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Julie Danielle Emison

The ring of the cellphone lured Julie out of
another night of dreams both good and bad. She started the day the
same way she had every day since Trucker slipped into her life - by
a wake-up call from
him.

“Good morning, my beautiful Angel.” The
moment he uttered the first word Julie had a sick feeling that
something was wrong. The words were the same, but the sound of his
voice was not. She stroked her thumb across her bracelet hoping
against hope that it would erase the emptiness she felt in the pit
of her stomach.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing is wrong, baby.”

“Okay,” she replied, not believing him.

“Angel, can you get Tiffany to pick you up
today?”

“Why?”

“I’ve got something I’ve got to take care
of.”

For a moment she couldn’t think of what to
say. Another secret she was sure, another trench between them. “I
can drive myself. I have my old truck,” she snapped a little harder
than she intended.

“Angel, I don’t like you driving that old
thing.”

“Why not? It’s safer than you are.” Julie
didn’t mean to be short and hateful, but something about the sound
of his voice agitated her.

“You’re probably right there. I don’t want
you alone, not today. Please Angel, don’t fight me.”

She had hurt him. She heard it in his voice.
“I’m sorry. I just don’t want to spend a day without you.”

“Oh, my sweet angel, never. I’ll be at your
house as soon as can.”

“I miss you already,” Julie said.

“You’re everything to me.”

The phone went dead. No goodbye, no see you
later, just nothing.

******

Julie sat in English I glad no one had asked
her about Trucker. Even Tiffany didn’t question her on their way to
school. Julie had put up her defensive wall. It wasn’t as
impressive as Trucker’s, but it did the job. What really got her
was not that Trucker had something to do; it was the fact she swore
she saw his car in town that morning. He still had not moved into
his home and was staying in Franklin. So why was he in Promise
Land, if not to go to school? Courtney bumped her shoulder as she
walked by and mumbled something. Julie shrugged it off. She had
better things to do than worry about Courtney.

“I knew he didn’t really like her. Look at
her,” Tracey, Courtney’s best friend, said loud enough for the
whole class to hear.

“The girl in his car this morning was
definitely more his speed,” Courtney said.

Courtney’s group hovered in the corner eyeing
Julie. Their death glare had turned to a look of gloat. Julie no
longer looked over her shoulder for the provincial knife in her
back, but something told her a physical blow wouldn’t hurt as bad
as the fact he might be with another girl. Even worse she might
know what Julie was too afraid to ask. Julie tried tuning them out,
but couldn’t. He was in town. She had seen his car that morning.
Why was he and who was with him?

“He went to his house. It looked like they
were having some kind of party. Cars were everywhere,” Ian said,
slinging his arm around Courtney.

After class, Julie couldn’t get out of there
fast enough. She headed to the gym hoping Tiffany would already be
there. She finally found her standing outside talking to some boy.
Julie slung her around in a haste.

“Please, let me borrow your keys.”

“Why?” Tiffany asked.

Julie debated how much to tell her. She
decided to just tell her what she heard Courtney’s goonies say in
class and the fact she saw his car that morning.

“I saw it too.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Julie asked
and realized she had her fingers dug into Tiffany’s arm. “Sorry,”
she said, releasing her.

“I saw he had a car full, and I didn’t want
to hurt you.” Tiffany paused. “Julie, you remember last year when I
was crazy about Scott Sanders?”

“Yeah, what does that have to do with the
price of apples?”

“You told me if I had to chase after him he
didn’t deserve me.” Tiffany shook her head no. “I won’t let you
chase after Trucker either,” Tiffany said and flipped around to
follow the boy she was talking to.

“Ugh,” Julie said and kicked the side of the
flagpole.

Without warning, Gene appeared beside her.
She jumped and placed her hand on her chest as her heart did a
double take.

“You scared me to death,” Julie said as she
gave him a friendly slap on the forearm. “Where did you come
from?”

“Right over there,” Gene answered, pointing
to a dark alleyway leading to the back of the school. “Here,” he
said as he held out his keys for her. “I overheard. Sorry.”

