Deceptions (The Mystical Encounter Series Book 2)

by Kimberly Readnour

  “Hello, Ms. Reiner. You look really nice,” Nicole replied.

  Mom did look nice. The newly lightened streaks in her hair erased ten years from her age.

  “Thanks, I just came from the salon. Well, I’ll let you two catch up.” Mom smiled before leaving.

  “Your mom seems unusually happy today.”

  Uable to hide the smirk on my face, I said, “Yeah, she’s been in a good mood since she went on her date.”

  Nicole’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

  “Yup.”

  “Oh come on. Is it anyone I know?”

  “Maybe.”

  She picked up my throw pillow and hit me in the side with it. “Spill, who is it?”

  “Your uncle.”

  “Shut–up!” She smacked me with the pillow again. “When did this happen?”

  “Well, I’ve been noticing the way they danced around each other from day one. But they had their first date on Tuesday.”

  “Oh, my God. I can’t believe it.”

  “Please tell me his divorce is finalized.” I held my breath until she answered.

  “Yes, it was a rather quick divorce. Since he caught her cheating on him, she didn’t protest much.”

  I smiled at her. “We might become relatives if they get serious.”

  With a laugh, she said, “One never knows.”

  “Well, things must have gone well the other night because they’re going on another date tonight.”

  “Wow. That’s so weird.” She glanced down at her phone and groaned. “As much as I’d love to stick around and harass my uncle before his date, I have to go pick up my prom dress.”

  The very mention of the word ‘prom’ made me wince. I really didn’t want to go to prom, but no longer having the option me sad. The fact that Nicole now couldn’t help me pick out my dress as planned made me sadder.

  Nicole must have seen my reaction because she apologized. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “No, that’s all right. What dress did you end up choosing? I don’t think you ever described it.”

  With a gleam in her eye, she exclaimed, “Oh it’s so cute! It’s strapless and form–fitting, made out of a light purple satin covered with a purple see–through material.”

  “That sounds incredible.”

  “It is. But you’ll have to see it, because my description can’t do it justice.

  “I can’t wait,” I said with genuine enthusiasm. Just because I couldn’t go to prom didn’t mean I couldn’t get excited for her.

  After Nicole left to go pick up her dress, I turned and caught my reflection in the mirror. I do look a mess. The dark circles under my eyes revealed my lack of sleep from worrying. I need to let it go, or at least try. I’d be all right on my own. It still hurt, but I was thankful for the time I had spent with him.

  Each person entering our lives served a purpose, even when that meaning wasn’t clear. Meeting Barry had been life altering. He gave me strength during a time when I needed it. Never being happy with my abilities, he showed me a way to embrace them‌—‌which made me stronger.

  I had lived my life before him and I would continue to live now that we had broken up. I would need to draw on my inner strength to move forward, but I could do it. I could go on‌—‌even without Barry.

  As I stood there reveling in my newfound strength, I had one wish: I wished my heart would catch up to my brain.

  ~21~

  Trepidation

  As I stared at the double doors leading into the high school, I reminded myself to breathe. The first day back from spring break and the first time seeing my classmates since news of the case broke, I didn’t know what to expect. I sure didn’t want to face any of them. After Nicole’s pep talk on Saturday, I had felt somewhat better, but the sideways glances I received from passerby on the street already had weakened my bravery.

  With as much courage as I could muster, I pushed my way through the entrance to the school. I walked to my locker and paused, surprised by the lack of nasty remarks. At my school in Clayton, there would be sticky notes with freak and other insults scribbled posted for everyone to see. At least that hadn’t happened here yet. Although freak wouldn’t actually fit. No…‌the more appropriate word would be traitor.

  It didn’t matter how many times Tanner, Mom, or Nicole told me I had no choice, my conscience couldn’t shake how I deceived him. Barry’s lack of attempts to contact suggested that his view hadn’t changed either. I had been holed up inside my house for days for fear of running into him outside. With your ex–boyfriend living next door, breaking up didn’t make for an ideal situation. I hadn’t been sure how I would react if I ran into him, I needed to pull it together quickly because I’d be running into him today.

