NEWBORN: Book One of the Newborn Trilogy

NEWBORN
Book 1 of NEWBORN TRILOGY
Copyright 2014 Shayn Bloom. All rights reserved.
For more information about the author and series:
shaynbloom.blogspot.com
Edited and formatted by Kye Fehrenbach.
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TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Chapter
One
Chapter
Two
Chapter
Three
Chapter
Four
Chapter
Five
Chapter
Six
Chapter
Seven
Chapter
Eight
Chapter
Nine
Chapter
Ten
Chapter
Eleven
Chapter
Twelve
Chapter
Thirteen
Preview of AWAY WITH
ME

I’m going to
college.

To move into my new home.

A dorm room.

I’m in the back seat of Dad’s Chevy
Silverado. Mom and Dad are in the front seats and not speaking. In
my finite wisdom, I attempted to have one parent move me in. But in
the end I couldn’t decide which and both of them wanted to be the
last to see me off to college. Off into the wondrous independent
world of adulthood.

My parents are divorced. That fact is not
helping the awkward feeling filling the car. They first separated
two years ago, when I was sixteen and still in high school, and the
divorce came through a year later. Until they separated I’d never
heard Mom say the word ‘Eugene.’ It’d been ‘Gene’ for nineteen
years. Such is the bitterness of divorce. Well, bittersweetness for
Mom. Bitterness for me. And Dad.

My name is Nora Saynt-Rae. I’m going to
Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington to study English.
Why study a subject with no employment potential, you ask? Because
I love writing. It’s the only thing I feel I’m effortlessly good
at. Everything else in my life has been an acquired skill.

“How many students go to Evergreen?” Mom asks
for the hundredth time.

I avert my eyes from the window. “Five
thousand.”

Dad snorts from behind the wheel. “That all?
Know how many UW had when I went? Forty thousand.”

“I think a smaller school is a better
school,” Mom remarks, her retort just short of a snap. “Small class
sizes mean more interaction with your professors, Nora Saynt. That
kind of thing can really help your grades along. The profs will
learn your name and see you as a real person rather than just a
number.”

“Exactly,” Dad growls back. “Your professors
know
you, so if you’re not a favorite they’ll fuck you over
when it’s time for recommendation letters. They’ll remember
everything – the good and the bad. Best keep it generic and get
good grades. That’s the way to go about it, Nora Rae.”

I roll my eyes to the Silverado’s ceiling. I
know my parents too well to take either of their advice seriously.
Neither is really trying to give advice. They’re in rivalry mode,
rivalry to be the best – and right – parent. The heat of their
competition is almost odorous. Sighing, I gaze out my window.

“Are we nearly there?” I ask.

“Crossing into Olympia now,” Mom replies
quickly. She’s the first to answer, and she’s unable to keep the
smile from her lips after this tiny victory. “Oh, I’m going to miss
you so much my little saint!”

Staring out my window, I see the lush green
of passing meadows and waterways. Soon I will be on my own – away
from my parents and all of their problems. I will be free like a
bird flying south in winter or a kite catching the wind in summer.
Free like a newborn whose eyes reflect the gift of all seasons.

“I know,” I reply, so softly I’m not sure she
can hear. “I’m going to miss you, too.”

Twenty minutes later we’re on campus. The
buzz of excitement in the air is palpable as students and parents
surround us everywhere, moving in. Cars and trucks are parked
haphazardly here and there, wherever they can get closest to the
scattered array of dorm buildings.

Parking in an uncomfortably crowded lot, Dad
gets out and opens my door for me. I hop down and glance in relief
at the truck’s bed, where everything has managed to stay in one
piece during our drive. I’d been worried – anxious, even. I needn’t
have bothered. Dad has it under control. Maybe I’m anxious about
other things.

“I’ll go get your room key and sign you in,”
Dad says gruffly. “You two can… wait here.” His tone reveals in no
uncertain terms his knowledge of what he’s missing. Mom and I being
totally pathetic together. Dad departs, and no sooner do I sigh and
turn to look at Mom than I see the tears glistening in her
eyes.

“My girl’s off to college,” she says. “All
grown –”

But the tears are interrupting her now, large
fat drops that drench her face even as she smiles through them.
Gasping back a sob, she throws her arms around me. Winded, I hug
her back hard, my own agony at our parting just short of tears. I
hope she knows I’ll miss her. Like really knows.

“I’m going to miss you too, Mom,” I murmur
into her perfume.

She nods on my shoulder. “I know you
will.”

Dad returns suddenly. “Building C, Nora.”

“Yes,” I reply, breaking from Mom. “That’s
me.”

Mom sniffs and wipes her eyes. I see Dad’s as
he finishes rolling them. “It’ll be easier if we drive closer to
the dorm. So hop in ladies – I know where it is. You’re not quite
free of us yet, Nora Rae.”

* * *

My room is on the third floor of dorm
building C. I’m not the first to move in. My roommate, whoever she
is, has already deposited a veritable litany of crates and boxes
and is currently nowhere to be found. I keep hoping she’ll be nice.
Friendly, at least. I could use a friend here.

Mom is making my bed. Dad is sitting at my
desk and making sure my computer is hooked up to the internet after
having finished with the cable TV. I managed to plug in my mini
fridge on my own. My bed made, I sit down on it beside my mother. I
can tell I’m in for a few rough nights – this bed is nowhere near
as comfortable as my bed at home.

A sharp pain throws itself on my gut.
Stabbed, I grab my stomach and wince. “Ouch!”

“What?” Mom asks, gazing worriedly into my
eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“N – nothing!” I gasp hurriedly, letting go
of myself. “I just felt like I was going to be sick. I don’t know
what it is.”

