Jonesy dug an elbow into my ribs. “Wake up, dip-shit.”
I laughed. “Was I staring?”
Jade grinned. “Kinda.”
“Totally,” John said without too much accusation as he was sort of staring at Tiff.
I think there was a group-shift going on.
I hadn't seen Mia since the unfortunate Scenic Incident in which I had raised Gran last year and the Weller kids looked like battering rams.
She was one of those girls that didn't look her age, but looked eighteen already. I knew she was around our age.
“How old are you?” Jonesy asked, unconcerned by manners.
Bry, who had just walked up, heard Jonesy's question. “You're a sophomore, right?” he directed at her.
“Yeah,” she said, flicking a piece of stick-straight, honey-colored hair behind her shoulder and I saw Bry track it. Huh, I wasn't the only one in the group with a staring problem.
Mia had grown up and Bry was noticing.
Tiff looked sorta miffed and said, “Let's talk about Jade's birthday.”
A frozen fissure spread in my gut and landed into the center of my brain like a block of ice I had utterly forgotten Jade's birthday was tomorrow. I tried desperately to contain my expression but the Js' smiles froze on their faces in an odd, zombie-like way.
Hardy-har-har.
“Cool, yeah,” I said, feigning nonchalance. “But, I think she's coming by my place first, then we'll swing by the hide-a-way. My mom's got all kinds of food and crap ready.”
“And banana cake?” Jade asked hopefully.
I swallowed and it hurt going down.
“Right!” I croaked out.
Jade gave me an odd look then looped her arm through mine, (over my hoodie, thank God; no-touchy, no-telepathy), kissing that tender spot she could reach right under my ear.
I would have given my life on the spot for her as she whispered, “Love you, Caleb.”
I turned her in my arms, flat-palming the small of her back as I pressed her hips into mine. “I love you more,” I whispered back.
“Get a room!” Jonesy hollered.
We smiled and broke apart. Payback was a bitch and Jonesy's time was coming, I thought as we walked away and John and I watched him watching Sophie.
Love was an Alice in Wonderland hole and he was white-knuckling the edge, his feet dangling above the precipice.
****
I raced in the front door, slamming my backpack on the chair and jogged into the kitchen, Onyx on my heels and I almost mowed Mom over.
“Hey!” she yelped.
“Mom, thank God!”
She had a spot of flour on her nose and her apron on which usually meant kitchen business.
I dared to hope.
“Did you remember it was Jade's birthday tomorrow?” I asked all in one breath.
She put her hands on her hips, a wooden spoon stabbing out from her side. “Of course, silly.”
I sunk down into my normal seat at the kitchen table. I had been saved from certain death by my mom.
The Gift!
My head snapped back up and I stood up as if goosed. Dangling off one of Mom's fingers was a silver chain with a heart.
My hopes sunk and she saw my face. “What?”
“Thanks, Mom...but, I need to pick something out for her.”
“Oh,” she said, wrapping the whole thing in her fist.
“Listen, .can we go to the store so I can pick something out. I like what you got for her, but I want to pick something out myself.”
“Okay.” She looked at the pulse-clock hanging on the wall. “If we hurry, we can get to the store and back before the cake's done.”
Onyx wagged his tail, standing close to Mom because he knew who was in charge of the food.
The traitor.
“Okay,” I said, relieved.
She ripped off her apron and we piled into the car.
*
The choices were endless. Everywhere I looked was jewelry and I can see why Mom thought she was helping. I looked over at her leaning forward and talking quietly with the clerk as she handed over the necklace. I thought about what Jade wore all the time...just the silver hoops.
Mom walked over to where I was. “Any luck?”
I shook my head. I'd know what I wanted to get her when I saw it.
I sighed.
“I was thinking a necklace would be good because she wears the same earrings all the time. And a ring is too formal...so, that leaves a bracelet or a necklace,” Mom said, thinking out loud.
