Sweat poured down my face right between my eyelids. Down my cheeks. I ran to the door of Shawn's house and jerked it open. Light hit me all at once. I squinted my eyes as the sun shone brightly on my face. The smell of barbecue was so strong in the air. Was some family actually having a get together? How jealous am I?
I turned back inside the door to see Shawn and Claudia staring at me. Both of their glares held a confused, amused look. I rolled my eyes at them then stepped back in. I shut the door and stopped right where I was. I glanced up at Claudia's face. She truly did not understand what was going on with me. Well hell, neither did I.
"What Claudia?"
She turned her eyes over to the wall with a picture of Shawn and his family.
I placed my hands on my hips and sighed. "What the hell is wrong?"
Claudia turned on me and I watched her disappear into the hall. Shawn finally spoke up. "You were sleepwalking, then you woke up in front of the door."
I walked further into the living room moving past Shawn. I picked up a shirt that was lying on his coffee table and wiped the sweat off my face.
"Sara, that was a clean shirt."
I lowered the shirt away from my eyes so that I could see him. I smiled as I spoke.
"Not anymore."
He stepped up to me and jerked it out of my hands. He stretched the shirt out so he could see all the stains.
"You ruined my white shirt."
"So what."
"Claudia gave me that."
I smiled up at him as I sat down on his couch. "Claudia could give you so much more."
He looked down at me with a puzzled look. "What do you mean by that?"
"Don't be stupid Shawn."
Claudia returned to the room grunting.
"Excuse me Sara, but my sex life is my business. Just like you told me. Stay out of it."
I rolled my eyes at her as she placed her arms around Shawn. She glanced back at me. "Sara, it's eleven already. Would you like to spend the rest of your time in St. Louis on good terms?"
I leaned back against the sofa. I ran my hand through my tangled hair. Did this mean that Claudia was staying here with Mr. Dumbass? Will I have to lose my own best friend? Life is down right unfair.
"Yeah, I'd like to be friends with both of you. What do you guys want to do today?"
Claudia smiled at me while she pulled Shawn closer to her.
"Movie."
"What type of movie?"
"Romance."
I stood up from the sofa and walked over to the phone.
"Sara, what are you doing?"
"Calling a cab."
"Why?"
"None of your business."
She stomped away from Shawn, ran up to me, and pulled the phone out of my hands.
She slammed down the receiver then stared back at me.
I stared at her pissed. "You feel better now?"
"Why are you being a bitch today?"
I smiled bitterly at her. "One. Cause I can. Two. Cause no one will stop me. Three. Cause I feel it. Now back up off me."
I stepped away from her, but stopped when she called my name.
"Sara, I think you are right. I'm maturing and you're still the same immature brat I met years ago."
I turned away from her, walked to the door, opened it, and slammed it closed. My eyes ached from the direct sunlight. I walked further out into the yard. I stopped right in front of Claudia's Rodeo. I placed my hands on the burning hot hood as I tried to catch my balance. My head was spinning again. My stomach was turning. God! What now? I crouched down low beside the bumper and rested my head on it. I closed my eyes to a vision of deep emerald. It was a wavy mass of flames crawling its way across my eyelids. The smell of jasmine filled my senses. The scent surrounded me, bringing me in closer. I stood alone in the deep emeralds. I opened my eyes to see myself isolated by total darkness. I stood up on my feet staring out into the darkness. Where did the Rodeo go? Where's the sun?
My eyes focused in on a small green wave that floated in the middle of the air. I walked over to it quickly and cautiously. I had no idea what to expect. Two small hazel eyes glared back at me. I stepped back from the wave when I knew who it was.
"Why are you here Isaiah?" A smile shown through the wavy vision. "I need your power, Sara."
"Why?"
"St. Louis is going to destroy you. You must come home soon."
I crossed my arms over my chest. "How do you know?"
"Ms. Pezzini. I am a vampire. I know what they are planning to do to you."
"Isaiah! This better be important!"
"I have a private jet waiting for you at the airport. You must board it soon."
"Why?"
"I want you safe."
"Why?"
"You are very important to me."
"Sure."
His entire body shown through the wavy emerald. "Sara, please leave soon. Your safety is all that matters."
I placed my hands on my hips and tried to read his face.
"I must go Sara and so should you."
"If you are lying Isaiah, I will kill you."
"No, I need you Sara, why would I trick you?"
"Only God knows why."
He sighed. "Please go. I must leave."
Just like that, I fell back into reality. I was sitting in the backseat of Claudia's Rodeo. My legs were spread across the seat. I raised my eyes up at Claudia to see her staring back at me. Her face was very worried and sad. I looked over to Shawn to see him keeping a steady glare on the road. I turned my eyes back to Claud. Her eyes were watery. Damn, what's wrong?
"Claudia, what's happening?"
"You're going back to Texas without me."
I smiled up at her. "Where are we going?"
"To the airport."
"How did..."
She interrupted me. "Cameron called us and told me to get you on that jet."
"Who's after me?"
"I don't know."
I grinned at her. "Know why?"
"Of course not."
"Well that's great. I've got the whole entire city of St. Louis on my trail and they can't give me one clue on who has the damn lead."