Authors: Laura D. Bastian
It's a Date
All day Sunday and during work on Monday I couldn't help thinking about Jai. How much he was exactly what I wanted in a boyfriend. He was such a gentleman, careful about my feelings and Amira's. He kept her safe, but still gave her space. Jai was protective, but not obsessive about it. His strange sense of humor made me feel comfortable when I was with him.
I couldn't wait to go over and see them again, but didn't want to seem too eager. I wanted him to come to me to let me know for sure he wanted my company. After cleaning up when I got home from work, I lay on my bed and closed my eyes. I tried listening to see if I could hear anything from down the street. I got nothing. Too far away.
I decided to go downstairs to find something to keep me occupied. I could go see them, but hated feeling like I was intruding. My bike was parked outside the garage, so they knew I was back. I thought about going outside to do yard-work to make them see me. I didn't need to do any weeding, but the flowerbeds needed watering. I could always check the mail too.
While I searched for ripe strawberries, Amira called my name. She was on her front porch. She called my name again, and I answered her in my mind.
“Hi,”
I shouted.
“Hello,”
she thought.
“Are you busy or could we come visit?”
“I'm not really busy, just watering a bit. Come on over,”
I thought loudly while trying to act casual.
“We will be over in a few minutes,”
Amira thought.
My little scheme worked! I rearranged my thoughts and shoved them into what I termed my Vault. I felt more comfortable with the Densinne, but knew I could slip up at any time and let them hear too much.
I rinsed the strawberries off with the hose and picked out the biggest one. The juice sent a blast of flavor through my mouth, causing a funny tingle in the back of my jaw as the saliva kicked in. I wondered if they had ever had strawberries. I shook the extra water off the berries and set them on the little patio table near the porch swing.
“Holly.”
I cringed at the voice I hadn't expected.
“Hey, Curtis.” I waved half-heartedly, hoping he'd leave it at that. Instead he came across the street. “When we gonna take that ride?”
“I don't have time to right now,” I said. “But thanks for the offer.”
“Why do you keep turning me down?” Curtis pouted. “We had lots of fun before.”
“When?”
“Before Celia moved.”
I frowned. Celia had always been pretty friendly with him. They hadn't dated, but she had often gotten him to take us places before we got our licenses. I preferred my bike over his car because I didn't have to listen to him talking about himself nonstop or fend off his attempts to hold my hand or kiss me. I was glad I couldn't hear his thoughts.
“What's up with you now? You too good for me?” Curtis grabbed a couple of strawberries and plucked the stems off before popping them into his mouth.
“I never said that⦔ I took the rest of the berries and moved them out of his reach.
“You don't have to say it. It's written all over your face. You don't want me hanging around.”
I groaned inside. “Curtis, you know that's not true. I just don't have time to go for a ride with you right now.”
“You sure have a lot of time for the new guy.” Curtis jerked his chin, and I looked up to see Jai and Amira approaching.
“Hey,” Amira said.
“Are we interrupting something?”
Jai thought.
“We can come back later.”
“No. Please don't go,”
I thought back.
“Hello, Curtis,” Amira said, extending her hand. Jai watched closely as if expecting Curtis to do something dangerous. I almost wished he would, just so I could see Jai take him out.
Curtis shook her hand. “Amanda, right?”
Jai cleared his throat but didn't speak. His thoughts echoed in my head. “
What an imbecile. How many times does she have to correct him?”
I had a hard time not laughing but couldn't stop the snort that escaped.
“Amira.” Her smile was gone, and she pulled her hand from his.
“What are you guys doing here?” Curtis looked at me as if I'd betrayed him.
“We came to see Holly,” Amira said.
“Well, isn't she the popular one.” Curtis sniffed. “That's why you're too busy? Some friend you are.”
Jai stepped forward, and Curtis took a step back. “You claim to be a friend, yet you belittle her. If you can't handle the fact that she is her own person, you have no right to claim her friendship.”
Jai's thoughts interrupted my own.
“Why do you let him treat you so?”
“I don't.”
“It seems you do. Why don't you stand up for yourself?”
