Still clutching his little girl, he lifted his
head and looked me straight in the eye. “H-how did you know? Y-you were
screaming long before the t-truck…”
Uh-oh. This was not good. “Luck. I was trying to
get someone’s attention behind you,” I said, directing all my Essence towards
his brain, hoping to overwhelm his thoughts.
He shut his eyes, grabbed the bridge of his
nose, and shook his head like someone does when having a brain freeze. A moment
later, he opened his eyes, and said, “What was I…?”
“Your daughter is safe now, and she’s going to
be fine. Don’t worry about anything else.” He nodded and kissed her on the
forehead. Maybe I could do more things with my Essence than I knew about. This
warranted a little investigation. When I felt certain the man was emotionally
stable, I excused myself to help others. Ash teamed up with me, and we assisted
where we could. No deaths, but there were several injuries. Many people were in
shock, so treating them was easiest. Ash would distract them with conversation
and ask questions about whether they were hurt or felt any pain, and meanwhile
I’d heal them. I always found it rather odd that the Innocents couldn’t feel
any of the energy I was transferring to them. But I was thankful, because
otherwise it would have complicated matters.
Eventually, the police arrived and arrested the
drunk driver. So frustratingly typical – he suffered no major injuries. A short
time later, the final ambulance left en route to the hospital, and a tow truck
rolled through the air doors to pull the demolished truck out of the store.
Much to the chagrin of the news reporters, we closed the store and shut the big
sliding glass doors. Typically, those doors only closed on Christmas, but the
store was in no condition to handle customers or media. In fact, from a
distance, all the smashed strawberries and scattered tomato sauce made the
front entrance look like a crime scene covered in pools of blood.
I helped with clean-up for a bit but was
delighted when the maintenance crew showed up. I was even more ecstatic when
the owners arrived and insisted most of us other employees go home. I walked
out of the store with Jessica, feeling exhausted but at the same time happy
with the outcome. We’d made a difference. Ben had left ten minutes ahead of us,
and since Ally and Ash weren’t employees, they’d been asked to leave when we’d
closed the store. The evening was dark but starry, and the temperature was
comfortable, somewhere in the mid-sixties. So much better than those hot
Montana nights.
As we walked towards the employee parking lot, I
caught my breath when I saw Jason leaning against his truck. Even though the
parking lot lights buzzed incessantly, they illuminated his handsome face, and
I could see his smile. I waved and quickened my pace. I was even more surprised
when I spotted Ash and Madison in the parking lot. Standing a few feet apart,
their conversation was anything but quiet and intimate. Her hands flew to her
hips, and even from our distance we could hear her huffing, “I’m not going anywhere
with you. Especially not like that.” She plugged her nose. “You look like
you’ve been in a food fight, and you smell like rancid tomatoes.”
Jessica giggled. “My sister’s got it bad. I’ve
never seen her like this. Just the fact that she’s here, tells me she came to
check up on him.”
“Ash is infatuated, too,” I said, still
mystified at how that was possible. Then again, maybe they were attracted to
each other because of their similarities – both ambitious, confident, and independent.
They admired and respected those traits, so it only followed they would find
them appealing in each other.
A moment later, we were standing next to Jason,
and I was gazing into his dancing blue eyes. He whistled. “Wow! Must be Italian
night,” he teased.
Jessica and I both smacked him at the same time.
“Be nice now, or,” I eyed Jessica and started laughing. I hadn’t really paid
much attention, but she was a mess. Her brown hair was matted together in
clumps, her clothes were stained, and she had splotches of marinara all over
her face. I probably looked even worse than she did.
“Or what?” Jason asked.
I smiled at Jessica and winked. “Or we’ll hug
you.” At the same time, she and I wrapped our arms around him, and he squirmed
to get away.
“Is our combined Essence too much for you to
handle?” Jessica joked.
He laughed. “No, it’s your smell.”
“That’s what I’ve been telling Ash,” Madison
said, joining us. “He stinks. And I’m sorry, Jess, but so do you.”
Jessica let go of Jason, turned, and embraced Madison.
“Thanks, sis. I love you too.”
“Oh Jessica! Yuck! Get away from me.”
“Ash, you can hug her now,” Jessica called out.
“Because now she’s dirty just like you.”
As the three of them got into a friendly battle,
I focused on Jason. I was still holding him tight, and he smelled wonderful –
clean. “What are you doing here this late?” I asked quietly, resting my head
against his chest.
“I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“You knew I would be.”
“I know.” He breathed deeply. “I just needed to
see you.”
I pulled away and held him at arm’s length. “And
now that you have?”
