Lost Energy, Page 2

  I shrugged and blew Mom a kiss before going to the front to help Jake. She grinned, making a show of catching it as she took orders from the counter. By the time I reached Jake, he was knee-deep in loud teenagers and frustrated parents. He smiled, though, even with the nice swell on his cheek.

  “Ginger get in a good hit?”

  He handed off some tickets, his crooked nose slanting to the right when his grin grew wider. “Can’t complain. Got a couple good hits in this time, too.” He glanced up, raising a brow. “Thanks for the distraction.”

  I winked. “No problem.”

  The crowd didn’t thin out until the last minute, with people still buying tickets as the previews started. A couple months ago, Jake broke down and fixed up the back theater–a little gentle coaxing from the pretty Jacie Tulman helped–and so it stayed open all the time now. The added room paid off. Jake even thought about installing a 3-D screen with the extra income. When he told us, Farren smirked, saying he wouldn’t be impressed until technology left the Stone Age.

  “Why don’t you go help Mom finish up? I’ll handle the register.”

  “I like the way you’re thinking.” My boss’ face brightened, and like a kid on Christmas, he nodded with a sloppy grin.

  When Jake made it to the concession stand, Mom lifted a hand to his bruise, concern clouding her bright green eyes. He pulled her close and kissed her lips. The guy was in heaven.

  Man, all the romance circulating through my little bubble… Wilma and I spent a lot of time rolling our eyes. At least I could admit I was jealous. Wilma got annoyed.

  Once the last few people in line bought tickets, I locked up the computer screen and turned toward the kitchen.

  With more punch than at the trailer park, the dull haze slammed into my psyche. The magnetism caused my feet to head back to the front door, a pull way stronger than Zander heroin. When I opened it, the fuzz faded, and then disappeared. I shut the door with more force than necessary, blood draining from my face and pooling at my toes, and made a beeline for the kitchen. No way did I imagine that.

  The swinging door banged open with a thud against the kitchen wall, making Belva jump and whip her head in my direction.

  The grin Belva always put on Farren’s face vanished when he looked up from his grill. “Shit.”

  I nodded, giving him the signal his assumption was correct, and painted on a smile. “Hey, Belva. Could you see if Mom needs some help?”

  She hopped off the counter. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, yeah, fine.” I took a deep breath, trying to control the shaking in my knees. “Just need to talk to Farren for a second.”

  Belva didn’t ask any more questions. Over the past five months, she’d gotten used to our secretive behavior. Since she realized that first month nothing romantic went on between her future man and me, she didn’t take our little powwows to heart.

  “Sure, okay.” She squeezed my shoulder on the way out.

  As soon as the door shut behind her, Farren grabbed my shoulders. “Tell me.”

  “I felt someone.”

  He knew exactly what I meant, seeing as he had the same dull fuzz enter his brain every time a Protector came within a thirty-foot radius.

  “You still feel them?” Farren moved me to open the kitchen door, scanning the lobby. “I don’t feel anything.”

  I hustled passed him, stomping to the front door, the lobby a lot quieter now that all the movies started. “No, but it was strong here and faded when I opened the door to look outside.”

  Almost growling, he grabbed my hand and led me to the first showing room. I gave Mom and Belva an all-good smile, but the way Farren’s face transformed to make him look like the warrior he was, caused them both to pale. Jake stood behind Mom, his hands on her shoulders and face tense. He knew from experience not to ask too many questions until the danger passed. Farren would have ignored him in his Protector mode, anyway.

  When the doors to the room opened, letting in a flash of light, people grumbled. Farren kept a tight hold on my hand while we made a path around the entire room, reaching the opposite exit door.

  “Anything?” His dark eyes, hard and intense, searched mine.

  “No.” I dragged him to the next room.

  We repeated our intrusion in the second and third room, both with the same results. We walked to the counter, and Mom left Jake’s arms to hug me. I patted her shoulders, tension squeezing my stomach. Guides didn’t make me nervous–their Protectors were another story.

  I pulled away. “Can you and Belva maybe go in the kitchen, clean up Farren’s mess?”

