithhis
endtable,pullingasmallbrownboxfromthedrawerandrestingitonhislap
ashelaydownbesideher.“I’llgetthelights.”
“Oh,God—”
“Eve— ”
“Iknow,Iknow.Itrustyou.”Sheblushed.“Wecoveredthatalready,
remember?”
Jasonmeltedbriefly,longenoughtoflipthelightswitches.Theroomwas
filledwithdarknessasidefromtheslenderstreamsofmoonlightthatpouredin
frombetweenthewindowblinds.Evewiggleduncomfortably,finallyresting
herhandsonherstomachasshewaitedforsomethingtohappen.
“Youready?”
“Iwasbornready,”sheteased.
Hechuckled.“Okay.Watchtheceiling.”
Jasonopenedthesmallbox,exposingafaintglowfromwithin.Hetookina
deepbreathandmelted,keepinghiseyesfocusedontheblackenedceiling
abovethem.
Onebyone,small,brightflecksdancedoutofthebox,encirclingtheroom
likeglimmeringbeadsoflight.Hundredsofglowingspecklesscatteredinto
theairabovethem,shootingbackandforthbeforefinallysettlinginto
position.Inaninstant,theroomhadbeentransformedintoamagicalnightsky.
“They’restars,”heexplained.“Well,it’sactuallyglow-in-the-darkglitter,
butthey’re supposedtobestars.”
Eve smiled, captivated by the provisional starry night. “It’s beautiful.” She lookedoveratJason,whowasstillgazingattheceiling.“Why’dyoudothis?”
“Yesterday,yousaidyoulikedlookingatthestars—madeyoufeelpeaceful.
SoIjustthoughtI’dbringyousome.Nodeadbodiesincluded.”
Evelaughedandlookedbackatthetwinklingdots,someofwhichwerenow
streamingacrosstheceilinglikeaclusterofshootingstars.
“Andyoujusthappenedtohaveglow-in-the-darkglitterlyingaround?”
Jasonsmirked.“Gotsomehelpfrommynurse.Shehasalittlegirl.”
“Well,I’mimpressed.Thisis…”Shepaused.“Thisisincredible.”
“Gladyouthinkso,becauseIwasprettynervousaboutit.”
“Why?It’sjustme.”
“Yeah.Iknow.”
EveglancedatJason.Thelightreflectedoffofhiseyeslikesparkling
diamonds.Itwasperfect,themoment.Therestofherdaydisappeared;allshe
neededwasthisveryinstant.Shelookedbackatthestarryskyandsighed.
“Thankyou,”shewhispered.“Thisisthemostthoughtfulthinganyonehas
everdoneforme.AndImeanthat.”
Shecouldn’tseehim,butshecouldfeelhimsmile.
“Justwantedtodosomethingniceforyou.”
Theystaredattheceilinginsilence.Jasontappedhisfingeragainsthischest
every so often as if orchestrating the movement of the glitter, sending it burstingintovariousshapesandsoaringthroughtheroomlikefireflies.
“CanIaskyousomething?”EveturnedtoJason.“Aren’tIsupposedtobe
tutoringyourightnow?”
Hechuckled.“Yeah,wekindofstoppeddoingthatawhileago,didn’twe?”
“There’sreallynothingleftformetoteachyou.Imean,lookatyou—look
at this.You’remeltingmultiplethingsatonce,youknow.”
“What,theglitter?”Herolledhiseyes.“They’relittle.Icandolittle.It’sthe bigthingsthatgivemetrouble.”
“Giveittime—you’llgetit.Withagiftasstrongasyours,I’mguessingayear,
tops.”
“Sosoon?”heasked,sarcastically.
“Everythingyouknownow,youlearnedinonemonth.That’s amazing,
Jason.”Herwordswerefirmbutkind.“Asfarasourlittletutoring
arrangementgoes,Ithinkit’ssafetosayyou’vegraduated.”
“So,whatdoesthatmean?”
“Itmeans”—shehesitated,herthroatsuddenlytight,hervoicesoftand
unsure—“Idon’tthinkyouneedmeanymore.”
Jasonwasquiet.
“IthinkIdo,”hesaid.
Evebitherlip,tryingtosuppressthedeep,waveringbreathshedesperately
wanted to take. Her body relaxed into the mattress as if in that instant, everythingwasdifferent—asifforthefirsttimeinyears,shewasn’talone.She
smiledtheslightestbitanddelicatelyrestedhercheekagainstJason’sshoulder.
“Youneedtoknowsomething,”hebegan,anxiously.“WhenIfirstfoundout
I’machimera,Ithoughtmylifewasover.Theystuckmeinthisroom—they
saiditwasfor safety,butIknowbetter.They’rehidingme.”Hestoppedfora moment,searchingfortherightwordstosay.“ThenImetyou,andeverything
changed.Youmakemefeelpowerful,likeI’mjustnowreallyliving.And
suddenly,thisplacefeelslikethebestthingthat’severhappenedtome.It’sall becauseofyou.”
JasonturnedtofaceEve,finallyforcinghimselftolookherintheeye,only
tofindherlyingbyhisside,fastasleep.Hewatchedforamomentasherchest
slowlyroseandfellwitheachbreath,herbodysostillandpeaceful.
