The One Who Watches by Jillian Cline (best business books of all time .TXT) 📕

It was a rolled top desk, like the ones in the Titanic, and it held my coffee colored laptop and my MP3. By the door was a full body mirror that was facing the window and reflecting the sun's upcoming raise peaking through the trees' trunks. Kayla's room was arranged like this, sort of.
I sat up in my bed, feeling a little groggy. My head buzzed a little as I looked about the dark room that was now just getting light. I rolled my neck to pop it and stretched for my back to also pop. I got up and out of the bed to pick up my towel that was on the ground. On my way to the bathroom I passed the body mirror. Something caught my eye, making me stop. My eyes widened as disbelief filled me. A new tattoo of a butterfly was on my stomach, wrapped in a pattern of mirrored swirls on the wings. From the tips of the top and bottom wings the swirls grew and broke apart, spreading them all around my torso, my breasts, waist, thighs, and biceps. I gasped. The designs were extraordinary. They split like pop seeds. They bended and folded like dancers that couldn't decide on the moves they were given and just twisted into a pretzel.
My legs felt weak. Just when I thought I was going to faint, I heard a small sound in the living room. I tore my eyes away from the body mirror to the door. The sound of a toilet flushing put me on guard. My eyes darted around the room for a shirt. Once I found my Camp Half-Blood t-shirt I through it on. (I'm a Percy Jackson fan.) I dropped my towel and switched it with my personal Swiss Knife. I slowly crept to my bedroom door. Slowly I opened it. I was fully alert on what to do that I didn't miss the squeaking of someone slitting on the couch. I knew it wasn't Kayla. Kayla hates couches, plus she isn't an early riser.
The door didn't make a sound when I opened it. The living room was half lit like my room, so I couldn't see very much. I crept into the room with so much caution I could hear our intruders breathing. I walked to the back of the couch and peered over. A figure laid there in a sleep. From how the body was built I knew it was a guy. I leaned in to get a closer look at him, but when I did the floor boards creaked and the intruder had awakened. I gasped as I tumbled over the couch and onto the person who just laid there, still. I was now sprawled on to the person whose body was now tense under me. I flexed my hand in search for my knife but it had tumbled to the ground with a thud. I was now defenseless. Strong hands gripped my shoulders to hold me steady. I panicked and started writhing under his grasp. "Let go of me." I said still fighting to get away from this person and get my knife. The hands lessened and Parkers voice filled my ears. "J, it's me. Parker." I stopped to look closely at the person. Yep it was Parker. "Parker? What are you still doing here? I thought you would have left after I went to bed." Parker sat up, making me sit up with him. The worst part was I had no underwear on and I was straddling him. Shock waves of embarrassment hit me. "Um." I said getting off him. God, could I be any more of a fool in front of him? "I forgot to tell you we have curfews’. Guys can't be in girl’s dorms after ten. If caught sneaking in or out is suspended from the school. Same thing is for the girls." he answered my question. "So Kayla let you spend the night here?" I asked. He nodded. "Well dang it Parker you made me think you were an intruder." "Sorry." He mumbled. I sighed for the millionth time in one week and sat down beside him on the couch. "Please don't do it again." I said, relaxing a bit. He chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind. I don't want a girl coming at me with a knife when she thinks I'm here to harm." He said. I could hear the smile in his voice. I sank into the couch trying to release some of the tension in the air around us. "Sorry about that. But I learned to keep alert." I told him. I felt the couch shift as he, too, sank back into the couch. "Nah, it fine. I learned that I attract girls. So it's no surprise." I rolled my eyes. He was such a snob! "Yeah and their like gnats now that you are eight teen. So, what is it like to be your age now?" I asked. "Well so far it's starting out tense. But other than that I think it is ok, since the day isn't over yet, I guess we'll find out." I shook my head.
"Well, if you don't mind I need to get a shower." I pushed myself up off the couch. "Oh I don't mind at all as long as I get to see you after words." I bent to pick up my knife. When I stood I paused. "Parker, can I tell you something personal?" My heart was now racing; my palms sweating. Why did he affect me so? "You know you can tell me anything, J." My name sounded soft on his lips. I felt his eyes on me, making me even more nervous. "When I woke up this morning I had a feeling..." my voice faded. I cleared my throat, but it seemed like I couldn't continue. I looked out the window. The couch shifted as Parker stood up. He placed his hands on my shoulders. "J, are you ok?" his voice was filled with concern. I closed my eyes. Why was this so hard to say? "I remember a touch in my sleep. A touch that I can recall. And the scary thing was I have no memory of dreams or if it was the raven that snuck in my room, but...." I took a deep breath, "I have a new set of tattoos. If the raven got in my dreams and somehow took away the memory who knows what else he would do...." Parker’s arms slid around me, holding me close. I hugged him back. "How about this. You go take your shower and we will take over breakfast." He said pulling back to look at me. Tears welled in my eyes. He took one of his hands so he could caress my face. "J, please don't cry. We will figure this out. Just Kayla you and me. We’ll figure this out together." His eyes were determined. The voice that came past his lips held an emotion that made my heart tuck and flutter. I wonder why he attracts so many girls? I nodded and pulled away from him, breaking his touch. I turned my back to him to get my shower.
***
My thoughts ran in my head about Parker. Why was I really here? What is he hiding? I know Parker. He's not that different than the little boy I used to know. Or was he? I ran my fingers through my wet hair along with the hot water drops. I liked how the danced to soundless music. The only thing I could hear from them was their laughing of pleasure and nothing else.
I breathed in the steam that surrounded me. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get Parker out of my mind. I couldn't shake the feeling that somehow Raven got in my room. I mean, was it Raven or the raven? The steam curled around me in a caress. The steam took the falling water and pulled it around me till my flesh was red from the heat. Parker. One simple word. One simple name that left me breathless everything I thought about him. I tried to picture that the steam was him; touching my in places that made my gut turn and my head spinning. I pushed out of the water gasping. I blinked, rubbing my eyes to clear my head and see if he was there or not. He wasn't. No he was outside that door making breakfast. Did he even think about me in the way I think about him? No, I don't think he does. I'm probably a little sister figure to him. Plus he has a girlfriend who has given him something I could never have given him: pleasure.
The water was mocking me, taunting me to do it. Just go out there and kiss him with all I have. With all I needed. Man, I sound as crazy as Edgar Allan Poe. I turned to turn off the water. When the pounding of the water stopped I felt as if I could breathe again. I leaned back to press my back the cold damp wall. The steam played happily with each other. Never stopping for anything. To get my mind off of things, mostly Parker and Raven, I closed my eyes and tilted my head back. The words came to me like the music in a song. "They dance and play as if their life depends on it. The rose sits quietly and watches the stars pour from the flask of the sky and into the arms of the moon. She welts slowly with the sound of the waves crashing on to the shore, sounding like cold broken glass. Suddenly the song break through to her, the sweet lullaby of the children. The welting petals of the roses shivered at the golden sound. Then the song changed. The words came clear to her, speaking the truth.

