Beautifully Unnatural: A Young Adult Paranormal Boxed Set

by Amy Miles

  “I didn’t go. Daniel’s bashes are too much like what I imagine frat parties must be like.” Maya wrinkled her nose.

  “Can’t say I blame you.” Trevor smiled, looking a little steadier. “What did you end up doing?”

  “I have to go,” I whispered.

  She nodded emphatically. I left, glancing back to see them smiling at each other. Maya would be just fine.

  I exited the building and traveled the concrete path toward the asphalt parking lot. At the last second, I decided to go to the restroom first to check my face. If I was going to dump Daniel once and for all, I wanted to be cute while doing it.

  The football field bordered the parking lot and beyond that was a building with another bathroom, which was almost always empty. As I walked the stretch of grass, students became scarce. But, of course, there was Zack about a hundred yards to my left, talking with Coach Hanson.

  The bathroom door was propped open. As soon as I walked in, I spotted a pair of converse high tops facing two cute, pink stilettos together in one stall. They were identical to the heels in my closet at home. Wait. No, Gina had borrowed them a month ago.

  I was about to back up to avoid Gina when I heard a male voice.

  “Mmm. That’s nice.”

  Daniel.

  Gina in a bathroom stall with my boyfriend? Well, he wasn’t my boyfriend anymore, but only Maya knew that.

  Even though I didn’t want to know what they were doing, it was as though a giant magnet stuck me to that spot. Leaning against the wall, I melted into a shadow.

  “No, not here,” Gina said between moans.

  “You didn’t mind small spaces Saturday night.”

  My body froze. Saturday night before I’d dumped him? That wasn’t a shock, but with Gina? Just because I’d wanted to ease up on the whole bestie thing didn’t mean our friendship had meant nothing. My throat swelled with her betrayal. Feet rooted to the tile floor, I wrapped my arms around my waist to silence the trembling.

  This little scene explained why Gina wouldn’t spill about her new guy. And why she didn’t acknowledge me at lunch. She hadn’t been saving me from Daniel. She was saving Daniel for herself.

  Well, she could have him.

  The high tops backed up and the door swung open. Daniel came into view, laughing like someone had playfully pushed him. Gina came into view, giggling and lunging for him.

  “Yeah, I didn’t mind then, but now sharing is getting old,” she said, her bottom lip thrusting out. “You’ve been stringing me along for a week.”

  A week?

  “Aw, don’t be like that, baby.” Daniel got a handful of Gina’s butt and she hooked her fingers around his collar, yanking him against her. “You know how I feel about you,” he cooed.

  Their mouths met and the smacking sounds made me want to vomit. Slipping out unseen would’ve been easy. I’d just slide against the wall and slip through the door. However, if I caught them in the act, they couldn’t try to weasel out of it later by saying it was my imagination or not what I thought.

  I stepped forward. “Really, you guys?”

  They vaulted from each other like I’d sprayed them with a fire hose.

  “Autumn.” Daniel wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

  Gina stared at me, bug-eyed.

  “My boyfriend and my friend.” I struggled to keep my voice from shaking. I couldn’t bear for Gina to know how much she’d hurt me. “Such a cliché.”

  Gina’s eyes were cautious, shifting from him to me. “Autumn, I—”

  “Save it.” Another emotion blended with the fury — disgust. “Daniel and I were over anyway, although you wouldn’t know it by all the I love you texts today.” I whipped out my phone and thrust the screen at her. “You guys are so perfect for each other.”

  My face fell as soon as I turned away. How could they? I’d finished with Daniel days ago, but the betrayal stung just the same. Gina had a big mouth and could spread word faster than Twitter. She’d be only too happy to twist the truth and brag that Daniel had dumped me for her.

  I halted, right in the middle of the field, as if paralyzed. Everyone would be talking about it, whispering to each other and feeling sorry for me. Whether I stayed in town two days or two weeks, being the victim of gossip still sucked.

  My eyes stung. I looked back to see if Gina or Daniel had followed, but they hadn’t. Maybe they were relieved to end it, too.

