Right at ten thirty, Owen handed his cue stick over to Bastian, signaling the time of proof.
“I’ve gotta take off,” He said, pulling on his jacket.
“Do you want a ride? It’s kinda cold out.” Bianca asked.
“No, it’s not that far.”
“Well, text me when you get there so I know you got home safe.”
Bastian and I watched the exchange and then looked at each other. I struggled to contain the laugh threatening to erupt. Apparently I wasn’t the only one noticing changes in their friendship.
Owen left and as he waved over his shoulder, I reached out and slapped Bastian on the arm. I gestured to the table behind him. He looked over just in time to see the blond guy take his shot, striking the cue ball hard enough it bounced off the edge and sailed through the air until it hit his friend in the faux leather jacket.
Had it been enough to convince Bastian? Did I care if he was convinced? I’d become so wrapped up in trying to prove my ability I hadn’t even questioned why I was doing it. Even with Andrew, I’d never gone through the effort.
I tried to gauge his reaction, but his response was impossible to read.
“You’re totally freaking out inside, aren’t you?” Bianca asked him.
“I don’t freak out. I’m intrigued. However, I’d need to conduct further experiments in order to solidify my supposition that this is in fact an authentic supernatural phenomenon and not simply an…”
“Elaborate hoax,” I finished for him. “Forget it. I’m no guinea pig.”
“I personally believe using lab rats is more appropriate during experimentation.” He held up his hand when I shot him a dirty look. “I understand your aversion to continued testing, so I’ll settle for observational data collection.”
“Wonderful,” I said.
“I know, now I’ll have a reason to follow you around.” He gave a smile so over the top evil I couldn't help but laugh.
“Great,” Bianca said. “That means you’ll be going to Nadine’s New Year’s party.”
“Another party? Haven’t I filled my quota for the month?” he asked, his glee fading fast.
“You should totally go. Her parties are always the best. Even Owen is still planning to go and that has the potential to be completely awkward.”
I considered checking to see if he was supposed to be there, then I realized it didn’t matter.
“She’s right. You should go. Everyone goes. Besides how often do you get to dress up like you’re heading to a jazz club?”
Whether I saw a future with Bastian at the party or not, he had a choice and so did I.
Chapter 16
Each year as we stood at the foot of my mom’s grave, we held an awkward silence framed by the stage of acceptance we were in of her absence and in the struggles we experienced without her. That Phoebe was here after three years only deepened the sense of strangeness.
Dad stood beside me and I watched him from the corner of my eye. He simply stared at her headstone, his lips twitching occasionally. Once, I asked him what he thought of when he came to visit her and he told me he remembered all the corny jokes she used to tell. It didn’t match the idea I had of her in my mind. I always thought she’d be a little more serious, more like me than Phoebe.
Lily sat cross-legged on the grass next to him. Beside her, Phoebe knelt with her hands pressed to her knees.
I wondered if they felt the same way coming to see her as I did. It was a tradition. That was all. I loved the idea of my mother. I loved her for giving birth to us and loving us enough that regardless of the death she saw coming, she had us anyway. But I didn’t know her. I never would, so despite the peaceful quiet of the cemetery, I only held a vague sadness within me as I gazed at her resting place.
Lily moved first which didn’t surprise me. Of all of us, she came here the most often. She laid a hand on Phoebe’s shoulder, such a fleeting touch I would have missed it if I’d blinked. Instantly, Phoebe’s entire body relaxed. Then Lily turned and walked down the path. I waited a few seconds before following her.
She made her way to an area where the graves were newer, the ground not yet sunken flat with time. Eventually she came to a stop and I stepped up beside her.
Dylan’s funeral had been only nine months ago, but it seemed like so much longer. I was surprised by how quickly he was fading from my thoughts.
“It’s okay,” Lily said softly and I wasn’t sure if she spoke to herself or me. “Do you know this is the first time I’ve come here?”
I shook my head, my throat too tight to speak. She sighed and slipped her hand into mine.
“I thought it would hurt,” she said. “And it does, but not the way I thought it would. I hurt for the boy I knew. He was dealing with so many things I never even knew about. A part of me is sad for the old me, too. The one who loved him and couldn’t imagine her life without him.”
I had experienced a similar feeling for only a brief moment in time. From the night of Javier’s party to the next day when I woke up and checked my future, I’d dreamed of a life with Andrew. The disappointment I’d felt was nothing compared to what Lily went through when Dylan died.
“Do you still think about him?” I asked. Would I still think of Andrew years down the road when I’d moved on?
“It would be impossible not to, but it’s getting easier.”
“How?”
“Being with Micah helps. It’s hard to be sad when he makes me so happy. When that doesn’t work, he lets me be sad.”
“I’m not going to be with Andrew.” I expected her to say something, but she stayed quiet. “I thought when I changed things it would make a difference.”
“We’re in high school, Chloe. The majority of people don’t meet the love of their life when they’re still teenagers.”
I wanted to say that she and Micah had, but then I remembered the visions I’d seen where Micah was gone, where Lily was alone again.
“I do love him,” I said.
“Sometimes love isn’t enough. People change. Love changes.”
