Her Guardians: Her Guardians Trilogy Book 1 (5 page)

“Hey
, Twinkles. How you doing today?”

I was confused at the sudden nickname.
“Twinkles?”

“Yes
. Your light green eyes twinkle in the light. They really are rather beautiful.”

B
lushing, I turned to find an unamused Michael staring at us. I didn’t know why, but it felt as though I was doing something wrong. Michael always seemed to cause that reaction in me. There was nothing wrong with me talking to Stephen, so I didn’t know why I felt guilty all of a sudden. I could talk to whomever I wanted.

“So,” Stephen
sighed, diverting my attention. “How are you?”

I smile
d sweetly despite myself. I was suddenly angry at Michael for his abrupt attitude. “I’m fine, thank you. What about you?”

“Great, but doing much better now
that you’re here. Can I take you for a drink at lunch? I finish early today. A few of us are going, if that makes you feel better.”

I smile
d, thinking how much it seemed like he could read my mind. I made it a habit to turn people down as I knew their intentions. With Stephen, it all seemed mysteriously fascinating.

I
didn’t know why, but I said, “Yes, that would be lovely.” I probably wouldn’t have agreed if it wasn’t for the fact that other people would be going.

“That’s great.”
He beamed a great big smile. “I’ll see you at two, if that’s alright with you?”

“Sure thing
.” I thought I had better head off before I lost my footing a bit from that smile of his.

Turning around, I
was halfway up the stairs when I felt a tug at my arm. “What does Stephen want with you?”

With an abrupt spin
, I found Michael staring intently at me, almost glaring. “Excuse me?” I was confused as to why he was so interested all of a sudden.

“What
…does…he…want…with…you?”

This was just getting weirder and weirder by the second
, but I wasn’t going to back down. “Why do you want to know?”

“Are you going to tell me or do I have to guess?”

I couldn’t believe this. How
dare
he question me? He never acknowledged me and now he’s asking what another man wanted with me? He’d seen a few people ask me out, so why was Stephen different?

“He
asked if I wanted to go for drinks at lunchtime, that’s all. Why do you want to know, anyway? What’s the big deal?”

He looked down at the floor like he was ashamed.
The anger was still there, but I could tell he didn’t like the fact that he showed me it bothered him. “Nothing,” he huffed as he walked away.

He was serio
usly starting to piss me off.

Shrugging, I walked to my desk and got to work. About
an hour in, we all heard the news. I was walking past the TV room on the way to the photocopier room when I heard it.

“
Breaking news – A Wimbledon to Victoria train crashed today in what officials are saying is the worst underground train disaster in decades. Twenty people were killed, numerous others were injured as the train failed to slow down and even seemed to increase speed before it crashed into another on the same line.”

Everything seemed to come to a halt.
Time stood still and my head started spinning so badly that I thought I was going blind. It was then that the blackness took over.

**********

“Cassie? Cassie, can you hear me?”

I wasn’t aware of anything at first. My eyes were shut and I didn’t quite know where I was.
For a moment, I thought I must have been dreaming.

“Someone get
some water!” I heard a voice shout.

O
pening my eyes, I found Kali, Paul, and another officer, Trevor, staring down at me.

“What happened?” I was
confused and disorientated, and I didn’t know why I was lying on the floor.

“You passed out.
You started mumbling about saving someone and asking about Lisa-Marie.” Paul looked down with concern.

Making
a feeble attempt to get up, I stumbled as two sets of arms held me in place. I still felt a little dazed, but the memories were starting to come flooding back. I felt sick.

I was pulled into th
e TV room so that I could sit and take a few deep breaths to calm myself down. I wasn’t sure how I could explain all this. I had to try, though.

“Are you ok
ay?” Kali frowned and handed me some water.

N
odding my head, I gave her a weak smile.

“Do you want to talk abou
t it?” Paul diverted my attention, the concerned look never wavering.

“No
. It’s okay, Paul. I haven’t eaten anything this morning and I think my body was just disapproving, that’s all.”

“Can I ask who Lisa-Marie is?”

Looking over at Kali, she instantly knew. Paul was just intrigued, like the police officer he was. “She’s just a friend. I’ve been worrying about her lately. I suppose she must be in my subconscious somewhere.” I hated lying, but what else could I do?

“I need
to use the bathroom.” I just wanted to escape.

G
etting up, they started fussing around me. “I’m okay, honestly.”

I waste
d no time walking to the bathroom. Kali followed me in there and, as soon as I knew we were alone, I pulled her in for a hug.

“All those people
, Kali; all those deaths. I knew it was going to happen and I did nothing about it. I saw it this morning. Lisa-Marie is the girl who gave me the vision. I met her when I fell on some ice and she helped me up.

“
Kali, what am I going to do? I have all these deaths on my conscience now. How am I going to live with myself?”

Pulling
away, she looked at me. “Cassie, you can’t blame yourself for this. It was obviously meant to be. Sometimes bad things are meant to happen. Call it fate, if you will.”

She
stood there silently for a while and wiped a tear from my eye. “Look,” she began, “what could you have possibly done? If you told London Transport, for instance, they would have thought you a nut-job and laughed at you. We both know that’s not the case, but they don’t know that. Don’t you think that the accident would have happened whether you had said something or not?”

