Last chapter (haha got you there :P ) before I return to school after Easter break *cry face*…
Bit of fluff ;)
Chapter Eleven – Leah POV
It scares me how natural we fit around each other. I've been living with the Benedict family for almost two weeks and I have to admit, I actually quite enjoy my lessons and healing sessions with Yves and Xav. I enjoy waking up every morning to Vic's steady breathing next to me (it's the only time we don't feel awkward being so close) and the clatter and chatter in the kitchen. I can sense the others' glances behind our backs. Exchanging meaningful looks and I know what they're referring to. When Vic and I are in the same room, we move like we know where the other's going to be before they do. The way we move around each other and seem to fit together is terrifying. What pleases me most of all, is that my 'gift' is almost under control. It was quite difficult at the beginning because Yves had to try to provoke me to see the extent of my gift but thankfully that phase is over and I'm more often than not able to direct and steer electrons and light with mere mind control – no emotion attached. Xav thinks that my gift has unintentionally saved me many times, my body automatically accumulating electricity from an external source to keep my heart beating. It's an odd feeling when I feel electricity pulsing through me, ready at my fingertips. It's the same feeling I get every night when Vic intertwines his fingers with mine.
"Hey!"
Speak of the devil.
"Hi!" I look up from the kitchen table and can't help the small smile forming on my face.
"Ready for the grilling?" Vic asks with a sarcastic grin.
"Huh?"
"D'you think you're ready to tell me a bit about your family?"
"I … I don't ..." My last interview with the FBI didn't go too well.
As if he's read my mind, he replies, "Don't worry, this isn't for the FBI or anything. I think Freddy won't be seeing you anytime soon." The wide smirk on his handsome face shows me that he isn't at all angry at me.
"I … Okay." I say and giggle at his raised eyebrow. "I'm serious. I won't call you stupid or insult your face or anything like that."
"Good to know. So, how about you just start wherever and I ask questions if I don't understand something?"
Nodding, I start my tale.
"As you know, I was born here but very quickly moved to North Germany with my parents. When I was about four, I showed signs of … my gift, I guess you'd call it. Moving the juice box without touching it, drawing pictures without picking up the crayons, stuff like that. After I played 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik' for my parents on the piano, they started sending me from one psychiatrist to another. See, because I wasn't actually … sitting at the piano when I played the piece for them. The psychiatrists tried everything, some of their therapies I'm sure weren't even legal" I ignore Vic's flinch and try to carry on with a steady voice.
"When I was eight, one of my classmates, I remember her name, she was called Aycha, she was teasing and bullying me, called me … called me a 'freak' and stuff like that. I … I couldn't control it, next thing I knew there was electricity, a real bolt of lightning coming from the socket grazed Aycha's arm, burning the skin of. Aycha and some of her friends were convinced it was me and even my class teacher who'd always been so nice to me tugged me back from Aycha and told me to go to the principal's office. My parents took me out of school the next day and we moved back to the farm in Colorado Springs. And instead of spending my summer vacation on a beach in California, I spent mine in a mental institution which definitely 19th century in its methods. I was home schooled from then on and my mom, she … she didn't seem to realize I was stuck in a vicious circle. When I was under pressure, the lamp would explode, she would hit me, the oven would switch itself on, she would slap me, the timer would go off, and so on and so on. When I turned eighteen, I saw my chance to escape. I enlisted, my parents were glad I'd signed my own death sentence and I … I dunno why I did it exactly. Part of me wanted to escape but … I think …. Part of me wanted to die."
"Leah." Vic said in a worried voice but I shushed him.
"My whole life, I'd been told that I was a freak, that I deserved to die so I guess after a while, I started to believe it."
My heart stops for a split second when Vic suddenly moves from his chair on the opposite side of the table to kneel before me. Gently, he takes my face in his hands and leans his forehead against mine.
"Leah Andersson, you are the bravest, most beautiful, most courageous and lively person I've ever met. Don't you dare let anyone else tell you otherwise and convince you that you deserve to die."
All I manage is a nod before he presses his lips against mine. My – our – first kiss is everything I hoped for and much more. Our lips move together in perfect unison as though we've done this many times before and the invigorating feeling of love and being loved fills my body from head to toe. Vic pulls away first, leaving us both breathless and wanting more.
"Shit."
Not the first reaction I'm looking for but I overlook it when I see the guilty look on his face.
"I'm sorry. I just didn't want to rush you. I don't want to rush you. I mean – I want to wait until you're ready and I can totally – totally - understand if you … you don't want this yet…"
"Vic!" I say laughingly, secretly quite pleased that I can turn him – the brooding, authority-loving Victor – into this stammering mess.
"What?"
"Was I complaining?"
"But you see, what I don't get is how you can be a Savant if neither of your parents are Savants."
"Hhmm…" I've drifted off and am currently focusing on switching the bedside light off. One of my lessons today: where to with the electricity you've consumed.
"I mean, you said that neither your mother nor your father showed signs of any kind of telekinetic, telepathic or 'supernatural' abilities during your childhood."
"Would they have treated me the way they did if they had these gifts?"
Vic pulls me closer towards him as if to shield me from them if they burst through the door right now.
"We should contact them, talk to them."
"Vic, no, I don't want to."
"Leah, you don't have to come if you don't want to. But I need to talk to them… If we don't find out the source of our gift then we might never find out the full extent of it."
"Won't you grow tired of being with a ticking bomb, as you so nicely put it?" I ask and wriggle around to look him in the eye.
"Is this you acknowledging that I'm with you and you're with me?" Vic says smirking.
"Isn't that what this is?" My voice grows quieter with every word as my insecurities surface.
"Well, then I'll have to take you on a real date."
"With a candlelight dinner and a romantic stroll in the park? No, thanks."
"Well… what d'you want to do?"
"Paintball?" I ask hopefully and make my best puppy dog eyes at him.
"Hhmmm…" He pretends to contemplate my suggestion but I know I've already won him over.
"Pretty please? With a cherry on top?"
"No cherry but a visit to your parents."
I do a quick Pro/Con list – parents vs. paintball – in my head and even though one side really outweighs the other I go for paintball. Maybe I can combine paintball with parents…?
"Fine."
"Right answer, soulfinder."
And this time, I feel absolutely at peace with him calling me that.
Action/suspense returning soon + meet the 'parents'!
Please review! :)
Thanks to xxx-benedictbrothersfan-xxx, Pirate Kazumi, nononononononono (enough no's?) and guest reviewers Rachel Harrison and Tahira for reviewing recently.