  We couldn’t hide from each other forever.

  I sat down next to Nicole and let out a huff. I’d had enough of the stares and hushed whispers by fourth period to last me a lifetime. Will this endless scrutiny ever go away?

  “It’s been that bad?” Nicole asked, her voice laced with sympathy.

  “Yeah, but I’ve actually endured worse.” That was true, since school back in Clayton had been such a living nightmare. I’d been more receptive to people here, which had made me soft. It was nice to not be constantly judged by my abilities. Now, people knew what the consequences were for being my friend, and surprisingly, Nicole didn’t run and hide from me.

  “People will forget about it soon enough,” Nicole said soothingly. “They’re fickle; something juicier will come up and shift their focus away from you.”

  “You believe that crap?” I asked.

  She smirked. “No, but that’s what’s always said in these types of situations. It’s supposed to make us both feel better.”

  Unable to hold back my smile, I shook my head at her. “Thanks, that does make me feel better.” It was a lie, but I tried to appease her.

  Our teacher began his lecture, shutting down our conversation.

  After the bell rang, I went to my locker to grab my lunch. I figured it would be easier to bring my own, since I would be eating alone anyway. Nicole met me at my locker, carrying her own lunch. That was odd; she always bought her meal.

  We walked into the cafeteria together, and I glanced around, unsure of where to sit. My eyes landed on my customary table and I let out a sigh. Barry wasn’t there with Caleb and the others yet. After my first week at this school, Barry’s table had become my permanent location. That was no longer an option. Nicole stepped in the direction of Caleb, and I came to an abrupt halt, nervously scanning the area for a different table.

  The turmoil in my stomach churned at an all–time high, causing me to lose my appetite. At least I had done something right and packed a light lunch. My turkey sandwich, along with a banana and juice, would be plenty. I still didn’t know how I’d handle seeing Barry, but puking on the floor wasn’t a chance I wanted to take.

  Nicole noticed my hesitation and peered back at me with her nose wrinkled. “What are you doing?”

  “Nicole, I can’t sit at our regular table. I’m just going to sit over there,” I answered, pointing to an empty back corner table.

  Nicole grimaced and smacked her hand against her head. “Duh, I’m sorrry, I didn’t realize?” She backed up as if to follow me.

  “Nicole, you don’t have to abandon your friends just to keep me company.” I protested.

  “Nonsense. You’re just as much my friend as they are. Besides, I’d rather sit with you than a bunch of stupid boys anyway.”

  “Right. I’m sure.” I laughed halfheartedly. She wasn’t fooling me.

  When we settled into our spots, Nicole glanced toward Barry’s table. I continued taking out the contents of my lunch‌—‌all three items‌—‌while pretending not to notice the exchange between her and Caleb. Why didn’t I sit with my back toward that table? I guess I liked torturing myself.

  Nicole complained about the term paper assigned in English class. As she droned on about w
hat a burden it was to make the report a whole ten pages, the temptation to steal a glance became too strong. My eyes drifted toward Barry’s table, and I sucked in a breath at the sight of him.

  Unsure of what to expect, the sight of Barry hunched over, unshaven and with disheveled hair, definitely wasn’t it. A small peek was my only intent, but I couldn’t seem to pull my eyes away from his despair. I grimaced. My own appearance needed work, that was no a secret. My boring ponytail wouldn’t win any beauty contests, but his haggardness was ten times worse than my unfashionableness. It killed me to see him that miserable.

  “Hey…‌earth to Heather.” Nicole snapped her fingers in front of my face.

  Dragging my eyes away from his despair, I smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, I just…‌” I just what, wanted to see the guy I loved in complete misery, knowing I caused it? “I don’t know. This is the first time I’ve seen him since he told me we were through.”

