The Essential Elements: Boxed Set

by Elle Middaugh

  He shook his head. “We’ve been over this, Val. It’s not about the rules. It’s about the power.”

  I would never ask him to give up his Elemental power.

  But it sucked a lot to think that, if I agreed, it would always be this way. His friends could never know about me. His family could never know. The whole wealthy, Traditionalist community back in the West Woods could never know. The jet-set Modernists of East End couldn’t know. Even the humans in East End. Or in the whole entire world. Only us. And, I guessed, Holden’s crew, who inadvertently knew because I’d admitted it to them before I knew it was a crime.

  “Holden knows,” I whispered shamefully.

  Cade snorted. “Of course Holden knows. I threatened him to stay away from you at least three times. He has a defiant streak a mile wide, and a sadistic lust for getting his ass kicked.”

  “What?” I shouted incredulously.

  Mr. Berwyn peeked over his tiny oval spectacles. “Is there a problem, Miss Moore?” he asked softly from his desk.

  Shit. I hated to cause him any trouble. He was just so frail I wasn’t sure what the extra stress might do to him. “No, sir. No problem. I’m sorry. I was just getting a little overzealous about our projects.”

  He smiled kindly. “Never apologize for being excited about literature and writing, dear girl.” He immediately got back to work and paid us no more mind. I had the audacity to wonder if he was writing up his will. I was such an asshole.

  At Cade, I hissed, “Why the hell would you tell Holden to stay away from me?”

  “Because I like you, damn it! Is it that hard to believe? I thought Michaels was just using you to smear it in my face.” He rubbed his neck uncomfortably. “Turns out, I was wrong. He actually likes you, which is spectacular.”

  I cleared my throat to hide my snicker. It probably shouldn’t have been funny to me, but for some reason, it totally was. Cade’s jealousy and unease seemed completely warranted in my mind. He’d run me through the emotional millhouse, and it was only fair that he should be at least a bit uncomfortable too.

  I raised a defiant eyebrow. “So, what do you want from me, Cade?” I waited, but I didn’t think he had a definitive answer. “You want me to just ditch Holden and all my new friends to be a skeleton in your closet?”

  Eyes narrowed, he growled at me. “No. Of course not! I just want… Well, actually…yes. I guess that’s exactly what I want, but I would never ask that of you.” He sighed and rested his chin on his own crossed arms. Our noses were less than a foot apart. “I don’t care if you keep your boyfriend and your Modernist friends. I just…I want to be one of your friends, too. For now. Is that at least fair? Could you be my little skeleton if we were just friends?”

  What a screwed up way to successfully sweet-talk me into agreement.

  I smirked. “Yes, Cade Landston. I can be your little skeleton friend. For now.”

  Mr. Berwyn arched his neck to read the clock. “There’s less than a minute left,” he uttered as loudly as he could. “Don’t forget to write down and turn in your choice of literature, as well as your creative spin on the subject. Tomorrow we’ll be heading to the library for research purposes.” The bell sounded off, right on cue. “Have a wonderful afternoon.”

  Cade grinned. “So, can I have my new friend’s phone number?”

  “I suppose so…” I agreed almost nervously, and rattled it off as he plugged it into his contacts.

  “Maybe I’ll text you later?” he ventured, winking at me before submitting his assignment and silently slinking out of the room.

  It was the most bizarre and unexpected day ever…

  I dropped my own assignment on Mr. Berwyn’s desk, then sat back down in my seat. Poetry was my next class, and that meant I’d be staying right where I was.

  The rest of the day went by like an easy breeze. I didn’t see the guys again until eighth period, English, and even with them both sneaking furtive glances my way, I felt like things were calming down and looking up, somehow.

  That is, until Loren acquainted my face with my locker after class.

  “What the hell did I tell you, Valerie?” she threatened viciously as she forced my right cheek into the cold metal.

  “Oh, Loren! Give it a damn rest! I don’t want anything to do with your stupid boyfriend, okay?”

  “That’s not what I heard.”

  I snorted. “What did you hear?”

  She tightened her grip in my hair, thumped my head into the locker again, then released me. “That you were flirting with him in fourth period.”

  “I wasn’t flirting,” I said as I rubbed my cheek. “We got assigned as partners for one day, Loren. Chill the hell out. It was absolutely nothing.”

  Glaring, her lake blue eyes stared me down with the intensity of a tidal wave. “It had better be nothing.”

  I smirked and took a step closer. “Cade’s not the only guy in this school who’s hot as hell, you know. Center Allegheny practically won the genetic lottery of small-town sexiness. I’m not even sure I can count them all on both hands.”

  “I’m not sure you can count that far either.”

  “Shut up,” I said to her smirking face. “All I’m saying is, I have Holden Michaels vying for my affections, and that is, in no way, shape, or form, worth a petty fight with you over some other guy. You get me?” I had totally stolen that line from Jay, but it was so badass that I couldn’t help myself.

  A voice suddenly interrupted us. “I think I heard my name…” Holden muttered as he leaned his back into the locker beside us. He crossed his arms. “Ah, Loren Marlowe. The wicked witch of the West Woods. Why don’t you piss off before I bump you to the top of the shit list?”

