Declining Grace

Chapter Three

Tentative

Delainia Grace remained seated in her British Literature class without making eye contact with Shawn Farrell. Her recent attraction seemed to have vanished into thin air, replaced by her aversionto him after actually conversing with the boy. She didn't feel any animosity towards him. In fact, she understood him better than he realized. She even understood his reaction to her staring. The 4400's situation was abysmal to say the least. Disappearing without a trace and then returning to the world in a big ball of light with no memory of where they had been, no days seeming to have passed for them, put each member into an impossible situation it seemed. They were forced to face prejudices never even imagined before. It was as if the public expected the 4400 to be granted amnesty for their abduction before the public would accept them, despite the fact that not a single member of the 4400 had committed a crime. Not that the public cared about that. Delainia's mind continued to wander on to her own father. The poor man, half-insane since his return, was declining steadily. He had returned from wherever it was the 4400 had been to find the entire world had changed in the nine years he'd been disappeared. He had found that his wife was dead, one daughter almost completely grown up, and another daughter he hadn't even known about before his abduction. It was difficult to even broach the subject of Kaleen Grace with her father. Delainia's heart clenched at the thought of her baby sister. Kaleen was so altruistic; she deserved a better life than she had. As a result of her life, Kaleen was austere for an eight-year old girl, so wise beyond her years. Delainia imagined that came with having a father disappear before she was born, a mother dying when Kaleen was just seven, and having her older sister raise her. Kaleen adjusted as best she could and tried to never begrudge her friend's normal lives. Delainia actually admired Kaleen. The only other child that seemed to understand where Kaleen was coming from was little Maia Rutledge, another 4400. The eight-year-old Maia's manner was always benign, even when someone was cruel to her, but there was also something odd underlying in the child's words. Her guardian, Diana Skouris, had tried to chalk it up to normal childhood awkwardness, but Delainia had the idea that it was more than that. Delainia released the breath she had been unknowingly holding to clear her mind. If she continued to think about the 4400, she feared her head would implode. Delainia sunk down into her chair as she felt sharp eyes on her. Shawn was chancing a glance at her and it made Delainia want to absolve him for verbally attacking her. She had managed to avoid him all day, just so she could continue feeling angry with him. It was nice having someone real to blame for her life's problems. And Shawn Farrell was the perfect candidate for that.

Shawn Farrell wished he sat in the back row. He would be able to remain undetectable to all, plus he would be able to get the perfect view of the mysterious and fiery Delainia. She could stare at him from where she sat, but he had to fully turn around to even see her. He ran his hands through his short brown hair as he remembered what a buffoon he had been the other day. Her words still echoed in his head, "I'm new here. I don't know anyone and I was having a miserable day. Then I got to fourth hour British Lit and saw this really cute guy in the seat three chairs in front of me. I was beginning to think that maybe it wouldn't be so bad, but apparently, while you're hot, you've got a frightful personality.

"Am I allowed to look up to see you or am I plotting your end by staring daggers at you for being a freak?

"....But the last I knew, I was treating you like a freak. And if that's what you want, I can give it to you."

Shawn lowered his head into his hands. The conversations he had had with her, only two, were always on his mind. The minute she had said that she wasn't looking at him because he was a freak, he had noticed the sadness in her voice. He had suddenly felt a strongaffinity for her. She almost seemed like she knew what he meant, like she understood his problems, like she already knew them. That only further ignited his interest in her, but it was too late for him. She was already angry and he had the feeling that convincing her to forgive him would be quite arduous. He was up to the task, though. It wasn't like he had a busy social life due to his status as a 4400. He wished so desperately that he could just disappear from this life, not in the way he had as a 4400, but start a new life somewhere. Someplace that he wasn't labeled as a 4400 freak. The cursed question of why he was taken arose again. His cousin Kyle had been with him. Why was Kyle stuck in the coma while he had been taken from the beach that night? Shawn shifted in his seat uncomfortably, trying to push the question that would likely never get answered away. The only way he knew how to do that was by looking at Delainia. He turned around and locked eyes with her for a moment. Her emerald eyes fairly sparkled, but was quickly blocked by that raven section of hair that always seemed to be falling in her eyes. He didn't miss the hurt in her eyes and he wondered briefly what caused it. But her eyes were lowered at her paper again and Shawn realized they were doing an assignment. He had to focus. He leaned over the worksheet, pen poised to write. At least he would look like he was working.