  Turning back toward my car, I trudged on. When I glanced up, I saw Zack heading right for me.

  I slowed. Had he seen anything? Was he there to gloat?

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah.” I nodded, surprised he’d stopped to ask.

  He narrowed his eyes. “You don’t look okay.”

  “Like you care.” I wanted to tell Zack the truth, although I had no idea why. I gave a watery laugh as hot tears burned my eyes. “I just walked in on Daniel cheating on me.”

  Zack sighed, shaking his head. “You shouldn’t drive when you’re upset. I’ll take you home. Can you get a ride back in the morning?”

  I grabbed my backpack out of my car, tossed it in the Jeep and hiked up into the front seat. Zack to the rescue again. With his habit of saving me, he had to have been the one to fix my car.

  “So you just happen to have a pump in your car, so you can fix flats during lunch?”

  Zack sighed. “It’s a compressor, actually. Figured it would be faster than doing it after school when it’d be completely flat and you’d be there to distract me.”

  Why did he have to be such an ass about it though?

  “Well, thanks.” I sniffed, trying to erase the image of Gina and Daniel from my head.

  “Who’d you catch him with? Anyone you know?” he asked, navigating the Jeep onto the street.

  He’d find out soon enough, but drawing any more attention to how disposable I’d become as a friend and girlfriend was not something I wanted to discuss with Zack. “No one important. Why are you going out of your way to give me a ride?”

  “You didn’t seem in any shape to drive. If you died on the way home and I could’ve prevented it, I’d feel bad.” He checked over his shoulder to make a turn. “Daniel is scum. I think that’s a rotten thing to do to anybody, whether they deserved it or not.”

  “Are you implying I deserved it?”

  “What?” His brows shot up as we passed through an intersection.

  I’d had enough of people who thought I wasn’t worth treating right. I’d certainly had enough of Zack’s crap. I’d rather walk than spend one more second with him and his attitude. No matter how beautiful he was.

  “Stop the freakin’ car,” I hissed. “I don’t need your charity or your attitude. I can walk back to school and get my car.” The Jeep still hadn’t slowed. “Stop the damn car,” I growled.

  “Okay, okay. I’ll drive you back.” He groaned as he turned the Jeep around. “Whatever.”

  That last comment just pissed me off more. Zack drove through the school gate and I reached for the handle before he’d even stopped. As my limbs vibrated with fury, I tugged on the door, but it wouldn’t budge. “Damn thing is stuck.”

  He reached over and flipped the switch, unlocking the door. He froze, his arm touching mine, and stared at me. He inhaled quickly twice.

  This time, he couldn’t act like it was my imagination. “You just sniffed me.” I gave him a look of loathing before flinging open the door and stomping to my car.

  Another crappy day. Life just had to get better.

  I took extra time driving around the neighborhood to burn off my rage. When I parked in front of my house, I noticed a red Jeep approaching.

  What the hell was Zack doing at my house?

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  I hadn't noticed Zack in the rearview mirror following me, but I hadn't looked either. What was with the guy? He never hid his dislike for me, yet everywhere I went, there he was.

  He parked along the curb and skulked around to the passenger side o
f his car. Scrambling out of my Taurus, I slammed the door.

  “What are you doing at my house? Stalking me?” I asked.

  Opening the passenger side of the Jeep, he reached in and pulled out my backpack, then stomped over and tossed it at my feet.

  “Please stop making me come to your rescue.” He turned and thundered back to his car.

  I’d been rude to him when he’d gone out of his way to make sure I didn’t get in trouble for not doing my homework. I felt small. “Sorry. Thank you!”

  Without turning around or acknowledging my existence, he climbed into his Jeep and turned it around. I felt like a super-dork as I watched him speed away.

  About a block down, a yellow Corvette pulled away from the curb after the Jeep. That was the second time I’d seen that car follow Zack. It couldn’t be a coincidence. Maybe he owed money to the mob and that’s why his job was so important to him. Or drug dealers? Whoever it was, they’d had plenty of chances to hurt Zack and he was still alive. He wasn’t in any immediate danger, right?