I frowned at Jai, but Curtis interrupted my thoughts. “Look, buddy,” Curtis snarled. “Why don't you mind your own business?”
Jai crossed his arms over his chest again. Curtis was at least six inches shorter than Jai, and I could see him puffing up as if trying to squeeze every millimeter out of his height.
“Care to make me?” Jai said softly.
Amira shook her head. “Jai, there is no need to humiliate him.”
Curtis looked between the two as if wondering what he'd gotten himself into.
“Perhaps you are right. He is totally capable of making a fool out of himself without my help.”
Curtis's eyes narrowed and he stepped closer to Jai. “What?”
Jai turned away, and Curtis seemed to lose it. He pushed Jai in the back, but it had almost no effect on Jai, except to make him angry. Jai turned back and grabbed Curtis by both arms. He pulled him closer and lifted him until Curtis was only brushing the ground with his toes.
“I would advise you to think things through next time. And, I must insist you stay clear of Amira. And Holly,” he added as if I was an afterthought.
“You can't make me do anything,” Curtis mumbled.
“That is true, but I can sure make you wish you hadn't done something.” Jai's voice was just above a whisper.
“Jai,” Amira sighed. “Release him.”
Jai's biceps flexed as he lifted Curtis off the ground completely. “You're lucky I respect the women I am with. Otherwise I would have lots of fun showing you what regret feels like.” He lowered Curtis to the ground and then slowly released his hold on Curtis's arms.
Curtis rubbed his arms as he backed away. He looked at me and mumbled, “Sorry,” before rushing across the street to his house.
“Why do you do that?” Amira asked.
“Do what?” Jai continued to watch Curtis as he retreated.
“You didn't have to humiliate him.” Amira shook her head. “He will be watching us more closely now.”
“No,” Jai smiled. “I don't think we will have to worry much about him. I could see it in his eyes.”
“You can read his mind by looking in his eyes?” I asked. What other kinds of alien powers did he have?
“No, I've just seen cowardice before. He talks big, but he won't bother us anymore.” Jai glanced toward Curtis's house just as the front door closed.
****
A week later we sat on my front porch swing, chatting. Amira leaned over to me. “Holly, will you please take Jai to the movies or something? I would like an evening by myself.” I looked at Jai in surprise. A slow blush crept up his neck.
“
Amira, why don't you let me ask her instead of begging her to take me?
” he thought and then seemed to remember I could hear his thoughts too. “Sorry, Holly.” He looked at Amira. “
I
am uncomfortable leaving you alone. I must keep you safe.”
“I won't be alone. Marshal and Delilah are capable of protecting me. Besides, I have no intentions of leaving the house. I want a break from you.”
Her thoughts sounded light, but she had a serious undertone to her words.
I would probably die of irritation if I was always with someone and never had time for myself. Of course, if it was Jai I was always with, I might make an exception. He wasn't
my
cousin after all. I could stand to have him around a lot more.
“
But what about your Vision
?
You were so panicked he was going to be able to come find us,”
Jai said.
“I haven't had any other Visions,”
she said.
“If he knew our location and was coming for us, I would be warned in advance.”
“I can't be sure about that,”
Jai shook his head.
“Well, how would you know?”
she asked, sounding irritated.
“I'm one of the few on Rommader who has Visions.”
“What makes you think you know everything about it?”
he pressed.
“There isn't much scientific evidence or studies done to know how it works.”
Amira placed her hand over her heart.
“I know what I see and feel in my Visions is real. I don't need a study it to prove it to me.”
I shifted uncomfortably as they argued. How much did they mean for me to hear? I coughed politely.
They stopped and looked at me in surprise.
“Sorry, Holly,” they said in unison.
“No problem.” I waved their apologies off. “What movie do you want to see?” I turned to Jai. Amira beamed.
“I don't know.
”
Jai sighed then looked at Amira.
“I'm still uncomfortable leaving you, but I suppose Delilah and Marshal are very capable of keeping you safe. And it's probably true you would see Visions of something if Shander knew your location.”
“
See?”
