As if Faith senses the energy’s liftoff, she speaks again. “Thank you. You guys did great, and your friend is safe tonight.”
Everyone’s watery eyes open as if they truly believe her. Josh, Dereck, Jolene, and Roc all roll their shoulders, seemingly noticing a weight difference. We’re all ears, wanting more comfort from the one with magical words.
“That’s one of the strongest prayers I can teach you. I promise that it’ll be the best gift you can give her, and in time, when she is ready, Sky will let you in.” Faith pulls the hands she is holding—mine and Rocco’s—to her chest. “Yes?”
We all nod. Her hopeful attitude feels like a breath of fresh air.
“Good. Now, sulking will do no one any good, especially the one in need, so I want you all to go for a ride—”
“Mom, I don’t think we—”
Faith puts her hand up. “No arguments. You will thank me later.”
The garage door rises, exposing the three motorcycles waiting for us. Five tired teenagers shuffle their heavy feet into the garage. We stop and glance back at Faith. Our facial expressions say, “Do we have to?”
She waves us off. “Go on, now. Do what you’re told.”
Again, we shuffle forward.
Noticing three bikes, I realize why that number. Josh and Rocco are going. The Crew is grabbing helmets and jackets from a cupboard while Jolene says, “Aw, Dereck. Precious.”
Dereck is smirking, holding up a black and red jacket—just my size—with a matching red helmet. My eyes water. “But you’re not supposed to buy me things.”
“Didn’t. Found them on the side of the road.”
I kiss him.
My head rests on Dereck’s back, and Jolene rests hers on Josh’s. Sitting on the bike, we stare at each other. The whole Crew can feel something brewing. Through my helmet, I say, “We’ll make it through this. Together, we can do anything.”
Helmets begin to slowly nod as the guys grip their bike handles. A tear drips from Jolene’s eye, then she nods, too.
One by one, the engines ignite. And one by one, we drive into the darkness.
The bikes carry five teenagers with minds racing to the dim future. The release we need has not yet been found. The bikes pull us forward as pain tries to hold us back. Then, a familiar breeze circles. Mother Nature is calling. I decide to let her have me and allow nature to peel away the sickness. Faith is right—my Sky will pull through this.
I can sense the Crew feeling it, too. At a red light, our shoulders begin to roll around, again shaking off the worry of the night. The engines are idling, waiting for us to feed them.
Josh, our faithful leader, says, “The docks.”
I don’t know what the docks are, but when the light turns green, the bikes say, “Boys, let’s ride!”
And that’s what they do. I feel gears shifting in the motorcycles and in the guys’ hearts. I’m glad—they need it. Their maturity and connection to us girls will be legendary some day.
The Crew becomes as one as we head to freedom through the dark hills, everything around us becoming still as we regroup our souls. The hills blanket us while we wrap around the winding roads. They block the outside world as we run for cover.
We turn a corner, and a lake appears in the center of these hills. The moon reflects off the water like a beacon, announcing our destination. I laugh when I hear a howl… and then more howls. My arms around Dereck, I feel vibrations when he joins in. These howls aren’t from real wolves, only the ones in my friends’ hearts. I’m so moved by their newfound freedom, I yell, “This one’s for Skyler!” And I howl as if her life depends on it. Maybe it does.
We pull into a small, dirt parking lot and park. Rocco, off his bike first, strips off his helmet and clothes until he’s down to his skivvies. Then he takes off, racing toward the water. We watch him run then leap off the end of a dock, hoping the water can put out the fire in his heart. He resurfaces and howls another call to the wild. The wild answers. Josh and Jolene are off their bike so fast, stripping, it makes my head spin.
Run! Splash! Howl!
I get off Dereck’s bike a bit slower. I’ve never been in my bra and panties in front of him.
He’s taking off his shirt but stops. “It’s just like your bikini, but do you want my shirt?”
I’m feeling bashful but point at the Crew. “No, I want to feel like that.”