  “You think I’m afraid of you, Holden?” she spat.

  He smirked. “No. You’re too ignorant to know better, but you should be.”

  “Right. Let me get my cute little dishtowel ready for the next round of torture.”

  “Are you making fun of lover-boy?” he asked sardonically. It made Loren look awkward and uncomfortable, and I figured that was the whole point. She snarled and turned away from us, stomping down the hall in a particularly childish show of defiance. “I’ll let him know the next time I see him!” Holden called out. She didn’t look back, just flipped him the bird. He directed his attention back to me, with a mile-wide smile. “What a bitch.”

  “Tell me about it.” I slung my bag over my shoulder and we began walking down the hall.

  Holden laced our fingers then kissed them. “I have football practice for a couple of hours now, but afterward a few of us are going to hit the river behind my house. I’d really love it if you came…”

  My expression squeezed like a lemon. “Who will be there?”

  He smiled and shook his head. “Me, Chase, Jay, and Bear. No Curt or Jimmy.”

  “No girls?”

  “Girls, too,” he added casually. “Sienna, Charlene, Emilie…and you? Please?”

  I smiled, but took too long to think on it. As we made our way outside, past the parking lot, along the bleachers, and toward the locker room, Holden sighed. He stopped and pulled me into his arms.

  “I don’t really know exactly what’s going on here. I do know part of it involves Landston, and that’s truly unfortunate. But as for the rest…I’m lost.

  “I really enjoy being around you, Val. I’ve had so much fun with you every time we’ve hung out, and I’d like to continue having fun with you…” He trailed off as he delved deeper into my eyes. “But you need to tell me if that’s not what you want.”

  I shook my head, surprised. “No, I want that.”

  He still looked unconvinced. “Are you sure?”

  “I’m completely sure.” I leaned in and kissed him under the jaw. “And I’ll river-it-up with you and the crew this evening, too. Is it okay if I do some homework from the bleachers during your practice?”

  “Sure. The girls do it all the time,” he said with a hopeful smile.

  “Good.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed his mouth this time.

  The soft brush of the lips that I’d intended quickly escalated into a steamy make-out session behind the bleachers. The cliché did not escape me, but I didn’t care. There’s a reason things become truisms in the first place. They happen. A lot.

  His fingers tangled in my hair and I squeezed him tighter. Our breathing was hot and hurried, and my mind was getting fuzzy, blurring reality around the edges like a dream. It felt good to replace the stressful tension with a little sexual tension.

  A shrill whistle blew somewhere nearby and Holden immediately tensed back up. He moaned before breaking our kiss. “Shit! Practice.” He kissed me again. “I gotta go, babe. I’ll see you after.” He dropped another quick kiss on my lips before sprinting into the locker room. I was left with that word purring in my mind; I liked him calling me babe more than I would have expected.

  I joined Charlene and Emilie on the bleachers a minute later. Sienna had apparently gone home. Chase was in college, after all, and there was no real reason for her to stick around for a high school practice session.

  “Hey Val,” Charlene said, welcoming me warmly with a smile and a wave.

  Holden entered the field in his practice jersey, and as previously promised, he and Bear joined Jay in doing a few laps around the track.

  “Hey,” I said with a grin. Then my eyes slid onto Emilie. She was smiling gently, but trying her damnedest to keep her nose tucked into her textbook. She was clearly shy, but I wanted to get to know her, so I kindly added, “Hello Emilie.”

  “Hey Valerie,” she muttered softly.

  “What are you reading?”

  “Um.” She used her finger as a bookmark, then shut the cover and glanced up at me. “Advanced Physics?” I didn’t think it was supposed to be a question, but it sounded like one.

  “That sounds terribly exciting.” I flopped down and rummaged through my bag. My cellphone was blinking that soft blue light that signaled a message of some sort. I grabbed it and swiped quickly across the lock screen.

  It was an email from my dad!

  I miss you, sweetheart. It’s been a rough few days on the water. I heard we cruised through a particularly nasty hurricane last night. No wonder it was such a shitty shift. If I could have fired every last idiot who worked for me, I would have. Unfortunately, the navy makes it next to impossible to get kicked out. I swear, they’re coming in dumber by the day… Anyway, I’m not upset about the fight, sweetheart. Just make sure that next time you knock that girl through herself. I’m glad school is going well, and that there aren’t any boys I need to shoot! Also, I haven’t forgotten about your birthday. You’ll be getting your present this Wednesday, right on time. You’re welcome, in advance. You’re going to love it. I love you, Val. I’ll write more later.

  Ah! I smiled wide and tucked the phone into my pocket; I’d write him back later. The curiosity of what my present might be was killing me, though. I couldn’t wait!

  “What are you grinning so wildly about?” Charlene asked me slyly.

  I directed said grin in her direction. “My dad emailed me. He said he got me my birthday present and that I’m going to love it! I can’t wait to see what it is!”

  “What?” She was clearly surprised. “When’s your birthday?”

  “Two days from now. I’ll be eighteen!” I must’ve looked like a lunatic. I felt my eyes going all crazy with excitement.

