Butterflies
(#2 Airborne Trilogy)
by Bree Wolf
Butterflies
by Bree Wolf
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, brands, media, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in fictitious manner.
Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2015 Sabrina Wolf
www.breewolf.com
All Rights Reserved
This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Also by Bree Wolf
Fireflies
(#1 Airborne Trilogy)
Dragonflies
(#3 Airborne Trilogy)
Coming Summer 2016
How to Live and Die in Crescent Rock
(#1 Crescent Rock Series)
Trapped in Time
To Those who are strong
Because they need to be
About the Book
After last summer’s treasure hunt, a new adventure lurks on the horizon. When Eddie accidentally stumbles on a group of seniors planning this year’s secret Halloween party, the five friends decide they must discover its location.
However, finding the location is only the beginning.
Love infiltrates their little circle.
While Liam and Jordan enjoy the butterflies of their budding relationship, they crush the heart of another member of their group. Eventually not only Jack but also Eddie confide in Gabriel and share a secret that threaten to break the bonds of friendship.
Bound to secrecy, Gabriel turns to the one person he feels can help…Hannah.
Although Gabriel lost the girl with the glowing eyes at the end of summer, he still finds himself talking to the little firefly.
And Hannah answers.
Offering advice and encouragement, Hannah guides Gabriel through another trying time in his life. As he struggles with his friends’ secrets, Gabriel can’t help but wonder what they would think of his own. Would they think him crazy for speaking to a firefly? And even more so, for hearing her answer?
Now it is up to Gabriel to find a way through the maze of feelings that stand between his friends and a happily-ever-after.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 – A New Day
Chapter 2 – Real Girls
Chapter 3 – Summer’s Over
Chapter 4 – In Good Time
Chapter 5 – Dinner and a Show
Chapter 6 – Yea or Nay
Chapter 7 – I Spy
Chapter 8 – The Location
Chapter 9 – All Hallows’ Eve
Chapter 10 – Jack’s Secret
Chapter 11 – Hidden Pain
Chapter 12 – Lies & Guides
Chapter 13 – Father & Son
Chapter 14 – Thanksgiving, or isn’t it?
Chapter 15 – Home
Chapter 16 – Love
Chapter 17 – Taking the Fall
Chapter 18 – Heart to Heart
Chapter 19 – Immortal
Chapter 20 – Butterflies
Chapter 1 – A New Day
Bang!
The door flew shut, not completely drowning out his parents' angry voices. They still rang in his ears, and his fingers slowly curled into fists, as though having a will of their own.
Gabriel shook his head. Something was wrong.
In the distance, he heard another voice. Only this one didn't sound angry. It was pleasant, speaking with a soft, melodic hum.
Straining his ears, Gabriel tried to listen. He fought down the noise from his parents' arguing as it moved like an enemy to block his way, and tried to listen even harder.
There it was again. A melodic voice, not speaking, but singing.
Again Gabriel listened, and this time the voice sounded familiar.
"Gabriel," it called, as a soft weight descended on his shoulder and gave him a quick shake. "Gabriel, wake up."
As his eyes flew open, Gabriel found his grandmother's face hovering over him. "Wake up, sleepyhead," she sang, humming under her breath, as she pulled aside the curtains. "It's a beautiful day and," she turned to look at him, "your days of leisure are finally over."
"Right," he breathed, as realization dawned on him. "The first day of school." Wiping the remnants of his dream out of his eyes, he mouthed, "Today is the first day of school."
His grandmother looked at him, and her eyes narrowed as the smile disappeared from her face. "Is something wrong? Are you nervous?" She came to sit down beside him on the bed.
Pushing himself up, Gabriel shook his head. "No, I'm fine." His head felt heavy, and he let it hang down. In that moment he felt himself missing the long hair he'd once had. The hair that would have hidden his face. But Hannah had convinced him to cut it all off, to let the world look at him and work through his fear.
Hannah, a tiny voice whispered, but Gabriel shushed it immediately.
Again his grandmother smiled, brushing a hand over his Mohawk. "I'm glad." She rose from the bed and pointed at the closet. "Now, chop, chop. You better get going. I'm sure Liam will be here any second."
Instantly, Gabriel's face lit up. "Liam," he beamed. Caught in his dream, he'd once again become stuck in his old life. A life without friends, without a voice, without a place to be. But things had changed. This year would be different. As would this first day of school.
With a smile on his face, Gabriel jumped out of bed.
***
After securing their bikes in front of the main school building, Gabriel, his neighbors’ son Liam as well as their friend Eddie followed the small stream of students. Hesitantly it poured into the auditorium where a short welcome from Principal Hall would commence the new school year.
"Yes, Mrs. S. will drop them off after," Liam said, scanning the grounds. "They should be here soon."
"That's good," Eddie commented. "I mean, Jordan on her own is annoying enough as it is, but Jordan in a cast is like spending summer in hell." He wiped the back of his hand over his forehand and gave a short whistle. "But we made it through!"
