Shattered Echo (The Shattered Echo Series Book 1)

by McKenzie Stark

  They lean in slowly, his hand brushing a strand of hair behind her ear and her hand falling upon his rock-hard arm. Just as their lips were inches from meeting, before he could savor her taste and her smooth lips, they were pulled apart by a nerve-wracking sound.

  Sirens. . .

  The sound blares, blue and red lights flashing, and people start to run, tripping over their feet and rushing to their cars. Shit, she thinks. She can’t get caught, if her father finds out… no can't think about that right now. Focus on getting out of here. She runs toward the hill climbing it at massive speed, turning around she watches as many teenagers are forced to the sandy floor with their arms held behind their backs.

  When she reaches the patchy sand, Ari’s BMW is missing and there is no sign of her, only the tracks of tires peeling out in a hurry. How dare she leave her here? Sam trusted her, let her take her beyond her boundaries and she just bounces just like that, not giving a damn about her.

  What was she thinking? She should have stayed in tonight, should have stuffed her nose in some text books and never let her guard down but for once she decided to let herself live a little and now, she couldn’t regret it more than she does now.

  Look where it left her.

  “Hey, you!” A woman yells, and Sam goes rigid.

  A woman in uniform trails up the hill, her hand placed firmly on her guns hatch, “Put your hands where I can see them!”

  “Officer, I am just trying to get home safely.”

  “I said put your hands where I can see them; do not make me tell you again!”

  Sam obeys, throwing her hands up in front of her; sweat forms on her brow and she throws quick glances around. THINK! She yells at herself, I need to get out of this. The Officer approaches, her steps steady. Her blond hair was turned up in a small ponytail, her sharp jaw line and dark complexion gave her the sense of honor.

  Just inches away the Officer speaks, “Turn around and place your hands behind your back for me.”

  Swallowing, Sam goes to obey and turns on her heels.

  The sound of tires squealing as dirt gets tossed, a black and red Mustang peels out next to her, the door flies open and Jake sits behind the wheel.

  “Hurry!”

  She jumps in trying not to stummble over her weak feet, the officer’s fingers grazing her arm as she slams the door; they peel off down the street leaving her in a grain of salt. At that moment, the thrill of being caught had poor Sam begging for more. She wants this; she wanted to feel that adventure, that danger.

  They zoom down the long narrow rode, cars going by and she stares outside her window, slowly sobering up – not that getting chased down by a police offer didn't sober her up enough – it scared the hell out of her.

  Jake says confidently, “You so wanted to kiss me.”

  Turning her glare on him, “Me, kiss you? Yeah right.”

  “Don't be so shielded, you can admit it, I don't bite...hard,” He winks at her from across the seat, turning his gaze back onto the road.

  She groans, “Can you be any more rediculous?”

  Just when she starts thinking that there could possibly be something there between them, that she could stand him and possibly even grow to care for him, he goes and turns into the man that she don't like, that she steer clear of – although, she will admit – his confirmation of the matter has her cheeks a scarlet red and even as she hides her face from him – she can still feel it there.

  “Maybe, but you like it,” He replies, turning onto her street and curzing down her street, “You just won’t admit it yet.”

  Sam refused to response. Truth is, he's right. She's spent all of high school drooling over this guy. She wanted to be the one that he looked at, the one that he wanted but somwhere along the way of hoping and wishing, she began to get annoyed with him – irriated with how he could treat some people or how he could lead someone one – especially with how much of a player he has become since Junior yeat, but even when she is trying so hard to hate him somewhere inside she still feels that pang of butterflies, that ounce of jealously and when she is around him she seems to not be able to take her eyes off him.

  She doesn't even know it yet, but the poor boy has got her wrapped around his finger.

  The fear doesn’t set in until they pull up outside her brown brick house with the white picket fence in the front with flowers lining the windows. The despair and heaviness sets in deep within and a clutching thirst to stray from what lies behind that white door hits her hard. She swallows and takes a deep breath.

