A Demon Made Me Do It (36 page)

“
Bones…”

“
Don’t
.” His voice is harder now. “You can fool yourself all you
want to, but you can’t fool me. And as much as I want more than
anything to be with you…to
really
be with you…I only want it if you feel the same
way.”

I reach for my top, my
hands shaking as I try to latch the row of tiny hooks.
Why do there have to be
so many of them?
The awkwardness
expands with each passing second as I search my brain for the right
words. The problem is, there aren’t any.

“
It’s okay,” Bones finally
says. “Deep down I had a feeling you were still into him. I’ve
never seen anyone affect you the way this guy has. But I had to
try. If for no other reason than to make myself face the
truth.”

I finally get my top on, and move
closer to him. Bones’ magnificent beauty is enhanced even more by
the dancing firelight, but the sadness in his eyes is unmistakable
and gut-wrenching.

“
Bones…” I reach out to
him.

He gives me a wry smile and clasps my
hand. “Sun’s coming up soon. You don’t want to be stuck out here
with me…”

“
I’m
so
sorry… I didn’t mean to hurt
you…”

“
You should go.”

“
Bones…”

“
Lucky, it’s okay. I don’t
feel any different about you. You’re still the one thing in this
world I care most about, and until the time comes when it is right
for us to be together, I’ll wait for you. I’ll
always
be here, waiting for you.
Because I know one day things will change, and you and I will be
the ones who are meant for each other. One day it will be my name
you say…”

“
Bones…”

“
Go now. I’ll see you
later.” He gives my hand a gentle squeeze. There’s still plenty of
time left before sunrise, but it’s obvious he wants to be
alone.

I give him a quick hug and a peck on
the cheek, saddened by how stiff and cold his body feels to me now.
I can’t even bear to look into his distant eyes as I whisper
“sorry” one last time before dashing off into the sanctuary of the
forest.

Chapter 23.
Liora/Lucky

“
Hey, Liora…um, can I talk
to you for a sec?” Corinne leans against the row of lockers and
fidgets nervously with her necklace.

I let out a soft sigh. I’d managed to
make it through yet another day of school, only because I had the
quiet cemetery to look forward to later. I wanted to be alone with
my thoughts and dead people who don’t judge me. As much as I
genuinely like Corrine, I hope she’s not looking for us to have
some more girly-bonding time, as this comes into direct conflict
with my desire to retreat from the outside world
completely.

But Corrine is the only one who’s
never judged or criticized me for my antisocial behavior. If I lose
her, I’ll have no one. And I don’t know if I’ll survive feeling
even lonelier.

I slam my locker shut and force a
smile. “Sure, what’s up?”

“
Um, well, I was wondering
if I could ask you for a small favor. Well, small for you but it
would be huge for me…” She chews the side of her mouth and twists
her hair around a plump finger.

“
What is it?”

“
I was
wondering…
hoping
…that maybe you could help me with some problems I’m having in
a couple of classes? You’re so brilliant; maybe you could explain a
few things to me…I figured you were able to help Kieron, maybe you
could help me?” She seems to be holding her breath waiting for my
answer.

Inexplicably my mood brightens,
despite hearing his name. Not much, but some, and I chuckle.
“Sure…what do you need help with?”

She hangs her head as we make our way
to the parking lot. I’ve long since stopped looking for Kieron’s
truck, having accepted that he’s gone and never coming
back.

“
Well, it’s kinda
embarrassing. I’m not doing all that great in math, but right now
I’m failing history and English. I try the best I can, but my
writing is terrible…I can’t remember all the stupid rules. And in
history, I keep getting confused about who did what when, and why I
should care. Math…that I just suck at, period. And don’t even get
me started on chem.” She lets out a troubled sigh. “I’m just really
scared ‘cause if I mess up too bad and don’t graduate…” She looks
away, but not before I catch the glistening in her eyes.

“
No prob…I can totally help
you.”
Finally.
My
useless brilliance might be good for something other than making
the stupid teachers think they’ve actually taught me
something.

“
Really, you can? I mean,
you will? That’s great!” Her voice is overflowing with relief. “I
wish I could pay you for your time, but I don’t have any money.
Maybe I could wash your car or clean your—”

I laugh so loud it surprises me.
“Corinne, stop it. Don’t be silly. I’d love to help you, and you
don’t have to pay me or do anything for me. The extra study would
benefit me, too,” I lie.

She smiles wide, flashing
her crooked teeth. “Wow, thank you
so
much
. That’s so cool of you. Um…when are
you free? I know nights don’t really work for you.”

“
I’m free in the
afternoons. I just need to be home by dark. So any days you
want.”

The more I think about
helping Corinne, the more I like the idea. I desperately need
something…
anything
… to help occupy my mind and distract me from the endless
hours of torment. Something to focus on other than…

“
You wanna do it now? The
library is open till six.”

“
Sure.”

We stroll toward the circular
building, and I can’t help but think of the time I came here with
Kieron. Will I ever be able to do anything again without thinking
of him?

Corrine is an eager student, and
listens to me carefully. As the afternoon progresses, I’m more and
more amazed at how much I enjoy teaching her things…the feeling of
satisfaction I get deep inside when she gives me that look of
understanding. After she answers some complex math questions, I
don’t know who is more proud, her or me. And the gratitude in her
eyes when our session is up...utterly priceless.

“
Liora, I don’t know how to
thank you. You are
such
an amazing teacher. You explain everything in a
way that actually makes
sense.
Already, I feel like I understand so much better.
Maybe there’s hope for me yet.”

