A/N: Hey everybody! This is chapter one of my first Mediator Fan Fiction, "Kiss of Light". Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original characters from the Mediator Series (Like Suze, Jess etc) They belong to Meg Cabot. But I do own the characters that were never mentioned in the book series. They are mine to toy with.
Story Summary: When Anna learns she is moving to California, everything seems to be hanky-dory. That is, until she meets a mysterious ghost that seems to know more about her past then he is letting on. Who is this ghost and why does he know so much about Anna? Anna must learn to face her fears and discover the hidden past that could change her life forever. Rated T for Language, sexual content, and violence.
Chapter one:
I can't remember the exact reaction I had after hearing I was about to move to California. But I knew for one thing, I wasn't happy. What girl could be happy about moving to Carmel Valley after having lived the first sixteen years of her life in the country side? Let me tell you how I felt about the situation. It sucked, big time and not just because I was leaving my friends and most of my family behind, but I also had to break up with my long time boyfriend.
Jack, the man who'd given me all of his affection, was fuming for weeks on end after I'd told him I was going to live with my uncle. What can I say? The poor guy's been in love with me since the fifth grade and now I just up and leave for California without any explanation as to why. I can understand why he's so upset. Now, after being in a relationship for more then 2 years, I don't even bother to tell him the real reason to why I was leaving him for the coast.
It was really for his own good. If I'd told him, he wouldn't believe me. Oh, I know he'd try to believe but deep down he wouldn't understand it at all. I barely even understood it and that was why I was moving to Cali. I had known for a long time too; well okay… a year and a half. But how does a girl deal with the fact that she can see dead people.
Yes, you read that correctly. I see, hear, feel and talk to dead people.
I have had this "gift" since well, I was born, but for so many years I thought I was a mental case.
For so many years I'd stay awake at night, thinking… well, fearing the next time I'd see them, the dead people. I tried to ignore them most of the time. They'd come to me, I'd close my eyes, cover my ears, and pray they'd leave me alone. They'd usually disappear by the time my eyes flickered back open. But some never left without having a little chat first.
They'd haunt me for a long period of time before they'd finally give up hope in finding help from me. They all asked the some question too, "Will you do me a favor?" Give me a break; I was like five at the time when I first started talking to the ghosts. Now, they expected me to help them?
Sometimes they were small tasks, minor things that I'd do happily hoping they'd leave once the job was done. But many of them were violent and wanted their murders solved. I'm just a girl not Angela Lansbury, star to "Murder she wrote".
Everything from then on became confusing, my social life, my love life, and well, my after life.
There was but one single box left in my empty room. It was full of things Jack had given me over the past few years. I don't know why I kept everything. Maybe it was because I'm really sentimental but whatever.
A pressed flower in a book of poems written only for my eyes to read, his jean jacket that had frayed in several spots, letters he'd sent to me over his summer in Cancun and many other things symbolic to his love was packed tightly in the confines of the small card board box. I'd miss him. I knew I would but we were growing apart, it was true. There wasn't love left in our relationship.
Now, he made it seem as if I hadn't given him what he wanted. Yes, I gave him almost everything but, he always talked about how we barely ever kissed and how I never let him touch me anymore. I was one confused girl, let me tell you. Here was a guy, giving me everything I could have ever wanted in a loving relationship and yet, I was unwilling to give him my heart in return.
I didn't really know why I was so stubborn. The first time we kissed, there were fireworks and my heart beat fastened every time I saw him. I had love for him then. Then suddenly, something changed inside of me. Like, I shouldn't love him.
I took his jean jacket from the box and put it on over my black "country girl" tank. I stood up and cradled the box out of my room. Sadly, I turned back to the desolate room. I pictured my twin size bed sitting by my window. I remembered times when I would sit up at night, gazing though the glass at the bright stars dancing up in the midnight sky. I doubted I'd ever see them so clearly in California.
Once life had been simple here but now, I was being tossed into a tide pool full of miseries.
