Locked Out of Love (20 page)

Felix had a short haircut and five o'clock shadow. His skin was bronzed and his eyes were the brightest blue-green she'd ever seen. He was built like a football player, broad shouldered and nothing but hard muscle. Melanie narrowed her eyes at him—was he was one of the guys in high school who used to pick on Joel?

“Nice to meet you, Melanie.” Felix stuck out his hand, instantly destroying her ill-mannered jock theory, and she noticed a faint coating of something white around his fingertips.

He caught her staring and brought up his hand to examine it himself. “Damn, thought I got all the flour out.”

“Flour?” she asked.

Cali patted her fiancé on the chest. “He's got the manliest job around. He's a baker.”

“Thanks, future wife,” Felix drawled.

Cali winked up at him. “You can butter my biscuit any day.”

 Joel made a disgusted noise. “Save it for the honeymoon, would you?”

Melanie found herself smiling along.

The basketball game started out innocently enough. It was the perfect day, bright sun, few clouds, and a wonderful cooling breeze from the ocean. One second Melanie was passing the ball to Joel, the next it disappeared then reappeared in Felix's hands.

“Hey!” Joel shouted. “No powers, cheater.”

Felix gave him a cheeky grin. “It's not cheating. It's called using my advantage.” He threw the ball to Cali, who scored.

A glint came into Joel's eye, and he took the ball and passed to Melanie. She was still trying to wrap her mind around what Felix had done with nothing but a swipe of his hand. Sure, she remembered the brief description Joel had given her of all the guild's powers, but it was entirely different to see them in action.

Joel raced up court and she passed to him. In a burst of speed, Felix came up the middle and stole the ball. Quick as lightning, Joel switched direction and grabbed Felix's arm, only for a second. Felix continued toward his own basket.

Melanie laughed. “Traveling!” she shouted at him.

Felix stopped dead and stared at his hand where Joel had Locked the ball to it. “Hey now, that's playing dirty.”

“You started it,” Joel said arrogantly.

Melanie felt the testosterone go up in the air.

“Fine.” Felix held out his hand for Joel to Unlock the ball. “New rules.”

 “This should be interesting,” Cali, standing next to Melanie, said under her breath.

Joel grasped Felix's hand. “New rules,” he agreed as the ball fell free from Felix's grasp.

Melanie didn't know what to make of any of this. Joel held the ball and came over to her. Cali moved to Felix.

Joel blocked them with his body. “Take some of my powers. We need to even the playing field,” Joel whispered to her.

“What?” Trepidation ran down her spine.

“It'll be a good exercise session for your powers too,” he said. “Take a little bit and when someone tries to take the ball from you, Lock it to your hand so they can't snatch it.” A competitive glint came to his eye. “Then maybe try and Lock their limbs so they can't use an arm or something.”

“Now
that
is playing dirty,” she whispered to him.

He shrugged. “This is war. Felix is giving similar instructions to Cali.”

Melanie leaned to her right to glance around Joel. Sure enough, Felix stood hunched before Cali, his hands moving animatedly.

“What can Cali do again?” Melanie asked.

“She's a Silencer, so she can manipulate and control sound. I'm not sure how she's going to use that to her advantage, but we need to be cautious.”

Melanie refrained from rolling her eyes. Joel was treating this as if it were an actual battle.
Boys
.

She had to admit though, their energy was contagious. When Joel held his hand out to her, she hesitated only for a second before reaching out to take a bit of his powers.

“Ready?” Joel asked when she'd released him.

His blue eyes sparkled.

She stood taller and gave him a quick salute. “Ready, sir.”

Pride shown on his face and he quickly gave her a kiss on the cheek. “That's my girl.”

His words warmed her, but the time for pleasantries was over.

It was game time.

It didn't take long to figure out how Cali was using her powers to their advantage. Melanie saw her lips moving but no sound was coming out, then Felix's mouth would move and still she couldn't hear. Somehow they were communicating without her or Joel being able to hear it.

They shared a worried glance. This wasn't good.

