Telesa - The Covenant Keeper (18 page)

I glared at him furiously. How dare he presume to take over like that? I didn’t want to go home. And while I had no idea what had happened that morning, I was perfectly sure that I was fine. The last thing I wanted was for the whole school to have more to gossip about.
The new girl Leila had a wacky spazz attack in the hallway and fainted. The new girl got carried to the office by the dreamy hunk Head Boy. Leila had to go home sick … brain damaged … at death’s door … petrified with humiliation …
No way was I going home.

To prove it, I swung my legs over the side and stood up with gusto. “See! I’m totally fine …” my voice trailed as the room spun and a wave of nausea threatened again. “Ugh, I don’t feel so good.” Head spinning, I sank to my knees on the floor, reached for the rubbish can and promptly threw up in it.

“Eeeew!” Sinalei’s shriek could be heard several classrooms down the hall.

I groaned in self-disgust, grimacing at the sour aftertaste in my mouth. Tears welled at the total humiliation of throwing up right in front of Daniel. If I had any hopes of him pursuing our friendship, they were surely dashed to pieces now in this room that reeked of vomit.

“See Ms Sivani. Leila is NOT ready to go back to class. I’m going to take her home myself right away. If that’s alright with you.” The last phrase was added on as an afterthought of politeness.

The teacher had a hand to her nose as she gesticulated wildly in acquiescence. “Fine, fine. You go take Leila home. Right now.”
Before she throws up on my shoes
were her unspoken words. “Sinalei, take this rubbish can to the incinerator right now.”

I caught a final glimpse of Sinalei’s look of disgust as Daniel swept me up in his arms once again and was stalking halfway down the hall before I could even get a word out. “Daniel put me down now!” My demand was an urgent whisper, unwilling to draw any more attention from the students bent over their work in the rooms as we passed by.

His only reply was to lengthen his stride towards the green truck parked under the sweeping mango tree by the tennis courts.

“Daniel, I said, please put me down NOW. What the heck is wrong with you? How many times today are you going to throw me around like a … like a blob? It’s not like I’m the lightest thing around you know.” I was indignant, trying to hide my shame at the throw-up episode.

There was no reply. I stopped squirming and stole a glance at the rugged profile so close to me as he strode towards the car. He wasn’t smiling. He wasn’t looking down at me. He wasn’t speaking. He had a grim expression on his face – as if he was planning on tackling someone on the field. Very, very roughly. I swallowed and took a deep breath. This was it. He was thoroughly disgusted with me now. Sick to bits of my hysterics and drama. Tired of picking me up out of yet another scrape. He probably couldn’t wait to be rid of me. I felt an awful sadness, contemplating the thought of this being the last time he would hold me. The last time I would feel his warmth against my skin. I sighed, laying my head softly against his chest, wanting to burrow into his safety and security. No one could describe me as petite and yet he carried me as effortlessly as if I were a tiny porcelain doll. His stride never faltered. He wasn’t even out of breath as he finally reached the car and set me down on my feet so he could unlock the door, still supporting me against him with one muscular arm. He cursed under his breath as he fought with the lock. I could feel the length of him against my body as he held me close, worried I would fall. He wore his PE uniform. Orange drawstring shorts and a yellow cotton singlet that did nothing to conceal his physique. I remembered what he looked like that first night beside the pool – moonlight gleaming on the curve of his chest, shorts barely clinging to his hips – and a dizzying weakness came over me again, this time totally unrelated to before and everything to do with the fact this impossibly beautiful boy was standing here with me, his body pressed against mine under the shade of a mango tree whispering in the breeze.

He finally wrestled the door open and turned to help me in. For a moment he paused, raising my face to his with a hand softly under my chin. His eyes were anxious, his brow furrowed as he surveyed my troubled expression. Before I realized his intention, he leaned forward and placed a single hot kiss to my forehead, his lips barely grazing my skin but leaving a burning mark where they had so briefly lingered. My knees turned to jelly and my already dizzy head spun even further as I leaned into his firmness.

“Hey let’s get you home. I knew Ms Sivani was wrong, you’re not well, you need to rest.”

He put me into the car and hurried to the driver’s seat. He didn’t speak again until we had reversed and were safely out onto the main road. Then the questions began.

