Katrina found her mother sitting at the oak table reading the morning paper and enjoying her morning coffee. One place setting was set in front of her and the green plate was overloaded with piles of scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns. Katrina was so used to her mother being absent during her morning routine that the scene seemed odd.
“Wow, a real breakfast today,” Katrina said, playfully.
Lost in the paper, it took her mother a moment to realize she was even there. “That was quick,” her mother looked up.
“I know,” Katrina exhaled. “I was running late the past few weeks and I don’t want to make it a habit.” She sat down and took a bite full of eggs.
“Good for you, sweetie. Jake is already in the truck, so you had better hurry up. I’ll be home late. I have to work an extra shift at the restaurant.”
“No problem. We’ll be fine,” Katrina said, in between more bites of her food.
Her mom smiled and took a sip of her coffee. “I know you will. You guys always are.” Chewing her last bite of bacon, Katrina gave her mom a silent nod of agreement.
“I mean it.” Her mom put a hand on hers. “With everything that’s happened, you both have really stepped up to the plate.”
“Since dad’s accident, it’s been hard for us, but we know it hasn’t exactly been easy on you either.”
“And I thank you for that. Lots of kids would rebel or do something crazy, but both of you’ve made our situation easier and I just wanted you to know that I appreciate it.”
Her mother’s sleep-deprived hazel eyes sparkled under the kitchen’s dim lighting. The dark colored bags forming underneath were a dreary reminder of how much stress she was under. Judging by her messy chestnut colored hair that was still pulled back and the fact that she still smelled like a truck stop restaurant, Katrina knew she hadn’t even showered yet. Katrina could never mistake the unique aroma, which was the overwhelming stench of fried grease lightly misted with a coating of pancake batter. Most memories of her mother were submerged with that smell. It was one of the reasons Katrina hadn’t eaten at a diner in years. Katrina’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Jake slamming the front door.
“I better go. I love you.” Katrina quickly wiped her face and then planted a light kiss on her mother’s tired cheek.
“I love you too. Do me a favor will you? See if you can talk some sense into Jake. He’s still upset over something and won’t tell me about it. Maybe you’ll have better luck with him since you two are so close.”
“Sure, mom, I’ll try.”
Katrina found it very difficult to get through her brother’s silent treatment; she had never felt so alone. Jake became withdrawn and spent all of his time locked up in his room, unwilling to talk.
“I’ll see you later,” Katrina said, as she closed the front door.
Making the short trip from the porch to the truck, Katrina took a couple deep breaths and prepared herself for whatever possible outcome she would face. Opening the door, Katrina gave her brother a wary smile before sliding into the passenger’s seat.
“I’m ready to go,” Katrina softly uttered.
Without a word, Jake started the truck and then made his way onto the highway. The two sat in awkward silence for a few miles before Jake suddenly slammed on the brakes and swerved onto the shoulder of the highway so quickly that she could smell the rubber burning. He threw the truck into park before they were fully stopped. Katrina let out a scream as she was thrust forward. The seatbelt locked so tight she thought she might actually lose her breakfast.
“Jake! What are you doing?” Katrina looked around. “Did you hit something?”
“No,” he said, shutting off the engine.
“Then why are we stopping here? We’re going to be late.”
Jake sighed and tilted his head down, as he fidgeted with the steering wheel. She felt a surge of frustration overtake her, but it wasn’t coming from her. His feelings were coming through loud and clear.
Suddenly picking his head up he said, “Look Kat, I know you’re angry with me.”
“What do you mean—angry at the fact that you ignored me the past few weeks or angry at the fact that you shut me out completely?”
“I’m really sorry,” he said, looking into her eyes. This was the first time since that day that she had gotten a good look at him. The bruises were starting to heal, leaving only light purple reminders behind. “I sat in my room and debated on whether I should tell you or not.”
“Tell me what, Jake?”
“I need to tell you something that I could barely bring myself to believe.” Jake’s hands trembled against the steering wheel.
“Is it about what happened at school that day?” She gently placed her hand against his and felt his shaking ease.
“Yeah, about that, Kat, I’m really sorry I was such a jerk. I just had trouble wrapping my head around the whole thing and last night when I had the dream it all seemed to click.”
“What are you talking about? You lost me.”
“Sorry. Just try to keep an open mind, okay?”
Katrina nodded her head and squeezed his hand for support. “I got out of class early that Monday, so I decided to sit on the bleachers and catch up on some reading. I was relaxing when Brody and the rest of them came out of the gym and found me.”
“Brody Miller! I hate that jerk. Is he the one that did this to you?” Katrina tried to contain her anger, as Jake nodded.
“Yeah, but let me explain.”
“Sorry, go ahead.”
“Brody, Mason and the rest of their idiots started messing with me and calling me names. Then they knocked the book out of my hands. They started shouting things at me and I knew I was in for it again. I thought I had had enough for the day, but now I had to deal with more of his crap.”
“Brody already started in on you? I wish someone would knock him one!”
“Me too.” Jake paused a second before continuing, “I was so pissed off I got up to leave. When I stood up, he tried to shove me back down and that’s when it all happened.”