“Do you think Mom and Dad would still be together if she hadn’t died?”
“I think he still loves her, or at least the memory of her. It’s been enough for him all these years.”
“He’s dating again.”
“Then I guess I’d ask you if she’s a keeper?”
“Not this one. Not yet.” Dad’s keeper wouldn’t come for a few more years. This one would only last a couple months.
She squeezed my hand and smiled. “Come on, let’s go back. I’m sure Phoebe and Dad are ready to go. I promised them both I’d help wrap Christmas presents if they brought them to me by tonight.”
“You really think they’re done shopping?” I asked.
“Nope,” she said, laughing. “That’s exactly what they’ll do once they drop us off.”
We went back to the car, where Dad and Phoebe were waiting and sure enough, they dropped us at home before hitting the mall. Lily and I turned on a Christmas movie and stuffed ourselves with popcorn right up until Nanna arrived.
Christmas was always a busy time at our place. Nanna stayed with us during the break, a tradition established when we needed adult supervision while Dad worked. I personally thought Phoebe still needed babysitting. Uncle Silas and Aunt Lena brought their girls the day after Christmas and they spent a week with us while my aunt and uncle went on a cruise.
This New Year’s Eve, Dad and his new lady friend drove into San Diego for some company party, while Lily decided to spend the day with Micah and Hannah. That left Phoebe and me alone to deal with the twins while Nanna made dinner.
“Chloe, Chloe, Chloe.” The chanting from Ella and Emma was driving me crazy. I’d left them with Phoebe in the den watching a Disney movie, yet only minutes later they’d invaded my room. As much as I loved them, I needed some quiet time before Nadine’s party.
“Shouldn’t you girls be taking care of Phoebe?” I asked, watching them roll around on my
bed. “You know how she needs extra help because she’s special.”
“Fee-Fee! Fee-Fee!” Despite switching to yelling their nickname for Phoebe, they didn’t make any move to go find her.
I winced at the high-pitched yells. “Why aren’t you watching your movie?”
Ella giggled. “Fee-Fee told us she’ll sneak us some cookies if we stayed here until bedtime.”
“Oh, she did, did she?” It definitely sounded like a plan Phoebe would come up with. “What if I told you, Nanna will catch her sneaking cookies and send you to bed early?”
The girls groaned and their rolling and bouncing came to a peaceful end.
“Liar, liar pants on fire,” Phoebe said from the doorway. She held up two fists full of cookies. The screams started again as she passed off her stolen loot. “You have to eat them in the den.”
Ella and Emma scurried off as both Phoebe and I sighed in relief at the silence that followed.
“And you thought I was siccing them on you. Shame on you.” She shook her head in mock disappointment.
“I’m sure the thought crossed your mind.”
“It did, but since it’s the start of a new year, I decided to turn over a new leaf.”
We snorted at the same time. She wandered over to my closet and began searching for the blue top she planned to borrow. I considered telling her it was hanging on the back of my door, but decided if she really wanted to “borrow” it, she’d eventually ask.
“I can’t believe you’re still dating Andrew,” she said, glancing at me over her shoulder.
“Why?”
That had her spinning around, hands on her hips. “He was going to cheat on you. With your best friend. Your best friend.”
“But he didn’t and that’s what matters.”
“No. What matters is what kind of a person he is. The only reason he didn’t cheat is because you took away the opportunity. He might not have cheated then, but he probably will in the future.”
“You don’t know that.”
“No, but you could. Have you looked?” Her eyes narrowed. “You haven’t, have you?”
“I haven’t seen any future where he cheats on me.” I selected the words very carefully, knowing the wrong ones would only end with her calling me out as a liar.
The truth was, I had looked into his future, or at least I tried. But everything was becoming so messed up in my visions I could barely keep track of what was happening. What I did see had so little clarity I couldn’t make out enough details for it to be useful.
“Fine, you forgive him, but I know you’re pissed at Nadine. You’ve been sulking around the house instead of hanging with her. How do you let Andrew get away with it, but not Nadine?”
“Because she’s supposed to be my best friend.”
“Yeah, and he’s supposed to be your boyfriend.” She gave up on the closet and started digging through my dresser drawers.
“You don’t get it,” I said.
“You’re right I don’t.”
“You don’t need to get it. It’s my life and if you don’t mind, I’d rather not talk about the past future that never happened.”
“Fine.” She slammed shut the last drawer and glared at me. “So, are you going to tell me where it is? Or do I need to beg?”
“It’s hanging on the back of the door.”
She swung the door shut and pulled the shirt from the hanger. “Thanks. You should probably just donate this to my closet since I plan to wear it more than you do.”
I smiled against a sudden rush of sadness. The feeling propelled me to my feet. I wrapped my arms around her, squeezing her tight. Her future pressed against me, but I refused to slip inside.
She gave me a weird look as I let her go, but whatever she was going to say was interrupted by Nanna’s call that dinner was ready.
“You can have it,” I said.
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. Seriously.”
The meal was complete chaos. Ella and Emma were buzzing with all of the sugar Phoebe had been giving them when Nanna wasn’t looking.