Gabriel grinned, but Liam's face showed a frown as he shook his head. "Don't you think you're a little rude? I mean, she was banned from swimming almost all summer, that's bound to put you in a bad mood."
"Then what's her excuse the rest of the year?" Eddie asked grinning.
"Oh, c'mon, she's not that bad," Liam protested.
Eddie's face fell open. "Not that bad?" He shook his head, then stopped and narrowed his eyes. "Did she pay you to say that?"
"What?" Liam gaped at his friend. "Why would you–? Oh, look there they are."
From across the street the twins Jack and Jordan waved at them as their mother's car pulled out into traffic and disappeared around the corner. Bending her arm back and forth, Jordan had a huge smile on her face. She balled her fingers into a fist and playfully punched her brother on the arm, who in turn howled in mock pain and attacked her the same way.
Again Eddie shook his head. "Unbelievable. They're acting like children." Gabriel and Liam stared at him, shaking their heads. "What?" Eddie wondered, unable to comprehend their astonished faces.
As the twins joined the group, Jack automatically took the lead. "Well, everyone, are you ready to enter the dragon’s lair?" He searched their faces.
"The dragon's lair?" Gabriel asked.
"Principal Hall, a.k.a. the dragon, has her very own, quite unique way of...let's say 'motivating' students on the first day,"
Eddie explained.
"Motivate?" the others, except Gabriel, repeated in unison. "That's putting it mildly," Jordan said. "Terrify to my very core, is more like it."
"She terrified you?" Gabriel asked.
Jordan shrugged. "Well, maybe not me, more precisely the likes of you, but that's splitting hairs."
"And since when don't you do that?" Eddie asked.
Jordan's eyes narrowed as she moved toward him.
Again Liam stepped in. "Stop it! Both of you! What do you think will happen when Principal Hall sees you fighting on the first day?"
Eddie shrugged, seemingly unimpressed. "With any luck, suspend us indefinitely."
"Do you really want that?" Liam asked, a look of incomprehension marking his face.
"Duh!" Eddie exclaimed. "No more school, dude."
"Seriously, you need help, DUDE!" Jordan said. "You're even more messed up than I am."
"Okay, getting on dangerous terrain," Liam pointed out. "Let's go inside."
"Yeah," Jack agreed. "Let's agree you're both pretty messed up, and go listen to the speech that will chill us to our bones."
"Sounds like a plan," Gabriel said as the last hint of a smile vanished from his face. What had scared him when he'd first met Eddie and Jordan now served as entertainment. Their exchange of blows generally brightened up his days.
Walking into the auditorium that buzzed like a beehive on a bright summer day, Gabriel's eyes opened wide at the number of students fighting over seats, exchanging lunches or just gossiping. From the size of Kenton Woods he would never have suspected there to be that many students. Among them Gabriel spotted Liam's sister Nahla and her friend Kaitlin, as well as Jack and Jordan's older brothers, Jason and Jonas.
"In the back?" Liam asked.
Eddie nodded. "It's safer there."
"I thought you wanted to get suspended," Jordan threw in. "Has fear found you at last?"
Eddie grinned. "I'm sorry to disappoint, but I'm only doing this out of concern for you and your tender heart."
Again Jordan's eyes narrowed. "Quick reminder, my arm is fully healed, meaning every punch will hit its mark."
"Cut it out!" Jack barked. "It's been what? Ten minutes? And this is already the second time you're jumping down his throat. Have you learned nothing from that stupid cast?"
"I guess not," Eddie whispered.
Instantly, Jack spun around, a glare on his face. "Not another word!" he hissed. When neither Jordan nor Eddie seemed to want to risk another confrontation, he turned back to the task at hand. "How about over there?" he asked pointing to a few unoccupied seats in the fifth row on the left.
"That's not really in the back," Eddie protested, although his voice held no strength, making it sound like a mere comment.
Jack's eyebrows rose. "See? Once again your bickering has cost us." And with that he marched off.
Reluctantly, they settled into their seats, with Jordan on the far left and Eddie on the far right. Gabriel found himself in the middle with two friends on each side and a smile spread over his face. For once he was not alone.
In the next instant the beehive fell silent.
Gabriel froze, as though a shot had been fired. Scanning his surroundings he turned to Liam, "What's going on?"
"Principal Hall," Liam whispered back, before his lips appeared to be sealed permanently.
Craning his neck, Gabriel's eyes fell on the stern principal he'd first met a couple of weeks ago during their race for the treasure that no one had ever found. As before, her hair was tied in a bun giving her face a fairly edged character, which was even more pronounced by the wiry glasses sitting low on her nose. Although she moved by no means slowly, her movements reminded Gabriel of those of a feline on the prowl, sharp eyes scanning her surroundings, ready to pounce at a moment's notice.
Principal Hall had something terrifying about her, Gabriel thought, and she hadn't even opened her mouth yet.
As the few last students that remained standing jumped out of Mrs. Hall's way as she descended the stairs towards the podium, not a whisper could be heard. Although he could completely understand their reaction, Gabriel was amazed at the authority this little, old lady commanded.
