The Next Generation

by S. C. Stephens

  I pushed the memory of that horror away as Olivia took three of my checker pieces. I didn’t need to have a panic attack right now. And besides, shutting off the bond wasn’t an option either. Sure, I’d be able to ditch my parents, but if I suddenly dropped out of their senses, they’d call in everybody to find me. The whole family would be on alert. That level of stress wasn’t my goal tonight. No stress was my goal tonight. No stress…and seeing Raquel.

  I looked up at Mom in the window when I felt Dad’s location start to firmly head toward home. Sighing, Mom rested her head against the glass and murmured, “Thank you.” I wasn’t sure if she was thanking Dad, or thanking fate.

  Her face was a picture of peace when he finally walked back into the house. Dad’s face was the same. They instantly locked onto each other, like they’d been apart for years, not hours. They were kissing and whispering words of affection while Ben scooted around them, unfazed. He was used to their passionate homecomings. We all were. It was their special bond that fueled the reaction. Well, that and a giant helping of love and respect. But the bond drove them to want to be together, gave them each a euphoric feeling when they met up. I couldn’t imagine what having a connection like that must feel like, although, I did get a tiny buzz whenever Raquel was near me. Arianna, too, in a way.

  As Ben walked over to his daughter, he mumbled under his breath, “I’m so glad that bond has tapered off over the years. I really don’t want to ever find you guys going at it in my car again.”

  I snorted. Ben’s eyes locked on mine and he paled, like he’d again forgotten that I could hear him just as well as my parents. Mom pulled away from Dad, her mouth wide open. “Ben!” She indicated me with her hand. I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing; Dad couldn’t stop himself. Nika continued chattering to Arianna upstairs. Preoccupied with her own conversation, she didn’t seem to have overheard Ben’s comment.

  Olivia looked confused by everyone’s strange reactions. “What’s going on?”

  Ben quickly changed the topic. “Time for bed, kiddo.”

  He hustled her upstairs. Mom and Dad kissed me goodnight, then headed up to their room. By the look on Mom’s face, I could tell that she was dying to know what Ben and Dad had discovered. I also knew that the pair wouldn’t talk about it until they were behind their soundproof door. This worked well for me on the hearing front, but made it trickier too. With the door closed, I wouldn’t be able to tell when they were asleep. They could stay up all night talking. If I tried to sneak out of the house and they were awake, I’d have hell to pay.

  Trudging up to my room, I thought maybe I’d have to skip the party after all. Nika was off the phone with Arianna when I entered my room. She was sitting on her bed, waiting. I didn’t know if she was waiting to talk to me, or waiting for my parents to fall asleep. Realizing that between my parents and my watch-guard sister, I was thoroughly stuck at home, I slipped into the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and got ready for bed. Nika watched me without comment. When I was done, I closed my door to the bathroom, effectively blocking her out. “Goodnight, Nick.”

  “Are you staying home then?” she asked.

  Flopping onto my bed, I took off my shoes with my toes. I could feel the pulsing enclosure of my family’s presence imprisoning me. I’d so wanted to see Raquel tonight…I just had no way to leave. “Looks like it…”

  “That’s probably for the best, Julian. Raquel may act interested at times, but she’s—”

  I cut off her well-intentioned speech. “I’m tired, Nika. I just want to go to sleep.”

  Nika murmured okay, then was silent. Sighing, I closed my eyes and tried to forget that—right now—Raquel was at a party with Russell…and she might be looking for me. My phone buzzed, but I ignored it. It was just Trey, asking where the hell I was. He’d forget about me soon enough, once he found some illegal substances to indulge in. I just couldn’t handle telling him that I couldn’t make it. It was too disappointing.

  Two hours later, I was still wide awake. Staring at the light fixture in the center of the room, I debated abandoning sleep all together and going downstairs to watch some TV. Then I wondered if maybe I could sneak out after all. Sitting up, I glanced at the clock. It was late, but not too late. A bunch of partying teenagers could still be going strong. Looking over to the closed bathroom door separating my room from Nika’s, I murmured, “Nick? You awake?”