Rocco, Josh, and Jolene are playing in the water as if stripping off their clothes stripped away their fear.
“Have at it, baby. I won’t hold it against you. Want me to go ahead of you?”
“No. Please don’t leave me.”
My clothes come off, and so do his. He’s staring at me. I shield my body with my arms. “Do I look bad?”
Breathlessly, he says, “You’re beautiful, Serenity.”
I never once felt beautiful in my entire life, not like this, not until he reaches for my hand as if I am his everything. We walk to the beginning of the dock and stop.
He says, “Okay, it’s a little cold at first. There’s no easing in—gotta run and jump.”
I’m excited to take another leap with Dereck.
“Do you want to jump by yourself or together with me?”
I don’t even have to think about my answer. There’s nothing I want to do without this soul that’s given me a world I never thought would be mine. I squeeze his hand. “Together.”
We hold hands and run. I feel our lifetimes flow through me, along with the many times we’ve run hand in hand, just like this. I wonder when I’ll tell him the things I’ve seen. I wonder if I will ever know the purpose of our past lives.
Dereck and I leap into the night… together.
The house is quiet, but the outside light is on, and lamps light our path as we enter his front door. He turns to the security pad on the wall on his right and punches in a code. The pad beeps as I think about how lucky he is to have a mom care enough to have the living room lit for him. Faith is asleep, so Dereck leads me quietly up the stairs to his room. His furniture is dark tan with a brown comforter—masculine designs. His walls are white, with dark curtains over the windows so a tired teenager can keep the sun out until he crawls out of bed. A beautiful, artistic painting of a guitar hangs over his bed.
“Are you any good?” I point at his guitar resting in the corner on a guitar stand.
“Depends on who you’re asking.” He hands me a T-shirt.
I use a gentle tone. “I’m asking you.”
“In that case, I suck.”
“If I’m asking Faith?”
He rolls his eyes. “I’ve unlimited talent.”
I put on the shirt in the bathroom then find Dereck in a spare bedroom, pulling down blankets for me. He looks at his T-shirt, which is drowning me, and chuckles. “A little big?”
I crawl over the bed and get under the blankets. “I like it.”
He covers me. “Obviously my mom prefers separate beds.”
I flirt. “For all the girls?”
“I’ve never brought a girl home. That’s how my mom knew.”
My ears ring. “Knew what?”
“You’re the one.”
I need a new piggy bank.
“Good night, Serenity.”
“Good night, Dereck.” At the door, he’s reaching for the light switch on the wall. “Why won’t you kiss me good night, Mr. Hamilton?”
Dereck fights a sexy, dirty grin. “Because you’re in a bed, and I don’t trust myself.”
I bat my eyes as I hold the blanket over my mouth. “I trust you.”
He drops his head. “You’re killing me.”
My voice muffles through the blanket. “Just one kiss and I’ll let you go to bed.”
He takes a deep breath, tur
ns off the light, and starts whispering a chant—“One kiss. One kiss. Then leave. Then leave.” He heads to me and doesn’t have a chance to finish his pointless rambling.
I throw back my blanket and grab his shirt, pulling him on top of me.
He utters, “Oh God,” and we melt into a kiss—a strong, I’ve-been-waiting-to-do-this-all-night kiss.
Dereck and I kiss all the time but not like this. Not in a bed—in the dark. I want to take advantage of it, so I start to take off his shirt, but he whispers in a panic, “What are you doing? One kiss. Then leave.”
“I lied, Dereck.” I finish taking off his shirt, and we’re kissing again. I want to take mine off, too. As I do, he can barely get words out.
“Serenity, I-I don’t think—”
“I just want to feel your skin on mine. I’ve never felt it before.”
Him watching me undress is extremely seductive. His eyes shut as he lies on top of me again, our naked skin touching. I love it. He’s so warm, his chest firm yet his skin smooth. I’m in nothing but my panties, and his mouth rests on my shoulder as if he has an internal battle going on that I could never understand, but his breath on my skin only arouses me more.
