Discovering Synergy, page 15
“You didn’t feel that?” I asked.
“Feel what?” said he asked, taking my hand once again, but this time there was no energy. “Hold still. I’ve got a first aid kit.”
He dropped his pack and started searching through it. Had I been the only one who felt that energy when we touched? Granted, it didn’t happen the second time, but it couldn’t have been just me. Jay deftly bandaged up my hands and my knee and we were off again. I assured him I was fine, and we didn’t need to head back just because I’d gotten scraped up. The farther in the woods we went, the more breathtaking it became. Never before had I seen such an old forest untouched by human hands. After we ran for another hour or so, I was dripping sweat and my legs started to tremble.
“Jay, I don’t know that I can keep going if we don’t take a break soon. We have been running for almost two hours,” I said in between gulping breaths.
“Do you think you can make it just a little farther if we take it easy?” Jay asked.
“How far is a little father?” I asked not trusting him to be honest.
He grinned at me as if he was pleased that I was challenging him. “Just down this hill and a to the left a little. It will be worth it.”
I groaned knowing that he was going to win this. “Fine, but if I don’t think it’s worth it then you owe me a foot massage.”
“What do I get if it is?” Jay asked.
I paused unsure of what he would want. “What do you want?”
“You running with me every morning for a week,” Jay answered.
“Really! That’s what you want? Sure, I’m fine with that,” I said surprised that was his choice.
“Let’s get a move on then,” Jay said as he disappeared down the hill.
“Come on, Lailah. You can do this,” I said trying to get a little pep in my step.
I made my way down the hill, which was steeper than any we had managed to this point. I was glad there were rocks embedded into the trail, so I didn’t end up sliding down it on my butt. When I got to the bottom, I hung a left where the trail split, like Jay had said, and followed along a small river. The path was rough, like animals and not people used this path. I had to manage every step carefully, so I didn’t twist my ankle and end up not making it back to school at all. Just when I was about to give up and just sit right there on the path, I turned another corner around a stand of trees and gasped.
The grove of trees opened up to show a waterfall that was shooting out of a rock wall ahead of me. The water splashed into a pool of water that fed the stream that I had been. The cool mist of the waterfall felt like heaven on my sweaty skin, refreshing me. I felt a breeze weaving through the trees, sweeping up the mist causing the sun to reflect in it, creating a giant rainbow. The wind swirled around me wrapping me in the prism of colors before it dissipated.
“So, I guess we are going to see each other a lot this week,” Jay said appearing behind me making me jump.
“Ah! Don’t do that, stomp your feet or something will you,” I said clutching my chest.
Jay just grinned and made his way over to an open area with a fallen tree. He slipped off his backpack and sat down and began pulling out food.
“You thought of everything, didn’t you,” I said joining him.
“It’s always smart to be prepared,” Jay said handing me a white paper bag.
“How could you possibly know to bring these?” I said looking into the bag, confirming that they were indeed my favorite sugar cookies.
“You forget, I live with Parker,” Jay said shrugging. “He felt bad and gave me these for you, said it would make you forgive him.”
I laughed so hard I almost knocked myself off the log into the dirt. Parker knew just how much I loved these cookies since he’d had the misfortune of breaking one.
“I’m going to assume from your reaction that his guess was correct.”
“These cookies could get anyone back in my good graces,” I said pulling one out and breaking it in half. “Wanna try some?”
Jay tentatively reached out and took the chunk of cookie. “Normally I don’t indulge in sugar.”
I held my breath waiting to see what he thought of it. He chewed for what seemed like an eternity and swallowed, but didn’t say anything right away. I couldn’t hold it any longer, “Well?”
“They are quite good.”
“Quite good? Seriously that is all you have to say about the small piece of heaven you just ate?” I said exasperated.
“You’ll come to find that I don’t give compliments easily or often. Take it or leave it.”
This caused me to start laughing again. I should have known better than to expect him to react like a normal person would. “What else did you pack in your bag of tricks?”
“The normal things: a map, compass, satellite phone, Leatherman multitool, first aid kit, flashlight, binoculars, and food,” Jay said pulling out each item to show me.
“You have a satellite phone? Who has a satellite phone?” I said snatching it out of his hands and looking it over.
“My dad owns one of the biggest private security companies in the eastern hemisphere. I work with my dad a lot and end up in places that phones don’t work like here,” Jay explained.
“Wow! You do that and go to school? You must be crazy busy.”
“I don’t attend classes at Ryevick, I do online classes.”
“Is that why I never see you on campus? I was wondering if you did all night classes or something.”
“Yes, my father does not feel that Ryevick has much to offer me that he can’t give me through experience. I have been working with him since I could shoot a gun.”
I balked at that; I’d never been around guns as my family was very much against it. “How old was that?”
“I think it was about ten when I passed my qualifications, but I prefer to a bow to a gun. Personally, I think it takes more skill to use than a gun.”
“Holy shit, are you a ninja or something?”
Jay laughed and coughed, choking on his trail mix at that comment. “Is it because I’m Asian?”
