Revelations (The Revelations Series Book 1) (25 page)

ARLENE
looked up from her book as Jenna came into the house. “How was your date?” she asked as she closed the book.

“It was good. We had a great time,” Jenna replied leaning against the doorway in the living room.

“I’m glad you two hit it off. Dylan really is a good guy. And, he seems to care for you.”

Jenna pushed herself off the wall and entered the living room. “I really like him too. But, do you mind if I ask you something?”

“You can ask me anything,” Arlene replied.

Jenna sat down in the armchair next to the couch. “It’s just that I’ve never felt like this about a boy before. I mean I’ve had boyfriends, so I know how it feels to date someone. But, it’s different with Dylan. I can’t really describe it. After everything that’s happened recently, when I’m with him, things seem… better. Like its okay to be happy when I shouldn’t be. Does that make sense to you?”

Arlene smiled. “Jenna, you feel this way because you found someone you can fall in love with. Don’t let the things in your past get in the way of a happy future. I can guarantee your mom would want you and Dylan to be happy.”

“It’s just that sometimes…” Jenna looked down and studied her hands. “Sometimes I feel guilty about being happy.”

“Jenna, honey.” Arlene leaned forward and touched Jenna’s knee. “Never feel guilty about that. It’s what your mom and dad would want. Allowing yourself to love will help you through some tough times.”

Jenna looked up. “Thanks Arlene,” she said, and then paused for a moment. “Can I ask you one more question?”

“Sure.”

“How long did Dylan and Sandra date?”

Arlene thought for a second. “I’d say about two months. Why? What did he tell you?”

“He told me they dated for a couple of months, and then one day he decided he wanted a break with her. It’s just that Sandra seems so obsessed with him so I thought maybe something happened.”

“Jenna, I wouldn’t worry about it. I see Dylan almost every day and for the last few weeks of their relationship, he seemed annoyed with her. I know she was constantly calling him and would get mad when he didn’t answer. So, I’m going to guess that one day he woke up and decided enough was enough.”

“That’s what he said. I just want to make sure I’m not a rebound girl for him. I don’t think I could handle it if I was.”

Arlene smiled. “I can honestly tell you, you’re not. Dylan has worked here for a few years now and although he’s dated a lot of girls he’s never really shown as much interest in one as he has you. I know for a fact that you’re the first he has ever taken to the meadow. And, that says a lot right there.”

Arlene was about to say something else when Alex came through the front door.

“Hey, Alex, how was your night?” Arlene asked him.

“It was okay,” Alex answered as he came into the living room.

“Well, it’s good to hear both of you are settling in and making friends. But, it’s getting late and I only stayed up to wait for the two of you. I have to be up early, so I’ll see you guys in the morning.” Arlene stood up and headed upstairs to her room.

“Hold on, Alex,” Jenna said as he turned to follow Arlene up the stairs. “We need to talk.”

Alex stopped and turned around. “What?” he mumbled.

“I want to know what’s up with you,” Jenna asked standing up and walking towards him.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Alex said with a smug gaze. “Nothing’s up with me.”

“You know damn well what I’m talking about. First you tell me not to use my abilities in public, and then tonight you practically scold me for not using them.”

“Jeez, Jenna, you don’t have to be so dramatic. I was just saying that some people deserve to get an extra dose of bad karma. You should have double dosed Sandra. We both know she deserves it.”

Jenna flashed Alex a look of disdain. “Maybe she does, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to do it. That’s not how I’m choosing to use my abilities.”

Alex took a step toward Jenna. “How you’re
choosing
to use your abilities? You had no problem with it that night on the beach. Heck, you were all for it. So, don’t stand there and act like you’ve never done it before, because you have. And, you
liked
it!”

“Maybe I did, but I don’t want to do that anymore.”

“So, let me get this straight,” Alex replied waving his hand in a gesture of dismissal. “In order for us to prepare ourselves for what may come in the future we have to practice, but since you started dating Dylan all of a sudden you’re too good to use your abilities. Well, if that’s the case then you’d better break up with him. Because let me tell you something. The day will come when you will need to defend yourself against our enemies, and you better be ready.”

Jenna’s eyes blazed with anger as she clenched her fists. “Don’t you dare bring Dylan into this?

“Why not? Dylan’s a bad influence and you need to break up with him,
NOW!
”

Jenna’s pulse raced as she raised her hand and sent Alex flying backwards into the staircase railing. He gasped as the air escaped his lungs. She held her energy on him so he couldn’t move.

“Let’s get one thing straight, right here and now,” Jenna said, her voice heavy with anger. “You will never tell me who I can and cannot date. It’s none of your business. You seem to have it in your head that I’m some weak little girl who needs protecting, but we both know my abilities are much more powerful than yours. So, don’t
ever
talk to me like that again. Do you understand?”

Alex nodded his head and Jenna released him. He started to raise his hand, but Jenna was quicker and had him pinned to the railing again before he could get it up. Alex started laughing as he tried to move his body.

“What’s so funny?” she asked; annoyed that her reaction seemed to amuse him.

“Arlene is going to have a fit when she sees this railing in the morning. She may regret letting us stay if this is how we are going to handle our disagreements,” he joked.