I looked at all the bracelets, she was small and they were all the standard size so that probably wouldn't work. My eyes scanned the racks of necklaces until suddenly I saw it- a charm.
I walked over to it and asked the clerk, “Is that a dream-catcher?”
“Yes it is,” she answered, glasses perched on the end of her nose.
It was beautiful and delicate, like Jade. In its center was a small green stone, it twinkled as I moved the charm and the “feathers” moved.
Mom raised an eyebrow and I answered her unspoken question, “She's Cherokee Indian, Mom.”
Mom got the look in her eyes when she'd made a connection. “Ah, that explains her unusual coloring, but not the last name?”
“French,” I said. A sudden, unbidden image of us making out swept through my mind.
Mom's eyes narrowed and I quickly said, “So, I thought she'd like one of these.”
“Does she have one?” Mom asked, distracted for the moment.
I nodded. “There's one strung along the back of her bed.”
“You've been in Jade's bedroom?”
The clerk's eyes widened.
Yeah I had.
“It's no big deal, Mom. Anyway,” I said, exasperated, “her grandma gave it to her mom when she was a baby and it was tied over her cradle and it's been on every bed since. It's supposed to ward off bad dreams.”
“Dream-catcher,” Mom repeated.
“I'll take it,” I said and the clerk smiled.
As Mom turned away, the clerk winked at me.
Winked.
CHAPTER 26
Jade and I were up in my room again, entangled on my bed where I'd snuggled her up against my chest, my chin resting on her head. In her hands was the charm I'd bought her in the nick of time. As I'd left the store, I'd remembered to buy a chain for her to wear it on. I wanted to see that little charm sitting between those sexy bones that marked the center of her throat.
For now, she kept stroking it, making the small, sterling “feathers” move where they glittered in the filtered light through my gauzy curtain.
Her head fell back into the well of my shoulder and I lowered my mouth to hers in the invitation it was. My lips moved over her mouth and I cradled the back of her head with my free hand and pressed her lips harder to mine. She gave a small moan and turned in my arms, the necklace clutched in her hand, she got up on her knees, those green eyes looking directly into mine. “I love you, Caleb Hart.”
My heartbeat leapt into my throat. She knew how I felt, she was in my arms, and not all of it was love, there was a dose of lust in there too.
She laughed. “I feel that way too.”
I felt heat creep up my face, busted.
“It's normal for us to want to be together that way.”
“You haven't gotten the 'too young' lecture?” I asked.
She nodded. “Memorized it.”
We sat for a moment locked in each other's arms. Not one to waste time, I began exploring her mouth again but she pulled away. “How long have we been together?”
Huh, had to think about it. “Six months, I guess.”
“Right. So, nobody knows where we are or how we feel but us.”
I pulled away to look at her. “Where is this coming from?”
She lowered her face.
She had my full attention now. I pulled her closer until our chests were touching and she had to lean her face back a little to see me. She r
eached up and moved the hair out of my eyes and it fell back down.
She smiled.
“Aunt Andrea has been giving me grief about seeing you.”
“What? I thought she was okay with us...”
“She doesn't like all the danger with the zombies showing up all the time.”
“They don't show up all the time,” I said.
She looked at me. Okay, maybe more than I wanted.
“Still, the only time you've been hurt was by your dad.”
Her face fell and I immediately felt like a tool.
“Shhh, don't cry.” I swiped a tear off her cheek. “I didn't mean anything except with all the zombies that show up, none of them ever hurt you. They protected us. Look at Clyde!”
She laughed through her tears. Clyde was, well, he was Clyde.
Jade settled down, plopping on her butt and sitting cross-legged on my bed. Onyx saw his opportunity and leaped up next to her where she buried a hand in his fur.
As she stroked his head she said, “All the zombies are cool.” She paused, thinking about that. “Well, the smell is God-awful. But ya know, they make it happen. They've saved us. Especially that one last year.”
