“She talks too much.” Aidan watched his sister move to the counter with her friends. “But she’s awesome. Just don’t tell her I said that.” He winked.
The mask was gone and the real Aidan was back. Allie couldn’t keep up.
“The tall, dark, quiet one over there is my best friend, Quinn. He’s a senior. He’s been around Sasha too long, so he doesn’t talk much. The short, pale, hungry looking one, ordering half the bakery, is his little brother, Graham. He’s the most genuinely kind person I know. You’ll love him.”
“I take it at least one of them is adopted?” She noted the ethnic differences between the brothers.
“They both are.”
“So am I!” She didn’t often meet other adopted kids her age, so to meet four in one day was strange.
“Interesting coincidence,” he said dryly.
“The cute Asian girl with Graham is our friend, Chloe. She’s the only one of us not adopted.” His smile was sincere and full of love for his friends, but there was some sadness there too, as if he saw himself as an outsider.
Allie observed them from a distance. They were a close group, sharing the kind of deep friendship that came from growing up together. It was the one thing she’d always wanted but never had. She felt like she was staring at her future. A future she wanted very badly but was afraid it would disappear the moment she felt like she belonged.
~~~
CHAPTER
THREE
“Alexis Ann Mareé Carmichael! Get back in this house right now!” Lily shouted from the terrace balcony of Allie’s bedroom.
“Crap! Four-named. That can’t be good.” Allie wandered through the mass of rooms and stairs of the rambling old church until she finally found her room. She hadn’t come the same way twice since they arrived. The church-house was great, especially the bell tower that was now her bedroom suite, but the guesthouse across the gardens was a bit much considering they didn’t know anyone. Her parents were so wonderfully weird. No cul-de-sac with granite countertops and white picket fences for The Carmichael’s. They were far too unique for such normalcies.
“We need those ‘you are here’ maps.” Allie scowled as she drifted into her bedroom, but Lily glowered right back at her.
“Jeez, what’d I do this time?” She flopped onto her bed.
“We haven’t been in this house two weeks and you’ve already painted your walls?”
“I paint when I’m stressed, Ma. It helps me think.”
“Is it school?” Lily instantly made the switch to mom-mode. “I thought your first week went well?”
“No, Ma, school’s fine. I’m still just really confused about this move. It’s different.”
“We always intended to come home, and when the opportunity presented itself, we felt like we had to take it. I’m just sorry it was so sudden.”
“So we’re really just ignoring the mad-dash across the planet in the middle of the night? The guns? The fact that even you seemed surprised when Dad announced we were coming here?”
“Honey, you need to focus on making a life here.” She expertly skated over the taboo subject. “I was so proud of you in Sydney. It was wonderful to see you come out of your shell. I’ve always hated how our jobs have kept us on the move so much, but—”
“Don’t, Mom,” she said. “You can’t keep calling what we do ‘moving.’”
“That’s all behind us,” Lily said firmly. “I promise this is our home now.”
“Until next time,” Allie muttered. She just couldn’t trust that this really was the last time.
“Have you had time to check out the beach?” Lily asked.
“Yeah, I did some investigating last night. The beaches here are weird. And it smells funny.” She made a face at her mother.
“I’ll miss the ocean too, but it’ll feel like home in no time,” Lily promised. “You should go exploring, get familiar with the island. I loved it here when I was a kid.”
“I don’t know, something’s off about this place, Ma.”
“Alright, Allie-girl. Dinner will be ready in an hour. I trust you don’t need a GPS to find the kitchen?” She laughed as she left the room.
Allie headed up to her rooftop garden where the grass and wildflowers grew tall in a haphazard kind of way. A small weathered deck at the center was raised just enough to maximize the view of the city across the Lake Erie Bay.
Who knew they had islands in Cleveland? She leaned over the parapet to gaze at the skyline in the distance.
She fiddled with her necklace, a nervous habit. Lily had given her the glittery, coal-black pendant a few years ago. It was a family heirloom, and as their adopted daughter, Allie treasured it more than anything she owned.
She tugged at her necklace now, feeling anxious and uncertain about everything. She wanted to believe this really would be their permanent home, but it was hard to accept. The way they left Sydney, only to arrive on Kelleys Island—to this house, like this fabricated, perfect life had been waiting for them all along. It was just too easy.
Then there was Aidan and his friends. She was curious about them and the way they accepted her so readily, but Aidan was especially intriguing. He was totally comfortable with her. Even with Gavin, it was always like he had to power through his hesitation, like it was some unpleasant thing he had to deal with if he wanted to be with her. With Aidan, there was no uneasiness—something she’d never experienced before. But there was something else there too. She liked him more than she cared to admit. Their initial attraction to each other was intense, and Allie knew she wasn’t ready for that. But if anyone was truly capable of being her friend, it was Aidan, and if she was truly honest with herself, she was desperate to explore that possibility. She could not face the lonely life she’d learned to accept before Gavin. Not now, when she knew what it was like to have real friends. She refused to go back.
Allie was determined to connect with Aidan. The real Aidan. If he could put his mask away long enough to let her in.
