Parahuman (Parahuman Series) (15 page)

     “I’m
really sorry about the tire, and I’m really
really
sorry about Jarrod,
but I had a good time tonight.” Laney had to hold her tongue because so much
more wanted to explode from her mouth.

    
Devan’s gaze settled on Laney’s hand. His grip tightened on the steering
wheel—Laney forced her hand to stay put—and then his hands relaxed as though he
willed them to. Laney expelled the breath that she had been unconsciously
holding, and finally noticed that Devan’s arm was extremely warm, and that his
arm hair was exceptionally soft…for a guy’s. She was scarcely able to stop
herself from caressing it.

     A
sigh blew from Devan’s mouth and he looked like he was about to say something,
but then his head lifted from their adjoin flesh.

     “I
think Nick is wondering what is going on.”

     Laney
snatched her hand away reflexively. It was weird having your dad witness a
potential touchy feely moment with
a
boy
. Talk about awkward.

    
Glancing up at the house Laney couldn’t see her father anywhere. The only light
came from the living room window and he wasn’t there, unless he was peeking
from around a curtain and Laney couldn’t see her father doing something that
sneaky.

     “How
do you know? I can’t see him anywhere.” Laney squinted real hard at the window
curtains.

     “He’s
at the front door, waiting.”

     Just
then the inside front hallway light switched on illuminating her father’s face
in the window, with a crater size frown etched between his brows. The outside
front porch light flickered off and on. How Devan has seen her dad in that
pitch black nothingness of a window was a mystery? But then that described just
about everything about Devan.

     “I
guess that’s my signal.” Prior to his ‘thank you’ Laney couldn’t wait to hurl
herself from the jeep, now she reluctantly slid out. The ‘thank you’ had
changed her entire view of the past conversation.

    
Standing in the open door Laney stared at Devan. He appeared to be studying his
fingers that were once again gripping and relaxing on the steering wheel. His
head tilted her way slightly and his eye seemed to glow for a second before he
tilted his face away. Trick of the light?

     “So I
guess I will see you tomorrow.” Laney said softly.

     “I
imagine, seeing as the school only houses fifty six students.”

     Many
people’s tone would have been humorous, sarcastic, or even ironic, but not
Devan’s. He stated those words ever so matter-of-factly. That’s what made them
so…Devan.

     He shifted
the jeep into drive. “Goodbye Laney.”

     Laney
stepped back from the Jeep and watched as Devan drove away, and tried really
hard not to take his aloof manner to heart.

     It
was hard though.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

     Devan
pulled a U-turn, watching Laney in his review mirror as he drove away. He could
see her eyes puckered in bewilderment. Devan understood where her confusion was
coming from. She had taken him to a very special place of hers tonight, they
had conversed candidly—or as candidly as he could—and then the next minute he
was basically snubbing her.

     He
had been purposely antisocial, but this at least was sure to keep her away from
him. Jarrod was too much of a wild card, and Devan’s only hope of avoiding
unwanted attention was to accede to Jarrod’s requests or threats, as they were.
Hopefully, withdrawing from the job position and keeping his distance from
Laney would turn Jarrod’s attention back to his other interests: such as;
pulling the wings off butterflies, blowing up frogs with firecrackers, or tying
two cats’ tails together and letting them go at it.

     Devan
hit the dashboard with his fist, shocked by the aggression coursing through him.
He’d been irritated at other people before, but the depth of the emotion he was
feeling now eclipsed all those other experiences.

    
Turning right, Devan drove through town yet again heading for the cliff they
had climbed this afternoon. He needed to vent some energy. 

    
Parking in the same spot, Devan jumped from the jeep and sprinted to the base
of the cliff and immediately began climbing. He didn’t hold back this time;
jumping from one hand grip to another reducing his climbing time from this
afternoon by more than half.

    
Unfortunately, he reached the top way too soon. Breathing easily, his hands
abraded from the climb, Devan gazed around at the scenery he had only briefly
looked at before; on account of his interest in Laney’s visage more.  

     No
one in the world could look upon this scene the same way Devan was at this
moment; in complete darkness but with absolute clarity. The night brought out a
variety of animals that would have otherwise been sleeping; bears scavenging
for food, a coyote dining on an unlucky victim of a hunt, elk were scattered
throughout the panorama, and there were a multitude of other animals foraging
for their midnight diners.