Her smile made me sure she thought she'd won.
“You go do something fun for yourself for once, and I'll have a nice break from you.”
She poked Jai in the ribs.
“I will only go if you promise to call me if anything seems out of the ordinary,” Jai said.
“I promise.” She placed her hand on her heart. Turning to me she added,
“Sorry if he gets a little protective of you while you are out at the movies. He can't help himself. It's been trained into him too well for him to let it go.”
“You do know I can hear you,”
Jai thought.
“Yes. I meant for you to. You need to know how irritating it can be for you to be that vigilant.”
She grabbed onto his arm and gave it a hug to soften her words.
Then turning to me, she whispered, “You know, he used to check the bathroom and the bedrooms of every place we stayed before he'd let me go in there.” She reached over to Jai, placing her hand on his. “I am glad you take such good care of me, but for one evening, I'd like to pretend there is no need for it.”
“As you wish,” he told her. “But now I'm afraid Holly will think I'm taking her to the movies just to make you happy.”
“Holly is smarter than that,” she said. “She'll know you are there to be with her and not to just be away from me. And she'll enjoy being with you minus me there, no doubt.”
I couldn't believe how right she was, but didn't want to let them know how excited I felt that she'd said it. Or even noticed it in the first place.
“Very well then. When do you want to go?” Jai turned to me. I was surprised at the abruptness of the question.
“Whenever.”
“What about tonight?” He smiled as he looked at Amira out of the corner of his eye.
“Sure,” I agreed. “But I do have to double-check with my parents. I'm sure if we get home before eleven, I'll be good.”
Amira clapped her hands together. “Great, now that's settled, let me get rid of the extra wheel, and you can get a real conversation going.” She stood up, making the swing rock slightly. “I'll be over at the house getting all my home spa items together to give myself a relaxing evening alone.” She winked at us and walked away. Jai started to follow her, but I heard her thoughts as she told him to stay. He looked torn but let her walk home alone.
“Does she always get her way?” I asked as she strode confidently down the sidewalk.
“Most of the time,” he answered as he sat next to me on the swing. “But it is nice when her way is also beneficial to others. She's like that at home too. She's pretty considerate of others and their feelings. She will be an amazing queen,” he said proudly.
“I can see that in her.”
“Are you honestly okay going to the movies with me? You don't have to.” He seemed a little unsure.
I smiled. “It'll be fun. Besides, she ate most of my popcorn last time.”
“Mine too.” He chuckled. “I think she missed out on a lot because her father had a very restrictive diet for his health.”
“Isn't she worried about gaining weight or getting sick to her stomach?”
“She doesn't eat like that all the time,” he said. “Delilah is an excellent cook and makes us delicious and healthy meals, but when Amira tries something new she likes, she goes overboard. The day after we came back from the mountain, she showed Marshal and Delilah how to do s'mores, but she only ate two. And we've eaten pizza and chips again, but she only eats a little more than the rest of us. Nothing like the first time she tries it.”
We sat quietly for a bit, rocking on the swing.
“The king is sick?”
“Yes.”
“Haven't you tried to Heal him?”
“Better Healers have been working with him,”
he answered.
““It doesn't work as well on him as on others. It helps for a while, but then he has problems again. The Healers have been studying his illness and why he has no strength to contribute to getting well. They aren't able to understand it fully.”
“That seems strange,” I murmured.
“It is. I'm sure they will eventually solve it.” He didn't sound confident.
“So how does your Healing work?”
“Most of it comes from the person being Healed. I only help it to happen sooner.”
“But I don't have any scars from that burn. If I healed on my own, I'd have a scar.”
I showed him my hand.
“Some of the Healing does come from me.”
He took my hand in his.
“I am able to share a bit of my strength with the person I am Healing. If it is something serious, it is harder for me to do it. I tire quickly from it if I am Healing for a long time.”
“What does it feel like? Do you know what to do automatically or did you have to study?”
I asked.
“I just know most of it. However, the more we study, the better we are.”
Jai didn't release my hand right away, and I didn't try to take it back. It felt nice cradled in his.