49. REUNION
REAPER:
I ALMOST COULDN’T BELIEVE MY EYES WHEN I STEPPED off the bus on Wednesday morning. Jason was already standing in our normal pre-breakfast spot just outside of the first entrance of the cafeteria, but it wasn’t him that surprised me. I could pick out Howie’s mop top from anywhere. He and Jason chatted away as I hurriedly approached them.
“Bro! When did you get back?!” I shouted. Howie whipped around and smiled from ear to ear.
“I was back in the state last night. I didn’t get back in town until a few hours ago though.”
I pulled him in for hug without replying. It was obvious that Jason and I both missed him tremendously. Howie was the kind of person that you could never truly appreciate until he wasn’t around for a while. Between The Strangers kidnapping him and Wells putting him into protective custody, it felt like I had almost lost him twice.
“Glad to have you back, brother,” I said as we continued our embrace.
“I think Monica may get jealous if you guys keep that up any longer,” Jason smirked.
I looked up and noticed Monica standing across from us on the other side of the crosswalk. She was smiling as she silently watched us.
I held up my index finger to let her know that I would be over in a few seconds. She nodded and continued to wait patiently as I released Howie and turned to Jason. We all looked to each other and beamed with the excitement of finally being back together again.
“I’ve gotta run, guys, but I’ll see you later at 3D. Deal?” I said.
“Deal,” Jason and Howie replied in unison.
“Birthday present,” Jason whispered after me as I walked over to join Monica. I chuckled and tried my best to ignore him as I joined her.
“What’s so funny?” Monica asked.
“Nothing. I was just thinking about something,” I lied. She narrowed her eyes and smiled, but I was happy that she didn’t push the issue.
“When did Howie get back?” she asked.
“Earlier this morning.”
“You don’t think it’s kind of weird for him to transfer schools this late in the semester then transfer back after two months?” she asked.
“No, he didn’t transfer. He was sick. I told you he was sick, didn’t I? It was…it was pretty serious,” I said without looking her in the eyes.
“Adam, you told me he transferred,” she said flatly. I was still avoiding eye contact, but I could tell by the sound of her voice that she was no longer smiling.
“Did I?” I blurted without thinking.
“Yes, you did, mister. Is there something you want to tell me, Adam?” she asked.
For a second, I thought she was angry but as I finally looked into her eyes, I realized that her expression displayed more concern than anger.
“It’s complicated,” I replied, carefully choosing my words. I didn’t want to lie to her anymore, but I didn’t want to tell her the truth and pull her further into the madness that had become my life. She was already close enough to the fire simply by being friends with me.
“That’s not good enough, Adam. We said we would be honest with each other, remember?”
“This is different,” I said.
“How? How is this different? Honesty is honesty. It applies to everything, not just the things that you're okay with me knowing,” she snapped. Her reply cut much deeper than she realized. Not only did this amplify the guilt that I felt for lying to her about Howie, but also the guilt I felt for not saving her father.
“Monica, you have to trust me on this. There are things that I want to tell you but I just can’t.”
“Why can’t you?” she demanded.
“Because it’s too dangerous,” I replied. As the concern in her expression turned to fear, I realized that I shouldn’t have said that. I wished that I could tell her that she didn’t have to fear for me. I wished that I could let her know that I could toss a couple thousand pounds as easily as I could tie my shoes or grab her and zoom away at over 100 miles per hour in order to show her that I was the last person she needed to fear for. But I could never show her what I could do. I could never show her my abilities because doing so would let her know that I was capable of saving her father on the night that he died. Doing so would make her think I was a murderer.
“What’s going on, Adam?” she demanded.
“It’s under control,” I said as I looked away. I needed to avoid eye contact lest I fall victim to that mesmerizing gaze of hers. I knew I was putty in her hands when she really wanted something from me. My heart sank as I felt her soft hand gently touch my right cheek. She lightly nudged my chin upward, forcing me to gaze into her eyes once more. I didn’t stand a chance as her smoldering amber eyes worked their magic on me.
“What aren’t you telling me, Adam?” she asked, “I’m only asking because I’m worried about you.”
Damn she’s good, I thought as I felt her charm take hold of my inhibitions. I looked over my shoulder to make sure no one was listening, then looked back to her. “Howie was placed in protective custody by the government. That’s why he left. He was being targeted by The Strangers.”
Her eyes grew wide with fear as she made the assumption that if Howie was in danger, I must have been too. “What-How- I mean-” she was so scared that her words were rushing out all at once.
I placed my hands on her shoulders, which seemed to calm her. “Monica, I’m fine, and so is Howie. If he was still in danger, they wouldn’t have let him come back,” I lied.
“But they’re still out there. How can he be safe? How can you be safe? I can’t do this, Adam. I can’t. I can’t lose you too!” she sobbed.
“It’ll all be over soon, honey. Trust me. Nothing is going to happen to me,” I said as I pulled her head into my chest and embraced her.
“Is this why you can’t come to the prom with me on Saturday?” she asked.
“Yes, but I still don’t want you to go alone. I know Matt Connors likes you. I’m okay if you go with him, but let me know if he tries anything so I can have Jason beat him up again,” I smirked. I was hoping that she would laugh at my joke, but she didn’t respond.
“Maybe we can meet up later that night, though. We could hang out at Lake Victoria if that’s okay with you,” I said, hoping it would lift her spirits. She finally lifted her head from my chest and smiled.
“That sounds great, mister. I almost thought I wouldn’t have a chance to give you your birthday present,” she chimed.
I raised an eyebrow and grinned as I thought of my conversation with Jason.
“What are you smiling for?” she asked, pulling me out of my trance.
“Nothing,” I said without looking into her eyes.
“Adam?” she asked firmly.
I peeked at her and, just as I expected, she was doing that mesmerizing stare that she always did whenever she wanted to get information out of me.
“No!” I protested as I made a cross with my fingers and held them before me as if she was a vampire. “I won’t fall for that eye trick again!”
“What eye trick? I don’t have an eye trick. Look at me, Adam,” she said.
“No! I won’t let you seduce me with your vampire stare!” I playfully shouted. But I had already fallen for it. I fell for that mesmerizing gaze of hers the second I laid eyes on her.
As we continued to horseplay before class, something inside of me told me that I should go to the prom with her. I kept getting the feeling that I shouldn’t leave her side, lest some unknown danger swoops in and takes her away from me. But I knew that I couldn’t guard her with every waking second and go after The Suspect.
It’ll all be over soon, I told myself. Besides, she’s just going to the prom. How dangerous could that be?
50. HOMECOMING
Savior Page 45