Discovering Synergy, page 10
“Are you saying you think this Elementi splinter group is causing all these strange things?” Cami questioned, scrunching up her face.
Leaning back in my chair, I sighed and stared up at the ceiling of the coffee shop. “It’s crazy, right? This is the real world, not some fantasy story where the impossible can happen.” I looked back at Cami and gave her wistful smile. “I guess I’m connecting things that probably have nothing to do with each other.”
“You never know, Lala, maybe it would take someone who believed in the impossible to see the truth,” Cami said with a look in her eyes that I couldn’t place.
“You might be right, but I have lots of other things to study that are more important than that. It’s my first semester, and I’m already on the way to failing a class,” I said, closing my notebook and the topic.
“You’re done with classes, right? We should go into town since you’ve had such a crappy day. You can get those sugar cookies you love so much,” Cami said, wagging her eyebrows knowing that was the one thing I couldn’t say no to.
“Sounds like fun,” a male voice said behind us.
The look on Cami’s face was enough to tell me it had to be Parker. I knew that they got along better than they liked to let on, but I’d figured it out. I tilted my head back and sure enough Parker was right behind me with his signature grin.
“Who said you're invited dickweed?” Cami shot at him.
He pulled over a chair and sat on it backwards as he leveled his gaze to Cami. “Lailah is my friend, too. You can’t keep her to yourself all the time. Sharing is caring, Camilla, I know Beth taught you better than that.”
Cami’s hand shot out and she had Parker’s hand with his thumb twisted at an awkward angle and his face showing how painful it was. “Call me that one more time. Go on, I dare you,” Cami growled.
“Uncle, uncle I give, I give,” Parker said trying to twist his body to lessen the pain.
Cami released him, tossing his hand away like it was going to bite her. “I better never hear that out of your mouth again or I really will break off your thumb ya douche-canoe.”
“Wait! Is that what Cami is short for?” I asked. “I never would have guessed you as a Camil-”
“I love you, Lala, but if you finish that sentence, I will bitch slap the shit out of you,” Cami said glaring at me and scaring me with how intense she was about it.
“Okay I’ll forget I ever heard it,” I said raising my hands in submission.
“Look what you’ve done ya twat waffle, you made me scare Lala,” Cami said turning her anger back on Parker.
“Why don’t you keep from getting your panties in a knot and calm down,” Parker said, holding his own against Cami.
I looked between the two of them and started to giggle. Hearing me, they paused their stare-down to look at me, surprised. The way they were so similar just struck me as funny. I couldn’t explain it, but I loved seeing them go toe to toe. Getting myself under control, I waved them off and gathered my stuff.
“Come on, let's head into town so I can get my sugar fix,” I said.
“Wanna ride with me?” Parker asked giving me puppy dog eyes.
I looked over at Cami with a questioning eyebrow and she just smirked at me. “Sure, sounds good.”
“Awesome. I have my ride in the faculty parking lot, so we don’t have to go far,” Parker said, giving me an excited smile.
“Parker, if you do something stupid and get Lala hurt, I will kill you, raise you from the dead, and kill you again. You feel me?” Cami said, giving Parker a stern look.
“Chill, I won’t let anything happen to her,” Parker grumbled.
We all walked out of the coffee shop, and I waved at Cami as she split off to grab her car from the dorms. I followed Parker until we stopped in front of a bright yellow motorcycle. I felt my panic level rise as I realized why Cami had been worried about my safety. I looked up at Parker to tell him I changed my mind, but he settled his hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eye.
“I know I come off as an impulsive child, but I promise I will make sure you’re safe,” Parker searched my face before he grabbed the spare helmet from the saddle bag on his bike. “I’m not sure all your hair will fit in here, but let's give it a shot.”
I laughed at that, my fear about the situation calming down. I pulled my hair out of its bun and jammed the helmet on over my head. It took a little wiggling, but I managed to get it to fit snugly on my head. Parker helped me with the chin strap and having him so close gave me butterflies in my stomach. I could feel his body heat and the subtle scent of his cologne that smells like warm spices.
“Perfect,” Parker said, patting the top of my helmet to let me know he was done with me.
I struggled not to blush and I dipped my head so he couldn’t see my face as I looked at the bike. “What kind of motorcycle is this?” I asked, knowing I would have no idea, but it gave me something else to think about.
“It’s a Harley Davidson Fat Boy, smooth ride, but still stylish, just like me,” Parker said winking at me.
At that comment, I lost the battle with my flushing cheeks and I knew from the heat coming off my cheeks that I was as bright as a stop sign. I coughed, choking on my own spit, at the suddenness of the teasing. I knew Parker and I were becoming friends, and I knew I kind of liked him, but I didn’t know we were at the flirty stage yet.
“Shit, I’m sorry Lailah. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I don’t know how to have a friend that’s a girl. I always have girls around, but they only want one thing from me. I know you’re not like that, I shouldn’t have said that, it just popped out,” Parker said groaning and rubbing his face with his hands, obviously upset with himself.
I didn’t know how I felt about him seeing me as just a friend, but I knew for sure I was happy that he saw me differently than those vipers that had tossed my clothes in the dumpster.
