Autumn Storm (7 page)

The guy she’d seen leaving the kitchen who
watched the stars with her.

The memory escaped her again. She was
getting sick of a place that seemed welcoming yet left her so
frustrated.

“How’s Dawn treatin’ you?” he asked as they
neared the stadium. “She’s not easy to get along with.”

“No, she’s not,” she agreed. “She leaves me
alone, though, for the most part.”

“That’s good. She can be a real bitch to new
girls.”

“I think we’ll end up in an argument
soon.”

“Careful. She holds no punches,” he warned.
“If it comes to that, move out. Trust me on this one.”

They entered the stadium. The game was
going, and the bleachers half full. Autumn looked around, enjoying
the excitement in the cool air. With Beck’s soothing touch taking
away her pain, she felt good for the first time in weeks. The wind
sang to her. It was as excited as the fans. The other team’s
marching band blared as they scored, and she jumped.

“You alright?” Beck asked, glancing down at
her with a smile.

“Yeah.”

He turned his attention back to the stands,
searching for his friends. She gazed around again, enamored by the
sense of excitement and normalcy. They climbed the stairs, and Beck
stood aside to let her pass. Biji waved at them.

Biji.

Autumn almost stopped, startled she knew the
name of the little Indian girl standing on a bench. Her gaze locked
on the face that was familiar.

“Biji, Elena, Dylan, this is Autumn, one of
the new girls. And you know Adam and Jenna,” Beck said, motioning
to the five figures waiting for them.

“Hi, Autumn!” Biji and Jenna chorused.

Jenna waved, and Adam smiled. Autumn sat
down beside Biji while Beck sat beside her.

“Beck, I thought you were playing,” Biji
said, leaning around her. Her British accent was thick.

“Maybe next week,” Beck said with a shrug.
“Football isn’t my thing anyway.”

“He’s got issues,” Biji whispered to Autumn
then grinned. “When did you get here?”

“Yesterday.”

Biji’s smile and voice were familiar. Her
makeup was flawless and her hair shining with health. Autumn felt
happy next to the girl. She saw the air lift a lock of Biji’s hair
and realized Biji was an air element like her.

“It’s a good school. We had a rough summer
but …” Biji’s gaze grew dark. “Anyway, who are you rooming
with?”

“Dawn.”

“Oh, god. I hate that girl! Why she hasn’t
crossed to the Dark yet, I don’t know. She’s a bitch.”

Surprised by the vehemence, Autumn glanced
at her.

“Happy thoughts, Biji,” Beck said. “You’re
too cute to be angry.”

“I totally am, boss.” Biji rolled her
eyes.

Autumn listened as the students talked
around her. She met Jenna’s gaze more than once. The bubbly
brunette smiled in response as she, too, absorbed the dynamics and
gossip that flew around them.

“It seems like such a positive place,” Jenna
broke into the conversation at last. “I asked Amber, but she
wouldn’t tell me about the memorial.”

Autumn looked at Biji as the whole group
fell silent. The Indian girl pursed her lips and stared at the
football field. Tension filled the air, and no one spoke. Jenna’s
face reddened as the silence lengthened.

“How about some cocoa?” Autumn asked,
looking at Beck.

“Great idea,” he said and stood. “How many
cocoas?”

Everyone raised their hands.

“C’mon.” Beck held out his hand to Autumn.
She took it, and he pulled her up.

They made their way through the bleachers to
the concession stand and stood in line.

“Good call,” Beck said, his smile back.
“Kind of a touchy subject.”

“I noticed. Must’ve been tragic.” She wasn’t
sure she wanted to know, recalling the strange chill and how the
whispering elements fell silent.

“Yeah.” His gaze was distant. “You want
anything else?”

She shook her head. “I’m going to find the
bathrooms, though.”

“I’ll probably still be right here,” he
said, lifting his chin to indicate the long line of students
between them and the stand. He released her arm.

Autumn smiled at him again and shifted her
cane. She’d seen two small buildings between the bleachers. She
walked in the narrow walkway behind the stands, listening to the
marching band and cheering crowd.

Being at a football game on a Friday night
on a date … This was how life should be. Except for the weird
superpowers the kids at their school had. She smiled to herself,
amused. It was so much better than sitting in a hospital bed
waiting for the last round of drugs before bedtime.