“What?”
“Mason held me down while Brody swung at me.”
“That’s all that ass knows how to do!” Katrina snapped, her temper getting the best of her.
“That’s not even the strangest part. While we were fighting, I heard this weird snarling sound from behind me.”
“Are you telling me it was an animal that did this?”
“No, well I’m not sure really. When I looked up all of them were standing there in a blank daze. I turned around to see what they were staring at and that’s when I saw him.”
“Who?”
“Andrew.” Jake paused on his name for second and the muscle in his jaw flexed before he finally continued. “But he’s not like us, Kat. He’s something else.”
“What do you mean?” She immediately thought of his cousin Cole. “Did he make you feel strange?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then what happened?”
“Remember how I said to have an open mind?”
“Yeah.”
“I wasn’t sure I should even tell anyone, but if I don’t I’m going to go crazy.”
“Will you please tell me before I go crazy?”
“Right. Sorry. When I turned to look at him his eyes were crazy. They were really dark and there was something else. Kat, he had fangs.”
“Fangs?” Katrina stared at him in disbelief.
Jake nodded. “They were long and sharp. I’m not really sure what happened next, but I must have blacked out because when I woke up, Brody and the rest of them were gone. I was alone. I thought maybe I had imagined the whole thing. But, lately I’ve been dreaming about him. It was little bits here and there that didn’t make any sense, until last night. Andrew was walking me up to this cottage and it was like we were old friends. Things were kind of a blur, but all I remember is him asking if I remembered him.”
“What did he mean by that?”
&nbs
p; “That’s just it, I have no clue. In the dream, he began to tell me a little about his family and why they’re here. He said they came here to find what they lost.”
“Meaning what?”
“I don’t know. Just when he was about to tell me, everything changed. His mouth snapped shut and this black Camaro pulled up into a back alley. Walking towards the car, he yelled over his shoulder for me to sleep on it and the answers would come. After that my alarm went off and I woke up in a cold sweat.”
Katrina sat in silence, stunned as she tried to make sense of Jake’s revelation.
“You think I’m crazy, don’t you?” He nervously ran his fingers along the outer edge of the steering wheel.
“No, no Jake. In fact, it’s just the opposite. As crazy as it sounds, I believe you’re telling me the truth. Actually, I’m glad you’re talking to me at all after—” She let her voice fall as her emotions got the best of her.
“Yeah, I know. Again, I’m so sorry, Kat. I was just confused and shocked. I didn’t know if anyone would believe me.”
“I’m just glad you finally did.” Katrina bit her lower lip. “Since we're being honest, I need to tell you something.”
“What?” Jake asked, giving her his full attention.
“I’ve been having these dreams and until now I thought they were just my imagination.”
“About what?”
“Cole.” Katrina felt her face flush in embarrassment.
“His cousin?” Jake cocked his eyebrows at her.
“Yeah. They’re mostly jumbled images, but we’re always back in time. And it’s just weird. Like it’s more than just a dream.” It took everything in her to get it all out. “And I just feel—” Katrina searched her brain for the right word, but was distracted by the watch on Jake’s wrist. “Is that the time? Crap, we’re going to be late again.”
Jake quickly started the engine and pulled back onto the desolate highway. Katrina fidgeted with her books, hoping they would make it on time. She couldn’t stand the thought of Principal Weber giving her another disapproving glare, as she ran through the hall like a tornado to her class.
Luck was on her side today. They pulled into their parking space with a few minutes to spare. Katrina grabbed her bag and made a mad dash for the school’s front steps.
“Jake, we’re going to finish this conversation at lunch,” she called after him.
Before he could disappear out of her view, Jake nodded in agreement.
Entering Ms. Stevenson’s class, Katrina was too distracted with everything else to notice the occupied seat behind hers. Instead, she inconspicuously tried to take her seat. A lot happened that morning and she needed a brief second to gather her thoughts before class started.
As the bell rang, Katrina watched Ms. Stevenson saunter in and set her books out onto her desk. Preparing for the day’s lecture, Katrina noticed Ms. Stevenson had a thrown together look, instead of her usual tidy attire. Katrina figured she too had one of those mornings and waited to take notes on whatever boring math lesson she had prepared. The morning seemed so surreal and she hoped it would be just the distraction she needed.
Katrina thought about what Jake had just told her and it was turning her stomach in knots. She knew there was something off about them. They not only looked different, but they also acted very strange.
She blew out a deep breath and attempted to lose herself into the newest geometry assignment, but her brain had other plans. Dark images of Cole and Andrew swirled around in her head over and over until Katrina thought she was going to lose it.
Just when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, the bell rang. The loud noise had never felt as inviting as it did right then. Anxious to talk to Stacy, Katrina got up and waited just outside the door to grab her. Looking at the ground watching for Stacy’s tan sandals, a pair of black leather boots stopped and turned in her direction.
“You’re Katrina Davenport, right?”
“I am.” She purposely kept her eyes planted to the floor, while thoughts of what Jake said swirled in her head. The last thing she wanted to do was make eye contact with him.
