Wickford High 1 - The Revelation

by Karen Fuller

  Ryan nodded. “What time are you going to have Vicky home?”

  “I thought we’d eat first, and then I’m going to take her to the department store for a school uniform. It closes at nine. I should have her home before ten.”

  Ryan gave them both a stern look. “You be sure that you do.” He looked into Vicky’s eyes.

  “Behave yourself, young lady.”

  She flushed. “Dad . . . I always behave myself.”

  “Just see that you do.” Ryan went back to his paperwork. “Not a minute after ten.”

  They turned to leave the room. “Bye, Dad.”

  “Bye, Pumpkin.”

  “Dad . . .”

  “Sorry.”

  Luke laughed. “Your dad calls you ‘Pumpkin’?”

  She punched him playfully in the arm. “Yeah, don’t rub it in.”

  “I think it’s cute.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Let’s go before I change my mind.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Luke put the truck in park and cut the engine. He grinned. “We’re here,” he said softly. She grinned back and reached for the door handle. “No, let me do that.”

  She pulled her hand away and grinned. “Okay, you can open the door.” He raced around the truck and opened the door. She climbed out. “Thank you,” she said sweetly.

  The grin seemed to be stuck on his face. “You’re welcome.” His eyes sparkled mischievously. “There’s something that I’ve wanted to do all day.”

  She smiled and turned her face up to his. “Oh yeah, what’s that?”

  “This,” he said and brought his warm lips to hers in a leisurely kiss. Her heart raced frantically, and she inched her arms up around his neck, pulled closer to him, and returned the kiss ardently. The warm, soft, pressure of his lips on hers sent a warm, tingly sensation through her body. He nudged her lips apart, caressed his tongue with hers, and she moaned in response.

  Her legs suddenly felt like jelly, and she broke the kiss and looked into his eyes. “Wow,”

  she said breathlessly.

  He grinned. “That’s what I thought.” He draped his arm over her shoulders and she grinned up at him. “We had better go eat dinner before I get in trouble with your dad.”

  She rolled her eyes. “It wouldn’t have gone that far.”

  He shrugged. “I’m just saying . . .” She laughed and elbowed him in the ribs. “Hey, cut it out.”

  She smiled and tried to look innocent. “What?”

  He laughed and opened the door to the steak house and ushered her inside.

  The hostess greeted them with a big smile. She was a pretty, tall, slender blond. “Will there be just two tonight, Luke?”

  He laughed and looked around. “Yeah, Grace. It’s just the two of us.”

  She grinned. “Follow me then.” She led them to a corner booth.

  Vicky looked up at him and whispered, “Do you know her?”

  He shrugged and tried to play off innocence. “I know everybody in this town.”

  They sat down, the hostess handed them the menus, and Luke handed his right back. He glanced over at Vicky. “Can I order for you?”

  She grinned and bit her bottom lip flirtatiously. “Can I stop you if you start to order something that I don’t like?”

  He grinned. “Sure.”

  She giggled. “Then you may order for me.”

  He winked at Vicky and looked up at the hostess. “Have the waitress bring us a couple of steaks, medium rare, with tossed salads and house dressing. Oh, also bring us a couple of glasses of iced tea.” He glanced at Vicky and she nodded her approval.

  She grinned. “Not a bad guess for a guy I just met this morning.”

  He sat back in the booth and his eyes gleamed mischievously. “I’m very intuitive. I can read people very well.”

  She couldn’t hide her surprise. She inclined her head. “Is that something you just learned how to do?”

  He looked away and laughed self-consciously. “No, I’ve always been able to sense things.”

  She nodded and caught his eyes again. “I guess that makes you kind of special,” she said softly.

  He looked away self-consciously. “What it makes me is a freak.”

  She placed her hand over his on top of the table, and he looked back at her. “Luke, listen to me. You are not a freak. I have seen some freaky things in my day, and you don’t even rank close to the term freak. Tell me why you think you’re a freak.”

