Split by A.M. Bryker (ebook reader 8 inch txt) 📕

     Sigh. Too many questions without answers.

     Eventually, we turn a corner and we're on my street.

     "You live on this street?" Bek asks in surprise.

     "Yep."

     "Which house is yours?"

     I don't answer right away. Instead, I lead him and take longer strides until we reach my house.

     "This one," I say.

     His eyes widen, and he glances down the street a little (looking at another house?), then back again.

     "Seriously?" He says in a disbelieving tone. "You're joking, right?"

     What's wrong? Does he not like the house?

     "Um, no," I answer, a bit perplexed. "This really is where I live. How about you?"

     Raising his eyebrows, he points. At the house that was sold recently.

     No freaking way. This has to be another dream. Inconspicuously, I pinch my thigh and almost wince. Definitely real.

     "Oh," I breathe out. "Cool. Coincidence much?"

     He shakes his head and gives me a half-smile. "I don't believe in coincidences."

     There's a short silence. I shift my weight from one leg to another.

     "Hey, um," Bek begins, rubbing the back of his neck. "Would you like to meet my uncle sometime?"

     His question catches me by surprise, and it takes me a few seconds to respond. "Uh… sure." I smile. "After you meet my parents."

     Without waiting for him to respond, I pull him up the porch steps and into the house.

Bek

Jade drags me through the door, muttering, “I just hope they’re home alone…”

     In my head I’m panicking, trying to remember what Kadon taught me if I was ever placed in this situation. Don’t get me wrong, I listened to what he had to teach. However, I didn’t believe I would have to use the knowledge any time soon. Everything was moving so quickly.

     “By the way, my dad is a doctor,” she informs me. “Just so you know.”

     She leads me into the living room, where a man and a woman are relaxing on the sofa. The man has blond hair that has the silver streaks of age and dark brown eyes. The woman’s eyes are blue, and her hair is dark brown. She looks to be at least three years younger than the man. I notice that Jade doesn’t resemble either of them.

     They look up from their books when we enter.

     “Mom, Dad,” Jade says. “This is Bek. He’s new in school and I was asked to show him around. He and his uncle are the ones who bought the house that Jeffery talked about this morning. I thought you’d like to meet him.”

     Suddenly, I feel self-conscious in my black jeans, t-shirt, boots, and leather jacket. I didn’t realize that my taste in clothes might not be approved of by other people. But then I decide that if they don’t like me for who I am, it’s not necessarily my problem.

     Dr. Stone stands, along with his wife, and shakes my hand.

     “Nice to meet you,” he says, the smallest amount of caution in his eyes.

     Mrs. Stone peers around his shoulder and gazes at my clothes suspiciously.

     “You aren’t a part of any gangs, are you?” She asks, direct.

     “Mom,” Jade protests under her breath as Dr. Stone murmurs, “Leah…”

     I try to smile reassuringly. “No, I’m not. I never have been, nor will I ever be.”

     Mrs. Stone bobs her head in satisfaction and then gives me a pleasant smile. “Please understand—I just don’t want any of my children to associate with people like that.”

     Nodding, I reply, “Yes, I understand perfectly. You don’t need to worry, Mrs. Stone.”

     She looks at me speculatively, then states, “Good. Call me Leah.”

     She brushes past us with a small smile and pauses in the doorway leading to the hall.

     “Would you like to stay for dinner, Bek?” She asks, pausing in the doorway.

     “Um…” I hesitate. The offer is tempting, but it’s taking everything I have not to do something regrettable. “Thank you, but I actually have other plans for tonight. Maybe some other time?”

     The last sentence comes out as a question because I’m a little unsure of what these people make of me so far.

     Mrs. Stone nods. “That’ll be fine. Anytime you feel like coming over…”

     Her voice trails off as she disappears around the corner, causing the three of us to stand in a short silence.

     “So, Bek,” Dr. Stone begins. “Your uncle… Since you’re so new to the city, does he need job options? Because I’m certain I could find something for him.”

     “I’m not sure,” I answer, shrugging. “You’d have to ask him.”

     He smiles. “I’ll pay him a visit sometime.”

     Giving me one last look, he follows his wife out the door, leaving Jade and me alone.

     “I’m sure he’s standing at the door, in case we try anything stupid,” she whispers to me.

     I force a small smile. “Trust issues?”

     Rolling her eyes, she answers, “Protective.”

     “Isn’t that a good thing?” I almost ask, but I stop myself. Not all people appreciate the protection they’re provided with, and for all I know, Jade could be one of those people. I wouldn’t want to risk offending her by asking such a question. Instead, I look around the room and spot a grand piano sitting in the room across the hall.

