BreeTico - Lol, I'm glad you're happy. I love ascensions, too. Now you get to find out their abilities. I hope you like them, since I really stewed over them for a while.
Complete Chocoholic - Thank you so much. Zach has sort of been a hidden character, I guess. He's always hiding in the shadows, that one. (;
The Significance Series belongs to Shelly Crane.
15: Best Friends For Never
Derek stumbled backwards, his knees hitting the edge of the bed. I could tell that he was working to keep himself restrained, and since I didn't want to cause him anymore pain, I decided to take a step back and give him a moment. I unwound my legs from his waist, but Derek didn't let me go. Still holding me to him, I ended up standing on the tops of his feet so we could still reach each other.
I'd had my fair share of electric kisses with Derek. They always seemed to happen at times where we'd be embarrassed if someone caught us, which they always did. This time, though, we were in our own bedroom. That might not have exactly been safe, but it was pretty isolated. Derek's lips were soft on mine, moving feverishly. He tasted like mint, probably from his toothpaste. His touch alone sent chills down my spine. It wasn't just a kiss; it was more like a connection. Sure, it was his lips that were making my legs feel more like jelly, but there was the fact that he felt like home, that our minds were pressed close. Even though I wanted to press into his mind like he'd said I'd be able to, he had a door pulled down so I couldn't. I couldn't let myself worry about that right now, though. It was always so hard to think clearly and coherently when I was around Derek.
There was a knock on the door, loud enough that it sort of scared me. I knew right away that it was going to be weird hearing things again. That thought crossed my mind just as Derek groaned, obviously annoyed that we were being bothered in our own bedroom. The sound alone made me shiver. I would have thought that we would have some alone time. He didn't let go of me, though, as the knocking continued on the door. "Go 'way!" He called out gruffly. Derek's actual voice was more reaction-inducing than his mental voice. My hands tightened on his upper arms, corded muscle lying underneath my fingertips. His lips returned to mine and he took a step forward, continuing to move until the back of my thighs hit his desk. His hands tightened on my hips before lifting me up onto the desk.
Derek ignited a fire in me. It was like I was just a dull flame, continuing to live on without any real reason. But if I was moved closer to him, it burned hotter, turning from orangey-red to a blue so bright it looked white. His hands stayed on my hips, fingers splayed against the bare skin of my back where my shirt had ridden up a little bit. My hand was on the side of his neck, my thumb resting in just the right place that I could feel the pounding of his pulse. If I could, I wanted to stamp this memory in my mind and keep it forever.
But it was ruined by the fact that someone was knocking incessantly on the bedroom door. I could hear the slightly annoyed sound I made. Derek echoed the sentiment, pulling away from me to rest his forehead against mine. He still had a doorway down on his mind, but I could get the feeling that he had something very important that he wanted to tell me. That he needed me to know. He took a deep breath, minty freshness washing over me. Finally, he decided to speak. His voice was soft and low, gravelly and warm, enough to send shivers down my spine and make goose flesh rise on my arms. "I love you, Emily."
He had said it. I was instantly giddy, excitement bursting through me like I'd opened a dam. I opened my mouth to say something back – like "I love you so much that if you weren't around I think I'd die" – when the doorknob shook, warning us that whoever was out in the hallway was tired of waiting and wasn't planning on going away. Derek muttered a low oath and pulled away from me, leaving me perched on the top of his desk. As he neared the door I jumped up, relishing the sound of my feet on the hardwood.
Derek yanked on the door. It swung open so hard that it almost hit the wall behind it. "What?" He asked, obviously annoyed. I couldn't tell if we looked like we'd been caught mid-make out, but I still self-consciously ran my hands over my hair, smoothing it down. There was nothing I could do to hide my fleece shorts and camisole combination. I still crossed my arms over my chest, though, as I sidled up to Derek. Madison's hair was soaking wet. She was wearing pajama pants underneath a fluffy robe. I'd never seen her without her makeup on, and she was just as pretty without it. Her eyes looked larger, reminding me of a deer when it was caught in the headlights. Behind her stood Zach, looking as stoic as ever.
She opened her mouth to say something to Derek when her eyes darted to me. I took the moment to speak. "Say something," my voice was almost hard, like I was demanding her to talk. Her eyebrows immediately furrowed together as she looked me over. She sort of looked like she was expecting to see me or her brother in danger. She lifted her hands to sign, and I took a hold of both of her hands. "No, say something."