  Jake turns the engine off and awkward silence sets in. She can’t get her body to move, locked in place. she sweeps her eyes everywhere but there, as if reading her mind, he speaks in a soft voice.

  “Whatever is in there can’t win. You’re too strong and once you realize this; no demon is going to overpower you.”

  Why is it even when she wants to hate him, he finds ways to make her feelings of hate waver?

  Sam fixes her eyes on his hands wrapped around the steering wheel and wills them to place the car in drive and take her somewhere, anywhere but here…If he could believe in her then she needs to believe in herself. She can do this. There is a light touch on her arm making her turn back. His eyes inches from her own and she could feel his breath fall over her while she holds hers.

  She wanted more; she wanted to touch him; to feel his warmth once more - to kiss him, her heart is in her throat and she can’t seem to form a single word. He leans further in, placing his lips upon her ear. “Have a good night, love.”

  Fuck, what is he doing to me? She shouts inside. The devilish eyes and cocky wink he now gives her lets her know that he knows exactly what he is doing to her and she loves every minute of it.

  Climbing out, she proceeds to the front door – leaving the night behind her and once again reserving herself behind that thick sky-high wall she has learnt to build around her heart.

  Chapter Five

  5:45 A M

  She stands; her feet firmly nestled in the soft wet sand, the water reaching her mid-legs having skipped School entirely. Her hair hangs loose around her, shaping her face, flowing so beautifully. The light splash reaches her skin, bouncing off her as a wave passes. Her eyes fall closed, almost peacefully as the bittersweet breeze of the Ocean and morning light erupts around her, she pictured herself on a small deserted Island, away from the world; alone.

  She held onto that, the idea of never having to feel this way again - to be lost in her own solitude. Behind her are the sounds of the city coming to life, the universe spinning around her. She is holding on, but everything is so heavy - bearing down on her.

  Taking a painful breath, she lifts her arms beside her, tilts her head back and lets the breeze take a hold of her…swaying her and shielding her.

  She lets herself feel, not just anything - she lets herself feel everything she longs to feel - happiness, adventure, desire. Letting the world disappear around her, forgetting where she is; Sam lets herself feel alive. . . Even just for the slightest moment. . . She felt okay. She lets her body go loose, taking a step further into the Ocean.

  Waiting, breathing - she is ready for the waves to take her, ready for them to take her home. She keeps her eyes shut and prepares herself. She told herself that this was it, she was going to do it… everyday Sam pulls herself out of bed before her father wakes, walked three miles to the Beach and stands in this exact spot.

  Just as she brings one foot forward to take another step, she feels the waves rising, closing in. Feeling it sway her and pull her backwards by the tug of the body. She knew that the moment she was gone that the people who never batted an eye would soon care and that point and time, it would be too late. There wouldn’t be a story to tell.

  “You know that they say there is a heart of the sea?” says a voice behind her. She spins around, tripping on the smog and rocks beneath the Ocean floor falling smack dab on her ass. Water splashing around her, she gasps.

  “Ugh!” she groins.


  A hand reaches for her, angrily taking it, she is helped to her feet and out of the water–looking up she catches the eyes of Zane behind his glasses - amused.

  He chuckles, “Sorry didn’t mean to startle you.”

  “You didn’t.”

  “I think I did,” he says, laughing. He follows her toward the bench, they sit beside each other. Watching the cars go by next to the ledge. She collects herself.

  “What were you saying?” she says, keeping her head low and her face away from him, “about the ocean and something about a heart?”

  Zane lifts his eyebrow, “Oh now look who is interested in History.”

  “Shut up, don’t get too used to it,” she says, staring out toward the waves drifting toward the shore, slowly falling back.

  “The heart of the Ocean is what has been known as a blue heart necklace, this necklace is placed somewhere at the bottom of the Ocean, smack dab in the middle - this has been proven to be generated since the late 1900’s. It’s actually pretty cool if you think about it.”

  She felt amazed, she has never known this, but then again; she never paid much attention to class neither.

  “So, it’s just a necklace in the middle of an ocean?” she draws out.

  He eyes her. “Just a necklace?” pausing, he cracks a smile. “This wasn’t just any old necklace; it wouldn’t have been called the heart of the ocean otherwise. This necklace, it was something that everyone looked upon. Back then there was a wreck, a great ship sailed trying to find shore, it was out there alone.

  One night they ended up hitting an unexpected Iceberg, and it caused a huge rupture of the Ship. A lot of people lost their lives that night, except for one; a young woman who had an inspiring romance aboard–this necklace belonged to her. When the Ship failed, and lives were lost, her necklace was buried beneath the ocean floor along with the man she loved.”

  “Holy shit,” is all she could say.

  “It was tragic, and a lot of lives were lost, I've been researching it trying to figure out every possible outcome and what they could have been done differently,” he says, lost in thought, “I just feel sorry for those families losing their loved ones. I wouldn't be able to go on.”

  It was sweet, knowing that Zane had a heart and generiously cared about others around him. I guess that's what makes him a great guy – yeah, he was considered a nerd in High School and most girls stirred from his direction, his heart was always in the right place and Sam knew without a doubt that one day he would make a girl’s day just by being with her.

  They sat there for a few hours talking. Watching the waves fall over the shore, it is a beautiful day, the sun raised over the East Coast - The radiant light creating a transparent rainbow that is barely visible within the clouds but certainly there. It’s one of those days that make you want to be anywhere except indoors. Sam always comes here when she needs to get away, everyone has that one place where you take off to when things are not what you’ve expected - a place of peace and no judgment . . . this is Sam’s. She would come here and stroll along the smooth sand, letting them bury her bare toes in their texture.

  She’d watch the children build sand castles and parents tanning on their sprawled-out towels. She could see them now, sisters - about seven to eight years of age, bare feet covered by the oceans cold water, cupping their hands; gathering wet sand and seaweed, laughing as they watch the flip flop of little fish out further into the waters center.

  Still, it is this peaceful moment she can imagine the waves taking hold of her small body and she can’t shake that feeling of wanting it to happen, welcoming it. Sighing, she pulls her gaze away; not wanting to suffer any more at what she never could have as a child and never would have.

  “Definitely a wonderful day to be at the Beach,” says Zane, adjusting his glasses - clearly trying to make small talk to cover up the silence that fell between them.

  He is such a nerd, she thinks. Never has she paid much attention till’ now. A nerd, geek, teacher’s pet all defined him perfectly.

  However, just now Sam concluded that he is a nerdy cute - he is one of the sweetest guys she knows, always caring for others feelings more so than his own and he knew just about everything - more than she would have ever wanted to learn in a single hour class, she thinks, brushing the hair from her face, having been blown over by a sudden rush of a breeze, caressing her checks.

  “Sure, I guess you could say that - I never really pay attention to the weather when I come out here,” she says honestly. “Raining, snowing, sunny - you name it and I am probably on my ass in that sand over there not giving two shits.”

  He chuckles, “You're something else that's for sure.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You have this way of holding yourself, like you're trying to protect yourself, so you cover it up with snide jokes and sometimes you're just blunt,” He says, leaning back on the table with his arms behind him as he faces outwards, “There's nothing wrong with it, it's different – kind of cute.”

  Swiping at his arm, she smiles, “Oh shut up.”

  He gives her his best cheesy smile, his glasses falling to the edge of her nose. He is such a dork.

  “Hey, isn't that your boyfriend?”

  Confused she follows his eyes landing on some skimpy blonde-haired girl, from behind she looked like the perfect model type, hair falling just above her shoulders with burgundy tips. Dressed in a red tank top and light shorts and when you think of shorts imagine those ‘ride up your ass’ kind that we all try to avoid out in public.

  When she finally turned around and she could get a steadier glance at her, her thoughts were confirmed - with dark brown eyes, plum lips, and oval-shaped face, she is one of those girls you would see on the Magazines that we all want to be. She is breathtaking - even Sam can see that.

  What held her attention most was not her appearance, but rather the arm she had wrapped around hers, a body build that she could pick out of any crowd no matter how big or how small. A face she could never get out of her head or her dreams. Jake mother fucking Steele, again playing his player games and she is stuck in the middle - how did she get herself here? Sam gets a wave of emotion, her heart crunching within her chest - Zane eyed her weary. Sam feels . . . hurt.

  “He's not my boyfriend,” she mumbles, pulling herself up from the bench.

  “But something tells me you want him to be.”

  “Do not...What kind of relationship would that be?” Never taking her eyes off them, “Constantly having to fight for his attention against all of the hundred girls he tries to screw. I'd rather not.”

  Zane speaks, following close behind her, “It's not a bad thing to admit you like him, Sam”

  “Who says that I do?”

  He says, “The way you look at him when he's around, the way you're looking at him right now.”

  Spinning on her heels she gives him that look, you know that one that clearly states a 'Don’t you dare go there’ look. Sam gave him that look, “And what look is that?”

  Swallowing, Zane becomes nervous, rammbling over his words, “Like he is the only man in the room, you look at him like he is that sweet candy that you must have – the look that you give him, it's like he aready has your heart and you're aftaid before he has the ability to break it.”

  “Look, I can't have feelings for someone that I've never talked to or better yet even spent time with – drooling over him Junior and Sophomore year doesn't mean that I'm suddenly in love with him.”

  “I don't know, Sam. I can't tell you how you're feeling, but if I know anything about love it's that it comes when we least expect it, whether you've talked to him or not – the heart wants what the heart wants.”

  They end up near the food trailers, lined with jumbo hot dogs, nachos, and all you can eat cotton candy - It smelt so good, Sam’s stomach grumbled. Wrapping her arms around it she focuses on the menu. After ordering their food, they proceed to a table. After Zane dug for his missing wallet and paid for their
meal, as they reached the table it wasn’t until’ they were provocatively on top of it did she realize that the two people she was trying to NOT run into were sitting five inches before them.

  Great...

  Catching her eyes, his hamburger in his hands he cracks a devilish smile. “Sam, aren’t I surprised to see you here.”

  “Hey man!” Zane says cheerfully, taking the seat across from them. Sam stands there, contemplating what she wanted to do, sit and watch the blond be all over him or leave and risk the embarrassment?

  Silently, she slides into the seat next to Zane - ignoring their instant conversation and focusing on chewing her food. She didn’t pay much attention to their conversation nor the hand of the blond resting on Jakes arm - nope, she sure did not. She found little things around her from the small chip in the blue wooden table that they are sitting at, to the small pebbles of rock and sand that made its way up to the sidewalks.

  He speaks, “Sam?”

  She hesitates, her wondering eyes falling on him, only now having noticed that both Zane and the Blonde were nowhere to be seen.

  “Uh, yeah?” she responds.

  He smirks, hearing the nervousness in her voice, fingering his food he doesn’t sway his gaze from her - not even for a moment. He says, “They went to get us a drink, in case you were wondering.”

  That makes sense.

  “So, you and her?” The question hangs out there in the open.

  “Friends, strictly.”

  A rush of relief settled over her, the breath she didn’t know she had been holding slowly drifts from her mouth. She takes a bite from her hot dog, devouring the sweet taste and grease. Jake pulls himself from the bench as Zane and the Blonde approach, both carrying drinks. He comes around; taking his from her gasp he gives her a light kiss on the cheek as Sam blushes, jealousy rolling over her once again.

  What if that had been her? She could be the one getting kissed right now.