More Than an Echo (Echo Branson Series) (15 page)

“Haven’t you heard? I’m not like everyone.”

Her smile softened as she turned to me. “Don’t I know it.” Leaning over, she bent down and, ever so softly, kissed my cheek, her lips lingering there long enough for me to turn my face into them.

Our lips barely touched as we stood together, fingers intertwined. I parted my lips and let my tongue slide into hers, over hers, around hers, our breaths commingling in rhythm. She stepped into the kiss, or maybe I did, it was hard to tell. All I knew was my body was on fire, starting at my lips. And traveling like St. Elmo’s Fire down my limbs.

When she pulled away, she caressed my cheek with the back of her fingers and whispered, “Remember who you are.” And with that, she disappeared, taking something with her I would never get back.

I left Melika and the Bayou in one of the most heartwrenching goodbyes of my life. Saying goodbye to Zack was much harder than I anticipated as well. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t have done for him. He’d always had one eye out for me whenever we went to town and he had always been there to bounce ideas off. He would make some lucky girl a great boyfriend because, to say the least, he knew how to listen. There had always been a little tension between us, but through it all, I knew I was not his type.

I was pretty sure I was gay; a fact I hadn’t had any time to explore due to the other skeleton in my closet. There was only one pair of eyes I wanted to undress me and they weren’t Zack’s. We cried and promised to write.

Zack ended up in a doctoral program at Cornell majoring in philosophy. I wasn’t surprised; after all, we had spent many hours philosophizing on the river.

Tip’s goodbye was the strangest of all. She refused to come to the airport, insisting she had too much to do. Instead, she joined me out by the firepit.

“I just wanted to tell you I’m really going to miss you.”

I didn’t know what to say.

Opening her palm, she showed me a necklace with a silver feather pendant. “I didn’t know what you’d like, but this is an eagle feather from my tribe. It symbolizes courage. I know it’s hard to leave the Bayou, so I hope it brings you the courage needed to start your new life.”

I started to reach for it, then thought otherwise. “Would you do the honors?” I asked, turning around.

She did not touch me as she clasped the necklace around my neck, but once the necklace hung there, I felt her arms slide around me as she gently pulled me back against her. “I know you may not understand this, but I’ve only been so hard on you because I care. I care a lot. More than I should. More than I knew what to do with.”

Turning in her arms, I reached up and wrapped mine around her neck. Her body was warm against mine. “You’ve never fooled me, Tiponi Redhawk. You think I didn’t feel your eyes on me day after day? You may be unsurpassed as a telepath, but I’m no slouch in the empath department.” Standing on my tiptoes, I kissed her, softly at first, as her hands pressed me closer, as if she wanted to meld with me.

My hands slid from her hair to beneath her shirt, her skin was softer than anything I had ever experienced. Her hands were all over my back, pressing me harder against her, almost desperate to keep me in her arms—where I would have gladly remained had Melika not mentally thrown water on us both, telling me to get to the dock, we were leaving.

“Stay true to yourself. Trust no one but whom your instincts tell you to,” Tip whispered, stroking my cheek with the back of her fingers.

Releasing her, I stepped back, my heart feeling the slight cracks of being almost broken. “Will you promise me one thing?”

“Maybe.”

“Promise me you’ll find a new nickname for me. I am no longer a child and you need not straight-arm me any longer.”

Smiling her lopsided grin, she shook her head. “That’s where you’re wrong, Echo Branson. If I didn’t keep you at bay, Melika would have had to toss me out long ago. No, it’s safest for us both if
I
remember who you are. Mel would…well…let’s just say she laid down the law long ago where you are concerned.”

“But—”

“No buts. Go. Take care. Know I think the world of you and will miss you more than you can imagine.”

I left, but wasn’t happy about it.

It was my goodbyes to Melika and Bishop that felt like someone had reached into my chest and pulled my heart out through a sieve. Oh my God, if a person could actually feel their heart breaking, that’s what it felt like.

Melika and I took a long walk my last day on the Bayou. We shared our deepest thoughts about my time here and we talked about everything for hours. I wrote her last words to me on a Post-it and kept it on my bathroom mirror for my daily affirmation:

“Echo, my dear girl, you are a very powerful young woman, and not just because of your innate powers. You are powerful because of who you are in here. I want you to remember this one very important phrase from Confucius.
To know that what we know is what we know and what we do not know we do not know... that is true wisdom
.”

That line resonated through my spirit and was my motto all the way through college. I took more with me to Oakland than just the lessons I had learned in Louisiana; I brought with me the entire Bayou.

Returning to the concrete jungle of Oakland was much harder than I thought it would be. I was more than an alligator out of the water; I was rootless. After digging my roots in for the last four years into the soft earth, it was incredibly hard to find any at all in the cement. Still, Mills wasn’t a jungle, and there were plenty of trees and bushes within its safe confines.

I was surprised at how easy it was to fit in and to finally be able to relax and be myself. Foster care had scarred me for life and even four years in the Bayou hadn’t lightened those scars. So the first six months I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop; for someone to take me out of my classes or send me away. That fear drove me to work morning, noon and night, much to Danica’s chagrin. She was on the party circuit and loved every second of it. I don’t know how she ever had time to get any of her work done, but she managed to get fairly decent grades.

I desperately missed the Bayou and everyone in it that first year away. Oakland was just so bland compared to New Orleans. I missed the smells, the heat, the wonderful calm that fell over the Bayou at dusk. I missed the color and spice of the food, the way the sunlight streamed through the trees, and even the way the ’gators kerplunked into the water. Life there was to be savored. In Oakland life was fast food; devoured without any decorum; seldom tasted and never appreciated. I had left a place that was alive and vibrant and returned to a place that felt dark and dreary. Nothing shook the homesickness that descended upon me that first year. I wanted to go home.

