“It’s nothing,” he said, taking my waist with his arm.
“I’m not convinced.” I pushed away from his embrace and took a few steps to the forest’s edge.
“I hate it when you do that,” David said.
I looked at him over my shoulder and saw hurt in his face. Hadn’t I hurt him enough? I hurried back to him and wrapped his arms around me. I pulled at his collar, bringing his upper body to me and pecked his lips.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t realize that upset you so much.”
After a few quiet seconds, David took my hand and led me to a fallen tree where he seated me. He knelt before me and cupped both my hands with his.
“How would you feel about growing old with me?”
Was he asking me to marry him? My question had probably led him to believe that’s what I wanted, but I was in no way prepared for marriage. My mom always told me I was mature for my age, but I don’t think marriage fell under her perception of my maturity. I hadn’t even graduated from high school, yet. I wanted to attend college. I had plans—lots of plans!
“Isis?”
“But I’m not ready for marriage,” I blurted out.
“Good, because it’s not a marriage proposal,” he said.
“Then, what are you asking me?”
“What if there was a way?”
“A way for you to age?”
“Yes. What if I could age alongside you? What if, when you’re ready, I could give you the commitment you wanted? Would it make you happy?”
“Yes.”
David’s face gleamed. He lifted my entire body to him, draping me with his arms and pressing his lips against mine. I was dizzy and weightless in his embrace. It wasn’t until I sensed the sun beating fiercely on my face and lowered my head that I realized why I felt that way; we were hovering above the forest and ascending in spirals through the air. The flowers previously on my hair were dancing and swirling around us.
I gasped and hid my face in David’s chest, my eyes shut and my stomach in one big knot.
“Don’t be frightened, my lovely,” David said.
Oh, but I wasn’t frightened—I was terrified!
I wanted to plead with him not to let go, but my teeth ground together, incapacitating my speech. My eyes were glued shut.
“Open your eyes,” he said.
I shook my head. All of a sudden, I sensed his light, seductive scent as I inhaled. Within seconds, the panic was swept away.
“Isis, open your eyes.”
I peeked through one eyelid, and then opened the other. The majestic blue sky surrounded us. The ebony trees lying below seemed to be nothing more than a blanket of moss. David’s wings moved in a slow, graceful wave.
“Am I dreaming?”
“No.”
“Am I dead?”
David laughed.
He carried us above the reserve and over the puddle-like lake. He circled the antique house, which I could now see was located in the center of the wooded area. Gliding with the wind, we descended to the ebonies. David set his feet on the grass. His arms lowered me to the fallen tree base where I had been sitting earlier. I looked at his still exposed wings.
“Can I touch them?”
David sat next to me and turned his back. I examined his wings, and then gently ran my fingers through his feathers with both my hands. Their texture was luxurious and velvety, unlike anything I’d ever touched. David watched me over his shoulder. I rubbed my face against one of his wings and inhaled their sweet perfume. The scent was warm and inviting.
David’s wings disappeared with a soft shimmer as he turned to face me.
“This may sound strange to you, but I think I just found out why cats beg to be petted.”
***
After having tea, David drove me home.
“I’ll be by tomorrow morning to drive you to school,” he reminded me.
“What about that issue with Gabriel and us?” I asked.
“I’ll deal with it.”
“Will I see you in my dreams tonight?”
“I don’t want you to see me while you sleep.”
“Why not?”
“I want you to miss me. I cherished the way you looked at me this morning after not having seen me for several days.”
“You noticed that?”
“I did.”
David walked me to the front door.
“I’ll feel dead until I look into those beautiful emerald eyes of yours again,” he whispered into my ear. “Good night, my lovely.”
I watched his car drive down the street, and then I walked in the house.
Claire arrived home right after me. I was still sighing over the ideal day I had spent with David.
“What’s that goofy smile all about?” she said, turning my face from side to side.
I was so glad she was back to normal—at least I hoped she was. I pulled myself away from her grip and kept smiling.
“Hello? Earth to Isis…” She waved her hand in front of my eyes.
“Stop. I’m not telling you anything.”
Claire stuck her tongue out at me. “Well, neither am I.”
“Act your age,” I said. I was sure she was fine now.
Of course, she started telling me about her afternoon out with The Judge. They had watched a movie and gone out for ice cream afterwards. She was my happy Claire again.
It was still early for dinner, so I hung out in my room listening to my favorite Italian artist, Tiziano Ferro. I daydreamed about the night when David sang to me. I wished I understood Italian so I knew what it was he was singing about.
My smile dulled when I remembered that Gabriel was still a problem that hadn’t been solved. I had to think about how to get it through Gabe’s thick skull that I didn’t want him around me anymore. Maybe I should tell Claire about Gabriel and the gun. I shook the thought out of my head. I didn’t want Gabriel in prison, much less overprotection from Claire. She tended to overdramatize these things. I guess it was the small town girl in her that made her that way.
***
March 13, 6:01 P.M.
Emotion has overthrown the reign of reason. I’m the humble servant of that which should have a more passionate name. This emotion, which you’ve ignited in me, holds no comparison to any I’ve felt before. I’m a prisoner and a slave bound by the ropes of elation.