Shawn tried to corner Delainia in Lit class, but she moved to the door with amazing speed. He'd never seen anyone walk away from him so quickly. It wasn't that she hadn't noticed him. She had. In fact, she had stared at him for a moment, as if debating whether to speak to him or not, but she apparently decided on the not side of that debate. Shawn rushed after her, but she slipped away before he even got around the corner. He decided he would wait for her before sixth hour, out in the hall. She wouldn't be able to run from him, then. She would have to enter the class eventually, and Mademoiselle Ambrose would not accept her tardiness. So he waited faithfully be the door for her to make an appearance. She did, her head buried in her messenger bag as she fished around for her French book. She bumped into him and her eyes showed her surprise.
"Sorry."

"Delainia, wait, I was wanting to talk to you."

"I don't talk to freaks, Shawn." Her voice was tinged with irony. Shawn cringed at her words, but wouldn't surrender this. He had to apologize.

"You have to listen to me."
"Or what? You'll use some creepy alien power to force me to. Maybe some brainwashing or telepathy?"

Shawn almost laughed, but he knew that wasn't what he should do. Delainia didn't even know how close to the truth she was. He could use his creepy alien power on her. Sucking the life out of her was one to get her to listen. Of course, he didn't even know how it worked, so he wasn't going to be able to use it for his bidding. He wouldn't, anyway. He could always heal her, as well, if something did happen that he didn't intend. He did know how that power worked. He just has to want to heal something and he did.

"Delainia, I wanted to apologize for yelling at you. I'm under a lot of stress and while I understand you being mad, it is kind of time to get over it."
"Oh, what an apology."

Delainia tried to push past him, but Shawn was much stronger than she was. He gripped her arm and captured her eyes.

"Okay. That wasn't exactly my best work. But I need you to understand something. It's been bad since I've been back. My brother, Danny, has been treating me just like everyone else. He's been looking up information about the 4400 so he can figure out how to contain me and my 'powers', whatever he means by that. Danny and I used to be close, but my abduction seemed to have ended that. My mom likes to pretend like nothing's changed, that I'm not a 20-year-old, still thinking and feeling like I'm 17. My best friend and cousin is in a coma and my uncle Tommy blames me for it, because Kyle was with me the night he fell into the coma, the same day I was taken. Everyone else either stares at me or vandalizes my stuff to get the point across that I no longer fit in. And the only person that will talk to me is my brother's girlfriend, Nikki. I've lost all sense of normalcy and I've taken to overreaction because of it. I'm sorry, Delainia."

Delainia paused, resisting the urge to acquiesceto his plea for forgiveness after an apology like that. He had really opened up to her. His life sounded horrible at the moment, but at least it hadn't been an almost permanent thing. His was new. Hers had been since her father had disappeared. Everyone was so focused on how the return was affecting the actual members of the 4400. What about their families? She had just adjusted to life being her sister and she, and then suddenly she had her father to worry about too. Sometimes she wondered if it would have been better if the 4400 had never returned. She wondered if Shawn thought the same thing. No. She cursed herself silently. She would not feel any sympathy towards him.

"I hope that you decided to abridge that sob story, Shawn, because I don't know how much longer I could have listened to it."

Shawn had opened up to someone and now he regretted it. She obviously didn't care. Maybe he shouldn't complain so much. There had to be a reason for the sadness behind her eyes. Maybe there was something worse going with her that he didn't know about. Shawn stepped away from the door to allow her to pass. She wouldn't listen to him. He wouldn't bother to tell her again.

"Listen, that was mean. I know it. It seems we bring out the worst in each other," Delainia conceded.
"There must be a reason for that."
"We're both self-pitying losers?"

"That could be it."

The corners of Delainia's lips turned up slightly as she walked by Shawn. She didn't have the energy to stay angry with him. It was pointless, anyway. Shawn followed her in the room, feeling relieved. Delainia's anger was one less thing he had to worry about. Maybe he'd even end up being friends with her. At least they had a tentative friendship.