  Mom nodded, understanding on her face. “Sure, baby.” She turned to Belva, who had worry scrunching her delicate brow. “Come on, sweetie. I’ll wash, you dry.”

  Belva took Mom’s hand after she glanced at Farren.

  He managed to drop the warrior face to smile at her. “I’ll see you in a few.”

  “I’ll be waiting.” She raised a brow. “But…it’d be nice if all of you would trust me a little more.” Belva stormed into the kitchen, Mom following.

  As soon as the kitchen door swung shut, Jake turned to us. “Is it happening again?”

  Damn, Belva had no clue what she asked for. Sometimes oblivion was better than the truth. That said, I put my hands on Jake’s chest, and not wanting him to worry, prepared to lie.

  Farren wasn’t so worried about Jake’s worry. “Lena felt someone.”

  “Shit.” Jake pulled me into a bear hug.

  “My sentiments exactly.” Farren scrubbed a hand through his grown-out buzz cut.

  “Listen, guys, let’s not get crazy, okay?” I tapped Jake’s back, a let-me-go signal he ignored. “Could be a curious new energy. Our story had to have spread like fire. Maybe they wanted to get an up-close look.”

  Farren shook his head. “Want to explain how a new Guide energy got here? Only one way to cross the lines.”

  “Yeah, well maybe the Protector’s new too.” With a little more force, I pushed away from Jake’s vice-like hold. “It makes sense.”

  Jake looked to Farren, hope lighting his brown eyes. “That possible?”

  “I wouldn’t count out anything right now, but to be on the safe side, I’m going to bunk with Lena and Jacie until Wilma gets back.”

  Jeez, even he knew she left! But I did like the idea of Farren couching it at my place.

  “Yeah, good. That’s good.” Jake headed to the kitchen. “You two stay out here with Belva for the second showing. Me and Jacie’ll take the kitchen.” Before he opened the door, he gave Farren one last pleading glance. “Keep her safe.”

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  By closing time, the whole episode barely won a thought from me, though Jake and Farren were on edge. Jake took Mom home, keeping an arm wrapped protectively around her waist on the way out the door. Farren and I dropped Belva off before heading back to the house. Farren’s attention darted toward every movement to and from the car. He even walked Belva to her front door, much to her delight.

  But once we pulled into the driveway I shared with Jake, I raced up the steps without waiting for Farren’s little recon act. He didn’t holler for me to stop–he knew why I ran.

  With an urgency that had me fumbling with my shorts’ zipper, I stripped down, changed into my halter nightgown, used the bathroom, and dove under the cool sheets. Closing my eyes, I struggled to relax as I sunk into the bed. The fight was useless–the excitement I felt every night at this exact moment never abated.

  Like clockwork, I heard him.

  So, I’m saddled with Wilma for a while.

  I smiled, Tarek’s rich voice swelling my heart, tingling my spine. Didn’t matter what he said; he could’ve been talking about the hibernation practices of snails.

  She’s not all bad, bitching about the animals, mostly.

  A gap wedged into the conversation after that–something he had a habit of doing. How I missed those annoying pauses.

  She said you’re doing better agains
t Farren. Remember what I told you about him. Don’t forget the bum right knee. Play a little dirty, and you’ll get him on the ground in no time.

  I snuggled deeper under the covers, hugging the same pillow I held every night–the one that still wore his shirt–thinking about apples and lilacs.

  Wilma said you’re happy. He chuckled. Complain too much, but happy. I could almost feel his sigh against my ear as it echoed in my brain. I miss you.

  “Miss you, too.” That part of the one-sided conversation I always said aloud, willing him to hear it, know it.

  As usual, he changed the subject to something lighter. My giant always made me smile…even when he was worlds away. I guess Zander’s still driving Teenesee crazy. He won’t stop asking questions. Wilma avoids him when she goes. She says he complains more than you.

  The tears started to well, and no matter how hard I tried to stop them, they’d come. They came every night.

  The river hasn’t raged in weeks. Even the squid are behaving for the most part. Wilma only had to kill one this time.