She looked at a loss for words. She shook her head. "Emily, I don't –"
I squealed, jumping up and down for a moment, my hands tightening on hers. "I can hear you, Madison!" I exclaimed, releasing her hands to throw my arms around Derek. "Derek healed me!" I turned to look at Zach, but he didn't seem fazed in the least. Of course. I felt like he was the rock of the family, virtually the only one that could really hold onto his emotions. He reminded me of Xavier in that way, stony eyes, a schooled expression, and a calculated way of holding himself. He wasn't going to give anything away. I think that was why I was so shocked when he glanced up at me and gave me a genuine smile. I couldn't help but smile back as Madison looked in between me and Derek.
"So, I'm guessing you ascended?" Her voice was girlish, young and sort of vulnerable. But there was a hint to it that said she was a force to be reckoned with if you angered her. "Have you two figured out your abilities yet?" She asked, looking completely swept off of her feet. This ascension wasn't just a miracle for me and Derek; it was a sign of hope for her and the rest of the Stanton family.
"We haven't tried," Derek replied honestly. I could tell, though, that he was looking at me from the corner of his eye. I glanced over at him, completely awed by the fact of how close we were. I had thought that the imprints were a little bit of an encroachment on personal space – they were, I just really liked it – but this was on a completely different level. I was suddenly aware of the fact that my body reacted immediately to his, that the two of us considered the other the center of the universe, that we were just circling around the other on a continuous, eternal path.
Madison's eyes searched over us, probably looking for the ascension changes. Derek's were barely noticeable, something that other people could write off as the angle of the sun. I wondered if mine were the same. She didn't say anything about it, though. Instead, she chose to focus on our abilities. "Well, do you feel the pull?" She asked.
Derek closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. "Yes, Madison. But if you don't mind, we're tired. And we're going to go to sleep." He moved to close the door.
"But we heard a scream." Madison said, brushing a chunk of wet hair behind her ears. Her eyes met mine, like she thought she had a better chance of finding an answer from me than her open book brother. But there was a sly smile on her face that said she knew exactly why we hadn't opened the door. Maybe she was even doing this just to tease us, standing outside our bedroom door, looking like she wasn't planning on moving any time soon.
"That was me," I admitted, "finding out that I could hear again." As I said the words, I unconsciously brushed my hair behind my ears. The doctors had told me that it would be a miracle if even little bits of my hearing returned to me. It was safe to assume that they hadn't thought that anything like Derek's healing touch would come along, but it was a miracle. "Sorry, really. But Derek's right, I'm really tired. Can we talk in the morning?" I asked.
Madison raised her eyebrows at me. "Fine. But don't think I won't come in here and wake you up before school starts so I can get the story, with all the details, out of you. And I'm spreading the word. Don't think I won't." She said, shaking a finger at the two of us like we were being scolded.
"That's great," Derek said tiredly, his arm slipping around my waist. He was just annoyed that he couldn't have any alone time with me. Despite the fact that his mental door was locked down the majority of the way, that slipped through easily enough. He wanted Madison and Zach out of the doorway so he could talk to me. "Spread the word that we don't want to be bothered." He told her, starting to close the door.
"Fine," Madison replied in the same tone. "But remember what mom said. She doesn't want any grandchildren just yet."
Derek closed the door before she could say anything else. I'd do anything to have a lock, now. His voice echoed through my mind as he turned to look at me, placing his forehead against mine. Our minds mingled together, skimming the surface. But Derek stayed a good distance away. I tried to mask my confusion and slight pain about it, but he felt it, of course. There are more things that I haven't told you, yet. I didn't want to worry about anything else until later. But it matters now.
My curiosity shot through me, outlined with worry. What could he possibly be hiding from me? I thought that we didn't do that. I hadn't held back anything from him. So what didn't he want me to know? I unconsciously took a slight step backwards, pulling away from him. My hurt was obvious to me. It must be pounding on him. His hands came up to cup my face, forcing my eyes to his. "It's not like that," he said quickly. "It's more… awkward."
"Awkward," I repeated, cocking an eyebrow. What could possibly be so embarrassing that he would call it awkward? He had been so completely unbothered by the fact that we were caught making out in the backyard or in his car in front of the high school.
Derek grinned a little bit, sort of ruefully, and he said, "I can't let your mind get too close to mine because it… sets me off." His eyes darted sideways for a second, biting down on his lip. I wasn't even sure that guys bit down on their lip. But he did, and oh my God, it was hot. "The imprint wants me to have all of you, Emily." He said quietly. "It's more than just physical. It's called mutualizing. And honestly, I'm not sure it's a step we're ready for yet." His voice was soft, his eyes warm as he smoothed his thumb over my cheek. "It has nothing to do with you. I just… we've been imprinted for just over a week, and you were human, probably still reeling from all of this inside and I can't… I can't force you and beg you to do anything that we aren't ready for."
