3

by Shera Eitel-Casey

  “Are you kidding me?” I started “The McGaven boys act like a bunch of girls. I have never seen anyone as moody and hormonal as Jett and Storm in my life! Trust me - my sister and I would be a cake walk compared to them.”

  Mrs. McGaven and her friend started laughing, and then Rae and I joined in. Mrs. McGaven was laughing so hard she had tears running down her face; she obviously agreed with me. Mrs. McGaven, in the middle or her rant said “That is so true, oh boy, I haven’t laughed that hard in years, I almost wet myself.” She came up behind me and hugged me. “You’re so right Addie, my boys are a mess.”

  She was wiping away tears when Jett and Declan reappeared with a couple folding tables. And then Mrs. McGaven and her friend just burst out laughing again. It made everyone else around smile even though they had no clue what was going on. She pinched Jett's cheek and said she's a keeper, nodding toward me.

  Jett introduced me to his dad and took off to unload his car. His dad asked me “Are you Jett's new girlfriend?”

  Mrs. McGaven replied like whiplash. “I don’t think that is any of our business Hank!” and she gave me a wink. I smiled.

  “Oh sure it is. Whoever is dating our son, we should get to know!” He said with this deep raspy voice.

  I glanced his way and said “You're right, parents should know, most days we're dating, but between him and his mood swings....I'm not sure half the time, but you keep me posted if you hear anything different.” Mrs. McGaven gave a little chuckle.

  Mr. McGaven and I kept talking, even though he seemed like the quiet type I was focused I kept him busy with all sorts of questions. He was a ruggedly handsome sort of guy, I could see where his boys got their looks. He was built but not too. He had dark, short brown, wavy hair and scruff on his face. His eyes were even more piercing than Jett's or Storm's and very blue. I didn't expect him to say much to me; I thought he was like my dad, the strong silent type, but he was very friendly and talkative.

  “I'll have a serious chat with Jett today to find out about your relationship status and I’ll report back to you.” Mr. McGaven replied.

  “Really,” came a loud sardonic voice from behind me, totally startling me. It was Jett with a great big smirk on his face. I could feel myself blushing, but as I’m quick tongued, I rebelled and said “Absolutely pally, your parents are on my side.”

  His dad winked at me and his mother looked at her husband and said “I like this girl more and more – I knew I liked her the first time I met her too, she has a lot of spunk.”

  “Great, I have spunk...” She cut me off mid-sentence and said “Of course your gorgeous too, Jett wouldn’t pick a girl who wasn’t.”

  I looked at Jett and told him “I like your parents!” and I really did like both his parents. They were very nice and fun. His dad actually sat next to me with two drinks and Jett said “Ah, what are you doing dad?”

  “I’m talking to this young girl, now run along, would you.” He laughed and Declan and he were off to set up a canopy. We talked for quite a while about sports, business, school, their property which I loved. Later Jett confessed that his dad never talked to any of his friends and Declan confirmed that, so now I was feeling pretty good about myself.

  After a while, I had noticed that Declan and Rae had disappeared and Jett was off helping someone carry a cooler to the picnic area. I started thru the park, weaving in and out of everyone looking for them and started toward the parking lot when I noticed the two of them sitting in the car. On my way over I noticed a group of guy’s two cars down playing hacky sack when I saw him from behind; somehow I knew it was him. He stopped me cold in my tracks where I stood petrified. It was Logan, that horrific night came flooding back to me.

  Declan was saying something to me but I couldn’t quite hear him. I turned my head and looked at him my feet wouldn’t move. He said “Are you all right?” I breathed in and out and looked back at them. My eyes started to burn, I choked down a swallow. I could see someone coming toward me out of the corner of my eye, I wanted to move and carry on but I couldn't. Rae touched my elbow and asked again if I was all right. Not looking away from him, I choked out with a quivering voice “Do you know where Jett is...” My voice was shaky and crackling and it didn’t come out very clear. My hands were trembling so bad I spilled half my drink. When I really meant to scream help me, please help me.