The warrior. I'd never forget how completely perfect he was, juiced up with one of the Graysheets life-force. He had been a thing of beauty.
“But, my dad is running around and Andrea worried about my safety. I've got a feeling is all. I wanted you to know; I feel like something is going to tear us apart.”
Her lip trembled and I moved in, catching it between my teeth and she giggled, trying to push me away.
But not too hard.
Falling back on the bed, we made good use of our time. My words ringing in her ears.
“I'm not going anywhere...”
*
Mom had outdone herself (even for her), as I looked at all the food. She had fried twenty kilos of chicken, made brownies, a cake and had a case of pop standing by.
“How are we gonna get all this stuff to the hide-a-way?” I asked.
“Mia's bringing her car too,” Jade said.
“Who's Mia?” Mom asked.
Great. “She's that girl from Scenic when the Weller kids got trashed.”
Mom nodded. “Isn't she the one that went to the police? She's driving? She looked about twelve.”
Jade laughed. “Last year she did...she's Tiff's friend.”
“Oh. What high school does she attend?”
“KPH, Mom,” the questions were getting kinda annoying.
Mom cocked an eyebrow.
I sighed. “She's a Photographic.”
Dad rounded the corner and I knew that the conversation was gonna take more time.
“A Photographic, eh? That sounds interesting.”
“Okay, I give: what's a Photographic?” Mom asked.
Jade answered, “Mia explained that she can remember everything she's seen.”
“That's not technically paranormal,” Mom said skeptically. “People can have extraordinary memories.”
“They can....” Dad said slowly. “In this case the 'para' would indicate an ability that is far beyond the usual range.”
Like zombies thrown through fences.
Mom grunted, “Handy.”
The Js burst through the door trailed by the Weller’s, Mia bringing up the rear.
Mom laughed. “This is Mia?”
She and Dad stared. I looked at her; I guess she was worth a look or two. Gone was the dirty blond hair and skinny boy look. Eyes that were a mossy green glowed against hair the color of dark honey.
Judging by how Bry acted, Christi the Barbie was a distant memory.
Thank God for small favors. She had to go.
“Okay,” Mom said, breaking up her awkward parent comment. “When do you kids plan on being home tonight?”
We looked at each other. “How about one?” I asked hopefully.
Dad shook his head. “Call me paranoid...”
Jonesy opened his mouth and I shook my head.
“... but, I think midnight-thirty is plenty late.”
“Ah, how long have you been driving, Mia?” Mom asked.
“Since July. My parents got me in the summer Driver's Ed.”
“Before you go...” Dad said and I groaned.
Out Loud.
Dad held up his finger. “I've never met a Photographic before, can you show us an example?”
Mia shrugged, her bare shoulder lifting, the Js watching along with Bry. Funny, they were like a pack of dogs, scenting. Nice.
Dad pulled out a DNA strand likeness. (Ya know, we have that hanging around the house. Real normal.)
She leaned forward, staring at it and we all got quiet like when old guys play golf.
She looked at the comparison strand and gave it back to Dad. Maybe a thirty-second gander and she was done.
He gave her a blank and she filled in the areas that she thought were correct and gave it back.
He took her sheet and put it over the original; they matched.
“Holy crap! That's righteous! I want a class with you...in fact, we can be study partners.”
She looked at Jonesy like he was a bug and said, “Not a chance, Jonesy. You'll have to muddle along on your own.”
“You'll regret that, ya know. You wait, I'm gonna have cool skills and you're gonna need me.”
“Going to,” Mom corrected compulsively.
Brother.
“Time to go!” I said, before my parents started corralling all my friends into some kind of wacko, show-and-tell paranormal fest with Nazi-word fetish undertones. No.
The girls carefully opened Bry's heap o'metal and Mia's sporty little Smart Car. Between the two cars, we heaved all the food in the back.