  “And why wasn’t I invited to your party?” Charlene asked playfully.

  I scrunched my face and my shoulders. “Because there isn’t one?”

  “There is now,” she said with a spirited expression of determination. “I’ll round up the girls and we’ll make it the best birthday party ever!”

  My phone vibrated as I chuckled. “Okay, Charlene.” No sense in disagreeing with her. Besides, it really might be fun. I pulled my cell from my pocket and swiped the screen. An unfamiliar number sat in my inbox.

  Want to join me for some closet-time at the willow later?

  I almost choked. Cade! I shot a nervous look at the girls, but they weren’t, like, staring at me or anything. So, umm…

  Maybe…? What time?

  My blood was rushing nervously. We might’ve decided that our renewed relationship was to be a strictly friends scenario, but this felt almost sneaky.

  His return text shot back within seconds.

  Late. I’m working with my dad this evening.

  Perfect opportunity for an excuse.

  Noooope! I don’t do the willow-after-dark routine any more. Sorry.

  I bit my bottom lip and glanced at the field. The guys had finished their laps and were now practicing within their designated groups. Holden was swiftly shuffling his feet through some old lined up tires and then whipping the ball to the backup quarterback.

  Cade’s reply buzzed through.

  Maybe tomorrow after school, then?

  I was a little disappointed at his lack of persistence. Holden would have found a way to con me into it, somehow. Then again, that’s probably why I was with him, and not Cade. Besides, Holden was gearing up for boyfriend status. Cade was just a friend who happened to be a boy.

  We’ll see.

  He responded quickly.

  We’ll see? What the hell kind of answer is that? How are we going to be friends if we never hang out?

  Ha!

  Need I remind you that I was friends with Sienna for seven years without ‘hanging out’?

  Another quick reply.

  No. Reminding me is unnecessary, because you never told me that to begin with. But this isn’t like that, though. Just…tell me you’re going to meet me after school tomorrow.

  Like I’d cave so easily.

  Not until I make sure Holden doesn’t want to do anything. Priorities. I’m sure you understand. In fact, you should probably run this idea by your own girlfriend, don’t you think?

  Charlene was staring at me. I blinked and pulled the smirk off my face. “What?”

  “I was just asking you if you needed to borrow one of my swimsuits. For the river?”

  “Oh! Sorry. Yeah, that would be awesome. Thank you.”

  My cell buzzed. I glanced down.

  You know it’s not like that. I told you that after school on Friday… But, whatever. I have a compromise. How about tomorrow morning before school? Five a.m. Just before sunrise.

  I glanced back to Charlene, but she’d gone back to studying, and Emilie was as engrossed in physics as ever.

  Fine. Tomorrow morning at five. I gtg now. Ttyl.

  I didn’t want to lie to anyone, but I wasn’t sure that having a non-mutual friend was actually a lie. It felt kind of crawly in my stomach to keep it from them, so maybe it was, at least, wrong? Well…not wrong to have a non-mutual friend, just wrong to keep it a secret.

  How the hell could Cade stand this? He must’ve had an off-kilter moral compass or something. It was going to drive me crazy.

  We finished our homework and studying just in time for practice to end. While the guys showered up and got changed, we chitchatted and giggled about random girl things.

  In the parking lot, Holden asked the crew, “Straight to my house?”

  Charlene shook her head. “I have to stop and grab Valerie a spare suit.”

  He nodded. “Well, as soon as you’re ready then.”

  Holden held the passenger side door open for me before taking the driver’s seat. His silver club-cab truck was an automatic, spotless and shiny, and it smelled like a mixture of him, spicy ocean breeze, and air freshener—piña colada, like a beach party. He didn’t seem to beat the shit out of it like Chase did his, either. We eased smoothly onto the road with the rest of the gang following like a convoy.

  Windows down, we blared the sound system the entire way to his house, not that it was all that far. The beats were of the same fantastic genre that had been playing at his party, and we sang along and danced and laughed at each other soundlessly under the heavy haze
of the bass.

  The lighthearted fun came to an abrupt halt as we approached Holden’s driveway. He killed the music entirely and narrowed his eyes as we slowly drew nearer. I saw it, too: an unfamiliar car in the drive, an unfamiliar face on the porch steps.

  The man stood as Holden threw the truck into park and jumped out.

  “Can I help you?” he asked suspiciously.

  The man smiled snidely. “I actually wanted to talk to your parents, but seeing as they’re not in, you’ll do.”

  I watched the tautness spread across Holden’s shoulders. This didn’t feel right. He was gearing up for a fight. “What the hell do you want?”

  “I want my daughter back,” the man said evenly.

  Then he pointed a gun at Holden’s head.

  Chapter Eighteen

  I gasped. It was my initial instinct. The harsh intake of oxygen was tainted with adrenaline, and it tasted as strange as an electrical burn smelled. Fight or flight was trying to kick in, but I was frozen in place. The scream that was clawing from my lungs had embedded in my throat and came out as more of a strangled whimper.

  Oh, Holden. Oh, my god. Holden, please…

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said calmly.

  “Bullshit!” the man cried as he shoved Holden in the forehead with the gun barrel. “I know she came here. Where is she?”