He laughed. “Well, despite everything, I still
think you’re pretty darn cute.” He pointed to my cheek, and I rubbed a crusted
patch of marinara sauce that had dried there. “In fact, I think I love you even
more than I did the last time I saw you. But,” he paused and crinkled his nose,
“I highly recommend a shower.”
I sighed and let go. “Yeah. I suppose I should
go home and clean up. I’ll see you tomorrow, though, right?”
“Alex, I was thinking I could come over and hang
out for a while. If you don’t mind…”
I smiled. “Mind? I’d love it.” We might not be
able to hold hands or curl up next to each other on the couch, but at least we
could be together a little easier here at home. Jason insisted on driving me
home, claiming I wasn’t fit to drive and might dirty up my little white sports
car. I think it was an excuse so we didn’t have to be separated, not even for a
few minutes. Ever since we’d come home from Montana, we’d found all kinds of
reasons to be together. We’d had a heartfelt discussion, vowing never to be
apart again. That meant we were prepared to abandon the Guardian Network if it
came down to it. But I didn’t think we’d have to resort to such drastic
measures. If we couldn’t find a way to stay in Bellingham, I figured I’d play
my trump card and we’d end up in Bangor together.
As we left the parking lot, I noticed Ash and
Madison still standing there. Madison’s wild hand gestures were a telling sign
of their conversation. I wondered if they’d argue for a while and then leave
together or go their separate ways.
Jason must have been thinking similar thoughts,
because he said, “I hope they stop fighting long enough to explore their
feelings for each other. I want Madison to find happiness. To understand how
incredible it is to love and be loved back.”
I leaned over and rested my hand against the
back of his neck. “You are one incredible guy, Jason Walker. Now, take me home
and love me forever.”
“I wish I could.”
“Well, how about making me a piece of peanut
butter and jelly toast while I take a shower?”
He laughed. “As long as it doesn’t involve
tomatoes, I’ll cook you anything you want, sweetheart.”
Max called an impromptu meeting, asking Ash, Madison,
Jason, and myself to meet him for lunch at The Bagelry. Rarely did Max
instigate any kind of gathering, so we figured he must have important matters
to discuss. Since I had a 1:30 p.m. appointment at the Law Offices of Crompton
& Keats, and I knew The Bagelry would be screaming busy with the lunch
rush, I suggested we gather at Woods Coffee in Boulevard Park instead.
Gorgeously located because of its proximity and
stunning views of Bellingham Bay, this Woods Coffee location grabbed customers
from the boardwalk foot traffic. Resembling a wood cabin with large beams and
river rocks, the atmosphere at Woods was always comfortable and inviting.
During the winter, customers with laptops packed the coffee shop, while college
students settled in for long hours of studying. Whether for pleasure or work,
the view was inspirational. On a hot summer day like this one, most people
either opted for outdoor seating or just took their lattes and iced drinks to
go. Even though it was a picture-perfect day, we needed privacy and decided to
stay inside. Delighted to have the entire loft area to ourselves, we settled in
with our lunches. Max refused to discuss the reason for our meeting until we
were all present. Munching away on his Panini sandwich, he held firm as Madison
poked and pestered him for some hints.
Jason leaned over and whispered, “This has to be
about us moving.”
I nodded. “After his recent blowup with you, I’d
sure think so,” I whispered back. Looking through the railing to the counter
below, I wished the baristas would hurry up and get to Ash. A girl sporting
multi-colored knee-high socks and a tight yellow sundress which accentuated her
fat rolls, was reading her order from a list that looked a mile long.
I was impatient and antsy, partly because I was
anxious about my upcoming appointment with Mr. Crompton, but mostly because I
had a feeling Max wanted to give us a lecture. A couple days before, Jason had
informed him we were considering leaving the Guardian Network. Max did not view
that as an option and had lost his, normally perfectly intact, composure.
Apparently, he’d turned a dark shade of crimson, clenched his fists, and gotten
right up in Jason’s face. Bitterly, he’d fired off a series of questions like,
“Are you crazy? What do you think your life in Bellingham would be like after
that? What about Madison? Who will she link with? Or you? What about your
family? Or your dad’s position as a Senior Council Member? Or Lexi’s for that
matter?”
Those were just a few of his rapid-fire
inquiries. According to Jason, the onslaught continued for several minutes.
Deciding to be passive rather than reactive, Jason had taken it in stride,
maintained his self-control, and allowed Max to blow off some steam. But Max’s
temper had never simmered, and they’d parted ways on less than friendly terms.
Understandably, Jason was shaken up afterwards. He knew Max had some valid
points. He’d hoped Max would cool off after a couple days so they could discuss
it civilly. That hadn’t happened until now. And here we were.