I couldn't help but smile. Derek was technically right – I wasn't sure if I was ready to give anything more than I already was. Our kisses were feverish, and it was hard enough to keep both of us with a level head. And we'd only been together for just over a week. I'd already moved in with him and was sort of planning for our future together, but after he explained what mutualizing was in greater detail, I agreed with him. It was a big step for our relationship. I was just thankful that Derek would understand and give me that choice.
"Hey, Derek," I said after a moment. He sent me a large question mark in my mind. "Remember what you told me earlier?" I could tell that he was searching through everything he'd told me this evening. I was a little shocked that he didn't remember it because it had been so momentous for me, but then again, if it was something so easily realized for him he probably wouldn't keep track of it like I would. I gave him another second to think it through before I said, "I love you, too."
# # #
Madison wasn't lying. I'd been so sure that having my hearing back would be completely awesome, but there were some pitfalls to it. Like the fact that I'd wanted to just sleep but I couldn't, since someone was knocking on the bedroom door. I propped myself up on my elbow to look over Derek's side at his clock. It wasn't even eight in the morning yet. I let out a slight groan, debating on whether or not I should go get the door.
Derek's hand came up suddenly, startling me. He rested it in the side of my neck, giving me a slight smile. Don't bother. Maybe she'll decide to leave us alone. I grinned, dropping back down onto the mattress. Derek's arm went around me and I snuggled into his chest, taking in a deep breath of that smell that was just Derek.
The knocking didn't last as long as it did last night. I heard the twist of the knob and the door swung open. Madison stepped into the room. She didn't take a step for a moment, and I imagined that she was looking at us. After a second or two, her footsteps resumed. She didn't bother to try and wake Derek, instead coming around the end of the bed and taking a seat on my side. There was plenty of room for her because Derek and I had shifted as close to each other as we could. I could feel her crawling closer to me, sort of like a child when they're scared of the dark and begging their parents to not send them back to their room. She put a hand on my arm and gave me a shake. "Emily," she whispered.
"Leave her alone," Derek said tiredly, tightening his hold around me. "Jesus, Madison. Can we do this later?"
"I told everyone last night that you two ascended, and we all want to know. You promised me that I'd be the first to know." She complained. "And I've got school until four."
"I don't remember ever promising you that you would know anything first." Derek said. I nudged him with a palm on his chest and sat up, running a hand over my hair. I blinked tiredly and looked over Madison. She was wearing a skirt with a tank top and cardigan. She looked like she better belonged in a back-to-school magazine as one of the preppy, pretty, kind girls. The colors were pale pink and white, for God's sake. She grinned at me broadly.
"See? Emily knows the importance of this." Madison said, directing her words to her brother. She looked over at me as if she wanted to make sure that I got it. In the time since my hearing had returned to me, I'd sort of gotten used to it again. It's easy to slip into something that you once knew so well. It was sort of like when Derek and I first communicated in our minds. It was just something that was supposed to happen, so it wasn't hard to get used to it. There were still things that I wasn't used to, yet, but for now, I had gotten used to Derek's and Madison's voices and the sound of my significant breathing. I'd even gotten reacquainted with our hearts when I'd laid my head on his chest to go to sleep. The sound of the two of them beating together had eventually lulled me to sleep.
"I get to go back to sleep after this, right?" I asked. Derek snorted in laughter behind me, his hand touching my wrist. I could feel him get up, pushing back the covers and going to stand. His footfalls were heavier on the hardwood floors than Madison's were.
Madison rolled her eyes. "Sure, whatever. Now come on, get up. I've got to find out what you two can do." With a yawn that wasn't needed, I stretched out my arms just for the feeling of waking up my muscles. Madison moved to perch on the end of the bed, facing me, as Derek walked around the end. Throwing open his closet door, he pulled off his undershirt and replaced it with a T-shirt with tour dates on it, giving me a partial glance at his dragon tattoo. It worked for his rock star persona, not as well as the soft shirts he usually wore, but it still made him look handsome. I could see lower half of his biceps as he continued to dig around. I tried to keep my eyes from lingering on him for too long. I'd be embarrassed if he knew that I thought that about him, much less if his little sister caught me ogling.
