"What? Why would she do that?" Brianna knew Valerie was power hungry. But enough to fraternize with the enemy? How far would she go?
Renee shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. But it can't mean anything good. Be careful, and don't give Valerie any more power."
"I won't."
"If you need anything or anyone, or you feel threatened in any way, let me know. I'm here," Renee said.
"Thank you."
Their waiter placed plates covered with thick hamburgers and piles of fries on the table. Both girls dived in.
"Now, onto lighter topics. I want to hear everything about what happened with Jared."
"It was just so amazing." Brianna shared every detail of the night with her new friend.
****
As night descended, Brianna became a nervous wreck. Why wasn't he calling? She knew that she had been kidding herself thinking he might actually like her.
Chill out! He was probably busy all day. It's still early. Every time her phone rang, her heart jumped, hoping it was Jared. She found herself staring at her cell for what seemed like hours. Maybe he wasn't going to call until tomorrow. Her attempts to practice guitar and get some homework done were futile. It was impossible to focus on anything other than her new crush.
Two and a half excruciating hours later, Jared texted her. Hey Bri, I had a great time last night. I can't wait to see you again. What are you up to tomorrow night? Want to go out?
Brianna jumped up and down in the center of her bedroom. She wondered if she should wait a few minutes to text him back and play it cool. Her fingers seemed to have a mind of their own as she replied, Tomorrow night sounds great.
The ring tone sounded within seconds. I'm looking forward to it.
Brianna texted back, Me too.
Clasping the phone to her chest, Brianna collapsed backward onto her bed. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.
****
On Monday morning, Brianna was excited to return to school. When she arrived at the bottom of the driveway, her sister was already there.
"Hi," Brianna said.
Mandy brushed an unruly crimson strand out of her eyes. "Hey, Bri." The bus pulled up and the girls got on. "See you later," Mandy said as she slid into a seat in front.
"Yeah, later." Brianna headed toward the back. A broad smile spread across her face as she took her usual seat. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
When the bus parked in front of the high school, Brianna couldn't wait to find Eva, Dave, and Pat. She wanted her friends, her band, and her old life back. Brianna stepped off the bus and ran left toward the old bridge. Security stopped her midway.
"Miss McKinney! Just where do you think you're going?" Lou glared at her.
Brianna had never been so glad to be reprimanded by school authority. It felt great to be normal. She walked back toward the school building.
"Next time, I'm sending you to the principal," Lou said.
Brianna passed Chad on the way to her locker. Dimples indented his cheeks as he laughed with his friends. He was as handsome as ever. She thought about her power deep inside of her, but still and quiet. If she wanted, she could turn it up full force and have Chad eating out of the palm of her hand. But she didn't want to. Not one bit. Chad was nothing compared to her stormy eyed reborn. Plus Jared liked her for her. She walked by the boy she had idolized all those years without a second glance.
Lunchtime approached, and Brianna was relieved to not be bombarded by troops of admirers and wannabes. She bought a bagel and chocolate milk and headed out the side door toward the courtyard.
Eva sat on a concrete bench. Dave was next to her, one arm slung over her shoulder. Pat sat next to them, telling an animated story. The three friends burst into laughter. Brianna's heart pumped in her chest. Their forgiveness meant so much to her.
Eva's eyes followed Brianna's approach. She nudged Dave. Soon, all three of her former best friends stared at her. Brianna hadn't realized she was holding her breath until she started to feel a little dizzy. Concentrating on inhaling and exhaling, she counted silently to five for each breath. Brianna walked forward, until she stood in front of them.
"Hi, guys," Brianna said.
The three friends examined her. A moment later, Eva jumped up and wrapped her arms around Brianna. "You're back! You're back!" Eva held her tight.
All of her nervousness dissolved into relief, and tears of joy slipped from Brianna's eyes. She was overcome with elation as the two boys stood up and jumped into the hug, practically mauling her. Brianna laughed as she was almost knocked off balance. If she did fall, she knew they would be there to catch her. That was what real friends did.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
For the fifth time that day, Brianna tried to call Valerie. There was still no answer, and Valerie had been absent.