At month three, home came to me.

I was coming from an English class when I heard her. It was the first time I was actually glad Tip could reach me. Melika had often told me that if Tip wanted to reach me, she could and that no matter how strong I got, she could get through any block or shield. For once, I was glad.

“Hey, darlin’. Feeling homesick?”

I stopped walking and sat down, my heart suddenly racing.
“More than you know. My god, I miss you.”
I had tried to call her cell on more than one occasion, but her voicemail always picked up and I never left a message.

“Oh, I think I know. Melika wouldn’t let me contact you sooner. She said it would only make the homesickness worse. You hungry?”

I looked around, but couldn’t see her.
“I could eat. Please tell me you are nearby.”

“I’m in the cafeteria, darlin’. I’ll buy you a burger, maybe even fries if you are nice.
”

I practically ran to the cafeteria. When I saw her big frame leaning against a stone pillar, I threw my arms around her hugging her tightly. I never wanted to let go. “God, it’s good to see you.” She smelled of lilac and mint, the familiar shampoo I’d loved.

Tip laughed as she pulled away. “Well, that’s a first. I was a little nervous I’d get here and be sent away before I could even unpack.”

“Unpack?” My heart beat harder. “You’re staying awhile?”

Her eyes danced. “Would you like that?”

I kissed her deeply, uncaring about prying eyes. “I’d
love
that.” Taking her hand, I led us to the nearest table. “Mel sent you?”

She nodded. “There’s a possible PK running around setting things on fire and Mel wants me to reel her in before she hurts someone.”

“A PK, really?” A PK was a pyrokinetic, a fire starter. They were the rarest of all of us. Most PKs died before puberty as a result of burning themselves up in a little kid tantrum or fit of rage. Pyros who don’t understand how to control their flames were usually consumed by them. I knew why Melika wanted to get her hands on this girl; she wanted to save her before she burned herself up.

“She has wanted confirmation on this kid ever since she heard. She wanted to send you, but she wants you to get settled in first. I need to teach you how to spot first and then—”

“I
know
how to spot.”

She brought my hand to her full lips and kissed the back of it. “Spotting is one thing; hunting is an entirely different ball game.” She stepped back and studied me a moment. “You
are
getting settled in, aren’t you?”

I took her hand and led her away from the cafeteria and the gawking eyes of other women. “You don’t want to eat here. There’s a great rib place down the road. Where’s your car?”

Tip led me to her rental car, a convertible Sebring. She kept her hand on my lower back the entire time—a feeling of warmth expanding down my limbs.

“A convertible? Nice touch.”

“It’s Cal-ee-for-nia, darlin’! Hop in and take me to your rib joint.” She opened the door for me, but I didn’t get in. Instead, I turned around and wrapped my arms around her neck.

“Where’s this PK?”

She put her arms around my waist, and the cold from her black leather jacket felt good against the inside of my arms. “Santa Cruz. I’ll buzz down there in the morning to check her out.”

“How long are you staying?” Reaching out, I ran my fingers along her eyebrow and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. It was as if we had always been comfortable with each other. I could have stayed in her arms forever. It was so good to have the Bayou standing before me—my Bayou.

Tip looked down at me, her big brown eyes twinkling. “You missed me.”

Laying my head on her chest, I said, “So? You okay with that?”

Tip kissed the top of my head and got into the driver’s seat. “More than okay. Being homesick is a natural response, darlin’. There’s no place on earth like the Bayou, and we haven’t forgotten you. It takes awhile to assimilate back into our old lives. It’s been four years, Echo. You just have to give it time.”

“Time? How much time? I feel like a prisoner in my own life. Everywhere I turn, I see things I don’t understand. I have to work daily on keeping my shield up because there are so many negative emotions around. Take that left.”

“Don’t look backward. That’s the kiss of death. You need to remember the lessons you learned and apply them in this place. Everything can be applied. You just have to remember the lessons.”

“Take that right. You sound like Melika.”

“I should. She and I have been doing this gig a long time, and she’s usually one hundred percent correct one hundred percent of the time.”

“That’s it over there.” I pointed to a small corner cafe. Tip pulled in and then smiled at me. “Look, I know this is hard. Maybe it would help to know...” She reached out and took my hands. In that singular moment, when her hands touched mine, she took my breath away.

Tip loved me.

“Big,” Tip said softly.

“Oh,” I said as she tightened her grip. “I...uh...”

Then she smiled a smile I had never seen before. It was warm and soft and changed the shape of her face. That smile made her eyes sparkle and it was the first time I noticed the yellow flecks in them. “I have fought it for a long time; not just because you were underage, but because...because I just figured it was a passing thing; that once you were gone, I’d be able to get my feelings under control. I fought it hard, and sometimes I acted like a jerk, just hoping it would go away. I had to work double time to keep you from reading me, from seeing how much I care.”

I swallowed hard. “Does Melika know?” Then I held my hands up. “Of course she does.” It all made sense to me now. “That’s why she kept sending you away.”

Tip nodded and sighed. “Nothing I’ve done in the last three months has been able to change how I feel. Even with new blood to work with, you’re always there. Always.” Tip shook her head. “Melika thought it would dissipate in time also, and when it didn’t, she said I could come here and let you know how I feel. She said you were a big girl now capable of making your own decisions.” Her eyes watered. “I’m here hoping you decide in my favor.”

Leaning in, I kissed her softy. “As if there was another choice for me, Tip.”

Touching my face gently, she memorized it. “We miss you.”

I nodded. “I miss her so much.”

“I know. She misses you, too; more than she would ever admit. You were one of her very favorites. Are. You
still
are. The place has been really quiet without you.”