I walked along the hallway. My father was waiting by the car for me and I didn't want to keep him waiting. I wasn't quite looking where I was going when I stumbled and fell against something... or someone.
The box dropped from my grasp, landing on the carpet floor with a thud. I felt warm hands creep up my back and a light breathe tickling my cheeks. My whole body tensed was I was pressed against this stranger's hard body.
I felt a shiver run up my spine to meet the cold sweat that consumed my neck.
"Anna."
I looked up at the sound of my name being spoken with such a passion. Two green eyes stared back at me, boring into me like cupid's arrow. His voice sunk deep into my skin and I begin to melt.
"Jack." I replied my voice unsteady and my hands shaking in his grasp.
"Did you really think I'd let you leave without saying goodbye first?" he reached up one hand and gently grabbed my neck. I willingly let him pull me closer. It didn't come as a surprise to me when I felt his lips brush up against my own.
I didn't feel anything, nothing like I used to feel. There were no fireworks, no quick heart beating or a light headed feeling. Nothing.
He pulled away quickly realizing how much he was giving into the kiss and how little I was returning. I didn't dare look at him, so I turned my gaze to the box that was now turned over on the floor, all of its contents spilled out around us. The rose petals were spread before my feet. Why had I kept those stupid things anyway? They were now just a reminder of how I was breaking Jack's heart. Damn my unforgivable actions.
I went down on my knees and started to pick up the soft petals. I could feel Jack hanging over me, watching my every move as I placed everything back where they belonged.
Jack took my hand, helping me stand once again. He looked into my eyes, the portals into my soul. His own were filled with hurt and pain, while mine teemed with regret.
"Why don't you love me anymore Anna?" he asked, trying to seem as calm as he possibly could.
"I never said I didn't love you anymore." I hated the lie the moment it escaped from my lips. It left like acid burning into my heart.
"Don't give me that. I can see it in your eyes." His voice sounded different, so strange from the voice of the farm boy I had once known.
I looked away from him. Silently, I begged him not to make me look at him. But it was too late. He took my chin with his thumb and index finger. My eyes caught his. I studied him, now that we were so close. I noted that his dirty blonde hair was slightly tossed in front of his eyes; I saw his arms, strong, built from a long life of working on a farm. His chest was raising and falling in unison with the drumming of his heart against his chest, that might I add, was decked with a nice pair of six pack abs. Why didn't I love him anymore?
"Please, just tell me. Why now? Is it because you are moving? If that's it, then you need not worry. All I have to do is get my parents to agree and then I can move in with family over on the west coast and..."
"Stop it Jack." I said as I pressed my palms up against his chest. He moved his arms around my waist and gave me a rather forced smile. "You know you can tell me if something's bothering you. I know you better then I know myself even. I can always tell when you are upset." I sighed.
This is what I get for spilling my feelings out to him on the phone every night.
Unintentionally, my head fell against his chest and my arms wrapped around his neck. It was like I was reliving a past event and it wasn't me.
"I'm just upset about this whole moving-across-the-country thing. I don't want to leave everything here behind that I once loved. Like the farm, school, Mr. Riverez, our little pond, the…" I didn't get to finish for the next thing I knew, Jack was leaving a trail of kisses down my neck.
Okay, I will admit, he is one amazing kisser. I mean it. Such things as this, made me question my reasons for leaving good old Oklahoma.
I moaned, closed my eyes, and combed my fingers through his hair.
"Oh Jack." I giggled.
I knew I really shouldn't have been toying with his emotions but just the way he kissed me made me over think my decision about the "I don't love Jack anymore" thing.
"Oh get a room".
I opened my eyes quickly. Jack removed his lips from my collarbone and spun around to see who our intruder was.
It was my older brother, Stephen. He was eighteen and felt it was his responsibility to always reunion any romantic moment I might be taking part in. That's why Jack and I were never able to become the least bit intimate in our relationship, not that we wanted to me too intimate anyway. We both shared the same "save it for marriage" values. But even a little make-out session was rudely interrupted by the big bad wolf.
