Aftermath (23 page)

Ben's Story

I’m impressed. You finally gave that girl a glimpse of the real you,
Molly said.

I sat in Spanish class, last hour of the day.
Eavesdropping again?

I wouldn’t, if you would tell me. Instead, I have to resort to reading Emma’s thoughts.

Nice.
I shook my head as I half listened to the teacher’s lecture.

Actually, she’s beaming from ear to ear. I didn’t need to try very hard.

You’re awfully bubbly when you delve into my personal life,
I said.
How ya doing? Seriously?

The mood changed as her thoughts slowed.
I’m good.

You sure?             

Yeah. I’m sure.
I knew her well enough to know she wasn’t.
How would you feel if I let Jorgenson bring someone else in?
she asked, after moments of silence.

Someone? Or Bianca?

Benjamin, you know that part’s not up to me.

Molly, I can handle this. I don’t expect you to go on patrol, but I will not work with Bianca Beringer.
My words were firm, as my blood pressure rose.
I would never have guessed you’d change your mind and suggest her. You’ve never liked her. What’re you thinking?

Molly was silent for a minute, and then finally responded.
You’re right. I’m being ridiculous.

Damned right, I had this.

Emma's Story

The next week flew by.

Ben was at the library every day, in the same room. We didn’t make plans to meet there. It just happened. We talked and studied, then talked some more. We worked on math problems assigned in calculus class and laughed about Mrs. Moore’s quirkiness until the librarian hushed us.

Ben had a great smile, and I found myself completely comfortable with him.

When Claire asked if I’d go with her to the boys’ soccer game Thursday night, I eagerly agreed. Minutes after kick off, we were seated in the student area of the bleachers next to Hannah and a bunch of girls she introduced as girlfriends of soccer players. All but the redhead. She was definitely a wannabe, or the team’s biggest fan. She called out every player’s name. Or, at least it seemed like it. When she yelled for number twenty-three, Ben’s number, I paid closer attention to her. I couldn’t help but admit she was pretty. After a few minutes, I realized she was loud and as annoying as the juniors a few rows behind us. The rowdy guys that chanted “Go-Westport-Go,” which matched the words painted on their bare chests.

We scored, and fans erupted with whistles and cheers. When the applause died down and people took their seats again, Lucas arrived. He said hi as he sat in front of us.

Claire smirked at me, and I felt my cheeks getting warm until Hannah nudged me with her elbow. It was then that I noticed Stephanie and Molly at the chain-link fence in front of the parents’ section. I wasn’t sure how long they were there, but Stephanie was focused on the field, while Molly stood with TJ.

“They’re talking again,” Hannah said.

“That’s good, right?”

She nodded.

By the time the game was over, we won by three goals and everyone went to Rusty’s to celebrate. Ben sat in the corner booth with a few other players I never met before. He smiled at me and for a second, I thought he would ask me to sit with him. Before I could get my hopes up, Stephanie scooted in beside him.

I ended up at a table with Claire, TJ, and Lucas, watching Stephanie giggle and lean into Ben.

I should have known Ben and I were just friends.

Ben's Story

She could hate you.
Molly smirked.

I sat in calculus Friday morning.

At least she thinks of you as a friend.

Nice. Really nice,
I retorted.
This is because of you and your friend, Stephanie. That girl has issues
. Coach Vieth was busy demonstrating a solution for the math problem in the next Chapter, so I tuned him out. I could easily look up the answer later, if it proved relevant.

I preferred watching Emma.

When class was dismissed, I timed my exit so I could talk with her. Drew was on my heels, as we reached the hallway. He got her attention first.

“You comin’ to my party tonight, Emma?” Drew asked. I knew she was going without listening to her response.

Drew dominated the conversation, while we walked with the crowd. It was meaningless chatter not worthy of my time. When we reached Emma’s locker, she stopped.

“I’ll catch up with you later, Emmie,” I said.

“Emmie?” Drew questioned as we continued down the hall. His voice grew louder than necessary. “You got a pet name for her?” He laughed.

I shook my head and chuckled. We parted ways, and I headed toward class.

“Hey, Ben.” TJ caught up to me on the stairs.

“How’s it going?”

“Good. Hey, listen. Don’t call her Emmie.” His tone was firm.

“Say what?”

TJ stopped at the top of the stairs and grabbed my arm.

“Don’t call her that,” he said as I turned to face him. “Her name’s Emma.” His thoughts were as firm as his tone. Emma’s mom called her Emmie. I glared back but stopped short of compelling TJ. Kids coming up the stairs interrupted our moment, as we blocked their path. Seconds later, TJ was heading toward class and I stood still, dumbfounded.