Withaquickmelt,hesenttheglittercascadingfromtheceilingandbackinto
thesmallbox.Evestirredslightlyandnuzzledherchinclosertohimashe
slowly reached for a blanket and lightly rested it over her body. He stared at herforawhile,admiringherwavyhair,thelightsprinkleoffrecklesonher
shoulders,thewayherusuallyworriedbrownowlookedsosoft,socalm.He
slid his fingers through a loose strand of ha
ir resting against her cheek and placeditbehindherear.Then,compelledbyimpulse,heleanedinclosetoher
andgentlykissedherforehead.
Eveflinched;sheawokewithwideeyesthatlockedontoJason’sashe
quicklypulledaway.Theystaredatoneanotherincompletesilence.Eve
wantedtospeak,tosayordosomething, anything,butherbodywasparalyzed, andherthoughtswereracing.Suddenly,herheartwasbeatingrapidlywith
incrediblestrength,andhersenseswereheightenedandveryaware;shecould
seethenervousenergyinJason’seyes,hearthesoundofhisshallow
breathing, and even the slightest touch of his skin against hers sent shivers downherspine.
Eveliftedherchinandclosedhereyes.Withoutamomentofhesitation,
Jason leaned in and kissed her, savoring the sweet taste of her lips as he combedhisfingersthroughherhair.Themomentwasshocking,likeaburstof
electricity coursing through her, illuminating every cell within her body. He kissedheragain,slowlyandsmoothlyasheranhishanddownherarm,lightly
grazingherskinandcausingeverygoosebumponherbodytostandat
attention.Hewrappedhisarmsaroundherwaistandbroughtherincloser,and
in turn she slid her hands down his neck to his chest, the tips of her fingers glidingoverhistender,raisedscar.Shecouldfeelhisheartpoundingbeneath
hisskinandlostherselfinthemoment.
Jasonheldhertightlyagainsthim,kissinghersoftly,andinthatinstantshe
knewthatthiswassomethingshewanted—somethingintangible,butsomuch
morerealthananyotherfeelingshehadeverexperienced.Ashernerves
begantosimmerandherbodybecameheavy,Jasontookherchinandgaveher
onelast,longkiss,restingherheadagainsthisshoulderastheydriftedtosleep inoneanother’sarms.
***
Eveopenedhereyes.Sunlightpouredthroughacrackinthewindowblinds
and streaked across her face, and she squinted against the brightness. She yawned,wrinklinghernoseandstretchinghertoesasshesquirmedbeneaththe
sheets.
Jasonwaslyingbesideher,sleepingsoundly,completelyundisturbedbyher awakening.Eveexhaled,takingamomenttoenjoythesereneatmosphere.She
couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so revived in the morning, so energized and uplifted, and then it dawned on her: there were no nightmares, nohorrificscenesormiserablememorieslingeringinthebackofhermind.
Forthefirsttimeinoverelevenyears,shehadhadadreamlesssleep.
Hereyesdartedtowardthewallclock,andsuddenly,thedelightofthemoment
wasrippedawayfromherlikearugbeingpulledfrombeneathher
feet.Itwasninethirty-seveninthemorning,andshewasinthemedicalward
withJason.
Still.
PanicsetinasEvetiptoedoutofbed.Shehadmissedherfirstclass,andher
secondonewasalreadyinsession.WouldMadisonandHaydennotice?Of
coursetheywould.MadisonalsosurelyrealizedthatEvenevercamebackto
thedormlastnight.Shecringed;thelastthingsheneededwasmore
speculationaboutherbehavior.Sheslippedonherhoodedsweatshirtand
headedforthedoor,stillrackingherbrainforworst-casescenarios.She
lookedbackatJason,lettingherselfbecaptivatedbyhissteadybreathingfor
just a second before her frenzied state took over once more. As she reached forthedoorhandleinfrontofher,herbodyfroze.
WhatifHeatherwasvolunteeringtoday?
Eveloweredhershouldersassheploddedthroughtheisolationwing.A
nursepassedher,shootingherajudgmentalgrimaceandrollinghereyes.Eve
blushed with chagrin and made her way to the door, peering out of the one smallwindowandshudderingovertheanticipationofmaybe,possiblyseeing
aredheadedbloodsuckerwaitingattheclerk’sdesk.
Andsureenough,thereshesatinherscrubs,herauburnhairpulledintoa
delicatebunatthetopofherhead.Evecursedunderherbreathasshewatched
the Rutherfordian fiddle with her scratchpad, hard at work and appearing so utterly innocent. Eve could see it now: the look of sinister excitement on Heather’sfaceasEvecamewaltzingthroughthewardtwelvehoursafterher
sessionwithJasonfirstbegan.No,itwouldn’thappen.Shewouldmakesureof
that.
HereyeslandedonastackofpaperatHeather’sside,andsuddenlyaplanwas
born.Shemeltedinstantly,sendingthepaperflyingfromHeather’sdesk,
eachsheetblowingacrossthehallwayasifsweptbyasuddenbreeze.Heather
shrieked aloud, chasing after the papers as they scattered in every direction untiltheyspilledaroundthecorner,farpasttheclerk’sdesk.
