Being Grey (Beings Trilogy)

by Gina Keliher

  What on earth did that mean?

  “My name is Maggie Goldsmith,” the lady says, “and this is my husband, John.”

  “I’m Alice Shaw.” These are formal introductions I think. But they offered their full name so it seemed the polite thing to do the same.

  “Where are you from Alice?”

  “London. Wimbledon.” I smile. “Do you live here in Bath?”

  John nods, “I was born in Frome just down the road.” His south western accent is very strong. “I met Maggie in school.”

  “How long are you here for, Alice?” Maggie asks.

  “Only until Thursday. Then back to my own turf.” Sounded a bit daft but I feel like I’m imposing suddenly.

  They both nod. “Well, have a pleasant stay in Bath. Perhaps we’ll meet up again one day?” This sounds more like a promise than a casual remark.

  The barman has poured my second drink, so I smile goodbye and head back to Lisa. I feel like I’m in the twilight zone or something. That conversation was certainly odd. A bit ‘me Tarzan, you Jane’. I wipe the table with the cloth the barman gave me, and when I turn back to the bar, Maggie and John have already left.

  It’s the first time that I’ve met ‘Gifted’ people outside of our group. I have no idea what the protocol is, maybe a secret handshake or code word? I just hope I didn’t come across rude. Or worse, ignorant.

  Later that evening, Lisa is taking a shower and I use the moment to call Mum. I tell her about the Goldsmiths in a rush, and she laughs heartedly down the phone. “Oh my, really? John Goldsmith, eh? He must be around twenty eight by now! How does he look?”

  “You know him?”

  “I met John’s parents years ago at a Who concert in Milton Keynes, I think. It may have been Reading. Actually, it may even have been The Rolling Stones. I can’t remember now. We stayed in touch for some time.”

  “Mum?”

  “Yes dear, sorry. John wasn’t born then, but he was kicking out a good tune from Isabel’s belly.” She’s reminiscing.

  “Mum, they said they could sense me from across the street. Me and Lisa were in the pub. Not close proximity.”

  “Yes.”

  Am I missing something here? “Mum. How did they know I was there?”

  Mum sighs, “Sometimes I forget how young you are dear! Yes, some have the gift of sensing the presence of ‘Gifted’ ones from great distances. You didn’t sense them?”

  I frown, “Like a daydream but memory?”

  “Like a welcome sense, a favourite meal, a warm cozy feeling, the smell of bacon! Or in your case, happy daydreams.”

  “But why doesn’t that happen with the gang?”

  Mum chuckles again, “It just doesn’t. It’s a kind of warning sign that the ‘Gifted’ you have not yet met is close to you. No one knows why, but once you’ve actually met someone, they very rarely have that effect on you again. Now, put your sister on so I can tell her about a new recipe I found this morning.”

  “She’s in the shower.”

  “Well, tell her to call me back when she’s out. Bye!” and she hangs up. Great to speak to you too.

  I guess I’m not out of the twilight zone just yet. Still so much to learn.

  When I woke in the morning it was to the smell of bacon sandwiches.

  “I’m doing a mum and not sending you home on an empty stomach.” She says, pouring some tea.

  At the door she hugs me fiercely, “Tell mum that I’ll be back the first week in July. I can’t come earlier because there are a million end-of-year parties happening. Sorry to miss Poppy’s but here,” She hands me a beautifully wrapped little box, “this is for her.”

  “Lisa, the Party Animal, missing the best one.”

  She gives me a big kiss on the cheek, “I love you, sis. Take loads of photo’s.”

  I laugh as I jump in the car, “Love you more!”

  Chapter Thirty Four

  I’m sat on a beach. It’s obviously not somewhere around here as the sand is white and the ocean is a beautiful shade of blue. There are palm trees off to my left and tiki huts lined up on a pier that stretches into the ocean on my right. I’m alone.

  I get up and stretch. The sun feels beautiful and I’ve never felt so relaxed and happy in my life. I notice a dark shadow in the water and step closer. A school of fish, a shark? I’m not afraid as I edge my toes into the warm water.

