The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven

by Jessica Miller

  “I don’t deserve your forgiveness,” he said roughly.

  “I have to go now.”

  “No, wait!”

  “No Tristan,” I shook my head slowly. “This is it. I won’t be coming back and I don’t want you to visit me anymore either.”

  “But I haven’t –”

  “Goodbye Tristan.”

  “Wait,” he called. I turned back to him and he pulled me in for a kiss. A long, soft, tender kiss. One that would stay with me. One that would make me want to touch my lips and reminisce about the kiss. One that burned a hole in my heart and I hated him for that.

  When he finally released me, I let out a breath, one that I didn’t even know I was holding. Before the tears escaped my eyes, I walked away, leaving Tristan with a hopeful smile on his face. As I walked to the pond, everything began to slowly vanish as I returned to my state of sleep. I didn’t know if I accomplished what I planned to, but part of me felt more at ease.

  When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Roman. I smiled. I gently caressed his face, waking him. He smiled back, inching closer to me. Feeling a little guilty about kissing Tristan in my dream, I pulled him into me and kissed him aggressively. “Whoa, what’s gotten in to you?” he asked breathless.

  “I just want you, now,” I said, pushing myself on top of him. He didn’t resist, but he did take over the reins, rolling over on top of me.

  “I love you,” he whispered against my lips.

  “I love you too,” I said, kissing him again. I didn’t know if part of me felt guilty for kissing Tristan or I just needed to be with him. I needed to feel him and needed to feel how much he loved me. I needed him to show me how much he loved me and that things would be okay. And that’s exactly what he did, twice.

  The weekend flew by and before I knew it was Monday again. Josie had spent the weekend hanging with Cassidy, Lucas, and a few other new kids leaving Roman and I to have the room to ourselves for the weekend. Even though I was hoping to spend some time with Josie, I wasn’t complaining about the private time I got to spend with Roman. We took advantage of every second we had together. I think the only time we actually left the room was to eat.

  On Monday, Zane had let me know that Gabe would be out of town for the week on personal business. So we had to report to our normal self-defense classes and Zane would take over for him after school. I wasn’t looking forward to going back to class considering we were on a totally different level than everyone else and to make matters worse, Mr. Miller pointed that out to the whole class. “Miss McCallister, could you please come over here and stand next to me,” he said.

  I pulled my blue socks up to my knees, rolled up the sleeves on my horrible yellow school t-shirt, and tightened my ponytail. I stood next to Mr. Miller nervously, remembering my first day there when I knocked out Roman. “Ashby, front and center.”

  As if Roman was having the same memory, he winked at me before he joined me. Only then, standing in front of everyone had I noticed who was there. The strange new guy Josie was jonesing for, Lucas, Brennen, the wolf – the one I accidently pelted in the head with the roll – Kyle, my ex, along with two other angels Dylan and Nate, and of course Josie and Cassidy. Seeing all these people before me started making me feel apprehensive.

  “For those of you who are new, I am going to tell you now that certain students here excel better at their skills then others. Those students participate in special training to make them even better. Those of you who think you got what it takes to be as good or better will have the opportunity to prove it.” Mr. Miller paused, letting the info sink in. “We are fortunate enough to have two of the best here with us for the week,” he said, pointing to Roman and me. I suddenly wanted to hide. I didn’t take compliments well nor did I like to be the center of attention.

  “McCallister, Ashby, I want you two to show them just what it’s like to be the best.”

  I turned to Roman who had a cocky smile on his face. Clearly he loved the attention. It stroked his ego making his head bigger than necessary. I smiled back knowing well I could easily bring him back down to reality.

  Cassidy stood up from the group. “Is there a problem, Miss Carter?” Mrs. Daniels asked.

  “I’m sorry, but I think it’s wrong to have a girl fight a guy. That’s not a fair fight,” Cassidy said.