I relished the fact that the floorboards creaked under my feet. Derek and I moved around each other as I headed to the dresser and pulled out a pair of jeans and a tank top shirt that had longer sides so it was loose and flowing around my waist. I laid it on top of the desk, since I wanted to wash my hair before getting ready for the day. Derek, still wearing his pajama pants, looked over at his little sister before glancing at me. "You promise to leave us alone after this?" He asked, cocking an eyebrow like he didn't even believe himself.
His sister just laughed. "Alright, Derek," Madison directed. "Let's see it. What can you do?"
"No idea," he replied blandly. Madison sighed heavily and glanced at the clock on Derek's bedside table. She gave me the stink-eye, like it was my fault that he was being uncooperative. Derek waved a hand and said, "I can't tell you what it is. I can just… feel it, you know?" He closed his eyes momentarily, and I could mentally feel that he was trying to follow a line. I looked in myself for that line, the one that was supposed to lead me to my ability, but I couldn't tell if it was there. There was some weird sort of urge, though, to reach out and touch Madison's arm. It felt sort of like the pull that drew me to Derek.
Madison and I just stared at her brother. Derek took a deep breath and looked up, shaking his head. "I don't –"
"Oh, my God," I breathed. His gaze snapped to me, his mind scanning mine to see what had made me freak out. I reached out and barely brushed my fingers across his arm. I had just touched his forearm, but everything below that, his wrist, his hand, his fingers, was gone.
"Invisibility," Derek said as it continued to crawl up his arm. I pulled my hand away before it could touch me, even though I knew that it wouldn't hurt me. Derek's feet were disappearing, and it was spreading over his chest. I started to walk around him, just to see if he was disappearing in the back, too. As I stepped behind him, Madison cleared her throat.
"Not invisibility; camouflage." We both looked at her. "When Emily walked behind you, Derek, she disappeared for a moment. You're like a chameleon. You're blending in with your surroundings. And when you stand in front of Emily, you block her from being seen."
I couldn't see Derek now, but I could still tell exactly where he was. I didn't know if it was because I was his significant, or if it was because it was just sort of noticeable. It was almost like he exuded a don't-look-at-me feeling, and if you knew what to look for, it was easy to find exactly where he was standing. I reached out and just barely touched his chest. You've found me, his voice slipped through my mind, and I grinned.
Madison cleared her throat loudly. Derek shifted back into view. His form filled in quickly, much faster than it had disappeared. My hand was still resting on his chest. Our heartbeats were nestled together, both of them beating a little too quickly. You were invisible. Even in my head, my voice sounded breathy. I had gotten used to the fact that I was going to have an ability one day, but I didn't think that my significant would be able to pop in and out of existence at will. I took a deep, shaky breath.
"Well, Emily?" Madison asked from behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see her standing there with her hands on her hips, her expression telling me that I better not be playing any funny games. I rolled my eyes at her and looked up at Derek.
You feel that pull, don't you? Do it, see what you can do with it. His words of encouragement gave me enough confidence that I turned away from him for a moment, tapped into that access point, I reached out to touch Madison. She jerked away so violently that I'd thought I shocked her.
"What'd you do that for?" She asked sharply. I opened my mouth to apologize, but Derek cut me off, asking what had happened. "It was like you tried to break into my mind." She said, shaking her head. "I don't know, it was sort of like a sudden headache." With a shrug, she held out her hand. "Okay, try again. But this time, can you try not to stab my brain to death?"
"Sorry," I said, cautiously reaching out a second time. When I did, it was like my body knew what to do on its own. I could feel Madison's mental walls, and I pushed through them, making some sort of connection with her. She winced a little bit, and I immediately apologized out loud. I could feel Derek's hand on my side, but I was fully focused on Madison. I could almost see a thin link opening up in between us, and I knew that the moment I stepped away from her, it would be broken and I'd have to start all over again. Something deep down inside told me to command her to do something. "Make the bed," I said calmly. Madison pulled away from me, breaking the connection. Derek and I watched in wonder as Madison reached the bed and tugged the sheets up, tucking them underneath the pillows. The moment she finished, she took a startled step backwards, turning to look at us. She seemed a little dazed.
"Mind control," I breathed.
"More like compulsion," Derek said behind me. "It looks like you have to be touching them to make them do what you want, and once they complete it they're free." He mused. "Now that is pretty awesome."
"Yours is pretty awesome, too," I told him. "You know how sometimes you just want to fade into the background? Well, you now you can." I teased. I was trying to look upbeat and excited, but I was feeling extremely nervous. What kind of normal life could I have if I made accidental connections with people whenever I touched them? If they knew about my ability, would they trust me? Or would they just think that I was putting thoughts into their heads?
