Spellbound (Spellbringers Book 1) Page 6

  “I leave Wednesday.” Bryce stared straight ahead at the road. “I guess I should start packing soon.”

  “And you say I’m the procrastinator,” Jace chided his older brother.

  “Yeah, well, I’m not looking forward to leaving as much as I did last year. This year’s going to be tough.” Bryce seemed very serious all of a sudden.

  “Can I use your truck after I get my license?” Jace asked.

  “No. Tell Alisa to get her license. I’d let her drive my truck before I’d let you,” he said.

  It was the first nice thing he’d ever said about me. I thought about his earlier comment—about how my eyes were really blue. That didn’t count as a compliment, though.

  As Bryce steered his truck into my driveway, a strange feeling of disappointment weighed my shoulders down. When Jace opened the truck door, I slid over and hopped out. “Bye, Jace. I’ll see you at school,” I said, standing in my driveway, holding my empty cookie platter.

  “Nah, I’ll probably see you before then. I’ll call you tomorrow,” Jace said. A shiver went through me. He was calling me tomorrow.

  “Bryce,” I said, leaning through the open door. “If I don’t see you before you leave, have a good trip and be safe.”

  I pulled my head back out of the truck and straightened up. As I turned toward my house, Bryce called my name and motioned for me to come around to the driver’s side door. I quickly walked around to his open window.

  “It was nice meeting you.” I must have looked doubtful because he said, “I mean that. Take care of my little brother. And take care of yourself.”

  “I’ll do that. Bye, Bryce.” I waved goodbye and scurried to my front door. Take care of Jace? I was hoping he would take care of me.

  Chapter Eight

  Rachel

  At school on Monday, I picked up a weird vibe. People kept giving me strange looks, and at first I didn’t know why. Megan approached me after second period with a look of deep compassion on her face.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, pulling me aside.

  “I’m fine,” I replied. “Why shouldn’t I be okay?”

  “Well, I heard about you and Robert.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I just wanted to say, I think he’s a jerk for replacing you so fast. You were the best thing that ever happened to him. I don’t trust Autumn and I seriously don’t think they’re going to last.”

  I decided to pretend I knew what she was talking about since I had a pretty good idea what was going on. Apparently, Robert was now my ex-boyfriend, but hadn’t bothered to mention it to me.

  It was lunchtime before I saw Robert. He and the blond sophomore from the party were sitting together at the far end of the cafeteria. It was hard to tell where one ended and the other began, they were so close.

  “Hello,” I said. I had been standing over them for a good five seconds before they noticed I was there. Robert seemed startled. I wasn’t going to make it easy on him, but I also wasn’t going to humiliate myself by making a scene.

  I stuck my hand out to the blonde. “Hi, you must be Autumn,” I said in a very controlled voice. “I’m Rachel, Robert’s ex-girlfriend.”

  Autumn was too embarrassed to shake my hand, and Robert looked comically uncomfortable. He kept opening and closing his mouth until he resembled one of those singing fish they advertised on television.

  “Um, Rachel,” he finally managed to stammer, “This isn’t, I mean…”

  I continued speaking as if Robert hadn’t said anything. I looked him straight in the eyes and said, “Robert and I broke up under mutual agreement and I’m sure we will remain friends.” The smile I offered probably didn’t reach my eyes. “I hope you two will be very happy together.”

  I turned and walked away, aware everyone was staring at me. I smiled until my face hurt. After buying a soda from the vending machine, I sat down at an empty table, hoping my brown skin camouflaged the angry blush of rage spreading over my face.

  “How can you be so calm?” Megan asked, sitting down across from me.

  “It’s been coming on for a while. It was only a matter of time. No big deal,” I said.

  “Are you going to skip Homecoming this year?” she asked.

  “Nope.” I wouldn’t be the first girl to show up dateless for the Homecoming dance, and I certainly wouldn’t be the last. I’d hold my head up high even if it killed me. “What are you wearing to the dance?” I asked to change the subject. Her eyes lit up in response and she spent the next several minutes describing every intricate detail of her dress and accessories. I nodded occasionally and said “nice” or “wow,” but I had checked out from the beginning.

  I made it through the rest of the day, but it wasn’t easy. All I wanted to do was go home and curl up in bed with a good book. Cheerleading practice was an exercise in agony. We had our practice outside, so we were right next to the football field. Autumn watched Robert from the sidelines while I tried to ignore the football players altogether. Becky found fault in everything I did. During our first routine, she flashed me a nasty, gloating smile and asked why I was having such a hard time concentrating. I apologized, barely resisting the urge to kill her.

  Halfway through practice, I noticed Jace and Alisa walking together through the field behind the school. Pain pierced my chest when I saw him carrying her book bag. Of all the things I had to worry about, why did that bother me so much?

  I wasn’t the only one bothered by Jace and Alisa walking together. Becky noticed too, and as she watched them, her face said it all. Her vicious thoughts poured into me and I had to fight back nausea. She would destroy her cousin any way she could, but this time, I wouldn’t stand by and let it happen. This wasn’t middle school anymore and I wasn’t the old, passive Rachel.

