Waken (The Woods of Everod Book 1) (6 page)

Justin pulled up to the front of the library and practically kicked me out of the car. I dashed for the door using my bag to cover my head, making it inside without getting drenched and only minimal frizz to my hair.

It was still early and the building was deserted, not that it would be any busier later on. This wasn’t exactly the best spot to start changing myself. This was the old Janie’s hiding place. I leaned against one of the windows, pressing my forehead to the cool pane.

You stupid girl.

It was raining. If I went out in it, I’d be soaked to the skin before I got anywhere.

You’re worthless.

It was too early. No one would be up, at least not anyone close to my age.

Even your father couldn’t stand you.

The soft pitter-pattering of Ms. Markov intruded on my thoughts. I turned to greet her, a smile on my face. She looked a little less like a Swedish ice queen today.

“Good morning, dear.”

I smiled in return. Was I really going to spend my summer talking with her? Did I really want the sum of my vacation to be a few exchanged words with a lady old enough to be my grandmother? Maybe it wouldn’t be so sad if the words we shared carried any value, but ‘good morning’ and ‘just put the books right over there’ didn’t seem to hold much depth.

“I hear you were playing the piano yesterday.”

“Oh, yeah. Sorry. I guess I should have asked first.” I didn’t need a pissed librarian, not when she was the one soul I could count on to be open to me seven days a week.

“No, that’s quite alright, dear. I just wish I’d been able to hear you. Tristan said you were very good.”

Heat filled my face. “Thanks.”

“It’s been almost eighteen years since someone has played that piano. I’m surprised it was still in tune, though I’m sure Mr. Miles tinkers with it. Will you be playing today? I’d love to come and hear you.”

“Um...no, I’m actually just waiting for the rain to stop.” As freeing as it was yesterday, I had no desire to play again. The memories it stirred weren’t worth it. Ms. Markov’s face drooped and guilt crept into me, but I quickly squashed it. I needed to focus on being free from Elin, not on dredging her up.

“Then I guess you better be off,” she said, shuffling past me. I glanced out the window, surprised to see the pouring rain had stopped and despite the heavy clouds still lingering, the sun was beginning to peak through.

No excuses. No more delays. I went out the double doors and dragged my feet through the pockets of water puddled on the sidewalk. Rounding the corner, I came to a stop. Only five feet from me, at the entrance to Trail’s End, were Rachel and Tristan with a group of friends. My stomach dropped then rose suddenly, lifted by the wings of thousands of butterflies.

I forced my feet forward, watching with some degree of relief as some of them moved inside, leaving only Rachel, Tristan, and two other guys at the door. Despite the urge to turn and run, I kept moving toward them. I came up behind Tristan.

He looked taller and bigger today. His shoulders were broad and the green t-shirt he wore seemed to be made to show off the muscles underneath. My skin tingled and I swallowed nervously. I took a deep breath and filled my lungs with his scent. God, he smelled good. Woodsy and natural, like freedom from my fears. I didn’t bother attempting a smile. I didn’t think I could form one. I forced my mouth to open.

“Hi.”

Chapter 6

Tristan turned towards me and in those few seconds I waited I realized that all the time I’d spent hiding, I hadn’t been happy. But at this moment, staring into Tristan’s eyes the need to feel something more built in me. I wanted to confront the torture that is life.

“So, am I forgiven?” Tristan asked.

“Forgiven?” Had I missed something?

“Well, when you tore out of the library yesterday I figured I’d done something to offend you again.” His eyes were sparkling, making it hard for me to hear what he was saying. He blinked and the moment’s reprieve allowed me to think again.

“Umm, yes. No.” What was I saying? I shook my head, striving to clear my thoughts. “I mean, you didn’t do anything. I just wasn’t feeling well.”

“Ah.” One side of his mouth curled up into a smile. “Since you’re not upset with me then-”

“Hi, Janie.” Until she interrupted, I’d completely forgotten Rachel was there.

“Hey, Rachel.”

“So, you two know each other?” she asked. Was that a hint of jealousy in her voice? I mentally shook the thought off. What would she have to be jealous of?

“Just from the hike and the library of course,” Tristan said when I just stood there like an idiot, still staring at him.

His eyes twinkled and I knew he was laughing at me. Blushing, I dipped my head.
Get a grip! He’s just a guy!
I straightened my shoulders and lifted my eyes, refusing to slide back into that old Janie.

“The library?” Rachel’s eyebrows shot up. “I didn’t even know you liked to read, Tristan.” She reached out and brushed her hand along his arm.

Fire burned inside of me and I wanted to snatch her fingers away. Instead, I pushed my hands deep into my jean pockets.

“I went to pick up some DVDs,” he said.

Her hand dropped. Did I imagine he shifted away from her?

“Bummer, right?” Relief filled Rachel’s voice. She smiled at me again. “There’s no rental store in town and the Internet speed is so slow you can’t even stream anything.”

“We’re gonna grab something to eat. You wanna join us?” Tristan asked, glancing down at me.

“Um, yeah sure.” This was part of becoming a new person, right? I followed Rachel in as Tristan held the door for us.

“Guys, you remember Janie? This is Seth and Kyle,” Rachel reintroduced me to the others as I slid into the booth beside her. Tristan sat across from me with Seth and Kyle. I didn’t know what to say, so I just listened to the four of them talk.

I glanced at Tristan. He seemed focused on the conversation, but there were fleeting moments where our eyes met and it felt like a million feathers tickling along the surface of my skin. Everything within me called out for me to touch him. To just reach over the table and link my fingers with his. I gripped my cutlery until my knuckles paled to a startling white. What was it about him that made me so obsessed? I definitely had to get a grip because no way was this a healthy reaction.

His eyes turned on me, a clear blue, the corners crinkled and my stomach clenched.

