Unforgiven (Wanderers #3) (33 page)

“Does anyone have a problem with this?” Aidan
asked.

Dean stopped me before I could open my mouth.
“Don’t even think about it Ella,”
he projected.

I bit my tongue and allowed Aidan to continue. “As
you know, this is the last week of classes and you will be going to
class as normal until the semester ends at the end of the
week.”

“Wait, it’s the middle of June?” I said confused.

“The semesters at Hamilton hill are longer because we
are a
special
school,” he said, putting emphasis on the word
special. “If you would have been here you would know that we give
the students two weeks off in April and then another two weeks off
in May and just lengthen the school year. We feel giving the
students a few breaks throughout the year helps them relax more and
feel less stressed.”

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. A little mini
vacation here and there would not help me feel less stressed, but
then again who would if they had my life. “You may have today to
settle back in, but tomorrow you are expected to go to your classes
as normal,” Aidan said, dismissing us.

As happy as I was not to work today, I was not
looking forward to what they had in store for us for the rest of
the summer. From Gabe’s quick departure I had a bad feeling our
training sessions weren’t going to be any easier either. Dean and
Cameron left behind Gabe while I stood there in Aidan’s office. “Is
there something else, Miss McCallister?”

“How bad was it…after I left?” I began slowly.

He dropped his papers and sunk down into his chair,
dragging his hands over his face. “Ella, I think this is something
we should discuss at another time. I’m still picking up the
pieces,” he said distraught.

“I understand. I’ll just go then.”

“Despite what you may think…I’m glad you’re back,” he
said, giving me a small smile.

“Thank you,” was all I could manage. I left and
walked back to my room. I had no idea what time it was and tried to
do the math in my head, but with the time difference and the long
flight, it just ended up giving me a headache. I sighed and trudged
across the campus back to my room to hide out for the rest of the
day.

I only made it halfway down the hall before I saw
him. He was leaning up against my door and waiting for me. My heart
stopped. Just the sight of him made my stomach drop. I wanted to
run the other way. I wasn’t ready to face him yet. I reminded
myself I had to stop being a coward and face the consequences of my
actions like everyone was so conveniently reminding me. I looked up
at him. His hair was a little longer than normal and he was overdue
for a shave. The dark circles and red rimmed eyes told me he hadn’t
been sleeping. “So you’re back,” he said roughly.

“Yeah,” was all I could manage without my voice
breaking. I took a deep breath and met him at my door. I wondered
for a moment how he even knew I was back.

“I could smell you,” he said, reading my confused
expression. “I thought I was just imagining it at first, but then I
saw you with Dean and Cameron heading to the office.”

“Yeah, we had to see Aidan, I mean Mr. Callahan about
our punishment.” He gave me a slight nod. “How are you?” I knew it
was a lame question. I knew it before the words even left my lips,
but it was the only thing I could come up with at the moment
without falling to my knees and begging for his forgiveness.

“Really? Well, let’s see,” he said, tapping his chin.
“My girlfriend almost dies and then when she comes to, she calls
for her ex slash angel boyfriend and to top it all off you take off
in the middle of the night to god knows where to look for another
supposedly dead ex-boyfriend,” he said, his voice getting louder.
“How the fuck you think I feel?” he growled.

I cringed under his harsh stare. “Roman I…”

“Don’t you dare say you’re sorry.” He got in my face
and I got a whiff of alcohol and cigarettes, making me feel just
that much worse. I drove him to this. I made him this way. “You
left me and I didn’t know if you were alright or not. I had no idea
where you were or if you were hurt or…” His eyes started to well up
and he backed away, fighting the tears.

“I’m sor –” I stopped myself. What could I possibly
say to make it right? “Roman I…I made a mistake. I should have told
you from the beginning what I was doing, but I didn’t know how to
tell you. You deserved the truth and I was a coward for not coming
forward in the first place, but I didn’t want to hurt your
feelings.”

“Too late for that,” he spat.