  He looked away again. “You heard it for yourself this morning. The snide comments Sara made about me.”

  She squeezed his hand. “Don’t get me started on Sara.” She shook her head and blew out a breath. “I promised myself that I would be nice. I can’t even think about her and be nice, so let’s talk about something else please.” She sighed dramatically. “Luke, her comments don’t count.”

  She smiled. “I think you’re great, and my opinion trumps hers.”

  The waitress brought the iced tea and salad and placed it on the table before them. Luke smiled at her. “Thanks, Jenny.”

  “You got it, Luke.” She looked between them. “Is there anything else you need before the dinner arrives?”

  Luke glanced at Vicky and she shrugged. “No, Jenny, this is great. Thanks.”

  She grinned. “Okay, I’ll be back in a few minutes with the steaks.”

  Vicky sat back in the booth and stared at Luke. Luke smiled self-consciously. “What?”

  She raised an eyebrow and gave him a calculating look. “You seem to know all these people very well.”

  He shrugged and laughed lightly. “Oh that. This is my family’s restaurant. I work here too.”

  Her eyes grew wide, and her mouth dropped open in surprise. “I thought my dad said that your family owned a diner.”

  He cocked his head to the side and lifted a single shoulder in a shrug. “You and your dad are from a large city and are used to large restaurants. To your dad, this place must seem like a small diner.” He smiled and shook his head. “I just let it go. It’s just a small misuse of terminology. It’s no big deal.”

  She looked around at the place and laughed. “I like this place. It’s nice.” She picked up her fork and took a bite of the salad, and nodded. “The food’s good, too.”

  He grinned. “How would you know that? All you’ve tasted so far is rabbit food.”

  She rolled her eyes and took another bite of salad. She closed her eyes and smiled in mock ecstasy. She laughed again. “Okay, okay, I’ll reserve my opinion for the steak.”

  He laughed. “You’re a nut.” His eyes sparkled and he cocked his head to the side. “You are one beautiful nut, but still a nut none the less.”

  They were laughing at his joke when Jenny brought the steaks. She set the plates before them. “Would either of you care for anything else?” She looked between them. “Do you need any ketchup, steak sauce, anything?”

  “No, we’re doing fine here, Jenny, thanks.”

  Jenny smiled. “I can see that, Luke, and I’m happy to see it.” She smiled at Vicky. “I haven’t seen our Luke this happy in a long time.”

  “Jenny . . .”

  Vicky laughed at Luke’s reaction. “Thanks, Jenny. I enjoy his company.”

  Jenny gave her a toothy grin. “Good. I like seeing my little brother happy.”

  Vicky’s eyes grew wide in surprise. “He’s your little brother?”

  Jenny laughed. “He didn’t tell you.”

  “Jenny . . .”

  She laughed. “I’m going, Luke. Calm down. It was nice to meet you, Vicky.”

  “Same here,” Vicky said. She looked over at Luke and her eyes sparkled. “Why didn’t you tell me that Jenny was your sister?”

  He rolled his eyes. “I didn’t tell you because I wanted to avoid this line of questioning.

  Besides, I told you that my family owns this place.”

  “Yes, you did. I just never thought to put two and two together.” She shrugged. “She’s pretty.�
�

  Jenny was clear across the restaurant, but he could hear her chuckle softly. “I’m sure she’ll be happy to know that you think so.” He huffed out a breath. “Eat your steak before it gets cold.”

  Vicky giggled at his embarrassment. “I don’t mind if I do.” She cut into the steak and took a bite. She smiled. “Now, I’m going to tell you that the food is good.”

  He laughed and cut into his steak as well.

  

  She swallowed the last bite of steak and sighed. “Luke, I’ve never had a steak that tasted that good.”

  He smiled. “You’re just saying that because my family owns this place.”

  She shook her head and laughed. “No seriously, I don’t joke about good food. We’ll have to come back here.”

  His eyes sparkled, and he gave her a toothy grin. “You’re telling me that you want to go out with me again?”

  She flushed when she realized that she had just invited herself out on another date with him.