  I had to hide the smile on my face. Mrs. Daniels looked to Mr. Miller who smirked. “Miss Carter, while your concern is valid, it does not apply here. Here in this gym we are not boys and girls nor men or women. We are warriors, equals, and I can assure you this match is every bit as fair,” Mrs. Daniels said, smiling proudly at me. “But of course that is up to Ella. Would you like another partner to spar with?”

  “Nope, I’m good,” I replied, winking at Roman.

  “Anybody else have a problem?” Mr. Miller asked. When the room fell silent, Cassidy sat back down, and Mr. Miller turned to us. “You may begin.”

  I took my battle stance ready to wipe that smug look off of Roman’s face. “So quick to take the defensive,” he laughed, taunting me. “Haven’t you learned by now that’s always your biggest mistake,” he said, getting in my face.

  I didn’t hesitate and I attacked, catching Roman off guard. He fell out of step, surprised. “And you talk too much. That was always your mistake,” I teased.

  Not happy about letting his girlfriend get the upper hand, he put his game face on, and I knew I was in trouble. He came at me fast and hard, but I was taught by the best so I could block every blow. Unfortunately so was Roman, so he was equally as good. Ten minutes and I was already sweating and out of breath, but I wouldn’t give up and I wouldn’t back down. Roman and I were too evenly matched so we weren’t getting anywhere. I had to think smart. I threw my fist up to land a punch to his jaw, but he caught my hand and spun it behind my back holding my other arm down by my side. He smiled and kissed my cheek. I leaned forward and kicked my foot in to the side of his knee. He fell backward and lost his grip. I slipped away and swept my leg under his feet knocking him on his ass. I jumped on him and pinned his arms by his side. Then I smiled down at him.

  “Very cute,” he said, his cheeks all red.

  “That’s what you get for playing dirty.” I loosened my grip and he sat up giving me a quick kiss on the lips.

  “Alright, enough you two,” Mr. Miller said, giving us dirty looks, clearly disapproving of our show of affection. I stood up and helped Roman up. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder as we rejoined the teachers. “Now, does anyone think they can beat either of these two?” Mr. Miller challenged. No one bothered to come forward. They were either two scared or didn’t want to be embarrassed by getting beat down by a girl. “No takers, alright then, moving on.”

  “I’ll take the challenge,” someone said. I turned to see who the opponent was, but no one stood out.

  “Come forward,” Mr. Miller said, not knowing either. I scanned the crowd waiting nervously for the challenger to come forward. Lucas stepped down off the bleachers and stood next to me smiling. “Roman, you need a break or are you good?”

  “I’m good,” he said, puffing his chest.

  “Actually, I was hoping to spar with Ella. If that’s alright,” he asked Mr. Miller, but never took his eyes off of me.

  I could see from my peripheral vision that Roman was ready to comment so I quickly stepped in. “I accept,” I said, praying Roman wouldn’t cause a scene.

  “Alright, let’s see what you got,” Mr. Miller said. “Roman, have a seat.”

  Roman gave Lucas a look that said if you hurt her or touch her in anyway I don’t like I will kill you. I rolled my eyes and took a sip from the water Mrs. Daniels handed me. They allowed me a few minutes to regroup before I started again. “Don’t hurt me,” Lucas winked.

  “You sure you want to do this?”

  “I think I can handle it.”

  “You asked for it,” I warned.

  “Come on Ella,” Cameron and Josie cheered.

  I
squared my shoulders ready. I didn’t wait to take the defensive. I just attacked. To my surprise Lucas was ready for me. He countered every move with precision. He even had a few moves I didn’t know. I was getting tired and out of breath and before I knew it, my ass was on the floor.

  Lucas bent over and offered me a hand. I took it and shook off the embarrassment of the butt whooping. “You’re pretty good. Where’d you learn all that?”

  “Good job, Brown,” Mr. Miller said before Lucas could answer me. “Now that you see how it’s done, spread out.”

  Roman jumped up and ran over to me. “You okay?” he asked.

  “I’m fine,” I said a little annoyed. The only thing bruised was my ego.