In a brief moment of uncomfortable silence, which seemed more like decades rather than seconds, Katrina’s eyes were still wandering through the sets of shoes passing by until she found the pair she had been waiting for.
“Ready?” Stacy asked, as if right on cue.
“Yup,” Katrina quickly answered.
“Maybe I’ll see you around later?” Cole smoothly added. To her, it seemed more of a promise rather than a question.
“What was that about?” Stacy grabbed Katrina by the arm and pulled her down the crowded hall.
“I have no idea.”
“So, are you back?” Stacy asked, changing the subject.
“Back from where?”
“From Mars. Where do you think?” Stacy teased.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’ve just seemed so out of it lately. At lunch, it’s as if you’ve been miles away.”
Katrina should have known that Stacy would have noticed her odd behavior the past couple of weeks. Perhaps it was the fact that they had been inseparable since grade school, which gave Stacy that perceptiveness into Katrina? Whatever the case, Katrina knew at lunch Stacy would have to be told all of the eccentric details she’d heard this morning. She wondered what Stacy’s reactions would be. This would put their friendship to the test for sure.
“Hello!” Stacy’s finger snapped in front of Katrina.
“Huh? Oh, sorry.”
“See what I’m talking about? Your mind wandered again.”
“I was thinking.”
Stacy looked at her and paused only seconds before blurting out, “So, how about Cole Aldrich? New York’s loss is our gain. And I heard his cousin is just as hot!”
“Yeah.” Katrina tried to hide a smile. If there’s one thing Stacy couldn’t resist, it was a cute boy.
“Yeah? Is that all you can say? He practically came up and tried to ask you out. You completely blew him off. Are you so set on getting out of here that you don’t want to at least sample some of the goods?”
“No, it’s not that.”
“Then what is it?”
“I just have a lot on my mind right now.”
“I know you do, Kat. But you can’t let that blind you to some of life’s perks!”
“I guess you’re right.”
“That’s a given,” Stacy teased, rolling her eyes.
“Do you think we can talk later? We haven’t had much time to since school started and there’s some stuff I just need to tell someone before I go crazy.” Katrina blurted out.
“Of course, sweetie.” Stacy’s voice changed into a serious tone. “Anything you need, you know I’m here for you.”
Whatever was bothering her, Katrina knew they would conquer it together, like they always did. This eased some of her anxiety.
“I’ll see you at lunch,” Stacy said, before dashing into her class, leaving Katrina alone in the hall once more.
Continuing towards her next class, Katrina was still debating on what she would tell Stacy. While thinking, she glanced up and saw something she wasn’t expecting. At the end of the hall, leaning against the last row of violet lockers were Cole and she presumed his cousin, Andrew. From his pale skin to his sky blue eyes, he was the spitting image of Cole. The only difference being Andrew’s chocolate colored hair. Both sets of eyes were staring right at her as though she was the only being amongst a sea of bodies.
They smiled at her at the same time, but the grins on their faces made her feel odd. It was more like that of a predator than a friendly gesture. Images of the fangs Jake had described ran through her mind, as she looked away from them. Doing her best to ignore them, she kept walking.
Rounding the corner of the crowded corridor, Katrina could still feel both sets of eyes follow her every move. Using larger strides than normal for a girl her size, she reached her next
class within seconds. Walking through the door, a sense of relief washed over her. Her body was recovering as if it had just crossed the finish line in a marathon. The thumping of her heart against her chest made it almost hard to breath. In the classroom she felt safer, but she knew sooner or later she'd have to go back out there. She just hoped they would be long gone by then.
The next two periods went by with a little more ease for Katrina. Having no more bizarre encounters with Cole and his creepy cousin, she was beginning to settle into the day’s routine. She wasn’t sure if time flew because she was caught up in her classes or if it was because she had been dreading it. Whatever the reason, she knew she could no longer put off the inevitable. Lunchtime arrived and she was making her way into the noisy corridor. Crammed with an overflow of starving teenagers, Katrina maneuvered herself through the only path she could find. Cautiously glancing around, Katrina found Stacy quickly. She waved her best friend to stay still and moved as fast as she could through the crowd towards her.
“Stace!” she shouted over the other voices echoing around her.
“Hey, you! Are you feeling any better?” Stacy yelled back, as she slipped in between one group of students. Dodging their backpacks, she made her way over to Katrina.
“A little.”
“Good. I’m starving. You?”
“No, not really.” Katrina shook her head.
“Suit yourself. I’ll get plenty just in case you change your mind. Can you go get our spot before any annoying freshman take it? I’ll handle the grub.”
“Sure. Sounds good.”
Pushing her way into the cafeteria, Katrina glanced around for her brother Jake. After all, she needed his collaboration. Convincing Stacy that something was seriously wrong with the Aldrich boys would take the two of them. It took her eyes just a moment to find her brother. Standing in the center of the cafeteria, between two large jocks, one being the infamous jerk himself, Brody Miller, was Jake.
Anger began to overtake her, as Katrina ran towards Jake. She was damned if she was going to let this jerk get away with picking on her brother again. It didn’t take long for her to reach through the forming crowd to find her brother.
Everlasting Bond Page 3