Flutter (The Discover Series)

by Andrea, Melissa

  I remember the chills that had swept across my skin while watching him, and I had rubbed my arms, trying to get rid of them. I had put on my sweater hoping that would dissolve them, and just like that, he had snapped out of it. He blinked a couple of times, giving me an embarrassed look and got up from their table, disappearing into the back of the restaurant. When he came back, he had chosen the chair with his back to me. I was confused, but that’s when I noticed it happening more.

  I had a theory, but it sounded crazy, even in my own head – so I kept it hidden away in the back of my mind.

  It wasn’t always just the male population I attracted - everyone seemed to be easily taken with me. Except Elizabeth, she was the only one who didn’t seem to be affected by the freakish ability. Andres had said that I got my charm from my mother; everybody had loved her. I liked hearing things about my parents, but it was a bittersweet feeling.

  What I didn’t mention to Andres was that I didn’t think it had anything to do with my charm. I knew there was something more though.

  And then there was Adan.

  I was confused by my reaction to him, my inability to not have a single thought that didn’t revolve around him since I met him. Not to mention the strange effect he had on my body. The way he managed to make it come alive whenever he was within range of me. The flutter was always there, but it reacted strongest when he was around. I was always aware of it, unless I was distracted.

  Like now.

  “Please god, tell me you look like that for me.” His voice was a seductive purr behind me and my skin blazed out of control.

  I scolded my body for the way it responded to his every whim and myself for being caught off guard. Taking a deep breath, I did what I could to compose myself and whirled on him, narrowing my eyes.

  “When you commit to something you really go all out don’t you? I think you’re taking your stalker role a little bit too seriously and how did you know I was here?”

  He advanced on me like a jungle cat, but I refused to back down from him. “Don’t avoid the subject. Come on Sara, lie to me, tell me you don’t look this,” his eyes dropped over the length of my body and I felt it blush under his approving gaze, “mouthwatering for me. Tell me you did this for Scott.” He looked me straight in the eyes and lowered his voice to a whisper. “I dare you.” He raised his eyebrows at me with the challenge.

  I was about to rise to his challenge when I heard a ring of squeals behind me and I groaned inwardly when I realized who the shrills belonged too. Adan’s head cocked to the side, looking around me, as he eyed the squealing mess tornado-ing toward us. Three girls swarmed at my side and I grimaced as their giggles filled my ears before they came to a sudden stop while they took in Adan in front of me. Looking around all of them I couldn’t control the spark of anger and jealousy that flamed to life when their bodies went slack in a dreamy stance. I pressed my hand into my stomach hoping to smother those feelings out.

  When my eyes found his, they dropped to my stomach for a brief second and his smile was little and knowing. I glared at him and dropped my hand away; I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction.

  “My, my, my Sara looks like you’ve been holding out on us! Who is your friend here?” there was no missing the seductive tone that dripped from Jasmine’s words and the flame burned hotter.

  “He isn’t my friend,” I bit out through clenched teeth and I could see the girls out of the corner of my eyes staring at me funny. Unclenching my jaw, I tried to calm down long enough to get out of here before I scratched out some bodies eyes. “Jasmine, Lacey, Eli this is Adan. Adan this is Jasmine, Lacey and my bestest friend Eli.” I went through, pointing out each girl.

  Lacey pouted. “Why does Elli get a special introduction?”

  “Because Eli is special.” I said throwing Elizabeth a big smile and a wink. She giggled and rolled her eyes.

  “So, Adan,” Jasmine interrupted. “Do you go to school here?”

  “I don’t. I actually just moved here.” He said and glanced at me. “I wasn’t planning on staying, but I can’t seem to leave now.”

  I could see Jasmine eyeing me, her gaze bouncing between Adan and me before she stepped partially in front of me. Her goal was succeeded and Adan’s eyes were back on her. I rolled my eyes and seethed as the fire in my stomach grew with each word and suggestive movement of Jasmines body. “Sure I wasn’t standing here.” I retorted irritated.

  Jasmine shot me a glare before turning her gaze back on Adan. “So you don’t have any friends here? No one to show you around?” She crooned in mocked sadness.

  I clenched my fists hoping to suppress the urge to grab her by the back of her hair and pull her back. I was surprised by the extreme feelings of violence that were running through my blood right now, boiling it until I thought my entire body was going to melt from the extreme temperature. I realized Adan was staring at me forcefully trying to hide the grin that desperately wanted to escape. I glared harder, but that only seemed to entertain him more, crossing my arms over my chest I looked away. Coward, I thought to myself.

  “Well,” He finally said, “since Sara has claimed not to be my friend, I guess I don’t have anyone to show me around.” He said looking at Jasmine.

  My jaw dropped and I could feel the sparks flashing in my eyes and wondered if I was going to shoot red laser beams out of my irises at any minute. I could feel my hands shaking and they felt hot, like they were burning from the inside out, but it was painless. I looked down to make sure my hands hadn’t caught on fire while I hadn’t been looking. They looked normal as I tried to examine them without calling attention to myself. I could hear the conversation, but I was no longer paying attention to them as I was trying to figure out what was happening to me.