~~~
Exhausted after another sleepless night, and not in the best of moods, Allie sipped her coffee as she leaned over the ferryboat railing. Shivering in the cool breeze, she watched the queue of cars creeping onto the deck below. She was suddenly hyper-aware of the sleek, steel gray car passing beneath her feet. It was one of those expensive, sporty European hybrid things with dark tinted windows.
Aidan and his friends. She didn’t pause to consider how she knew they were in that particular car.
He soon joined her on the upper deck, while the others strayed off with their friends. He had fake Aidan firmly in place as he sidled up beside her. His elbow brushed her arm and they both stilled at the normal contact. The spark of attraction was definitely still there, but Allie felt a strong urge to put him securely in the “friend” box and keep him there. He obviously did not.
“Morning, Lex.” He slid closer, letting the mask fall away. He didn’t seem capable of keeping it in place around her.
“Knock it off with the Lex crap,” she snapped.
Jeez, Allie! She winced at her tone. No wonder you have trouble making friends!
“Not a morning person?” His grin was contagious. He was more like himself now.
“Sorry, I guess I’m not really the bright-eyed sort.” She couldn’t help her smile. “Dude, is that a violin strapped to your back?”
“Yeah. That supposed to be funny?”
“Band geek? Doesn’t really fit the whole tattooed-muscled-pretty-jock-boy thing you’ve got going on.”
“Pretty? I do not play in the marching band, sweetheart. I’m first violinist and concertmaster of the Cliffton Orchestra.”
“Eh, play me some Bach and this cranky redhead will shut up.”
“You’re all sorts of trouble, aren’t you?” he said dryly.
“Me? You might as well be holding a sign that says ‘WARNING: dark and dangerous. Keep out.’”
“Are you normally this mean or is it just me?” He gave her an exaspe
rated look.
“Sorry, it’s me. I haven’t slept in like a year, so I’m crabby. But I’m afraid the sarcasm comes with the package. You hang out with me long enough you’re bound to get burned.”
“Allie, how old are you?” The odd question caught her by surprise.
“I skipped second grade so I won’t be sixteen for another month.”
“That explains it.”
“Explains what?”
“I’m just trying to figure you out.”
“I promise I’m not all that complicated.”
“I beg to differ.”
“Enough about me. What’s with them?” She rolled her eyes at Sasha and the others. Quinn and Graham were pretending like they hadn’t been caught staring. Sasha waved, mouthing something Allie couldn’t quite make out. And Chloe took a bashful step behind Quinn. Aidan’s friends all reacted to Allie the way most people did, but they also seemed utterly fascinated with her and that kinda creeped her out.
“They find you bizarrely intimidating.”
“Most people do,” she said frankly, “but could you make the staring stop?”
“I’ll talk to them.”
“It’s kinda strange how all your friends are adopted,” she said.
“You know anything about your birth parents?” he asked.
“Not a thing.”
“Same here.”
“Sometimes I actually forget Lily and Carson aren’t my real parents. They seem so much a part of me.”
“My dad and I are a lot alike,” Aidan said hesitantly. “It’s like he was supposed to be my father, and Sasha might as well be my twin. What’s your family like?”
“My mom’s an archeologist and my dad’s a cultural anthropologist, which is why we’ve moved so much. My older sister, Joscelin, is their biological daughter, but she’s busy doing her residency at a hospital in Bali.” Allie really missed her big sister and wished she could have seen Joss one more time before fleeing the hemisphere.
“So, who was that with you back at the dock?” Aidan asked absently.
“My mom.”
“What? How?”
“What do you mean how?” Allie laughed. “The usual way. Mom without a baby, baby without a mom. Sign some papers, instant family.”
“Right. I ah—she’s an archeologist, huh?” he rambled.
“Yeah, we’ve spent a lot of time on some cool sites, but my favorite was the dig in Luxor where I got to visit Hatshepsut’s Temple and the Valley of the Kings and Queens.”
“So your mom is the new Egyptian curator at the museum.”
“Yeah, how’d you know?”
“My dad’s head curator. He was totally psyched to get her here.” A dark shadow crossed his face, like he was struggling to put fake Aidan back in place.
“You’re kinda strange,” Allie said bluntly.
“Back atcha, sweetheart.”
“No, no. Don’t you sweetheart me. I’ve seen you with all your idiot girls. Don’t lump me in with the rest of your sweethearts,” she said.
“I wouldn’t dare! I guess I do that when I can’t remember their names, but I couldn’t possibly forget yours, Lex.”
“Clearly your memory is failing you again. It’s Allie.”
“You sound like my friend, Wendy. She tells me I’m an idiot all the time.”
“You know you can be yourself around me, right?” she asked carefully.
“I’m beginning to see that.”
“You’ll have to introduce me to Wendy. She sounds smart.”
“She’s a very gifted cellist and was just accepted to the Cologne University of Music in Germany a few weeks ago,” he said sadly.
Allie could see how much he missed his girlfriend. Despite the strange vibe between them, she was intrigued with Aidan. He was just as fascinated with her as she was with him, but the overwhelming relief she felt just being near him was enough to tell her they would either be really good for each other or really, really bad.
