Shift (The Neturu Chronicles) (7 page)

               
Chuckling, Jackson states, “If I stop being mean, then you aren’t kept on your
toes.  Anyway, I’m way too charming to resist if I don’t come across as an
ass.”

               
“I think I can resist.”

               
“I would prove you wrong, but that didn’t work out very well last time,”
Jackson says under his breath.

               
Kayla snorts.  “No, the problem was that it got us
too
far.”

               
“Mmm, well, you better get home.”

               
“I have to take this book to Tracy, and then I will,” Kayla says, as she
unlocks her car.  “Thanks for helping me.”

               
Jackson smirks, “Do you need a ride in the morning?”

               
Kayla rolls her eyes and grimaces. “Yeah, kind of.  My dad is a little
embarrassing when he takes me in.”

               
“All right, I’ll pick you up at seven thirty, and I’ll bring brownies.”

               
“What is with you and those things?” Kayla says with a laugh.

               
A smile spreads across Jackson’s face.  “They’re good for us.  You
should eat them more often.”

               
“You and my parents are crazy.  All right, I’ll see you in the morning.”

               
“Try to stay out of harm’s way until then, okay?”

               
Laughing, Kayla replies, “I’ll try.”  She gets in the car, and Jackson
shuts her door.  She looks at him and smiles through the window.  He
gives her an almost thoughtful look back.  As she starts the engine,
Jackson turns and walks away.  It’s then that Kayla notices his car isn’t
in the parking lot, but before she can question him, he disappears.  “What
in the…”  Kayla turns around and looks for him in the shadows, but he’s
nowhere to be seen. She shakes her head, thinking there has to be a reasonable
explanation, and drives away.

               
The next morning she wakes up and groans.  Once again she feels
exhausted.  Throwing back her covers, Kayla looks down.  “MOM!” she
yells.  “Holy…Mom!”

               
Her mom bursts into the room, her eyes frantically searching for the
danger.  “What?  What’s wrong?”

               
“What do you mean, what’s wrong?
”
Kayla shouts, gesturing to her body.  
“
Look at my legs.  Now tell me I’m not sleepwalking.”

               
“Ummm,” is all that her mom responds with.  She stares down at Kayla’s
mud-covered legs. 

               
“I have cuts, Mom!  Cuts on my legs,” Kayla exclaims. 
“
I’m getting hurt now!”

               
Her dad stumbles into the room.  “What’s going on?”

               
“Dad, look at me!  I’m covered in
mud
.  Do you still seriously
think I’m making this up?”

               
Her dad crosses his arms, and his voice remains calm.  “I told you I did
this when I was your age.  It passes.  What do you want us to do, put
an alarm on your door or install surveillance cameras?”

               
“No, but I’m wandering around outside.  What if I fall off a cliff?”

               
“Kayla, my dear,” her dad starts. “What cliff could you possibly fall off of
around here?”

               
Kayla moans. “Fine, a bridge then.  I
’
m going to walk clear across town, jump off the Jefferson
Bridge, and plummet to my death in the icy river.”

               
 “Okay, now you’re being dramatic.” Kayla’s mom sighs.  “We’ll dead
bolt the lock at night, but I don’t think you’re going to get into too much
trouble.”

               
“Whatever,” Kayla exhales.  “I need to take a shower and clean up.” 
Her parents shake their heads and leave the room.  Kayla grumbles as she
strips the sheets off her bed.

               
An hour later, she is standing by the front door waiting for Jackson. 
When he pulls up, Kayla yells, “Bye!  I’m leaving for school!”

               
“Bye, dear,” her mom replies.

               
Kayla groans and walks out the door.  She is absolutely exhausted. 
When she gets to his car, Kayla opens the door and mumbles, “Hey.”

               
“Not even a good morning?” Jackson asks.  “I’m giving you a ride. 
You could at least be polite.”

               
Giving him an evil glare, Kayla mumbles, “It’s not a good morning.”

               
“What happened now?” Jackson asks, pulling away from her
house.         

               
“Nothing.” Kayla sighs as she looks out the window.

               
“Did someone have nightmares?”

               
Slightly annoyed, Kayla says, “No, do you really want to know?”

               
Looking out the corner of his eye, Jackson replies, “I don’t know.  How
personal is it?  Did you have lustful dreams about me?”

               
“Ewww, no. I’ve been sleepwalking, and I don’t mean around the kitchen
sleepwalking.  I mean outside, probably in the woods.  I was covered
in mud when I woke up this morning.”

               
“Um, have you talked to your parents about this?” Jackson asks cautiously.

               
 “Yeah, they kind of blew it off.  My dad said he used to do it, and
I’ll be fine.”

               
“Uh-huh, I don’t get your family.”

               
“What is that supposed to mean?”

               
Jackson looks at her.  “Just that you’d think they would show more
concern.”

               
“My thought exactly, but whatever, parents are dumb. Hopefully, I don’t kill
myself next time.”

               
“I think you’ll be fine.  It will probably pass soon.”

               
“Now you sound like my dad.”

               
He reaches down by Kayla’s feet and brings up another Tupperware
container.  “Eat these; you’ll feel better.  Actually, you should eat
these before you go to bed, or eat a handful of leaves.  They’ll help keep
you asleep.”

               
“How are you so insightful about it?” Kayla asks, opening the container. 
She lifts it up and sniffs the brownies.

               
“They taste fine,” Jackson says with a laugh.