It wasn’t often someone put me in my place. I couldn’t remember a time when someone did since I was an immortal. That was a risk most humans wouldn’t attempt. Though I couldn’t imagine TJ knew what he was getting into. As I proceeded down the corridor, I realized I was never put in my place as a human, either.

Well, then it’s about bloody time.
Molly’s sarcasm filtered into my head.

I ignored her and scanned the comments in student’s head until I heard the voice I was searching for. Emma was talking about the sleepover at Hannah’s later that night. Once I heard her thoughts, I was also able to see what her eyes saw. It was an extension of our abilities that took more concentration, but I felt it was worthwhile now. At least she wasn’t dwelling on the name I called her. Claire and Hannah sat near Emma in Spanish class.

I glanced around her classroom as best as I could through her sight of vision. No random thoughts of TJ or me. Just girl stuff. Clothes, makeup. Drew’s party. Football game. Sleepover.

I exited her mind and walked into art history class.

“What’s up with your boyfriend?” I asked Molly and sat beside her.

She glared. I didn’t care; I was irritated.

“He’s not my boyfriend,” Molly said in a low voice. Her teeth were clenched, yet she maintained her pretty posture, in line with her popularity status.

Other words to describe TJ came to mind. Molly’s Boy-Toy was at the top of the list.

Stop it!
she scolded.

When my verbal abuse got on her nerves, she envisioned slapping me.

“What would you like me to call him?” I said aloud, so other students could hear me.

“Stop. We broke up,” she said. Her human cheeks turned pink, as the girl in front of her turned around. “We’re just friends.”

“Friends with benefits?” I blurted out. I shouldn’t have, I realized. Several people glanced at Molly.

“I hate you,” she replied as the bell rang.

“No, you don’t. You love me.”

I shielded myself, as the teacher called the class to attention. No need for the other immortals to hear what I was thinking. I scanned the student body looking for TJ. He was in class. His thoughts were clear, minimal. No anger. He listened to the teacher and the material being discussed. It was like his comment to me no longer mattered. Except that I couldn’t get it out of my head. I wondered if he felt more than protection toward Emma. Maybe Molly knew that. Was that why she ended their relationship so soon after Emma got here?

Molly sat in perfect posture, listening to the boring lecture, taking detailed notes. When she caught my glance, she rolled her eyes.

Go figure. Still mad.

I loosened my shield and thought,
You’ll get over it.

She sighed heavily and focused on the teacher.

When the forty-two minute class finally ended, I felt as free as an escaped convict from jail. “Sorry,” I said as we walked out of class.

“It’s all right,” Molly answered. “They need a little drama now and then. It keeps the gossip fresh.”

We walked a few feet in silence.
You really like TJ, don’t you?
I asked in thought.

Yes.

More than you wanted to?

She nodded.

Then don’t be a fool. Get him back.

Emma's Story

Friday night.

Drew planned a party. Hannah suggested a sleepover. And then, there was football.

Ben was at our usual table in the library during study hall, but we weren’t alone. He spent the period working on calculus homework with ear buds in his ears. It was an easy assignment, so I didn’t have a reason to interrupt him. Not to mention my ego wouldn’t let me ask a stupid question.

Claire, Courtney, and I met at Hannah’s house to get ready before the game.

Aunt Barb was thrilled with my friendship with Hannah. I overheard her talking on the phone about it to Hannah’s mom.

It was the first time I really felt part of the student body. The National Anthem played as we walked in. When Aunt Barb raised her hand to wave at me from the parent section of the stands, Lisa shook her head to stop her. A huge smile crossed both of their faces.

The game started, as we found seats wedged in between some guys in front of us and juniors behind us. There was a definite social hierarchy here, and it felt good to fit in. Ben strolled in after us with some soccer players. I couldn’t help but watch him. He still made my heart skip a beat, even if he and Steph had a thing.

Claire called to Ben, but by the time he made his way through the crowd to the student section, there was no seat by us. Conveniently, Stephanie found him, though I think she followed him. She grabbed his arm and clung onto it as they found a seat in the section beside us, a few rows closer to the field.

For once, Molly wasn’t her sidekick. I almost said the words aloud when Claire did.

“I thought they were inseparable.”

“Me too,” I said and laughed.

A few minutes later, Molly walked in with a blonde I hadn’t seen before.

“Who’s she?” I asked Claire, pointing toward the stranger.

“Huh. No idea.” She had a blank look on her face.

Molly seemed to stay with the blonde. They were dressed for a night out, not for a football game in school colors like the rest of us.

The blonde looked older with shoulder-length straight hair and bangs. She wore tight jeans low on her hips with a fitted, black jacket clasped at the waist. Even from the bleachers, I could see the sparkle of belly-button jewelry.

