Danika's Gift

by Jayn Wilde

  The waiter, Andre, came to take our order. I hadn’t even glanced at the menu and felt embarrassed.

  “Can you recommend a pasta dish? But no seafood. Please.”

  Andre listed a few dishes and I chose pasta primavera. It was a dish my mother used to make and had always been a favorite of mine.

  “Derek,” I leaned across the table once Andre was gone, “I don’t want to be one of those girls…but I really want to know why you brought me here. Why you even chose me in the first place.”

  Derek smiled at me. Damn how that knocked the wind right out of me. I almost forgot I even asked him anything.

  “Well, let’s see. I brought you here because I like you. I brought you to my father’s restaurant because I wanted to be comfortable while I got to know you. Other places, I have to worry about who sees me and what they’ll say or if they’ll interrupt. Not here. No one can even see us and we can just relax and get to know one another. I don’t date because I have had no interest in doing so. I have been out with girls, but not on real dates. I chose you because when I first saw you, I wanted to flirt with the new girl.”

  Is my mouth hanging? Really? Yep.

  Derek continued, “But, when I looked in your eyes…I felt something. I felt like I had to know you. I had to be around you. I can’t explain it. And, believe me, I have tried to figure it out. I think you are beautiful, but it is more than that. I don’t know…” Derek grabbed a piece of bread from the basket and ripped it in half.

  He chewed on a piece of bread for a few minutes then looked in my eyes.

  “See…those eyes. You, just…I can’t explain it. I feel lost. But, in a good way. Maybe not lost as much as found.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. He was making no sense but damn he was cute while he did it. The way he made me feel, I have to say I couldn’t explain it either. I just didn’t know if it was lack of experience with guys and my hormones, or something more.

  Andre came with our dishes and I was grateful for the interruption. Something to distract us both for a little while. When I took the first bite of primavera though, something happened. It was like a door had been unlocked in my head. For a split second I was savoring the taste, then I saw my mom putting a dish in front of me. Then, everything went colored. I mean, it was suddenly as if I was looking through a kaleidoscope. Colors swirled around me. Shapes shifted in front of me.

  No. No. No. It can’t be back. Not now. Please.

  “Hey, Danika. Are you okay?” Derek was grabbing my hand but I could barely make out his face or his voice. His touch kept me grounded to the moment, but I was quickly losing my grip on reality.

  “Need to…go.” I tried closing my eyes, but the colors didn’t go. The shapes didn’t go.

  “Ok, just give me a minute.” Derek let go of my hand and then everything spiraled out of control. I wasn’t here anymore. I was in the kaleidoscope. The colors and shapes were all around me twisting me and turning me and I couldn’t stop the spinning. My head was throbbing and my heart was racing.

  Derek, please come back.

  Chapter 3

  I woke up in a strange place on my back. The ceiling above me was white. I tried to take deep breaths to calm myself. Where did Derek go?

  “Danika, talk to me.” Derek’s voice was shaky.

  “Where am I?”

  “Oh God. You’re ok. You are ok right?”

  “I think.”

  “Let me help you sit up. Nice and slow now, okay?” Derek grabbed my one hand in his and braced his arm around my back. Slowly I sat up and after a momentary spin, the room was steady and so was I.

  “You’re in my dad’s office. I came back to get you and you were on the floor. I am so sorry I left you alone.”

  “It’s okay Derek. Really.” I didn’t blame him. I never expected my gift to come crashing its way back into my life. Or maybe I had a brain tumor and that was what happened. I mean, when I looked at Derek, I didn’t see anything bad. No colors or shapes. Maybe I just have something medically wrong with me. Something that people could accept and some doctor could treat.

  “Are you well enough for me to take you home now? Or do you want to go to the hospital?”

  “No. No hospital. If you can just drive me home, please.” Deep down I knew it wasn’t a tumor and I also knew that the hospital would just send me home with some drugs and then things would be far worse. Or, they’d lock me up in the psych ward and I wasn’t going through that again.