  I could feel the change in my body as the fire grew, spreading throughout my body, setting fire to everything inside me. The feeling was intense, almost like an energy coursing through my system. The course seemed to lead to my hands and my fingers throbbed with the power of it. I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t stop the feelings or the fire. It was too late now and I could feel it spiraling out of my control, I was smothering on the inside and I waited for my body to explode into a cloud of ash.

  I was vaguely aware of how bright it was and I looked up to see the sun glaring down on us. I was cascaded in my own personal ray of light and the warmth was overwhelming as it enflamed me. Was the sun always this close? I could feel the energy in my hands again and I waited for something to shoot out of them as the heat grew and grew until I knew something was going to happen. I clenched my fists trying to stop it.

  “Sara.” Adan’s voice penetrated the haze I was in and I looked up at him dazed. I could see my friends staring at me, but I focused all of my attention on Adan.

  He was looking at me intently, his eyes were soft and he looked concerned and I wondered if he knew what was going on inside of my body right now. His expression was soothing and slowly I could feel the pressure inside of me easing away, slowly the heat was seeping out my pores, evaporating under his gaze. It only took a few minutes until my body cooled down and I could breathe easier again. My fingers could still feel the soft tingle that was left over from whatever I had been experiencing.

  “Are you okay?” Adan asked softly his eyes searching my face and I could have sworn they dropped slightly to my hands, but I couldn’t be sure.

  “Yes,” I whispered. Looking around, I realized they were staring at me and I tried to put more conviction in it. “Yes I’m fine.” I laughed nervously.

  “Did you see that with the sun?” Lacey asked.

  “Yeah it was pretty freaky.” Jasmine waved her hand in dismissal. “Now Adan,” she purred annoyingly, “why don’t you let me show you around town?” she suggested sauntering over toward Adan looping her arm through his. “I promise you’ll have fun.” Jasmine said using her most tempting voice.

  He looked at me again and I could still see the concern lingering in his eyes and even though I wa
nted nothing more then to curl up in the emotions he was sending my way, I fought the urge. I forced a smile on my face and pretended that I didn’t care what he did.

  “I actually have to get to work.” I said interrupting. Turning to Elizabeth I told her I would see her later. She had the same concern in her eyes that she had carried around for the past two months as she nodded and told me to call her later. I turned toward Adan and Jasmine and tried to ignore the contact between them as she drummed her fingers up and down his forearm. “You guys have fun. You’re in very good hands Adan.”

  I walked past them only to be stopped abruptly as I felt the warm pressure of Adan’s fingers wrapped around my upper arm. I could feel his emotions rolling off of him and soaking into my skin and it shocked me. Looking down at his hold on my arm for a second before my eyes met his.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” He asked.

  “Of course,” I said pulling my arm away from him. “Why wouldn’t I be? Have fun.” I added as I walked away.

  At least that’s what I tried to tell myself I was doing.

  It felt more like running away.

  I slammed the last of the new books into their slots.

  Nearly eight hours later and I was still fuming about this morning events with Adan and Jasmine. I couldn’t seem to get the picture of them out of my mind and I slowly let it drive me insane all day. I wondered just how much she had shown Adan of the town and wondered if her bedroom and been one of their stops. I shook my head angrily and tried to get rid of the images that had hunted me most of the afternoon of Jasmine’s hands on him.

  I never considered myself the jealous type and I could never remember feeling this possessive over Scott who was my boyfriend as I did with Adan who was…what? He wasn’t anything to me, I didn’t have any claims on his freedom and I certainty couldn’t tell him who he could and couldn’t see. He was free to do whatever he liked. He had showed interest in me, but I was with Scott and right now I didn’t have any plans on changing my own relationship status.

  So why did it hurt so badly? I asked myself.

  Why couldn’t I be sure of just one thing in my life right now? Adan had been right; I didn’t feel like this for Scott and was it fair to stay with him when secretly I was constantly thinking of another guy? Comparing them unfairly? I could see myself with Adan, but everything was so complicated in my life right now and now with this stupid hand print that continued make my skin crawl and the weird thing that had happened to me earlier I just wanted things to be simple in some parts of my life and Scott was simple.

  I hated myself instantly for thinking that, I couldn’t use Scott because he was the only stable thing in my life right now, that wasn’t fair to him. Its not like my feelings for Scott were completely gone, I still cared about him and I even loved him, but those feelings were switching into something entirely different.

  I sighed blowing out a deep breath.

  I wasn’t any closer to figuring out what I was going to do now then I had been before and my body felt useless. After each hour that dragged on my body got closer and closer to a comatose stage and I had fight with it to keep moving throughout the day. I didn’t know what was wrong with me, but it was everything I could do to keep my head up. After having a near melt down, literally, this morning I felt like the walking dead. I had been so tired afterwards and I just wanted to crawl into my bed and sleep until everything made sense when I finally woke up.

