Crossings: A Sovereign Guardians Novel (9 page)

The spell was broken.

Before he could move, I leaned in and whispered, “Just so you know, you seem to have a little bit of paint, right there."

I deliberately touched the paint with the tip of my finger and then artfully rubbed it across his face, leaving a design that faintly resembled war paint.

Keller finally reacted.

His nostrils flared as he ground out, "Oh, sweetheart. I'm not sure if you realize what you've done. Hope you’ve heard that if you dish it out, you better be able to take it."

Never one to back down from a challenge, I bit my bottom lip, and his eyes hungrily followed my gesture. The full grin on his face told me he liked what was about to happen.

Leaving me no time to react, Keller pulled me close and whispered against my ear, "Oh, it's on, sweetheart."

He twisted the paint brush out of my hand and ran it through my hair, leaving a long streak of blue down the side. The mixture ran through the thick strands and then dripped down onto my already stained shirt.

Looking at Keller's crooked grin, I couldn't tell quite how he expected me to react, but when I burst out laughing, his answering grin echoed my feelings.

There was nothing like a good challenge.

Not ready to lose, I twisted away from him and then reached down and found an open can of paint. I dipped my hand in the liquid and mercilessly ran four fingers of blue paint straight down the front of his shirt.

His eyes barely skimmed the mess I'd made before he ran straight at me. I barely had time to let out a gasp, much less move out of his way, before his strong arms grabbed me around the waist and hauled me back against his chest.

Once he was sure I was trapped, he moved against me so that the paint I'd baptized him with now seeped onto the back of my own shirt.

He didn't stop there.

His other hand began tickling me at my side so that I couldn't stay still. My movements caused the paint to spread even more, smearing all over both of us. As Keller held me tighter, I refused to admit how much I enjoyed the feel of his body against mine.

Definitely the stronger of the two of us, Keller turned me around until I was facing him, caught in the circle of his arms. With the paint on his face still wet, he bent his head forward and smeared his cheek against the side of mine.

All the laughter stuck in my throat. Keller’s hand reached up and caressed my cheek. His lips formed my name.

“Pagan -"

"Maybe you two shouldn't play together."

Ganger’s voice was like ice water on a fire. Keller moved away from me so quickly, I was left trying to catch my balance.

We both looked sheepishly at the ground and then at each other and back at Granger before we burst out laughing.

Granger rolled his eyes. His hand snaked out and grabbed mine, still wet with paint, and pulled me away before I could say anything.

I glanced back over my shoulder and saw Keller was smiling. I couldn’t stop the warm glow that filled me when I noticed his gaze stayed glued to me the entire way until Granger and I walked out of sight.

In the lobby I caught a glimpse of myself reflected in the glass of the trophy case.

I was a mess.

There was paint in my hair, down my arms, and all over my clothes. I should have been mortified, but for some reason I couldn't stop grinning.

Granger threw a towel at me, but he didn't say another word. I wiped off what I could of the quickly drying paint, and then I moved over to obediently hold the ladder as I’d promised, so he could finish hanging the signs.

The minute Granger was finished and safely back down on the ground, I mumbled an excuse about needing to go, leaving him no chance to ask me to stay.

Instead of heading in the direction of the nearest exit, I found myself moving back inside. My eyes quickly scanned the gym. I pretended that I only wanted to make sure the signs I had painted were all where they should be and that the background for the photo booth looked perfect, but even I wasn’t buying my own excuses.

Keller was gone.

Someone had already straightened up the spot where I'd been painting earlier, and I realized Faith was obviously finished because her own area was now cleaned up as well and there was no sign of her.

Sighing, I tried not to examine too closely why I felt so disappointed.

With no other excuse to stay, I slipped out the side door of the gymnasium, oddly reluctant to go back through the lobby before I headed home.

Chapter Five

The ball that hit me on the side of my head only hurt for a second.

The snickers and laughs from everyone in my gym class hurt only a little longer.

"Sorry about that, Miss Saunders. Are you okay?"

The insincere words came from the gym teacher. I was sure Coach Barr only asked about my injury to make sure he wouldn't have to fill out an accident form - something he'd already had to do twice since I'd joined his class.

The quick nod of my head was all the affirmation he needed before he blew his whistle to continue the game that everyone else seemed to love, but that I believed was actually some type of cruel and unusual punishment.

I simply did not understand why my school day had to end with physical education. Under normal circumstances a junior would not have to take a year of gym. That requirement would have been finished by the end of sophomore year, but thanks to a mess up in my transferred classes from the different schools I'd attended, I lacked the required full credit in physical education that I needed to graduate next year. So other than a few guys in my gym class who obviously weren't fans of the type of recreational fun school was offering, if the smoke smell that clung to their clothes was what I thought it was, I was one of only a handful of juniors stuck taking gym each day with a bunch of underclassmen.

Every second was pure torture.

