Chapter 8

Not All That Normal

I woke up early that morning. I had slept on at foot of his bed, and I sat up and rubbed my eyes.

I was still fully dressed, and my hair remained the same.

I sighed in relief and I got up and stretched.

"Ren?" I whisper called.

No answer.

I walked over and knocked on the bathroom door.

There was a low rumble from inside.

"Okay, occupied, sorry," I held my hands up in surrender. Then I remembered he couldn't see them, so I shoved my hands in my pockets and I took a leisurely stroll around the first floor of the house, poking my head into open doorways.

I nearly ran into Mr. Kadam.

"Oh, hey, sorry, Mr. Kadam," I said quickly.

"Oh, not a problem, Miss," he replied curtly, and I couldn't help but smile.

"So…" I looked around and balanced on the heels of my feet. "Are we the only ones up?"

"It seems that way," Mr. Kadam looked around as well.

We were silent for a minute. It didn't feel like an awkward silence, until I realized Mr. Kadam was studying my face.

I raised a fist to my mouth and cleared my throat.

"Hm?" he said, as if I had just woken him from his sleep.

"Well," he said, "you might want a tour around the grounds?"

"Sure, I guess it's good to know where I am, seeing I'm in a house full of strangers and guys who won't let girls sleep on their couches." I grumbled.

"I see," Mr. Kadam replied with a questioning tone.

I waved the question away.

As we headed toward the stairs, he called back to me, "I assume you've already given yourself a tour of the upper floor?"

"Yes sir," I said, which even surprised me with my civilized words.

He chuckled. "I see."

He finished the tour with the movie room and the monster sized pool in the backyard.

"You don't know how badly I just want to jump in here!" I said to Mr. Kadam.

"You and me both," a deep voice said, and I froze.

Not Ren, means…

"Hi, Kishan," I sighed.

"Hello again," Kishan stepped up next to me and whispered, "Do you know why Kelsey is so mad?"

I moved away from him. "I don't really care enough to find out," and I turned and stalked off.

I opened the doors to the inside of the house, and I saw Ren and Kelsey sitting on the couch.

I ducked behind the door and watched as Kelsey started talking to him.

"Come on, Ren, don't you remember finding the Golden Fruit in Kishkindha? Don't you remember that night in the hotel room before that? Ren…" Kelsey pleaded.

Night in the hotel room? I thought.

I re-opened the door and slammed it shut behind me.

I walked in leisurely, and Kelsey's expression immediately turned sour. "Oh, you're here."

"I am. I was awake first, however, so…" I smiled at her.

"Ren, would you go upstairs, please? I'd finally like to talk to your friend over there," Kelsey turned on him.

"Okay…" Ren said cautiously, and he stood up and walked up stairs into his room and closed his door.

Kelsey immediately stood up and came really close to me.

"Now you listen to me, stowaway," she growled, and I was slightly shocked by her choice of words, "I don't care who you think you are to him, but you are absolutely nothing!"

"Excuse me?" I asked.

"He's my boyfriend," she snarled, and she turned and started to walk away.

I wasn't going to let her get away with any comments like that.

"But he doesn't even remember your name!" I shouted after her.

"Shut up!" she shouted, and whirled back around.

The next moment seemed to happen in a very strange way. Her hand rose at what felt like lightning speed, but the next part seemed to happen in slow motion.

Her palm collided with my cheek with suck force it shoved my head to the side.

Time went back to normal, and the burning sensation in my cheek and the smug look on Kelsey's face made me realize that my cheek was bright red.

"Oh no," I said.

I ran up and tackled her, forcing her to the ground.

I punched her in the gut and I heard her wheeze.

I pinned her legs down with my legs, and I pinned her shoulders down with my left forearm.

"You don't slap me and get away with it!" I snarled, and I punched her in the jaw, forcing her head sideways.

She screamed out in frustration, and I pulled my plastic knife out of my shoe.

She shrieked, and she wrapped her hand around my elbow.

An extremely hot, white, searing pain shot through my arm, and my whole body, and I screamed out and fell off her.

It felt as if my whole body was burning, and melting apart.

I slipped in and out of consciousness, and I heard a door slam, a loud shout of, "Kelsey, what did you do?" Soon, all I saw was darkness, and my hearing faded.

I woke up on Ren's bed, and I saw a couple blurred figures standing over me.

"She's awake," I heard, but I the voice was blended and massed, and I couldn't understand whose it was. It could have been male or female, but most likely male.

The world faded to black once more.

"Or, maybe not," I heard that voice say before my hearing faded.

I woke up, and I felt warm all over me. I felt like I was being burned by Kelsey again, and I tried to scream.

But, my tongue felt heavy and fuzzy, so all I could do was swallow.

I opened my eyes, and I saw golden bronze biceps, and a black shirt.

I was able to muster, "Quick, knock me out now so I don't have to endure this part of the nightmare."

He laughed slightly. "What makes this a nightmare?"