Delainia pulled out the cookies from the refrigerator and took a seat at the kitchen table. Her father had gotten up from the recliner to follow her in the kitchen.

"Do you want some cookies, Daddy?"

"Yes, Delainia. You know, that name always sounded too big for my little girl, but your mother always insists that we call you that. Coral loves your name, doesn't she?"

"She did, Daddy. She did."

Delainia pulled some cookies out of the package and stacked them on a napkin, then slid it to Patrick Grace. Patrick was an attractive man, with Delainia's same green eyes, but blond hair that none of the children had inherited. He looked completely normal at first glance, but after a person started talking to him, it was obvious that he wasn't.

"Where is Coral, Sweetheart? I didn't see her this morning and she always says good-bye before she leaves the house."
"Mum hasn't been here for a while, Daddy. Remember? I told you she died, a year and a half ago."

"That's not funny, Delainia. I asked you a serious question."

Delainia resisted the urge to cry at the scolding. Her father was so lost; it hurt her. She was about to reply when the front door slammed.

"Laini! Laini! Guess what?"

Kaleen Grace bounded into the kitchen, black hair swinging in the ponytail Delainia had put in her hair. Maia Rutledge followed her more calmly, her dirty blond hair styled the same way as Kaleen's. Her face was peaceful, unlike Kaleen's excited one.

"What, Sweets? Hello, Maia."
Maia smiled her hello. Kaleen stopped and stood rigidly as she saw her father in the corner of the kitchen. She sent an embarrassed glance at Maia before continuing her story, all excitement wiped from her face again. It broke Delainia's heart to see her sister return to the serious child she typically was. Kaleen was so rarely excited any more; it had been a nice change.

"Maia and I got invited to a birthday party! To someone else's birthday party!"

"That's wonderful, Kaleen. I'm happy for you. You too, Maia."

Maia stepped forward, a peculiar look on her face. She reached for Delainia's hand and squeezed it.

"It's good that you and Shawn made up. Now you can really help him, like I told you to."

The familiar chill ran through Delainia at Maia's words. Talk about creepy alien powers. Maia's seeming precognition was enough to wig anyone out.

"Well, we aren't friends, Maia."
"You will be."

"Oh, will we?" Delainia asked, trying to keep the grin off her face. These two little girls always made her want to smile.

"Mhm."

Delainia pulled Maia into a hug, then Kaleen. The little girls tugged her heartstrings every time she saw them. Typically glued at the hip, with no other friends, she hoped they would make more friends. And the birthday party seemed like a start.

"You don't seem very excited about the birthday party, Miss Maia."

Maia shot her a small, sad smile that said much more than any words she could have spoken. Their eyes locked and Delainia knew. Kaleen was going to be gravely disappointed and Delainia was going to have to pick up the pieces of that girl's broken heart again.

"Did I know you were coming over, Maia?"

"No. But you won't mind."
"I don't. Does Ms. Skouris know you're here?"
"Diana is still at work. Homeland Security is a demanding job for her."

"But she doesn't know you're here. We should probably call her."
"All right."

"First, though, I'll introduce you to our father. Daddy, this is Kaleen's friend, Maia."

Patrick stared at the girls, but didn't see them. Not really.

"Are you talking to your imaginary friends, Delainia? Aren't you getting a bit too old for those?"

Delainia didn't bother to answer. She turned back to her embarrassed sister. Kaleen looked down at her shoes, but explained apologetically the situation.

"Daddy doesn't know me or remember that I was born. He likes to pretend like it's still 9 years ago since he was doesn't remember that time has passed. He's a 4400 like you, Maia."
Maia took her friend's hand and nodded understandingly.

"He will remember. He will be okay. You just have to wait."

Delainia felt almost relieved at those words. Maia was never wrong in her premonitions. She always hit it on the nail. She was one intelligent and special little girl. Kaleen seemed to realize that as well. She nearly grinned, which was good to see.

"Laini, can we have some cookies or are you gonna eat them all?"

"I'll share with you both. And then we'll call Ms. Skouris."

"Yes. We will." Maia said while Delainia distributed the cookies. She climbed into a chair in between Delainia and Kaleen, and all three Graces and Maia munched quietly on the food.