  Silence met my ear. Well, mainly silence. I could pick out the light breathing sounds of Ben, Olivia, and my sister. I could also hear their slow, steady heartbeats. They all seemed to be asleep. My parents, though, that was a gamble. If I cracked their door to check, they could wake up. If I just left, and they were still awake, I wouldn’t get very far, and I’d be in a massive amount of trouble.

  Grabbing my shoes, I decided to take the risk of leaving. If they were up, and I got in trouble, then…so be it, I got in trouble. If they weren’t up, and I got to see Raquel all decked out in her Halloween costume, well, that was worth a little scolding.

  I grabbed my jacket off the floor before quietly closing my bedroom door. Careful to not wake up my sister, I tiptoed downstairs. A floorboard creaked near the front door and I froze. No sounds in the house changed, and I tried to still my rapidly beating heart, tried to smooth the adrenaline running through me. Being loud wasn’t the only thing that could wake up my sister. If my emotions were strong enough, that might wake her up too. Taking long, slow, deep breaths, I opened the front door and stepped through it.

  This was where my parents would question me if they were still awake. Leaving the house would certainly stoke their curiosity. Walking as nonchalantly as I could, I grabbed my skateboard resting at the edge of the flower garden near the porch. Nothing so far. They must be asleep. Terrified and thrilled, I set down the board and skated off. I started counting in my head. I was sure I wouldn’t get to twenty before someone started shouting. When I made it to fifty, I started relaxing.

  My grin huge, I used a bit of my inhuman strength to propel the board as quickly as I could. I also grabbed the phone from my jacket pocket and texted Trey. ‘I’ll be at the party in fifteen.’

  His response was a little slow. ‘Dude, I thought you were already here?’

  Shaking my head at him, I dug in a little harder. No, not yet…but soon.

  Derrick’s house was pretty far from mine, on the edge of the city. The night was frigid as I strode up the dusty drive. Kids were milling about outside, though, too entertained to mind the nip in the air. Everyone was dressed in some type of Halloween costume. Wearing jeans and a T-shirt, I stood out, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t here to win a costume contest. Hopefully, I’d be winning Raquel’s heart away from Russell. That was my goal tonight.

  I left my board on the brown lawn, near a prickly bush that had seen better days. Derrick’s place was on a couple of acres, and was secluded enough that no one would probably call the cops on a bunch of rowdy kids. His parents were constantly gone on business trips, which made his place the ideal weekend party spot. I’d never actually been here before, but I’d heard some pretty crazy stories.

  You would think that teenage drinking and partying would be almost non-existent in a city that was so centralized around a religion that frowned on any mind-altering substances, but, that wasn’t the case tonight. Plastic cups filled with toxic-smelling liquid were everywhere around me as I stepped into the two-story party central.

  A zombie and a mummy were hanging out by the front door. They both checked me out, then ignored me. I wondered how I was going to find Trey as I walked through the swarm of partiers. He found me though. I was trying to politely squeeze through a couple of barely clad genies when he barged into me. Slamming me from behind, he made me bump into the girls. One of them smacked me when I accidentally brushed her chest. Trey started laughing uncontrollably as they walked away in a huff.

  “Thanks, man,” I muttered.

  He wiped his bloodshot eyes. “That was priceless, Adams.”

 
I could tell from Trey’s appearance—and his smell—that he’d been here a while and he was clearly feeling no pain. Knowing he’d know where my girl was hiding, I leaned in so he could hear me above the din of the crowd and music. “You seen Raquel?”

  Trey looked confused for a second, then nodded. He was dressed as a court jester, and the bells on his hat jingled as he indicated upstairs. “She went up there.”

  My heart dropped as I glanced at the stairs leading to the second floor…where the bedrooms were. “She alone?”

  Trey’s hand on my shoulder swung my attention back to him. “Let it go, man.” He held up a joint. “Smoke this and you’ll forget all about her.”

  I shook my head and started wading through witches and warlocks to get to the stairs. Trey followed close behind. “Julian, you don’t want to go up there.”

