Somewhere in the Middle (17 page)

"Actually, they are. None of the Thorsens bake."

Hating to see him go, I nonetheless opened the door. We stepped onto
the porch. "I guess I won't see you for a while." Our school break ended
January third.

"Guess not. See you then, though, and feel free to text me if
you...well...get lonely or something."

"Thanks, I will." I reluctantly stepped back inside and let the storm
door shut before waving goodbye through the glass. By then he'd descended
the steps. He waved back and headed to his car.

Feeling oddly down, I decided to distract myself by opening the other
tub we'd dragged down from the attic before the dance. I dug out the
stockings for the mantel. There were other things in the box, too. A
lighted Santa that I set on a side table, a tiny snow village that I
spread out on the coffee table, and a wreath that I hung on the front
door. Then I sat down by my brother, who promptly put his head in my lap
and went to sleep, even though it was way too late in the day for a
nap.

* * * *

Christmas day was usually fun at the Sayers house, and this year was
no exception. Shortly after Eli woke us up before dawn, we all gathered
by the tree and attacked the pile of presents that Santa had left there.
What fun watching my little brother get everything he wanted and then
some. Yeah, we spoiled him something awful.

Click!

We had a huge breakfast after that, and when we finished, I played
with Eli so Mom and Dad could get more sleep. My little brother soon had
all his toys littering the floor. After carefully separating them from
the shreds of wrapping paper, I counted all the superhero themed stuff
and came to the conclusion that there couldn't be many he hadn't
received.

I briefly wondered what next year's obsession would be. Something
else, I was sure, which meant most of this would ultimately be donated to
the local firemen's toy drive. Though the waste of money bothered me a
little, knowing that some other kid would eventually get them made up for
it since that was kind of like recycling. We would also make use of the
Christmas tree when we took it down, either dropping it in the lake so
the fish could make use of it or setting it in the back yard and
stringing popcorn or berries or other fruit to make it a bird feeder.

While Eli and I played, he commented that Roone would love this or
that figurine, mask, or weapon. That warmed my heart. Eli clearly adored
my un-boyfriend just as much as I did.

Adored? I didn't bother to deny it. Roone definitely had my heart in
his back pocket, which was going to make the continuation of our
boyfriend-girlfriend performance hard on me once we got back to school.
It I wasn't careful, I'd give myself away, something I could thank my
parents for.

Not in the least embarrassed by PDA, they'd raised us to be just as
honest, the reason poor Eli got so many random kisses and hugs from me.
My new worst fear was forgetting that Roone was still pretending, which
could make an accidental show of affection from me very uncomfortable for
him.

Both my parents and even Cory asked if Roone was dropping by the house
later. I showed them my bracelet and reminded them once again that we
weren't boyfriend and girlfriend, but two people helping each other out.
As night fell, so did scattered rain showers, making the roads a little
iffy. But I was so stir crazy by the time we had our traditional
mid-afternoon Christmas dinner that I risked the weather and drove to my
lookout once the kitchen had been set to rights.

When I got there, I found a motorcycle already in the flat spot that
served as a makeshift parking area. That bummed me out a little, though I
went ahead and pulled on my brother's old McAlister High Eagles hoodie
and hiked to my rock. There were other spots around there where a
stargazer could sit. Whoever owned that bike might've gone to one of
them, and if not, I would.

Everly's Law prevailed. Before I got where I was going I could hear
someone--a male--talking. It wasn't until I was almost on him that I
thought I recognized the voice. Was that...Roone? Naturally I proceeded
very quietly from there, pausing before I actually stepped out of the
woods, but within listening distance. Dressed in jeans and a leather
jacket I'd never seen before that fit very, very nicely, he sat all alone
on my giant rock with his back to me. Was he talking to someone on his
cell? But no. There wasn't an iPhone or even an earbud in sight. So why
was he sitting there talking to himself.