“What? No, I mean you can shoot a gun and a bow, you run like the wind, and you snuck up on me like a ghost,” I said scowling at him.
He looked at me with contemplative eyes before he answered. “My father taught me to be a force to be reckoned with. I am skilled in many ways of fighting, infiltration tactics, and strategic planning.”
“Remind me never to piss you off, but if I get in a tough spot, I’ll know who to call,” I said bumping into him with my shoulder.
Jay stilled at my words, he turned to look at me holding my gaze intently. “I know you’re joking, but I truly hope that you know that I would come to your aid in an instant.”
Under his intense gaze, I felt a trickle of fear at his words. It was the first time I truly got a glimpse of the person under the stoic expression. It would be terrifying if you found yourself his enemy. I hadn’t a clue what caused Jay to consider me a friend, but I was thankful for it, knowing how dangerous he could be.
“Here eat this, we still have to make it back to the car,” Jay said his mask back in place, handing me an energy bar.
“How far is it back to the car?” I asked letting the topic change.
“About thirty minutes but it’s the toughest part of the trail.”
“I should have known by how wild the path was. How did you find this place anyway?”
“I like to go camping when things get crazy back at the house. It’s more peaceful out here in the woods when Micah and Parker get into it.”
“They’re that bad, huh?”
Jay shook his head, “It’s like two wild dogs fighting over the same bone. It messy and loud, even Beth can’t break them up sometimes.”
“Who’s Beth?” I asked, feeling irritated to hear a woman’s name.
“She is the one who looks after us while we are here at school. Come on let's get going.”
I was already groaning as I stood, feeling my legs crying out to just rest a little longer. Jay wasn’t kidding that the way back was rough. It was uphill the whole time and the path was rocky with lots of shifting dirt to manage. When we reached the Jeep, I almost couldn’t pull myself back into the seat, Jay had to give me a boost.
“Please tell me we aren't going to be doing this the rest of the week, I don’t think I could survive that.”
“No. I only go trail running once or twice a week. The track we did today I normally can only manage one a week, it’s the hardest one I do.”
“What the fuck, JAY! You took a beginner on a trail you can only manage to do once a week?”
“I told you I would challenge you. If I had told you, then you would never even have tried. Now look, you managed to do the whole thing. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for,” Jay said looking at me out of the corner of his eye as he drove.
I stuck my tongue out at him and huddled in the seat not looking at him, but smiling to myself. I’d managed to do something that Jay hadn’t been able to do on his first try. I should get a gold star and another cookie for that.
Chapter 19 Lailah
The next two weeks flew by and I fell into a routine that made me feel like I’d been living here on campus for much longer than two and a half months. Jay and I went running every morning, hitting the harder trails on the weekends. I could feel my strength and endurance back to what it was when I was on the track team. With Jay pushing me to be better and to run faster, I was now able to beat him in some of our friendly races.
Hudson and I spent Tuesdays in the library study room, trying to improve my failing grade. I was excited because it was actually making sense, and I didn’t feel quite so stupid. That is, until I went to work with him in his lab on Thursdays. The math and material he was working with was like an alien language to me. He had me help mainly as his runner, grabbing slides, chemicals, and other equipment he needed. It was cool to see him in action and to spend time talking to him about what he was passionate about.
Brayden offered a spot on the Halloween party organizers committee. We all helped to make the decorations, paint backgrounds for photo booths, and make sure we had everything we needed to make this one epic party. Parker popped up here and there, typically when Cami was busy or was spending quality time with Maggs. I think she felt bad that she was leaving me alone, so she sent him to keep me entertained.
Out of the Five, the only one I didn’t see much of was Micah. Not that I was looking to spend a whole lot of time with him, it just seemed odd he was never around much on campus. I had expected spending time with his best friend would mean he might be around more. Maybe it was more of a girl thing to include all your friends in everything.
I set my dinner tray down at the table Cami and I always sat at. She was doing dinner with her sisters, so I was on my own. Parker had texted me, telling me he was busy tonight too, with lots of sad crying emojis to show how he felt about me eating alone. It didn’t bother me; I was used to being on my own. It wasn’t until I met all of them that I was constantly surrounded by people.
A shadow crossed over the book I was reading, causing me to look up. Standing in front of me were four girls I recognized from my dorm. I groaned internally knowing that this was not going to enjoyable.
“Lailah, right?” one girl asked.
“Unfortunately,” I muttered.
“We would like to have a word with you,” another said.
I closed the book and heaved a big sigh, “How can I help you?”
“Is it true that you’re going with all ‘The Manor’ boys to the Halloween party?”
“I am attending the party, but I was only asked by Brayden,” I said trying to keep my answers simple so they couldn’t read into it.
“Then why are Parker and Hudson telling girls they are going with you if you already have a date?”
“I can’t control what they say or who they hang out with. I did not ask to go with them, and they didn’t ask me. It looks like they might just be saying that, so they don’t have to go with you guys.” As soon as I said it, I knew it was the wrong thing to do. I was so sick and tired of these girls causing trouble that it just slipped out.