     Any
other time these sights would have calmed Devan’s emotions, but tonight it
wasn’t having any effect at all. He flopped down on his back and looked up at
the stars hoping to distract himself with the constellations available at this
time of the season, but Orion, Leo, and Taurus didn’t have any appeal for him
tonight.

     Instead,
Laney’s face kept intruding into his consciousness.

     Devan
wasn’t sure what it was about her that he found so interesting. What made her
so different from everyone else? She was very attractive, but others had been
just as good-looking. She was sociable, but again others had been sociable.

     However,
her sociable had been different. While others had been friendly they had never
really taken the time to make friends with him. They had never stuck up for him
as Laney had with Jarrod. When Laney had run after Devan at the party it seemed
as if she were choosing him above all her other friends. The thrill of it had
been…inconceivable. Devan had felt a joy to that only once before; ten years
earlier after his escape and his first taste of freedom.  

    
Unfortunately, there was nothing Devan could do about the situation. Jarrod was
too unpredictable. Devan would have to keep his distance from Laney.     

    
Sighing, Devan stood up, took one last look around, and reminded himself that
he at least had this in his life.

     It
didn’t lift his spirits like it usually did.  

∞                    ∞                   
∞

     Devan
went for his customary sprint around the perimeter the next morning before
school. He had not slept well the night before and the sounds and smells of the
forest cleared his mind,
somewhat
, of the anxiety that had been clouding
it.

     However,
it wasn’t just for exercise that he came out on these daily runs; it was also
for a systematic knowledge of the landscape. Knowledge made for better escape
possibilities.

     After
a while the fingers of light began to penetrate the darkness and he reluctantly
turned to head back toward the house, but drew up short at a familiar scent.

    
Wolves
!

     Devan
stopped and rotated, contemplating this information. He’d come across the scent
of wolves before in other regions, but to find them here in Silverton was
attention-grabbing. Why would a pack of wolves be in Colorado when they hadn’t
been seen here in over sixty years? It wasn’t necessarily a philosophical
conundrum, but it was interesting none-the-less.

     It
was a subject matter that would have to be shelved for later though, because
school was waiting. Devan maintained his heading toward the house making it in
time for a shower and stack of pancakes with a side plate of sausage. He then stole
out of the house while Brett remained sleeping.   

    
Silverton High School was off the main road―like everything else
―
so
it wasn’t difficult to find. It was connected to Silverton Middle School by the
gymnasium that was mutually shared by the two. There were few dozen vehicles
already in the parking lot and more were arriving as Devan found a spot nearest
the exit—for his hurried departure later. 

    
Stepping out of the jeep Devan could see scores of curious glances swinging his
way. As there were only fifty-six students in the high school class an
unfamiliar vehicle didn’t go unnoticed, nor did he. Flipping the hood of his
jacket over his head for some anonymity and to discourage any possible
conversations Devan headed for the school’s office. 

     He
opened the office door to find two female secretaries, an older brunette and
slightly younger dirty blonde, a student… a young freshman by the looks of him,
and another adult reprimanding said possible freshman.

     They
all halted in what they were doing to stare at him.

    
Stepping up to the counter Devan waited patiently for someone to regain their wits.
Thankfully, it didn’t take too long for one secretary to overcome her astonishment.

     “You
must be Devan Ferris.” The brunette said, walking up to the counter. It was a literal
statement, because who else would he be.

     “Yes
ma’am.” He answered because he’d come to comprehend that’s what people
expected.   

     The
others continued to stare, and Devan could also hear students in the hall
walking past making comments on his appearance.  

    
“Well, it’s nice to meet you. My name is Mrs. Coats, this is Mrs. Cantin, and
that there Mr. Doug.” Mrs. Coats waved her arm at the other secretary and the
reprimanding teacher. They smiled in greeting but their expressions contained a
certain amount of indecision. The freshman regarded Devan with trepidation. 

     Devan
forced a smile and gave nod of greeting. He knew the adults were probably
having qualms about his size, wondering if he was going to be a problem. The freshman
was most likely wondering if Devan was going to beat up on him at a later date.

     “Your
uncle told us about your eyesight situation and we’ve informed your teachers so
you won’t have any problems with wearing your glasses in class.” Mrs. Coats stated
in a maternal tone. “The teachers will have to give an explanation to the other
students so they don’t think you’re being treated special.” She turned pink and
stuttered over the word ‘special’ as though just by saying it Devan was being
labeled as abnormal.

     If
she only knew.