  “What’s the matter, Becky?” I asked, breaking into her thoughts. “Having trouble concentrating?” I smiled and stared her down.

  My attention wandered back to Jace once again. A beam of sunlight shot through the cloud cover and illuminated his tall form for a fraction of a second. Although I hated Becky for her willingness to hurt anyone who came between her and the man she desired, I couldn’t help but wonder if I could do the same. Would I be willing to trample over Alisa to get to Jace? I shivered, imagining myself in his arms. Though I might be willing to do almost anything to make that happen, I couldn’t hurt another human being to get what I wanted. At least not deliberately.

  ***

  My extra-sensory abilities hung on and I feared I’d never be the same again. Close contact with people usually resulted in an avalanche of emotions crashing over me. I spend so much time avoiding people, it took me awhile to realize people were also avoiding me. Phone calls went unreturned. Invitations to parties came to a screeching halt. My usual lunch table always seemed to be full when I approached.

  When I ran into a group of friends at the mall in Albany, I rushed up to them, eager to join in the fun. It sucked walking the mall alone, and a nice shopping trip with friends was just what I needed.

  “Hey, I didn’t know ya’ll were going to be here today, or I would have tagged along. What are ya’ll up to?” I asked.

  “Not much,” Katie said, her voice stilted. She glanced around, looking nervous, as if she expected someone to jump out and catch her doing something she wasn’t supposed to do.

  “I haven’t seen you in forever. I tried calling you a few times, Katie. Well, actually I tried calling all of you at least a couple of times.”

  “I’ve been busy,” Sydney said.

  “Yeah, I’ve been meaning to call you back,” Amber said vaguely.

  “Well, what are you doing this afternoon? Ya’ll going to be here for awhile?”

  “We were actually leaving,” Sydney said, her tone harsh.

  “Maybe we can see a movie sometime…” I trailed off as one by one, they turned around and began to walk away.

  “Maybe,” Katie said over her shoulder as she followed the crowd.

  “I’ll call you later
, Katie,” I said. She didn’t reply.

  Their behavior was beyond odd, but I was pretty sure I knew what was going on. Becky had put the word out. I was banned from the group. I poked a tendril of connection into Katie’s mind for confirmation. Her thoughts poured into me: If Becky finds out I was sort of nice to her, I’ll be the new Alisa.

  The new Alisa. Is that what I was? The new pariah? The new dumping ground for Becky’s misguided hatred? I knew Becky would turn against me when I chose to take a stand, but I didn’t anticipate losing all my friends. I thought I was popular, but I guess I was wrong. Now I had exactly one true friend—Megan. And her family was moving to South Carolina after Thanksgiving.

  My friends—my former friends walked away without a second glance. If they were willing to toss our friendship aside at Becky’s command, I guess we were never friends to begin with. It sucked being the new Alisa.

  I went through the rest of the week taking note of how many people were evasive or downright avoided me. There were several. Sure, there were a few people who’d never liked Becky, but they didn’t want to cross her by befriending me. I was shunned by the people who liked Becky and shunned by most of the people who hated her. And I deserved it. When I chose to be friends with Becky all those years ago, I chose to ignore my moral compass, and now I was on a lonely road.

  ***

  If it wasn’t for all the money my mother spent on my dress, I would’ve skipped the Homecoming Dance. I barely had any friends. I barely had a date. And I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to handle being in close proximity with that many people. I drove myself, so I figured I’d have my picture taken, dance a couple of dances, and leave early.

  I met my last minute pseudo-date, Alex, outside the school. He complimented my appearance and offered me a wrist corsage before leading me inside the decorated gymnasium. Alex was a sophomore who played the saxophone in the marching band. He was either brave or foolish. Or maybe Becky’s influence didn’t quite stretch to the sophomore class. Either way, he seemed like a decent guy and I hoped his reputation wouldn’t be shredded by Becky in retaliation for asking me out

  One by one, couples entered the gym until it was noisy and crowded. I glanced at the door just in time to see the last couple enter. For a moment, I gaped in surprise. Alisa was nearly unrecognizable. Dark brown curls cascaded down her back. Her pale pink dress complemented her petite frame and set off her bright blue eyes. Jace reached out to touch her elbow, and she glanced up at him with a look of longing. He certainly brought out the best in her. Alisa was completely different with him and stood with a confidence I didn’t think was possible for her.

  I left Alex with a group of band members and wandered over to the other side of the gym, drawn against my will to the place where Jace and Alisa stood together, deep in conversation.

  I cleared my throat. “Alisa, your dress is gorgeous. I love it.”

  “Thanks, Rachel. You look amazing.” Alisa seemed a little nervous, but she managed to look me in the eye.

  “You both look beautiful.” Really, Jace didn’t have to say anything at all. He could charm your dress off without ever opening his mouth. He watched the few couples who were already out on the dance floor, then said, “I’m going to teach Alisa how to dance.” She punched him playfully and he laughed. “You’d better save me a dance, Rachel.”