Derek put his hands on my bare arms. Apparently, he believed that I wouldn't start putting directions into his head. He shook his head, pressing his forehead to mine. You control it, Emily. It doesn't control you. What you did with Madison was finding out what you could do. It shouldn't take too long for you to be able to use it at will. If you don't want to use it, you won't. You're still you, you just have a kick-butt power.
Derek gave me a chaste kiss and released me. He looked over my shoulder and said to Madison, "You've got your answers. Now don't you have to go to school or something?"
Madison sneered at him. "Fine, I'm leaving so you two can do your cutesy little lovebird thing. I'm telling mom about your abilities!" She darted out of the bedroom, barely pausing to close the door behind her. The moment she was out of the room, Derek pulled me close, resting his hands on my hips.
"Our cutesy lovebird thing?" I echoed as Derek leaned against me.
"She's just jealous," he replied, his words making his lips brush against mine. The butterflies in my stomach stirred, and he grinned. I knew now that he could feel my excitement and interest. It was just a perk of the ascension. "She can't wait until she's standing where we are."
"In your room?" I asked. I tried for sarcasm and just ended up sounding sort of breathy, obviously affected by him.
"You're hilarious," he said back, his voice low. I liked the fact that I could do the same thing to him that he did to me. I could feel his excitement, his want, his love. And it warmed my skin and made me feel like I was walking on air. He bent forward a little more, pressing his lips to mine. He deepened the kiss, his tongue tracing over my bottom lip. I gave in, letting him push me against the wall. One of his hands rested on the wall by my head, the other tangled in the hair at the nape of my neck, pulling me closer to him. My fingers tied into the belt loops of his jeans.
The sound of my phone vibrating on table distracted me for a moment. It stopped after just three rings, meaning that it was a text message. I really shouldn't have expected to get a call because everyone who knew that number knew that I was once deaf. They still assumed that I was deaf. I started to pull away to check it, even though I didn't want to. Derek needed to catch his breath just as much as I did. But he didn't let me step past him.
"Let it wait," he murmured against my ear as kisses traveled down the side of my neck.
"We both need to take a breather," I told him quietly, as gently as I could.
He chuckled against my lips, pressing his to mine for a second longer for pulling away to give me a little bit of room. He didn't release me completely, which honestly made me smile. I rested my head on his chest and listened to our heartbeats slowly calm down a little bit, returning to their normal patterns. I wanted to say something, but I couldn't find anything to say. I was perfectly comfortable standing where I was. This moment might have been awkward with anybody else, but with Derek, it was normal, comforting and perfect.
My phone went off again, reminding me that I had an unread text message. With a heavy sigh, I pulled away from Derek and went to sit on the edge of my bed. Picking up my phone, I saw that it was from my mom. Well, she hadn't waited very long, had she? I hadn't even been moved in for twenty-four hours yet and she was already texting me. I opened up the text and groaned out loud, falling back onto our now-made bed.
Derek perched on the mattress next to me. "What is it?"
"Can't you just dig around in my mind and find out?" I asked, squeezing my eyes shut. Without waiting for him to answer, I said, "My mom says that Xavier's called in sick for the day. She needs me to come in and work the twelve to eight shift. She promised me that she'd pay me extra." I told him. I wondered if that was what I looked forward to now. I used to spend my entire day at the shop without any extra pay. But now that I'd moved out, she was treating me like I was just another one of her employees.
"Hey," Derek said softly, resting a hand on the side of my neck. I kept my eyes closed, relishing his touch. "Don't worry about it. Your mom is just falling into the routine of having you be somewhere else. I'm sure she's wondering if she should treat you like her daughter or treat you like an adult."
"Can't she treat me as both?" I complained, rolling over to look at him.
He grinned down at me. "It hasn't even been twenty-four hours, Emily. Both of you need to get used to it. Right now, it probably feels like a sleepover for the both of you." I made a face, because that was exactly what I'd been thinking. He smirked, leaning forward to press his lips to my forehead. "Go on and shower. I'll finish getting ready and go smooth things over with my mom. She may seem like she's mature, but if Madison gets her excited enough she'll be running down here wanting proof of our abilities." He smiled to himself as I rolled over, pushing myself up onto my feet.