I decided to change the subject. "Where's Ren?"

"He just left to get something for all of us to eat. He doesn't know what you like, so he's making peanut butter for everyone." Kishan said.

"Hurry, knock me out. I hate peanut butter!"

Kishan laughed again. "You seem pretty tired to me. Just, fall asleep."

My eyes got heavy, and I drifted off in his arms.

My lucid dream was quiet pleasant.

Kelsey was there, and basically, all she did was cry. Cry, cry, cry.

I got mad at her again. "How did you do it?" I shouted at her.

"I…I don't know!" she cried.

"Well, maybe you should know how it feels," I snarled, and I surrounded in her fire.

But, I wasn't mean enough to actually burn her, like she did.

"It's so…hot…" she gasped.

"Yeah, it is. Your touch was worse," I growled.

She gasped, took a huge breath, and she fell to the ground.

I put out the fire that she was about to fall into, and I just watched her deep and even breathing as she just…laid there.

I ended that dream and played around with other versions of reality until I heard Ren's voice echo throughout my dream. "How is she?"

And then Kishan, "Sleeping."

"You mean unconscious?" Ren's voice.

"No, sleeping. She woke up, talked for a bit, she looked tired. She fell asleep. Nothing else." Kishan finished.

I opened my eyes and whispered, "It's true, that's what happened."

Ren jumped.

Kishan and I laughed. I sat up, and Ren whispered, "Don't do that!"

I yawned. "So, what are you guys up to today?"

"Sorry, I ate your sandwich…" Ren whispered. "It's just…I was hungry, and you hadn't eaten yours, and it was just sitting there. Sorry."

"It's fine. I probably wouldn't have eaten it anyway. I'm not hungry," I lied.

Kishan looked at me, but I ignored him. Ren smiled. "Okay."

I got up and started walking toward the door. Ren stood up and tried to follow me, but something stopped him.

"Just let her be," Kishan whispered, and Ren sighed.

I spent my night sleeping on their couch. My lucid dream was simple enough. The first couple hours was Kelsey begging me for my forgiveness, and the next couple hours was me hanging out with Ren, and my last part was just me, sitting alone on my thinking log in the peaceful forest, thinking.

Then, Kishan showed up and kept me company.

I woke up the next morning and stretched and yawned. I scratched my head and walked into the kitchen.

Mr. Kadam was cooking breakfast, and I marveled at the huge tower of pancakes on a clean plate.

"Dang, Mr. Kadam! I didn't realize how hungry I was until I saw this! I haven't eaten in a couple days…" I said.

"Really?" he asked, adding three more pancakes to the stack.

"Yeah, the last time I ate was before I was captured by Lokesh," I replied calmly, too focused on the pancakes to care. "So, when do we eat?"

"Ms. Kelsey has specifically requested not to eat with us today. I was wondering, maybe you would like to come with me to the market at around eleven?" He started carrying the plate out to the table.

"Yeah, sure. But, don't worry, I don't need money," I said, following him to the table and sitting down.

The doors upstairs opened, and Ren and Kishan ran down the steps so fast it sounded like thunder, pushing each other all the way down.

Surprisingly, Kishan got there first and sat next to me, and Ren growled at him and sat across from me.

Kishan just gave him a look.

I couldn't help but laugh a little.

Mr. Kadam sat down and Kishan, Ren and I went for the stack of pancakes so fast I could barely tell how many pancakes I grabbed.

I had a small stack of five, and I covered them in syrup and dug in.

I ended up eating ten pancakes total, while Kishan and Ren both ate eighteen.

There was one left, and the boys and I had a stare-down for it.

"Alright, I'm out," I said, and leaned back in my chair. "It's in your hands now."

Ren ended up getting it, and we just talked for a while and laughed about random things.

So, Mr. Kadam brought up the market again. "So, I'm heading to the market today at around eleven. Does anyone want to go with me?"

Nice choice, Mr. Kadam, I thought. Don't tell them I'm going. Like they'll care.

"I'll go," Kishan said, and then rubbed his leg against mine.

I moved my leg away and acted as if nothing had happened.

"I'd rather stay, anyway," Ren said. "To keep the girls in line."

I gave him a stone cold stare, and he blinked in astonishment. "Believe me, I don't need to be kept in line," I stood up, and brought my plate and fork into the kitchen.

I didn't realize Kishan was behind me until he reached around me and grabbed the sponge from in my hand.

"Oh no," I said, and I tightened my grip.

He laughed. "Come on, I just want a turn!"

"I don't think so!" I pulled my hand away from him, and he laughed as he chased me around the small kitchen space.

He cornered me between the end of the counter and the wall. My hands were covered in soap, and so were his.

I placed one of my hands on the counter, and he stepped very close to me and placed his hand on top of mine.

"Ready to give up that sponge now?" Kishan's breath was warm against my ear. I felt chills go down my spine, but I stayed calm and toughened up.