"What do you want Stephen?" I groaned as I straightened up my tank top to make sure I didn't look too much like I'd just had a guy giving me hickies.
Stephen chuckled as he walked our way. He was dirty, no doubt from helping my father in the fields. Sweat rolled off his forehead and glistened in his brown hair.
"You two are truly pathetic." He said smirking.
At that moment, I wanted nothing more then to kick him, just a little below his stomach but I fought back the urge, only to say "Shut up" as my come back.
Jack frowned. I knew he saw my expression, the one that showed I was yet again just the least bit revealed that we had been quickly interrupted. But actually… the more Jack kissed me, the harder I found it to pull away. Don't get me wrong. I'm no slut who lives off boy toys. But his kisses just made me want him more an more.
Jack then leaned down and took up the box in his hands, giving it back to me.
"Just promise you'll keep these things. Don't completely forget about me after all the surfer guys in California start asking you out." He simply smiled and walked past my brother toward the door.
My feet stayed glued to the ground but I forced them forward and ran towards him. "Jack!" I called as I ran swiftly to his side.
The sun blazed from above and the vast horizon lay before me. Endless miles of farm land.
I turned my attention back on Jack. I grabbed his strong arm and a pleasurable feeling filled my veins. In a flash another face occupied Jack's profile. I shook away the image of the man and Jake's tan face returned. I felt his beautiful eyes upon me but I didn't sense his smile but a faded expression.
"Don't make this more difficult Anna."
Jack yanked his arm away. I felt the stab of rejection but I fought back and quickly reached up. I brought his head down to meet mine, since he was a good head taller then I was.
"I promise I'll call you the moment I get to Carmel. Okay?"
He shrugged, not looking me straight in the eyes.
Oh here it was the grade finale to my web of lies.
"I love you Jack." I whispered and kissed his cheek.
He didn't react the way I'd expected and pulled away from me, walking sadly toward his car. He turned his keys in the ignition and was off. What a way to say good bye…
Stephen took the box from my hands and threw it into the moving truck.
"Let's go Anna!" I heard my father yell from his pick up truck. I'd placed my backpack by the front door and so I retreated quickly and swung it over my back. It was heavy but I managed.
As I headed into the car with my father, Rick Johnson, I took one finally look at my home, the two story house that I'd lived in for sixteen years. I was going to miss all those mornings of walking up and hearing the rooster calling the sun to rise. But I had the beautiful shores of California to look forward to now.
My father was the all around country man. He wore a button down jean shirt that had been stained with paint on the sleeves and bleached on the collar. His gray eyes were always half closed, probably from lack of sleep.
Stephen walked out of the house and waved.
"Have fun in California! Send me a postcard." He shouted before heading back into the house.
He just happened to schedule a hot date that night and had to spend hours in his room "preparing". What a brother he was? He'd rather go on a date then say good bye to his sister as she took off for another part of the country.
Our car slowly pulled out of the drive way, dust rolled behind us. I sighed, realizing I might never come back to this place.
The thing was I was going to live in California alone with my uncle Mark. My mother and father had to stay behind because of their jobs and the farm. But I, I had to go. This whole seeing-ghosts-every-time-I-turn-around thing drove them off the wall. They thought if I moved in with my uncle away from what they called "my bad memories" her in Oklahoma, maybe I'd be better off.
My memories, they said, were dark. They said when I was fourteen I was in a coma for months and no one could wake me. I didn't even remember anything from my fourteenth year of life. Of course I remembered 13, 12, 11, etc. But I just didn't remember anything about 14. Supposedly that was when Jack and I had gotten really serious, but… I didn't get it. They said that when I woke up, I didn't know who I was, but slowly, I began to remember things. But something else came, other memories.
Those memories were, according to my doctor and family, never supposed to be there. Like as if they weren't my own at all. Even though Jack had been the only boy to ever love me, the thing was, the memories were of another. Don't ask me why but I remembered being with someone else, even though I had never been.
