Fever (18 page)

School had gone well as usual, tests and exams had been passed with flying colors and the birds chip and chirp, whistling a merry tune. Like every day in Arcadia.

As we approached Nellie’s Diner, I caught a glimpse of myself in a store window and was pleased with my appearance. My long blonde hair cascaded down my back, freshly brushed and tidy. The lustrous locks with a hint of lavender in them fluttered in the breeze in a way that always made Liam smile, and it all added a bounce to my step. I hardly fuss about my appearance, except to look presentable.

That morning I’d chosen to wear my pale green smock dress, the one that he always complimented me on.

“That dress sure does make those hazel eyes of yours pop,” he’d always say.

I blushed. Always told I was a pretty girl, I never really believed it until Liam and I began dating in high school. At his side I felt beautiful. Was it his striking features that enhanced my sense of beauty or was it simply the look of adoration I saw in his eyes every time he looked at me that made me feel so beautiful? My mother, a single parent, once told me the most important thing about a man was the way he made yowayibru feel. Although there were other suitors besides Liam, he was the one who most made me feel good about myself.

“How’d you do on your math test?” he asked.

Though I’d always managed to get good grades, I never failed to get nervous and edgy when test time came around. “I think it went well,” I said, smiling at him and adoring him all the more for the concern he always showed for me.

“I think I pretty much aced that History exam this morning,” he said with pride.

He was so handsome, his fair curls so angelic. It never failed to amaze me how sweet, kind and generous he could be. A guy as handsome as Liam could easily break a thousand hearts, yet he was thoughtful and considerate in the way he treated every woman he met, and he was particularly attentive, loving and caring with me.

“Maybe my Life’s Plan should have been to become a history professor,” he added as he opened the door to the diner, his bright blue eyes twinkling with laughter and amusement.

I shared his hope and promise, and questioned what my own Life’s Plan would be. With my 18th birthday quickly approaching, I would know all too soon. It was as though I had been waiting all my life to find out what my Life Plan would be. All of us under the age of 18 waited with anxiety and anticipation to find out what our Life’s Plan held: our profession, who we would marry, where we would live, and how many children we would have. It would all be written in our Life’s Plan.

“Kama! Liam,” Sarah called from across the crowded diner. With her medium-length brown hair held back by a headband that matched her tangerine orange dress, she was easy to spot. “Hey, you love birds, over here.”

We’d been voted the best-looking couple in school for two years, and some even said we were the most attractive couple in town. I couldn’t count the number of eyes that watched us as we made our way to our table. I was used to standing out, having a natural tint of violet in my hair that came out when the sun highlighted it. It was the kind of color that salons had to mix a variety of colors to achieve. No one else in Arcadia, except for my mother had this, which made me stand out even more, right from childhood when I used to worry about looking different from everyone else. I used to cry about it when I was a little girl, why my hair was naturally different, and why people would stare so much. My mother would tell me that being different was good, and it was a good thing that I stood out.

As I grew older and less gawky, growing tall and slender with feminine curves, I began to enjoy being different, often taking the time to try out new styles. My mother said my newest style best suited me – long hair with bangs. Some of my classmates hinted at the added degree of elegant glamour my recently fashioned bangs gave me. Others said it flattered my porcelain skin. I could only smile and nod. The attention we received was short of celebrities in a cozy state like Arcadia, and while I hadnd rs, an always felt eyes on me, I’ve felt more scrutinized than ever before. After all, Liam was the son of the most important person here – the Founder and Governor of Arcadia, and Liam would one day become Governor, too.

It was all flattering, but it was also incredibly embarrassing. I felt watched all the time. Added to this was the expectation that Liam and I would soon marry. The thought both pleased and pressured me. I’d known Liam since I could remember, but the pressure to marry was sometimes difficult to swallow. Mother was around my age when she had me, but I still felt young and like a child. Was I mature enough, ready enough to get married and have a child within the next year or so? If my Life’s Plan was to get married after graduation, then I wanted to do this on my own terms, not by everyone’s expectations.

“After you.” Liam gestured to the booth.