     Nodding my head in that direction, I inquire, “Do you play?”

     Her cheeks turn a slight shade of red and she glances down at the floor, responding, “A little.”

     “I’d like to hear you play sometime.” I realize with mortification after a few seconds that I said that out loud and inwardly I kick myself. Idiot.

     She smiles shyly, looking down at her hands. Where did this side of her come from? One moment she’s as outgoing as ever, the next she’s withdrawn. I’m beginning to feel curious as to why she’s suddenly this way, when I remember what Kadon told me about women.

     “They’re bipolar,” he had said. “Or, most of them are. But I’ve never met a woman that doesn’t have some serious mood swings. Be careful when dealing with them.”

     Problem is, I’m not sure what exactly to do in this kind of situation. Should I change my attitude as well? Or should I continue on like nothing is different?

     I hear the front door open and close. It’s made obvious that Jade heard it as well when she jumps and whips her head toward the sound. When she looks back at me her eyes have the slightest amount of irritation in them.

     “It’s Cassie,” she growls, taking my arm and pulling me toward what I assume is the kitchen. Just inside the door, she pauses and tilts her head to one side as though she’s listening to something. She scowls, and I have to keep from raising my eyebrows in surprise. This is the first time I’ve seen her act this way.

     “What is it?” I dare to ask.

     She begins pulling me again, toward a door on the other side of the room, and hisses, “Eris.”

     Admittedly confused at her attitude toward this person (and how she could have possibly known who was there), I say, “And they are…?”

     We reach the door and Jade opens it, pulling me through with her. Quickly, she closes it behind us.

     We’re outside now, I realize. In the backyard.

     Turning around to face me, she suddenly blushes, “Sorry about that,” she says, twirling a strand of hair around her fingers. “Instinctive reaction to those I want to avoid.”

     “Why do you want to avoid them?” I inquire, failing to stamp down my curiosity.

     Sighing, she answers, “Well, Cassie, for one, gives me migraines and short tempers. She seems to know exactly how to get on my nerves. As for Eris… I’d just rather stay as far away from her as I possibly can. It doesn’t help that she transferred to my school and buddied up with Cassie. The backyard was the closest place to avoid them, and probably the best because Cassie never comes back here.”

     An old rusty swing set rests underneath a tree, unused and uncared for. Jade makes her way to it and sits on one of the swings. I follow her, taking a seat on the other.

     “Have you met Eris before?”

     She hesitates, swaying back and forth on the swing. “Once.”

     “She must have made a pretty bad impression then for you not to like her now.”

     Nodding, she says, “Yeah, but I could say the same thing about me, unfortunately. That’s why I don’t want her to recognize me.”

     Surprised, I ask, “What happened?”

     She gazes at me thoughtfully, but quickly looks away, replying, “It’s not important right now. It happened a long time ago. But she’d probably hate my guts if she knew who I am.”

     I see the firm set in her jaw and know that she won’t be revealing anything more. I can’t help but wonder what she did to make her feel the need to fear recognition. Something is definitely different about this girl. My thoughts go back to earlier today when I’d accidentally frightened her. One second she was beside me, and the next thing I know, she was five feet away. No normal human being would be able to do that. At least, that’s what I understand from what Kadon has told me. Only the people from our world could do things like that.

     But maybe, just this once, he was wrong. I discarded the thought. Kadon knows a lot more about this place and its inhabitants than I do. But then what would that make Jade, if she’s not from here?

     There are obviously things that she’s hiding, and she clearly doesn’t want anyone knowing what she’s capable of. For some reason, I want to be that one person she’d be comfortable confiding in. The one to know all her secrets.

     Then reality kicks in. I’m a stranger to her, and that’s how it should stay. She already has at least two friends that are more likely to be her confidants than me. I don’t stand a chance. Unless…

     Unless I give her a reason to trust me. But how? What could I possibly do to instill a sense of security in her thoughts when she thinks about me… if she thinks about me?

     In my pocket, my phone chimes. Pulling it out, I read the text from Kadon.

     WHERE ARE YOU?

     I quickly text back.

     IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WHY?

     “Who is it?” Jade asks. “Your uncle?”

     I nod, and read the next text.

     WANT YOU BACK BEFORE DUSK.

     “I should probably go,” I say regretfully. “Got stuff to do.”

     I stand up, and Jade does the same. “Like what?” She asks.

     I start walking away. Pausing at the gate that leads to the front yard, I answer with a smirk, “Guy stuff.”

     Then I push open the gate and walk across the front lawn without looking back.