The Awakener (20 page)

Eden debated on whether to walk to Micah’s house or drive, but
then, thinking of the large volumes of trees from her house to his, she grabbed her car keys. Andrew was going to be there late. His dad needed his help moving some stuff out to the garage, but he promised he’d show up as soon as he could.

Jessie and Caitlyn were going to meet there after Jessie’s drama club meeting was over, so Eden turned her radio up and rolled down the windows on her
Jeep. She was still shocked it was actually hers. When her dad handed her a pair of keys on her birthday, she had gone to the key hook and hung them up, thinking he’d wanted her to put them away for him. He’d laughed, retrieved them, and then steered her outside where a burnt-orange Jeep sat.

Brendon begged her to go off-roading with
it, and Andrew told her how hot it was she drove it. She was pretty sure Andrew was referring to the Jeep being hot. He had a soft spot for Broncos and Jeeps.

She pulled into Micah’s
driveway, seeing no other cars. She would’ve stressed over being the first one there if it wasn’t for the fact the pool was beckoning her.

Pushing her door
shut, she heard, “And there’s my little mermaid.”

She glanced over
. Trent stood on the porch.

“Hey, am I the first one here?” She jogged over to him.

“Looks like it. Where’s your other half today?”

“He’s coming. He’s going to be late.”

“So what’s up with you and Andrew?
Is he
the one
?” His emphasis on the last two words was overly dramatic.

When she teased, “Why don’t you ask Micah? He’s the one with all the visions,” she thought he’d laugh, but he didn’t.

He gave her a funny look. “Did Micah tell
—?” His words were cut off by the front door opening.

Micah’s mom appeared startled to see them both there. “Oh, I was looking for Jared.
I thought he was out front. Eden, good to see you, hon. Come on in.”

She
entered, wishing she and Trent could’ve continued their conversation. She was dying to know what he was about to say, but Trent seemed to take pains to avoid her after that.

Oh Trent
, she thought,
you can’t leave me hanging like that!
Micah was in the kitchen when they walked into the great room.

“Eden! How about a quick swim before everyone else gets here
?” he called out.

“Sure,” she said with a grin.
Since she’d worn her swimsuit under her clothes, she carried her towel and followed Micah out the sliding glass door. The Hawkins always had a nice, long, wooden deck in the back. She’d been to many barbeques on that deck. She was happy to see it was the same.

Looking down the five steps to the yard, she gasped
. “Oh my gosh! That’s the nicest pool I’ve ever seen!”

“My parents went a little crazy on it.
Come on.”

She followed him
down, admiring the long, kidney-shaped pool. There was a small wading area on one end and a diving board on the other. On the backside of the pool was a cluster of huge rocks, with a slide going down the middle of it. There were waterfalls coming off the rocks in all different directions. Water leaving the pool area and shooting around behind the rock formation caught her eyes.

“Where’s that lead?” she asked, pointing.

“It’s a lazy river, pretty sweet, huh? The current carries you behind the rocks and back out there, by the diving board.” He trailed the river’s path with his finger.

“Wow.” She undid her shorts and yanked them down.
She gripped the bottom of her shirt, and then stopped. Micah was yanking his t-shirt off and tossing it on a pool chair. Even though they were obviously getting in the pool, she couldn’t shake the feeling she was undressing in front of him. Chiding herself, she slipped her shirt over her head and placed it on the chair next to Micah’s. She kicked her flip-flops under the chair and glanced up. Micah’s blue eyes stared back at her.

Well, if I wasn’t self-conscious before, I am now.

She couldn’t help ogling him back. His
seventeen-year-old body in a swimming suit was a lot different from when they were kids.
Nothing wrong with noticing he’s in good shape… like really good shape.

Feeling guilty, she peeled her gaze away, and stepped toward the pool.
Strong hands picked her up, throwing her into the air. As her body plunged into the water, she thought,
So, he wants to play dirty.
She came up for air to see he was treading water next to her, grinning.

For the next twenty
minutes, they were kids again, racing across the pool to see who was fastest (which Micah usually was), trying to out dive one another, out jump each other off the rocks, and eventually drown one another while going around the lazy river. She felt the years melt away and for a time, there were no demons, visions, or barriers.

This is how it always was between us
, she rejoiced, and then Micah’s hands landed a bit too high while wrapping around her from behind. She froze and his arms recoiled. They both stood up in the water, ceasing wrestling.

“Sorry.” He diverted his eyes as her face flamed.

The awkwardness was broken by Micah’s mom. “People are arriving. Why don’t you two come in for a minute?”

Without a word to each other, they climbed out of the pool and grabbed towels.
Jogging up the steps, she was surprised to see Trent sat at one of the deck tables. She didn’t have time to ask why he didn’t join them, because Caitlyn and Jessie were walking across the deck to her.

“Hey, guys,” she said
, as they both peered over the railing.

“Holy cow, check out that pool,” Jessie exclaimed.

“Pretty sweet, isn’t it?” Trent commented, his voice sounding close.

Eden turned to see Trent had moved behind them.
He was staring at Jessie.
I hope it was ok I invited her
, she fretted.