“Thanks,” Julie said.

He lightly gripped her loosely fisted hand.
“Be careful. Don’t be scared to ask questions, you can handle
it.”

“Thanks Gene,” Julie said and gave him a kiss
on the cheek.

Gene’s truck was older and dustier than
Julie’s. Who was she to complain? He was nice enough to let her
borrow it. Julie steamed as she realized Trucker didn’t want her
taking her truck so she would be stuck at school and couldn’t chase
after him. The madder she got, the faster she drove. In no time at
all, she caught herself driving up the long driveway leading to his
home. Sure enough, pulled over under a tree was his car. She parked
beside it. Julie slammed the door; a shower of rust rained down on
the unfinished driveway. She hesitated before walking up to the
massive set of stairs that led to the front door. Even in its
unfinished state, the house intimated her. Something about that
house was alarming.

“What are you doing here?” Trucker stormed
down the front steps.

He told her she should be scared of him.
Well, she finally was. Her body retreated and she took a step
back.

“I’m sorry, I should’ve known that I’m not
wanted,” Julie said. The tears filled her eyes making it hard to
see. Turning her back on him, she shivered. Instinct told her that
was a dangerous move.

“Julie, wait,” Trucker said, his voice
calmer.

As always her body obeyed him even as her
mind told her not too.

“Come here. You’re not leaving thinking I
don’t want you.”

She flipped around and against her better
judgment took his proffered hand.

“Come on in,” Trucker said as he threw open
the door.

Julie stepped into a colossal foyer. It was
light and airy. Even with obvious construction going on, she could
still see the ornate beauty of it. The walls, the high ceilings,
and the hardwood floors were each made of the finest materials. The
back north-facing wall was dominated by a massive curving
staircase
.

“It’s beautiful,” she said.

“Well, well, what do we have here?” Came from
a baritone voice, deep and beautiful.

She glanced up to see who the voice was
coming from. A boy no older than her was perched on top of the
staircase banister. He leaped gracefully to the ground. A catlike
fall of at least twenty feet. Julie started to dart toward the
door. Trucker held her firmly in place. The boy walked toward her
with an ease she had never seen. His eyes were green and his blond
hair was short and messy. He was gorgeous. Julie believed no one
could be more beautiful than Trucker, but this boy gave him a close
race.

“Good afternoon, I’m Todd.” He circled around
her, tapping a finger against his lip. His incredible emerald eyes
locked with hers. She was unable to break the hold his intense gaze
had over her. “Trucker, if you haven’t already claimed her . .
.”

Julie jumped as she heard a growl come from
deep inside of Trucker’s chest. It was the most menacing sound she
had ever heard. Fear coursed through her already numb body. She
fought against the violent shaking that rendered her incompetent.
Trucker grasped her against him. She was in an ironclad cage of
heat, hard muscles, and Trucker. She was safe from all the
craziness around her.

Hearing footsteps, Julie flipped her head to
see a girl descending down the staircase. It was no doubt the girl
Courtney saw Trucker with that morning. She was exquisite with long
dazzling black hair and radiant brown eyes. They were right;
Trucker and she did fit together. Julie nudged Trucker to hold her
tighter as her body trembled with torn emotions. Trucker belonged
to her and she would fight to keep it that way.

“Trucker, your bed here is even more
comfortable than the one you have in Memphis.”

“Emily,” he seethed.

“New toy, Trucker?” Emily glared at Julie
with curiosity and a touch of gratification, and cast her a
malevolent smile that sent shivers down Julie’s spine. “Innocent,
isn’t she?” Emily said. “Does it hurt much?” she whispered in
Trucker’s ear.

The room spun in a storm of utter confusion
as Trucker seized Emily’s arm. Julie gasped in shock. His actions
were so fast she never registered movement. Every muscle in
Trucker’s body was tense, the tendons down his arms snapped to
attention. Emily’s head jerked up to meet his glare.

“She’s off limits to everyone,” Trucker
roared.

“Don’t forget who you are Trucker,” Emily
snarled. “Or do I need to remind you?”

“I know exactly who I am.”