  We walked out of his father’s office, towards the back of the restaurant. Derek nodded to his dad and I gave him a small smile. I felt really bad and hoped no one else saw me on the floor. Can’t be good for business when a patron drops to the floor. When I looked at David, Derek’s dad, I saw a blue glow around him with spirals of red. It was an amazing sight. And, it was also terrifying. My gift had indeed returned.

  The ride home was quiet. I didn’t know what to say to Derek. After all, I had ruined our date. And, I was petrified to look at him. I didn’t want to see something bad happen to him. I felt something strong deep inside of myself and I knew he was breaking through the walls around my heart. Ever since my Mom died, it was hard to let people in. Even Sam was only allowed so close. As my gift hid away, I allowed her closer, but now I would have to push Sam and Derek away. The tears threatened to flow as I glared out the car window.

  “Danika,” Derek’s voice was low. The hum of his mustang almost drowned out his voice completely. “There is something special about you. I don’t know how I know that, or what it is, but I can sense it.”

  “There’s nothing special about me.” I muttered. “More like cursed.” I shouldn’t have said it, I know, but it just fell out of my mouth.

  “Cursed?”

  I realized we were at my apartment building. It was just better for both of us if I cut things off right now. As much as I couldn’t bear the thought of being away from Derek, at the same time, I couldn’t bear the thought of him leaving me. I was a freak, plain and simple. It wouldn’t work. It couldn’t work.

  “Derek, thank you for dinner. I am sorry things turned out the way they did. Please tell your dad I am sorry for passing out. Good…”

  “Don’t say it.”

  “…bye.”

  “Danika, please.”

  “I’m sorry, Derek. This isn’t going to work out. There are things about me that I can’t explain. You wouldn’t understand and I can’t put either of us through this.” I grabbed the handle to climb out but he snatched my other hand before I could get away.

  “Danika, can I tell you something?”

  “Please,Derek…”

  “It’s important.”

  I let go of the handle and turned towards him.

  “The reason I choose not to date…it isn’t because I don’t like girls. It’s because…well, I am different than other guys…other people.”

  My heart started to race. What on earth could he be talking about? No one says something like that unless they have secrets…like the one I have.

  “I will cut to the chase. I can read people’s minds.”

  “What?” My mouth dropped open and just hung there. Realization and mortification suddenly dawned on me and heat flashed to my cheeks. Had he heard my thoughts about him? Had he heard my fantasies? Crap! Was he listening now?

  “Please hear me out. I promise I am not crazy or making this up,” his voice was pleading.

  I simply nodded. I didn’t want to give any of my own secrets away…not yet.

  “Not everyone’s minds. And, not all the time. I have to focus on a person and then silence all the background noise. It is physically draining, so I don’t do it unless I really need to. But, sometimes, when I would be out on a date, I would just look at the girl next to me and wonder what she was thinking. Without even realizing I was doing it, I could suddenly hear exactly what she was thinking. Most times, it was flattering. But sometimes it wasn’t.”

  I truly was speechless. I watched as Derek’s face tu
rned hard and cold. He apparently had a gift, and like me, it had turned into a curse.

  “In fact, I dated one girl for awhile, right before college. By that time I had learned how to not listen in, but her best friend came up and her thoughts were literally shouting at me. The best friend inadvertently revealed too much about my girlfriend’s sexual history and most of it was during the time I was with her. It cut me. At that point, I stopped dating.”

  I didn’t even realize I was doing it, but my hand had reached out to his and was holding it tight. His pain was evident on his face, but as I touched him, I felt something flow through me. It was an intense energy that moved through my entire body. I felt his pain in a physical sense and yet I felt a calming energy as well.

  “What about me?” I didn’t want to ask, yet I needed to know.

  “Well, you are special. I said it before but maybe now I can explain. Since you didn’t run off screaming when I told you about my special talent, perhaps it is because you too have something special in you.” Derek’s eyes probed my face.