I had dish duty, so once I finished eating, I cleared the table, carrying a few loads of plates into the kitchen. Nanna came in with the last of the dirty dishes. I took them from her, ignoring the probing look she gave me, and scraped the leftovers into the trash.
She settled into a chair at the table and watched as I loaded the dishwasher. She would help if I asked, but I didn’t.
“You’ve been so quiet, dear.” Her eyes bore holes in my back. “If you don’t start speaking up, I’ll think you’ve become Lily.”
I just smiled at her, not wanting to dwell on the brutal truth that my visions no longer held the future as I had always thought.
“I always thought Lily was a nice in contrast to Phoebe,” I said.
“Except Lily’s quiet was because she was hiding so much. You’ve never been one to hide things, especially from me.”
“I’m not hiding anything.” Avoiding maybe, but not hiding.
“As you seem to have taken a vow of silence, I’ll begin. You stopped something from happening, an event that you saw as defining your life. And now…?”
“Now nothing is the same.” I finally sat across from her. “At first, I thought it was just little things, like Nadine’s party happening, but the closer it gets, the more everything becomes unclear. Or at least some things become unclear.”
“How?”
I picked at the lace tablecloth, trying to put the visions into words. “They’re foggy and the details I’m used to seeing aren’t there. Most of them though have layers. Sometimes two or three layers, other times there are so many I can’t keep track of them.”
Nanna rested her hand over mine. “You know where I stand on your ability, dear. I never thought that you only saw the future. We all have choices, Chloe. We always have.”
“If that’s true then why did everything I saw happen for years? Years, Nanna.”
“Perhaps you weren’t ready to see them. You need to trust in the gift you’ve been given, so when it changed you’d realize how real each of those possible futures were.”
“Well, if that was the plan, it’s pretty much having the opposite effect.”
“What about those which don’t have these layers? Have they remained the same?”
“For them there’s nothing. Just a void.”
An explanation wasn’t necessary with Nanna. She’d dealt with the visions my cousins had for years before I ever mentioned one to her.
“And this scares you,” she said.
“Of course it does. It’s so many of them. My friends. Phoebe.” My head dropped into my hands.
A void could mean only two things. A mental block, similar to the one Micah could put up. Or death.
Chapter 17
Music poured from the open doorway, and I laughed as Andrew bowed low and motioned me through.
Nadine’s plans for a roaring twenties party came through and the entire place was filled with girls in flapper dresses and guys in suits. Well, not entirely full. A few too-cool-for-you couples came in regular clothes.
Andrew and I resisted her pleas to dress up as long as possible, but when I saw the pale pink and gold dress Phoebe bought, I gave in. I ended up ordering a loose fitting sleeveless dress with layers of creamy pink mesh over a white lining and silver circles sewn freely around the hem. The only part I wasn’t too fond of was the bow attached to the halter neckline, but after tonight, I could remove it and the dress would be perfect for a non-costume party.
Andrew had wondered why I didn’t want to go, especially since it was Nadine’s. I told him I thought costume parties were silly and only for Halloween. I knew the real reason though, and I wasn’t exactly willing to share it with him.
Part of me had doubted the party would even happen, and the other part didn’t want to be there if it did. Even though Sebastian stopped them from hooking up, I’d seen it. Every changing minute of it as the details of their encounter gre
w clearer and Nadine’s pursuit of Andrew became a manipulative and selfish choice she set out to make.
Phoebe made it seem completely irrational that I would forgive Andrew but not Nadine for something that never happened. She didn’t understand. When I first had the vision of them together, it had been brief, barely formed, seeming to happen simply because of chance. Yet the more I worked to change things, the more details that filled in.
Andrew’s reluctance and his hesitation in those visions showed me how wrong I’d been to jump to conclusions about the circumstances of the future. Nadine was a different story.
The Nadine I was friends with was sweet. She cared about others, would never hurt a fly, and was always there for a friend. She wasn’t perfect and she definitely had moments where she could be a bit bitchy, yet you could tell she felt bad afterward. Now I knew that deep down, she was willing to throw our friendship away so she could make a move on Andrew.
I’d never trust her completely again.
“Earth to Chloe,” Andrew said, bumping me with his shoulder.
“Sorry, just deep in thought.”
“No deep thoughts tonight. You’ve been on a mission the past few weeks to be as serious as possible. Tonight should be about fun and making resolutions we’re not going to keep and looking forward to the new year and what it will bring.”
If only he knew.
“Alright, but only if you promise to keep the dorky dancing to a minimum.”
His hand clutched over his heart. “Are you suggesting I pretend I’m not the most awesome dancer in the room? Are you challenging me to demonstrate the awesomeness of these feet and hips?”
“No!” I laughed and tried to pull back on his hold on my hand.
He dragged me into the mob of people moving to the music. Within seconds, he managed to maneuver them into a circle where he took center stage as they cheered him on. Thankfully, he moved to the edge and fist bumped Travis who then took his turn in the circle. Travis, however, was nowhere near as entertaining in his dance moves as Andrew and the group closed in on him, ending the horribly clichéd custom.
Watch Me: Teen Paranormal Romance (A Touched Trilogy Book 3) Page 14