The Price of a Gift (The Price of Secrets Series) (16 page)

I was in awe. "That’s amazing! What a wonderful gift to have."

He let out a breath as if he had been holding it until I spoke. "So you believe me?"

"Hello? You are talking to someone who, among other things, can speak with the dead. Of course I believe you. I think there are many magical or spiritual gifts that aren't widely known or
acknowledged. Most people go through their whole life with blinders on never having an open mind to fully appreciate what this world has to offer."

The look he gave me made me feel as if I had just earned his trust completely. "I think you're the one who's amazing. Outside of my family, I have never told anyone that story." I was astonished with how close I feel to him in such a short period of time. And he thinks I'm amazing! He slowly raised his hand and tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. I really think this is it. He is
gonna kiss me. My heart felt like it was gonna beat out of my chest and this time it was not from fear.

"Hannah, supper will be ready in about five minutes." Your timing sucks Dad!

"Ok thanks." Just like that, my long awaited moment was gone.

"I forgot to ask. What are we having for supper?" He asked looking a little embarrassed.

"I think baked chicken, green beans and a salad. Is that ok?" I asked, hoping that it was.

"Yes. I'm sorry. I forgot to mention that the only meat I eat is fish and chicken."

"Why?"

"I love animals and I want to be a veterinarian. I just can't bring myself to eat beef or pork or anything like that. But I don't hold it against anyone else for eating it."

Remind me to never invite him over here for breakfast with all the ham, bacon and sausage we eat. "I can understand that. I hear N.C. State has a great veterinary program."

"I've heard that too. I'm already volunteering at the county animal shelter. I'm told I can use that on my college application, but it doesn't matter if I can or not, I do it because I want to." Could he be more perfect? I think not.

Mom came out the back door. "Hey you two, food's ready."

After supper we stayed on the screened in porch because of the mosquitoes. "So how
are you liking your house?" I asked him. It was getting easier to not think of it as 'my' house.

"I love it. I really like all the woods. I've already went exploring. The creek is my favorite spot. How
are you liking this one?"

"The creek was my favorite spot too. Moving here took some adjusting. Now it finally feels like home. How about school? You seem to be fitting in just fine."

He smiled. "That was my biggest worry about moving. As it turns out, that has become my favorite part. I've met plenty of nice people and potential," He paused, "friends." Why did he hesitate before he said friends? Was he going to say something different?

Ok I'm
gonna be brave and ask him something I've been dying to know. "Did you leave a girlfriend back in Oklahoma?"

He was quick with his response. "No. I dated some, but I have never been in a serious relationship. I never really met anyone out there that I wanted to be serious about. Believe it or not I was shy and I only had a close knit of friends. Everyone else thought I was a snobby, spoiled,
stuck up, rich kid. I have never been those things. My brother and I have always had to earn an allowance, and do volunteer work with our parents. Parents who have never forgotten where they came from and make sure they give back." He spoke with conviction but there was no bitterness.

"I'm sorry you were judged by people who never tried to get to know you. You seemed to have overcome your shyness." I said, trying to look on the bright side.

"Yes I have. I figured this would be a fresh start for me and I wanted to let go of my fears and just be me. You don't seem like you have had any problems making friends. You have so many of them. I bet you have had plenty of boyfriends."

He was fishing for information too! "I have been blessed with a bunch of friends. Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky in that department.
Now the boyfriend department, not so much."

He laughed and rolled
those gorgeous eyes. "I doubt that."

"No really, it's true. It's not because I haven't had opportun
ities, I'm just picky. No picky is not the right word. I've been waiting. Waiting for someone I connect with. I don't want to date someone just to be dating, but I think I did with Josh. We were such good friends that when he asked, I thought I'd give it a try. Plus if I was dating Josh, other guys wouldn't ask me. We dated the whole school year but when we went out it just felt like I was going out with my friend. Which, most of the time I would make sure my other friends came with us. So we would be going out as a group so he wouldn't try..." I stopped before finishing my sentence. I have a big freakin mouth. Why, why, why Hannah did you feel the need to discuss, in great detail, your ex-boyfriend with him? Well now you have to finish that stupid sentence because he is waiting. "I'm sorry. I'm just rambling."

I tried to laugh it off but he stopped me. "What did he try Hannah? Did he try and make you do something you didn’t want to do?" He tightened his hand that was on the table into a fist. Oh my goodness, he thinks Josh tried to force me into sex, and he's mad about it. I can take care of myself but dang it felt good seeing him look like he was ready to protect me. An image popped into my head of Daniel on a white horse charging into battle, shirtless. I've turned into Jaycee. No, dear Lord, I've turned into Phoebe!