  Tarek told me once that his mood controlled the environment. He’d spent the better part of his time trying to rein in his emotions to make the place better. Wilma said our midnight talks helped.

  It’s cold as hell in the castle, regardless how high I build the fire. Pause. But I finished the place in the woods, close to the bank. I’ll sleep here tonight; Wilma can sleep on the floor.

  I imagined the cabin by the bank, imagined us there together, surrounded by the vibrant colors.

  I’m going to let you sleep now. Wilma’s banging on the door. She’s not finished harassing me, I suppose. Be safe… I love you.

  Tears dripped on the pillow as I hugged it closer to my heart.

  “Love you, too.”

  DAD

  Bright sun welcomed me to the morning. I curled deeper into the memory foam, my arms still wrapped around my Tarek shirt-pillow. The thing could probably use a washing, except that’d take away the memory of his scent. Stupid reasoning, but it kept me going.

  I closed my eyes. Drifting back into dream world was too appealing to pass up. Fifteen more minutes and I’d face the day, starting with getting my butt kicked in the ring.

  And two hours later, I rolled out of bed and tugged on shorts and a T-shirt before heading to the bathroom.

  When I stumbled out to the living room, my gym bag stuffed and ready, I found Farren sitting on the couch reading the paper with a mixing bowl full of Fruit Loops. I bought that stuff because of Tarek. Another stupid thing, but the smell reminded me of how his mouth tasted after we ate a box together on the very couch Farren had his butt parked.

  Mom was nowhere in sight, already showered and at Jake’s, as per her usual morning routine. She and my boss acted like teenagers. Sweet, but it didn’t stop me from making gagging noises every time I caught them making out on the couch.

  I went to sit with Farren, pointing at his breakfast. “Sure you’re not ten?”

  He answered by taking a huge bite, milk dribbling down his chin, and continued reading the paper. The way he kept up on current events drove me nuts. He’d have the news on at the gym, in the car, and never failed to read the New York Times, the Pocono Record, and the Post as often as possible.

  I went to grab a banana off the kitchen counter and sat back down. “You ever get tired of all the chaos?”

  “Are you kidding? What I don’t get is how you can ignore it.” He took another sloppy bite of cereal.

  “Pretty simple, really.”

  “Not for me,” he said around a mouthful. “All the passion in this dimension… It’s perfect.”

  “Don’t know why you keep saying that. Exemplar sounds like it has perfect down to a science.”

  He folded the paper, giving me the same annoyed frown as usual when we ventured into this conversation. “Without a little chaos, life’s not worth living.” Brown eyes lighting, he smiled as he tweaked my nose. “You all are so…impulsive, unpredictable.”

  Impulsive. Nice way to put it. “Yeah, well, nothing like getting addicted to stupidity, big guy.”

  “Hey, I’m not addicted.” He slurped the milk left in his bowl and swiped a hand across his mouth. “Trust me. Old Lena would’ve appreciated it.” He scraped another spoonful to get every piece of cereal before putting his dish in the sink.

  Old Lena. His nickname for my past lives. I didn’t mind. The only time I ever hated hearing about my past self was when Tarek mentioned her. Jealousy slithered into my gut every time. Nothing like hating…ah…yourself, I guess? She had so much time with him. I had moments.

  Farren clicked off the television and shot a thumb at the door. “I have to stop by my place and grab some stuff before kicking your ass.”

  Oh, the way he said it, as if beating me was inevitable.

  It was, but he didn’t have to say it all the time.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  The gym routine went…well…routine. I almost got his knee after about fifteen minutes, but made it too obvious.

  A smile appeared on Farren’s stupid face. “Ah, so Tarek’s been giving you a few pointers, huh?” He danced around the ring.

  Grunting, I lunged again, trying to make contact with his even, white teeth. He dodged and tapped me on the right cheek hard enough to have my head flinging to the side. “Keep your arms up; watch my face. Don’t let your eyes follow your swing.” He jabbed again, but when I listened to him, his advice actually worked, his gloved fist swiping air. “Good, keep it up.”

