02 Awaken-The Soulkeepers (15 page)

I crash to a stop at my locker, dump my armload of books, and then run to the double doors at the end of the hall. I walk into mass confusion and stop at the top of the stairs to locate my class somewhere in the gym below. Because our next basketball game has been cancelled due to bad weather, every conceivable committee, club, or anything resembling a group has claimed eminent domain on the gym. Aside from cheerleaders getting tossed around in a corner, everyone is working on decorations for the Winter Carnival. The chess club is constructing life-size chess pieces donned in turn-of-the-century Russian uniforms, which look more like angry military nutcrackers. The art club is painting Russian nesting dolls with celluloid smiles that give me the creeps. Up on the stage, Duffy has taken over the glee club and now has them singing “I Won’t Be Home for Christmas” by Blink 182. It’s very un-Christmasy, and people are staring and slowing down production. Principal Davis and Mr. Cummings are yelling and pushing their way toward the stage.

I feel eyes on me so I turn back to the right. There is Michael, the only one standing perfectly still among the bustling crowd. He is farther than thirty feet away so I’m lacking the necessary second heartbeat that makes me feel whole. Sometimes I wish I were one of those autonomous girls who excel in their oneness, who don’t need anyone
else to fill their void. Independent and free and without the nutritional value of love and the nourishment it provides. And then I see Michael and everything inside me yearns for him. He is my heart’s mate. Definitely the whipped cream in my hot chocolate.

He’s wearing jeans and an ice blue shirt that makes his eyes glow without effort. He has just come from outside, and his hair is windblown and sexy as hell. He smiles and lifts his chin, wanting me to come down and join him. I make a quick sweep of the room and then look back at him. He is shaking his head. He knows I’m looking for anyone from his family. By his seductive grin, I gather that we are alone in the crowd.

Excitement builds in me because I’ve been waiting all day to tell Michael about Rama Kuan. I know he’s been against the idea of my Awakening but I’m sure he’ll change his tune now that my training has finally begun. He’ll see how happy I am.

Principal Davis has chased Duffy from the stage, and Mr. Cummings has switched the sound system to the school’s holiday playlist. The sultry, jazz vibe of “Stay a Little Longer, Santa” by Shemekia Copeland puts the student body in a trance, and everybody nods and grooves while they work. I lock eyes with Michael and casually descend the stairs, one … slow … step … at a time. The song is cool and sophisticated and sparks an idea, so I pause on the bottom step. I give Michael my version of bedroom eyes, and he gives me that sexy sideways grin. Then I wiggle my eyebrows and turn in the opposite direction, laughing as his grin falls. I ease into the crowd, sashaying to the music in a wide circle around him. I catch glimpses of his tan face and blond hair. He is tracking me, measure for measure, throughout the gym. I tap out the beat on my thighs, leisurely strolling without a care in the world. Fifty feet away, Michael is walking parallel to me, watching my every move. I peek around the tallest nesting doll. Michael hesitates and then comes at me, but I turn and look over my shoulder, giving him a
Catch me if you can
grin. He flashes a salacious smile, and I feel a tug in my heart. It’s sharp and knocks me back. I fall into the geek squad working on remote control snowflakes and tiny sleighs flitting overhead. Michael is making it clear that he can control me any way he chooses. I laugh an apology to the guys and saunter away. My second heartbeat strikes, and I know Michael is closing in so I move out of range. I won’t make this easy for him.

Near the old-world Santas, with their Russian coats and long beards, I pause and feel the gentle thrum of Michael’s heartbeat in my chest again. I giggle and glance around. He has crossed his arms and is leaning against an oversize sleigh. His eyes are cobalt, so I wag my finger and click my tongue. Michael cocks an eyebrow and gives me that heated look that makes my tummy clench. He’s getting impatient with my games. He beckons me with a finger but I shake my head, playing hard to get.

As the song grooves on with Shemekia begging Santa to stay a little longer, I head
for the crystal Christmas tree forest, weaving in and around until I am good and lost. But Michael is suddenly standing before me as though he’s been waiting there all along. I gasp and look around; students and teachers are milling close by. We can’t be caught hiding in here.

“Have you been a naughty girl this year?” Michael asks, grinning. “If not, we can certainly change that.” He snags my shirt and pulls me closer.