  She bit her bottom lip and grinned. “Sure, I like the company.”

  He grinned at her blush, and he reached across the table and placed his hand over hers. “I like the company, too.” He let go of her hand and set back in the booth, and his mood became serious. He shifted nervously on the bench. “I want to ask you something.”

  She noticed his change in manner and it tweaked her curiosity. She cocked her head to the side and sighed. “What is it that you want to know?”

  He toyed with the silverware to avoid her eyes. “I have never known anyone to move here by pure chance.” He looked up and into her eyes. “What happened in Fort Lauderdale?”

  She looked away and started fidgeting with her napkin. “I’m not supposed to talk about it.”

  He placed his hand over hers to stop her nervous fidget. She stared at their hands. “Vicky, this small town isn’t what it seems.” She put the napkin down and looked into his eyes. “There are a lot of strange things that go on behind the scenes.” He blew out a breath. “I’m just trying to decide just where you fit into all of this.”

  She shifted nervously in her seat. The memory of her father’s confession was fresh on her mind. She felt a compelling need to tell him what he wanted to know, but she didn’t know if she really should. “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, Luke. I like you. I really do.” She looked away again. “If the rumors started here too, my dad would pack us up and move again.”

  He reached across the table again and placed his hand over hers and squeezed it. “I won’t tell a soul,” he whispered.

  She tried to blink back the tears and decided to tell him. “A group of . . . concerned citizens .

  . . tied my mother to a stake . . . and burned her alive,” she said bitterly. She looked back into his eyes. “My dad packed us up in the middle of the night and brought us here.”

  He sighed heavily. “So, she was a witch,” he said solemnly, he wasn’t asking. “If she was a witch, you must be too for your dad to whisk you away like that.”

  Her heart raced, and she swallowed hard. “Now you know.” She looked away. “I don’t suppose you want anything more to do with me now.”

  He put his finger under her chin and made her look at him. “Don’t be silly. You fit right in this God forsaken town more than you know.” He sat back.

  Her bottom lip quivered. “Are you telling me that you’re a witch, too?”

  He smiled and shook his head. “No, I have my own peculiarities that I’m sure you’ll discover soon.”

  She smiled grimly. “I’ve noticed a couple.” He lifted an eyebrow and waited for her to continue. “You know a couple of peculiarities in you.”

  He smiled. “Such as . . .”

  She grinned. “You seem to have a talent for just appearing and disappearing from seemingly nowhere.” She shook her head. “Take this afternoon. I turned around to tell you good bye, and you were just gone.” She shrugged. “I couldn’t find you anywhere.” He smiled and shrugged.

  “What I did find was a dark wolf staring at me from the edge of the woods.” She shivered and he turned white. “Are there many wolves around here?”

  He looked away. “There are a few. Don’t worry about them. They don’t usually bother anybody.” She gave him a strange look for his last statement. He smiled. “I guess this also explains why you refused to listen to my warning about Sara.”

  She looked away. “Luke . . . Sara is a witch. She um . . . she yanked me into the bathroom after lunch.” She rubbed the knot on the back of her head. “She tried to scare me.”

  His eyes flashed with anger. “Did she hurt you?” he growled.

  She shrugged. “I have a lump on the back of my head, but I’m okay.”

  “I’m going to make her pay for that one,” he growled.

  She shook her head and looked away with guilt. “Luke, that won’t be necessary.”

  “She can’t be allowed to run all over you and get away with it,” he said through clenched teeth.

  She shrugged again. “She, uh, didn’t exactly get away with it.”

  He drew his eyebrows together in a frown. “What do you mean?”

  She shook her head with guilt, her eyes still refused to meet his. “Luke, I really don’t want to tell you.”

  He squeezed her hand. “I don’t understand, why not?” he said gently.

  She shrugged. “I don’t want you to think I’m a freak either.” She shook her head. “Sara made me angry, and I don’t like what my temper does to me.”