Jason figured the idea of us leaving the Network
hit too close to home for Max. He didn’t want to see his sister or his friends
suffer like his parents had when they’d been kicked out of the Network. The
hostility and ostracism had been more difficult to live with than either of
them had anticipated. And even now, years after they’d been allowed back in and
had proven their loyalty time and time again, there were still plenty of people
who treated them with indifference. For the most part, Max, Madison, and especially
Jessica – an Amethyst – were not regarded with disdain. In the Guardian
Network, the general belief seemed to be that the sins of the parents should
not be passed on to the children. But since his parents were often treated with
indifference, Max took it personally. He was bitter about the stigma attached
to his family. And right now, he certainly didn’t want history repeating
itself, nor did he want his sister or his friends to become outcasts and make
matters worse.
Finally, Ash plopped down into his seat,
bringing with him, as always, an obscene amount of food.
“Really?
Is it necessary, or healthy even, to eat,”
I surveyed his lunch,
“three sandwiches, two apples, a bag of
trail mix, and a monster cookie all in one sitting?”
I asked.
He beamed and raised his giant shake in the air.
“Absolutely.”
then aloud he said,
“Sorry to keep you all waiting, but the girl in front of me had an enormous
order.”
Madison’s eyes rounded and she looked appalled.
“And you didn’t?” She turned and tugged on Max, “Anyways, spill it. I’m tired
of waiting.”
For the next ten minutes, Max voiced his
thoughts as well as a new idea. I’d been right, in a way; he did want to
discuss the whole “moving” mess. But instead of slamming us for even
considering leaving the Guardian organization, he had another solution
altogether. One that was crazy but might allow the four of us to stay in
Bellingham and stay in the Network. Well, not the U.S. Network, but the
Canadian Network.
“I propose you request a meeting with the
Canadian Senior Council of Guardians,” Max said, his words instigating a round
of gasps. “I think you should ask permission to become members of their
Network.” The day before, he’d spent time with Christian, the Senior member of
the B.C. Circle, discussing the idea. Christian, who was also eternally
grateful for all the support we’d given them over the last year, thought it was
a great idea and one that might fly with his Council.
“Seriously?” Madison asked.
“Yes. There’s nothing to lose,” Max replied.
“Christian figured there was a good possibility you could be members of the
B.C. Circle but still live in Bellingham.” Situated so close to the border, our
cities were only 50 miles apart – much closer than the 90 miles that stretched
between Bellingham and Seattle. Max said it was rare for members of one
country’s Network to ask for a transfer to another country’s; although, that
was because the request was almost always rejected. Networks wanted to maintain
good relations and not piss each other off; that was particularly true for
neighbors like the U.S. and Canada. But, once in a blue moon, a request to
transfer was made and even granted. The funny thing about the whole process was
that the home country had no say in the decision. The Senior Council of the
other country either approved or rejected the proposal by majority vote.
Once Max finished talking and asked for our
thoughts on the matter, Ash and Madison were all over it. Fervently, they
voiced their opinions, bouncing the pros and cons off each other like they were
in a tennis match. My thoughts were racing a mile a minute, and I wondered what
Jason was thinking as he munched pensively on his dill pickle. I looked at my
turkey croissant sandwich but couldn’t take a bite. Despite my stomach
growling, I was too distracted. And intrigued. I needed time to process this
new possibility.
How would I feel about being a member of the
Canadian Network? Would it be weird being a U.S. citizen while being a Canadian
Guardian? Seemed kind of traitorous. And how would Guardians of the U.S.
Circles react after we ditched them? Like if we went to Chicago, would we be
treated like outcasts or black sheep? What about events like the New Year’s Eve
Party at Towhead or the Guardian games at the Ranch? Would we even be allowed
to attend? I tugged rapidly at my blouse, trying to cool myself down. I wasn’t
sure if I was perspiring because it was hot in the loft or because the reality
of our situation was painfully real and a decision was imminent. A wave of
gritty espresso beans wafted up from below, and I held a finger to my nose.
Smelled like burnt coffee – nauseating. Whenever I was stressed, my sense of
smell seemed to intensify. Impulsively, I leaned towards Jason, rested my head
against his shoulder, and inhaled. Mmm…much better – piney and outdoorsy.
Enticing.
He ran a hand through my hair and whispered,
“What are you thinking?”
“Not sure.”
“Could be a perfect solution.” I nodded and he
added, “You should eat something. Big day ahead.”
“I know. I will,” I said. Sitting back up, I
noted he was watching me, so I took a sip of my berry smoothie. He smiled and
turned his attention back to Madison, who was expressing favorable opinions
toward this new idea. I had to keep in mind this wasn’t solely my decision. I
wanted to do what was right for all four of us. A blender cranked into
high-speed, and I sat up a little taller. Poking at my sandwich, I tried
convincing myself I should take a bite.