“Good,” she shot back, yanked her arm away,
and smiled.

Julie felt Trucker’s temperature rising. His
muscles became like stones. He pulled her close to him and tucked
her head under his chin. He had her ensnared within his grasp. The
room disappeared around her as her skin crawled with discomfort and
fear.

“Do you really think it’s safe to let that
side out around her?”

“Safer around her than you,” Trucker said,
his voice harsher than Julie had ever heard.

“Whatever,” Emily said, rolling her eyes.
“Nice to meet you, Julie.” She kissed Trucker’s cheek before
swiftly departing.

“Leave. Now.” Trucker shot over to Todd. Who
raced out of the room in less time than it took Julie to blink.

Julie stood there in shock. Her mind unable
to process the scene her eyes just saw and her ears heard. Trucker
pulled Julie tightly into his body. The otherworldliness of both
the room she stood in and the man beside her made her shake, not
just shake but convulse. Her entire body trembled, her teeth
chattered, the flooring swayed under her feet. Stroking her hair,
Trucker held her so close it was hard for her to breathe. It wasn’t
what she saw that terrified her. It was the sound of their voices,
the coldness that poured from their eyes, but mostly the feelings
that swirled around her. She felt as if the seven deadly sins had
taken root in that very room and was slowly trying to slip into her
consciousness.

“Julie, are you okay?”

“No,” she shook her head.

She felt his body getting cooler, making her
want to hold him even closer. She couldn’t allow herself to go
there. The feeling of despair and hatred that emitted in that room
smothered her. She tried to think of a logical explanation of what
she just saw . . . without being diagnosed clinically insane. There
was none. Even though it pained her to do so, she turned and walked
away. Not just walked, but ran. She couldn’t get out of there fast
enough.

As usual, Trucker had her in his clasp with
his preternatural speed. He placed his hands on either side of her
body and leaned into her. His lips were inches from her mouth. His
breath was hot and heavy on her skin. She clamped her eyes closed
unwilling to look at his too-perfect face. A lonely tear slid down
her face. He brought his fingers to her cheek, lightly stroking it.
She could barely feel the touch, just the warmth and tenderness. He
was something different than she had ever experienced. The power
she had always felt from him was somehow sharper and stronger than
ever before.

“What are you?” she asked.

Her eyes popped open and she looked deep into
his. Befuddled, she pushed him away. The close proximity to him
only clouded her mind.

“Not here, not now,” he said with a shake of
his head. “Can I come over later?”

“Yeah.”

His crystal blue eyes blazed. He unleashed
the full, remarkable power of his eyes on her. “Go home and sleep,
my Angel.”

She nodded her head almost trancelike and
yawned. “I’m going to go take a nap.”

*******

Julie flinched involuntarily in her sleep as
Trucker snapped the bracelet back on her wrist. If only she had an
idea of how it protected her. He still couldn’t put into words the
way he felt whenever he was near her. How content and happy just
one simple touch from her made him. Her small, fragile body was
wrapped tightly in an oversize comforter. Her skin was pale, but
her cheeks and lips glowed with a rosy hue. He knew he would find
her that way. After all, he gave her no choice. He convinced
himself that coercion was for the best. She needed to sleep and
ease her ravaged nerves. But seeing her lying there defenseless and
vulnerable unnerved him. He had to quell the protective nature
surging through him. He traced his finger over her nose. Asleep,
she appeared even more angel-like. He had never responded to anyone
the way he did her. She was sweet and caring and no matter how hard
he tried; he couldn’t resist her. He was playing the most dangerous
of games. One she was sure to lose. But for some reason, one he
couldn’t explain, he just knew; they was no way he would ever let
her go.

She wanted answers. She told him so, outside
his house after meeting two people who shouldn’t even had been
breathing the same air as her. He told her to go home and sleep. He
never wanted to use his power on her, trick her into anything. She
left him no other option. He had to tie up a few loose ends and
come up with a plausible story. He had nothing. She wasn’t ready
for the truth, but what other option did he have? He wouldn’t erase
her memories. He wouldn’t take anything from her again.