  Declan hollered over to the two of us. Did she hear me? Did I tell her I needed help? He waved us over and Rae was holding onto my elbow trying to get me to walk. I wanted to take a step but I don’t think my legs moved, they felt solid, like cement holding fast to the ground. My arms fell to my sides and so did my cup. My eyes felt like there was grit in them, they were about to tear. Declan was saying something. My face felt like the sun was burning it, I was mad at myself for recalling all the memories of that dreadful night at the Monaham’s..... I was trying to block them out. I was trying so hard to forget them, but they were back..... I was flat on my back and couldn't move, he licked my neck and was kissing me again.... I told myself to forget him, forget him, forget him...

  My eyes squeezed shut, Rae jiggled my arm, “Addie, honey, what's wrong?” I was remembering everything that had happened and I was terrified all over again. I thought I was moving but when I glanced back to Declan he had this look on his face, he looked further away than before like he was in a tunnel… “Addie, Addie...” I could hear him faintly, "Addie, are you okay?" My face scalding, my eyes and ears burning. Everything sounded muffled, everything was blurred. I think I was breathing; I tried not to hold my breath. Declan was still saying something to me, what does he want from me? I can’t do anything, how I wish I never came, I wish I wasn’t here, I wished that night never happened. Just move, leave, ask Jett to take you home, where’s Jett?

  I turned my head and saw Jett; I exhaled slowly telling myself to breath, I watched Rae meet him and talked to him before he started walking toward me with a sense of urgency. Jett took notice of the obnoxious group Logan was in.I looked over where he stood and behind him stood three others. I had to swallow back the bile that rose in my throat. I wanted to think, think, try to think of what I should do. My legs still not listening to me, they were still tree trunks rooted and not moving but I was glad they were holding me up.

  More than anything, I wanted to be somewhere else. I closed my eyes hoping it was a dream. When I opened them nothing had changed and I was still here, not dreaming. And then I heard the voice of an angel, Jett’s, he was in front of me, he took my hands “You okay?” He said in my ear ever so softly “Take a deep breath, you're okay. I've got ya. Did you drink too much?” I shook my head. He said "What’s the matter? What’s going on I’ve never seen you like this before?" In a sigh of relief, I knew Jett would help me, I felt a tear run down my face that felt cool against my skin and I wiped it away quickly, my legs felt lighter.

  Logan started shouting "Hey baby it’s me, where have you been?"

  From behind me Declan put his hands on my shoulder "Is that your ex-boyfriend, is he giving you a hard time?" Declan questioned.

  Logan said as he was coming closer "Baby it's me, Logan, come on I'll show you a good time!” He turned and said to his friends “Boys the party has just started!"

  Jett straightened up and said "You're kidding me, who’s this joker?"

  Declan took a few steps closer to Logan and his friends and told them to back up or else, Logan didn’t budge. Jett let go of my hands and they dropped to my sides like jello and he gave me a hug which was really holding me up. “Close your eyes take a deep breath and think of something positive, going to the beach, dating me,” he gave me a big grin and kissed my neck just below my ear. “Do you feel better yet?"

  Rae came up behind us with water. “Do you need to sit, I opened my eyes. I still saw him, he and his buddies were standing in front of Declan. “What is the matter Addie? Do you want to go sit in the car?” Rae asked.

  “No,” my voice crackled. It was urgent they knew I didn’t want to
get any closer to him.

  Jett was being so patient, I needed to relax, pretend I was at the pool. I'm always relaxed in the pool, breath in breath out. I wanted to speak but it wasn’t that easy. I was able to produce the words “I’m sorry.” My voice crackling again. I couldn't seem to move my feet.

  I saw Declan walking in Logan’s direction.

  Jett immediately said “For what, what are you sorry for –” and I let out a deep breath and said “I'm being a baby” voice still crackling, I took a sip of water and tried clearing my throat. “I don't... I can't move... I don't want to be here...” my voice trailed off. “Away from here. I wasn’t ready for this, I thought I was, but I'm not.”

  Jett said, “I'll drive you anywhere you want to go.” I turned away from him breaking his hold and got my balance and started walking in the opposite direction of him, Jett followed. I couldn’t even think of his name I was so distraught. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s going on….”

