The Stone Sisters: Lyssa (The Stones Sisters Book 1) (24 page)

Finally, Missy said, “Is it true?”

Lyssa said nothing, pretending Missy was talking to someone else.

“Lyssa, is it true?”

She turned her eyes to her as she fought tears, “Is what true?”

“Oh no!
 
It’s true!
 
Look at you, you’re about to cry!”

Anna said softly, “If you want to talk about it, we’re here.”

Lyssa smiled as Lexa softly stroked her hair in support, “Thank you, but I’m more of a private mourner.”

Missy huffed, “I can’t believe he hurt you like that!
 
I thought he really liked you.”

Weakly, she smiled, “It was a mutual thing.
 
We’re still friends.”

“Like hell you…oh wait, he’s coming over here.”

Lyssa’s heart froze, as did the rest of her.
 
She stared straight ahead.
 
Please keep walking, please keep walking, please keep walking.

“Hi girls,” he said, his voice as warm and rich as ever.
 
She missed hearing it in her ear.

“Hi, Kyle,” they all said and stumbling over her words she said softly, “Hello.”

She couldn’t look up at him.
 
However, she leaned back and inhaled deeply.
 
His rich scent was just as intoxicating as ever and she just wanted things to go back to the way they were.
 
But she couldn’t let that happen.
 
For his sake and for Lexa’s.

“Hey, Lexa, the other day you left this bag in my car.”

Lyssa looked over at Lexa who looked confused for a moment before she smiled up at him, “Thanks.”

When she got to gym, her heart sank.
 
There Kyle was, looking sexy.
 
She shook her head and tried to focus on volleyball.
 
Every time someone spiked the ball at her, she missed it.
 
Eventually, it became the routine.
 
Her team tried to cover for her, but finally she was hit in the head.

As she leaned over, holding her head, the gym teacher came over to her, “You alright?”

“Honestly, I have a really bad headache.
 
Can I just go?”

“Go to the nurse’s office, I’ll get someone to take you.”

“I can make it on my own,” she put her hand on the teacher’s arm and watched her eyes go blank, “I’ll be fine on my own.”

The teacher nodded, “You’ll be fine, on your own.
 
Go to the nurse’s office now.”

She left and changed her clothing.
 
When she came out to the hall, she found Kyle and her heart skittered to a halt.
 
She smiled up at him and said, “What are you doing here?”

“You took a bad hit, Lyssa.
 
I’m taking you to the nurse’s.
 
Besides, we’re friends.
 
Can’t a friend worry?”

Sighing, she looked away and started down the hall, “Sure, why not?”

They walked in silence.
 
She remembered how he’d take her hand.
 
The way he’d tease her.
 
It left her fighting tears.

“Are you ok?” he asked, his voice tinged with worry.

“Just my head,” she replied, keeping her eyes firmly on the hall in front of her.

“You might have a concussion.
 
If the nurse thinks you should go to the hospital, I’ll take you.”

She couldn’t take it anymore, she grabbed his hand and smiled gently as his eyes went blank, “I’ll be fine, Kyle, why don’t you go back to class.”

For a short moment, it almost looked like he was fighting her influence, but then he nodded and walked away.
 
She continued on her way to the nurse’s office and told the secretary in the office she was hit in the head.
 
Once inside the room, she grabbed the nurse’s hand and sent her out of the room.
 
When she was finally alone, she curled up on her side and waited out for the final bell.
 

She tried to sleep, but couldn’t.
 
As she laid there, eyes staring at the wall, she remembered Kyle.
 
Even now, he still was worried about her.
 
She didn’t want to leave, but she didn’t want to stay either.
 
There was Lexa to consider as well, she had made friends and leaving them sooner than normal would be painful for her.

The bell rang and she rose.
 
Making her way to her car, she got in and quietly waited for Lexa.
 
Turning her eyes towards the building, she could see her talking and laughing with Missy and Anna.
 
She was glad that they had become such good friends.
 
For the first time, she wished she had a group of friends.
 
Maybe then, she could have someone to cry with over the loss of Kyle.
 
Well, other than poor Lexa, whom she refused to cry to.

When Lexx finally got into the car, they drove home in silence.
 
She could feel that her sister wanted to talk, but Lyssa just didn’t want to get into it.
 
Not with Lexa.
 
So they drove in silence and when they pulled up to the house, she got out of the car and headed in.
 
Normally, she did her homework, today she just sat on the couch.
 
She’d get it done later.

“Hey.”

She looked up when Lexa spoke and smiled.
 
“Hey, what’s up?” she replied

Lexa fidgeted a moment and then sat beside her with the bag Kyle had given her.
 
She said, “I wasn’t sure if I should give you this.
 
It isn’t my bag.
 
Kyle and I had gone shopping because he wanted to buy you a present.
 
These are for you from Kyle.
 
You… well I think you should open it Lyssa.”

For a long while, she held the bag.
 
Kyle had bought her a gift before the Hunters had come.
 
If those Hunters hadn’t come, he would have given this to her.
 
She pondered not opening it.
 
Would it hurt more, knowing what he’d bought for her?