Jenna let Alex go and he slid from the railing. “I don’t see how this is funny.”

A grin appeared on Alex’s face. “I don’t see how you don’t?” he replied as he got up from the floor. “I mean, come on. Other teenagers our age yell at each other when they fight, maybe throw a few things. But, us, we throw each other.”

Seeing the amusement in Alex’s eyes, Jenna couldn’t help but laugh. “Arlene is going to kill us when she see’s this,” she said as she inspected the railing.

“We better come up with a good excuse. If she finds out you used your abilities on me, she won’t be happy.”

“Well then, maybe you should remember that you’re not my real brother and you have no say in who I date. And by the way, I want to know why you lied to me about who that girl was you were arguing with tonight.”

“I told you Sandra sent her. Sandra knew I wouldn’t talk to any of her real friends so she paid the girl to get me alone and deliver the message.”

Jenna wondered if Alex was lying to her, but she was in no mood to keep arguing about it. “Just tell Arlene that you tripped and tried to grab the railing to steady yourself and it broke.”

Alex looked at the broken railing, then back at Jenna. “Do you think she’ll believe it?” he asked.

“If we both stick to the same story I think she will.” Jenna headed up the stairs without giving Alex a chance to answer. “I’m tired; I’ll see you in the morning,” she told him.

Jenna couldn’t believe she had used her abilities on Alex. That was exactly what she was trying to avoid doing. She knew she should trust him, after all her mother had trusted him enough to bring him into their family. So, why was she beginning to get the feeling that maybe her mom had been wrong.

She closed her bedroom door behind her and quickly changed into her pajamas, then climbed into bed. She rolled over and grabbed her journal out from under her mattress.

Dear Mom,

Dylan and I are now an official couple. He is so sweet. Tonight he took me to a meadow for a picnic under the stars. It was perfect. I now understand why you chose to stay with Dad after he told you the truth. I know it’s only been a few days since we met, but I can’t imagine being with anyone else. I think I may be falling in love with him.

After the picnic we went to the local teenage hangout, Charlie’s, where we met up with his friends. The girls are really nice and I know we’ll all be good friends. We hung out there for a while and were having a good time until the girl Dylan used to date showed up. Mom, I swear this girl needs help. She thinks Dylan belongs to her and swears I broke them up. You’d be proud that I’m finally standing up for myself and told her off. Alex was there too. He said I should have used my abilities to teach her a lesson, but I refused. I don’t know what’s up with him. One minute he’s telling me not to use my abilities in public, then the next he’s telling me I should be practicing on kids like Sandra. We got into a huge fight about it when we got home and I used my abilities on him. I’m sorry Mom, I know it was wrong, but it just happened. I know you trusted him enough to let him stay with us and help me, but I think it’s time I started making my own decisions.

Love and miss you,

Jenna

Jenna put the journal back under her mattress and laid her head on her pillow. She was serious when she said she needed to start making her own decisions, and that meant living her own life the way she wanted to, not the way Alex thought she should. Starting tomorrow, she would begin to follow her instincts instead of what others told her she should be doing. She knew Alex wasn’t going to be happy about it, but he was going to have to accept it whether he liked it or not.

JENNA
cringed the next morning as she headed down the stairs and saw the broken railing. She’d forgotten about it until she got to the top of the steps. She hoped Arlene wouldn’t be too mad about it, although if it had been her mother she would have been grounded for at least a month.

“Have you seen Arlene yet this morning?” Alex asked as he joined her on the stairs.

Jenna scrunched her nose. “No, have you?” she asked as they started down the stairs together.

Alex shook his head. “Not yet. And, I’m hoping she left already.”

Hearing the sink running, they both took a deep breath, released it slowly then entered the kitchen.

“Good morning, kids,” Arlene said as they walked in.

“Good morning,” Jenna and Alex said in unison.

Arlene dried her hands and turned to face them. “Which one of you would like to tell me how the staircase railing got broken?”

Jenna bit her lip, then glanced at Alex before she spoke. “It was an accident, I’m sorry. I got mad at Alex and pushed him. He lost his balance and fell into the railing and it broke. I promise I’ll find a way to pay for the repair.”

Arlene turned toward Alex with a look of skepticism on her face. “Is that what
really
happened?”

“Yes,” Alex mumbled.

Arlene set the dishtowel on the counter. “You know. Alex must have been pushed really hard to break that railing. It was solid wood.”

Jenna and Alex looked at each other, and then at the floor, neither wanting to tell Arlene what really happened.

“Do we need to have a talk about not using abilities on each other? Because I’m thinking that’s what really happened.”

Feeling guilty, Jenna looked away from Arlene. “It won’t happen again. I promise?” Jenna said still avoiding eye contact.

“Good, and since you were the one who pushed Alex I need you to go through all the apple baskets in the barn to see how many need replacing. Dylan is in there fixing the tractor; he’ll show you what to do. Make yourself some breakfast and then head out to the barn.”

Arlene turned towards Alex, “Alex, I have something I need your help with. After you eat, meet me in the office.”

Arlene left the kitchen as Jenna grabbed two bowls and spoons while Alex got the milk and cereal and they met back at the table.

“I thought it was going to be worse than that,” Alex whispered as he poured his cereal.