  Furious and in pain, I ignored him. I didn’t know what I’d been expecting. Raquel had told me she was coming here with Russell. There had just been something in the way she’d asked me to change my mind and come, something in her voice when she’d seen me with Arianna. I thought…I thought coming here tonight might change everything for us. Trudging up the stairs, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do once I got to the top.

  People around me were laughing, talking, drinking, and there seemed to be a line to get into the bedrooms…the make-out rooms. And more, I supposed, but I couldn’t think about that. Thinking about Raquel and Russell going at it might make me throw up. I tried to weasel my way to the front of the line, but a football player grabbed my shoulder and pushed me back.

  “Wait your turn, douche!”

  Glaring at him, I imagined pushing him so hard he flew all the way to the back wall. Even though he was bigger than me, I knew I could do it. And it wasn’t helping my anger any that I could clearly hear moaning and groaning coming from each of the three closed rooms. I could even hear a bed squeaking in the far one. Not seeing Raquel in the hall, I had to imagine that she was in one of the bedrooms.

  Trey pulled on my shoulder when I didn’t back down from the jock in front of me. “Dude, ease up.”

  I couldn’t. I was too hurt to ease up. Raquel was miserable with Russell, but she wouldn’t leave him. She’d shown me her vulnerable side…she’d kissed me. But it hadn’t changed her mind, and now… She could be having sex with him. The couple crying out so loudly that the kids in the hall were chuckling at them could be Raquel and Russell. I had to grab my stomach it hurt so much.

  I was just about to physically remove the man blocking my path when I heard something that stopped my heart. In the bedroom closest to me, a soft voice said, “No, Russell, I don’t want to go that far.”

  I held my breath. It wasn’t Raquel that was screaming, “Yes,” and about to finish in the far room. She was with Russell, but they were just kissing. Funny how that was comforting to me now. My hand balled into a fist while I waited for Russell’s response. If he tried to force her…I would end him.

  “What? Don’t give me this shit, Raquel. You get me all worked up…again…and then you turn me down…again? I’m not taking this crap anymore.” I heard clothes being adjusted, bodies shifting.

  In a panicked voice, I heard Raquel tell him, “Don’t be mad. I will…just not like this…not at a party.”

  “Whatever,” he muttered.

  My body was searing with anger when he opened the door. Also dressed as a football player, Russell made a show of zipping up his pants as he exited the room. The kids in the hall cheered, clapping him on the back. The verbal couple hit their peak just then, adding to the joyous sounds. I clenched my stomach harder.

  Trey pulled on my arm. “Let’s go, man.”

  I was the only one who knew nothing had happened in that room. As Russell passed, I couldn’t help but tell him, “Better luck next time.”

  Russell glanced at me, but didn’t react to my comment. He gave me a derisive sniff, stumbled, and headed down the stairs. I figured he was drunk, and had missed my diss. He probably hadn’t even gotten a full look at me, otherwise he might have started something. The jerk who had been blocking my path to the bedrooms finally darted into a free room with his cheerleader in tow, and I took the opportunity to sneak ahead of an oblivious couple making out in the hallway. Trey raised his arms in a questioning gesture, and I gave him a quick smile before I headed into the bedroom that Raquel was still in.

  Raquel and Russell had been in the master bedroom by the size of the bed and the contemporary décor. Raquel was sitting on the edge of the mattress, looking forlorn, when I closed the door. Hearing me, she looked up. “Russell?” Her face fell a little. “Oh…hey, Julian. You decided to come to the party after all, huh?” Wiping under her eyes, she asked, “Arianna here?”

  As I sat beside her on the bed, I tried to block out the image of Russell zipping up his pants. I also tried to ignore the fact that they’d been rolling around on this bed only moments ago. Raquel was dressed as a fairy. Her hair had been elaborately curled and pinned, but some of the dark strands had fallen loose. Her eyes were masked in pastel makeup; some of it was smudged. Her outfit was disheveled, slightly out of place in some areas. She was absentmindedly fingering a set of wings in her hands. “You shouldn’t be in here,” she whispered.