AsHeatherroundedthecorner,Eveboltedfromtheisolationwingand
headedstraightfortheelevators.Shepoundedatthebuttons,frantically
lookingoverhershoulderwhileshewaitedimpatientlyforthedoorstoopen.
Finally,theelevatorarrived;shehurriedintothemetalbox,lettingoutasigh
ofreliefasshetraveleddowntothelobbyandhopingwitheveryfiberofher
beingthatherescapehadgoneunnoticed.
AshernervescalmedandHeather’sfacefadedfromhermind,anewface
madeitswaytoherthoughts:Jason.Shereminiscedoverthetasteofhislips,
thewarmthofhishands,theeaseofwakingbesidehim.Itwassounlikeherto
feelthisway—tobehappyandscaredatthesametime.
Pressedfortimeandhardlypresentable,Evedashedtoherdormitory,
changed into a simple pantsuit, and headed for the business building. Before sheknewit,thedoortotheStrategicCommunicationlecturehallloomed
beforeher,andshegrimacedatthesightofit.Alleyeswouldbeonher.She
imaginedTravis,proudandsmugwithhisheadheldhigh,andProfessor
Guptacoweringinherpresence.Shesighed,hereyespointedattheceilingas
ifbeggingforsomesortofdivineinterventiontosaveherfromthe
humiliationshewouldsurelyendure.
Theclassroomimmediatelysilencedwhenshewalkedin.Sherolledher
eyes at the dramatics, taking her usual seat in the back, pretending to be unaware of the awkward tension. She caught a glimpse of Travis out of the cornerofhereyeandtriedtomaskherrepulsion.Asheadsatlastturnedaway
and the students continued with their chatter, Eve pulled her scratchpad from hershoulderbag,thankfultobeleftalone.
Themomentdidn’tlast.Asmallbodyploppeditselfintheseatnexttohers.
“Yougoingtobitemyheadoffagain?”JJasked,carelesslyrestingherfeet
onthedeskinfrontofher.
Evedidn’trespond.
“Ithinkyoushouldreconsidermyoffer.”
“Your offer?”
“Yeah.Youshouldforgiveme,andweshouldbefriends.”
Evescowled.“Areyoureallytryingto negotiate afriendshipwithme?”
“Look,Ijudgedyouprematurely.Icanadmitthat.Butwehavesimilar
interests,parallelagendas—”
“Andyouknowthis how?”
JJwinked.“Ijustknow.”
“Well,you’vebeenwrongbefore,soyou’reprobablywrongnow.”
“Hey,I’mnotthe enemyhere.”
Evefurrowedherbrow.“Andwho istheenemy,exactly?”
/>
JJofferedaslysmile,ignoringEve’squestionandinsteadeyeingthehunk ofjunkonherdesk.“Yourscratchpadisapieceofshit,bytheway.Icouldfix
itforyou— if we were friends.” She stood from her desk and made her way acrosstheroom.“I’mgoodwithcomputers,remember?”
Afterwhatfeltlikeaneternityofvaluelessdebates,classfinallycametoan
end.Evehadn’treallypaidattention—shewasflustered,consumedwith
thoughtsaboutthenightbefore,somuchsothateventheperverseglancesand
mutterings of her classmates had gone unnoticed. She packed her things and lefttheroom,remarkablywithmostofherdignityintact,andtriedinvainto
pushthedistractionsfromhermind.Andnow,shesawthem—thehatefullooks
ofthepassersby.Eachfacesheencounteredwastwistedintoadisparaging
glare.Thatis,allbutone.
“Armaan!”Evechirped,almosttooenthusiastically.“Areweofftotheward
already?FeelslikeIwasjustthere.”
“Oh,heyEve,”hereplied,seeminglysurprisedtoseeher.“No,nottoday.”
“Oh,really?”Herstomachchurned.“Issomethingwrong?”
“No,quitethecontrary.Wait,youdidn’thear?”
“Hearwhat?”
“Jasonwasreleasedthismorning.He’sbackatschool.Shouldbearound
campussomewhere.”
“Oh…”Evefaltered.ShethoughtofJason,ofhisdesperationtobefree
from the isolation wing. She thought of the time they shared together, the
kiss…
“That’sgreat.”
“Yeah,Iguess,”Armaanmuttered,castinghiseyesdowntothefloor.
“Whythelongface?”
“We’llprobablyneverhangoutagain.Nomorewalkstotheward.Nomore
talksaboutmelting.”Hefrowned.“It’sdepressing.”
“Armaan,we’refriends.We’llstilltalk.”Shesqueezedhisshoulder.“I
promise.”
Armaan’sfacelitupimmediately,andshesmiled.Therewassomething
differentabouthimtoday—helookedespeciallysmallinhisoversized,boxy
suit, like a little boy playing in his father ’s closet. It was an unusual outfit choiceforhim,andhefidgetedwithhiscufflinksnervously.
“Whatareyoudoinghereanyway?”sheasked.“Ididn’texpectyoutohave
anyclassesinthebusinessbuilding.”