  He stands up. He’d been swimming and the water glistens on his tanned body. He’s tall, about 6ft 3in and muscular. He could pick me up no problem. He smiles as he sees me. There’s darkness all around him but I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.

  He steps forward and the electricity between us makes the sand dance. It’s brushing against my ankles but it doesn’t sting, it feels more like feathers. The closer he gets the higher the sand swirls. For a moment I feel uneasy, if he gets too close the sand will be over my head but then he holds my hands and the sand dies down.

  No words are spoken. The hairs on my arms are stood up and as he smiles down at me I feel like the happiest person in the world. I stand on tip toe and reach up to kiss him.

  Nelly starts singing ‘It’s getting hot in here’ which breaks the spell as it wakes me from my dream. My cell phone. Got to change that ringtone.

  “What?” I mumble into the phone, hating whoever woke me.

  “Good morning Alice. I hope I didn’t wake you?”

  “Well you did.” I say grumpily. “What time is it?”

  “It’s time you and I met. Somewhere neutral. Let’s say the coffee shop outside the arcade at 10? I’m looking forward to it. Goodbye.”

  I bolt upright. Was that….. him? Who else would it be? I replay the conversation in my head. The smooth voice, the confidence. The sexiness. I feel like I’m on fire. Between the dream and the call I feel faint but not in a pass out kind of way. Dreamy. That’s a better description. I flop back on the pillows smiling. He called me. He wants to see me. I slowly roll my head to one side and notice its 8:45am. Damn. I jump out of bed and run into the shower.

  “You look nice, where you off to?” Poppy asks as I get downstairs.

  “Oh, just the supermarket.” I know Poppy won’t want to go there.

  “Great. Can you pick up some toilet paper, we’re almost out?”

  “No problem, call me if you think of anything else. See you later.” I pick up my bag and leave feeling guilty I lied. She would go crazy if I told her the truth but I doubt very much anything will happen in a public place. OK, rephrase. I hope nothing will happen in a public place.

  I haven't told poppy about the letter. It’s tucked under my pillow at home. I know that I should say something, but this is my secret. And for now, I want to keep it that way.

  He’s easy to spot. It’s like a black hole appearing on a bright sunny day. I look around but no one else seems to notice him and I don’t sense any other darkness around. He is absolutely ravishing.

  “Ah, Alice.” He says standing. He waits until I’m seated before he sits again. “How nice to meet you.”

  “What could you possibly want?” I say feeling stronger than I thought I would, though I’m talking under my breath so no one overhears. “You want me to kill you here because it would be worth it.”

  “A worthy opponent. I don’t think we’ll be killing each other today. I’m not so sure it will even come to that. It’s inevitable we’d meet so I just thought it would be nice to do it civilized over a cup of tea. Maybe a croissant? Did you have breakfast?”

  He’s worried I didn’t eat breakfast! What the heck is going on? Here he is, being a perfect gentleman, courteous; concerned I may be hungry yet he wants to kill me as much as I want to kill him. I think. I think I want to kill him. OK, two can play this game.

  “I’d love one. Excuse me, a cup of tea and a croissant please?” I ask the waitress.

  “The same for me.” He smiles at her and I can see she’s bowled over. Pathetic.

  "I want to apologise for sending you the letter
to your sisters. I couldn't wait for you to get home to let you know how I feel." He's so calm. Saying this as if we've been together for years.

  "How did you know where I was?"

  He smiles, and it’s a knowing smile, as if he has a secret that I'm not privy to.

  “So, tell me a little bit about you. Are you the spawn of the devil or just generally evil?” I ask.

  He laughs and the sound sends little electric pulses throughout my entire body. “Neither. Any more than you will find the next flu vaccine, will I rape, rob or murder anyone here.” He spreads him arms around us. “But I will find someone to do that work for me.” He concludes.

  “How do you know..” Maybe that was fluke?

  “About Glen? I know a lot about you and your friends Alice. No need to worry, he’s not my priority just yet.” For some reason I believe this but need to tell Adrian as soon as possible to make sure he’s protected.

  “So what is your priority?” I really want to know.