  Seeing the pain on her face, I shoved aside my heartache, replacing it with concern. “Are you okay? Did he…hurt you?”

  She glanced up at me, her eyes wet. “No, we didn’t do anything. I told him no.” She frowned as she searched my face. “I don’t know why I’m telling you that.”

  My heart skipped a beat. “Raquel…I…”

  She stood up, cutting me off. “I should go find Russell…”

  Standing, I grabbed her hand. “Don’t…stay here with me.”

  She stepped closer to me, but her eyes darted around the room, over the bed. “Julian, I…”

  Intimate sounds from the other rooms seeped into my head. They didn’t make me sick this time…they made me want her even more. I felt the warmth and desire for her growing as we stood there, staring at each other. Knowing Nika was asleep, and for once my feelings were my own, I embraced them. I opened myself up to them. Pulling her closer, I cupped her cheek. “You deserve better, Raquel. You should have seen his face when he left this room, like you were an object he’d won.” I shook my head. “I’d never treat you like an object.” I leaned in, and my body pressed along the length of hers. “I…I think I love you,” I whispered. It felt so true after I said it, but at the same time…incomplete. The possibility of growth was there, and I wanted to explore it with her. I wanted to love her.

  “Oh…Julian. Sometimes I think…I could love you too. Maybe…”

  She pressed her lips to mine then, and I thought I might die from the burst of joy exploding through me. I kissed her as softly and tenderly as I could, trying to show her that I could be different than Russell. Kind in a way he wasn’t. Raquel returned every soft kiss, even sought my lips when I pulled back a little. She was changing her mind about us, I was sure of it.

  Feeling bolder, I cupped her other cheek, drawing her in. Her lips parted, and I ducked my tongue inside. She made a noise that sent a chill straight through me. I couldn’t believe I’d caused that erotic sound to come from her, and I really couldn’t believe it when her hands slid up my chest and snaked around my neck. Our mouths moved together in an increasingly passionate tempo, and before I knew it, I had her pressed against the bed. She folded, sitting down and laying back on it. I hovered over her, our mouths still locked as one. Then our bodies met. I was ready for her, ready for more. I rocked against her and she cried out again. I couldn’t believe it.

  Full of so much love and passion I thought I’d go crazy; I broke apart from her lips. Dragging my mouth down the neck that I longed for, I told her, “We’d be great together, Raquel…perfect.”

  Her body wrapped around mine, and I pressed into her again. I thought I might explode if I did that too many times. It felt so good though, I couldn’t s
top. Her hips met mine, her breath as fast as my own. Then her body stiffened. She clutched my shoulder, and hissed, “Oh God, Julian…yes.”

  I watched the euphoria on her face, watched her gasp and close her eyes. Was she…? I wanted to experience it with her, but I didn’t want to push her, and she’d already told Russell she didn’t want to go that far at a party. Pulling back, I watched my beautiful fairy exploding. When her face relaxed, the entire moment changed. She closed her eyes, then she hitched a sob. Alarmed, I moved away from her. “Raquel, what is it?”

  Her hands flew to her face. “Oh, God…I shouldn’t be doing this.”

  She rose from the bed, tears down her cheeks now. My earlier bliss evaporated at the devastation on her face, and I tenderly grabbed her hand. “Please don’t shut down on me again. Don’t turn your back on us. You like me, I know you do, and we could be amazing, Raquel.”

  She looked at me, her face torn. “But I’m in love with Russell, Julian…I’m sorry.” Biting her lip, she added, “And you’re with Arianna, you shouldn’t be in love with me.”

  Standing, I shook my head. “No, Arianna and I are just friends.” I cupped her cheeks. “You can’t really love him. You wouldn’t keep kissing me if you loved him.” I pointed at the bed. “That wouldn’t have happened, if you loved him.”

  Twin tears rolled down her cheeks as she pulled her arm free. “I’m sorry…I have to go.”

  With that, she turned and left. Another couple barreled into the room once she was gone, and I was quickly pushed out. My face was blank as Trey walked up to me. I felt numb inside. No, I felt dead. For the second time, she’d pulled me in, then pushed me away. For Russell.