I moved through the motions of getting ready, showering and changing into fresh clothes, blow drying my hair and applying my makeup. The entire time, I thought about the miracle of being able to hear simple things all over again. The thud of the water hitting the basin of the tub, the loud whir of the dryer, the sound my tube of lip gloss made, like a tiny pop, when I pulled the wand out. It was like being introduced into the world all over again.
When I'd gotten out of the shower and fixed my hair, before I'd done my makeup, I'd stared at myself in the mirror. Just like Derek's physical changes, mine were subtle, but if someone knew me well enough they were going to be obvious. My skin tone was naturally smooth, not a blemish in sight. The freckles that were barely noticeable without makeup and completely hidden with makeup were more prominent, splattering my cheeks and nose. It could have been the trick of the light, but I felt like my bottom lip looked a little fuller. My eyelashes were longer and thicker without the use of mascara, but with the makeup it almost looked like I was wearing false lashes. The five pounds that I'd thought I could stand to lose on my hips had vanished into thin air. My body shape was more like an hourglass than ever. My hair looked shinier, so dark that it almost looked like it had a blue sheen to it under the fluorescents. I looked… well, pretty. Pretty enough that I felt like the ascension knew what people thought of as beautiful. Pretty enough that, coupled with the return of my hearing, I felt comfortable being the girl that was hanging on Derek's arm.
When I returned to the bedroom, Derek was just opening the top drawer to his bedside table. He turned to look at me, a grin touching the corners of his lips. That alone made me pause as I eyed him from the doorway. I didn't quite know what he was up to, but he was up to something. He turned around, holding a small box in his hand. My stomach plummeted to the floor as I stood there, staring at him. What was this? He'd told me that Aces did their weddings differently, but there was something scary about seeing him holding a jewelry box and smiling at me deviously.
He chuckled. "It's not what you think." He beckoned me over. My muscles unlocked and I went to sit by him on the bed, perching on the edge like I was going to need to jump up and run at any moment. I'd just decided that I loved the guy. Jewelry was a little… I don't know, fast? But then again, our whole relationship was fast. We'd known each other for about a week and a half, and I had already moved into his house. But he'd told me that it wasn't what I thought it was. I took in a deep breath and sighed. His fingers rested on the edge of the box, drawing out my suspense.
With a smirk, he pulled open the box to reveal a flattened, beaten disk on a supple silver chain. The disk was obviously ordered to be made. It looked extremely familiar, and when I looked up to meet Derek's gaze, my eyes trailed down over the leather strips around his neck, weaved together. Hanging from it was a pendant that matched the one in the box perfectly. On it were three spokes of flame. The Stanton family crest.
"Derek," I breathed, reaching out to touch the surface of the metal. It looked like it had been dragged around, but I knew that it was done like that on purpose, to make it look worn and old. I ran my finger over the flames. I knew that this was more than just a gift for the both of us. It was his family crest – he was welcoming me into his family, proving physically that even though I hadn't married Derek yet, I was a Stanton, and I would be treated like one. "It's perfect."
I smiled as Derek removed the chain from the box, draping it around my neck. His fingers worked the clasp, and I ran my finger over the pendant. Once the necklace was securely in place, he dropped my hair over it, his fingers running down over the chain and tracing my collarbone. He leaned in to press a kiss to my cheek and breathed, lightly in my ear, "You're perfect."
# # #
Derek and I had made a plan. I was going to act like I was still deaf when I first saw my mother, and wait until there was a moment were someone dropped something and I jumped in fear or when she snuck up behind me. Then, I would pretend like it was a miracle I'd heard anything. I was already prepared for a thousand different doctor's appointments after we discovered that my hearing had "miraculously" returned. It was going to be tough to make sure that I didn't reply to her outspoken words, but I would have to do my best. In the worst case scenario, I would just end up pretending like I'd been shocked that I'd heard her in the first place.
I perched in my chair, spinning back and forth ever so slightly while I stared at the computer screen, trying to figure out how to beat the level. When I first walked in with Derek, my mom had given me a long look like she couldn't believe that it was me. She'd blinked a few times, but just like Derek had assured me she would, she had written off the differences in my appearance. She hadn't even commented on the ascension changes, only telling me that my hair looked pretty. Derek asked if it was okay if he hung around, since he didn't have band practice (I had a feeling that it was a lie, and he was just skipping it like he had before.) But my mom relented and told him that it was fine and it would actually work for the better, since she had some inventory work to do and was used to having at least two people watching the store.