I had to explain. "No, nothing like that. I only meant kiss. So he wouldn't try to kiss me. Josh was never anything but a perfect gentleman. He would never force himself on a girl."

"Oh," he relaxed, so much that he grinned, "So you have a problem with kissing?" He teased.

"When it's with someone who feels like a brother to me, yes I do. Don't laugh at me." I tried keeping a straight face, "But if it was someone I was dating that I had chemistry with, or at least felt like a cousin instead of a brother, I would be all for the kissing. It's not funny." I couldn't hold back any longer, so I laughed along with him. "I'm a weirdo, I know."

Once he stopped laughing, he said, "No you're not. You're just honest. I like the fact that you don't just date to be dating. I know that Jaycee and Phoebe have that reputation and I don't think that's fair. I think they are just looking for the right guy. They’re just doing it the wrong way. This time though I think Jaycee has finally found the right one. I figure her and Mike will get together soon. I see the way they look at each other."

How can he know so much in such a short time? "How do you know all that?"

He smiled. "I don't need your gift. I am very perceptive.
That and the fact that they're a few catty girls in my classes who are jealous of your group."

That shocked me.
"Who? Why are they jealous? What all do they say?" I was hurt. I thought we got along with just about everyone at school.

He looked like he regretted saying anything. "I don't know the girls names yet. I would guess
girls like that would be jealous over how pretty you all are and over your popularity. The only negative thing I’ve heard about you is they say you think you are too good to date any of the guys at school. Oh, and they think Kayla is a snob."

"What? Kayla is the nicest person I have ever met! She would give anyone the shirt off her back, the last bit of food in her house, the last penny she had to her name. And you are right about
Phebs and Jaycee. They just try to protect their hearts. That's why they act that way. They too would be there in a heartbeat for a friend in need." I was fired up. But Daniel was just sitting there grinning at me! "What?" I asked.

"Do you realize that you didn't take up for yourself at all just now? You were too upset over what those girls said about your friends. That shows so much about your character. I admire that."

I felt my face flush. "Thank you, that means a lot. I guess I've been fooling myself. I thought we got along with everyone at school."

"Well, everyone except for Megan and her two followers." He said playfully.

"That goes without saying. You met her. You know how she is."

"More than you know. I don't know how she got my number, but she's got it and has been blowing my phone up."

My heart fell to my stomach. "What does she want?"

"I think she
is wanting me to ask her out. She keeps hinting and flirting."

"Are you going to?" I shouldn't have asked but I wanted to know.

"No. She's not my type. I'm just trying to find a way to let her down without coming out and saying it." That made me feel better. He looked at the time on his cell phone. "I really need to get going. I had fun." We both got up and headed for the back door.

"Me too."
Why can’t time at school go by this fast?

Daniel said his goodbyes to my parents and thanked them for supper. Then I walked him outside. I figure walking him to his car would look
kinda desperate. So I stopped at the front porch.

"I really enjoyed getting to know you better. I was serious about wanting to help you with Samantha." He stopped and turned around to me.

"I enjoyed it too. And thank you. I feel like I say that a lot to you but you keep giving me a reason to." I said.

He looked down at the key chain he was holding in his hand. There was still some shyness in him. How cute was that? "Hannah," he said then looked back up at me, "you said you were waiting on someone you can connect with, are you still waiting?" I was speechless. My chest filled with such glee. I wanted to jump into his arms and scream 'Not
anymore!’, but I wasn't given the chance to speak. "No, don't answer that. I'm sorry. I put you on the spot and I shouldn't have asked that." He turned and took a few steps toward his car, then came back. "It's just that when we are together I feel this energy between us. I have never felt that before and I don't know what to think or do about it. And I asked you that question because I wanted to know how you were feeling. I mean we just met each other and I don't want to scare you off. I would really like to take things slow and see what happens between us. I'm just gonna leave now before I make a bigger fool of myself. We can just pretend this conversation never happened." He turned and walked to his car.

He had caught me off guard and was talking so fast, that it took my mind a second to catch up.

"Daniel." I said before he got into his car. He stopped and looked back at me. "No." I said.

His
embarrassed expression was replaced with a puzzled one. "No, what?"

Jayce
e would not like me being so honest with my feelings to a guy. But I don't like playing games. "No I'm not waiting anymore. I feel it too and slow is fine with me." I was rewarded for my honesty with the sweetest, biggest, dimpled, gorgeous smile ever seen.

I showed great restraint waiting until I couldn't see his tail lights anymore before calling Jaycee. I then filled her in on the best night of my life. She fussed at me for telling him too much too soon, but she wasn't fooling me. I heard her sigh when I told her what he had said to me on the porch. After talking to Jaycee, I went inside and found Mom. I had to tell her all about it too. Because not only did I like talking to her about boys, but I also really wanted to retell it again.