The
only
bright spot to ending each day with gym class was that at least I didn't have to walk around school all day feeling gross, not that I participated enough to actually get sweaty, but simply being around so much testosterone in competition made me feel like I needed about five showers to get clean again. The other bad part, besides the actual physical activity, was dreading the end of school each and every day instead of looking forward to it like any normal seventeen-year- old girl would do.

Mercifully, the bell finally rang, and I mentally checked off one more day of my required persecution. The sound was my signal to freedom, and I didn't hesitate to respond.

I headed straight to the locker room, not bothering to stay and see the end of the game for those obsessed enough to keep playing even after the bell had rung. I had no desire to see who would win yet another game of battle ball. I rubbed the now sore spot on the side of my head and grimaced slightly. I just didn't understand a game where throwing a ball at someone was considered an accomplishment.

After a quick spray of an amazing smelling scent Faith had given me, I changed back into the clothes I'd worn during school, threw my shorts and shirt into my smaller gym bag, and grabbed my backpack from my gym locker. Five minutes later I was outside in the parking lot and ready to leave.

Usually I walked to school, but the weather had called for storms. The rain falling from the sky confirmed the meteorologists had actually gotten it right this time, and for once I was glad I had driven.

The truck Gran had given me sat all alone in the back lot. Most of the students had parking spaces at the front or sides of the school. Because I had moved in late, I was given one of the few places still available. According to Faith, the back of the school was once a much larger parking lot, but additions made to the gym and the green houses that were part of the agriculture building had all but devoured the area of extra spaces.

Not overly found of my rusty ride, I was totally fine with parking in Egypt, as the other students lovingly called this section of the campus. It wasn't that I was vain or one of those teenagers who thought they needed a brand new vehicle, but I knew people often judged each other by the type of car they drove.

I wasn't quite sure what the truck said about me, but I still had some hopes of fitting in at Jasper and having as normal
of a high school experience as someone like me could have. Having everyone suspect the truth, that my father sent me away to boarding school because he didn't want me around, well, that part of my past was a bit harder to overcome. But I was trying. Having the oldest vehicle in the parking lot probably wouldn't boost my popularity, and even I was vain enough to admit that.

This afternoon I'd decided not to go straight home. I wanted to drive into town and see if I could find any place where I could get a job.

Downtown Jasper consisted of exactly one stoplight and two stop signs. I wasn't sure how many job opportunities such a thriving metropolis might offer, but I knew I'd never find out unless I tried.

Gran was against the idea of my working even though she hadn't exactly forbidden it. She'd assured me over and over that it wasn't necessary for me to get a job, but I needed to try. Even at Fairvue, she kept my chores limited. I’d offered to help clean out my father’s room and take his things to a charity, but when I’d mentioned it, I saw a side of Gran I’d never seen before. She’d become extremely upset and forbidden me to ever go into his room. It reminded me that no matter how I’d felt about my father, he had been her son and she’d loved him. Maybe, eventually, the pain for her would lessen enough that we could take care of his things. I’d never been allowed in his room before, even on my visits home, and I was a little curious to see what his inner sanctum looked like. I assumed it was probably as cold and sterile as the man himself had been.

Two hours later I was more than a little disappointed over my search. I had only been able to get one job application. Few places in town were hiring, and those that were hiring needed help during school hours, something I couldn't do until summer.

The application I did take wasn't exactly promising. It was for a job as a waitress at a small diner beside the courthouse, but the spot would only become available if the waitress who now had the position decided to move to Michigan to live with her grandmother. The manager asked me to take the form and complete it, but he said not to bring it by unless he called. I gave him Gran's number and left without much hope of actually getting the job.

How was I was supposed to help Gran pay for things or ever get my own cell phone if I couldn't find something? The sigh that escaped me sounded loud even to my own ears. Lost in thought, I wasn’t really watching where I was going, so I was surprised when a familiar voice called out my name at the same moment strong fingers reached out and grabbed my arm in an attempt to stop me.

“Granger!”

His return smile was genuine. “What on earth are you doing here?” His hand slipped from my arm as I stopped and turned toward him, a pleased smile forming on my face. It was nice to have such an attractive diversion from my otherwise depressing thoughts.

Granger’s answering gaze was equally friendly, and he looked pleased to see me outside of school. I so often only saw him whenever Keller was around, that it seemed strange for him to be alone. Without his usual smirking partner, I felt myself immediately relaxing around him.

“I came to pick up an order I’d called in at the diner,” Granger explained. Looking at the time on his phone he added, “Unfortunately, I got here a little early, and I know my food isn’t going to be ready.”

His eyes seemed to be searching for something as he looked at my face, while one hand twisted the chain he wore around his neck. Feeling his steady gaze on me, I should have felt nervous. Having his full attention on me without Faith here as a buffer or Keller as an added distraction was definitely different, but a good kind of different.

“Do you think you could keep me company while I wait for my food?” His expression was hopeful, and I surprised myself by realizing I didn’t want to say no.

He sweetened the deal by adding, “I’ll buy you a milkshake while we wait.”

I laughed at the offer, wondering out loud how he knew my weak spot was a strawberry shake.