She was incredibly attractive. Guys turned their heads, confirming my thoughts.

Molly and her friend squeezed in with Ben and Stephanie. I watched the introduction and handshakes. For a second, I thought Ben glanced up at me.

When I blinked, I realized he wasn’t even looking in my direction.

Ben's Story

“What are you doing here?” I asked through clenched teeth.

We stood in my attic conference room. My heart pounded with the anger I held back for hours since the voluptuous woman appeared as Molly’s sidekick at the high school game. If I were human, I’d be on the verge of a heart attack.

“Darlin’, why are you so angry?” Bianca touched my arm.

“Before you get upset, Benjamin, I invited her,” Molly interrupted.

My jaw ached and my blood pressure rose, as I turned to glare at Molly.

“Molly’s right. I wouldn’t have come unless you needed me. And clearly, you do.” Bianca’s flirtatious smile crept in, as she leaned toward me.

“Seriously, Molly? You invited her?” I couldn’t believe the betrayal I felt.

I shielded Bianca and tethered my thoughts to Molly.
You knew how I felt about bringing her in. You knew I had this under control, and yet, you called Bianca in?

She hung her head in silence.

Bianca realized we were in conversation that excluded her. She tilted her head at me, and then finally spoke. “Would the two of you like some privacy?”

“Yes,” I answered before Molly ever looked up.

Tears already formed in Molly’s eyes when Bianca slipped into the portal and out of the room.

“I had to. You don’t understand. You don’t realize what Victor is capable of.”

“Molly, I appreciate that. I appreciate your concern and your care. But I don’t appreciate you going behind my back and arranging a new partner for me when I’ve told you how I felt.” I stared at her. I couldn’t’ recall ever being this angry—as a human or an immortal.

“Bianca comes highly recommended, Benjamin. Pete thought she would be a good fit.”

“Right, a good fit. You know how she is. You’ve seen her with humans. She has no regard for them. She has no respect for others, including you,” I said louder than even I expected. I paced the length of the room and then returned to where she stood, solemn and weak. “And, frankly, Molly, I don’t have time to babysit her, look for Victor and the hybrids, and try to have some relationship with Emma. Maybe you need her, but I don’t.”

I stormed out of the house without giving her a chance to reply.

***

I shouldn’t have, but I went to Drew’s party. It was what was expected of me and with my time so limited, juggling between all of my responsibilities, I had to. When I got there, the party was in full swing.

Emma had a drink in her hand, as she talked with Hannah and Claire. The girls looked pretty comfortable, sitting cross-legged on the couch. Eavesdropping on their conversation, I knew they weren’t talking about anything that mattered. Not to me, anyway.

I took a shot of vodka when Trent passed it to me, and a second one before handing it to Lucas. To my surprise, Lucas shook his head and waved his hand to pass. TJ mumbled something under his breath about Emma that no one heard, but I was able to hear his thoughts. Lucas was trying to impress her, I learned.

Great. I didn’t need that today, too. I chugged the equivalent of another two shots and gave the bottle to TJ.

Claire buzzed into my thoughts.
She’s not that into Lucas.

Not into him, or not
that
into him?
I retorted.
Ah, never mind.

Umm… so where’s Molly and who was she with at the game?

Bianca,
I answered.
She’s with Bianca. I’m sure they’ll make a grand entrance sooner or later.
The words barely came to mind when they strolled in, looking more like porn stars than high school students. Guys gawked at them. Their thoughts were louder than the girls’ giggles.

Molly and Bianca mingled, while Stephanie loitered near me and Drew played bartender.

When Emma finished her beer, Lucas brought her another. After a shot and another drink, my blood pressure rose. What was Emma doing?

I beelined toward her. I couldn’t help myself.

“Emma, you’ve had enough,” I said.

Benjamin, settle down.
Molly’s thoughts pushed through my barrier.

“Hey, man,” Lucas interrupted. “Just one more.” He stood eye to eye with me.

“I think she’s had enough.”

Benjamin, stop. You’re making a scene.

“I think she can make up her own mind,” Lucas retorted. His piercing eyes were a weak attempt at intimidation.

Don’t do this, Benjamin.

“And I think she’s had enough.” I stood my ground, fists clenched by my side.

Lucas raised his hands to my chest to push me, as Emma yelled, “Stop it!” She stepped in between us, placing her left hand on my chest, and her right on his. With her touch, I was able to download her feelings, the pain my behavior caused her and the disappointment she suddenly felt in me. She said she was fine and wanted another drink. Looking me in the eyes, she told me it was none of my business.

It was then I realized I went too far.