  He grinned. “What did you do to her? Did you punch her or scratch her?” She shook her head guiltily. “Oh, come on, Vicky, whatever you did to her, she deserved it. She has been terrorizing that place for far too long.”

  Her eyes met his. “I used my magic against her.”

  He quickly looked down at the table. “Oh, I see,” he said in a clipped tone.

  Vicky looked up in the air. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You used black magic against black magic. I get it.”

  She rolled her eyes and huffed out a frustrated breath. “No, Luke. I don’t think you do get it.

  I don’t practice black magic.” His eyes met hers. He wanted so badly to believe her. “Luke, Sara is a vindictive, self-made witch. She practices black magic, and I believe she enjoys torturing innocent people. I was born a witch.” She shook her head. “I don’t have to mix potions or chant to make things happen. It all comes very naturally to me. Just like breathing is to you. I can control the elements with just a thought. I can literally make things happen with no conscious effort on my part.” She looked away again. “Sara purposefully provoked me and made me angry.

  Somehow, she already knew that I was a witch. I guess she wanted to test to see who was more powerful. So, instead of just approaching me and getting to know me, like most people would, she did what she does best. She got in my face and forced my hand. She started talking bad about my mother, who by the way is a sore subject with me, and I used my magic to purposefully frighten her. I threatened her and told her to leave everyone alone, or I would come after her and make her pay.” She looked down at her hands with a great measure of guilt. “I’m not proud of what I did. You see, my momma taught me that magic was a gift, and with that gift came certain responsibilities. She had warned me to never use my powers maliciously against other weaker people. In the past, I have always been the ‘champion’ of the underdog. I prefer to help people, rather than hurt them. Sara brought out the monster in me that resides in my darkest subconscious. I would prefer that that beast, better known as my temper, remain chained and locked away. I’m sorry, Luke, if you don’t approve of me, and if you never want to date me again, I understand.”

  He placed his hand compassionately on top of hers, and she raised her eyes to his. “I’m sorry that I copped an attitude and judged you prematurely. In my heart I didn’t want to believe that you were like Sara. The only witches that I’ve been around have been the black magic kind, and I wa
s praying with every fiber of my being that you weren’t like that, because I genuinely like you. I am usually a pretty good judge of character, and I could sense the compassion in you. It’s just that you took me off guard when you said you used your magic against someone. You are nothing like Sara. I can see that. Please don’t be angry with me.” He grinned at her trying to lift her spirits. “In case you’re interested, I do want to continue dating you.” She grinned back at him. “Okay, I’m through with the judging. Tell me exactly what you did to Sara. I, for one, would have loved to see her get what’s coming to her.”

  Vicky flushed and gave him a shy guilty smile. “I’m afraid that the maintenance department at Wickford High might not be too happy with me right now.” He smiled for encouragement and lifted an eyebrow and waited patiently for her to continue. “I . . . uh . . . started popping the light bulbs in the bathroom one by one for intimidation. I had Sara backed into a corner and I made the earth tremble beneath her feet and caused the metal in the bathroom stalls to shake around her.” She shrugged. “That’s about it. I didn’t harm her. I just demonstrated what I could do so that she would leave me and everyone else alone.”

  He grinned. “Show off,” he teased.

  She grinned flirtatiously. “I’m not a show off.”

  His eyes sparkled and he smiled at her tenderly. “No, you’re not. I just enjoy picking on you, but alas, it’s getting late.” He folded his napkin and put it on the table. “Come on. You need to get to the department store before they close.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Ugh, I had almost forgotten that I still had to buy that horrid uniform.

  I’ve been having such a good time with you that I guess I blocked out the trip to the department store. It just means that our date will soon be coming to an end.”

  She slid out of the booth, grabbed her purse, and stood up. He put his arm around her and steered her toward the front door. They stopped by the passenger door of his truck. He was still grinning at her comment inside. “I don’t want this evening to come to an end either, but I promise you, there will be other dates . . . often.”

  She laughed. “You’re assuming that I’ll go back out with you,” she teased.