Chapter 24
We pulled into our parking spot and Noah took a deep breath, looking anxious.
“Just ask her, man. What's the worst that could happen?” I encouraged as I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed for the school.
“She could reject me?” Noah pointed out as he jogged to catch up.
“So what? So she rejects you. At least you know where you stand. It's better than not knowing, right?”
“I don't know,” he mumbled.
I reached out to open the door and saw Anna and Eric inside talking. I instinctively became protective and could feel a growl brewing deep in my chest. Regaining my composure, I walked toward them, with confidence.
“Hey, boys,” Eric called as he waved us over.
“What's up?” I said with a nod. I locked eyes with Anna, who was looking exceptionally irresistible. I winked and she smiled.
“Noah,” Anna began, “Rachel was just here asking if we saw you.”
Noah's head snapped up and he looked a little too excited. “Which way did she go?”
Anna laughed, “To the principal's office for something.”
Noah thanked her and left without another word. I shook my head with a chuckle as I watched him race toward the office after Rachel. When I looked back at Eric, I noticed he was looking Anna up and down. The growl started brewing again.
“Can I talk to you for a sec?” I asked Anna, pulling her aside.
Eric was annoyed. Good. I led Anna over to the stairwell and cornered her against the wall. I leaned into her with my hands braced on the wall behind her.
“What are you doing?” she asked, confused.
“What are you doing . . . with Eric?” I snapped.
“Jake, we were just talking. Why are you acting like this?” Anna pushed me back, which clearly sent the message that I wasn't the boss of her.
“I saw the way he was looking at you, Anna,” I protested.
“Really?” Anna feigned interest.
“Anna!” I warned. This was not the time for kidding.
“Oh, come on. So what if he likes me?”
“So what?” I was shocked that she wasn't taking me seriously enough.
“Yeah, so what? What does it matter to you? If you don't want to be my boyfriend, what does it matter who likes me?” Anna’s tone warned me that she was prepared for a full-blown fight.
“Anna, it's not like that,” I started, but then stopped short when I couldn't think of how to say what I needed her to know.
“Enlighten me then, Jake.” Her hands were on her hips and her head was held high. A confident, independent woman. I loved that about her.
“Okay.” I hung my head in defeat. “Meet me at the Coffee House today at four o’clock. We'll talk then.”
Anna looked pleased with that. “Okay. Don’t forget.”
“Please don't give up on me, Anna.” I touched her cheek and felt the warmth of her skin penetrate to my heart.
The day was progressing slowly. I found myself daydreaming in French class while working on an assignment with Noah and Rachel. I was looking forward to having some time alone with Anna at the Coffee House but I wasn't sure what I was going to say to her, exactly. I couldn't be with her, but I didn't want her to move on quite yet. It wasn't really fair, but I knew I couldn't handle it right now.
Suddenly Rachel gasped, dropped her pencil and sat up straight in her chair. Noah and I froze and stared at Rachel, waiting for an explanation. She pinched her eyes closed and breathed heavily.
“We have to go,” Rachel whispered when she finally opened her eyes. Her hands were still clamped to the edges of her desk.
“Why? What's going on?” Noah urged.
But before Rachel could answer, she grabbed her bag and bolted out the door. Noah and I ran behind her and caught up just as she reached Ms. Peters' office.
“What is it, Rachel?” Ms. Peters asked as we burst through the door.
“They’re here! They're looking for me!” Rachel gasped with horror.
“Who the hell are they?!” Noah shouted, protectively.
“Oh, no,” Ms. Peters said as she sat down in her chair. “What do they want?”
“I don't know. I just saw them here.” Rachel threw her hands up in the air and paced the room, nervously looking up at the door every few seconds.
“Who?!” Noah shouted, louder.
“Where did you see them, Rachel? Focus. You can do this,” Ms. Peters calmly said as she took hold of Rachel's arms.
“I . . . I don't . . .” Rachel's voice became weak. “Home! They're going to our house.” Tears started to stream down her face.
Noah’s fists were balled and his jaw clenched.
“Ms. Peters?” I interrupted. “Could you please fill us in? Maybe we can help.”
Ms. Peters turned to us and sat down to explain. “This particular group of Defiers is led by Rachel's ex-boyfriend Ryan. When Rachel discovered her gift a few months ago, she broke up with him. Unfortunately, his anger led him to the dark side. He is part of the reason we left California. For Rachel's safety.”
Noah put his arms around Rachel. “It's okay. We'll figure this out. You can stay at my house. He won't find you there.”
“No,” Rachel said as she pulled away from him. “I have to confront him. He won't stop until he finds me and I don't want anyone getting hurt.”
“That's ridiculous.” Noah looked to Ms. Peters for support. “Right?”
Ms. Peters added, “She's right, Noah.”
Noah shook his head in frustration. “So what do we do then? I'm not leaving her alone during this.”
Rachel smiled at him. “I'll need you there to translate. They’ll speak to each other in another language.”
Noah nodded.
“And I'll need you, Jake, in case something happens to one of us. And Nick and Claudia,” Rachel strategized.
“Good,” Ms. Peters agreed. “I'll get Nick and Claudia down here and you can head over to the house. I'll stay at the school in case they come here.”
Within minutes we were piled in Ms. Peters' Jeep and Rachel was driving us to her house. Within minutes we would be face to face with the Defiers. Anything could happen . . . within minutes.
“This is it,” Rachel said nervously as we slowed down and pulled into the driveway on the right.
Her house was tucked back off the road and surrounded by tall mature trees. The house itself was a small white bungalow with an attached single car garage.
“Let's go inside and wait,” Rachel ordered as we slowly got out of the car, surveying the area for any impending danger.
Noah took a few quick steps to catch up to Rachel. “It'll be okay, Rach. I won't let anything happen to you.”
Rachel gave a weak smile and thanked him. Then Noah bravely reached for her hand, but Rachel pulled back quickly. “No,” was all she said.
Noah looked hurt and a little confused but he kept his composure. Rachel unlocked the front door and we followed her into the dark living room on our right. There was a bay window in the centre of the room that overlooked the driveway and that’s where we waited and watched. Rachel paced the floor behind us, massaging her fingers into her temples.
“Rachel, why don't you tell us a little about these guys so we know what we're up against,” Nick asked, breaking the nervous silence.
Rachel took a deep breath and sat down on the couch. “There will be five or six of them. Ryan is the leader. They are all extremely powerful and dangerous.” Rachel shuddered and then continued, “If they target any one of us, we don't stand a chance. That is why you cannot, under any circumstances, reveal your gifts.”
I looked at Noah who was growing more protective as she talked.
“Why are they here, Rachel?” I asked. “What do they want with you?”
She looked up at me with a tear-stained face. “I broke his heart. He wants revenge.”
The sound of gravel crunching under the tires of a vehicle could be heard outsi
de. Rachel jumped off the couch and ran to the window. Peering through the blinds, her trembling voice whispered, “They're here.”