  A sympathetic smile crossed Nicole’s lips, and I couldn’t help but glance back over at Barry. My breath hitched as our eyes connected. He didn’t move a muscle as his grave expression pierced through me. Gone was the playful Barry I knew and loved, replaced by this shell of a human, devoid of emotion. The air became suffocating as I struggled to breathe, the rising heat threatening to consume me. Spontaneous combustion didn’t sound so bad right about now.

  The dark circles under his eyes revealed his sleeplessness. It seemed like the light in his eyes had burned out. He looked as lost as I felt.

  My breath returned after he turned away. Tears stung my eyes, threatening to escape. I covered my face with my hands, squeezing my eyes tight. Will this pain ever go away?

  “I’m sorry. If it’s any consolation, Caleb says he’s having a really hard time as well,” Nicole added softly.

  “I hate knowing I’m responsible for this. He seems so empty.”

  “He’ll need some more time, but I know he’s miserable without you.”

  As I shook my head in disagreement, I couldn’t help but dread sixth period. Physics. The one class I shared with Barry, with him sitting directly behind me. How would I survive that class?

  As I gathered up my sandwich wrapper to throw it away, my cell phone buzzed in my pocket. I hesitated before answering the unknown number. My curiosity won out as I touched the answer button.

  “Hello.”

  “Hi, Heather. This is Nick. Nicholas Canter.”

  ~22~

  Intriguing

  The ticking clock was slowly driving me insane as I sat on the couch waiting for Nicholas to arrive. I almost hated to admit it, but meeting him was exciting. Most of my visions stemmed from tragedies, so it was nice saving someone’s life for a change, even if that meant losing my boyfriend. A human life was irreplaceable, and I wouldn’t apologize for playing that role‌—‌not anymore. It was just…‌if he hadn’t had made such dangerous choices then he wouldn’t had needed saving. Because of his careless actions, I ultimately lost my boyfriend.

  The silence weighed on me. I used to love solitude, but now it left me with too much time to think. Mom had left about a half hour ago to run her Saturday errands so I waited for Nick alone.

  Even though it had been a little over a week since the break up, Barry still consumed my thoughts. School was especially hard. All the routines I had developed since the first week I stepped into that school shattered now that Barry and I weren’t together. The funny thing was, I never realized how deeply Barry was entranced in my life until he was ripped out of it. I was lost without him.

  Befriending Nicole had been a godsend, and I shuddered at the thought of her not being a part of my life. She’d been by my side throughout our entire friendship, and without her support, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to go to school there anymore.

  It was sixth period that still wrenched my stomach every day. The first day back from spring break, I made sure I arrived at the physics classroom before anyone else and sat in my normal seat. A few seconds later, Barry came walking into the room.

  The moment his gaze landed on me, I quit breathing. The emptiness behind his eyes ripped a hole in my heart as I continued to stare.

  Barry paused for a moment and then edged past me to the back of the room, abandoning his customary seat.

  Ever since our encounter on Monday, he hadn’t so much as glanced in my direction. It was as if I had stopped existing entirely to him. It hurt, especially after he claimed to have loved me. Nicole kept telling me to give him more time, and although not much time had passed, I wished he’d quit hating me already. I didn’t hate him. In fact, this time apart had made me realize how much I loved him. My biggest regret was that I had never told him how I felt.

  The ticking of the clock continued in the background as I stood. I couldn’t sit there thinking any longer. As I hurried into the kitchen to get a glass of water, I glanced over at the clock on the wall. Part of me wanted to pick up the table lamp and smash the clock to stop the annoying sound. Mom wouldn’t be too appreciative, but at least the ticking would stop.

  Ice clunked into my glass as I pondered Nicholas’s visit. Taking a giant gulp of water, I felt somewhat relieved, even though I still thought this was a bad idea. He had asked for permission to meet, explaining that he wanted to thank me in person. Considering everything going on with the case, I wanted to say no, but there was an underlying sense of desperation to his voice that made it impossible to deny him. I caved. Now, I was waiting around with my curiosity piqued.

  Nick and I had agreed to meet at my house on Saturday—today— but now that I was alone, I was rethinking that decision. I should’ve picked a public place to keep the meeting more impersonal. Inviting him into my home set a more intimate tone, especially now that I was by myself.