“What do you think of Max’s idea? You look
spacy?”
I glanced at Ash, who was evaluating me with a
curious expression.
“I’m thinking it’s a
better option than leaving the Network all together.”
Ash nodded.
“Me
too. I want you to know that I’m with you,”
he paused, grinned, and nodded
his head towards Madison,
“and her, in
whatever you decide in the end. You know I don’t have any family ties here
except you, and I am more than willing to move anywhere. Honestly, I don’t care
which Network we belong to. Not afraid to roll with the dice. Always do.”
I nodded once, a show of my appreciation.
“Thanks, Ash. You’re always here for me, and
it means a lot.”
“Right
back at you.”
He grinned, winked, and took a bite of his apple.
“On the positive side,” Madison was saying,
“we’d all be able to stay in Bellingham with our families.”
“True,” Jason added. He turned in his chair and
gazed at me. “But I don’t see any reason Alex and Ash would need to leave the
U.S. Network. Madison and I could ask permission to join the Canadians, and
Alex and Ash could just choose to stay in Bellingham. That way she’d still be a
member of the Senior Council here, which I think is important. As a member, not
only will she have insight into what issues are up for discussion, but she’ll
also have a say. And in a way, her presence might keep some of those crooked
members in check.”
Max set down his coffee cup. “Good point, Jason.
We did consider that, but Christian doesn’t think the Canadian Council would
accept just you and Madison. However, if the request was coming from…”
“Of course,” Ash interjected. “A package deal. And
if the request for a transfer came directly from a Dentelle, they’d be crazy to
turn her down. And really, what do they care if she wants to bring a few
friends with her? Or if she wants to live in Bellingham and continue at
Western?”
“I wouldn’t stop there, either,” Madison added,
looking straight at me, her eyes alight with excitement. “You could cite all
the restrictions that have been placed on you here, and tell them you need the
freedom to make some of your own choices,” she paused and looked at Jason,
“especially when it comes to your personal relationships.” She narrowed one eye
and tapped her index finger against her chin, indicating her cunning brain was
hard at work.
Interesting. This was the first time she’d ever
openly been an advocate for Jason and I being a couple. Jessica must be right.
Madison was interested in Ash. I wondered if maybe the reason she was hesitant
to explore a relationship with him was because of me. He and I were tight. I
tried to imagine myself in her shoes, which wasn’t easy, because they were
usually four inch heels, but when I got to the heart of the matter, I could see
where she might view me as a threat. First, I stole Jason’s heart, and now I
was linked with Ash, and everyone knew he’d pursued a relationship with me
early on.
Deep in thought, I swirled my straw around in
circles and nonchalantly observed Madison. Maybe she didn’t feel comfortable
pursuing her feelings for Ash until more issues were resolved. Then there was
the fact I was a Dentelle, automatically in the spotlight wherever we went, not
because I wanted or enjoyed the attention but because that’s just how it was.
Madison, on the other hand, enjoyed the limelight, and she didn’t get much time
in it when I was around – which was always. My throat swelled up. Yeah, I’d
pretty much hate me if I was her. My stomach felt sick. I didn’t want her to
view me that way. Silently, I vowed to be more thoughtful and find ways to
support a relationship between her and Ash.
“What are you thinking about Max’s idea, Alex?”
Jason asked, shifting in his chair so he had a full view of me.
“Well,” I said, jamming the straw back into the
cup and pushing my lunch off to the side, “I definitely need time to think this
through, but it sounds like it might be our best option,” I replied.
“Completely walking away from the Guardians is the least desirable choice. As
far as this Bangor move goes, I’ve been worried about it, too.” I glanced at
Max. “If Jason and Madison move to Bangor, and then I play my trump card,
moving Ash and myself there, what’s to stop the Senior Council from voting to
move Jason and Madison again – to another Circle?”
“Good point,” Max said. “There’s nothing to stop
them.”
“And I wouldn’t put it past them, either.” I
clutched Jason’s leg. “We’d be separated and living in places we didn’t want to
be with no way to change things.” I sighed and sent a blast of Essence to my
shoulders, which suddenly felt as if they were carrying the weight of the
world. “At least with this Canadian scenario, I could bring all my cards to the
table. They can either approve the transfer along with my other requests, or
not. I’d say it’s worth a shot, especially if another solution doesn’t present
itself in the next few weeks.”
For the next half hour, we talked back and
forth, throwing out more possibilities. The most interesting one was that if
the Canadian Council was to accept my proposal, was there any chance the U.S.
Senior Council might throw out a counter offer? Maybe even give in to my
demands – all because they didn’t want their Network to lose a Dentelle? Max
reminded me that I was in a unique position, and could be influential and
persuasive in ways I’d never thought possible.