***
Monday morning, Andy elbowed Bill, and they started clapping as David and I walked to our table hand in hand. I rolled my eyes at them.
Galen tightened his lips. He was the only one in David’s family that was still having a hard time accepting our relationship.
David wasn’t afraid to show everyone that we were together, though. He received several warnings during first period for tilting his desk forward and putting his arms around me. Second period, he paraded me on his arm for Simon to see. Lunch was blissful. David and I sat at a booth by ourselves since our table was overcrowded again.
“Why isn’t your mom against us seeing each other like Galen is? It was like she was relieved when I went looking for you.”
“My mother believes that because you’ve found a way to travel to Somnium without knowledge of its existence, you were destined to find me. You see, fate plays a critical part in life’s journey to reach your undeniable destiny.”
“Wait, wait… fate and destiny? I’m not grasping the whole genius-deity theory of life,” I said.
“It’s not a theory; it’s the way things are. Fate is the series of events in your life that brings you to your destiny. It’s like, a mathematical equation: one plus one equals two, and will always equal two because it is a true statement, right? Well, imagine that the number ones are fate and the answer—which is always equal to two—is destiny. It doesn’t matter how many ones you add to the equation, the answer is always the truth. Does that make sense to you?”
“Sort of.”
“You’re my undeniable truth—my destiny,” he murmured, leaning in to kiss me
.
“Ehem.” Principal Miller cleared her throat. “None of that on campus, kids.”
“Yes, ma’am,” David said.
“Thank you,” Ms. Miller said and strode away.
“I was thinking…” David started. “I’d like to invite your mother and you to dinner sometime this week.”
“Why?”
“I thought it would be a nice gesture—maybe gain more brownie points.”
“I’ll let her know.” I could already hear the big commotion Claire would make over this.
“I’d like to ask her myself. It’s the proper way, after all.”
“She’ll like that.”
***
For a brief second my thoughts turned to Gabriel, but I stopped myself right away. I ignored that worry and sent it to the back of my mind where it wasn’t immediately perturbing. I wasn’t going to ruin this day.
I tried to convince David to come inside when he dropped me off. I insisted that my mother had the utmost trust in me. He refused, saying it wasn’t proper for him to be in my house without Claire’s consent. As usual, he won the argument.
After several attempts to say good-bye, he pulled me out of the car and walked me to the porch. I didn’t want him to go, but I knew he wouldn’t stay and let Claire find him there.
He promised to return later that evening to speak to Claire about the dinner invitation.
***
“Mom, I have to tell you something,” I said as soon as she set her purse down.
Claire’s eyes widened. “Oh my God, you’re pregnant.”
“No! We talked about that already.”
“I’m sorry, honey. I know I overreact whenever you say that, but that’s the way I told… never mind, never mind.” She shook her head. “What do you have to tell me?”
“David’s coming over later.” I turned the TV off and walked to the stairs. “I’ll be in my room.”
“Isis, don’t be angry, honey. I’m sorry.”
“You need to trust me. Just this afternoon I was telling David how much you trusted me. Was I wrong to tell him that?”
“Of course not. But you know I’m a drama queen when it comes to my only baby. I can’t help it. You know this is me… this is your mother. One day you’ll understand what it’s like to want the best for your children. I’m terrified that you’re a teenager with a body full of raging hormones, because I already lived through that.”
“I know. You’ve told me this before… a dozen times. I’m just asking for a little credit. Have faith in me.”
“I don’t doubt you, Isis. You’re a good girl.”
“Yeah, thanks. I’ll be in my room.”
***
Claire was making a ruckus, moving pots and pans around in the kitchen, getting dinner started, so she didn’t hear the doorbell. I hurried down the stairs and opened the door.
“Hi. I’ll go get my mom.” I walked backwards a few steps, admiring my new hot boyfriend, then turned and walked toward the kitchen.
“Mom, David’s here.”
“Is he staying for dinner?” She was chopping broccoli on a wooden cutting board.
“I don’t know. Can you come to the living room for a sec?”
Claire stopped her chopping and gave me a strange look. She rinsed her hands and wiped them dry on her apron. I could tell she was nervous.
“Good evening, Mrs. Martin,” David said.
“Evening, David. How’s your mother doing?”
“Fine, thank you. And how are you?”
“I’m… uh… well.” Claire glanced at me. “Would you like to stay for dinner?”
“Thank you, but no. I’m actually here to extend a dinner invitation to you and Isis for some time later in the week, whenever it’s more convenient for you.”
“Dinner?” Claire exhaled as if relieved. “Yes. I’d love to. How about tomorrow night?”
“Perfect.”
“It’s a date. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to finish up in the kitchen.”
“Are you sure you won’t stay?” I asked David. “She makes the best broccoli quiche.”
“Tempting, but I’ve already eaten.”
“Hang out with me for a little while?”
“Only until your dinner’s ready.”
Claire didn’t take very long to put the quiche in the oven. She joined us in the living room and talked to David about the countries he had lived in.
