Predestined (26 page)

“HEY,” she shrieked as she stumbled
sideways.

“Stop looking at my boyfriend’s
butt,” I replied to her scowl. I realized that maybe it was just
guys who showed interest in her that she was opposed to. Those like
Dank she didn’t view as a betrayal she still checked
out.

Biting her lip, she tried to keep
from smiling, “Sorry, it’s really hard not to.”

“Well,
try
.”

“Spoilsport,” she muttered and
grabbed my arm to pull me up.

“Let’s walk and eat. I want to go
see if they have a see through strapless bra at Victoria’s
Secret.”

Groaning, I let her pull me up and
grabbed my half of the pretzel from her hand. At least I had a
treat to get me through this.

Dank

I went to open Pagan’s bedroom door
when someone cleared their throat behind me. I hadn’t been careful
and had gotten a little too comfortable with sneaking into her room
in the morning. I’d have to face the music for that mistake.
Turning around I found Pagan’s mom standing across the hall with
her hands on her hips and her eyebrows raised. Her dark brown hair
was a little mussed from sleep but she was already in her work
clothes: sweat pants and a teeshirt. Complete with coffee
stain.

“Good morning,” I tried to sound as
polite as possible. It wasn’t like she could keep me from coming to
Pagan’s room whenever I wanted but I still didn’t want to have her
as an enemy.

“Good morning, Dank. To what do we
owe this early visit?”

This time I cleared my throat, “I
thought I’d wake Pagan up. Don’t want her to miss breakfast.” Okay,
that sounded lame.

“Really? Well, just so we’re clear,
I realize my daughter’s boyfriend is ... well... something that
isn’t exactly human. But I still expect you to follow my
rules.”

“Of course,” I replied.

She stared at me a moment longer
then started to walk down the stairs. I stood frozen not sure if
she wanted me to actually leave.

Stopping and glancing back over her
shoulder at me she smiled, “Come on. I’ll feed you while you wait.”
She then continued down the stairs and I smiled to myself while I
followed her. Who was I to disobey her mom?

Once we got in the kitchen her
mother opened a cabinet and got down the pancake mix, a large bowl
and a spoon. “Here read the directions and start mixing up my
batter while I get the griddle hot,” she directed as she shoved the
items into my arms.

I hadn’t planned on cooking
breakfast with Pagan’s mother but it was past time she and I
talked. Our last private conversation had been the night I’d
confronted her about Pagan’s soul.

“The key to getting pancakes just
the way Pagan likes them is to use a lot of butter. Real butter. It
makes the edges crisp.” I filed that piece of information away to
use on a later date.

“When she was little I’d make her
pancakes into the shape of Mickey Mouse. Well, his head at least.
She loved them. She’d make eyes and a nose and a mouth with fruit
and then cover it all with syrup.”

I remembered the green eyes too big
for her face staring up at me from the hospital bed that day I’d
gone to talk to her. She’d lost all her hair and her face was frail
and thin but her mind had been sharp as a tack. After that day I’d
always remembered her when I walked into the rooms of dying
children to explain to them what was to come. Her face had always
come to mind and I’d wondered what had happened with that soul.
Even then she’d had a sort of hold on me.

Her mother took the bowl from my
hands. Luckily I’d managed to stir the milk, eggs, and mix together
properly. Her approving nod was oddly relieving.

“So Dank Walker, you ever going to
tell me exactly what you are?”

I’d wondered if now that Pagan was
home, safe and sound, free of voodoo spirits that wanted her soul,
her mother would ever question me about my admission that I wasn’t
human.

Clearing my throat I leaned a hip
against the counter and crossed my arms over my chest. I wasn’t
sure she really wanted the answer to this question.

“Well, that depends on if you really want me to tell you.
It might be best if you just know that I will protect her for all
eternity. She’ll never have to fear
death
.” I stopped on
that last word and waited. Her mother had just poured some batter
onto the sizzling griddle and she froze for a moment then slowly
lowered the bowl and spoon to the counter. Her head turned as if in
slow motion until her eyes were staring incredulously into
mine.

“Are you saying... I mean you can’t
be... are you saying... no, no that can’t be right,” she shook her
head and gave me one last small frown before turning her attention
back to the pancake in front of her. She flipped it then placed it
on a plate and handed it to me.

“First one is always the best. Why
don’t you get started... that is if you... do you eat?”

I didn’t hide my amusement as I
reached for the plate. “Yes, I eat. Eternity would be awfully
boring without food.”

Chapter
Twenty-Five

Pagan

My mother’s laughter
carried up the stairs as I peeled open my eyelids and stared at the
alarm clock that hadn’t gone off this morning. Probably because I
hadn’t set it but that was just details. A low voice carried up the
stairs and my mother’s high pitched voice began chatting away
again. She wasn’t on the phone. Someone was here.

Sitting straight up in bed I
covered my mouth. Had my mom let Roger sleep over? She’d never in
all my life had a boyfriend sleep over. Swinging my legs over the
side of the bed I grabbed my short yellow bathrobe and hurried out
the door to catch her red-handed. It wasn’t that I cared really. It
would just be fun to hold over her head.

Running down the steps taking two
at a time I hit the bottom step and took off around the corner then
came skidding to a halt. Seated at my kitchen table with a pile of
pancakes and bacon filling the plate in front of him was Dank. His
dark curls were perfectly messy and the pale blue shirt I’d
convinced him to buy because it would make his eyes stand out even
more hugged his well-defined chest. A touch of humor lit his eyes
and his lips were in a sexy little smirk that was so incredibly
kissable. Kissable was exactly what I was supposed to be enjoying
this morning. Last I’d spoken with Dank he was going to wake me up
with kisses.