  Roman stomped over to Lucas and shoved him. “What’s your problem?” Lucas put up his hands defensively, not understanding what just happened.

  “Ashby!” Mr. Miller yelled. “Cool the tough guy act. You’re in enough trouble as it is.”

  Roman stared Lucas down before he backed off and walked over to me, throwing his arm around me possessively. I threw it off and glared at him. “Really?” I said, walking away. I was not going to tolerate that kind of behavior.

  Roman spent the remainder of class pissed off and I spent it ignoring him.

  He wasn’t at lunch and frankly I was kind of relieved. Lucas sat next to me in Roman’s spot and I froze. “Hey, sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean any disrespect,” he said.

  “No, you didn’t do anything wrong. Roman’s just a little over protective and I should be the one apologizing.”

  “Apology accepted,” he smiled.

  Lucas spent the rest of lunch glued to the seat next to mine. Every now and then our skin would brush giving me goose bumps and not in a good way. I couldn’t get rid of this weird feeling I got when Lucas was around. I still didn’t know whether it was a good one or bad one, so I thought I’d tread lightly.

  Roman was waiting for me at my room after training. He wasn’t at training either and once again, I was not disappointed. I stood in front of him with my arms crossed waiting for an apology. When it didn’t come, I shoved past him and slammed the door in his face. “Ella,” he said through the door. “Let me in please.”

  I swung the door open and stood there. He must have taken that as invitation to come in, but he was wrong. When he stepped forward I put my hand up to stop him. He sighed and took a step back. “I’m sorry,” he said.

  “I remember a conversation not too long ago about you trying not to be a dick,” I spat.

  He squared his shoulders ready to say something, but then his posture changed, indicating he changed his mind. “I am trying.”

  “Maybe you should try harder.”

  “I wouldn’t have to try so hard if I –”

  “Could trust me?” I offered, hurt.

  “No that’s not…Ella look, I’m sorry. I over reacted. It’s just when I thought he hurt you…I got so…so…”

  “Jealous?”

  “Hardly,” he said, frowning.

  “Why do guys never admit they’re jealous?” I asked, with my hands on my hips.

  “Because that would mean we would have to admit that you are one of our weaknesses,” he smiled, placing his hands on my hips.

  “And what’s so bad about that?”

  “Nothing,” he breathed. I pulled him closer and placed a soft kiss on his lips. I let him off the hook and he promised he would verbally apologize to Lucas and give him a chance and even said the next time he was a dick I was allowed to hit him. Okay, so he really didn’t say that last part, I added it, and he reluctantly agreed. He knew all too well how vicious my right hook was.

  September was creeping up on us quickly and all anyone could talk about was the Fall Ball. This year they decided to make it a masquerade ball where everyone had to wear masks. I actually was on board for that idea. Also, because it was such a big to do, we had to learn a special ballroom dance.

  The two weeks prior to the dance, those of us who didn’t already know the dance had to learn it. Thankfully they chose to teach us during our regularly scheduled dance class and those who did not have that class as an elective had to give up one of their other electives for the time being.

  I felt the dance was a little outdated and boring, but it was tradition. We had studied the tradition of Mabon (a.k.a the autumn equinox) all week in Ms. Kraft’s class. It divides the day and night equally and we take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year’s crops. The witches celebrate the ageing goddess as she passes from mother to crone and her consort the god as he prepares for death and re-birth.

  This was pretty much the same as Ostara, just a little fancier celebration.

  I had learned that Roman was not light on his toes and I warned him if he did not stop stepping on mine I would find a new partner. He said it was my fault, because from his angle he could see down my shirt and it was distracting. I punched him playfully in the gut and he chuckled. I tried to glare at him, but the sexy smile on his face was making it hard.

  I picked up the dance pretty quickly and Mrs. Whitney had volunteered me to be an example for the class along with Lucas as my partner. I could tell Roman wasn’t happy about it, but he was trying like he promised. He had apologized to Lucas as he said he would and even invited him to hang out. But no matter how much he had started to like him, there would always be that twinge of jealousy when it came to me.