“Janie?” Rachel asked.

“What?” I snapped, looking at her and knowing beyond any doubt that I’d been caught staring, not just by him, but by all of them. “Sorry,” I muttered. “I was just thinking about something else.”

“Justin said you might not be staying here after summer, why not?” Kyle asked. His hair was as black as mine and cut in a jagged sweep across his forehead. His brown eyes an eerie mirror of my own.

Beside me, Rachel tensed. I still didn’t understand why she wanted me to keep my parents a secret, but I didn’t want to break her trust just when we were beginning to be friends. “I’m not really a small town kind of person. My stepdad, Tim, said if I didn’t like it by the end of the summer I could go back to Dallas and stay with his sister.”

“What’s not to like?” Seth asked with a cocky grin. “You’re surrounded by hot guys and around town we outnumber the girls four to one.”

“I only see Kyle and Tristan in here, Seth. Where are the other hot guys?” Rachel asked with a less then subtle sneer. Despite the front Rachel and Seth put up, they obviously weren’t friends.

Seth placed a hand on his heart with a mocking expression. “Ouch. That hurt, Rach. I guess since you’re one of the few single girls in town you must not be hitting the hot spots.”

So she wasn’t dating Tristan. The jealousy I’d felt after seeing her touch him evaporated.

The rest of lunch went quickly and I even managed to contribute to the conversation. Rachel and I made plans to go shopping on Saturday. She was going to meet me at the mall in Montrose since her mom was already taking her into town for a hair appointment and brunch. When we left the diner, I headed toward the library and the others went in to opposite direction. With a half hour before Justin would be finished at the gym, I’d have time to pick up a couple more books, maybe even check out a couple of videos.

“I’ll catch up with you guys later,” I heard Tristan say behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see him jogging up behind me. When he reached my side, he looked down at me and held up a video marked with a barcode.

“That song you played yesterday was really cool,” he said.

“Thanks.” There was that urge to smack myself again.

“Do you play a lot?”

“No.” I spoke flatly, hoping he’d get the drift that I didn’t want to talk about it anymore.

“You aren’t still freaked about Kas are you?”

“Kas?”

“Our resident white wolf.”

“You name the wildlife?” I glanced up at him, my eyebrows raised.

“Not all, just...the special ones.”

“And this wolf is special how?” I’d never heard of an entire town going around naming the wildlife. Then again, I was pretty much a city girl, so maybe this was common in the boonies.

“He’s one of us. I mean, he’s been around since before I was born.”

“Well, he pretty much scared the crap out of me.”

“Yeah, he’s a little leery around new bloods. Most of the time he’s safe, but with you…” He cut himself off and shrugged a shoulder. We reached the library and he opened the door, holding it for me as I passed through.

“Just new bloods?” I asked, startled by the idea that a wild animal would be anything but leery around humans. “He was pretty focused on me. Why not Justin as well?”

“Well, you probably smell different to him.”

“Are you implying that I smell bad?”

“Nah, at least I haven’t noticed anything funky coming from you.” He nudged me with his elbow and I felt a jolt run through me.

I shook off the feeling. “I haven’t done a lot of hiking or wilderness stuff, but I always thought wild animals avoided people.”

“Yeah, well, wolves can be aggressive so I’d suggest not going out hiking alone.” He laughed and dropped his video in the return box then waited as I unloaded my books.

I pulled off my cardigan and shoved it into my bag, before slinging the backpack over my shoulder. With the heat rolling off Tristan, I didn’t worry about getting chilled from the air conditioner that always seemed to be set high. We walked silently through the library, nodding at Ms. Markov who watched us, a curious look on her face.

The media center door stood open and we made our way to the DVD shelves. The videos were a mix of old and new releases, probably better stocked than any rental store would be.

Tristan pulled out a new release, some romantic comedy, and began reading in a sappy voice, drawing out words to emphasize the cheesiness of it. “Love and laughs, life and lust. How can two beautiful people resist what draws them together. Despite initially despising each other Paul and Katie can’t fight serendipity.” He put it back on the shelf as we laughed at the horribly vague plot line. “Can you believe that people think that’s what love really is?”

“I guess they just want to believe that love really can conquer all.”

“I don’t see much point in trying to love someone you can’t stand.”

He pulled out another video, then another, each time reading the blurb on the back in some strange voice. Our laughter echoed through the room. I’d never felt so relaxed. Even with Justin and Tim, part of me worried that I would say something to drive them away.

I reached for a DVD, hoping that it might be worth borrowing. The movement caused my bag to slide down my arm, tearing at a chunk of my hair that was entangled in the zipper. “Ahh!” The cry of pain burst from me.

Tristan grabbed the bag and lifted it, relieving the pulling. “Hold on, you’re all tangled up.”

He swept the rest of my hair over my shoulder and began picking my hair loose. Each strand he freed went over the same shoulder. With the red tank top cut low, my upper back was completely bare. I could feel his breath flow along my nape. The hairs on my arm stood up and I barely controlled the urge to shudder in pure delight.

His movements stopped suddenly, even though I could still feel the bag pulling on my scalp. The touch of his finger on my skin caused me to jump. I glanced over my shoulder to see that he was staring blankly at my back.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“This mark...”

“Oh, it’s just some kind of skin pigmentation mark, like a birthmark. Well, that’s what the doctor said. Tim says it’s not too bad, that it looks like a face or something.”

“Wolf,” he whispered.

“What?” I asked a bit startled at his words.

He cleared his throat. “It just made me think of a wolf.”

“Huh, maybe it changed shape.” His fingers still traced the scar and I felt my head swimming. If he didn’t stop touching me soon, I wasn’t going to be held responsible for throwing myself at him. “Is all my hair out?”