  I cut him off mid-sentence “I just don’t know what to do or how to act and I can’t believe I’m crying in front of you and everyone. I'm confused, I don’t know what I'm supposed to do, I don’t want to ‘cause a scene I just want to go home.”

  “Ah baby, where are you going? I missed you!” Logan yelled in my direction. Right when Declan reached him and said something. I turned to look, the body language wasn’t good.

  And that did it, I broke down and started to cry, which I never wanted to do. I couldn't control myself. I was mad and upset and because I hadn’t seen him since…I just didn’t know how to react. “Let’s go to the car I'll take you home, it's no problem” He said in a very stern voice. “I can't go over there....” I said as I feebly pointed toward Logan. “That is the guy…” I cried and sniffled “that… I told you about, he's the one.”

  I stood there with my legs shaking and my heart pounding. Jett slipped his hand into mine. It felt so safe and warm. He gave it a little squeeze and gave me a hug, he had never held me like this before, I felt like we had a connection. He gave my neck a kiss, his lips were soft and warm. “Let me help.” He said softly. I thought of the two of us in my basement after our first date. I wished we were back there in that awkward moment versus here.

  I wasn’t prepared to ever see him again. What were the chances I thought? Grow up, stop shaking and stop crying I told myself “I’m trying to stop, I just can’t” I said.

  “I can leave you alone if you like, I'm not sure what you want or what I should do, tell me something.” His grip loosened, Jett wiped my tears.

  Declan trotted over and said "I think she's upset because her ex-boyfriend is here, you know Logan the one that gave me the messages for Addie and he is saying … never mind.” I let out a huge gasp of air I felt relieved he knew, the tears subsided.

  There was a long pause; I turned to look at Jett “Logan, you mean “the” Logan?” Jett asked me, I shook my head and his hands dropped. “I'm sorry I freaked out. I'll be okay in a minute, I didn’t mean to be such a baby, I told you it was stupid.” I explained.

  Jett replied, ”you aren’t stupid, please don’t say that, you have every right to be upset. Which one is he?” He took my hand and we started walking back to the car and as we did I saw Logan walking toward us and he said “Addie every time I see you, you're crying, you’re such a baby, but I still love ya.” He grabbed his crotch and gave off a wretched little cackle. Declan warned him he was looking for trouble.

  Jett left me and walked over to Logan “So you’re the guy who tried to have your way without her consent aren’t you? You think you’re such a big man who has to assault an innocent girl to get sex. You’re disgusting! If you ever go near her ever again….”

  Logan cuts him off. “She's a tease and she was asking for it, she’s a whore,” and gave out a larger cackle than before.

  “You better watch your mouth.” Jett retorted calmly. Maybe it what too reserved like the calm before the storm.

  “You can just go to Hell!” Logan exclaimed pointing at Jett.

  Jett took a deep breath and said “After you!” When he took his next breath all his muscles flexed and I swear his shoulders and arms grew in size; Jett went right up to him and put his left hand on the back Logan's head like he was going to force him to head butt but something else happened instead. Jett pulled his arm back around by his ear, he looked like he was scratching him, but then I realized Jett’s whole body was trembling, like the night I was with him. He kept pulling arm back and forth, shaking, holding on to Logan's ear. Logan was hitting Jett in the stomach and ribs every chance he got. Logan finally smacked Jett's arm off him and took a couple of jabs at Jett. Jett straightened up, hit Logan in the stomach with such force and velocity it jerked Logan's head and upper body forward and Jett kneed him in the face. Jett shuddered again. I yelled "Stop!" As Logan's body flew back from the force of Jett's knee, Jett swung his arm at him, holding his hand like he had claws, and tore thru Logan's shirt like it was paper. Ripping it from him and slicing through his shorts. I yelled at Declan “Do something!” but he was holding his friends back. Rae was by the car her mouth wide open in disbelief, staring immobile, in shock.