  Lucas strolled over to me like he was a prince and I was his princess. His charming smile widened as he placed his hand on my hip. I tried not to show the uncomfortable feeling I got when I was around him, but I was finding it kind of hard when we were this close. I took a deep breath and placed my arm on his shoulder and raised my other to clasp our hands together. Ms. Whitney counted off to the beat of the music and Lucas took the lead. He swept me across the floor as if I was light as a feather.

  I was entranced by his eyes. As I stared into his deep violet eyes, I saw shapes take form like I had before. They swirled hypnotically and the more I watched, I slowly noticed my surroundings started to change. As we twirled around the room, one by one my classmates started to disappear. Suddenly Lucas and I were alone and no longer in the dance studio. We were now gliding across an elegant tiled floor inside a decorative ballroom.

  I gasped as I took in the elegance of the crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. When I looked at Lucas he was wearing a black tuxedo, his hair slicked back. He spun me and I looked down to see I was wearing a floor length gown. It was blood red with a tight diamond encrusted corset and a flowing skirt.

  My eyes widened in shock. I opened my mouth but no words came out. Lucas smiled handsomely at me and pulled me back into position to finish our dance. I felt like I was in another world and when it was over, I stood there, still staring deeply into his eyes.

  “Thank you Ella, Lucas,” Ms. Whitney said, breaking me from my spell. I blinked and I was back in the dance studio with all my classmates staring at me. I jumped back from Lucas, stunned. I know I didn’t just imagine that. He bowed before me and winked, before he rejoined the rest of the class. I was still shell shocked so it took me a moment before I moved. I watched him with curiosity. A few of my classmates giggled at my stunned face bringing me back to reality. I walked back over to Roman and gripped his hand tight.

  “Hey, you okay?” I nodded, afraid my voice would betray me. “Then can you loosen your grip on my hand?” I let go, leaving him to open and close his palm, allowing the circulation to flow back into it. “You were amazing out there,” he smiled, bringing my attention back to him.

  I smiled back and pulled him in for a hug. He kissed my forehead just before Ms. Whitney dismissed the class. “Ella, Lucas, can I speak to you two for a minute?”

  I pulled myself away from Roman and told him I would meet him later. “I can wait for you?”

  “No. I’ll be fine. I’ll see you at training.” I gave him a q
uick peck before he left then I marched over to Ms. Whitney to see what she wanted.

  “I would like you two to help me out after school. Some of the students are having a harder time with the dance and I believe you two to be some of my best students. Could I depend on you two to help me out?”

  “I would, but I have training after classes so I’m sorry. I won’t be able to help you out,” I politely declined.

  “Isn’t Gabe out of town this week?” Lucas interrupted.

  “Yes, but I will still be training with Zane.”

  “I think we can work something out. We’d love to help you Ms. Whitney,” he said, throwing her a charming smile.

  I gawked, stunned, and pissed that he would answer for me. “Great, so I will see you two promptly at four today,” she said and flitted off before I could protest.

  I turned on Lucas. “First off, don’t ever answer for me and second I can’t skip my training because some people don’t know how to dance.”

  “Okay relax. You’re not going to skip your training. I’ll find a way for you to work around it and besides, dancing could actually be your training.”

  “How would dancing help me kill a rogue vamp? What am I going to do, challenge them to a dance off?” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

  “No. Dancing will help improve your moves.”

  “What’s wrong with my moves?” I asked a little too defensive.

  “Nothing when it comes to dancing, but in combat…”

  I crossed my arms in a huff. “I think I do perfectly fine.”

  “Says the girl who got taken out by a newbie,” he winked, walking away to grab his bag.

  “For your information I let you win.” I lied.

  “See you at four, Ella,” he said without turning around.

  “I have training,” I yelled, knowing he was ignoring me.

  I angrily grabbed my things and headed to my room to change for lunch. “Hey, so how was class?” Josie asked as soon as I opened the door. Although by her tone, I knew she was hinting at something else.