Sighing, she opened the bag and pulled out two old books.
 
She smiled; Lexa must have told him she preferred the old ones.
 
The first book she saw was The Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe.
 
There was no doubt in her mind that Lexa had suggested that one.
 
She smiled and set it aside.
 
Then she froze.
 
Lord of the Rings.
 
It was a beautiful copy.
 
When she opened it up, it was full of incredible illustrations.
 
It was also in excellent condition.
 
Trembling, she clutched it to her chest.
 
Tears formed and she put the book aside, afraid she’d ruin it.
 
He had wanted her to read that.
 
She wondered if he had read Dune.
 
Curling up on the couch, she wept openly.

The next day, the two of them went to school, but she found Mrs. Johnson her Physics teacher and influenced her so that she wouldn’t realize Lyssa wasn’t in class.
 
Then, she hid in the library.
 
The idea of reading, however, didn’t appeal to her so she finished up her homework.
 
That didn’t take long and soon she was twirling her pencil.
 
She had to do something; maybe she could get her classes switched?
 
It wouldn’t take much to influence someone in the office and have herself put in all classes that he was not in.
 
She just wasn’t sure how much she could take.
 
Seeing him was painful.

When the bell finally rang for lunch, she left the library to head to the cafeteria.
 
But as she was making her way there, she froze.
 
Her heart raced and then almost flat lined.
 
In front of her, Kyle was talking to Tori.
 
He turned and headed towards the cafeteria and when he did, she trotted after him and slipped her arm through his, leaning on him.
 
Her heart cracked and she almost called out.
 
Tori glanced back, gave her a smirk and swished her hips as she walked away by Kyle’s side.

Chapter 20

Lexa
found Lyssa curled up on her side, weeping in the car.
 
She banged on the window, which startled Lyssa.
 
Looking up, she unlocked the door and Lexa got in.
 
For a long moment, she said nothing.

Finally, she asked, “What is it?”

“He… was… with… Tori,” Lyss got out between sobs.

“Seriously?
 
He never liked her, Lyss.
 
If anything, he was tolerating her.
 
Have some faith in him.”

“I know… I know, I just can’t help it.
 
He’s not mine anymore and I…”
 
She broke off and Lexa wondered if Lyssa was unable to continue or simply didn’t want to share her feelings.

“Move over, Lyss, you are in no shape to drive us home,” Lexa said, softly giving her sister a shove.

“You don’t have a license,” Lyssa said listlessly.

Lexa laughed, “Yeah, well in actuality, you don’t either.
 
You forged it into the computer system and then ‘renewed’ it on the website.
 
So don’t give me that nonsense.
 
Move over, I don’t want to get into an accident.”

Sighing, Lyssa got out of the car and went around to the passenger’s side.
 
As she watched her sister go, she was grateful that she could manipulate objects well enough that she was able to remove the dent from the attack.
 
The last thing Lyss needed was another reminder.

They got home and she watched her sister crash on the couch.
 
If Lyssa in love was annoying, but sometimes funny, Lyssa depressed was just plain tragic and not something Lexa knew how to deal with.
 
Usually, Lyssa was in charge, she kept them going.
 
She was the one who gave Lexa encouragement that made their hard wandering lifestyle bearable.
 
Lexa didn’t know what she was going to do if Lyssa didn’t become strong again.
 
She wasn’t sure if she could take control and protect her sister.

“Hey, why don’t you stay home a couple of days?
 
I’ll bring in a note from our ‘mom’ telling them you’re sick.”

Lyss looked up at him, “Good idea.
 
I don’t know if I can face Kyle right now.”

She kissed Lyssa on the brow and went to make dinner.
 
Usually, she made a lot more food, but with Lyssa barely eating, she made half of her usual amount.
 
They ate in silence and Lyssa went to her room afterward.
 
Lexa cleaned up, which was usually her sister’s job.
 
With Lyss the way she was, Lexa had a feeling that there would be a huge pile of dishes in a few days if she didn’t do it herself.

The next day, forged note in hand, Lexa went to school using the bus.
 
She left Lyssa the car because if something were to happen, if Lyss got a flash of the future, she had to have a way to get to Lexa.
 
So, she rode the stinky bus and when she got to school, she went into the office and gave them the note.
 
Lyssa being such an excellent student, the teacher she gave the note to completely bought it.

“Hey, where’s your sister?” Anna asked.

“Um, she’s sick today.”

Melissa came over and arched a brow, “Sick, huh?”

“Yep, she’s sick,” Lexa hoped that that would be the end of it.

Unfortunately, lunch came and Kyle walked over, “Where’s Lyssa?”

She smiled up at him, “Sick.
 
I think it’s the flu.”

His eyes were lit with genuine concern, “Maybe I should swing by and see how she is.”

That’s the last thing you need to do,
she thought.

“She’d be upset if anyone saw her looking like she does right now,” she said with a smile.

Kyle looked at her a moment, his eyes unfocused and then he smiled, “Please tell her I was asking about her.”

“I will.”
 
She watched him walk away.

“What is up with your sister and Kyle?
 
She’s trying to avoid him, he’s looking for her.
 
What happened?” Missy asked.

Lexa smiled, “Nothing.
 
They broke up, decided to be friends, end of story.
 
Lyss is sick, that’s all.”

“Lyss is sick my left eye.
 
She’s avoiding him.
 
Was he the one who broke up with her?”

Lexa looked at Melissa and then Anna.
 
Anna was quiet, probably because she understood.
 
Missy may have understood too, but she was too interested in the gossip not to ask.
 

“I don’t know.
 
Lyssa won’t talk about it.”

“I bet he broke up with her.
 
He’s so stupid.
 
Lyssa’s a little weird, but she’s really a nice girl, unlike that skank Tori.”

Anna laughed, “Missy, please.”

“Well it’s true.
 
I saw her hanging all over Kyle the other day.
 
I bet Lyssa saw that and she’s all broken up,” she said as Lexa sighed.

“Come on, guys, she’s my sister.”

“We aren’t being disloyal.
 
She’s the best girl between the two of them and he’s an ass if he doesn’t realize it.”

Lexa didn’t know what to say.
 
Missy was going to say and think what she wanted and there was nothing she could do about it.
 
She sighed and looked over at Kyle.
 
He didn’t deserve to be spoken bad about either.

“Hey,” Anna said, “My brother Ryan is in town, want to meet him Saturday?”

Lexa smiled, “Sure.
 
I’d love to meet him.
 
What’s he like?”

“Hot,” Missy chimed in, “And totally not interested in dating.
 
Actually, he kinda reminds me of your sister.
 
He’s super protective of Anna.”

Smiled, Lexa said, “I bet I’d like him then.
 
Lyssa’s protectiveness, while annoying at times, is one of my favorite things about her.”

Melissa rolled her eyes, “Good luck with that.”

When Lexa got home, she found Lyssa on the couch, in her flannels, mindlessly flipping through television stations.
 
Her eyes were blank and red.
 
Lexa had a feeling her sister had been crying again.
 
This had to stop.

“I bet you’d be happier with him.”

“My happiness isn’t the issue, the safety of you two is,” Lyss said without looking up.

Lexa rolled her eyes and went about her evening.
 
She cooked, she cleaned and then did her homework.
 
When it was eleven, she headed up to bed, Lyssa still on the couch.

The whole week was the same and Lexa was at the end of her rope by the time she left to go out on Saturday.
 
She dressed in some black leggings and a tight red sweater.
 
Putting on her black boots, she glanced over to the couch.

“I’m heading out.”

“Wait,” Lyssa’s eyes went bright blue-gray, and then settled back to their usual state, “you’ll be safe tonight.
 
If anything happens, I’ll come for you.”

As Lexa walked out the door, she said under her breath, “At least you’ll still look for Hunters and come for me.
 
But I wonder if you’d win.”

Lexx got into the back of the car, Ben was driving and Missy was sitting in the front.
 
As soon as they drove off, Melissa turned, “How’s doom and gloom?”

Rolling her eyes, she replied, “Still glued to the couch.”

“I thought she broke up with Kyle,” Ben said.

“I’m not sure on that score.”

“Brad told me Kyle’s been really weird since the breakup.
 
Sometimes he’s perfectly fine and other times he talks about how much he misses her.”

Lexa looked out the window, “Who can understand?
 
Unless Lyss tells me what I need to know, I can’t explain it.”

“Maybe we should lock them in a room together,” Melissa laughed.

If only that would help,
Lexa thought as she watched the other cars.

They pulled up in front of Anna’s and she walked out.
 
Lexa waved and then her heart quickened when she took in the form next to her.
 
His hair was a pale brown, almost but not quite blond.
 
His eyes were stormy gray and when he looked at his sister, he had quite a gentle smile.

They got into the car and Anna gave Lexa a quick hug.
 
Lexx shyly looked at her brother and he coldly looked back.
 
Well, Anna was cold in the beginning too.

“Hi Ryan, I’m Lexa.”

“When did you move here?”

She blinked, that wasn’t exactly how she thought he’d respond, “Um, the end of August.”

Anna sighed, “Come on, Ryan, not now.”

“So,” Lexa said, “I thought we were hanging out at Anna’s, where are we going?”

“We are going to party!” Missy chirped.

“Um, I don’t drink.”
 
Lexa worried about Ben drinking too.
 
If she needed a ride, would Lyssa see something as minor as that?

“Aw, come on, it’ll be fun,” Ben said.

Ryan was eying her quietly and her cheeks reddened.
 
Why did such a jerk have to be so sexy?
 
But, more than that, what if she did need a ride.

“Ok, let’s go,” she said, trying to sound happy about it.

They arrived at a big yellow house and she could see a lot of people inside.
 
In fact, it looked completely packed.
 
There was a loud thumping noise from music.
 
Lyssa would definitely not approve, which made her worry about how good her sight was tonight.
 
What if Lyss missed something?
 
No, she couldn’t let herself think that way.

They exited the car and looked around.
 
Everyone was drinking.
 
Great.
 
She looked over and Missy and Ben both had drinks in their hands.
 
Anna and Ryan, however, did not.