That's what first drove my parents to believe I was crazy.
Really, I don't blame them. I couldn't exactly control the memories. They'd just come suddenly and when they did, I'd tell someone about them. I thought they were only day dreams but people acted all panicked and told me forget it. But… I couldn't forget the memories. I just couldn't.
Our farm was very far away from any form of civilization and it took quite a long time for us to reach the airport. The small moving truck with all my stuff packed inside trailed behind us. It would eventually break off to the highway where it would go straight to Carmel. The moving men said I should receive my things in at least two days from my arrival. That meant I would have to bring a small suit case with me on the plane so I wouldn't be left naked without anything to wear.
My father's car pulled into the airport parking lot. I looked up and saw a plane fly past us. "Here we are kiddo, got your stuff?" I nodded as I took my green suit case from the back of the truck. It was early in the day so not too many people were there. We went inside the terminal, my ticket clutched in my hand. "Anna!" I turned to see my mother running toward me, her red hair tied up in a bun. She had promised to meet us before I left, since her job was in town. She was a travel agent.
As she came closer, I could see where her mascara had smudged from crying. Oh gee, mothers…
She wrapped her arms around me; more tears broke through her closed eye lids.
"I'm going to miss you so much sweetie." She said sobbing.
"Mom, I'll be alright. What could happen?" I asked as I smiled up at her.
My mother turned to her husband with a wary look on her face.
"Don't worry Katherine. She's a smart girl. She'll do fine." My father reassured her as he too pulled me into a warm embrace.
"Thanks dad." I said. Parents can be so emotional sometimes.
"Flight to Carmel, California is now ready for departure." The announcement overhead rang through my ears. Freedom called. I waved good bye to my parents, leaving them in tears.
"Call us as soon as you land." My mother's voice trailed off as the stewardess closed the door behind me.
Cautiously, I pushed my way through the crowds of people, trying to get comfortable. Finally, I reached my seat. An old man sat next to me. He was passed out cold, a trail of saliva hang out from his mouth. Poor guy, I thought. I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out a Kleenex. Leaning down, I wrapped his mouth clean and then folded the tissue and placed it on his lap. Still, he didn't budge.
Once I was settled soundly in my seat, the stewardess instructed us about the safeties of flying on a plane, but I tuned her out. All I wanted to do was relax to some iTunes and read a nice long book. I put my head phones on and Madonna's "Hung up" rang through my ears. My backpack was propped between my legs, bulging with my prized possessions, my books. "Interview with a vampire" by Anne Rice was my number one choice, right next to "the half blood prince" by J.K. Rowling. I loved them, fantasy was my life. So far, I hadn't actually found a book called, "Sixth Sense for Dummies" so I stuck to the worlds of Lestat and Harry Potter.
I cracked my vampire book open and began to read. I was half way through the chapter when my ear drums popped and I knew we were lifting off.
The man next to me made a strange noise as he came back to life. "Are we flying yet?" the man groaned as he took the tissue from his lap and blew his nose. Great, I have to sit next to Mr. Gross for two hours.
"It appears so." I replied.
The man, I now noticed, was wearing a suit and tie. Maybe he was going on a business trip on California. I wanted to strike up conversation so I introduced myself.
"I'm Anna Johnson." I said, holding out my hand for him to shake.
While the man shook my hand, he said modestly, "My name is George Edward, CEO of Edward and Manson Enterprises." So, he was a business man. Wow.
"Well it is nice to meet you." I said smiling. George leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, falling asleep once again. Some CEO he was.
I turned my attention back to Lestat. I was deeply involved in the book, it was rightat the part when Lestat is about to take his first victim when…
"Hello there."I practically jumped out of my seat, I was so startled.
My heart beat quickened as I turned my head to see who was beside me. It was a boy, a guess he was about 3 years younger then I was, occupying the seat next to me. He looked pretty normal.
Well that is except for the fact that he was glowing.