  Derek turned his whole body toward me and he had placed his other hand on top of mine, just as his dad had done when meeting me. Except this time, there was an energy surging through both of us that I didn’t understand.

  “Tell me yours. I told you mine.”

  Shit.

  I could deny it. I could say that I just have a very understanding nature. But, he had not answered me yet, which meant maybe he could read my mind. If I lie he’ll know. Plus, I’d never been a good liar, so there was a chance he’d just figure it out and then I still wouldn’t know.

  Damn.

  “I see things.” There, short and sweet.

  “Me too. Now, tell me more.” Derek’s beautiful smile was back.

  “Ugh. Okay but you are going to think I am crazy or a freak or something.” I turned my head away, not wanting to see his face as I made my revelation. “I can see colors and shapes, shifting around people.”

  “Like their aura?”

  “Yes and no. It’s colorful swirls but also if something bad is going to happen, I can see it happen. This is really hard to explain. I haven’t had to explain it to anyone before.” I threw my head back against the headrest and closed my eyes.

  “When I was six year old, my mom sent me to kindergarten. I was so nervous that I took forever to get dressed and skipped breakfast. Mom walked me into class that day and the nice teacher showed me to my seat. Mom kissed me on the head and told me she’d see me in a few hours. I remember feeling calm when she spoke and then as she walked away, I got really scared. The time flew by and as I relaxed, I found that I really enjoyed it. I kept my advanced abilities under wraps that day, trying not to draw attention to myself. At recess, everything went terribly wrong.

  Mindy was six years old also. She had bright blonde hair with huge curls that bounced when she walked. She had deep brown eyes that almost looked black. She came up to me and started asking me questions. I answered carefully, watching her lips move faster than I had ever seen a person’s move. She had a huge space in her mouth where her top two front teeth were missing. She had dimples in both cheeks. She reminded me of Shirley Temple. Anyway, as Mindy chatted away, a black cloud formed around her and flecks of ash flew from her mouth. Her face was turning this frightening red and beads of sweat formed on her forehead. But, she never stopped talking. The black cloud started to singe my nose and eyes and I feared for her safety, so I pushed her to the ground. I was only trying to help her.

  Mindy screamed as she fell on her butt. Then she cried hysterically. I blinked once, then a second time. The smoke was gone, the ash disappeared and little Mindy looked fine, other than crying because I had pushed her. I was taken to the principal’s office to wait for my mother. The rest of the day was a complete blur. I couldn’t get Mindy’s sweaty, crimson face out of my mind. That night I tossed and turned as the black cloud consumed me in my dreams. My throat was scratchy. I was screaming out Mindy’s name, trying to find her in the darkness. Ash was falling on my arms and face burning me. My mother came in and comforted me that night.

  At breakfast the next morning, my mom told me that there had been a fire. A family of four had died as the house was consumed my flames. I held my breath waiting. Mom confirmed it was Mindy’s family and that she had died from smoke inhalation. Once I stopped sobbing, I begged my mother to keep me out of school for the day. And, I never went back after that.”

  “So you never went back to school?”

  “No. My mom decided to home-school me. I think she was scared for me too. My nightmares didn’t stop for a long time. If that happened once, it could happen again. She kept me away from others as much as she could, trying to protect me.”

  “I’m sorry Dani. I can’t imagine going through that.” His thumb rubbed small circles over my hand.

  “Before she died, I promised to go to college and do something with my future.”

  “So, what happened back at my dad’s place?”

  “Well, since my mom died last year, I haven’t had one single vision. Sam and I figured it was like I had gone into an emotional coma…perhaps blocking the visions from coming through. Like remission maybe?” I shrugged, trying to play it off as something like a cancer. In so many ways, it was. It ate away at my heart, my soul and my life…including my happiness.

  “What triggered it tonight?”

