Gravity (29 page)

"What is going on? Alex, what are you doing?"
She pulls my arm. A light sensation runs through me and places a
reassuring feeling to my heart. Gabriel comes to her side. Her hand
slips away taking the sensation with her as I let Dash go. The
impression must have been a leftover from being with Gabriel. It
wasn't meant for me.

Dash gets to his feet, wiping his bloody
nose. I walk away before I reveals too much of how I feel on my
face. It's too much for me to handle. Violet catches up to me. I
turning my head away from her direction, I don't want her to see me
this angry.

"Alex, talk to me? What was that about?"

I pick up the pace. "Nothing." I search
around for anything, but her face to look at.

"Alex, stop! Talk to me." I stop, but I can't
look at her. But I fail when her pretty face moves into my view.
"Alex, tell me."

I shake his head. I can feel the pressure
around my eyes. "It's all bullshit! How can you let him take
advantage like that? It's obvious he has a stalker-crush on you.
He's sadistic, Vi."

"Alex, he's not sadistic. He's adjusting
that's all."

"And you’re going to forgive him? After what
I saw in his sick head?"

"Gabriel's not sick in the head, if he is
then so am. Have you forgotten we have the same ability? He's
stronger, had a hard life, but he has someone to talk to about it.
I understand."

"You're nothing like him. Your thoughts
aren't evil."

"He's not evil, Alex. How could you say
that?" She takes a step away from me like I disgust her.

I shake his head. "I'm not the one you should
be disgusted in. I'm trying to protect you. The way you look at him
because he looks like Red. I can see you compare the two. I can't
stand it. He's not Red, Violet."

Her mouth drops and her arms wraps around
herself.

"Vi, tell me I'm wrong. He's using that to
his advantage."

She shakes her head and looks down at the
ground. She’s ashamed.

“I know you like that he looks like Red just
like I remind you of Grey. Call me jealous because I am. But I
can’t let you be with that beast over there.”

She looks back at Gabriel and then Dash. Her
tearing eyes look back at me.

"I didn't mean to—"

I suddenly regret everything I just said.
This is the same as the journal; the same as Red and Grey fighting.
I'm making her feel guilty again.

“Violet? I—" I reach for her, but she resists
me. “I didn’t mean—"

"I’m so sorry.” Her fingers grip her arms
like she's trying to hold it all inside.

"Vi—"

She runs to the cabin thinking she could
never be friends with any of us.

My hands want nothing more than to hold her.
My feet want to run after her. But I'm stuck in place, thinking she
needs be as far away from me because I made her remember everything
that happens is her fault.

Dash

"You wanted to see me?" I stand awkwardly in
the doorway. I can't count the times I've been in Red's room, but
for some reason Violet's presence changes the atmosphere.

She wipes her wet face with the back of her
hand. "Yes. Come in." Her voice tries to sound steady. I take a
step into the room but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to sit on the
bed or at the desk. Something tells me this conversation will be
brief, in which case I stand with my hands in my pockets. Violet
sits on the edge of the bed, grabbing a tissue for her red
eyes.

"I think we need to hurry." She doesn't look
up from her tissue. "Have you found anything?"

She folds the tissue into a square on her
lap. I'm afraid to tell her I've found nothing relating to where
Red may have gone. Even Grey's leave, comes up empty.

"No." The word comes out in barely a
whisper.

Her tears fall again. Her hand trembles. "I
thought if anything, it would start with you... that you'd find
something. All this time we had. I feel like I wasn't doing what I
was supposed to do. I don't even I know what that even is. I left
you to your own devices. I figured something would happen."

"Maybe there's a way to contact him
again."

"No." She crumples her tissue. "I used to
feel his presence in my dreams, but now there's nothing. Something
is wrong." She looks up at me. Her helpless face is proof of my
slacking. I've wasted time.

"Violet, I'll look again. There's got to be
something I missed."

"I don't know what else to do." She
continues. "I don't know. I just don't know. I've let you all get
so close... I must have done something wrong—"

"No, Violet. You haven't done anything
wrong." I cautiously step forward.

"I've done it again. I've ruined
everything... you're friendships... you were fighting. This can't
happen. We have to find Red and this will be all over."

Over? This? I can't fathom a day without
coming to my new favorite place. To go back to my old life would be
such a nightmare. I won't be needed. My Goddess won't need me. My
chest hurts just thinking about such a loss.

I relieve my hands from my pockets and kneel
before her. "Violet, please don't say that."

"We're wasting time. Maybe it's me. I'm
wasting..."

"Violet." I place my hand on hers. A light
vibration is ripped away when she shoves me.

"Don't touch me!"

I fall back to the floor.

Violet covers her mouth. "I'm sorry." She
gets up.

I rub where she pushed me. The delightful
sensation spreads across my chest. An accidental smile forms on my
lips.

"Oh, my God. You should leave." She rushes to
the door.

"Violet, it's okay." I erase my smile and
rise to my feet. "It's fine."

"No, it's not. I've touched you. Please,
leave," she cries holding the door open.

"Violet—"

"Get out!" She sobs.

I do as I'm told. The door behind me shuts
accompanied by a cool breeze to my back. My fingers are still
vibrating. I close my eyes and feel it slowly fade. My heart sinks
and my breathing picks up, beating like I've run a marathon. My
hands begin to shake as the anxiety inflates.

I failed her. She must... hate me.

I make it to the door leading outside. The
knob rattles and the door swings open. I stumble out of the cabin.
The wood porch planks vibrate beneath my feet. I want to run away,
but where? I sob and collapse to my knees. The subtle rocking
motion slows the wood clacking and doorknob seizes it's
rattling.

Violet hates me.