  “If I told you, it would spoil half the fun.”

  The croissants arrive and Ian pays the waitress. He’s putting butter and jam on his. He actually has the audacity to switch plates and proceeds to butter and jam the other one. So arrogant or is it confidence he exudes?

  “Thanks.” I stick a bit of croissant in my mouth as I don’t want to ‘thank’ this monster again.

  “You’re welcome. I think you and I are going to enjoy our relationship.” He starts eating the other croissant.

  I start to choke, relationship? He stands up and runs to my side. Generally concerned? He puts a hand on my shoulder and looks into my eyes. ‘Are you alright?’ the look says. Where he’s touching me there’s an amazing heat spreading through my body. It’s almost as if he’s sucking my energy away with his touch.

  “I’m OK.” I say sipping tea to make the last part go down and he returns to his seat.

  He smiles at me. “You don’t want to hurt me any more than I want to hurt you Alice. There will come a time when either we'll be together or one of us may have to kill the other, but that time is not now. We both have work to do promoting people to positions of power. Removing weaknesses. Whilst we disagree on who is best to lead us that is not our fight. Not today.”

  “So why are we here? What’s the purpose of this,” I look at the tea and half eaten croissants, “this meeting? Whilst I admit you seem like the perfect gentleman, in another setting you would be dead by now.” That came out right.

  “Really?” He leans forward and puts his hand on my knee. “I think there’s something else destined for us.”

  I’m concentrating really hard not to enjoy it when he touches me. I’ve got my eyes scrunched closed so I don’t have to ‘see’ his Being. He pulls back, laughing gently. He has a fantastic laugh. It’s like a sexy little chuckle. Oh stop it Alice.

  “Come, I’ll walk you to your car.”

  We don’t speak as we walk. I’m too close to him. Almost touching and more than anything I want to take his hand. I accidentally brush his thigh with my hand and I can feel pulses running up the length of my arm. Like an electric shock. It’s a busy day on the high street but I was lucky to find parking close by. It doesn’t feel close enough as I’m going to grab him in a minute.

  Think of toilet paper, we also need washing liquid, potatoes, everyone needs potatoes. Don’t quite know what I’ll cook but I’ll buy some. We finally arrive at the car intact.

  I unlock the door and open it but I don’t get in yet. I’m holding it between us like a shield.

  “Well, it was,” what Alice? Nice to meet you? “interesting?” I offer.

  He does that sexy chuckle thing and leans over the car door. Too close. “You too. I’ll see you at the party?”

  “You’re going to go?” I’m shocked. I almost want to say don’t. There will be too many ‘Gifted’. They’ll kill him.

  “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” And with that he pushes the car door gently so I’m right in front of him.

  He puts his hands on my waist and even though I don’t feel my feet move he pulls me close. We’re touching and my arms are moving without my brain telling them to and they’re against his chest. How no one has noticed us is beyond me. It feels like there are sparks flying everywhere. I’m either trembling or we’re having an earthquake. He’s looking at me, not into me, at me. He’s not making any attempt to move so I do. I slide my arms up and around his neck and pull his head toward mine.

  Our lips touch and I’m back on the beach. We’re the only two people in the world and that’s OK. His arms are sliding around my waist, pulling me closer but I don’t think we can get any closer. I really think I could do this forever.

  “Alice Shaw what on earth do you think you’re doing?” I hear.

  We literally jerk apart and I can see he’s as surprised as me at what just happened. His dark eyes are open wide and rapidly looking side to side. He takes a step back. I turn to look at who spoke.

  Mrs. Camberley, the old lady who lives in one of the houses between me and mum is stood there with her arms folded. “That is not the behaviour of a young lady in public.” And with that she tuts and walks off.

  I turn back to Ian expectantly. I want to continue what we started but he’s nowhere to be seen.

  Chapter Thirty Five

  Sainsbury’s it not the most exciting place on earth when you’ve just had the kiss you’ll compare all other kisses too. The earth moved, sparks flew and we still need toilet paper so here I am. The smell of the fresh bread is killing me so that’s where I start and then have to do a weird zigzag around the store. So far I’ve bought bread, pears and tinned tomatoes. Wonder what I can make with that?