As soon as Brianna got home from school, her phone rang. It took concerted effort to contain her excitement as she answered the call.
"Hello," Brianna said.
"Hi, Bri, it's Jared. Are we still on for tonight?"
"Sure. What do you want to do?"
"Well, I know it's a school night, so I'll come to you. What's there to do in your town?"
"There's never much going on around here." Then Brianna remembered the fliers she'd seen posted all over telephone poles around town. "Actually, the annual bazaar started last week. It's pretty cool. Lots of games and rides. Does that sound okay?"
"Sounds great. What's your address?"
Forty-five minutes later, a white sedan with black-tinted windows pulled up the steep driveway. Brianna waited outside on the white wicker couch. She wasn't ready for him to come in and meet her parents.
Smoothing her long, loose, onyx hair, Brianna opened the door and slid into the passenger seat.
"Hey," he said. Brianna felt mesmerized for a moment. She couldn't take her eyes off his perfect face. His big eyes were more blue than gray tonight, like the ocean on a summer evening.
"Hi." She sucked in a deep breath. He leaned over to give her a kiss on the cheek. The spot where his lips touched felt warm for several long moments.
"Where's this fair?" Jared asked.
"Go to the stop sign and make a right." Brianna directed her date to Montmorrow's park and fairgrounds. Traffic directors used green glow sticks to guide Jared to a parking spot on the grass. Dazzling, multicolored, flashing lights lit up the starless sky. Thrill seekers' exhilarated screams mingled with the rumble of a descending rollercoaster. Laughter and the screech of old carnival rides resonated through the night.
All of a sudden, Brianna was overcome by an unsettling feeling that someone was watching, waiting, and biding their time. She sensed something sinister lurking in the shadows. A cold wind seemed to whisper the malevolent intentions of an evil soul. Another arctic breeze sent chills down her spine. Brianna pulled up the hood of her rose-print thermal top.
"This is a nice change from the city," Jared said.
"Have you lived in the city your entire life?"
"Yeah, I grew up in Brooklyn. I moved to Manhattan for college in September."
"That's cool," Brianna said. "Does your family still live in Brooklyn?"
"My mom and my little sister do." A smile touched Jared's lips. "That little girl is my whole world. I go see her at least once a week. I'm more like a dad to her, ever since that jerk disappeared days after she was born." His mouth pressed together into a firm, straight line, and his jaw tensed.
An image filled Brianna's mind—a boy with tangled black hair hunched over on a dirty yellow floor. He leaned against a peeling window frame, his legs curled beneath him. The tiles around him were so cracked that they made designs like interconnected spider webs all across the floor.
Watching through the window, the boy's view was blurred by thick layers of dust and streaks of filth. "Don't worry, Mom will be home soon." The boy spoke softly, looking down where his hands clamped a bundle of blankets against his chest. From between the folds of pastel pink
fabric, big hazel eyes peeped up at him. "It's all going to be okay, Laura. Mom will be here soon. I promise."
He bent down and kissed the tiny nose. The baby cooed and giggled. "Dad will be home soon, too, Laura. I know he will. And I'll take care of you until he comes back. I promise." Inside, Brianna felt a cold, yearning ache. This dark room with no walls and no end, all the same… It closed in around her. She was encompassed by endless pain and the fear that daring to hope would bring greater pain.
"No, Jared…" Brianna's eyes filled with tears. "Where was your mom?"
His eyes widened with recognition. "Oh, no. What did you see?"
Brianna just shook her head. "I'm sorry."
"No, I'm sorry. I don't want to upset you, Bri. My mom… she worked a lot when I was a kid. After my dad left, she had to work two or three jobs to make ends meet. We were home alone a lot."
"That must have been so tough on you."
Jared clenched his jaw. "It was fine. Made me stronger. Come on, let's have a good time." The pair approached a white ticket booth. He made his purchase and asked, "What do you want to do first?"