What she said made sense.
I still felt really bad, though, and I was really concerned for Lisa-Marie. I may never know if she got on that train or not. I suppose, at some point, they will release the names of everyone who died, but I don’t think I really want to see it. I felt bad enough without knowing who they were—knowing they had names, lives, and families who will miss them.

“Thanks
, Kali. You’re right, of course. You always are.” I smiled at her and she rewarded me with a sympathetic smile of her own.

“That’s better.
Just remember, you can’t save everyone. It’s what makes the world go ‘round.”

I nod
ded, knowing how true a friend Kali was. She seemed to always know the right things to say and it made me feel better, but I still felt a huge pang of guilt.

Once I was out of the bathroom, Paul came rushing over to me and gave me two cereal bars with strict instructions to eat them both. It was nice of him to do, but I was still very wary of him. He may have good intentions, but he was fiercely possessive. I certainly didn’t want him to think that by looking after me, he could lay some sort of claim.

**********

At two o’clock, Stephen walked up to my desk, smiling his devilish grin. I was warming to him in a very big, strange, sexy kind of way—although I still felt bad for the fact that Kali met him first and liked him before me. I knew she said she didn’t care now, but I still felt a little guilty. It’s not what friends do to one another. I know I would be pissed as hell if she suddenly started finding Michael attractive. It just didn’t feel right.

“Are you ready to go?
” He stood there, eyebrow raised, and I felt the heat rise a little.

“Yes
. I didn’t realise you were going to pick me up.”

“Door
-to-door service. Only the best for you, Twinkles.” He smiled and my heart fluttered a little. I’m in so much trouble!

On our way out
, we passed Kali. She took her lunch earlier than me as she had a hair appointment. Whoever her hairdresser was, they had done a good job.

“Wow
, Kali. Your hair looks fantastic.”

“Thanks,” she said
, flicking her blonde locks. “I take it you’re going for drinks now?”

Stephen smiled brightly in her direction.
“Yep, a few are already waiting. It’s a pity you couldn’t come.”

I
didn’t know why, but I felt a tiny stab of disappointment when he said this.

“That’s ok
ay,” she replied, interrupting my thoughts. “I’m sure there will be other times. Anyway, better get back to work. Enjoy your drinks.”

Kali
trotted off and it wasn’t long before we found ourselves outside in the freezing cold. It hit you the minute you stepped out the door.

I
n our small moment of silence, I started to wonder about poor Lisa-Marie again. I felt especially bad for her because I touched her. I now knew about her and the lovely family she would leave behind if she were gone.

“What’s the matter
, Twinkles? I didn’t upset you by saying it was a pity that Kali wasn’t coming, did I? I was only saying it to be polite.”

I gasped a little
, wanting him to see how much I thought that was preposterous, even though he kind of hit the nail on the head. “Of course not. Why would I be upset? You can ask whomever you want out. It’s none of my business.” I was probably a little too eager to point that out to him. It looked as though he felt that way, too, as that devilish grin appeared on his face again.

“You’re a very interesting
girl, you know that, Twinkles?”

I shook my head in disbelief.
“I don’t know why you find me so interesting. There is nothing special about me. Nothing at all.”

“Oh, I highly doubt that
, Cassie. You are one special lady, and I won’t hear any different. Next time you put yourself down like that, I may have to get my handcuffs out and arrest you.”

I nearly gasped
again. I didn’t know whether that was innuendo or not, but it certainly sounded like it. Little did he know!

“A policeman threatening me with handcuffs.
How so cliché.” I giggled, feeling a little lightheaded from his presence.

“Quite the feisty one
, I see. I think I may have to watch you more closely. You’re a little devil beneath that innocent, calm exterior of yours.”

“I
don’t know what you mean.” I acted as though I was really astonished by his outburst, but I imagine I was failing miserably.

“Hmm,” h
e mused. “You’re a tough egg to crack. A mysterious girl with the most beautiful green eyes.”

My face flushed and he noticed
right away. “See, a girl without the innocence you possess wouldn’t blush as scarlet as you just did now, would she? I told you I was right.”

I huff
ed a little, annoyed with him, but I was still intrigued by his charm and wit. The fact that I still didn’t know who he was frustrated the hell out of me. I think I was just as fascinated with him as he obviously was with me, although I couldn’t fathom why.

We stop
ped by a local deli to buy some sandwiches. I didn’t realise how hungry I was until we started digging into them.

“You know
, you look rather cute when you eat.” Stephen smiled over at me and I couldn’t help the little rise of heat to my cheeks.

“Thank you for the sandwich.”
I was trying to avoid this sudden, rising need to grab him and kiss him. I didn’t know from where that was coming. It was almost as if I knew him already. He gave me a sense of calm and peace that I’ve never had with anyone before.

“You’re very welcome, Twinkles.
Are you ready to hit the bar now?”

I smile
d the biggest, cheekiest grin I could muster. “Oh, yes.”

Grinning back
, he shook his head. “Oh, Twinkles…”

I didn’t know what that meant
, but it felt good that I obviously affected him in some way. It was making me feel certain things I had never felt before. Whether that was welcome or not, I had yet to find out.

Walk
ing into the local pub called The Three Horseshoes, a team of guys were already waiting. I didn’t realise I would be the only girl in this little gathering. It was a bit too much testosterone for my liking.