Recovered from my coughing fit, I reached out and patted him on the arm. “It’s all good, I tend to be super awkward around people, so I get it, it happens. Come on, at this point Cami is halfway there with how she drives.”
“Yeah, and she was worried about me getting you hurt. She is psycho in how she drives, her and Micha, one of my other dorm mates, used to have drag races all the time, they’re just nuts,” Parker said, as he straddled his bike and pulled on his helmet.
“Oh, so you’ve known Micha for a long time, too?” I asked surprised, thinking they had only met at school.
“Yeah all of us who live at Aiden House have known each other for a long time. Our parents all mingle in the same social circle,” Parker said offhandedly. “Okay climb on.”
I gulped and threw my leg over the machine and settled in behind Parker. I tried to keep some space between us, but the way the seat was designed made me slide right up against him. Since I couldn’t keep my lower body away from him, I tried to lean back so my chest wasn’t resting on his back.
“I’m going to assume this is your first time on a motorcycle.” He grabbed my hands from where they were resting on my legs and wrapped them around his middle. “Hold on to me tight and follow my lead. Lean into the curves, flow with the road, and stay relaxed, that’s all there is to it,” Parker instructed.
I gave in and let myself lean against him, reminding me of us dancing at the party. It didn’t feel strange then, and it didn’t now either. In many ways it felt like I was right where I belonged, safe, comfortable, and almost like I was home. It gave me a zing of excitement, but it also made me worry that I was reading into things that weren’t really there. Obviously, Parker didn’t see me as more than a friend and I needed to keep it that way. Parker was growing on me, and I didn’t want to mess up and lose out on the friendship we could have. Parker pulled out slowly, letting me get a feel for the bike, and once we were on the main road, he kicked it into high gear and we raced down the open road.
The ride was exhilarating, and I could see why people liked to ride motorcycles. It made you feel like you were free. The wind across your face, the scents of the world around you, and the speed were all intoxicating. It was close to the feeling I had while running, only way faster. It also helped to have Parker’s warm body to cut the chill of the ride. All too soon, we made it to town and found a place to park. Parker held the bike steady while I hopped off and he followed shortly after.
“What took you so long?” Cami called as she walked over to us.
“You told me to keep her safe, I was doing just that, don’t be an ass,” Parker retorted locking the helmets up. “Just because you can get around the world in twenty minutes doesn’t mean it’s right.”
“Whatever,” Cami said, brushing off Parker’s answer. “Oh, we need to stop by the book store for my sister. She texted me on my way over here. You guys need anything else while we’re here?”
“Nope. I’m just along for the ride,” Parker said grinning at us.
I shook my head at him and headed off in the direction of delicious smelling cookies. This was exactly what I needed after the shitty day I’d had. I wonder what the girls will do next when they see me and Parker hanging out today and then me with Brayden later in the week. I smiled to myself, glad that I wasn’t going to let them rule who I made friends with.
“Where are we off to?” Parker asked.
“The bakery to get God's gift to the human world,” I said humming to myself.
“Um, what?” Parker said walking backwards in front of me so he could see my face.
I rolled my eyes at him, no one ever understood my strange love for all things sugar cookie. “Remember when we first met and you smashed my cookie?”
“Yeah, I still feel bad about that,” he answered.
“That was a small piece of heaven you shattered. Some girls have an obsession with clothes, shoes, or coffee, but for me, it’s all about the sugar cookies,” I said, smiling when I saw him understand.
“Wow! So, I’m lucky you're even still talking to me after I murdered your cookie?” Parker said, letting out a low whistle.
“No, you’re lucky Lala is more forgiving than I am. I would’ve written you off for good,” Cami piped up.
“Hey, I bought her a new one, I took responsibility for my actions,” Parker said defending himself.
“Guys come on it’s over and done with. That happened weeks ago,” I said trying to end the squabbling as we arrived at the bakery.
I pulled open the door and listened to the little chime signal our arrival. I wandered over to the cookie display and started to search for the treasured item. Cami and I had never come this late in the day and I got to the area where they were normally displayed, but it was empty. I quickly looked back through the cases on either side, but there was not a single sugar cookie in sight.
“Well hello, Lailah, good to see you,” Anne said coming out of the back, wiping her flour-covered hands on her apron. “You’re here much later than usual.”
Parker turned to look at me with raised eyebrows. “Come here often?”
“Anne, am I too late? I don’t see any in the display case,” I asked, even I could hear the desperation in my voice.
“Oh, don’t worry love. I always have a batch set aside in the back just for you.” Anne gave me a warm smile before she grabbed a box to place the cookies in.
“You are a real MVP, Anne,” Cami said. “I think after the day Lailah has had, she might have gone catatonic right here in your bakery.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll go get them right away,” Anne tutted before she returned to the back room for the cookies.
“Damn, you must really love those cookies if you’re on a first name basis with the baker,” Parker said, enjoying watching this whole thing going down.
“I guess so, things have been so stressful with school that Cami or I popped in to get cookies a few times. Anne is just super sweet, and reminds me a lot of my mom, so we bonded,” I said as Anne walked back to us.