Team Tall, Dark, and Gorgeous, as Melanie was mentally referring to them, scored five points in a row on them. Her own competitive nature started to spark as she took the ball down court to Joel. She saw Cali come up on her left, she faked to the right, and quickly threw to Joel.

Cali's lips moved and she shot out her arm.

As if hit by some invisible wind, the ball sailed past Joel, right to Felix. Felix took off and scored a three-pointer.

The spark of competition inside Melanie grew to a flame.

She walked over to Cali and touched her on the arm. “How'd you do that? It was amazing,” she gushed.

Cali preened under the attention. “Thanks. Just another skill that comes with the territory.”

“Ready, Melanie?” Joel called from down court. He gave her a knowing wink and she smiled to herself as she jogged down for a pass.

Cali kept pace with her, but when she went to block the ball, her arm didn't budge.

Her lips moved and Melanie didn't need sound to read them.

“What the hell?”

“Problem?” Melanie asked sweetly.

Cali's dark eyes narrowed, and before Cali could say more Melanie passed to Joel, who was already up court to narrow the gap between their scores.

Joel laughed as Cali ran, her upper arm frozen to her side, to where Felix stood with the ball. Her expression was murderous. Felix tried and failed to hide his smile, which earned him a smack on the shoulder with Cali's good arm.

 “Nicely done,” Joel said. “She didn't even realize what you were doing till it was too late. That's what I call finesse.”

“I feel a little bad. How long will it stay like that?”

Joel shrugged. “Until you Unlock it. If you're feeling really torn up about it, you can let her go when we take the lead.”

“You're horrible,” she said, but the smile on her face belittled her words. “Are you going to get Felix?”

Joel threw his head back and laughed. “Now who's the bloodthirsty one?”

The game took on a mind of its own after that.

Felix started using his powers more to make up for Cali's one-arm disadvantage. Cali weaved around the court in an attempt to keep Melanie at bay. Melanie got only close enough to Lock Cali to the concrete once, but her concentration was spotty at best and the hold lasted just a second.

Cali jumped away from her. “We're switching, Felix, You're taking Melanie now. This girl is ruthless. I think she's better than Joel.”

“I heard that,” Joel called.

“That's ‘cause I wanted you to.” Cali stuck her tongue out at him.

They switched partners. Melanie was winded within seconds trying to keep up with Felix's long legs. Cali had been closer in height so the difference wasn't as obvious, but with Felix she was screwed. It didn't help matters either when he gave her winks or smiles as he scored on her. Her competitive side was starting to get annoyed.

“Need a break there, Melanie?” Felix asked playfully.

Her chest heaving, she glared at him. “I can go all day,” she told him boldly.

His brows rose. “Is that so? Here.” He threw her the ball for a check despite the fact they were playing full court. He moved up the sideline, and Melanie felt a small tingle at the back of her neck as she tossed the ball back to him. It shot out of her hand like a cannon and she realized her mistake as it happened. Felix caught the ball with an “umph” and fell into one of the benches that lined the court.

Cali and Joel turned at the sound.

Melanie stood frozen to the ground. She hadn't meant to use Charlotte's powers. She wanted to ask Felix if he was hurt, but she didn't want to risk exposing herself.

I kinda already did.

She swallowed thickly as Cali and Joel jogged over.

“What the hell are you doing?” Cali asked, hands on hips.

“You tired, Felix? We can end the game right here if you like,” Joel said with a smile and waggle of his brow.

Felix got up and rubbed his back and butt. “I'm fine.” His gaze touched on Melanie for a second before moving onto his friends. “I just lost my footing.”

The rest of the game went by in a blur. Melanie kept her focus solely on making sure she didn't accidentally shove a basketball through someone's chest.

By the end they were all sweaty and exhausted. They lounged on the benches, talking and drinking.

Melanie Unlocked Cali's arm from her side.

“So what's your power again?” Cali asked. “Are you a Locksmith like Joel?”

Melanie fiddled with the leather bracelet on her wrist. “No. I can temporarily borrow someone's powers.”