  After another hour dodging fists and getting hit in the face, I spit out my mouthpiece. “Enough.” I gave Jake the go-ahead on my way out of the ring. “Your turn.”

  I didn’t hang out for their normal banter, my mind already on the afternoon’s run. But Farren’s voice followed me to the locker room. “You’re running with me today, kid.”

  I opened the door. “Whatever. Then you’d better finish him off quick, ‘cause I’m ready to go.”

  Jake’s wounded voice chased me to the showers. “Not nice, young lady.”

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  By the time we ran into the woods, gray clouds rolled in and thunder clapped the sky. The run continued, though. A few streaks of lightning and a little downpour wouldn’t deter me from what I loved to do most. So what if Ginger tagged along? In my ring, he had to fight to keep up with me. Felt pretty good watching him struggle when I let loose in the high school’s backfield.

  The rain didn’t stop the congregation at the burn pit either. A few blue tarps hanging on tree limbs and they had shelter–and for an almost naked couple, an illusion of privacy. Everyone could see them, including us as we jogged by. No one bothered to pretend to look away. All the perverted peepers needed was some popcorn.

  By the time we broke through the woods, the rain was a warm sheet pounding on top of our heads. The warmth felt good, and by Farren’s smile, he seemed to enjoy it, too.

  Bypassing the mailbox, we went straight for my old trailer. When we got to the front door, I had to yell over the storm. “Wait out here. You’ll spook him if you come in.”

  Farren wiped the water from his face and nodded. “But make it quick, will you? As much as I like the rain, wet shorts aren’t fun to run in.” He scrunched up his cheeks and puckered his lips. “Chafing sucks.”

  “Whatever. Fine. Ten minutes.” I pushed through the door.

  Dad sat in his usual spot, but fear crept in his watery eyes. The rain slapped the roof, and with the sun hiding, the place had a dark, ominous feel. Guess I would have been a little freaked out, too.

  “It’s fine, just the rain,” I said when his scared eyes followed me into the kitchen. “It’ll be over soon.”

  He didn’t answer, rarely did when I actually had to talk to him. How the hell did this guy scare the shit out of me?

  I left puddles from my drenched sneakers on the thin carpet as I went to take the load from the dryer, throwing it into his room. His terrified gaze followed me into the bedroom and acros
s the small path through the living room to the kitchen.

  “Trust me, you’re fine. It’s. Just. Rain.”

  When he refused to answer with anything but fear, I ignored him to make coffee before pulling out the stuff for a sandwich.

  He wrapped his thin blanket tighter around his frail shoulders, his fingers shaking, along with his lips. “Is the floor gonna eat me again?”

  I dropped the butter knife, mustard going all over the faded linoleum. That was the first I’d heard him speak in a while. More, this was the first time he’d ever brought up his trip to Arcus. After a deep breath, I picked up the knife, set it in the sink, and poured him some coffee. I went to squat in front of his chair, handing him the cup. “No one’s gonna ever take you from this place again.”

  Dad wasn’t convinced. “Can’t sleep, can’t eat when you’re not here…a-and there’s been people walking around the trailer at night, lookin’ through the windows.” He pulled the cup to his chest, leaving the contents untouched. “They don’t think I see ‘em, but I do.”

  My skin prickled. “Are you sure? Maybe it’s the neighborhood asshats messing with you.”

  His muddy eyes rounded, the whites shining. “It ain’t though. I hear that wind, you know? And see the sky open up out the front window. Why they wanna get me, girl?”

  Oh, shit. “Listen, how ‘bout I come over tonight, check it out? Would you like that?”

  He nodded so vigorously, coffee sloshed over the rim of his cup. “Yeah, I’d like that, like it a lot. Could you maybe ask them to go away? I won’t tell no one, I swear.”

  Wilma’s threat still had an effect, I see. “Sure, Dad. I’ll tell them.” I left to grab his sandwich, putting the paper plate on his lap. “Eat your lunch.”

  It took a while to calm him down and make him eat. My ten minutes were long over by the time I went outside to meet irritated Ginger.

  “That wasn’t ten minutes.” Farren wrung out the bottom of his saturated muscle shirt.