“I have never met someone who has such a mature palate when it comes to cookies. She can even tell me when I’ve added too much butter and not enough vanilla,” Anne said chuckling.
“My mom was also a baker, and I would taste test all her dough, so I learned from her. Other than Anne, I’ve never met someone who can make a better sugar cookie then my mom,” I said proudly.
“Oh stop, you’re going to make me blush,” Anne said waving a hand at us. “Now those are on me tonight, love, seeing as you had a bad day and all.”
“Bless you, Anne,” I said, blowing her a kiss we walked out the door.
Once out on the sidewalk, I couldn’t help doing a little skip of happiness now that I was holding the magical white bakery box.
“So, is it off limits to ask if you’re willing to share?” Parker asked as we walked over to the bookstore.
I gave Parker a sideways glance, deciding how I was feeling about sharing my cookies with him. I liked Parker, but I felt like sharing my cookie wasn’t a right he’d earned yet. A girl had to be careful who she gave her cookies to. You never knew if they would appreciate them the way they should be appreciated. I knew the value of that round golden sugary goodness, but would he treat it with the proper respect? That was yet to be determined.
“I’m not sure we’ve reached that level of friendship yet,” I said and watched the shocked look on Parker’s face.
“Seriously?” he complained.
“Look, cocknugget, I didn’t even get my cookie until this week! Wait your turn,” Cami said wagging her eyebrows at him.
“Cami! Don’t tell him that, you make it sound dirty,” I shrieked.
“What? The way you treat your cookies, it might as well be sex,” Cami said nudging me with her elbow.
“Okay I feel like this conversation has taken a turn that I am not comfortable with. My slight obsession with sugar cookies might be a little unorthodox, but it could be worse,” I said feeling my cheeks heat.
“Note to self. If I ever get you mad at me, I’ll make sure to visit Anne right away,” Parker said laughing.
“What do you mean if, more like when,” Cami mumbled as she opened the door to the bookstore.
We walked in, and since I didn’t really need anything, I decided to check out the fiction section. It was in the back of the bookstore next to the small music section where they sold old vinyl records and CD’s. Parker trailed after me, seeming content to follow my lead. I headed to the fiction section and started pulling random books that caught my eye off the shelf. I picked up one book and on the cover, the woman in the middle was surrounded by five half-naked men. I remember Cami telling me that dating more than one person wasn’t as taboo as it used to be. Before I could turn it over to read the back of the cover, Parker reached over and plucked the book out of my hands. I looked over my shoulder at him as he looked over the book. He blinked a few times and then looked at me and back at the book.
“Is this the type of stuff you read?” he asked, his cheeks pinking up a little.
Was Parker embarrassed? Had the thought of sharing a woman with other guys made mister adventurous uncomfortable?
“No, but Cami keeps telling me I need to be more open minded, so I figured why not,” I teased, unable let him shake off his embarrassment.
“You’re saying that you’d be into being with more than one guy?” Parker asked shocked.
I started to laugh at his reaction. How he thought I would ever have more than one guy interested in me was priceless. Also, as I said to Cami, I could barely manage one relationship, how could I deal with multiples?
“Parker, it's in the fiction section. That means it's for us women to dream about, but doesn’t really happen in the real world, let alone for me,” I answered taking the book off his hands and putting it back on the shelf.
I headed out of the fiction section, thinking I might just need to come back for that book some time. I looked over to my right and saw Micah flipping through the vinyl in the rock section. I ducked behind one of the lower bookshelves that made up the wall around the section. Parker looked down at me and then over at Micah. Seconds later, he was squatting next to me with a scowl on his face.
“Why are you hiding from Micah?” I whispered.
“Because he’s a rat bastard and I can’t stand him,” Parker answered in a loud attempt at a whisper.
“I can’t say the few interactions we’ve had have been great so I would rather avoid him,” I said trying to waddle by in my squatted position.
Just as we were about the clear the section, Micah walked by not sparing us a glance. “Parker, next time learn to whisper. We rats have good hearing.”
Unable to hold it together, I landed on my ass laughing hysterically. After all that had happened today, to end it being caught in such an awkward position was just too much to handle. Parker started cracking up next to me till we both had tears streaming down our cheeks.
“What the hell is wrong with you two idiots?” Cami asked us her hands on her hips.
I shook my head waving, unable to answer her question. I tried to calm myself down by taking deep breaths, but I would just hear Micah’s comment and lose it all over again. Truly this was what I really needed, friends, laughter and cookies could fix anything.
Chapter 13 Lailah
“Lailah, did the special archives help you with your paper?” Mr. Phillips asked as I handed him the first three pages of my paper.
“It was super helpful, but I have to say that I was shocked at the security. I’ve never seen a library have that kind of protected section before,” I said.
“I imagine not, we are very blessed to have an archive of such old historical books. These are the only copies in the world, and we need to protect that history,” Mr. Phillips explained.
“I couldn't agree more, it was so cool to read something that was written so long ago. Thank you very much for letting me have access,” I said smiling at him.