  After picking up my backpack, I trudged inside. The scent of garlic and herbs met me at the door.

  “Who was that outside?” my mom asked, snuggling with my dad. “Didn’t sound like Daniel.”

  “Just a guy from school.”

  “How was your day?” Dad asked.

  A yucky feeling sat in the pit of my stomach, but I faked a smile. “Great.”

  I ran upstairs to get started on my homework and later, returned for dinner — tofu chicken with gravy, mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus.

  “Mom, this is so good.” I wolfed down the last of it, sighing as I set my fork down.

  “Glad you liked it.” She took a sip of water, her gaze darting to my dad, then back to me. “Your dad’s got several more jobs lined up and they all want him to start right away.”

  Right away? My breath caught in my lungs.

  “The first job’s in Arizona, then Montana,” he explained. “New Mexico will take longer, so we’ll do that last and stay a while.”

  I’d miss finals and prom. Not that the latter mattered much since I no longer had a date.

  “New Mexico would be semi-permanent?” I asked through the buzzing in my ears.

  “Yes,” Dad said.

  “Or you and I can go straight to New Mexico and get settled in.” My mom smiled angelically, like she hadn’t just squashed all my hopes and dreams.

  “My birthday is in six days.” I took a quick sip of my grape juice. “I’ll be eighteen.”

  She let out a quick laugh. “I’m well aware of that. I’ve been bugging you for weeks to tell me what you want for your birthday.”

  “I know what I want.” My foot tapped against the floor as I imagined their reaction to my request.

  Dad smiled hesitantly and my mom looked guarded. “What’s that, sweetie?” she asked.

  “I want you to leave me here. Go do the jobs, then come back.”

  He shook his head. “No. Not an option.”

  “I don’t want to move again. Dragging me around so I can’t even graduate — it’s not right.”

  Mom reached across the table and held my hand, speaking softly. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. We don’t have a choice.”

  I took a deep breath and returned her hand squeeze. “You may not have a choice, but I do. Legally, in a few days, you can’t make me go. I’m staying.”

  Dad narrowed his eyes. “Excuse me?”

  I took a deep breath, hoping to steady my heart pounding against my ribs. “The longest I’ve been away from you guys is overnight for a sleepover.” I paused to chew my lip nervously. “Since you won’t buy me a new car...”

  They sighed in unison.

  “Instead, I want to stay here and finish school. You can go without me and treat it like a second honeymoon or something. Or a working vacation. Whatever.”

  The way they stared, you’d think I’d asked them to hire a male stripper for my birthday. I waited patiently for their response, leaning back in my chair, and folding my arms across my chest to appear tougher.

  “No.” My dad narrowed his eyes. “We’re not comfortable with that. Choose something else.”

  My confidence faltered. As protective as they were, why had I thought for even an instant they’d cooperate?

  “Sweetie, where are you getting these ideas?” She moved the chair out and stood with a hand on her hip.

  “Sometimes, I come up with my own ideas, Mom.” I rolled my eyes and rose to meet her gaze. I leaned against the dining room table to support my wobbly knees. “You guys avoid leaving the house except at night when you go running. If one of you goes on errands, the other stays. I’m almost never alone and when you’re not around, you’re constantly texting me. I’m being smothered. Don’t you see how unhealthy that is?”

  Dad’s brows furrowed and his mouth dropped open, as if my words were too foreign and terrifying to absorb.

  “Whatever you’re thinking, stop now. It’s not going to happen.” My mom moved around the table to stand in front of me, her hands rubbing my arms soothingly. “We have no desire to be away from you, sweetie.”

  Oh, boy. I loved my parents, more than anyone or anything, but there was something so wrong with how they treated me. “Fine, then don’t leave.”

  “If the idea of moving upsets you that much, your mother can stay with you here.”

  Her head whipped around to scowl at him, then back to me. “No, that won’t work. She’s coming with us.”

  “Mom, in six days, I’ll be legal to do whatever I want,” I reminded her.

  Dad tensed and Mom gasped. “Don’t be silly,” she said. “How would you survive without money?”