“So what really happened today?”

“ I’m not sure. I was walking to my next class when I felt really sick and dizzy. Then it was like the ground was shaking. Like there was a huge earthquake. It was so real. But nobody else was feeling the same thing and I freaked out. Then I lost my balance and blacked out. Maybe I was just really desperate NOT to go to Mr Michael’s class?” my weak attempt at a joke didn’t even rate a smile from him.

“Has anything like that ever happened to you before?”

“No. Never.” I must have betrayed some of the fear I was feeling because he glanced my way.

“Don’t worry. You’re safe now. We’ll take you home, you can shower, have a good rest and you’ll feel heaps better. Maybe it’s the heat, you reckon?”

I grabbed onto that possibility with relief. “Of course that must be it. I’m really finding the heat a killer. I guess my
palagi
blood isn’t liking the weather.” This time he threw me a half smile.

“Well it suits
my
palagi
blood just fine. Just give you some time and you’ll be sweet.”

I felt a huge tiredness settle over me like a lethargic blanket. That whole earth-shaking episode this morning had really taken its toll on me. My brain still felt foggy, I wasn’t even up to asking myself searching questions … like, what really happened to me? I didn’t want to admit it, but I was frightened by what had happened and grateful that Daniel was taking me home. All I wanted to do right now was sleep. I settled back in the seat, struggling to keep my eyes open. Sensing my tiredness, Daniel stopped giving me the third degree and switched on the radio, humming along under his breath to the sounds of Bob Marley. I smiled within … what was it with this country and Bob Marley anyway? Everybody and anybody seemed to have it on their radios. I was drifting into delicious slumber when the song was interrupted by an announcement. I caught the words ‘tsunami watch’ and ‘earthquake’ and sat bolt upright, my heart pounding.

“An undersea earthquake occurred just over an hour ago, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale off the Tongan islands. There is a tsunami watch in effect. Residents of low-lying areas are urged to be on the alert. Stay tuned to this radio station, as we keep you posted on any further updates from the tsunami watch center in Hawaii. We repeat …”

I turned panicked eyes to Daniel beside me.

“What’s happening?” Fearful possibilities raced through my mind. An earthquake? So strong it triggered a tsunami watch? But an earthquake so far away that nobody could feel? Nobody, that is … but me?

“Hey don’t worry about it. We get these tsunami watches all the time. And nothing ever happens. Ever since 29/09, the disaster management people like to keep us on our toes – you know, be prepared and all that. It’s just a precaution. If it was anything more serious, then they would have announced a warning and schools would be evacuating by now.” He placed a reassuring hand on mine beside him on the seat. It was obvious he thought I was freaking out about the possibility of getting swept away by a giant wave – and hadn’t made any connection to this morning’s incident. I didn’t speak again until we pulled up in my front drive. There was a sleek red car parked behind Aunty Matile’s truck, blocking the path. Daniel whistled long and low.

“Sweet! That’s a nice car. Who’s is it?”

I could only shake my head, as clueless as he was but anxious to get inside before Aunty came out and gave us the third degree. Daniel was out of the car before I could move though, out and round to my side, opening the door and trying to help me out.

“Are you ok? Can you walk?” His face held nothing but tender concern. I tested my balance tentatively before nodding slightly.

“Yup. I’m good.” I looked up at him, wanting to memorize the closeness of him. “Thank you. Again. For helping me. This is getting to be a habit with us. I’ll have to work on my resilience so you don’t have to pick me up off the ground anymore.”

He brushed a stray strand of hair off my face and I trembled at his touch. Concern colored his eyes again. “Are you sure you’re alright? Can I walk you inside?”

That was the last thing I wanted. I waved a hand nonchalantly. “No, no. I’m alright. Honestly. Just tired now. My aunt is here, she must have a visitor. If I need anything she’ll be home to help me. You better go back to school. You know, before Ms Sivani gives you detention or something.”

He grinned back at me. “Who me? Nah never, you know all those teachers adore me, you said it yourself. I’ll see you tomorrow hopefully.” His voice trailed away and still he stood beside me, one arm cradling the open car door, looking down at me.