  Jett put his hand on Logan's shoulder and the other one on his leg and lifted the guy up over his head in one swoop, and I swear I heard a growl. He turned and threw him onto the hood of the car next to Declan's. All the flesh on Logan’s body shook as he landed and bounced, it's like it happened in slow motion; he looked lifeless and rolled back and laid there. It looked like he was dead. All his friends ran over to him in complete horror and astonishment. They shook him trying to get him to regain consciousness.

  Jett stepped toward us, he didn’t look like himself anymore. All the veins in his arms, neck and face were showing. His eyes were blood red and dark circles under them, his skin looked pale and grey.

  I screamed “Jett stop, stop, don’t! You’ll make it worse. Don’t” I screamed so hard my voice hurt. People were running from every direction, and Logan's friends looked at him in terror trying to keep their distance, they gathered Logan up after Jett turned away. There was a huge indentation left in the hood of the car. Logan and his friends started walking in the opposite direction as fast as they could dragging Logan with them. I was breathing hard and my eyes started tearing all over again. A few more people came running over.

  Jett looked bigger to me. His shirt was so tight it rippled around him, his breathing was hard and uneven, veins popping out all over and his skin a sickly shade. His friends were patting him on the back saying “I can’t believe you picked that guy up!” But when they saw his face they backed up. Declan and I looked at each other in astonishment. Jett didn’t say a word to anyone. He glanced at me, backed up, walked away, and finally took off for the woods.

  CHAPTER 24

  Declan met me at my house. I was surprised when he showed up, but that means he knew there was something really wrong with Jett too. Since I’m the not-so-shy-girl I said what was on my mind as soon as Declan got out of his car “So I really think Jett has something ‘wrong’ with him” I said with air quotes “and I’m not sure what, but if it is something weird, I think this psychic Shelia, can help.”

  Declan responded “Yeah, I'm not so sure about the psychic thing myself but I'm thinking it couldn't hurt to talk to her – so I figured we could give it a try....... I don't want you going around telling all the guys we went either.”

  “Of course not – I'm thinking we won't tell anyone.” I walked toward his car and passed it up.

  “Where you going?” he asked me. “It’s just across the street, at the Richfield Reading and Speech Center, Sheila's place is in the back. We can walk.”

  Declan started talking again “Addie, I’m not sure you get how worried Jett has been about all this stuff, he isn't talking to anyone about it. That's how he is, usually when he gets sick or hurt he doesn't talk about it with anyone until he figures it out or feels better. And the fact that he hasn't talked to me o
r anyone else about it makes me think this is really bad.” I looked at him with concern and agreed with him, however, maybe it’s worse than I originally thought. “I’m very worried about him to, that's why we’re going to see Shelia.”

  As we were crossing the street, my brain started ticking away. I remembered the stories Sheila's daughter had told us. They've been gnawing at me since, and I have a sneaky feeling they would help us. Especially, since the doctors had tested Jett for everything else under the sun and they haven't come up with a thing. When I'd try and apply her stories to Jett, nothing really clicked, at least not yet.

  “If anyone asks what we were doing - just in case we are seen together - we walked across the street to get candy bars while we discussed gift ideas for Rae and Jett. I was hoping you'd know when Jett's birthday is....”

  “So you've done the snooping thing before, huh?” Declan replied, “No, but I feel like something is definitely up since you're worried about Jett too. So I came up with a back story for us. If we have to use it we're going to have to buy gifts and come up with something good.

  “Rae does have a birthday next month, late July, so you can give me some thoughts on that and Jett's birthday is in August, so it’s not a bad back story then.” Declan winked at me.

  “...Oooh I know, concert tickets! I just got my concert calendar in the mail. We can pick one out and get concert tickets for a double date kind of thing. We can check it out when we get back to my house!” I said excitedly – maybe too excitedly, I've never been to a concert with a boyfriend before, it's something I have wanted to do.

  “That's a good idea. Rae's been asking me to take her to one, we'll just have to see what’s coming up.” Declan said nodding his head and pushing his bottom lip up in satisfaction.

  Declan had a smile on his face, so I think he was feeling better about our trip to the psychic or at least I got his mind off of it; that was until I opened the door and he tensed right back up...