Dash

Sitting on
th
e edge of the forest I gaze
at the great wonder that Red created; the Black forest, the lake,
the gate and the cabin in one breathtaking view. There's so much
more to I want to explore. There are more journals to read. I want
more time with Violet. This new life in the Sanctuary will end
sooner than later. According to Red's journals, I'm not of age to
stay. I still have school and a family that
cares
for me. No more deciphering the hidden secrets of Red's cabin
and no time to explore the peculiar forests surrounding it. Violet
will be with Red and that's the end. It seems I'm too young for
everything—especially Violet.

Th
e conversation with her
was quick and straight to the point—we need to hurry. The friendly
aura she gave off is now locked away; reserved only for Red. I saw
in her eyes she was purposely putting distance between us. I wish I
had spent more time with her. My time with her is next to nothing.
It's consumed with the journals, the Sanctuary and Gabriel. I
neglected the sole reason for my happiness. I didn't sit with her
to talk like Alex and Gabriel had, until now. But it wasn't a good
talk. It felt like it was a 'hurry up and find Red and get out'
conversation; it hurt.

I
failed her; not finding what I needed
to find; what Red wanted me to find. What did I miss?

"Hey." Alex
says
behind me.

"Hey.
Come to finish me off?”

"No. I
wanted to tell you I'm sorry. I'm an
asshole."

“
Yep, you are.
And a douche,”
I grin. I can't
be mad at him.

"Yeah, I
know.
I hope we're still
friends?”

I
look up at Alex like I've never heard
of such a thing.

"Yeah, so still
friends?" Alex looks like he's awkwardly waiting for confirmation
before sitting.

I
nod. Being Alex's official friend is
pretty awesome, even if he did make my nose bleed.

"So what did Vi
want to talk to you about?" Alex settles beside me as the slight
high of being his friend simmers down.

"Red. She wants us to
hurry."

“
I get
that.
She needs us to leave so
she won't feel she’s hurting anyone. I’m such an idiot.”

"I
know.”

Alex nudges
me.

“
I'm going to
look over at a few more things before I leave today. We can't keep
wandering away from what she asked us to do for her."

"W
hen you're done, stop
at my place. I'm having a party... maybe forget about this for a
while. You should come."

"Seriously?"
The last party I went to was my baby sister’s sixth birthday party.
Most of the time there were four year-olds running around the house
smearing cake on everything. Somehow strawberry icing made it into
my hair.

"It won't be
like that." Alex chuckles. "Well maybe, if you like seventeen
year-old girls doing the smearing." He bites his lip. "They'll be
music, beer... other girls. You gotta come."

I
smile at all three.

"Come on you
need a break from this place
... from Violet."

“
I could never
need a break from her,” I confess.

“
I do.
She’
s messing up my head
pretty bad.”

I
want to go but my confidence is low.
I wouldn't know anyone there. I thought of Gabriel. If Gabriel
goes, it would be a big help. I peer up at Alex baring the guilty
thought in mind.

"No way. It'll
end up making the party into a homo-erotic orgy. Besides you can
make friends. You know, talk to people."

"You want him
around Violet…
alone?" My brow
lifts.

Alex purses his
lips and his eyes narrow. "Fine. But tell him to keep it in his
pants."

I
try to contain my excitement. A
party—being friends with Alex is awesome.

"Keep the gay
down to a minimum." He adds.

***

Dash

"Are you
sure about this? I thought he hated
me."

"He doesn't
hate you and yeah, I'm sure you'll be fine." I grin thinking about
the last time Gabriel asked about how sure I was. We were in Red's
room and he was handcuffed to the terrace. "You make me feel
comfortable."

"I make you
feel comfortable?" Gabriel purses his smile. “You really are
weird.”

"Yeah,
I don't really have friends." I
shrug. "We kind of have
that
in
common."

He
smiles awkwardly. "My social skills
suck." He frowns as the music from the party is reaching his
ears.

"Another thing
we have in common."

We
walk quietly while I think about
Violet and what she told me. With so much on my mind an hour or two
won't hurt to stop thinking about what will happen after we find
Red, that is,
if we find
Red.
I sigh.

"This house is
huge." Gabriel gapes blowing my thought away.

"Every house on
this block is huge."

Gabriel rubs
his arm like he's cold. I bet he wishes he had his hoodie.
H
e’s having second
thoughts.

"You're okay.
You've got yourself pretty contained. As l
ong as no one touches your skin, you're
alright."

"What if I'm
set off?" The light from the street lamp makes one of his green
eyes glow.

"You'll be
fine. I doubt anyone here comes close in comparison to Violet.
Besides, I'm not leaving your side."

Gabriel
swallows staring up at the house. The music is loud and all of the
lights are on. People are moving in and out with drinks in their
hands. I almost feel bad that I dragged him here for my own
comfort—almost. He's a beautiful distraction. I slowly drag my hand
down his back and lightly press him to move with me to the house.
I'm glad he's used to me touching him. I don't think I could ever
stop.

"D-Man." Alex
greets
us immediately at the
front door, bombarding me with a drunken hug. Gabriel backs away
before Alex brushes against him accidentally. I grab his shirt
before Gabriel steps too far away for comfort.

“
I’m psyched
you came.” I get a whiff of his beer breath as Alex places his arm
around me. He waves as if he were presenting the party to me. "Yo,
Jake. Pete!" Alex shouts over the music. Two guys Alex's age and
just as tall come over.

"D-man, this Jake and Pete, my besties." Alex
tugs his arm around my neck affectionately. "Jake, Pete this is
Dash. He's wicked smart and shit, so watch-it. And that's Gabriel."
He points without looking at him. Jake and Pete nod, raising their
drinks.