I know Dereck is struggling already, but I can’t stop myself. Goose bumps are twirling through my body like an erupting butterfly storm. I take his hand and guide it to my breast. No more argument comes from Dereck. He kisses me intensely as his hand cups me gently… tenderly. My hand rests on his, trying to let him know how much I’m loving this.
In the breeze, in the rain,
This one who touches, brings me no pain…
His mouth hovers over mine, then our eyes meet. He starts kissing down my neck before reading my eyes again. When he does, I’m nodding—I want more from his soft lips. The kisses pick up where he’d left off, and I can count every one of them as he begins kissing my chest. My soft moans let him know he’s not rushing me. I’m enjoying affections from someone who cares deeply for me…
Dereck and I are face to face again. His body is trembling and, I think, begging for more. I know it takes a lot for him to touch me like this and still have such restraint, but that’s all I’m ready for. So, affectionately, I hold his face and whisper, “Thank you.”
Chapter Sixteen
To Stir the Pot
Jolene follows through with her promise. Since my mom is drunk, and both Dad and Father could care less, she asked Faith for assistance. Apparently Faith is highly opposed to bullying, and she went to my school to express her views. Don’t know what she said, but I know there are more faculty in the hallways. One mean student started to say something to Sky and me but was told to go to class. So a teacher witnessed the abuse and didn’t report it, but at least it was stopped. I could complain but choose to see the upside.
Although Skyler is still not back to normal, she’s made a huge improvement. And since Sky is making such an effort, Josh doesn’t push for details about what I’d said at the bowling alley. I think I spooked him. I understand; it spooks me, too.
Shockingly, Bruno is still around—still Sky’s boyfriend—but he isn’t allowed to be rude to me anymore. Now, Sky will grab my hand and tell him to shut up. I can only figure she’s still with him because the mist still lingers. It hasn’t reattached, though—not since Rocco Freako Train’s kiss at the shoe rental counter.
It’s rare, but today I am with Josh and Jolene—without Dereck. He had something to do with Faith after school. This afternoon feels like old times except for the topic of conversation.
In Jolene’s tiny duplex, Josh is a little hotheaded. “That Bruno has gotta go. With him around, we can’t get to the bottom of what’s going on with Sky.” He sits forward on the couch, propping his elbows on his knees.
Jolene shivers. “Yuck. He sounds like a leech. She won’t even bring him to meet me.”
The chill creeping down my spine makes me quiver. “You don’t want to. He makes my skin crawl.”
“So, it’s not just me being overprotective? He’s that bad?” Josh’s fists open and close.
“Worse, Josh. Worse.”
He rises and paces. “Time to stir the pot.”
Jolene and I also rise from the couch and pretend to be stirring a huge kettle with our massive, invisible witch spoons. Jolene shouts, “Stir that pot, big daddy.”
Josh keeps pacing. “That’s right. Big daddy is on the case.” He taps his chin with his lecture finger. “First, we have to meet this pecker head.”
“Pecker head?” I question the new nickname.
“That’s right. You heard me. We are now commencing Operation Pecker Head.”
Jolene and I lose it, laughing so hard we’re holding our bellies.
Then he shouts, “I’ve got it! My mom is out of town. I’ll throw a party and tell Shorty she must come and bring her pecker head.”
Jolene’s brows furrow. “Um, what if she says no?”
“Huh.” Josh thinks again. “Umm… I will threaten to beat her ass?”
Jolene and I tackle him onto the couch. She yells, “You and your temper!”
He eats up our affections. “You know it’ll work. Now give me some love. You know how I like it.”
We each pick a cheek and sandwich his face with kisses.
“Mmm. Now that’s what I’m talking about.”