A few minutes later, they were seated in a Ferris wheel car. It seemed kind of ridiculous when she thought about it. Both of them could fly on their own, yet here they were riding this contraption.
But it wasn't about that. It was about spending time together, being normal teenagers. Brianna thought she could enjoy doing almost anything with Jared.
He slid closer and put his arm around her shoulder. It felt so natural that she leaned in and snuggled against him. The Ferris wheel made its first go round. "So do your mom or sister know you're a reborn?"
"No. My mom would probably have me locked up in a mental institution if I told her! Eventually they are going to notice that I haven't aged. I don't know what I'm going to do or say at that point, but I have a while before I'll have to worry about that."
"What? Why don't reborns age?"
"Our bodies need to be young for the battle."
"The battle?" Brianna raised her brows.
"Well, I don't know if it's true or not, but there's a strong belief that reborns are soldiers. We don't go on to the next world because we were selected for war."
"When will you have to fight?"
Jared shrugged. "It hasn't happened yet. It's only a prophecy. There isn't a specific date. Some say it's right around the corner while others say it's centuries away. I don't know if I believe it. People are always looking for explanations for things they don't understand, but I do like to think there was some purpose for my return."
"What kind of war?"
"It's complicated." One of Brianna's favorite Red Rapture songs began to play, and Jared pulled his phone out of his pocket. "It's my sister." Jared glanced at his date apologetically. "Do you mind?"
Brianna shook her head.
"Hey, what's up?" His lips curled into a sweet smile. "I miss you, too, pumpkin-head. I'll see you Monday." He paused for a moment. "Of course we're still going to the Bronx Zoo. I promised. I told you a long time ago I would never break a promise to you. I haven't in all these years, so don't think I'm going to start now." Jared’s eyes met Brianna's, and he held up one finger. “I'm out with a special friend right now." He was quiet for a moment, and then cast a sidelong look at Brianna. "Yes, she's pretty. Beautiful, in fact. I know you'd like her very much."
Brianna's whole body reacted to his words. Euphoric chills swept from her feet to her head.
"Okay, Laura, I'll talk to you tomorrow. I love you, too. Goodnight."
Tears sprang into her eyes as Brianna realized how much she missed her own sister. Repairing their relationship was far overdue. It didn't matter anymore who'd started it or who was to blame. Brianna decided that she was going to extend herself this week by doing something thoughtful for Mandy.
The Ferris wheel jerked to a stop, and their car rocked at the top. "I think it's wonderful how close you are to your sister. You take care of her."
"Yes, I always have. After almost dying once, and then actually dying the second time, I realized how precious life is. You never know when it will be the last time you see someone."
"How did it happen? If you don't mind my asking…"
Jared took a deep breath and jerked his head away from hers. She felt his thigh become rigid against hers, and his arm stiffened behind her neck.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
"No, it's fine. I can tell you. I was into… some bad stuff for a while. My mom… She always struggled to make ends meet after my dad bailed on us. I was working two jobs after school, but it wasn't enough to make rent after my mom got laid off. The neighborhood I lived in… Um, there were a lot of drug dealers.
"There was one guy named Tommy who lived across the street, and he was always offering me the chance to make some money. I was desperate, so I took him up on it. Tommy had a lot of kids in the neighborhood working for him. When one of the kids got busted, the police offered him a deal if he ratted on his source. When the cops showed up at Tommy's house, he knew there was a rat, and for some reason, he blamed me. Or maybe he just wanted to make an example out of me. I don't know. He brought me into an alley, and instead of our usual exchange, he shot me eight times in the chest." Jared's eyes searched Brianna's. "I hope you don't think differently of me."
Brianna shook her head and blinked the tears out of her eyes. "I don't. You might have had a lapse in judgment, but you were doing it for your family."
"I was, but it was still stupid. I made a decent amount of money. I was able to pay my mom's rent. I was kicking butt in football, and everyone thought I would eventually make it to pro. I wanted that more than anything… so one day, I could take care of my family the legal way.