"Four months I've been stuck here without a clue that we could talk."
Pause. "I know, right? Saw it in a film about Thor." Another pause...almost
as if someone were answering. Roone fell out laughing. "I couldn't
believe it, either. The filmmakers romanticized everything, but the
mythological stuff I found on the internet was right on the mark." Pause.
"That's what I'm thinking, too. Can't believe we've never heard about
it."

Frozen to the spot, I didn't know what to think. Was someone that I
couldn't see sitting on the ground in front the rock? If so, I'd surely
have spotted a foot or a leg sticking out.

"I really miss Neils and Sven. Everly has a brother named Eli who's
four. I spent the day with them yesterday." Pause. "Everly, Leif. The
girl I was just telling you about."

Leif?

He was talking to his brother far away in NowhereNear?

"Yeah, she's beautiful. Smart, too, and she cares about things."
Pause. "Doesn't matter how I feel. It takes two to have a relationship,
and she's not into me." Pause. "I know, okay? And I tried. I really did.
But there she sat with those beautiful brown eyes and that great big
heart. How the hell could I not fall for her?"

I sagged against a tree, my mouth open in shock and my heart swelling
with joy.
He'd fallen for me?

"You're one to talk. You knew Tyra what...? A whole month before you
married
her? Everly and I are just pretend dating at the moment,
which is all I can do with Dad breathing down my neck. He'd kill me if he
knew how I really feel." Pause. "Yeah, well, I'm not up to a confession
just now. I'll deal with that when I have to. And speaking of that, how's
the restoration going?" Long pause. Roone leapt to his feet. "Are you
shitting me? Why didn't you say something?" Pause. "But what if it's not
a rumor?" Pause. "No, no, no! It's way too soon for that. You'll all be
slaughtered." Pause and then a strangled sob. "Leif, listen to me. You
have to wait until everyone is trained. We'll go underground if those
guys really come to help Teo."

Hearing that gut-wrenching emotion, I actually choked up even though I
didn't have a clue what Roone was so upset about. That must've been why I
stepped from the thicket without really meaning to.

Roone spun to face me, tears streaming down his face. "Everly! Wow. I...
Wow." He self-consciously swiped the tears off his face. "How long have
you been here?"

"A better question is how could a guy with your psychic abilities not
know that I was?"

"I had something on my mind--"

"Or maybe you were busy talking with your brother in NowhereNear." I
pressed my hand to my hammering heart and blurted my worst fear. "Do you
have any idea how this looks to me?" Tears filled my eyes. "Please don't
be crazy, Roone. If you're crazy I can't have you, and I'll never want
anyone more."

Roone moved so fast he was a blur. Powerful arms locked around my
waist and lifted me until I wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms
around his neck. Our lips came together in a crushing kiss. As all-out as
our last one, it would've knocked me to my knees if I'd been standing.
And I wasn't the only one so affected. Roone actually staggered, taking
me with him. When the backs of his legs met the rock, he sat down pretty
hard on it.

I immediately took advantage, straddling his thighs and framing his
flushed face with my hands. "Have you really fallen for me?"

"Oh yeah."

"Why the heck didn't you say something?"

"To protect you."

"From what?"

"My future."

"Is fortune telling another of your gifts?"

"No." Tucking his fingers into my back pockets, Roone scooted me
closer to him. "But in this case, I know that some things are
inevitable--things that won't be pretty. I don't want you involved in them."

"Will you tell me where you're from? And don't you dare say
'NowhereNear.'"

"Början."

Tucking a finger under his chin, I lifted it until he looked me in the
eye. "What state is Bur-yan in?"

"It's...not."

"Not what?"

"In a state."

"Oh! Which country, then?"

He simply shook his head.

I gave up with a frustrated sigh. He still wasn't talking?
Unbelievable, and hurtful. "Is that your motorcycle in the clearing?"

"Yeah. A Christmas present from Dad."

"Will we be riding it to school?"

"Nope. That was the condition I had to accept in order to get it."

I thought of his cause bracelet. "Because a ride that sweet would
definitely boost you from the safety of somewhere in the middle?"

He managed a wry grin. "Right in one."

"I have a million questions."

"And I can't answer any of them."