Three guys who looked more like college
students than high school were walking towards her. Autumn pressed
herself against the wall as they passed, but her cane tripped one.
He stumbled then turned and stared at her.

“What the hell! You tripped me?” he snapped.
His eyes were glazed, unfocused, and she saw one of them shove a
bag of what looked like weed into his pocket.

“Sorry,” she murmured and hurried away.

He snatched her before she’d gotten a few
steps.

“Look, bitch, you don’t just go around
tripping people!” He shoved her against one of his friends as he
spoke.

Autumn’s breath caught. They all had the
same glazed, drugged look she used to have after taking her pain
meds.

“Look, I’m sorry I-“ she started.

“Maybe you should teach her a little lesson,
Mark.” The next one shoved her.

“I just might.” The original guy grabbed her
again.

“Maybe you should let her go.” The fourth
voice was a low growl and came from behind her.

“Look, Mark, someone thinks they’re gonna be
a hero.”

The nearest lights on either side winked
out, leaving them in the dark.

She heard a footfall a moment before the
sound of someone’s fist smashed into the face of another. Autumn
was flung against the wall, and she landed in a heap, unable to see
much of what happened in the dark of the walkway. There was a lot
of scuffling and cursing, the sound of flesh-on-flesh blows then
sudden silence.

The light nearest her turned back on. A hand
was extended in front of her. Autumn stared at the dark jeans of
the teen, startled she didn’t see someone close enough to touch
her. She took his hand, and he pulled her up. Cool electricity spun
through her and sizzled in her blood, setting it afire.

His magic’s invasion was too intimate. She
yanked away and looked up. The night clung to the guy before her,
obscuring the true size and width of his frame. He was athletic,
with a swimmer’s wide shoulders, muscular chest and lean legs. His
features were chiseled, his penetrating gaze as dark as the night.
His magick was compelling but terrifying, like the devil offering a
deepest wish without revealing the price. He stood close enough for
his cool shadows to caress her heated skin. His scent was a heady
combination of man and night.

“Thank you,” she whispered. Overwhelmed by
his presence, she took a step back and turned to leave.

He was in front of her again. Her breath
caught. She shouldn’t find his sensual darkness appealing. She
shouldn’t feel intense desire coiling in her lower belly and flying
through her blood. Standing toe-to-toe with him, she shouldn’t feel
truly alive for the first time she could remember.

He held her gaze, and she heard her own
uneven breathing.

“Are you okay?” His voice was unexpectedly
soft.

“Yes,” she replied.

His gaze grew more intense. “Who are-“

“God, Decker, don’t scare this one away!”
Beck’s voice came from behind her. The guy before her looked up,
and she realized how similar his features were to Beck’s. “Decker,
meet Autumn, my
date
. Autumn, my terrifying brother,
Decker.” Beck was tenser than she’d seen him yet.

She’d felt a connection to Beck the first
time their eyes met. It made sense she’d know his twin, but she
didn’t. It wasn’t like meeting someone like Jenna, who she’d never
known. It was more like the disturbing feeling she got when she
walked near the forbidden path at the school. There was a strange
block with Decker, too.

“You shouldn’t let her walk alone after
dark,” Decker said.

“I know that,” Beck snapped.

The two brothers glared at each other. Beck
held two beverage carriers. His gaze went to the three guys Decker
had hit then to Autumn.

“You okay?” he asked, concerned.

She nodded and bent carefully to retrieve
her cane. Beck was tense, his gaze riveted to his brother.

“You okay, Decker?” he asked.

“Last one standing, as usual.”

Autumn wasn’t sure if she should smile at
the wry comment or not. She feared looking up at the dark-eyed twin
in case she fell again into the strange spell and ended up in his
arms this night instead of Beck’s car, where she belonged. There
was something about Decker that made her body sing, and it scared
her. If she remembered Biji’s name, she should remember a feeling
that strong!

Yet there was a hole in her memory when it
came to Decker.

“I’ll call you later,” Beck said. “We’ve got
people waiting for their cocoa.”

He stepped aside, so she could go ahead of
him. Autumn did without looking at Decker.