Facing her students with unfaltering eyes, Mrs. Hall seemed to be looking at each and every one of them, and the silence dragged on. When she finally opened her mouth, she didn't bother with the microphone. The auditorium was still completely quiet so that even her calm and leveled voice could be heard in the very back.
"Dear students," Mrs. Hall started, as though she was writing a letter. Those two words held nothing threatening under normal circumstances, but Gabriel could feel goose bumps slowly spreading down his arms. She could have recited a love poem or told a dirty joke and the result would still have been the same. Maybe there was nothing more frightening than the possibility of a threat, not even an outspoken one.
"As the summer has come to its unfortunate end filling these grounds with a horde of barbarian invaders once more, school rules have been adapted to encompass the newest escapades of the student body, which have reached my ears." The students collectively drew in their breath, wondering whose reckless behavior she was referring to.
"Oops," Eddie whispered as he looked at his friends. "Sounds like some unfortunate individuals made it on Principal Hall's list of 'Students under Surveillance'."
"Edward Lawrence!" Mrs. Hall's voice cut through the silence. Not only Eddie flinched. Her sharp eyes narrowed as they turned onto the disruptive element, and her nose crinkled, as though she was smelling something rotten. "My office. After class." She returned to her speech after Eddie nodded, for once, unable to speak.
"School grounds may only be entered with regard to classroom activities. Trespassing after hours will not be tolerated and will be punished accordingly. Vehicles, be they two-wheeled or four-wheeled, are only to be park in thusly marked areas or will be confiscated," here she paused for impact, "indefinitely."
Again students drew in their breath but otherwise remained quiet.
"Seat belts or helmets must be worn at all times. Again, violation will be dealt with swiftly. Any kind of reckless behavior involving two-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicles will be punished based on the severity of the transgression." Suddenly her eyes shifted to the left of the auditorium and for a moment settled on Jordan. Although his friend showed no obvious reaction, Gabriel could see traitorous bumps rising on her forearms.
Then Principal Hall's gaze moved on to a row farther in the back.
Though Gabriel barely dared turn his head, he spotted Mike Matthews out of the corners of his eyes. After their bike race during the summer, Gabriel hadn't seen him again.
Unlike Jordan's, his face showed concern, and he swallowed hard.
"Two outstanding individuals in the field of reckless behavior shall receive their reward in but a moment," Mrs. Hall continued. Her voice remained cold and detached, only a bit of a sharp edge was added to it. "Due to budget cuts, the cleaning crew will be understaffed this year and is in dire need of a few additional pairs of hands. Therefore, it is my pleasure to announce that, starting today, Jordan Sharp and Michael Matthews will spend the next two months lending the aforementioned hands in order to keep school grounds clean."
Both their mouths fell open in shock, and yet both had the wisdom not to argue.
Mrs. Hall continued her motivational speech, gathering more volunteers for the cleaning crew as well as the cafeteria staff. By the time she was done, a large part of the student body had been roped into lending a hand. "I sincerely hope that this year will see an improvement on your part and not make such measures necessary the coming year." Her eyes swiftly flew across the cowering students before her. "Now head to class and remember to be respectful to your teachers as well as your classmates." Then she paused, and her eyes narrowed even more, if that was even possible. "But above all," she said, dragging out each word to make them count, "stay away from my roses."
"She can do that?" Gabriel asked
, as they headed down the corridor to his first class at the new school. "Punish students for something that happened during the summer? And not even on school grounds?"
"She did, didn't she?" Jordan snapped, a scowl had settled on her face and was likely to stay with them till the end of her term.
Grinning at his sister, Jack nodded. "Yes, she can. If she finds out, you get punished. Most students are more afraid of her finding out than of their parents. Greg Henley even got punished for littering during his vacation with his parents on Haiti. She had him emptying garbage cans for a year."
Gabriel's mouth dropped open. "What? How would she know about that?"
"Her spies operate on a very covert level," Eddie explained. "You don't see them coming."
Gabriel frowned. "Who?"
Liam laughed. "Your parents, of course. Who else?"
"Their parents actually go and tell Principal Hall?"
"Most don't do it intentionally," Liam explained further. "They just mention it and somehow it reaches Mrs. Hall's ears." He shrugged. "And then you're toast."
"Welcome to Kenton Woods," Eddie said, grinning from ear to ear. "Aren't you glad you transferred?"
Chapter 2 – Real Girls
Back in school, Gabriel spent his first two weeks getting used to his changed circumstances, which, occasionally catching him off guard, still amazed him. On Tuesday he walked into the cafeteria after his art class, that all of the others had refused to sign up for, and couldn't help but beam with pride, when Liam called to him, indicating that they'd saved him a seat. Having friends was still new, a privilege, and sometimes a tiny voice warned him to watch out, saying a privilege could be revoked.
"So, how was it, Picasso?" Jack asked, as Gabriel placed his tray next to him on the table. "How soon can we expect paintings that are worth something?" He chuckled.
"Well, I don't think ever," Gabriel said smiling. "I'm no good at it."