“I’d love for Isis to see all those places one day,” David said. “The cultures are so different.”
“I can imagine,” Claire said.
The timer on the stove beeped. Claire excused herself and went into the kitchen.
“Time for me to go.” David glanced at his watch. “I think I’ve overstayed my visit.”
“It’s not that late.”
“I know, but Galen’s having trouble digesting our relationship and his comments make my mother tense. I should’ve called to let her know I’d be staying for longer than expected.”
“What comments?”
“About Gabriel and our relationship,” he said as he touched the Star Crest hanging from my neck.
“Yeah, I’m concerned also.”
“We’ll hope for the best.”
David rose and walked to the door. He pecked me on the cheek and left.
Claire set the broccoli quiche and wild rice on the table. She plopped down on a chair with her oven mitt and apron still on. She cut two triangles off the quiche and served them on our plates.
“It’s nice of your new friend to invite us to dinner.”
I nodded as I took a taste of the piping hot food. It was delicious. I wondered if it would be up to Chios’ standards. I wouldn’t shy away from showing off my own cooking for David, if given the opportunity. I had inherited Claire’s skill.
“Are you ever going to tell me what’s going on between you two?”
“Nope. Not until you tell me what was going on with you last week.”
“That, again.”
“No deal?”
“No deal.”
***
I was washing the last of the dishes when the phone in my pocket started vibrating. It was Krystle, one of my best friends. She left for college earlier in the school year along with Sheila, Gabriel, and Patrick.
“It’s so much work,” Krystle complained. “Research papers and projects and presentations… I’m so happy I’ll be coming home for spring break this weekend.”
“Great! We can hang out with Andy and the rest of the gang. What do you want to do when you get here?”
“Sheila told me the Spring Festival is going on this weekend.”
“Man, I miss her… She lives here, but I never see her because she’s so busy all the time.” I leaned against the kitchen sink, staring at the floor.
“I know, I hardly talk to her anymore either, and we don’t even have time to text. She’s super busy with work, college, and all. I don’t know how she does it. Sometimes, I feel like I can’t handle my full load of classes.”
“You’re scaring me. I don’t know if I want to go to college anymore.”
“Shut up. You know you’re going. So have you given thought to where you’ll be attending? UTSA, maybe—with me?”
“Still debating.” I sighed. “The tuitions are ridiculous, you know?”
“Tell me about it. If it weren’t for financial aid and student loans, I’d be illiterate right now.”
“So dramatic!” I laughed.
“I know. It’s the stress. So, I’ll see you when I get there, yes?”
“Count on it.”
“I’ll talk to ya later. Bye.”
“Bye.”
***
David was wearing a fitted, black polo-type shirt with a white shirt underneath when he picked me up for school the next morning. He looked like a model for the designer clothes he was wearing.
“Ready, gorgeous?”
“No,” I said. “How many more days until s
pring break?”
“Not long. What are we planning for that week?”
“We? That sounds nice.”
“Do you think your mother would let you travel?”
“Not unless the apocalypse was nearing.”
“I’ll have to figure a way to keep us entertained here, then.”
***
David’s arm was wrapped around my waist as we walked into school. He held me like I was a fragile glass vase; his embrace was soft, careful, and firm. I was in heaven, until the smell of the breakfast pizza hit my nostrils.
“What’s that smell?” David pinched his nose.
“You don’t wanna know. Let’s sit out on the patio,” I said. I led him out of the exit next to the theatre arts center.
As we took our seats, the rest of our entourage came out to join us. Eryx and Galen sat at a corner table with two other guys I didn’t know, while Bill and Andrea sat with David and me. There were no other students out on the patio besides us.
I let Andy and Bill know that Krystle would be in town for spring break and about our plans to meet up at the Spring Carnival. David was quiet while Andy and Bill exchanged ideas of what to do while Krystle and Patrick were in town.
“David, you’re really gonna like Patrick, Krystle, and Sheila,” Andy said. “They’re such good people.”
“I don’t think Sheila is going to make it to the carnival. She has to work,” Bill said. “Maybe we can meet up with her on one of the days we go to the beach.”
“Well, we kind of made plans for the week already, too.” I glanced at David.
“Nothing is set in stone,” David said. “I wouldn’t mind meeting your friends.”
“Woo hoo! Spring break at the beach!” Andy wiggle-danced on her chair.
***
The day went fast. First period, David managed to keep his hands to himself.
I had a presentation in Physiology, second period, which I had to wing without Simon. He took it upon himself to change his seating arrangement. The teacher must have not minded because he didn’t ask him to return to his original lab table.
Lunch was a blast; even Galen and Eryx took interest in the idea of a little recreation and relaxation at The Island.
After school, the excitement of the week to come was still alive in Andy and Bill. I could tell they were also looking forward to hanging with the old group. We all said goodbye and headed home.
“Come here,” David said after we were in the car. I shifted my weight to the driver’s side. David pressed his pale, soft lips over mine and deepened the kiss. My mind fogged for a moment.
“Four hours I’ve been waiting for that.” David sighed. “It was worth the wait.”