“Roman there’s nothing I can say that’s going to make
this right and I understand if you hate me and never want to see me
again.” I hoped that wasn’t true, but from the look on his face and
the anger seeping from his pores I had a feeling I was right.

He didn’t agree, but he didn’t disagree either.
Instead he asked, “Did you find him?” I nodded. “Are you two…back
together?” I shook my head no. “Did you…” he left the question open
but I knew what he was asking and I couldn’t answer. I couldn’t
look him in the eye and tell him I cheated on him. I reached for
him but he recoiled from my touch. When I looked into his eyes all
I saw was rage. He pounded the wall with his fist and left, leaving
crumbles of concrete and dust in his wake.

I knew I should let him cool off, but I couldn’t
leave it like this. I turned around to chase after him but he was
already gone. I tried to think of where he would go and the first
thing that came to mind was behind the library. I remember he once
told me he liked to go there to think. It was the one place where
he could be alone. He also told me the other reason he liked it
there was because it reminded him of the moment he fell in love
with me. He told me it was the day I punched him in the eye and
then tried to heal it outside. I also remember telling him if I
knew that was all it took I would have hit him the second I met
him.

When I reached the back of the library, Roman was
there smoking a cigarette with his back to me. “Roman, we need to
talk.”

“Did you sleep with him?” he asked with his back
still turned to me. I couldn’t answer. I couldn’t make the words
form on my tongue. “Did. You. Sleep. With. Him?” he asked again
slowly.

I opened my mouth but no sound came out. He turned
around to face me. “Answer the question!” he yelled, slamming his
fist into the wall, causing some of the brick to crumble to the
ground.

“You already know the answer,” I said softly.

“I want to hear you say it,” he growled.

His hostility was rubbing off on me and I fought the
urge to scream. “Will that make you feel better?” I snapped. “Then
fine, yes, I slept with him. There, are you happy now?”

He clenched his fists at his sides. I looked down at
his hands. I caught flashes of blue sparks and then I heard a
crackling noise. “Leave,” he said.

“No. We need to talk about this,” I demanded.

“Leave…now.” I took a step closer and he took one
back. “Ella, I’m warning you.”

“You’re not going to hurt me.” I knew he was angry
and I needed to get him to calm down before it all went horribly
wrong.

“Leave!” he yelled, throwing out his hand, pointing
behind me. A bolt of blue light flew from his palm and struck the
tree behind us. The tree burst into flames the moment the surge hit
it. The look on Roman’s face said he was as shocked as I was.
“Ella, call for help!” I ignored him and walked closer to the tree.
Roman grabbed my arm to pull me back. The entire tree was a blaze
with flames reaching the sky. “Ella, get out of here,” he shouted,
pushing me toward the front of the building.

I wiggled out of his grasp and moved closer to the
tree. I barely heard the sirens and Roman’s screams as I approached
the tree with little caution. I watched the flames engulf all the
leaves and branches and all I thought was how can I stop it? The
fire was spreading fast and if someone didn’t do something quiclyk
it would take down everything in it’s path. I wasn’t sure what I
could do or if I could even stop it but I knew I had to try
something. I remember Ms. Kraft telling me all things are
connected. I looked all around until something crept up my spine
and whispered in my ear.

I closed my eyes and listened. Then I bent down and
placed my hands on the ground spreading my fingers throughout the
grass. I listened to the wind whisper a soft song in my ear and I
knew what to do. I pushed everything I had into the earth and
called for my powers. I imagined the flames disappearing. I
imagined the tree being as it was before it was set on fire.

“Ella, look out!” Roman called, just as a large
flaming branch fell from the tree. I put up my hand and flung the
branch to the side before it landed on me. Then I put my hand back
on the ground and concentrated harder.

It was only a moment’s pass when I no longer heard
the crackling of branches, the sizzling leaves, and the breaking
bark. I no longer smelled the leaves burning or the birds
scattering to safety. I opened my eyes and looked up. The tree was
no longer on fire. It was just a charcoaled version of what it once
was.

Roman gasped. “Ella, how did you?”