Jade said, “Maybe I should hold the cake?” It was a triple-decker with lavender flowers on the top.
“Nah, it'll be okay,” I said as she rolled her lower lip into her teeth.
“I'll take it!” Jonesy said.
“No!” Jade and I leaped forward at the same time.
Jonesy looked hurt. “No offense, dude, but you're not known for being careful,” Alex said, walking up with Sophie.
Jonesy's expression darkened. “Ya know, if you weren't so necessary, I'd have to rethink your group status. Especially with your pervness.”
Alex grinned, he was catching on to Jonesy.
“While all this clever repartee is stimulating, I think I've digested one of my own organs and want to get to the hide-a-way so we can gorge,” John said logically.
“You know, you've got a real fixation with food, Terran,” Tiff said.
“Look at him!” Jonesy said.
We did, he was running about one hundred fifty pounds and six foot something.
“I'm manly in my own way,” John said, crossing his windshield wipers across his body.
“You'll do, Terran,” Tiff said, winking. I liked her more, letting John keep his manhood intact. Now, if we could get the hell outta here before Jonesy said something.
Mia tried to get a big box of stuff into her car. It looked like it should wind up; it was that small. However, it ran one hundred miles to the gallon. She probably filled it up once every two months.
Bry rushed over there to help her with the box. All the guys smiled and Tiff frowned. I guess their friendship would change if those two dated.
We started toward the dump, rolling up to the outside gate and parked. John got out of the car and jogged over to open the massive padlock. It clanged open, falling against the metal pole.
CHAPTER 27
We lay in a scattered pile, bellies distended, languid after the birthday banquet.
“Wow,” Jade said, laying her arm across her stomach.
“Yeah,” I agreed, groaning as I sat up.
“You'd be okay, ya walrus, if you hadn't had ten pieces of chicken,” Jonesy said.
I cocked an eyebrow. “And what did you have?”
Jonesy rolled his eyes skyward. “Seven or eight.
”
Sophie narrowed her eyes on him.
“Maybe nine,” he corrected. Then he said, “I think you had what? Three or four yourself, sweet thing.”
“Girl's gotta keep up her strength,” she said.
“Yeah, I don't know if you look strong but you look healthy!” Jonesy said with admiration.
“You don't think I look fat?” Sophie asked and every guy in the room stopped breathing.
The F word. Cripes. Uttered by A Girl.
It was a total trap any way you answered. We watched Jonesy maneuver the word bomb. He had so much finesse. Geez.
“Nah, you've got the full booty thing goin' on and I like that.”
Huh, clever.
Sophie gave him a radiant smile.
That was close.
“You know what you need here,” Bry said.
We all looked at him, a nap maybe?
“A fridge.”
“Yeah! You're right. No more lame-ass coolers,” Jonesy said.
“Logistics guys,” John said and Alex nodded.
“Yeah, where are you guys going to get the electricity?” Mia said.
“Do you think there's some still here we can like, siphon?” Tiff asked the room.
Jade looked around and said, “What about one of those long extension cords? If there's a working plug, maybe we can snake it back to here.” She spread her arms, indicating the center of the dirt floor filled with upside down milk crates, “and plug it into a mini.”
“I gotcha,” Mia said. “My older brother has one of those in his dorm room at college.”
“A fridge?” I asked, trying to get a visual.
She nodded. “It's super-small, just enough to hold some drinks.”
“Perfect,” Bry said.
“Wait a sec, does anyone have an extension cord up their ass for this fun little idea?” Jonesy asked.
Nobody did.
Sophie stood. “Let's check out the dump, people throw away perfectly good stuff all the time.”
We trooped out there, a little slow with all the food and pops sloshing around. John swung the fridge door open and the sun hit our faces. Slanting low now, nighttime was moving in, the last of the day's polish receding from the sky.
The Death Series, Books 1-3: Death Whispers, Death Speaks and Death Inception (The Death Series, Volume 1) Page 63