  “Derek, I don’t know. Honestly. And, it wasn’t like it has ever been before. I was having a wonderful time with you. I enjoyed the food. In fact, it was the same dish my mother liked to make and was my favorite. Then, I saw her and then everything went screwy. Next thing I know I am waking up in your dad’s office.” I didn’t mention how Derek’s touch tethered me to the present. I didn’t know if I could trust him with that just yet. Something occurred to me and I had to ask, “Derek is your dad happy?”

  “Yes. Why?”

  “I just saw colors around him and don’t know what they mean.”

  “Have you ever done any research on this? You know, to figure out what you see and try to understand it?”

  “No. I don’t want it. I don’t want to understand it. I just want it to go away, for good.”

  “I understand. But, maybe you can control it, like I can.”

  “Speaking of which, you never answered me before.” I poked a finger into his chest.

  “I know. I don’t want to tell you.” Derek had a devilish grin on his face and my stomach flipped with nervousness. “Don’t look at me like that. I can’t tell you all my secrets on our first date.”

  “Good night.” I was pissed at him and yet I wanted to laugh. I reached for the handle and got out before he could stop me. I ran up to the apartment and he followed after me.

  “I like that better than good bye. But I’d rather do this the right way,” Derek whispered in my ear as I fumbled to unlock the door.

  Derek leaned over me and kissed the side of my neck. A gasp slipped out before I could stop it. His strong hands came around me and he hugged me back towards his body. A moan threatened deep within me and I felt my knees go weak.

  “Kiss me good night, Danika.” Derek’s breath was hot against my neck. Chills thrummed through my body and I had to rub my thighs together to stop the tingling.

  Could he read my mind? Could he know how badly my body desired him? That can’t be fair. I slowly turned in his arms and grinned at him. I envisioned a fat man, with rolls and rolls of fat, in a beer stained tank top and droopy boxer shorts with a bald head and pimply face. I closed my eyes and thought hard. Then I quickly opened them to see Derek’s reaction. Nothing. Hmmm…. Maybe he wasn’t reading my thoughts.

  Without thinking, I reached up and pulled his head down to mine pressing my lips against his. Damn his lips tasted sweet. They were soft yet firm and when his tongue darted out to tickle my bottom lip I lost control. I opened my mouth to him and let him in. His tongue caressed mine. They tangled together and my body shuddered in his arms. He pulled me even c
loser as he deepened the kiss. My body was on fire and I felt like I would explode.

  I couldn’t think even if I wanted to. If he wanted to read my thoughts, then so be it. They were a complete jumble of lust, desire, need, compassion, empathy and love. Love? NO. He snaked one of his hands up under my shirt and the skin-to-skin contact changed everything. Suddenly, I felt connected to Derek. It was as if we were one being. As he touched my body, an energy soared through me like I had never felt. It was like earlier, but way more intense, more powerful. I couldn’t move from him and he couldn’t move from me. Our bodies were fused together, or souls intertwining. How could this be?

  And then the moment was gone.

  “Oops, sorry.” Sam blushed as she came up behind us. Derek and I broke apart, neither of us able to catch our breath. His face practically glowed beneath the tan, his eyes were bright in the dim light and his body glistened.

  “I should….go.” Derek murmured. I smiled as he shifted his pants, and I knew he was as turned on as I was. I had felt his erection yet in the midst of it all, I couldn’t focus beyond that energy we produced together. It was amazing and scary at the same. Sam had forced me to watch enough movies that I knew what was happening between us, but I could never have imagined the feelings that quivered through my body.

  “Thank you, Derek. I had a very nice night.” I smiled sheepishly, knowing Sam was waiting in the doorway for me. “Oh, do you have your phone?”

  He nodded, handing me his phone. I saved my number to his contacts, sent a text to my phone and then handed him back the phone. He smiled at me, but this time, that look was there again. Again, I wondered what the look in his eyes meant. Even though they didn’t think I noticed, I had seen that same look between my parents. Their hushed conversations and momentary touches had remained firmly in my memory. I wasn’t sure what the look meant, but I knew it caused my stomach to flip with excitement. I wondered if my eyes showed him the same.