"When I first quit the team, when I made the decision that I couldn't keep hurting people, I was depressed, thinking I would never be able to support my family the way I had always dreamed I would. Then, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life and decided to study science. Once I'm a doctor, I'll be able to take care of my mom and my sister, and hopefully save people's lives. Win, win, win."
Brianna smiled. "That's wonderful the way you turned your life around. So did you just wake up? After being shot, I mean."
Jared nodded. "The craziest part of that whole night was that Brent was flying overhead and heard the gunshots. At this time he was a complete stranger. By the time he got to the ground, I was dead. The odd part is that Brent swooped down because he felt compelled to change me. He rarely transforms anyone, and he didn't even know me. He felt a connection. It's weird, but I felt it too."
Brianna understood. "I felt something like that with Renee."
"So there Brent was, kneeling beside my dead body. He realized it was too late. I was already gone. He sat there and grieved for a stranger he had never even spoken to. A few moments later, he tells me, it happened. It was like there were millions of bolts of bright blue lightning racing under my skin. Thirty seconds later I was back, but I was different. Powerful. I was a reborn. Brent filled me in, which was great because otherwise I wouldn't have ever understood how I survived. Enough about that. Let's have some fun!"
After the Ferris wheel, the couple enjoyed the Zipper, the swings, the spider, and the rollercoaster. Brianna munched on a big stick of pink cotton candy as they strolled down the line of game booths.
"Wow, that's gorgeous." She pointed to a huge stuffed white tiger with blue eyes hanging above the Balloon and Dart game.
"I'll win it for you! I won't use any powers either." Jared said, squeezing her shoulder. The muscles in Brianna's face ached from holding the corners of her lips up for so long.
Jared bought five darts from the young man working the booth. Face scrunched in concentration, he aligned his first dart with a yellow balloon. With a quick thrust of his wrist, the dart flew through the air. Pop! The missile tore apart the center of the target.
"Good job!" Brianna clapped.
The same technique proved effective in
pinning four more balloons.
"Nice work, buddy," the carnival worker said as he handed Brianna the stuffed animal.
"Great aim! Thank you," she said, hugging the plush white fur against her body.
"You're welcome." Jared's blue-gray eyes twinkled.
The unnerving sense that she was being watched was overpowering. Her gaze anxiously darted around the fairgrounds. She found a pair of beautiful blue-green eyes directly on her, or rather, her date. As the tall, model-like girl strutted toward them, she hiked up her super-short tiered green skirt. A small redhead trailed behind.
Ugh, Giselle and Penny. What do they want?
Giselle stopped right in front of Jared. She tossed her shiny hair and batted her long, thick lashes.
"Hi." Giselle leaned forward, flaunting her cleavage. She toyed with the gaudy beaded necklace around her neck, bringing further attention to her enormous chest. "I'm Giselle. I don't believe we've met. I always like to welcome new people to town. Maybe I could show you around sometime."
Yeah, right! Brianna thought, rolling her big sapphire eyes. But she couldn't help being intimidated by the flawlessly beautiful girl. What if Jared liked her better?
"I'm not new in town. I'm here to see Brianna, and she's been doing a great job showing me around. But thanks for the offer," Jared said.
Giselle's luscious lips opened and closed, but no words came out. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at Brianna. She twirled around on one foot and stormed away. Brianna almost laughed out loud.
"The carnival will be closing in fifteen minutes," a voice boomed over the loudspeakers. Brianna checked her skinny silver wristwatch. It was almost eleven o'clock. Time had flown by.
Fingers intertwined, Brianna and her date walked through the dark, grassy parking lot. Again, an ominous feeling rattled her. She glanced all around. Behind an old van, Brianna thought she could make out the outline of a crouching figure and a cap of pale blonde ringlets.
"Jared…" Brianna started to say, but after she blinked, no was one there. She needed to chill out. Being uptight about Licinia was making her imagination run wild.
In Shadows of Magic Page 15