“Who are your friends, Eden?” he asked, his eyes not leaving Jessie.

“Caitlyn, Jessie.” Eden gestured to both and then added, “This is Micah’s cousin, Trent.”

“Nice to meet you, Caitlyn,” he
said, glancing momentarily at her, then his eyes rested on Jessie again, and his tone changed. “And you’re an unexpected surprise.”

Oh great, maybe this was an exclusive party
.

“Jessie, can I just say, there aren’t enough
redheads in the world.” He gave her a crooked smile and an arched eyebrow.

Jessie’s eyes narrowed.

So, Trent likes redheads. Too bad he doesn’t know Jessie hates flirts.

Willow emerged through the sliding
door, and everyone’s attention shifted. Eden expected Chase to follow after, but he didn’t. Seeing how swiftly Micah moved to Willow’s side, Eden had a sinking revelation. After ten minutes of him paying attention to Willow, and Megan and Jake not showing, she was sure she was right.
Micah likes Willow.

That’s why he wanted me to invite her, so it wouldn’t be obvious.
Maybe prom night when Andrew and I went home, they realized they liked each other.
According to what Andrew had told her, Chase was not dealing well with Willow’s sudden personality changes.

Then
her theory was thrown when Micah then turned his undivided attention to Caitlyn. Eden spent the next twenty minutes working out their love angle. She was relieved when Andrew arrived in time to eat. She needed the distraction
. I’m way too engrossed in watching Micah’s every move.

At a table with Andrew, Jessie, and Caitlyn, she noticed Trent’s occasional glance in their direction.
Jessie, who was complaining about her drama club projects, was completely oblivious to his attention. Eden appraised Trent.
He seems genuinely interested.
She glanced at her friend, feeling excited, yet nervous, for her. Jessie had yet to experience her first real date. It wasn’t that she was unattractive. Sadly, her personality usually got in the way. She had a way of chasing boys off before they’d even had a chance to show her how they felt.

Eden popped the last bite of her hamburger in her mouth
, as the sliding glass door opened again. She coughed, trying to swallow down the bun that lodged in her throat.

I can’t believe he actually came!
Wearing his usual black t-shirt and jeans, Damon stared at everyone gaping at him, and then shifted his eyes to the deck boards.

Willow pranced toward him. “Damon, right?”

He nodded and she smiled. “I’m Willow. You hungry?”

“Sure.” His brown eyes flickered at Willow and she marched back to her table next to Eden’s, him trudging after.
Eden thought it was nice of her to try to make him comfortable.
Poor guy doesn’t know anyone here, and for some reason Micah invites him.
She stared at the now-empty table across from her where Trent and Micah had been.
Huh, where’d they go?

Curiosity took over and
, feigning the need for more soda, Eden strode into the house. Searching in the kitchen and living room, she came up empty. Passing by the hall, she heard muffled talking coming from Mr. Hawkins’s office. With no one around, she tiptoed closer.

Standing by the door, feeling ridiculous for spying, she waited.
Trent’s voice pleaded, “Can’t I have a little fun? I know she wasn’t part of the plan.”

“Trent, it’s not like that. I’d love for you to do your thing, but we have to stay focused.
And she’s not helping you out there,” Micah answered.

“Ah, Micah, such a love kill,” Trent said, but he didn’t sound angry.

“I know it sucks.
I promise I’ll make it up to you one day. Let’s just get through this trip.”

“About that, you know I’m not thrilled with this whole self-sacrificing plan of yours, right?” Trent muttered, sounding uncharacteristically serious.

“It’ll all work out, Trent. Trust me on this.”

Her ears were burning and she knew she should walk away, but she couldn’t.

“It’s not
you
I don’t trust—it’s all of
them.
How do we know they’ll pull their weight, or even know what to do?”

Eden could tell by the way Micah sighed that they’d probably had this discussion several times before.

“Trent, they were born for this; they’ll know what to do,” he said firmly.

“Ok, well, I’m just letting you know right now, that when we get back from this crazy thing, I’m getting with the
redhead. I need a little Trent time, being glued to you is making me lose my game!”

Micah chuckled. “Good luck with
that
redhead.”

Eden couldn’t agree with him more.

“Speaking of games, you were pretty playful with Eden earlier in the pool.”

Her insides dropped, she knew she really shouldn’t be listening now, but she had to.

“I know I’m just torturing myself, but it was nice for a moment to forget I’m the Seer,” Micah said so quietly, that Eden found herself plastered against the door.

“Who says the Seer has to be miserable?”

“It’s not that; we need Andrew,” he replied. She gasped and then slapped a hand across her mouth.
Did they hear me? Should I bolt?

But Micah continued, “I can’t do anything to jeopardize him leaving the group. The mission’s more important than what I want.”

Eden stood up straight.
Did I hear him right?
Micah wants me?
Her pulse was rapid, her ears buzzing with adrenaline. She knew she should walk away. What if they came out? She’d be humiliated, but she hung on every word she heard.

When Micah said the next sentence though, her stomach dropped for a different reason, “Besides, I saw her marrying
him
, remember?”

He saw me marrying who? Andrew?

“You don’t know that’s what that meant, Micah. You didn’t—”