"But--"

Roone's hand over my mouth smothered my argument. "Do you really love
me?"

"Well how could I not when you're so perfect?"

That made him laugh. "I love you, too, babe. So much that there's
nothing I want more than to tell you everything."

"Nothing?" I gently brushed my lips over his, hoping to tantalize
him.

His low groan told me I'd managed it. As for the hungry look in his
eye...

Click!

Pleased to be wanted that way, I kissed my guy once, twice, and then
again, gently sipping at his bottom lip when I finally pulled back to end
the last one. Noting the pulse pounding in his neck, I kissed it, too.
Roone slid his hands under my hoodie and tee in the back. His fingers
felt deliciously warm as they moved over the goose bumps there.

An icy wind suddenly blasted us. Surprised, we faced it. My hair
whipped around my face even as a second gust threatened to snatch off my
clothes. A shiver shimmied down my spine. The valley lay below us, now
nothing more than a night shadow except for random strings of color that
were probably some family's Christmas lights.

I felt moisture on my cheeks that had nothing to do with our tears.
"It's going to rain again."

"Maybe."

Hearing a note of caution in Roone's answer, I peered down at him in
the dark. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm getting that watched feeling I should've gotten the moment you
walked up. Are you?" He set me on my feet and stood to slowly turn, his
gaze sweeping the trees behind us.

"Yeah, now that you mention it." Spooked, I began to scan the woods,
too. Then I stepped around him and looked out over the valley again. Far
on the horizon, a flash of lightning revealed rolling storm clouds and
signaled the approach of some bad weather that could probably explain
that wicked wind. I felt a little better. Roone, on the other hand,
seemed even more anxious.

And then I saw it. That amazing lightshow I'd seen months ago from
this very spot, complete with the Technicolor clouds. The rainbow colors
each lightning strike revealed were unlike any I'd ever seen in an
electrical storm, and I could only guess that something in the atmosphere
now created the illusion of the sky reaching for Earth. Or was Earth
reaching for the heavens?

"Roone."

He turned. I pointed. Roone went completely still, his full
concentration on the distant horizon. Even as we stared, the tumultuous
clouds moved swiftly over the valley, obscuring everything. But he'd seen
enough. "Leif was right."

"About what?"

"Everything. I've got to go."

"What! Why?"

"I have to talk to Dad."

I blocked his path. "To tell him about us?"

"Probably not yet." He tenderly touched my face. "Do you mind?"

"No."

Pulling me to him, Roone kissed my forehead and hugged me for several
seconds. "No matter what happens, you'll always be the love of my
life."

That got me. "What do you mean? What's going to happen?"

"Nothing." He caught my frown. "Really, Everly. Don't worry about
anything." Grasping my wrist in his hand, he started into the woods. When
we reached the parking area, he pulled me close once again and kissed the
top of my head. "Watch the roads, okay? It's starting to sleet."

I nodded and got into my car.

"I'll call later to make sure you got home all right." Roone waited
until I had my seatbelt fastened and my motor running before he let me
shut the door. Then he mounted his bike and started it.
Vroom.
Vroom.
He put on a helmet. I smiled, loving the sight of him
straddling that growling motorcycle and wearing that leather jacket.

Click!

Roone motioned for me to take the lead and then followed me until I
turned the Trans Am to the right to head to my subdivision. He turned to
the left. I got home after another ten minutes. By then rain and sleet
slashed against my windshield, but that wasn't why my stomach was one big
knot. The winter mix and wet roads were nothing compared to Roone's
unexpected profession of love. I'd never been in love before, at least
like this. Emotions bombarded me--joy, shock, amazement, disbelief. And
then there was the fear.

No matter what happens...

Why would he use that particular phraseology? This was America, home
of the free, and he was eighteen, which meant he could legally do
anything he wanted except buy liquor. Not that he'd go against his dad's
wishes. And not that I even wanted him to. All the same, I was suddenly
sorry I hadn't insisted we confront his father together. Surely I could
make him understand that their secrets were safe with me.