With a persuasive threat from Josh, Skyler finally agrees to come to the party, with Bruno. She has made no promises about how long they will stay, but at least the Wise Ones will get to see this odd relationship firsthand. Then they can activate phase two of Operation Pecker Head.
After getting ready for the party, I walk out my front door to witness a dream coming true—my boyfriend talking to my dad about his truck. Simple dream? Yes, but sometimes it’s the little things that mean the most. Many take beautiful normality for granted. I appreciate every ordinary moment I’m lucky enough to experience.
Dereck and my dad are pointing under the hood, just like pals. Dereck appears extra happy today. “Hey there,” he says, his light incredibly bright.
My dad peers up from the engine and smiles—a real smile. “Hi, Munchkin.”
I freeze as my heart clenches. That was my childhood nickname I have not heard since I was eight.
A lump forms in my throat. “Hi, Daddy.”
I realize Dereck’s light is touching my dad, clearing his head of any vapors. I don’t know if it’s a figment of my imagination, but my dad appears clean and shaven. He looks like… my real dad. I want to run and hug him and ask where he’s been all this time, but that would be too cruel to my heart. As soon as Dereck is far enough from him, Father will return.
“You two lovebirds headed to a party?”
Dereck seems embarrassed and oblivious to the wonderful gift he has given me. I, on the other hand, am not oblivious but choose to stay in temporary heaven with my daddy. “Yeah, Josh’s party.”
“That boy’s a good kid.”
Dad walks with Dereck, still close enough to be affected. This is one of the first times Dad has ever acknowledged Josh in such a manner, almost appreciating what he has done for me.
I fight it, but my eyes water anyway as I whisper, “One of the best.”
The need to feel Daddy’s embrace—to remember, when my heart forgets again, that this man was once one of the best, too—has my feet almost fumbling as I awkwardly walk to a parent I miss dearly. I close my eyes to breathe him in as I rest my head on his strong, once-so-comforting chest. His arms come around me naturally, and I exhale with a peace that every child should feel in their daddy’s embrace. I have to say it, even if he doesn’t say it back. “I love you, Daddy.”
His change happens in my arms.
I begin to feel ill.
“Serenity, what are you doing?” Father asks.
I slowly peer up. The mist surrounding his face sounds like distant mosquitoes. The clean-shaven look is back to careless stubble along a dirty jaw. With his arms no longer around me, I slowly back away, saying nothing. I hear Dereck’s voice in the distance, on his cell phone. I don’t have to look to know he’s walked away, probably to give my dad and me some privacy. My sweet Dereck’s manners have left me hugging the beast.
Dereck is aware I’m in a mood, but he’s not aware of why. All the way to Josh’s house, he reaches over every few minutes to poke me in the ribs. I pout, mumble, and keep blocking his hands. “Don’t make me pull over and kiss you,” he threatens.
His threat is working, and I start smiling.
“There she is.”
He’s so happy it becomes contagious, making it harder to whine—but I manage. “What is wrong with you?”
“I know what you need—apple pie with vanilla ice cream.” I nod vigorously as I nuzzle into his side. “See? I’m a mind reader. Ain’t that right?” He points at his cheek. “Gimme some.” I kiss his cheek, appreciating all he is to me.
Josh’s yard—and street for that matter—is full of cars. His house is extremely small compared to Dereck’s or mine, but it’s the cutest thing. Only Josh and his mom live in this ocean-green, country-looking cottage. Under the windows hang white flower boxes that Josh put up for his mom’s seasonal blooms. They make the house look like something out of a fairy tale.
Josh loves his mama. Lainy is sugar and spice with an ass-kicking attitude, and anyone who meets her understands where Josh gets his temper. Lainy has had the same boyfriend for years, but he lives at his own place. I remember her saying once, “I’m not moving that man in until I move this one out. Josh won’t take lightly to another male under this roof trying to tell him what to do. That’s his mama’s job. Ain’t that right, baby?” She had kissed Josh. “And my baby can stay as long as he wants.”
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