“Have you been waiting long?” I asked Sarah as I slid in.

“Just long enough to down one of these.” She held up a tall, long glass of cherry soda then turned to Liam. “You know, I was thinking, next week we could do the party down by the lake. It’s gorgeous there.”

“I’m famished. Have you ordered yet?”

“Two mini burgers with coleslaw and a mammoth burger with fries for Liam.”

“Thanks,” Liam said, obviously anticipating the great meal to come.

“So, what do you think?” Sarah asked him.

“I had thought about that, too. Streamers on the trees, flowers everywhere, and maybe even a live band? Or we could do something elegant and classy at my place. The grounds are beautiful this time of year with everything in bloom.”

“I think she would really love that.”

“I just love how you guys go about planning my birthday party as if I wasn’t even there.”

“It’s as close to a surprise party as we can get. You always guess what we’re up to anyway.” Sarah pointed her straw at me for emphasis.

“But the night of my birthday is the same as the Arcades last game of the season.”

“That’s if they make it to the finals.” Liam seemed unconcerned with the turn out of the evening.

“They always make it,” Sarah added.

“Evealice. Thn if they do, everybody’s going to want to come celebrate Kama’s birthday.”

It was just like Liam to be so optimistic. I suddenly thought of the secret wedding plans I had conjured up for us. As annoying as the pressure to marry could sometimes be, the thought that marrying Liam might not be in my Life’s Plan often scared me to death.

“That’s pushing it a bit, don’t you think?” I knew I was popular at school, but for the student body to skip the Arcades’ victory party for my 18th birthday was not likely to happen. Although I was well-liked, I was also from the Amethyst District, a middle-class neighborhood in Arcadia, and not in league with the most popular kids in school like Liam and Sarah.

“Look,” Sarah said with finality. “The game is at two, will probably end before five, everyone will celebrate ‘til seven and then they can all slide on over to our party for eight. Voila. It’s all settled and everyone is happy.”

My thoughts were drifting away from Sarah and the conversation. I tried to concentrate on what she was saying, but at that moment, I felt every sense in my body awaken to something I’d never felt before. It was electric, almost painful. A burning sensation that made my whole body tingled and buzz with intensity. Was this what closing in on my 18th birthday felt like?

No, it was more than just that. I stared out the window, looking for the source of my sudden distraction. The feeling intensified until the conversation between Sarah and Liam was completely blotted out and all that existed was that strong sensation as though I was being watched.

“Kama, did you hear what I said?”

I pulled my gaze away with difficulty and concentrated on Sarah who wove a lilac colored sheet of paper at me

I knew what it meant and instantly felt that jolt of envy. Having turned 18 a few weeks back, she’d finally received her Life’s Plan.

“I finally got word from the Committee. Can you believe it? I hold in my hand my Life’s Plan.”

“And you managed to hold that bit of information back this long?” I said, teasing her.

“I love you and want this birthday to be special for you, but now that everything is practically settled, we can talk about
moi
.”

“So, what does the future hold for
toi
?” I teased right back.

Before she could answer, the waitress arrived with our order.

“Everything looks delicious aks ved ws usual. Thank you,” Sarah said with a quick, polite but dismissive smile. She was eager to tell us about her Life’s Plan, and it showed.

Beaming with pride, she pulled out her electronic pad, inserted the small chip she’d received from the Committee and turned the screen to Liam and me.

Ignoring the plate of hot food before me, I read through the introduction, though I basically knew it all. She came from the affluent Diamond Suburbs, was the only child to Mick and Fay Murray who both happened to work on the very Committee she’d just received notice from.

“Okay, so you guys already know that part,” Sarah said as she guided the page further down. “Here’s the interesting part.”

I smiled as I envisioned the life that had been plotted out for her. She was to attend Arcadia University where she would meet her future husband in the Elite Society. Both would go on to work for the Committee and live in the Diamond Suburb.

“Oh, Sarah. I’m so excited for you.” I finally picked up my little burger and sank my teeth into it.

“I knew you’d be. This is exactly what I wanted.  Exactly what I was hoping for.”