     She
handed over two sheets of papers; one a class schedule which included his
locker information, the other a map of the school—something he seriously
doubted would be needed. Then came the customary new student information, and
as she did this the others finally resumed what they had been doing before
Devan walked in. The freshman was let off with a cautionary lecture of running
in the halls, but as soon as he hit the hallway Devan heard the sound of
sneakers sprinting away.

     “Do
you need help finding your first class?” Mrs. Coats asked helpfully when she
was done, smiling in a sympathetic way—like she knew what the day held for him.

     “No,
I’m sure I can find it,” Devan assured her, holding up the map. He would end up
tossing it out immediately as he had it memorized already. Even without his
photographic memory it would have been effortless, because the school was just
one long hallway with classes on either side.  

     As
the door of the office closed behind him Devan could hear the secretaries
bursting out in dialogue about his unusual appearance…setting the tone for the
rest of the day.

    
Turning right Devan headed toward his first class of the day. The hallway was
cluttered with students getting ready for the day, but at the moment they were
all busy gawking and whispering. Ignoring them, Devan continued to class, which
was only ten yards to the right.

     The
assortment of smells tainting the air was overwhelming; cleaning detergents, a multitude
of perfumes and colognes, the beginnings of lunch in the cafeteria, and
everyone’s individual body odors. By the end of the day this building would be
rank with the overflowing stench of body order.       

     The
five minute warning bell sounded through the halls as Devan walked through the
door of his first class, World Studies. The only person present was the
teacher; an extremely short male who was at least two and a half feet shorter
than Devan.

     He
was rummaging through some papers on his desk and didn’t bother to look up at
Devan’s entrance, too accustomed to students going in and out his door.

     Devan
walked up to the desk and cleared his throat. The teacher looked up and went
wide eyed at Devan’s appearance.

     “I’m
Devan Ferris, starting your class today.” Devan hated stating the obvious, but
most people needed the obvious declared just for conversation starters.

     The
teacher visibly shook himself and held out his hand, a congenial smile on his
face. “I’m Mr. Mathews.” The man’s tenor was much deeper than his diminutive
size would have indicated. “I like to ask my student where they would like to
sit…” Mr. Mathews said with a smile, “…and then I place them where I want them
despite their wishes. I don’t do it to be contrary; it just ends up being that
way. Normally I stick the new students in the front of the class, as sort of an
initiation, but as you are taller than average I think I will have to diverge
from my usual practice and place you in the back. We don’t need people
straining their necks trying to see around you. Does this seating arrangement
work for you?”

     “Uh,
yes,” Devan answered, knocked a little off balance a little by the man’s
remarks. He was, in fact, perfectly happy with the seating arrangement. 

     “You
won’t have any problem seeing from the back of the room with the glasses?” The
teacher asked.

     “No,
my eyesight is not a problem.” Devan declared assuredly.

    
“Good, good. You can take the far left corner than.” Mr. Mathews waved him off
as his head bent down toward his papers again.

     Devan
sat down setting his backpack under his seat. The first students started
trickling in, one, then another, then five together; all staring at him. Then
Laney walked in. She was with her friend Hali, and they were laughing.

     She
was wearing fawn colored form fitting pants with black mid-calf high boots and
a long sleeve teal shirt that reached to her hips. Devan noted the color of the
shirt complemented her eyes and complexion. Her dark hair was pulled up away from
her face but fell loose down her back. Like before, he felt a deep compulsion
to stroke it.

     When Laney’s
gaze lit on him her laughter stopped, and the absence of it bothered him
excessively.

     Devan
bowed his head in a show of indifference. Even though Jarrod wasn’t there Devan
needed to set a precedent for their behavior. The act left tight feeling in his
chest. Even though there were nine people in the classroom talking, and several
people were walking about; Devan isolated Laney’s footsteps. She was headed his
way, and his muscles tightened the closer she came.   

     “Hi,
Devan.” Laney slid into the seat in front of him―of course she had to
have a seat next to him―while her friend, Hali, took the seat to Laney’s
left.

     Devan
gave a sigh of unavoidability, mixed with pleasure at her acknowledgement and
proximity. Raising his head, he muttered. “Hello.” It was one thing to pretend
indifference, but he wasn’t going to snub her.

     Laney
wasn’t looking at him though; she was riffling through her book bag. He
breathed in deeply, enjoying her scent. 

     “Hey,
Dev.”

     Devan
wrenched his gaze from Laney to Hali.
Dev?
She was giving him a huge
grin as she slid into her own seat.