“Nerves,” Dad answers knowingly. “Not
uncommon when moving to a new place. You may have had a small
anxiety attack.”

I gape at him. “Really?”

Dad’s a contractor specializing in kitchens
and bathrooms, so his knowledge of these matters is beyond doubt.
Actually, I think he’s right. Over the last couple weeks I’ve been
experiencing similar pains. The timing would make it seem like it’s
related to my moving to college.

I’ve been looking forward to college for
years, ever since I was a junior in high school and I realized
there’s a land beyond those double doors that led to the entirety
of my mid teens. The last eight months has been a time of immense
excitement for me. Odd that I’m getting panic attacks.

“We’d better hit the road, Cindy,” Dad says,
turning in my desk chair. “I’ve got a thing tonight – need to be
home by six o’clock. Internet’s all fixed up and all. Anything else
you need, Nora?”

I shake my head from the bed. “No thanks,
Dad. You and Mom have done plenty for me already – now
and
over the last eighteen years. You can let me be now, I’ll be
alright. Just take care of yourselves.”

I look around impressively. Embarrassing
though it is to admit, I’m looking for proud praise after this
announcement. None comes. Mom and Dad are staring at each other,
and Mom’s eyes flash dangerously. Did they even hear me? “A
thing
, Eugene?” Mom says aloud, “What kind of
thing
?”

Dad blinks, his face becoming guarded. “It’s
nothing, Cindy.”

“Good,” Mom replies sharply. “Because I’m not
going to see my daughter until Thanksgiving! If I want to stay a
little longer we’ll be staying a little longer! Whatever your
‘thing’ is, Eugene, it can wait!”

Oh shit.

This always happens when they’re together.
First, they pamper me and whoever does it the most wins. Mom always
wins this round. Second, they give me advice of some sort. Dad
usually wins this round. Third, they interact with me and whoever
suggests our meeting end first loses. This third round is the toss
up round, so whoever wins this round wins the day.

Despite Dad giving the game away, Mom is
pissed. Legitimately, it seems. “Cindy,” Dad says tiredly. “It’s
been a long day. We got up early and it’s a long drive back to
Baring. Let’s call it a day.”

Fire is coursing through Mom’s nostrils. “You
would! You would call it a day! Today is one of the biggest days in
our daughter’s life and you would have it end faster! Or else run
off to do whatever it is you want to do. I’m sure it’s nothing
important! Whereas this –
this
is important, Eugene!”

Okay – reality check. First of all, yes –
Mom’s probably right and whatever Dad’s going off to do isn’t all
that important compared to what today means for me. Second of all,
the truth is that in my mind they can’t leave fast enough. The
internet’s working, the TV’s plugged in, and the fridge still
works. So they can leave. Secretly, I’m rooting for Dad to win. I
want them to leave ASAP.

“The sooner we leave the sooner Nora can
start making friends,” Dad says, gesturing to the crates in the
room not belonging to me. “Her roommate is going to be back any
minute. Wouldn’t it be better if we weren’t here for that? They
could get off to a good start without embarrassing parent
introductions.”

I raise my eyebrows. Dad gets it. He’s being
uncharacteristically sensitive to the intricacies of making new
relationships. Yes – Dad’s the one who’s really understanding how
important today is for me. What it means. He understands the best
thing they can do for me right now is fuck off.

Mom stands up. “Why are you making me leave
my daughter?”

“What?” Dad looks flustered. “I’m not!”

“Yes you are!” Mom announces furiously, and
I’m stunned to see tears welling in her eyes again. “I know what
you’re doing, Eugene! You’re trying to sabotage my relationship
with Nora on the last day I’ll see her in three months!”

Holy bejesus fuck.

“Cindy!” Dad says, standing too, his voice
hollow with shock. “No! That’s not true. Not true at all. How could
you thin –?”

“Just tell me,” Mom interrupts, “What is it
you have to be home for?
What
, Eugene?”

Dad flaps his arms helplessly and averts his
eyes. “Fine, fine!” he says. “I have a date tonight. A date, Cindy!
Happy now?”

“You?” Mom can’t finish the sentence.
Collapsing to the bed, she puts her hands over her face to hide her
tears.

I’m staring at them in shock. What the fuck
is happening? I thought today was going to be about me. Why is this
coming up all of a sudden? Why now? Dad seems to be wondering the
same thing.

“Cindy,” he murmurs, sitting on the bed
beside her. “What’s all this about? It’s been two years already…”
I’m gaping, unabashed. Dad notices. “Nora, why don’t you go for a
walk around campus?” He isn’t suggesting this. It’s a demand, and
I’m not dumb enough to ignore it. “Have your key?”

Pulling my new lanyard out of my pocket, I
dangle the key in front of him. I’m not sure I can summon words
right now. “Keep it safe,” Dad says, squeezing Mom’s shoulder as he
does. “We’ll be gone when you get back. Have a fun evening tonight
and a good first day tomorrow. I’ll call tomorrow night.”

I’m dismissed. I make as though to try and
hug him, but he shakes his head. He’s practically holding Mom now
as she sobs into his shoulder. I walk to the door. “Bye Mom,” I say
unwisely, and open the door.

Just before I close the door behind me I hear
Dad’s voice, softer, quieter: “When
I
turned forty it took a
few days before I had my head back on straight…” The door closes
and I’m alone in the hallway.

Holy fucking shitballs.

I almost want to laugh. Or cry. I can’t
decide. So many emotions are coursing through me right now. I can
understand how Mom is feeling. Between my going off to college and
Dad apparently dating again for the first time since the divorce, I
can see why she’s messed up. She did turn forty on Saturday.