Granger’s hand reached out and touched the small of my back before expertly guiding me back inside the restaurant as he added, “Everyone has their own kryptonite. Strawberry shakes aren’t such a bad weakness.”

We slid into a small corner booth, sitting across from each other. A waitress appeared almost instantly setting two glasses of water at our table. I couldn’t help but grin a little when Granger ordered two strawberry shakes.

“Strawberry is your favorite flavor, too?” I asked.

His smile lit up his eyes as he answered. “Maybe I trust your opinion. Besides, strawberries are red and I already told you, red is my favorite color.”

He winked at me, reminding me of our conversation on the first day we’d met. I could feel my face blushing at the memory, and the sight of my cheeks going red seemed to please him.

Mercifully, he changed the subject. “Honestly, I haven’t eaten here too many times, so I’m definitely open to suggestions and more than willing to trust the opinion of a local.”

Granger looked comfortable in the booth, spreading his arms across the table, and suddenly the space seemed much smaller than it had before. The muscles in his arms caught my attention and I had a hard time looking away when he leaned forward, taking up even more of the already crowded booth.

“So, do you like hanging out in town after school, or did your Gran send you out on an errand this afternoon?”

Not minding his curiosity, I answered readily. “I was trying to find employment, but unfortunately no one seems to be hiring.”

Granger’s hands reached across the table, his fingers brushing near mine as he said with concern, “Do you really need to get a job? Are things okay with Ms. Ellie?”

Seeing the genuine concern in his eyes, I reached out and covered his hands with mine.

"There’s nothing wrong, but that’s really sweet of you to be concerned. I just want to try and pull my own weight since Gran has taken me in and is raising me now. Being a burden on her is something I don’t ever want to be. I thought if I could make some money then I could pay for a phone and a few other things I want instead of having to ask her for anything else.”

Granger’s thumb absently rubbed the side of my hand. I looked down, and realized what I had done. Slightly embarrassed, I slipped my hands away from his and took a quick sip of water from the glass in front of me.

The waitress arrived at that moment with our shakes. Freeing my straw from its paper, I immediately put it into my glass and took a satisfying slurp from my drink as Granger did the same. The taste was so delicious I closed my eyes for a moment, simply enjoying the feel of the cool mixture as it slid down my throat.

I opened my eyes and found Granger staring at me. From the look in his eyes I could tell he was enjoying his own taste of ice cream heaven.

“This is the best milkshake I’ve ever had in my life.” The surprise in Granger’s voice was obvious.

I eyed him thoughtfully. “So you didn’t really trust my judgment?” I teased.

“Oh, no. I did, I mean, I do trust your judgment. I simply had no idea that anything here could taste this heavenly.”

He grinned when he finished talking, like he had some kind of private joke he wasn’t willing to share. Not knowing what it could be, I simply nodded my head in agreement.

“I don’t have a lot of memories about when I lived here in Jasper when I was younger, but strawberry milkshakes are definitely a part of my past. If I didn’t cry when I went to the doctor, I can remember Gran bringing me here for one of these.” I took another sip of the wonderful drink and then added, “I can see why such bribery did the trick.”

“If you don’t mind my asking,” Granger said, “why do you want to be here now after living away from home for so long? Don’t you miss any of the friends you had from school?"

It wasn’t an unreasonable question, but I didn’t know how much I could answer without revealing too much of my past. People suspected a lot about what had happened to me and why my father had sent me away, but I wouldn’t say anything bad about my father if it meant hurting Gran.

My shoulders shrugged in response to Granger’s question, and I was careful not to give too much away.

“Oh, you know how things are. Sometimes you have friends that are simply more convenient than anything else. That’s how it was for me. I was never really that close to anyone at boarding school. There’s no one there I miss. In fact, I don’t plan to leave here again. Fairvue is my home."

I took another huge slurp of my shake, surprised to find I’d already hit the bottom. The noise I made with my straw should have been rude, but I found the slurp to be slightly therapeutic, knowing I’d finished the first of many shakes yet to come while living in Jasper.

Granger nodded his head as I finished my speech. “I get what you mean about some friends only being there because it’s convenient, but I can’t help but wonder-”

“What?”

“Nothing, really. It’s not any of my business.”

I smiled a little, trying to encourage him. “Whatever it is, it’s okay. Just ask. If it’s something I can’t answer, then I won’t, but you won’t know until you ask.”

“It’s just that Keller mentioned to me once that Ms. Ellie and Mr. Mac like to go on weekend trips, and I know that must leave you home alone. Whereas when you were off at boarding school there were probably always lots of people around to help you feel safe.”

My eyes narrowed at his choice of words.

There was no way Granger could know how many times I’d felt like something was watching me. How many times I’d felt like I would never be safe from whatever it was that was out there, always close but just out of sight. If I told him or anyone else about the feelings I’d had for years, that something evil was following me, watching me, I knew I’d sound crazy. Sometimes I was pretty sure I was going crazy, and I was the only one who knew it was real.