“Why, Santa Claus, are you stalking me?” I laugh, and Michael’s eyes light up and he gives an emphatic nod.

“I want to see you tonight,” he whispers as he slides his fingers into my hair and caresses my cheek with his thumb. He is gentle but he holds me as though he is afraid I’ll disappear.

“I want to see you, too. I mean, I have something to tell you. But …” There’s too much chaos and noise, and I know this isn’t the time or place to explain about Rama Kuan.

Michael has lost his patience and yanks me against him, crushing his mouth onto mine in a punishing kiss. I’m caught off guard but wrap my arms around his neck, aching to get closer. We haven’t kissed since the night at the frozen waterfall, and the idea that he might not stop again flits through my mind. The sparks are quick and painful in the dry winter air, and I flinch. Michael growls deep in his throat and tears his mouth away. We’re panting and trembling. I’m reluctant to let go but he removes my arms and steps back just as Jordan the Leerer crashes the party.

“Hey!” he says in an abrupt sort of way. He stares at Michael and then at me.

I take a step back and post an innocent look:
I am just a casual bystander out inspecting the quality of our fake crystal trees. Completely legit
.

This is awkward because Jordan is assessing the situation, and Michael is assessing Jordan’s emotions. Jordan must think it strange to find Michael and me alone in the trees. We’re never seen talking during school. I expect Michael to toss out some excuse because he’s quick on his feet, but strangely enough he doesn’t. This adds to the awkwardness, and then Jordan says, “We need everybody helping the chess club.” It sounds more like a demand than a request.

Michael regards him with a cold look. Jordan makes way for me to leave first and then follows close behind. I get the feeling that I have been deliberately searched for and and am being escorted across the gym.

By the time we reach the chess club, the entire astronomy class is there. It seems we’ve been loaned out to help assemble the angry Russian nutcrackers. J.D. and Holden attach a giant wooden head to a Russian soldier’s body. Then they stand back, and we all
wait for it to topple forward but it doesn’t. To test its stability, Casey starts dancing with it, moving its arms up and down. He declares it fit, and this leads to talk about the Winter Carnival dance. Michael has been watching Jordan, but at the mention of the dance his eyes slide to me. He catches me smiling and grins. I can’t wait to dance with him. It will be our first public display of covert affection. I just hope we can continue to fool his family.

While I’m preoccupied with fantasies of dancing with Michael, my friends are up to something. Bailey, Duffy, Rachel, J.D., and Holden have been whispering off to the side. Then Bailey maneuvers J.D. to stand next to me. She is sporting her Cheshire cat grin, and I get suspicious. She nods at J.D., who then becomes shifty and bashful. Everyone goes quiet.

“Um, so, hey, Sophia? I was wondering if, you know …” He flushes and glances around. I realize they’ve sent J.D. to ask me to the dance.

My second heartbeat accelerates violently in my chest, and I feel a painful tug that nearly pulls me sideway. I flick a pleading glance at Michael just as I hear, “So how ’bout it? Wanna go to the dance?”

Sweet, shy, linebacker J.D. is looking at me with all the embarrassment and hope I’ve ever seen plastered on a face—a billboard sign that says,
Dear God, Please Don’t Shoot Me Down in Front of Everyone!

I bite my lip and stuff my hands into my pockets.
Damn, but I hate this. How do I say no?

Or do I?

Didn’t I joke to Michael that I would have to dance with other guys if I was going to dance with him? To keep up our secret charade? What better charade than having an actual date?

“C’mon, Sophia,” Rachel say brightly. “It’ll be fun! And J.D. is a great dancer, right, J?” He blushes and shrugs.

Duffy scoffs and starts gyrating against Bailey. “The place’ll be packed, nuts to butts. Maybe she’s too shy to twerk.”

“Oh, it’s not that,” I say, scrambling to think. “It’s just that—”

“Well, don’t say you’re not going!” Rachel wails. “You
have
to go! It’s our
senior
year! You have to do
everything
! For the
last
time!”

“
Da
, comrade tchotchke. You have to do everything.
Il grand finale
.” Bailey knocks me into J.D. He catches me by wrapping an arm around my shoulders. It feels like a hug, and I wiggle free and mutter an apology. Everybody laughs like we’re two pathetic wallflowers fumbling through the awkward stages of pubescence. My face is hot with
embarrassment, and I throw an inconspicuous look at Michael. He is ridged and impassive, but I see a storm gathering in his eyes.