               
Raising an eyebrow, Kayla says, “Yeah, right.”

               
“I dare you to eat one.”

               
She grimaces. “I think I’ll pass.”

               
“Double-dog dare you.”

               
“Fine.” Kayla laughs.  She picks up a brownie and looks at it.  “Here
we go,” she whispers, taking a bite.  Chewing, she grins. “Hey, these are
good.  Did your mom make them?”

               
Shaking his head, Jackson says, “No, I did.”

               
Shocked, Kayla stops chewing and gawks at him. “You bake?”

               
“Among other things.”

               
Kayla bursts out laughing. “Seriously?”

               
A look of contempt passes over his face.  “My mom isn’t into cooking that
much, and I had to learn how to cook with the Kiej leaves.  I’m not a
gourmet chef or anything.”

               
“Awww, no four-course romantic meals for me?”

               
“I don’t think I would cook a romantic meal for you anyway.”

               
“Whatever, you can’t resist my animal magnetism.”

               
Jackson’s laughter fills the car. “Oh, you have no idea.”

               
“It’s not that funny,” Kayla mutters.

               
“No, it’s funnier than you think, but you wouldn’t understand.”

               
Scowling, Kayla says, “Jerk.”

               
“Oh, Kayla, it’s nothing bad.  I promise.  Just ignore me.”

               
“Is that possible?” Kayla inquires with a smile.

               
Jackson tilts his head. “It could make for a long car ride to school.”

               
“It could,” Kayla says.  She looks at him thoughtfully.  “Can I ask
you for a favor?”

               
“Depends on the favor, because no, I won’t sleep with you.”

               
“Really? I think your ego is about to bust out your windshield! Get over
yourself.”

               
Putting his hands up, Jackson says, “All right, sorry.”

               
“I’m not going to ask you to sleep with me, and you can’t tell anyone about
what happened in my kitchen.”

               
A surprised look passes over Jackson’s face.  “You don’t want anyone to
know we got hot and heavy all over each other?”

               
“No, I just don’t want people to get the wrong impression.”

               
“You have a reputation to uphold that I would tarnish?”

               
Kayla laughs.  “I have no reputation period.  I get along with
everyone…except Jude, but I don’t have experience with guys.  I don’t want
it to seem like I was throwing myself at you.  People may get the wrong
impression.”

               
“Kayla, you didn’t do anything.  I was the one who threw myself on you
and…it got a little heated.  I won’t say anything to anyone if you don’t
want me to.  It’s not like I want to brag about it.”

               
“Thanks.  So charming.”

               
Jackson groans. “I didn’t mean it that way.  Stop thinking I’m disgusted
by you.”

               
“Aren’t you?”

               
“Nooo, I think you're beautiful.”

               
She raises her eyebrows.  “What?”

               
“I just…have to keep my distance.”

               
Kayla snorts. “If you need to keep your distance, you shouldn’t give me
rides.  I have to sit right next to you.”

               
“As long as you aren’t sitting on my lap, I think we’ll be fine.”

               
“I’ll try to control myself.”

               
A grin crawls across Jackson’s face.  “You’re not repulsed by me?”

               
“Oh, trust me, I’m not repulsed by you.  I just don’t want to date someone
who toys with my emotions.” Jackson nods in agreement. She turns to look out
the window, and they drive in silence all the way to school.

               
During their first class, Kayla tries to concentrate, but she’s so tired that
her thoughts keep drifting.  On the way to second period, Jackson comes up
beside her.  “You look like you’re going to fall asleep on your feet.”

               
“I feel like it,” Kayla moans.  “I’m so tired.  It’s like I didn’t
even sleep last night.”

               
“Poor baby,
”
he says,
patting her on the head. 
“
Hold
on a second,” he suddenly says, turning away from her.  “I have to do
something.”

               
Kayla looks up just in time to see Jackson grab Jude.  He picks Jude up by
his shirt and drags him down the hallway.  “Jackson,” Kayla yells. 
“Stop!”

               
Jackson shoves him down an empty hallway.  “You and I need to have a
discussion,” he spits out at Jude.

               
Stepping beside him, Kayla grabs Jackson’s arm. “Jackson, stop.  As much
as I want to see you kick the hell out of him, I don’t want you to get
expelled.  How am I supposed to win the bet fairly if you don’t go to
school here anymore?”

               
“I…
never
…want to see you touch her again,” Jackson growls.

               
Jude glares at Kayla.  “Have to have your boyfriend fight your battles,
huh?”

               
“He isn’t my boyfriend.”

               
“We all know what your problem is, Jude,” Jackson sneers.

               
Looking at him, Jude snorts. “And what’s that?”

               
“You like her.  You like her so much it makes you lash out.  The
problem is, she doesn’t like you back, never has and never will, and
that
is what bothers you.  She’s so far out of your league.  You try and
tear her down any chance you get because you’re angry she rejected you.”

               
Kayla adds, “I knew that was it.  Of course your ego would be bruised.
 You think you can have any girl in this school, but you’re just a loser.
 I have better taste in guys than to waste my time with you, and you can
never tempt me to feel otherwise.”

               
 “I don’t like you,
”
Jude snaps. 
“
How
could I like you? 
Why
would I like you?”

               
“Because she’s intelligent, beautiful, and funny.  Stop wallowing in the
rejection and deal with the fact that she just isn't that into you,” Jackson
snarls.