She waited for fear or disgust, but Cali simply nodded. “That's cool.” She stuck her hand out. “Take mine.”

Melanie recoiled. “It's okay, I'm a little tired.”

“Oh, come on.” Cali wiggled her fingers. “Just a little bit. I want to know what it feels like, and I'm sure you want to practice using someone else's powers other than lame-ass Joel's.”

Joel arched a brow. “Lame-ass? Really, Cali? Your material is going down the drain.” He tsked and took a long swig of his Gatorade.

Cali glared at him. “You were more fun before she gave you confidence.” She jerked her head in Melanie's direction.

Joel saluted her with his Gatorade bottle. “Your days of getting a rise out of me are over, evil tyrant.”

Melanie took a tentative sip of water, thinking she'd dodged Cali's bullet.

She thought wrong.

As soon as Cali finished smart-mouthing Joel, those dark eyes were back on Melanie, her hand stretched out before her.

Melanie stared at it. She could probably fight all day long and Cali still wouldn't give up.

“Might as well,” Joel said to her. “It'll give you more practice.”

She mustered a smile. Little did he know that they were giving her exactly what Juliet would want.

No. She wasn't going to go that far with it. She'd take a little bit of Cali's powers, enough to satisfy both their curiosities, and then she'd be done.

Cali's nails were done a dark purple and her fingers were slender. Artist hands.

Melanie closed her eyes, and with Joel so close, his heat warming the right side of her body, she conjured her powers easily. She imagined a stream, trickling into the ocean, and took the tiniest bit from Cali.

“That's so strange,” she heard Cali say. “It feels like I'm touching a live wire or something.”

Melanie released her instantly.

Disappointment crossed Cali's face but interest replaced it within seconds. “Can you use them now?”

Melanie focused. How was she supposed to shift through the different powers and know when she had the right one?

Her neck was buzzing from her active powers.

“I don't know,” she said at last, unsure how she was supposed to use a Silencer's abilities.

Cali and Felix had knowing smiles on their faces.

“What?” she turned to Joel.

His lips moved but no sound came out.

“What?” she said again and worked her jaw to try and pop her ears.

His grin deepened. This time he moved his lips slowly. “You're using Cali's powers.”

Being in her own little sound bubble was a little disconcerting. There was no noise whatsoever, no wind, no cars, no sound from the people around the corner on another court.

It felt lonely.

“Is it gone?” she asked after a moment.

“I think so,” Joel said. “I can hear you again.”

She relaxed. “Good. That's a strange power,” she mused to herself.

Cali shrugged. “It was really helpful when I needed peace and quiet to work on some of my paintings.”

Felix leaned around her, hand outstretched. “Me next,” he said like a little kid.

Melanie couldn't help it. She laughed. “Fine.” She pretended to be put out and grasped his much larger hand. It was warm and soft but missing all the scars she loved to trace with her eyes.

She reached for her powers, but Cali quickly disentangled their hands. “Wait a minute,” she said. “Is it really a good idea to have her take your powers, Felix?”

His blue-green eyes widened. He quickly took his hand back, his gaze dropping with embarrassment. “Sorry, I should have realized.”

“Realized what? What's going on?” Their faces betrayed nothing. “I don't understand.”

Joel's hand came to rest on her thigh. A spark of awareness shot through her and she saw the answering call in Joel's eyes, but like her, he pushed it down. “Felix's powers are … different. If you don't know how to control them … ”

“People could get hurt,” Felix finished for him, looking both ashamed and angry.

“What do you mean? I saw him on the basketball court earlier. He made the ball vanish and reappear. What's the big deal?”

“The big deal is that I'm an Eraser and got my name because I used to cause things to vanish, for good. I only got my ability to bring things back when I became full-forced. If I transferred my powers to you, who knows if you'd have the ability to make things reappear. If you accidently Erased one of us and couldn't bring us back …  Well, let's just say we never want to find out.”

Melanie stared at Felix as she let his words sink in. “That must've been frightening,” she said.

They all gave collective nods, Felix mostly. “It was, still is.”