“So it’s settled then,” Bailey says, and I give a timid nod.

Michael will eventually see that it’s the perfect cover. Right?

Michael steps back from the group. His face is stoic and his eyes are hard on me.

“Sophia, I have that book you wanted to borrow,” he says dispassionately. “I’ll be home later. Come by at eight to get it … or not at all.” He turns and walks out.

Because the roads are still heavy with snow, I follow the snowplow pushing its way west out of town toward Michael’s house. Dad didn’t like the idea of me going out this evening, but I insisted, saying I was in desperate need of homework help. Seeing his concern, I decided that when my training is complete and I’m officially a spirit walker, I’ll tell Dad everything. It’s not like I planned to keep this from him forever. I just don’t want him worrying or telling me not to do it.

In the meantime, I get to tell the Patronus family about my Ascended Master and my first day of training. I’m so excited I can hardly sit still. So as I plod along, I rehearse various dialogues to an audience of red taillights: “Hey everybody, guess what? I’m on my way to becoming a spirit walker!”
Yea! And the crowd goes wild!

Or: “Good evening dear friends and colleagues … you are now in the presence of a future spirit walker.”
Hmm
. How about: “Dude, I’m totally stoked to be a righteous spirit walker, azright!”

I laugh and take a deep breath. I’ve gotta calm down. I want this to come out halfway intelligent at least.

I park on the street and grab my astronomy book, otherwise called my cover story. Several times a week Michael and I meet on the pretext of studying. I’ve gotten over the humiliation that his family must think I’m slow in the head because I need so much tutoring; spending time with Michael has been worth falling on the intellectual sword.

I am greeted at the door by Milvi. She is stunning, as always, with her shimmering blond bob and violet eyes. We hug hello, and then I shrug out of my coat and hang it on a peg. She is here tonight because it’s the monthly extended-family dinner night, and the families are just having dessert and drinks in the living room. I’m invited to join them but I tell her I’m here to study with Michael.

“Oh, sorry. He’s out on a call,” she says casually, as though he’s out delivering pizza. I used to feel a wave of envy whenever Michael or his brothers were called to save souls. Now I’m flushed with excitement; it’s almost my turn to help.

Milvi leads the way into the living room. It’s a cozy, no-nonsense space with fat cushions, a crackling fire, and framed family photos. Michael’s mother, Katarina, and his Aunt Sasha are ensconced in a cutthroat chess match by the fireplace. Raph is watching a football game, Gabe is reading, and Uriel is feeding some strange bird perched on his shoulder. Michael’s father, Dimitri, and his Uncle Pavvo are carrying trays laden with coffee, tea, and pumpkin spice pie à la mode. When he sees me standing in the doorway, Dimitri’s face lights up.

“Sophia!” He sets his tray on the coffee table. “So glad to see you again. Please, come join us.” He has gained everyone’s attention, and I’m quickly offered warm greetings as the family looks my way.

“Hi, everybody.” I raise my textbook by way of explanation for intruding. “Test coming up so …”

I say this casually enough but I notice more than a few perceptive smiles. Surely they’re not suspicious. Or maybe they think I’m crushing on Michael, and they find it amusing? Maybe they feel sorry for me because they know Michael would never cross
that
spiritual line.

I settle into a chair and wonder if there will ever be a time when Michael and I can reveal our secret. Will our love always be in hiding?

Dimitri offers me a plate of dessert and a cup of tea. I accept, and place them on the end table. While everyone returns to their previous distractions, my mind runs over the last time Michael and I were together in front of the family. We did nothing to draw suspicion, so maybe I’m just being paranoid. Hiding my newest secret has me on edge and I dig into the pie for something to do.

It’s amazingly delicious but I eat slowly, biding time until I can spring my news. I’m nervous and jumpy like a kid on Christmas morning. My knee starts vibrating, and I keep glancing toward the door for Michael.

Uriel breaks up laughing. “Somebody spike the tea? ’Cause Sophia’s gonna bounce out of her chair.”

I look around the room and find everyone staring. I stop my knee and blush. “Sorry.” I bite into a smile because I can feel my secret rising to the surface.
I don’t know how much longer I can wait
.