Chapter 12

I hate Monday's, especially rainy Mondays. Which means it's a ponytail day. Plus

I woke up this morning to find that I started my period. So it was also
a black capris jogging pants, pink and white t-shirt kinda day. To top it all off, I haven't heard from Daniel since he left my house Friday night. I know I forgot to give him my cell phone number, but he could have got my house phone number from his parents. Maybe he has changed his mind about me. I have no clue but I'm gonna find out, I thought as mom pulled up at my school.

I got out of the car, mumbling a good bye, when she stopped me. "Hannah
don't forget your permission slip. Here is the twelve dollars for the fee. Try to have a good day."

"I'm not making any promises." I said, managing to smile at her before shutting the car door. I noticed Kayla was pulling up behind me, so I waited for her.

"Good morning Hannah." Kayla beamed.

"It's Monday and it's drizzling on us. Why are you so
chipper?" I asked as she giggled.

"I was stuck all weekend babysitting. So I'm just happy to be out of the house."
Hearing that made me feel guilty. I didn't call her all weekend. With the exception of Jaycee, I didn't talk to anyone all weekend. The only reason I talked to Jaycee was because she called me Sunday to tell me about her date with Mike Saturday night. She said it went really well. She was on her way to her grandma's house, it was her birthday, and Jaycee and her family was throwing her a party. So she said she would give me all the details today. We walked to the sophomore lockers and the first person we saw was Jacob.

"I think you and Jacob would make a cute couple." I said and watched her face turn three shades of red.

"Really? Why would say that?" She asked. Bless her heart, she almost dropped her books.

I had to answer quickly because Jacob was making his way over to us. "I just think you would. Oh, and I think he likes you."

She grabbed my arm. "Why do you think that? Did he say something?"

"No. I just see the way he looks at you." That wasn't a lie. I did see how he looks at her. It just happened to be while I was poking around in his thoughts.

Just as I finished talking, Jacob was standing in front of us. "Hey. Um, Kayla do you think you could help me out with my Algebra homework during lunch? I'm having trouble with a couple problems."

"Sure. Of course I'll help you." She answered.

"Great, thanks. I'll save you a seat beside me." Jacob said grinning from ear to ear as he walked off.

"See." I said.

"What? He was just asking me for help." Kayla said cluelessly.

"Kayla, Jacob has always made straight A's in math. That was just an excuse."

"Oh." Was all she said but her smile spoke volumes.

Jaycee and
Phebs were at our lockers. "Morning." I grumbled.

"Who pissed in your cornflakes?" Phoebe so delicately asked.

"Mother nature. I started my period."

Jaycee knew the main reason but played along. "Well I knew that just by looking at your outfit. At least you should be done with your period by your party Saturday."

"I hope so. This weekend will be my last chance to swim. Josh and his dad are coming over next Monday to close up the pool."

Phoebe changed the subject. "Ok Jaycee, we are all here. Tell us how the date with Mike went."

Jaycee looked at the clock on the wall. "We have a few minutes. We kind of double dated with Cam and Tesa. We went out to eat together but they went to the movies and dropped us off at the mall, which was my idea so Mike and I could be alone. We had a blast just being goofy. We tried on silly outfits and modeled for each other. We rode the merry-go-round in the food court a couple of times. Other than that, we mostly sat and just talked. He told me that he has liked me for two years, yet was too scared to say anything to me because of our friendship and because I always had a boyfriend. And in return, I told him that I was dating all those guys while waiting on him to make a move. Before you ask, no we did not kiss. Yet. He has not officially ask me out yet either. I think that will happen soon though, because he hinted around about it."

We were rudely interrupted by Megan. "Hello girls." Her condescending voice makes me want to puke. "Kayla, I saw the sign in your yard. Why are you selling your house?" Poor Kayla looked like a deer caught in headlights.

I started to say something but Phebs beat me to it. "Because she finally realized how close she lives to you and decided to sell before you bring the property value down."

"You're such a comedian." Megan said with sarcasm.

Jaycee had kept quite long enough. "And you're such a witch."

Megan glared at her. "I'll...."

Jaycee cut her off. "You'll what, get me and my little dog too?" I busted out laughing. I didn't mean to, but that just caught me off guard. I was not expecting a Wizard of Oz reference from Jaycee. Phoebe and Kayla joined in. Which just pissed Megan off even more and she stomped away.

Jaycee and I were still laughing when we walked into
English class, until I saw Daniel. I laid my permission slip and money on Mrs. Bumgarner's desk then walked by Daniel to get to my seat.