One girl picked up my glass full of soda and tossed it in my face. I shut my eyes waiting for the cold sticky liquid to hit me, but it never came. I felt my chair getting pulled away from the table and someone stand in front of me. The girls gasped at whatever had happened. When I opened my eyes, I found Micah, of all people, blocking my view of the girls. He reached a hand up and wiped his face off with napkins someone handed to him.
“Oh my God, Micah, I’m so sorry. I seem to be so spacey today, I can’t believe I spilled my drink like that,” one girl said, her voice shaking with what I guessed was fear.
I peered from behind him to look at their faces. Sure enough, they were scared shitless of Micah right now and I couldn’t be more please it was them and not me for a change.
“I think you had better go before your clumsy ass spills something else on me,” Micah growled.
And just like that, they scattered like mice getting chased by a cat. Micah pulled out the chair next to me and sat down muttering as he tried to dry his shirt. I stared at him with bold curiosity. Why had he just done that? What was he doing sitting next to me? Did he want something?
“I’m not an animal in a zoo. It’s rude to stare, or didn’t your mother teach you that?” Micah said meeting my gaze.
“Thank you,” I said not backing down from his challenging look.
“Whatever.”
“How long were you watching?”
“Long enough to see you do a great impersonation of a doormat. Why didn’t you do anything about it, you were just going to let them douse you because they are petty bitches?”
“I didn’t ask for your help, and I certainly didn’t ask for your advice,” I snapped.
I wasn’t sure what it was about Micah, but he seemed to set me off, I couldn’t manage to keep him from getting under my skin.
“It's not advice, anyone with eyes could see that something was going to happen. It was almost too painful to watch, like some National Geographic shit where the lion takes out the gazelle.”
“I’m confused. You come over here, take a bath in my soda for me, and now you’re mad at me for not doing anything about it? Who the hell do you think you are?” I stood up from my seat grabbed my book and turned on my heel. Then on second thought, I turned and looked over my shoulder. “You want me to do something, well here is me walking away from an arrogant asshole who doesn’t deserve my thanks.”
I was so mad at him I was shaking as I left the cafeteria. What really made me mad was the fact that as I was telling him off, he had excitement in his eyes, like he was proud of me for telling him off.
“Fuck him,” I said a little louder than I had intended.
“Lailah?”
I gulped as I turned slowly. “Hey Brayden.”
Great I was just insulting his best friend right in front of him. Not good.
“You okay? Did someone do something?” he asked reaching out touching my arm.
A jolt of energy shot through me at his touch, just like it had with Jay on our first running hike. This time Brayden reacted jerking his hand away from me and shaking it out like it stung.
“What was that?” I asked.
Brayden just shook his head looking as confused as I felt. “I have no idea.”
“Hey dipshit, good thing you didn’t get very far. You left your backpack behind,” Micah said walking up to us.
I snatched my bag from him, but our hands brushed sending another electric current through my body.
“What the hell is that!” I demanded as my backpack fell to the ground. “Why do I keep getting shocked when I touch people?”
“Wait, this happens to anyone you touch?” Brayden asked.
I shook my head wrapping my arms around myself. “I don’t know, maybe not everyone, but it happened with Jay a few weeks ago. Now it just happened twice with you guys.”
“Lailah, I’m going to try and touch your arm again to see if it happens again,” Brayden said as he slowly reached out. When his hand grasped my arm, nothing happened. “Did you feel anything?”
“No, nothing,” I said. “I have no idea why it happens or when it chooses to do it. Is there something wrong with me?”
“No, nothing’s wrong with you,” Brayden said pulling me into a hug.
I nestled into his chest letting him hold me. I breathed in his soft scent that reminded me of fresh turned earth and spring showers. He rubbed my back helping to calm me down from my panic attack, making me feel more grounded. The comfort I felt in his arms was amazing and like nothing I had ever experienced before.
“Hey, what happened?” I heard Parker’s voice from behind me. “You say something mean to her asshole?”
I could only assume he was talking to Micah. He wasn’t wrong, but Micah wasn’t the reason I was burrowed in Brayden’s arms. I pulled away from him, not willing to let Micah get yelled at for something he didn’t do.
“Parker, it wasn’t him,” I said reaching to stop him from going after Micah.
“Wait Lailah,” Brayden said trying to grab for me.
When I grabbed onto Parker’s arm instead of a jolt of power like the other two, it almost knocked me off my feet. I grasped my hand, locking around his arm unable to let go.
“Fuck, Lailah what’s happening?” Parker looked at me with a worried expression.
I tried to let go, but no matter how I demanded that my hand release it’s hold, it wouldn’t listen to me. Brayden came up behind me and placed his hand on my shoulders and started to knead his thumbs into my shoulder blades.
“Take a deep breath Lailah. You need to calm down, breathe in through the mouth out through the nose,” he said calmly, resting his head against mine, so he didn’t have to talk very loud. “That’s a girl, nice easy breaths.”