  I didn’t try to come up with any explanation for my actions this morning. I just chucked it up to intense, very extremely, intense feeling of jealousy –not that I was any happier with that explanation- but it was the only thing that made sense and probably the only thing I was willing to accept because being a freak was not very comforting and at least jealousy was normal.

  I looked at the clock behind the desk, I had an hour left and then I would be out of here so I could go home and crash. I knew Margaret would be down any minute to announce her departure and I would be left alone. Not that it bothered me to have her during the day. She wasn’t a normal boss and I got along with her perfectly. She made me laugh with the crazy stuff she said and I didn’t think anyone could find a nicer person in this world then she was.

  She was an older woman, but she was far from old, she was probably in her early forties and she was beautiful. The word that always came to mind if I had to describe Margaret in one, was exotic. She had dark hair that she usually kept up with the same pendant, but I never got close enough to see it. She was tall, but she had the body of a 25 yr old. She had tanned skin and a slight Spanish accent, but sometimes I couldn’t even notice it. She had mentioned that she had moved to America years ago from a small island off of Spain and I assumed living here for that long was bound to wear on her accent. She always seemed so wise and concerned about me, almost like a motherly figure. I didn’t have one of those in my life and it felt nice knowing she was there for me.

  I remember when I had spotted her book store and the minute I had laid eyes on her sign, I knew I was going to work there.

  Dragonfly Books

  It was like it had been put there for me, it was destiny, fate, whatever you wanted to call it, but I believed Margaret had been put here for me. I felt a bond with her, a closeness that was so natural. Her life was fascinating and always was telling me stories about her home and her family, a lot of it felt embellished for my entertainment, but I never got tired of hearing them. I had been meaning to ask her why she called her store ‘Dragonfly Books’ but I always somehow forgot.

  I picked up the last of the books from the box and couldn’t help but slam them in their place. No matter how much I tried to distract myself, there still was that bubbling annoyance just under the surface and just like that I was back to thinking of Adan. Who was I kidding? He was never far from mind even when I tried to push him as far away as I could. I don’t know how it was possible, but there he was calming and fueling the flutter inside of me. I slammed another book and just couldn’t wait to be out of here.

  “Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are when you’re angrily slamming innocent books away?” His voice was low, teasing and sexy behind me.

  I froze in the process of putting away another book and tried to control the pitter patter of my heart at hearing him. I had spent so much time being angry at him that I had totally ignored the part of me that actually missed him.

  “Can I help you find something?” I asked putting away the last book, gently this time.

  “Is that the only greeting I get?” He asked with a hand over his ‘wounded’ heart.

  “It’s the only greeting you get when you walk inside a book store.” I tried to keep my voice level, but even I could hear the irritation that crept up at the end of my response.

  “If that’s the way you base your greetings, I can’t wait to see the welcoming I get when I walk inside your bedroom then.” He laughed out loud when I blushed and leaned against the bookshelf facing me. “You’re not still upset about this morning are you?” his voice was one of innocence.

  I scoffed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I was never upset.”

  “Could have fooled me,” He said clicking his tongue, “but the fireworks inside your eyes sold you out.”

  I rolled my eyes at him. “It doesn’t matter what I do, you’d find some way of turning it into a swooning session for you.”

  “You know two can play at this game Sara. You don’t have to be the only one swooning.” He raised his eyebrows at me a few times.

  I walked past him. “I have no interest in trying to make you swoon-”

  He caught my arm, bringing me flat against his chest. “Oh, but don’t you? You know we never did get to finish addressing my dare this morning before we were rudely interrupted.”

  My hands were flat against his chest and I could feel the energy flowing once again. It felt like now that it was released, I couldn’t control it when it started flowing. I could feel my hand burning against the firm m
uscles of his chest and it took every ounce of self preservation not to flex my fingers into the hard tissue.

  “Rudely interrupted?” I asked, trying to control my breathing being this close to him. “You got a date out of that ‘rude interruption’ if I remember correctly.” I hated the jealousy that stained my words.

  “All you had to do was say the words and that all could have been avoided.” He said matter-of-factly.

  I tried to push away from him then, but his grip was warm and firm on my arm and there was no escaping it. “Your free to do whatever you want Adan. Why would I try and stop you from making a few friends here.”

  He stared at me for the longest time and I started to become uneasy under his gaze, but I couldn’t turn away. I wonder what he saw or what he was trying to see the way he peered at me that way. It was like he was trying to get inside my head, to figure out just what I was feeling, thinking, despite what my words were saying. I started to panic for a minute wondering if it was possible for him to see past everything I was trying to hide from the world.

  “Ahem!”

  Margaret cleared her voice and I jumped, pushing away from Adan guiltily for the second time in two days. Margaret wasn’t one to judge and especially not me, but I still didn’t like being caught in another boy’s arms when she knew I had a boyfriend. The smile that played on her gentle lips as she looked from Adan to me, told me she had as easily forgotten about Scott as I did when I was around Adan.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t know you had company Sara,” She replied as she walked down the last of the steps from her office.

  I blushed hotly. “Margaret, this is Adan. Adan this is my boss Margaret.” I said tightly hoping he would try to be on his best behavior.