"My angel close your eyes, I'll be your lover tonight.
Pitiful lullaby, I'll be your lover tonight.

My own misery is taunting me.
The air stings my lungs, I can barely see.
Wicked eyes surrounding me, the trees are watching silently.
I could try to run but baby what's the point?

I may never know
(I don't see the point.)
why I let you go.

My body is aching.
I'm losing my mind!
There's nothing to hold onto.
My angel close your eyes, I'll be your lover tonight.
I'm tired of trying.
I'm sick of waiting!
If there's nothing that I can do.
A pitiful lullaby to sing the tortured to sleep

We could settle down and change the end.
Nothing but time, start over again.
All the little things you do that make me fall in love with you.
Have led me to this, a bittersweet abyss.

I may never know
(a vexatious kiss.)
why I let you go.

My body is aching.
I'm losing my mind!
There's nothing to hold onto.
My angel close your eyes, I'll be your lover tonight.
I'm tired of trying.
I'm sick of waiting!
If there's nothing that I can do.
A pitiful lullaby to sing the tortured to sleep

I will follow you into the night my darling eyes.
I would do anything to be lying with you as I watch you dream.

I have been reborn!
I have broken free! I'm free! I'm free!
You can't deny me, do not defy me!
I'm drunk on lust and sovereignty!
Abandon all hope for beyond time I can stand!
I have been reborn!
Darling, tonight we