~~~
CHAPTER
FOUR
Allie wandered across the courtyard after her English Lit class to wait for Sasha and Chloe. She took a seat at one of the many fountains dotting the perfectly manicured Cliffton grounds. The noises of the city center were muffled by the trees and the lake breeze that was ever present along the shore.
“Crap,” she muttered as a striking blond headed her way. “Why does every school have mean girls?”
“You’ve just identified their queen.” Allie recognized the voice from several of her classes.
“Vince, right? I’m Allie—”
“You’ve been here nearly a month, Short Stuff, everyone knows you.” He grinned as he crouched down beside her. “That’s Brianna Spelman Prentice. She’s the great-great-granddaughter of John D. Rockefeller and she scares the hell out of me. So, I’m going to hide behind you and this fountain if you don’t mind. I have no shame.”
There was something about Vince that reminded her of Gavin. It was his gentle confidence and the way he looked directly into her eyes when he spoke. He felt it; that awkward discomfort, but he brushed it aside like it was nothing.
“Vincent, hi. Walk me to class?” Brianna asked sweetly.
“Sorry, I’m hanging with Allie right now.”
“I’ll come find you at lunch then.” She shot him a brilliant smile. Allie might as well have been wallpaper.
“Brianna, I’ve told you I don’t date Cliffton girls.”
“I guess that doesn’t include trailer trash?”
“Not cool, you little—”
“Vince, it’s fine,” Allie said. “I’m sorry, Brianna. I’ve never lived in a trailer, but I did live in a fabulous tree house in the Amazon. Does that count?”
“Nice!” Vince said, leaning in a little closer to Allie.
“Whatever!” Brianna abandoned her sweet tone completely as she stalked off leaving Allie alone with Vince.
“So, tree house in the jungle? That actually true?”
“Yeah, we lived in Brazil when I was in middle school and I spent a lot of time with my dad out in the jungle. We had this huge tree house in the upper canopy with awesome views.”
“You’re kinda cool, Allie Carmichael. I might have to reconsider my ‘no Cliffton girls’ rule. See you around.” He headed off across the courtyard.
Wowsa. She grinned as she watched him go. She really liked him, but she also felt a huge surge of guilt about Gavin. She shouldn’t be flirting with boys so soon.
“Allie?” She heard the hesitant voice across the fountain.
“Senior Physics and Calculus? McKayla, right?”
“Just Kayla. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I thought I should warn you. Vince and Aidan kinda hate each other.” Allie detected a note of sadness in her voice.
“Ew, boy drama.” She wrinkled her nose. “Any advice?”
“‘Fraid not.” Kayla giggled and Allie decided she really liked the quiet older girl. She was certain they would be friends.
~~~
“You should’ve warned me basketball practice was at five-freaking a.m.!” Allie yawned as they headed for the locker room after her first practice with the team.
“Would you have still tried out?” Sasha asked, swatting Allie with her captain’s jersey.
“Probably not.” She dodged the cheap shot.
They were quickly becoming close friends. She wasn’t always comfortable with Allie, but Sasha tried very hard to hide it.
“I have a meeting with the coach, so I’ll catch up with you later if that’s alright?”
“Yeah, sure. No problem.” Allie frowned. She found it incredibly odd how her new friends seemed to defer to Aidan as some sort of authority figure, but it really creeped her out when they started doing it to her.
“I do not understand what he sees in you.” Brianna slammed her locker door with a bang.
“Me either,” Allie said. “Who’re we talking about?”
“Vincent!” Brianna rolled her eyes. �
��I don’t get it.”
“You don’t have to, and seriously? You know he prefers Vince.”
“Whatever, you can have him, just stay away from Aidan. He and I are social equals and you have no place in our circle.”
“We’re just friends. I haven’t known him long, but I do know you’re not his type.”
“Let’s let him make that decision.”
Allie tossed her bag over her shoulder with a disgusted snort, watching Brianna storm off toward the courtyard.
“There you are,” Aidan called when she stepped outside. He was looking decidedly irritated. “I just barely managed to avoid Brianna again.”
“Iced coffee? Cheers to that!” She took the drink gratefully.
“It’s a bribe. You’re much less mean when you’ve been properly caffeinated.”
“Har, har. At least you’re learning … in some things.” She arched her brow at his offered hand, tossing her gym bag over her shoulder instead. The deep attraction between them was always there, and as much as she wanted to put her hand in his, something held her back.
As they turned the corner to the conservatory, they ran into Brianna, lying in wait for him.
Allie steeled herself for more scathing remarks, but Brianna shoved past them, unable to hide the anger in her eyes.
“What is it with that girl? I’m a perfectly lovely person,” she said dryly.
“Well, let’s see. She claims you stole her spot on the team. She’s been chasing Vince forever, but he’s been steadfastly running in the opposite direction. Then you show up and manage to turn his head without even trying—and thanks for that,” he growled. “Because she’s now turning her attention on me.”
“Meh, some people just don’t like me.”
“I can’t imagine why.”
“I’ve been warned to stay away from you.” Allie giggled.
“Please tell me you’re joking.”
“Nope, apparently you’re ‘equals’ and I’m to keep my distance.”
Immortals of Indriell- The Collection Page 3