I didn't realize I was holding my breath until I let it out and said, "Here." I picked up his hand and I placed the sponge in it.

I felt warmth leave my thigh as he backed away, and I quickly realized he'd had his other hand there.

He must have realized it too, because he looked at his now empty hand, and he said, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"

I cut him off by rushing up to him and giving him a hug. "I think we can forget about this," I whispered. "And we could be friends. Really good friends. I want us to be friends. Just…" I was cut off by Kishan.

He kissed me. I stayed stone still.

He backed away and he whispered, "If we're not going to remember this, why can you just let me know if you-"

I gave him a sisterly kiss on the cheek. "Wash you're dish, Kishan," I turned and left the kitchen, smiling the whole way outside, and I jumped in the pool.

Going with Mr. Kadam at the market was fun. He taught me about a whole lot of different Indian fruits and dishes to make with them.

I looked up around, and I saw a jewelry stand. I saw a young man, maybe twenty-two at the latest, with a flat visor hair style all around his head, made up of curly hair.

He nodded at the man and turned to leave. I felt like I knew that person, but there was no possible way. Then, I drew my ponytail over my shoulder and stroked my hair.

I must know him.

We have the same hair.

As we drove back to the house, my encounter with jewelry clerk replayed inside my mind.

I walked up to him, and I as I browsed through his jewelry items, I asked, "So, who was that young man who just left?"

"Are you buying anything?" he asked gruffly.

"I can buy your store out," I whispered. "Who was that man?"

"The only thing he gave me was his money. I never asked him any questions," the said hoarsely, and he coughed.

I rolled my eyes. "Stop playing with me, Jack, just tell me who he was!"

I didn't know why I called him Jack; I just decided that was a thing to say. Like Kelsey, calling me stowaway.

I gritted my teeth and continued with the memory.

"I only know what he looks like!" he whispered quickly.

I slammed my hand on the table and he jumped. "I'll buy something, just don't expect it to be worth my time."

He nodded.

I was twirling my new bracelet around my wrist when Kishan tapped me on the shoulder, and I looked up at him.

"I like that. The gold beads really complement your skin tone. Hold it up to your face," he whispered.

Instead, I put the matching necklace on.

"Oh," he whispered.

I laughed slightly.

"Well, like I was going to say was, the gold and the dark brown string really complement your skin and the silver in your eyes. I've never seen eyes like yours. Silver with green flecks. Amazing," he marveled, staring into my eyes.

I stared at him as he stared at me.

I coughed, and he looked away.

"When I was younger, my eyes used to change colors. When I turned fourteen, they stayed at this solid green color. Then, after I was in Lokesh's prison, the green shrunk, and silver took its place," I told him, and I looked away from him completely.

"I see. I'm sorry you had to go through that. Lokesh, I mean," he whispered.

"I'm used to it," I said, and right before he could ask what I meant, Mr. Kadam called, "We're here."

I went inside and I walked up the stairs. I didn't know how silent I had been until I heard Kelsey from the stairs. "I don't care what she's like! She doesn't love you! She doesn't even like you!"

I ran up quietly, skipping steps, until I pressed my ear against her door.

"How do you know? You two don't seem so 'buddy-buddy' that you would share secrets!" Ren replied in exasperation.

"I can just tell, Ren, because if she really loved you, she wouldn't have just left you!" Kelsey said in a soothing tone. "I'm sorry."

I heard shuffling, and then I heard Ren shout, "Get off of me!"

"Why do you think could even trust her anyway? She's normal! More normal than me!" Kelsey shouted

I got so mad, I punched the door open and stalked in.

"I'm normal?" I shouted, and Kelsey jumped.

Ren set his jaw and looked away from both of us.

"I think you are," Kelsey said sternly, and crossed her arms.

I couldn't even say anything. I bent down and took the knife from my shoe. I walked straight up to Kelsey and put my arm right in front of her face.

I brought up my knife and sliced through my arm quickly and backed away as she shrieked.

I knelt down again and let my blood drip on the floor.

"What's this supposed to prove?" Kelsey shrieked in exasperation, but Ren walked over to me and knelt down next to me.

Kelsey's eyes widened and Ren smiled as the gold started to show and puddle on the floor.

"What the-" Kelsey started, but I rubbed my blood over my cut and it healed instantly.

I scooped up the puddle of gold and my blood ran through my fingers.

"The diamond," Ren whispered in aw, and I nodded.

The gold felt like soft clay, and an idea popped into my head. I molded the gold until my fingers were sore, but all the details were perfect. I shoved it in Ren's hand and I stood up.

He turned the tiger statuette over in his hands, and Kelsey looked at it as well.

"How did you…?" she asked, and looked up at me.

"I'm not all that normal," was all I said, and I turned and stormed out of the room.

SECRETS REVEALED!

Okay, so, I'm having trouble thinking of a name for this girl, and I want her to be named fast. So, seriously, and name ideas you guys can think of, tell me in a review, I guess!

THANKS FOR READING!