“What happened?” Beck asked after a few
steps.

“I don’t really know. Those three guys were
walking down the sidewalk. I moved so they could pass but bumped
one. He just went crazy,” she said, shivering. “I think they were
on drugs. They pushed me around a little, until your brother
stepped in.”

“You’re sure you’re ok?”

“I’m fine,” she said, smiling up at him.

“I can take you home.”

“No, no, I’m okay, Beck. Thank you.”

“I’m such a dick,” he muttered. “I knew
better. No one goes out after dark without a buddy. It’s one of
Amber’s rules.”

“You couldn’t know,” she said. “We’re in a
public place.”

“Totally my fault. I’m so sorry, Autumn.”
His voice was hushed.

Touched by his concern, she couldn’t help
thinking there was another reason he was upset. He and his brother
clearly weren’t on good terms. She sensed they would’ve fought each
other, if she hadn’t been there.

“It’s not your fault, Beck,” she
replied.

“I still feel like crap.”

“Thank you for caring.”

“You’re welcome. For the record, anywhere
you go after dark, I go with you, okay? Even if you have to beat on
my door in the middle of the night.” His features were grave.

“Okay.” She agreed to make him feel better,
but it seemed weird for him to be so serious about it. While shaken
by the three thugs, she was more shaken by his brother.

She’d never felt such fire in her blood. Her
body came to life with one touch from Decker. Something about their
brief meeting made her want to know more.

They rejoined the others. Autumn handed
drinks down the line until everyone had one then sat down beside
Biji again. She barely paid attention to the game. She couldn’t
stop thinking about the run-in with Decker. She felt guilty
thinking of him while on a date with Beck.

After the game, Beck took her arm and walked
to his car. She sank into the comfortable seat, another warm cup of
cocoa in her hands. The night had grown cold quick. Beck pulled out
of the stadium parking lot and onto the main road through the
border town of Newport.

“Thanks for bringing me with you,” she said,
leaning her head against the headrest.

“You’re welcome. Sorry about the issue,
though.”

“It’s okay, really.”

“I’ve gotta run a few errands tomorrow, but
do you want to hang out Sunday?” he asked.

“Sure.” Secretly, she was cheering at the
invitation.

“Did you have any more of your mind reading
déjà vu?” he teased.

“With Biji, yes,” she replied. “What a
sweetheart. I feel like I know her, too.”

“Yeah, she’s a good girl. She’s loyal, too.
She beat up Dawn once. Dawn got mouthy with one of her
friends.”

“So that’s why she dislikes Dawn,” Autumn
said, smiling. “She’s little, but I can totally see her doing
that.”

“She’s a fireball. No déjà vu with Jenna or
Decker or anyone else?”

“My déjà vu talk doesn’t weird you out?” she
asked.

“Seriously?” He glanced at her. “You just
discovered we all have magic powers and you think déjà vu weirds me
out?”

She laughed.

“I think some things in life are meant to
be. Makes sense you’d feel déjà vu when you find where you’re
supposed to be,” he said with a shrug.

“I guess.”

“You don’t think so?”

“I do.” She chewed her lower lip. It was
more than simply knowing where she should be. She really felt she’d
been here before.

“But…” he prodded.

“It’s silly.”

“What?”

“Well …” She hesitated again. “I don’t feel
it with everyone and everything. It seems like selective déjà
vu.”

“You felt it with me but not Decker?”

“Right. Isn’t that weird?”

“Yeah, it kinda is,” he admitted.

“Sorry,” she murmured. “I’ve been trying to
figure out my world again since the accident. It’s like, I can
almost reach the memories but then they’re gone. I think I visited
Priest Lake when I was little, because I knew where the road went
through town before the van driver took us that way last week. Is
this part of our magick? Maybe glimpsing the future?”

“No. Our abilities are derived from nature.”
He seemed tense again.

“I’ll stop rambling,” she said.

“How long did the doctors say it’d take for
your amnesia to clear?”

“They didn’t know. They said my memory could
come back suddenly or never.”

“And you don’t know who you are in the
meantime.”

“No,” she whispered.

“Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to rub it
in.” He cleared his throat. “You know, considering all that, you’re
a lot more … normal than just about everyone else I know.”