Which left us here, where I was glaring at the computer monitor like it was going to give me answers. Derek had resigned himself to straightening up the shop, something that he honestly wasn't used to doing. The man had hardly ever been forced to clean his own room, but he'd spent the last thirty minutes roaming the shelves of the store and making sure things were in the correct place. I tried not to watch him and instead relied on my significant senses to tell me where he was in the room. I could also depend on my hearing, now, and the little TV screen that still showcased the security footage of the store helped.
Shoot the blue bubble to the lines on the left of the screen. Derek told me. I glanced up from the computer screen, glaring at him over the counter. He wasn't even looking over at me.
Butt out of my computer game. I told him sarcastically. He actually threw a glance over his shoulder at me. I waited a minute before discreetly doing as he said and sending the blue bubble in the direction that he told me to. I could still feel the wave of I-told-you-so that came from him. I stuck my tongue out and he laughed before returning to the menial task I'd set him on doing. At least I didn't have to do it later.
It was only about three when Derek finished. He said that he was going to slip out and get something for us to snack on. He even paused in the storage room to ask my mom if I wanted anything before slipping out of the front door and heading down the sidewalk. I couldn't help but notice that he was going in the opposite direction of the coffee shop. I had a feeling that Derek wouldn't ever be taking me there for anything. It reminded me too much of Xavier, who still hadn't said a word to me since I'd kissed Derek in front of him.
I continued playing the game, finally beating the level. I could hear my mom going through inventory still; there was a lot to go through, and knowing her, she probably got distracted every now and then, or she was trying to clean it up and rearrange the whole room. I'd caught her doing that before, despite the fact that it was perfectly fine the way it was. Besides, whenever she tried to make it easier to handle, the only person that understood the new system was her. It would be me and Xavier, then, who'd return it to the way it was before until my mom decided that she wanted to redo it again.
At this point, I usually would have gotten up and gone to make sure that she wasn't making a mess out of the place, but right about that time someone stepped into the shop. I looked up from the computer, my eyes meeting someone who was, despite the years it had been since we'd really talked to each other, devastatingly familiar. Bailey's eyes roamed over the shop walls before landing on me. She almost looked like she wanted to turn around and leave.
I bit my lip and gave her a courtesy grin, my eyes returning to the computer. I couldn't imagine why she was here. When we were kids, Bailey had never showed any interest in any musical talents. She'd always been the sporty one out of the two of us, and that meant that she was out playing soccer and softball while I strummed on my guitar. She was quiet then, someone that people always underestimated before she proved that she was an athletic prodigy child.
Seeing her brought up memories, some good, some bad. The most resonating ones were the ones where she had almost stopped talking to me altogether after the accident that took my hearing. She was still friendly to me, but she hadn't sought me out for any reason. She had pulled away from me and easily become friends with the other girls that were a lot more like her – sporty girls, who spent their free time outside practicing or lounging around in the locker rooms, discussing boys and other things that pre-teen girls talk about when they're together. By the time we reached high school, Bailey and I were completely apart. Our friendship was more like a history than a present. In middle school, after I'd lost my hearing, Bailey had blossomed and I'd fallen short. It was like our personalities had been reversed, and she was suddenly the girl that had no trouble going out of her way to talk to people or do something daring. I was the girl that sat in the back of the class with a translator, and more often than not I perched on the benches during our recess period to read a book instead of playing four square or basketball.
Bailey had gone into the section that was mainly for keyboards and pianos. Bailey had never taken a lesson, at least not before we turned eleven. She could have picked it up after we went our separate ways, but she didn't seem like a piano person. A keyboard player, maybe, but it still didn't fit her persona. I watched as she looked at the different things laid out. She looked confused. A keyboardist or pianist would have no trouble understanding everything that was in front of them. So if she wasn't here for something pertaining to the instrument, what was she here for?
I probably should have gone to go get my mom, or even waited for Derek to return, but Bailey was an old friend. We may not have been friends now, but we had a history together, and that's not something that I could forget easily. Standing up, I slipped out from behind the desk and went to stand beside her. "Hi, Bailey," I said politely. "Is there anything I can help you with?" I motioned to the nook she was staring at so hard.
She looked at me like she was shocked that I was talking to her, but not in the way that she was offended I was there, just that I was trying to. She, like others that knew I was once deaf (and still believed I was) tended to act like I was suddenly a mute. It made them uncomfortable when I talked to them and they had no way to communicate back to me. "I can read lips," I said conversationally. I had to stay under the radar, so I couldn't tell anybody outside of the Stanton family that I'd had my hearing returned just yet. "So as long as you look right at me and form your words well, we'll be able to understand each other just fine." I punctuated it with a bright, sunny smile that said I was ready to help.