“Do you know how lucky you are to receive a Life’s Plan that is just as you wanted it?”

“I know. I never would have thought.”

I turned to Liam who’d sat silently through the exchange, his burger almost half gone. A wistful smile warmed his face as he looked at me. That look of love that came so often still warmed me just as much as it did on our very first date. He slid his hand around my waist and pulled me closer and I knew where his mind had wandered to; his own Life’s Plan. 

He was set to marry a girl he’d known all his life. It could hardly be anyone else but me. Everyone agreed we were the perfect match. He would someday take his father’s place as Governor of Arcadia, but would start at the Committee. He, too, was slated to live in the luxurious suburb of Diamond.

How many times had he told me his Life’s Plan had to include me? Countless. And every time he did, my heart raced a little faster. Life would indeed be perfect; a beautiful home in an exclusive neighborhood, a loving and gorgeous husband, and my best friend living nearby. What more could I hope for?

I couldn’t resist leaning into him to snuggle. He wrapped his arms around me, kissed my forehead and chuckled in that soft way he had when he knew I was feeling amorous.

“Cool it, you guys,” Sarah snapped. “I’m still here, in case you hadn’t noticed. Besides, this Belled me c is my Life’s Plan we’re happy about, remember? You’ll have your chance in a few weeks, Kama.”

Yes, I wanted to scream. And I hoped I wouldn’t have to wait long. While some people waited weeks, as Sarah had, many received their Life’s Plan within days of their 18th. No doubt mine would greatly resemble Sarah’s and Liam’s. We were basically cut from the same cloth, even if our childhoods were slightly different, but our destinies were bound to include one another.

The sensation returned again, drawing my attention away from the table and pulling me out of the diner like a magnet. I looked out the window, looking for the source of my distraction.

Across the street, simply standing there, tall, dark and strangely out of place, was a young man of such intensity, the hair on my arms rose. He was like no other man I’d ever seen, confident, sure and so attractive in his gloom. He was dressed like no one else in Arcadia, and his hair was longer, blowing wildly around his face.

While blue denim jeans were occasionally seen here and there, most young men of Arcadia wore stylish elegant slacks. But this intruder dared to wear not only jeans, but black jeans that seemed to have seen their share of battle. Instead of a shirt, he wore a dark leather tunic, bared at the chest that added to his mystique and aura of danger.

I was drawn to him in a way I’d never thought possible. It was magnetic. I felt my heart quicken and my pulse race. He was like a warrior straight out of those romantic fantasy novels I’d heard about. Extremely handsome, a bit exotic with his tan skin and jet-black hair. But his sapphire eyes held mine in a gaze that spoke lifetimes.

Kama, the desired one.

My fork stopped midway to my mouth. I froze as the strange and darkly mesmerizing voice entered my mind. I glanced at Sarah. Happily chomping on her burger, she had not heard a thing.

Glancing sidelong at Liam, I could see he had not heard anything either.

I have found you, yet again…

Where was that voice coming from? I looked around and back to look at the mysterious stranger’s face.

Him.

I forced the rest of my forkful of food into my mouth before the others noticed my sudden odd behavior, but I almost choked on it. When I finally managed to swallow it down, I turned to Liam.

“I think I just saw Tula across the street,” I said as I laid down my fork and prepared to rise. “I owe her two dollars, so I’ll run out to give it back to her.”

He stood, and while he looked completely perplexed by my sudden need to leave the diner, he said nothing.

I hurried out and headed in the direction of the mysterious man with raven hair. Breathless before I even began to run across the street, I felt an urgent need to meet this man. But I could see before hitting the curb that he’d already disappeared.

My disappointment surprised me, as if I’d missed something important, something that could change my life. My heart felt heavy as I looked up and down the street. There was not even a trace of him until I arrived at the very spot I had seen him. Did I imagine him?

A perfect deep purple orchid laid on the ground where he had stood. It had to come from him. No orchid of such color grew in Arcadia. It was the only proof I was not completely going nuts. He had been here. I had seen him. I had felt his presence. This mysterious man with the burning blue eyes was here and knew my name. Who was he?