I stood up as guardians rushed over with buckets and
hoses. I didn’t pay any attention to them as I walked straight for
the tree. I placed my hands on the hot, burning bark. I tried not
to flinch as the hot ash crumbled beneath my hands and burned my
skin. I closed my eyes and willed the tree to heal. I felt the
power rush through me and into the tree. When I could feel the
sweat dripping down my face I stopped and opened my eyes. I took a
step back and smiled. The tree was just as green and brilliant as
it was before.

I couldn’t hold the glee inside from what I had done.
I let out a little giggle and turned around to see Roman and all
the Guardians staring at me eyes wide. I looked down and noticed I
was glowing. I rolled my eyes and willed myself back to normal,
thinking calming thoughts. I thought about the amazing feeling I
had when I realized I had stopped the fire and healed the tree.
When I opened my eyes the glow was gone. I was getting pretty good
at figuring out how to diminish my glow. I’ve had enough
practice.

When I finally stopped glowing I looked around and
noticed everyone was still staring at me. “What, am I glowing
again?” I looked down.

Nope, no glow.

Roman slowly walked over to me. “What is it?” I
asked.

“Your hair,” he said.

Oh god, please don’t let my hair have caught on
fire.
“What is it? Is it gone? Burnt to a crisp?” I reached up
grabbing my head and let out a sigh of relief.
Still there
.
I looked back at Roman and knew before I even asked. “I have
another blue streak, don’t I?”

“Um…several.”

“What!?!” I said a little panicked. It was worse than
I feared.

He ignored my anxiety. “How’d you…do that?”

“Stop the fire?” He nodded. “Honestly, I have no
idea, but if you don’t mind I’m kind of tired now. I think I’m
going to lie down,” I said, right before I passed out in Roman’s
arms.

When I woke I was in the infirmary…again.
Seriously, why
does this keep happening to me?
I went
to sit up and I heard someone shift in the chair next to my bed.
“Hey,” I said.

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I’ll leave
now,” Roman said, getting up.

“Roman, wait.” I reached out my bandaged hand and
then pulled it back. “I don’t know what to say?”

“Don’t say anything. You were right. There’s nothing
you can say that will fix this.” He turned to walk out.

“Please don’t leave,” I pleaded. “I can’t bear to
lose you too,” I said, biting my lip to keep from crying.

“You should have thought of that before you slept
with someone else,” he snapped before he walked out.

I brought my bandaged hands to my face and cried. How
did I seem to keep making a mess of my life? Why couldn’t I ever do
anything right? He deserved to be angry. I did a horrible thing and
if the roles were reversed I didn’t think I could forgive him
either. I knew when I came back I would have a rough road ahead of
me, but I guess I wasn’t as prepared as I thought I was.

“Why do you always seem to keep ending up here?
Usually people don’t return to the last place they tried to escape
from,” Dean said as he strolled over to the window.

“Gluten for punishment I guess,” I said, wiping the
tears from my eyes.

Dean’s brows pinched together when he saw my tear
soaked face. “Alright, who do I have to beat up or kill?”

“No one,” I laughed. “It’s my fault and I deserve
it.”

“Let me guess, Roman found out about Tristan?” I
nodded, trying not to cry again. “I may be a dick, but one thing I
would never do is cheat on someone I cared about.”

“You’re not helping,” I glared.

“What I’m trying to say is you have to understand
he’s upset. He feels betrayed and used. That’s not something you
can just get over. Give him some time.”

“I don’t think giving him time will fix this. You
should have seen how mad he was.”

“Ella, how’d you think he was going to react?”

“I didn’t think he’d set a tree on fire.”

“How’d you stop it?” he asked, taking a seat on the
edge of the bed.

I looked down at my hands. “I really don’t know. I
just wanted to stop it before it spread. I called for my powers and
the next I knew the fire was gone.”

“They said you were amazing. They said they’ve never
seen anything like it.”

“If I’m so amazing then why do I keep passing out
after I use my powers?”

“It’s because you use too much power,” Ms. Kraft
said, startling me. She always managed to make a soundless
entrance. “How are you feeling?”