She turned her entire body to face me and said, "Well, um…." She ran a hand nervously over her hair, something that she'd done when we were kids. I couldn't imagine why she was so on edge. So what if we weren't friends anymore? That was eight years ago. I couldn't hold a grudge for more than a day, much less eight years. "I honestly don't really know. It's my roommate's birthday and she plays this piano and I don't really know what to give her."
I started to open my mouth to ask whether or not this roommate of hers liked classical or contemporary music when I noticed the black mark on the inside of her wrist. Instead of asking her about the gift she was looking to find, I asked, "Did you get a tattoo?" I knew that it shouldn't have mattered because it wasn't like she needed my permission to get one and we were old enough. But the way her eyes bugged out made me feel like I'd crossed some sort of invisible line.
She immediately tugged down on her jacket sleeve, her eyes skimming my arms. I felt my eyebrows draw together, completely confused as to why she would even be freaking out about it. So what if it was a tattoo? Derek already had the dragon in between his shoulder blades. He was planning on getting several more. He'd always wanted a bunch of tattoos but had held off for his mom, who said that he should wait to see what his other half felt about them. I just had the feeling that Victoria wasn't too fond of them herself. Honestly, I'd been kind of surprised when I'd learned that the dragon was the only tattoo he already had. He'd seemed like the kind of guy that would get as many of them as he wanted. Besides the dragon, the only other one he had wasn't really a tattoo, the half crest on his wrist.
I could feel the wheels in my head turning. There was something fishy about her reaction. I was still trying to figure it out when the door to the shop opened. I turned around to greet my significant, knowing immediately that it was him. He held a drink tray with one hand and was gripping a bag from the nearby gas station in the other. He stopped in the doorway, staring at me and Bailey like he'd just seen a ghost. Quickly, he set down the bag on the floor and the drinks on the shelf by the wall. He reached out to take my wrist, drawing me away from my former best friend.
Derek looked like he was instantly on the defensive. I chanced a look at Bailey. She actually looked sick, like she'd just realized something really, really awful. She shook her head as her hand nervously ran up and down her wrist over the sleeve of her jacket. "Derek?" She asked.
The recognition in her voice made me turn sharply to look at Derek. I was immediately thinking the worst of him, like I usually did, even though I knew I shouldn't have. He had told me that he had never dated anyone before he met me. But how, then, did he and Bailey know each other? Why did thy both look like they were going to be sick? I started to pull away from Derek to demand some answers when his fingers locked around my wrists like steel vices. It was actually less comforting and a little scary, my heat jumpstarting into a panic. Derek released one of my wrists to rub his fisted knuckles over his chest. How do you know her? He asked in my head.
I glanced up at him, still confused. It didn't look like our touch was opening up the calming channel for either of us. We were both too worked up to let it work its magic. That's Bailey. She was the one that was in an accident with me when we were eleven. How –?
His physical voice cut me off, and I tried not to glare at him. "Bailey. What are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?" She asked. I could tell in her eyes that she still felt sick to her stomach, but she was trying to hide behind it by throwing up a wall of sarcasm. Her eyes looked between us and she spat out, "Don't tell me you two imprinted. Please, tell me anything but." At first she seemed angry and rude, but by the time she said the word please, it was like she was begging us.
"How do you know about the Aces?" I blurted, my eyes darting over the storage room door. It was still closed, my mom continuing to work despite the weirdness going on in the floor of the shop.
Bailey's eyes darted in between Derek and me, and it didn't help the feeling that Derek had lied to me about something. But he wasn't good at lying. Especially to me. Derek beat her to the answer, though, with a growled, "She's a Tucker."
"So?" I asked, wondering how in the world Derek knew Bailey's last name.
Derek looked down at me, his eyes filled with worry and concern. "Her clan is our rival."
Whoa, what? Major plot twist. Teehee. I've been planning this for a while now, and I hope it was downright shocking to you readers.
A friendly reminder: It seems that my updates have caught up with me. I have, unfortunately, been unable to finish chapter sixteen, so it may be longer than three days for the next chapter update. I can only ask that you forgive this lapse as I try to finish up on some of the upcoming chapters. A personal work of mine has become increasingly important (I've been suffering an awful writer's block when it comes to my own stuff) and I've been reading (four books in the last three days!) Anyway, just letting you guys know not to be alarmed if the next chapter isn't out as soon as you hope.
You probably skip over reading this part now because you know exactly what I'm going to say: review please, thank you, Peace. (: