The Stone Sisters: Lyssa (The Stones Sisters Book 1) (6 page)

“What is normal?”
 
But, something must have been in Lexa’s eyes, because Lyssa immediately relented and sighed, “Fine.
 
But not here.
 
Who knows who is watching.”

“Wait!
 
What about her?”

Lexa pointed to the redhead who was sitting and staring into space now that her food was gone.
 
Lyssa guiltily put her hand on the girl’s shoulder and whispered softly in her ear, “You sat with the Stone sisters, they seemed nice but ordinary.
 
You probably won’t sit with them again since they just weren’t into the same things you are.”

The girl nodded, rose and walked away.
 
By the time she reached the door, the girl shook her head and headed out.
 
The full effect of Lyssa’s influence having run its course, the girl would remember things as Lyssa had influenced her to.
 
Smiling sheepishly, Lyss turned to Lexa.

Nodding, Lexa followed Lyssa out of the cafeteria and headed towards the bathroom.
 
There were a couple of girls in there so Lyssa pretended to do her makeup and Lexa fixed her hair.
 
Once they left, Lexa checked the stalls to make sure no one else was there.
 
When she was sure, she walked over to the lock on the door and her hand hovered there for a moment until there was a click.
 
She may not be as powerful as Lyssa by any means, but Lexa had her gifts.

“Ok, Lyss, do it.”

Lyssa rolled her eyes, leaned against the nearest sink and stared off.
 
As she did, her eyes started to glow as her whites of her eyes as well as her pupils disappeared and only the gray-blue remained.
 
When she had a flash, Lyssa could feel it coming on and would close her eyes to hide the glow.
 
However, this was just the two of them and Lyssa was forcing it.
 
No easy task.

“What do you see?”

“Shut up.”

“Well, what do you see?”

“Nothing beyond your irritating me so shut up!”

Lexa paced in quick rapid steps.
 
She started to gnaw on her thumbnail.
 
If Anna was a Hunter…Lexa didn’t want to think about that outcome.
 
What if Anna’s family worked for the government and she reported the oddness that was the Stone sisters.
 
That could happen.
 
They could…

“Nothing.”

“What?” Lexa asked, clearly surprised by the pronouncement.

Lyssa sighed, the color of her eyes returning to normal as the brilliant glow, which hid the details of her gaze, faded.
 
Standing up straight, she walked over to Lexa and pulled her into a hug.
 
Softly, she stroked her sister’s hair.
 
Lyssa was trying to comfort Lexa in her own way.
 
However, that wasn’t what Lexa wanted so she pulled away roughly.
 
Regretting it the moment she saw a little hurt in Lyssa’s eyes.

“Listen, Lexx, I know you’re scared.
 
Worried about what will happen to us.
 
But I saw no Hunters coming for us, no human authorities.”

“What about Anna?”

“Nothing stood out.
 
I see no instances where she accuses us of anything, nor any instances of her leading Hunters to us.
 
I looked for that and that alone.
 
I’m not going to violate her privacy by trying to look at every aspect of her life.
 
You know I hate doing that!”

Lexa frowned and then looked down.
 
Lyssa was right and Lexa trying to force her into looking deeper into Anna was not right.
 
It was also cruel to Lyssa who, as much as she relied on the gift to keep them safe, hated the gift.
 
It had taken Lyssa years to learn to control it.
 
Now the only flashes of insight she got were when one or both of them was in real danger.
 
It was how Lyssa had found her so quickly when Jack-Ass thought he’d have his way with Lexa.
 
Lexa had been in real physical harm and Lyssa had come to the rescue.
 
She really was the best sister and Lexa had to remind herself not to take advantage of that.

“Ok, sorry.”

With that, Lexa popped the lock and the two of them went their separate ways to their classrooms.
 
Lexa had Spanish with Anna and Missy.
 
At least she didn’t have to pay attention to the class very much.
 
She knew Spanish, but foreign language was a requirement for sophomores.
 
Why couldn’t Lyssa just put that they were twins?
 
Sure, Lexa wasn’t as book smart as her sister was, but Lyssa could have helped her.
 
Granted, Lexa was almost two years younger, but Lyssa and her looked close enough in age no one would know.

Then again, she never would have met Missy.
 
Grinning at Missy and Anna while her back was to the teacher, Lexa made her way to the seat in the back and slipped in.
 
The rest of the day was a dull blur as she eagerly waited for the final bell to ring.
 
That last bell of the day just wouldn’t ring fast enough for her.

When the last bell did finally ring, Lexa made sure that Missy and Anna understood the directions she gave them.
 
Quickly, she headed off to meet Lyssa at the car.  She spotted her sister making her way to the Audi and Lexa's brows shot up.  Lyssa was looking nervous as hell and right beside her was Kyle.  Lexx didn't know whether she should laugh or pity Lyssa.  It was unreal how Lyssa had no idea how to deal with Kyle.  If, in the past, another boy had been interested in Lyss to the point where he wasn't scared off by the bitch persona, maybe she'd have some experience now.  But, in the last three and a half years, all of the guys that they had met had fallen into the “look, but don't touch Lyssa” category.  Kyle had his own category.  She just hoped he was worth her sister. 

In Lexa's opinion, she believed this was great for Lyssa.  She really needed to learn to deal with guys and what was so terrible about a good-looking guy liking you?  If they were going to live on this world, eventually they'd have to have somebody.  Unless Lyssa thought that it was going to be just the two of them running together alone forever.  Oh God, she hoped not!  Lexa wanted to find a soul mate one day.  No matter how much she loved Lyssa they were sisters, not soul mates.

Sliding up to the car, Lexa grinned, "Hey Lyss.  Hey Kyle, so when and where are you taking my sister on your date?"

Kyle grinned, his chocolate gaze sparkling in the sunlight.  Then, with mischief in his voice, he replied, "Oh that's a secret.  I don't want to spoil the surprise."

Lexa rolled her eyes, grabbed Lyssa's keys and jumped into the red TTS.  Lexa pushed the start button, turned and rolled down her window.  With a little smile, she listened into their conversation.

"So, I'll need directions to your house and I'll pick you up Saturday around ten."

"My parents aren't going to let me go out on a date at ten at night."

Kyle laughed, a warm rich sound, before saying, "For someone really smart you can be a little ditzy.  Ten in the morning."

"Where are you taking me?"

"Secret."

With a frustrated noise, Lyssa opened her car door as Kyle laughed again.

"Why didn't you turn on the A/C it's hot...oh.  You were listening, you brat!"

Kyle roared outside as he walked away.  Lyssa turned all manners of red before driving off in a rush.  Fortunately, she didn't hit anyone in her haste.

"Slow down, Speed Racer, we're only going to the grocery store."

Sighing softly, Lyssa slowed down to a reasonable speed and they headed off to Whole Foods.  Lexa's mind was full of the dinner she had to make and only those groceries popped in her mind. Though she was sure there were other things she'd probably need by the end of the weekend, she didn't really care.  What Lexa wanted was to make the best damn dinner possible so that she could impress Missy and Anna.  Especially Anna, who seemed very hard to please. Now that Lexa felt confident Anna wasn't a threat, she was hoping to gain her friendship.

When they got home, Lexa immediately started the marinade.  Lemon juice, olive oil, fresh basil, and garlic.  She tossed in a few dry herbs she had too.
 
When the smell was exactly what she was looking for, she moved on to scoring the meat before she tossed it into the marinade and let it sit in the fridge.  Lyssa was sitting at the side bar in the kitchen, staring off into space.  Every time she'd glance at her, Lyssa had a different expression.  Perplexed. Frustrated. Smitten? Angry. Confused.

"Oh for the love!  Lyssa, get yourself together!  The girls will be here soon and you don't need to be looking like a lunatic!"

Lyssa rolled her eyes, "I'm going to go change.  You can stay all cute and uncomfortable if you want; I'm getting my flannels on."

"Not the polka dots, ok?  Those look so goofy!"

Pausing at the bottom of the stairs, Lyssa tossed her sister a grin, "Polka dots it is!"

With a growl, Lexa cried you, "You're making a salad when you get down here!"

Lyssa made a non-committal sound and Lexa continued on to rinse the rice.  She wanted to be all set so all she had to do was start when the girls got there.  It wouldn't take long for the food to be ready.  Lyssa came bounding down the stairs and plopped on the couch with one of those old sci-fi novels she loved to read.  Lexa couldn't be bothered learning the names of them or even check which one she was reading now.

"I'm serious about that salad, Lyss!"

"They aren't even here yet!  I'll make it when they arrive.  Seriously, do they even want it?  Do we even need it?"

"Human girls eat salad!"

"I'll make it when they get here!  And knock it off with the 'human' thing.  You never know who's around."

Shaking her head, Lexa checked a few things and then decided to change herself.
 
Unlike Lyssa and the flannels, Lexa opted for a loose pair of jeans and a bulky sweater.
 
It was almost cold enough for it now and the girls usually kept the house a little bit more on the colder side.
 
When the bell rang, Lexx dashed down the stairs and opened the door with a grin.

“Come on in!”

Missy bounded in and gave Lexa a big hug.
 
Anna walked in slowly and looked around for a moment before saying softly, “Your house is nice.”

“Thanks!
 
I didn’t pick it though so…”

Grinning, she dragged the two girls into the main part of the house.
 
When they saw Lyssa reading away in her polka dot flannel pants and some vintage video game t-shirt, Missy’s mouth dropped open.
 
Anna actually giggled.

“Please tell me you will never let Kyle see you like that!”

Lyssa glanced up at him and smiled, “Why not?”

“He might realize you are too weird and that will be that.”