  “If that’s the way you kill people, make mine a long drawn out death won’t you?”

  I spin around and he’s there. This fantastic creature is here. Again. Is he stalking me? Hope so. I’m blushing from head to toe and it’s got nothing to do with the way he’s looking at me or the fact that twenty minutes ago I was snogging him in the street in front of Mrs. Camberley. No, it’s because I have a giant pack of toilet paper in my hand. Do I throw it back on the shelf or in the trolley? Oh for goodness sake Alice, even this one wipes his bum. I hope.

  “Are you following me?” I say coyly over one shoulder, rushing to the kitchen towels which I place over the toilet paper in my trolley, trying to hide them.

  He doesn’t seem concerned about the toilet paper and is studying me intently. “I didn’t think I could wait until the party to find out why you just did that?” He smiles.

  How embarrassing. Have you ever been asked why you kissed someone? Duh, because I wanted to. And I kind of thought you wanted me to?

  “It was just a slip of the tongue.” Please tell me I didn’t say that out loud. Oh please can the earth open up and swallow me. “I mean, you know, like when you say something and think, whoa, wished my brain had worked first. My brain wasn’t working, still isn’t I guess.” Just kill me and get it over with.

  He’s doing that sexy chuckle thing and I have this mad vision of us snogging in the toilet paper aisle. I push the trolley a little faster and round the corner into the baby food aisle. Brilliant. I back up and go around to the next one. He’s still behind me.

  “Look Ian, you seem very pleasant, as I imagine all serial killers, murderers and generally bad people seem to some. But this ‘relationship’ is based on who’s going to kill who first. And unless you plan to do it while I’m shopping, please leave me in peace.”

  “I enjoy you Alice.” He says that a little like a snake would say to a mouse before he eats it. I’m way out of my depth here.

  “Then I hope that makes it easier to handle when I’m sticking a blade through your rotten heart.” I sound confident; I just wish I felt it.

  I’m throwing anything into the trolley now so it looks to Poppy as if I shopped when all I really want to do is leave.

  Nothing else is said as I get to the checkout. “Just leave me alone.” I sa
y as I turn around.

  The fat man with the frozen lasagne, big pack of crisps and bottle of Coke looks at me as if I’m crazy as does the lady behind the register. “Oh, sorry.” Damn, he’s gone again.

  I push the trolley out to the car and open the boot. As I turn to start loading the shopping he’s there again and I jump back and slam my head on the latch.

  “Ouch. Stop doing that!”

  “Are you alright? Sit in the car, I’ll do this.”

  There he goes again, worried about my well being. This guy is so weird.

  I sit in the drivers seat but with my legs still outside while he loads my shopping. The boot slams, without my head in it, and he walks up beside me.

  “Sorry. I just thought you murdering me in a supermarket would be messy.” His eyes are so dark.

  “Whereas killing me in the parking lot with my own car boot is far more explainable?” I grumble.

  “Are you OK to drive?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. Now go away and stop popping up all over the place and scaring me.” I say as I stand up. Just stretching my legs and making sure I don’t feel wobbly when driving. Honestly.

  “Whatever you wish. I will keep out of your way until the party then?”

  I didn’t exactly say that. “Absolutely.” I don’t mean it. “If you have the guts to show yourself then of course. The best thing would be for you to get a one way ticket out of here.” Am I trying to warn him, protect him? What am I doing? Shut up Alice.

  “As I said earlier, wouldn’t miss it for the world. Try to stay out of trouble until then.”

  OK, I will now walk away. Why is he still standing there? Please go or I’ll….. oh stuff it. I grab hold of him again and we kiss.

  If I thought the first kiss was great this one is spectacular. Fireworks and lightning bolts. There is so much urgency I don’t think even Mrs. Camberley could stop us this time.

  “Alice?” But that voice can.

  Reluctantly but horrified I pull back. I know I am beyond scarlet. “Dad, fancy seeing you here.” For the umpteenth time today I could die of embarrassment.