  “I’ll stay with Maya and get a weekend job.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “You’re bluffing.”

  “I don’t know what’s gotten into you.” Mom grasped my shoulders, eyes intense. An instant later, her eyes softened and she released me. “When you have your real birthday list, let me know.”

  “It’s not going to change, Mom.” I’d gone too far to back down now. “Everything you do, from making me budget my allowance to saving up for a car, why bother? How can I learn to fend for myself in the big bad world if you never let me?” I glanced from my mom to my dad. “Do you know what it’s like with you two worrying incessantly over me? Do you know how stressful it is to worry whether or not you’re worrying?” I shook my head. “I’m done with that. And I’m done moving.”

  My mom paled. I felt bad for upsetting her, but reminded myself this would be good for all of us. “You can always come back and check on me between cities,” I said, lightening my tone.

  They exchanged looks for what seemed like minutes. I wiped my palms on my jeans and waited, determined to hold out until the bitter end.

  Dad bolted from his chair and towered over me. “This is ridiculous, Autumn.”

  I stood my ground, keeping my tone firm. “No. Playing musical houses is ridiculous. And I’m not waiting for your permission. You have two choices. Let me stay here in this house and help me finish school. Or lose me to Maya. Pick one. I’ll be up in my room.”

  I dashed up the stairs and collapsed on my bed. I couldn’t decide if today had been the worst day ever or the best day of my life. I was free of Gina and the pressures of being popular, done with fighting off Daniel’s disgusting advances and I just might have a chance at a life in a town with friends I loved.

  Regardless what my future held, with everything I’d been through, today still sucked. Exhaustion strained at my peace of mind and unshed tears burned behind my eyes. Burying my face in my pillow, I succumbed to sobs.

  † † †

  There was a knock on my door as I finished dressing after a shower. “Come in.”

  My parents stepped into the room, each with their usual lit cigarette between their fingers. I cringed inwardly as the smoke wafted up to the ceiling. Not wanting to throw them off course by complaining, I kept quiet.

  “We’ve dec
ided to turn down the jobs,” my dad announced with a proud smile.

  It was what I’d been hoping for, but now it wasn’t enough. They’d go right back to their extreme hovering and paranoia. “But that doesn’t solve the other problem. You guys need to be without me for a while. And I need to be on my own, at least for a couple weeks so you can see that I can do it. I need that freedom.”

  When they stared speechless, I was pretty sure I had them. “Both of you will go to Arizona. Turn down the others if you want, so long as you stay gone for at least two weeks.” I knew they’d negotiate it down.

  “Autumn, I’m ashamed of you,” my mom scolded. “Two days. That’s it.”

  “Ten days,” I said.

  “Three days.” Dad’s eye twitched.

  “Seven days.” I lifted my chin.

  He folded his arms over his chest. “Three and a half days.”

  “We could do this all night.” I glanced at the clock by my bed with exaggerated movements. “I’d rather you enjoyed yourselves for two weeks, but let’s cut to the chase. Four days or I’ll call Maya and start packing.”

  My dad’s eyes turned to slits before sharing a look with my mom.

  “Maybe we were wrong.” She tilted her head, studying me. “It’s possible we haven’t given you enough credit.”

  Did that mean they were giving in?

  “You have yourself a deal,” Dad said a moment later. “Four days. Goodnight, sweetheart.” He quietly closed the door behind him.

  Yes! I did it. They were going to leave me alone for four long, glorious days. No one around to hover or obsess over me.

  I allowed myself a moment to revel in my triumph, then sat on my bed and opened my laptop, determined to find something about my new and unusual abilities.

  My situation was curious to say the least. Maybe I needed to think outside the box. Myths? Legends? Aside from vampires, werewolves and various other paranormal creatures, information was sorely lacking.

  An hour later, I had accomplished just as much as the previous nights. Nothing. My only hope of discovering more about myself was taking the opportunity to experiment as soon as my parents were on a plane. I snapped my laptop shut in disgust and rolled over, drifting off with a vision of my mom and dad basking in the Arizona sun and having the time of their lives — just the two of them.