"Hi." He said, looking like he was glad to see me. He is so hard to figure out.

"Hey." I smiled back cause I didn't want him to think I was upset, but I didn't linger either, I kept on walking. I could feel his eyes on me while I sat down beside of Jaycee.

"You've got Chief looking worried." I had to stop myself from turning to look at him.

"Good." The bell rang and we spent most of the class period talking about the upcoming field trip and going over last week's homework. When class was over Daniel was the first one out the door. Good job Hannah, you have guys running from you now. Jaycee and I got our stuff and left.

Right outside the door stood Daniel. "Hey, you got a minute?" He asked me.

"I'll catch up with you at lunch, Han." Jaycee walked away.

I
kept up my happy facade. "What's up?"

"I didn't call you this weekend." He stated the obvious. "And I wanted to explain why."

"You don't need to explain anything to me Daniel." I kept my voice cheerful.

He moved to stand in front of me so I couldn't walk away. "Yes I do. I spent the day Saturday at the shelter trying to help the animals get adopted. There were three dogs left on the list at closing."

He peeked my interest. I had to interrupt and ask. "What list?"

"Unfortunately when animals have been there too long, they are put on a list to be euthanized. So I took the three dogs with me. And yesterday I found a couple about an hour and a half away that
saves dogs from being put down. They take care of them and start the training process while looking for a forever home for them. They said they would be happy to take the three dogs. So I took them. I got side tracked with the other two dogs the couple had. I ended up staying for a few hours playing with the all the dogs before going home."

How do you stay mad at a guy who goes out of his way to save animals? "Listen Daniel, I think you did a wonderful thing and if you ever need any help let me know. But you didn't owe me any explanations. I really need to get to class." He moved to the side to let me by. Knowing what kept him so busy this weekend helped ease my anger, but the problem was that I still remember the pain. I sat in my room most of the weekend waiting for him to contact me. By Sunday night my heart felt painfully heavy. I never want to feel that way again.
Ever. Which means I can never put myself in that position again. I have to be more careful with my heart.

I went to my locker after algebra to drop off my books before going to lunch. Taped to my locker door was a note. My heart fluttered
cause I was pretty sure it was from Daniel again. It read
-Hannah, I'm truly sorry for hurting your feelings. Don't say that I didn't, because your eyes told me everything. This is all new to me and I don't know all the rules. Like am I supposed to let you know that I thought of you all weekend, or do I keep that a secret? Or that I hope you thought of
me too? Here is my cell phone number. If I'm forgiven, please text me your number. Daniel.

My heart melted just a little bit but my mind said I have to be more cautious with what I say or do. So, of course I'm
gonna text him my number, I just have to word the message right. I went ahead and saved his number in my contacts. As I walked to the cafeteria I typed out a message to him.
-Here is my number. My eyes must have deceived you lol. Really I'm fine. We said we were taking things slow. So it's all good
. I didn't hit send yet. I wanted to wait until I had him in my sights, so I could see his reaction to my text. Walking toward my table I saw him to my right. Megan had him cornered. I pressed send and waited. It didn't take long for him to reach into his pocket for his phone. I watched him read it then smile. His head popped up and he started scanning the lunch room for me, totally ignoring the fact that Megan was still standing there talking to him. I didn't want him to see me watching him. So I suddenly became very interested in what Kayla and Jacob were talking about. Jaycee and Mike came over and sat down with Daniel right behind them. He sat beside Jacob, again putting him diagonally from me. I looked at Jaycee sitting beside me.

I wonder if Mike has asked her out yet. "Well?" I asked Jaycee.

"Not yet." She said. See, her and me, same wave length.

My phone vibrated. I read it while holding it in my lap so no one would see. It was from Daniel. I forgot to tell you that you look very cute today. I felt my cheeks burn. That was very sweet.

Before I could respond Phebs started talking to me about Saturday. "Hey can I bring a friend to your party?"

I smiled. "Would this friend happen to be a boy?" I asked her.

"Gee, I don't know. I'll check next time we are together." We laughed. "Yes he's a boy." She said.

I really didn't want a stranger at my party but Phoebe is one of my best friends. "I guess so. Just remember I can only have about 20 people there. So don't tell anyone you're bringing somebody." I looked over at Jacob and Kayla. "Are you two coming Saturday?" They both answered yes.

Jaycee looked over at Daniel. "Hey Chief, are you going Saturday?"

It didn't seem to bother Daniel that she calls him that. "No, I'm not
gonna be able to." That's just great. I was hoping that after what happened Friday, he would change his mind about coming to my party. I thought of my mom's words about having fun being his friend and see where it goes so I won't get hurt. I think I'm gonna take her advice. Cause I can't handle this roller coaster.