  You bet I will, I thought, as they walked away. I danced a few times with Alex and some other guys, but all the while my mind was on Jace. As I watched Jace and Alisa together, I couldn’t help but wonder about them and the nature of their relationship. It was obvious from the expression on Alisa’s face that she was head-over-heels in love, but how did Jace feel about her? I couldn’t very well ask him, but thanks to my strange, new extra-sensory talents, I wouldn’t have to. I felt sneaky and conniving for even considering using my psychic curse to pick through his brain while we danced, but I was curious. Okay, not just curious. I was desperate.

  Never in a million years would I have thought I’d feel desperation toward a guy, but Jace wasn’t just any guy. He was different, and until I figured out why I felt so drawn to him, I wouldn’t be able to relax. I had always been a very independent person, and had never suffered the lovesick ailments that had afflicted my friends at one time or another. No, it wasn’t a case of puppy love or a silly crush. This was something different.

  I waited impatiently for Jace to remember his promise to dance with me. Each time someone new asked me to dance, resentment washed over me. I didn’t want to be stuck with someone else when Jace eventually approached me. If he approached me. I decided to hang out by the refreshment table and skip the next few dances.

  When Jace caught my eye and moved toward me, I instinctively reached up to touch my necklace, seeking the comfort it usually offered, but remembered I’d left it at home. I hoped I didn’t end up regretting leaving it behind in favor of making a fashion statement.

  Jace’s eyes held mine and I felt uncomfortably anxious. This was probably the first time I’d ever understood what someone meant when they claimed to have butterflies in their stomach. I dragged my eyes away from his and looked down at the ground, trying to compose myself. Suddenly, he was standing in front of me, his hand outstretched.

  I hesitated only a fraction of a second before stepping toward him. He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the center of the gym in one quick motion. As a slow song began playing, he pulled me close. The heat from his body radiated, making me feel flushed and breathless. Jace was so tall, the top of my head barely touched his chin, and when I took the liberty of leaning my head against his chest for a brief second, I could feel his heartbeat against my cheek. I wanted to stay there and never, ever leave.

  I’ll admit, I read trashy romance novels from time to time. It was my one indulgence and I’d never admitted my questionable choice in reading material to anyone. When the hero and heroine touch or kiss for the first time, there’s always an instant connection or a jolt of electricity, or in the really cheesy stories, a feeling of coming home. If I used any of those tired descriptions to explain what happened between me and Jace, it would have been a gross understatement.

  When I looked up into his eyes, our gazes locked and my breathing stopped. The gym, the music, the laughter, everything was gone in that instant. It was only the two of us and the beating of our hearts. Pressure built inside my mind and pain backed up like a dam until it finally burst forth. For the first time in my life, my head felt light and free.

  An unfamiliar presence filled the space left open when the pain departed. Jace. Unspoken words passed between us on pulsating waves of emotions.

  “Rachel.” Jace’s voice reverberated in my mind.

  “I don’t understand what’s happening.” I pushed the thought outward and felt the moment it connected with Jace.

  “We’ve been looking for you,” he whispered.

  “I’m here. I’ve been waiting. This is what I’ve been waiting for.”

  Jace’s voice moved through me again, a soft caress inside my head. “Release me, Rachel.”

  “What?”

  “Release me. Pull back before other people notice. We can’t let others know what we are.” Jace’s thoughts were probing and insistent in my brain.

  “What are we?” I asked, but he didn’t answer.

  I tried to break away, but I couldn’t sever the connection between us. Suddenly, something jolted us apart. Not an electric jolt of passion like in the romance novels, but a clumsy nudge from a fellow student. The moment between me and Jace had passed.

  Jace led me to the bleachers and sat down, motioning for me to sit next to him. His easy smile was gone and his eyes were troubled. He started to speak, but stopped when he saw Alex moving toward us.

  “Hey, there you are,” Alex said, sitting down on the other side of me. “Me and some other guys are going out after the dance. You wanna come?”

  I glanced over my shoulder to look at Jace, but he was already gone, moving through groups of students
toward the other side of the gym. Probably looking for Alisa, I thought. My bizarre line of communication had startled both of us, it seemed. Jace obviously had some power of his own. Instead of getting the answers I desired, I ended up with tons more questions.

  Turning my attention back to Alex, I said, “Actually, I’m not feeling well. I think I’ll go home. But thank you for a wonderful time.”

  I couldn’t bear to spend the rest of the evening pretending to be normal. I wasn’t normal. Deep in my soul, I now possessed the knowledge that things would never be the same for me. Everything was different because I was not who I thought I was.

  Chapter Nine

  Alisa

  As I watched Jace dance with Rachel, my whole life fell away. Rachel was the one his family was looking for. The Innocent, the special one, the one who would take my place in their lives. The agony of knowing I would once again be standing in the shadows alone and ignored was beyond anything I could take. I tried to turn away from them, but my pain held me in place.