I couldn’t decipher the look in his eyes. Was it indecision? Longing at war with doubt? Before I could decide, he leaned down and left another swift, light kiss, feather soft on my forehead. Over before I could even be sure it had happened. He turned and walked back to the driver’s side.

Swallowing a gulp of much-needed air, I closed the front door and walked to the house, turning once to smile shyly and wave as he reversed. I felt like I was swimming through cotton candy. Thick, blissful sweetness, clouds of wonder. Daniel cared about me. Daniel had kissed me. Twice. On the forehead to be sure, but still, a first touch from the boy whose very nearness had me scrambling for rational thought. All thought of my strange collapse a few hours earlier were erased. Replaced by the thrill of … bliss? I couldn’t be sure what this was. It was all new to me. I had a foolish smile on my face as I opened the door. Only to be met by a coldness. Of dread. I should have known better. Happiness is only ever a transient thing. Like fluff in the wind. Worthy only of derision because it only made what came next all the more awful.

I stood still in the corridor. There was something, someone in the house. Something that shouldn’t be there. Something had me loathe to step further into the house. There was a woman in the kitchen with my aunt. I could hear her.

“You can’t stop me from seeing her, Matile.” Her voice. It sounded disturbingly familiar. I had heard that steel tone before. But not in my waking world. I felt the air rush to pound through my chest. The hairs on the back of my neck prickling with unease. I shook my head in denial, mouthing a silent NO to myself. This could not be happening. I took one unsteady step back. Back into the sunlight. Back into the world I knew was real and true. But still the voices assailed me. My aunt’s furious whisper.

“You – you have no right to be here. You gave up that right eighteen years ago! If there was any justice you wouldn’t even be walking free, you should be dead.”

“Silence woman!” No one could disobey such a command, uttered with such power and restrained fury. “You speak of things you know nothing of. Of things forbidden. Foolish Matile. Still denying your birth right. Spitting on your heritage with your ignorance and pseudo-Christianity. Enough of this. I am not here for you. I am here for the girl.”

It seemed my blood turned to ice at her words. There was no mistaking what girl this woman referred to. I was taken aback by Aunt Matile’s defiant reply.

“She’s not here. She won’t be home for hours. And when she does return, Tuala and I will see to it that she is on a plane. Tonight. Far away from you.”

I was touched by her attempt to cover for me. I would have thought she would be the last person to sacrifice anything for my well-being. Maybe, I thought in the midst of my dazed thoughts, maybe there was more to her and Uncle Tuala's anger at my coming here. At their obvious state of unease at my presence. Maybe there was more to their insane rules and strict living conditions than I had previously imagined. Maybe, just maybe, they had been protecting me? But from what? From who?

The unknown woman in the kitchen laughed. It was the laugh that confirmed what I already suspected. It was low and cruelly musical. It was the exultant laugh of the woman in my dreams.

“No!” I muffled my words with my hands. I was desperate to escape from the house before they sensed my presence. But it was too late. The hall door opened and there she stood. The woman I knew all too well. The woman from the photograph.

My mother.

Her long hair was coiled in an elegant bun at the nape of her neck, accented with the familiar red hibiscus. She was even more stunning close up, dark deep-set eyes and lush full lips, a gleaming silver shell necklace drawing your eyes to the low neckline of her startling red fitted dress. With her black stiletto heels, chic Armani clutch purse and a Blackberry in one hand, she was the epitome of style, a corporate executive on her way to a board meeting, rather than a threatening spirit woman of the night who had assumed mythic proportions in my mind. A smile lit her face.

“Here she is. My daughter, Pele.” Arms outstretched, she clearly expected me to rush into her embrace. There was a choking gasp behind her from Aunty Matile as she realized that I was home.

I stood my ground. I would not give in to the hysteria that threatened to suffocate me. I was my father’s daughter. He was a good man, a wonderful father who loved me more than life itself. I was sure of it. He told me my mother was dead and I believed him. I hung on to this truth, this rock of certainty would be my anchor through this madness.

“My name is Leila Folger. Who are you?” my voice was calm and unruffled. This woman might scare the daylights out of my unflappable Aunty Matile, but I would not be so easily intimidated.