I shifted my gaze to my mother who
sat smiling as if she knew a secret with her hands both cupping
what was probably her fourth cup of coffee today. She’d tucked her
unstyled hair behind her ears and her glasses were perched on her
nose like a school teacher.

“What are y’all doing?” I asked
incredulously.

“We’re eating breakfast and
talking. Which you could be doing if you’d get up on time,” my
mother replied with a little tartness to her tone. It drove her
nuts that I slept so late.

“These pancakes are really good,
Pagan. I can’t believe you don’t get up early enough to enjoy these
every morning,” Dank piped in.

I glowered at him, “Is that
so?”

He nodded as he stuck another
forkful into his mouth. The traitor. He’d passed up coming in my
room to wake me up for my mother’s pancakes.

“I hope you enjoy your pancakes.
I’m going to go get ready now since my alarm clock didn’t wake me
up on time. Must have been preoccupied with something else.” I
snapped and headed back up the stairs. My mother’s smothered
laughter told me that maybe my alarm clock had gotten derailed from
his mission by the mothership.

“Stinking pancakes,” I muttered and
went to get a shower.

* * *

It felt like only yesterday I’d
walked into this gym for the first time. Freshman orientation had
been so exciting yet terrifying. Miranda and I had sat on the
fourth row left side bleachers holding hands tightly as Principal
Cagle welcomed us and read us our rights. Wyatt had sauntered in
late and taken the spot beside me. We’d all been so young. I’d even
met Jay that day. He was a sophomore and on the basketball team.
He’d come up to us and introduced himself to Wyatt asking if he was
planning on playing basketball. He’d seen Wyatt play in middle
school. We’d won the state championship last year. Wyatt was just
that good. Then Jay had asked if I was Wyatt’s girlfriend and we’d
all laughed as if that was the funniest thing we’d ever heard. Two
weeks later Jay had asked me out on our first date.

Memories were thick as I gazed
around at all my classmates. We all wore the same royal blue robes
and we all wore the same expression. Relief, excitement, and just a
touch of uncertainty. We’d walked into this building not knowing
what groups we’d fit into, what teachers were the best, and what
meals we should never eat in the cafeteria. Now we knew all those
things and more.

On my last day in this gym, I was
sitting between two of the most important people in my world once
again. Miranda held my right hand and Dank held my left hand.
Although, Miranda was squeezing my right hand so tightly I was
afraid of damage from blood loss and Dank was more caressing my
left hand with the pad of his thumb. Even sitting between them I
couldn’t help but feel a little bereft. We were missing one
important piece of the puzzle. Wyatt should have been here too. I
knew Miranda was thinking the same thing. That was why I didn’t
mention the fact she was crushing the bones in my hand. I figured
if my right hand would help her get through this then I’d gladly
sacrifice it.

“You okay?” Dank whispered in my
ear.

I nodded and laid my head over on
his shoulder.

The guest speaker finished his
speech followed by the Valedictorian, Krissy Lots. Once she
finished we went one at a time as our names were called to receive
our diplomas. Whistles and catcalls erupted all over as different
students took the stage.

“Pagan Annabelle Moore”

I got a squeeze from both Miranda
and Dank’s hands as I went to the stage. Clapping followed by a
whistle coming from Dank and a loud ‘woot’ coming from Miranda
brought a smile to my face. As I took my diploma, I crossed the
stage and another cheer from the back of the gym caught my
attention. Glancing back I saw Jay leaning against the door
clapping and smiling brightly. I wondered if he’d come back because
he knew it would be difficult with Wyatt’s absence. Smiling in his
direction I made my way off the stage and over to my
seat.

“You have a fan in the back,” Dank
said in a cold unamused tone when I sat back down.

“Oh no, it’s just Jay. I didn’t
know he was going to be here today.”

Dank’s jaw tensed and he turned to
glare in Jay’s direction. Oh my, this wasn’t good. Jealous Dank
could be dangerous. I pulled on Dank’s arm, “It’s okay. Really. I
think he probably came because of Wyatt’s not being here. To, you
know, show support. They were close.”

Dank’s eyes went from angry to
slightly surprised as his gaze stayed directed over my shoulder.
Curious, I turned my head and saw a tall guy with shaggy light
brown hair that curled up around the bottom and an orange UT polo
shirt standing beside Jay. They were talking and Jay was smiling at
whatever the guy was saying. He must have brought one of his frat
brothers. Then the guy turned to look our way and a strange peace
came over me. It was an odd thing. Not something I’d ever felt with
a stranger before. His gaze met mine and he smiled. Then he turned
his attention to Miranda who wasn’t even looking their way. He had
an almost reverent expression on his face. I watched them a moment
then turned back around in my seat.

“Pagan,” Dank whispered beside
me.

“Hmm,” I replied leaning in so I
could hear him better.

“Remember when I told you Wyatt’s
return would be unique?”

“Yes.”

“Well, he’s back.”

Frowning I lifted my eyes to meet
his, “Who’s back?”

Dank’s eyes shifted over my
shoulder back to the door where the boys were standing and then
back to me. “Wyatt. His soul is back.”

He defied Heaven to keep her, he
defeated evil to save her, but if her soul wants another... will he
be able to let her go?

Ceaseless (Existence #3) coming
9/18/12