“
Wanna do it again
tomorrow?” I ask. The afternoon has flown by so quickly, I know I
need to get going soon. But other than the days spent with Kieron,
this was the best afternoon I’d had in a long time.

She bobs her head up and
down eagerly. “Yes…I want to,
need
to
…keep going, for as long as you’re
willing to help me. If I don’t do well in my classes…if I don’t
graduate…” She drops her head.

Impulsively, I give her a
hug. “You’ll do fine…and I
promise
you’ll graduate.”

“
I have to,” she whispers
under her breath. “It’s the only way I’ll ever get out of my house
and out of this God-forsaken town.”

“
You can do it, Corinne. I
know you can. And I’ll help as much as you need.”

“
Liora, thank you…thank you
so much. You really don’t know what this means to me. You are
saving my life. You…you’re an angel.”

I smile, her effusive
praise making me feel strangely warm. I’ve never been on the
receiving end of such gratitude before and it makes me feel good
inside. Really good. It’s nice to feel needed, and even better, to
feel
appreciated
.
To feel that I have a purpose.

“
I’m no angel, but I’m
happy to help. We’ll do more tomorrow after class.”

“
Okay, great. Thanks again.
See ya.” She waves vigorously, heading toward her bus
stop.

Automatically, I head into
the woods, only remembering a mile or so into my trek that I’d
driven to school today. I wish I had remembered sooner. It’s
getting dark earlier these days, and I’d stayed at school longer
than I probably should have. If I don’t hurry, I won’t have time to
eat dinner, and Lucky has definitely been consuming
way
too much alcohol
lately; even more, I suspect, than is necessary for her to function
properly. Every morning for the past two weeks I’ve awakened to
Tatiana sitting by my side, pink hangover remedy in
hand.

I weave through the trees, taking a
short cut from my normal path. There’s no distinctive trail to
follow, but I know the way. As I tip-toe along some rocks across a
small stream, I replay my afternoon with Corinne. I remember a
conversation with Kieron and how, when he asked me what I wanted to
do with my life, I hated that I had no clue what to tell him.
Slowly, an idea begins to form.

Despite Tatiana’s warnings,
deep down I’d always assumed that my condition was only temporary,
and that one day Lucky and I would wake up as one, reunited and
back to our normal life, whatever that may be. And when that
happened, I’d have the power to do
whatever
I wanted,
whenever
I
wanted.

But as months have turned
into years, I’m beginning to think that maybe this is just how
things are going to be. I will be an ordinary human for the rest of
my life. Well,
almost
ordinary.

I need a new game plan.
Instead of biding my time waiting to die, I need to find a way to
do something with my life that makes me happy. Really happy. Like
tutoring. Maybe one day I can even become a teacher. That might
work—teachers only work during the day time, and I really like
little kids. Since I’ll never be able to have any of my own, maybe
teaching will be something I might like…something I can
do
.

I’m nearing the final bend,
close to the cabin. Lost in happy thoughts for my future, I nearly
jump out of my skin when I hear a sharp
CRACK
behind me. I freeze mid-step
and spin around, searching...listening.

Nothing. Silence.

Must be an
animal
, I tell myself, and continue
walking.

A few seconds later, I hear
the sound again, louder...closer.
Those
were definitely footsteps.
And no one is
supposed to be out here. My heart races as I look in every
direction.

“
Hello?” I call out in a
shaky voice. Maybe it’s poachers, looking for game. I don’t want to
get shot by accident, and maybe if they know someone else is out
here, they’ll leave. But after a few moments of silence I decide
I’m just being paranoid. It’s probably just a deer, or maybe a
large raccoon.

The sun is approaching its final bow
in the hazy sky, and I estimate I have about half an hour left. I
need to get home quickly and get some food in me, so I ignore the
uneasy feeling in my gut and continue on my way. But after only a
few steps the loud, distinctive crunching sounds again...right
behind me.

I jump and turn around, adrenaline
pumping through my veins. Then I freeze in disbelief, my eyes wide.
Slowly, I bring one hand over my mouth, while the other reaches out
to touch the person before me.

“
Liora, I’m sorry…I didn’t
mean to scare you.” His voice is as tender and melodic as I
remember. He steps closer and wraps his arms around my
waist.

“
Kieron…is it really you?
You’re back?” I ask stupidly, flinging my arms around his neck. “I
thought you had gone away forever and I was never going to see you
again…that you didn’t want me…” I climb up on my tip toes and bury
my face in the scruff of his neck. He hasn’t shaved and his skin is
coarse against my cheeks, but the musky scent is intoxicating. A
mixture of earth and air.

He wraps his arms tighter around me,
and I let myself melt in his embrace. I’ve imagined countless times
how it would feel to see him again, but even my wildest fantasies
hadn’t come close to the euphoria of this moment. I pull back
enough to gaze at his gorgeous face.

“
I’m sorry, I had to leave
for a while…and..
.
” His eyes glisten with hope.

He leans in and kisses me sweetly on
my lips. They burn with desire for more.

******

“
But where
were
you? Why were you
gone for so long?” I ask after several kisses. As much as I love
the feel of his mouth on mine, I need some answers.
Fast.

“
I had a job to do. A very
important job…I’m sorry, it ended up taking a lot longer than I
thought it would, and I wasn’t sure…” Stress and fatigue show on
his face, and his normally crystal-blue eyes are bloodshot and
weary.

“
But you’re back now?” I
can barely contain my elation.

“
Sorta, the job isn’t
exactly finished yet.” He sits down and pulls me beside him.
“Liora, we need to talk.”