  Detective Tanner had told me that Nick had testified against Bart and Jillian, earning him a slap on the wrist. He received only a misdemeanor possession charge and was sentenced to fifty hours of community service. Overall, I would say he got off lucky.

  As I drank the last swallow of water, the doorbell chimed. Taking a deep breath, I placed my glass on the counter before walking to the door. My stomach quivered. What monstrosity of injuries was I opening the door too? In my mind’s eye, I pictured a banged–up, swollen–faced kid.

  I opened the door, and blinked, and blinked again.

  The face staring back at me didn’t have a scratch on it. My mental preparations had been misleading, and the last thing I expected to see was the pair of stormy blue eyes staring expectantly at me. Nicholas Canter was gorgeous. His perfectly trimmed dark hair made the blueness of his eyes stand out, and the hint of stubble lining his chiseled jaw accentuated his handsomeness. Do real people actually look this good? Swallowing became a chore as my mouth dried up.

  I had been so focused on his actions when I saw him in my visions that I had somehow overlooked how handsome he was.

  He stood leaning on crutches, his lower left leg sheathed in a cast. Miraculously his face had escaped damage. He looked remarkably good, considering the mangled condition of his truck.

  “Heather?” Nick’s deep voice interrupted my thoughts. God, he must think I was an idiot!

  “Hi, Nicholas.” I said embarrassed.

  “Please call me Nick. That’s what my friends call me.”

  “Okay, Nick.”

  He turned and waved goodbye at a silver BMW sitting in my driveway. I blushed at the fact it was the first time I noticed the car. The driver slowly backed away as Nick returned his gaze. He remained silent for a moment as his eyes roamed along my body before slowly traveling back up to my face.

  Did he just check me out? Really?

  “Sorry, I’m being rude, please come in,” I said, opening the door wider to allow him to pass.

  As he hobbled into my house, my eyes inadvertently wandered toward Barry’s grandma’s house. The curtains shifted, and I knew someone was watching us. I grimaced. I wanted to rush over and explain Nicholas’s presence to Barry, but I didn’t understand
why. I had every right to have visitors. Regardless, I was sure Barry hated Nicholas for his role in his mother’s incarceration and our breakup, and seeing him on my porch wasn’t going to help us reconcile.

  I shut the door with a quiet sigh, then led Nicholas into my living room. “Would you like something to drink?” I asked politely.

  Nick shook his head no. He winced as he slowly sat down on the couch, awkwardly maneuvering his crutches. When he was settled, I sat across from him on the recliner

  “I wanted to thank you for saving my life. If you hadn’t done whatever it is you do, I would be dead.” He straightened, staring at me intently with his smoldering blue eyes. “I owe you my life.”

  “Stop…‌Nick, there’s no reason to thank me. I’m just thankful we found you in time.” He opened his mouth to say something, but I spoke before he had the chance. “You look great.” His eyebrows rose and my cheeks warmed at the realization of how that had sounded.

  His stare never wavered. “I’ll take a compliment from you anytime,” he said in a rich deep voice.

  My face had been pink since he checked me out on the porch, but they must have darkened to a shade just shy of a tomato. I remained quiet, not knowing how to respond. Was Nicholas Canter flirting? With me? What about his girlfriend, Jocelyn? Finally, I cleared my throat. “I meant your injuries. You’re not hurt as badly as I expected you would be when I saw you in your truck.”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, I’m lucky‌—‌just a broken leg, and a few cracked ribs.” He groaned as he pointed to his ribcage.

  The afternoon flew by as we chatted. Nick ended up being easy to talk to and we learned we had a few things in common. He admitted that he had been living his life carelessly but promised that he had changed his ways after the accident. I joked that he owed me at least that much for saving his life.

  Then I preached a little. “Take this second chance at life and live it to the fullest, and be smart about it. The choices you make have consequences. Living a happy life is simple, so long as you make good choices.” He listened intently. Whether he would follow through was up to him, but at least I had said something.