The Glass Secret (Chain of Secrets), page 20
I still cursed Storm for weeks and dropped major F-bombs in my private thoughts. Since then, I was certain he could not hear my personal brain-works. If he could, he would’ve already thrown me into the lake of fire years ago for my foul language.
I eventually thanked Storm for saving my skinny butt that night. Nuilley got into so much trouble as a result of getting drunk that night. Her parents had to bail her out of jail, hire an attorney and pay major fines. On top of all that, she was sentenced to three hundred hours of community service. It was a harsh punishment and, in my opinion, far worse than being grounded for a month. I felt a little blessed for having Storm, even if he did, in fact, set off the alarm preventing me from going to the party. He never gloated or rubbed anything in my face. There was no, I told you so’s when it came to Storm. I think he was just relieved that we were talking again.
Now, for the second time, it was Storm’s goal to ruin the biggest night of my life. I was really fed up with him barging into my life whenever he felt like it. He never gave me any privacy, well, except for when I had to shower, shave and do other private things. Supposedly, that’s the truth of it.
At my wits end with Storm always telling me what to do, I became extremely angry with him and unleashed my wrath onto him. This time he went too far. I knew he was setting a plan in motion to ruin my high school prom date. Over my dead body! If Storm screws with my prom it would be beyond forgivable. Words of pent up anger and frustrations flew from my mouth, loud and clear. They sliced like a knife through the air.
Hell, hath no fury like a teenager scorned…a female teenager with raging hormones that is. He interfered in my life for far too many years, and it had gotten to the point where I felt revolted by him telling me what to do, or by staging obstacles where my parents were concerned. His influencing powers simply had to be stopped, before it was too late.
I really didn’t want to hurt Storm; this was never my intention. After all, he had been my best friend for many years and had possibly saved my life; however, I really needed my freedom to explore boys, life and good times. I needed the opportunity to spread my wings, and make my own mistakes. And, he was the one thing, yes thing, standing in my way.
“Brielle...”
“Oh, there you are. I thought you flew back to Heaven. My dumb-luck—you didn’t,” I clucked, waving my arms in the air.
“No—I don’t think they would let me in there.”
“Really...and why not...haven’t you earned your feathery wings yet?” My words were venomous and cold-hearted. “You’re never going to get them at this rate”
“Brielle, stop. Why are you being so hateful?”
“Why? You ask me why? I will tell you why because you are going to be stuck inside my head forever, like a bird in a cage with no wings to fly. You have cursed me and, so I am paying you back, I am going to make you as miserable as you have made me all these years,” I said, unleashing my most contentious laughter on to him. “Now, your big fat ego is condemned to me, so get used to it.”
“It’s not like that—I’m tired...no one wears me out like you can...”
“You—tired?”—I snidely chuckled—“since when?” I snapped.
“When did you become so mean? You used to like me.” He moped.
“Whaah, whaah, wuaahaaa! Arrrrgh! Are you going to start crying like Brett used to do all the time? The two of you are both serious attention mongrels. Just go sulk somewhere else. Jeez”—I put my palms together in a praying manner—“Here’s a prayer, call someone who cares.”
“I get it. You want me to go, to leave you alone, but I can’t...one day I will figure this out...”
“Figure this...” I flashed him the bird. I wasn’t sure if he saw it, or not. I didn’t care.
“Brielle, what is so wrong with slowing down? You are growing up too—”
“What?” I interrupted. “This is my prom. Are you kidding me?” I yelled.
“Fine, go. You deserve to attend your prom but not with Jordan. He’s not good enough for you,” Storm bellowed coldly. Brain-freeze. I could have sworn his breath captured a ball of wind, lifting the locks of my hair into the air.
I walked to the window and slammed it shut. “I hope that was you flying out of my room—out of my head.”
I quickly snatched up my headphones, placing them over my ears and hit my Napster play list, Bon Jovi: It’s my Life. I turned the volume up as high as it would go, flopped across my bed, and returned to flipping through the magazine I had abandoned during my fight with Storm.
A tinge of remorse coursed through my consciousness...I felt awful that we had fought. My words were a degree below hateful, and Storm’s points were controlling, demanding and lecturing. I was not sure who was worse.
Still, after all he had done, I didn’t have the heart to test out the rebuking theory. I figured that if I pissed him off enough, he would concede and just leave on his own. I was sick of him telling me what to do, where to go and with whom I could hang out with.
The only male friend of mine Storm ever approved of was Spencer Reed. Of course, he did, Spencer had four eyes, red hair, and would have kissed his computer before he’d ever think of kissing me. What a nerd.
After our knock down, drag out fight, Storm disappeared. I tried to apologize to him.
“Storm, I’m sorry I treated you so badly. Are you there? Storm, I know you’re still here.”
There was no response, nothing—nada. He was playing hard to get. He was so stubborn. He didn’t even as much as let out a sigh. God, how did Storm ever expect to get his wings if he was going to act like an infant cherub, rather than a mature angel?
“Storm, I know why we don’t see eye-to-eye anymore.” I whined. Did we ever? “Storm, damn you! Why can’t you just be happy for me this one time?” This really sucked. He ignored me and never responded. Of course, I didn’t give him but a second to think about it either. “Fine...then, life will be easier with you gone. If you aren’t going to forgive me and accept my apology, well then”—fuck it—“when and if Jordan asks me to the prom, with or without your blessing, I am saying yes for sure now.”
It wasn’t much of an apology, but it was the best I could muster up. He really pissed me off. Storm would just have to get over his jealousy. However, I couldn’t really blame him for being a little envious; Jordan was a real man.
As the days strung along, I kept finding myself wishing that Storm had understood my needs and, perhaps if he had, we would still be friends. There were moments I felt a dull pang of loss in my stomach, but I quickly shooed them away when I missed him.
Jordan, sweet Jordan would take Storm’s place. He will protect me and become my new best friend. We were both seniors and he was a year older than me. This was awesome because I liked guys who were a few years older than me. A few. Crap, Storm was probably a thousand years old, and the thought of his age was laughable to me.
Storm was only a voice. Jordan could touch, text and make out with me. He could hold my hand if we walked along the streets together, Storm could never even give me a simple handshake. Jordan could do it all, and kiss me for God sakes. I anticipated talking to Jordan on the phone about nothing for hours. Storm, well, all of this would be kind of gross, even if he could complete any of these tasks.
Jordan had a deep sensual voice. Storm’s voice...hum, let me think...it was pleasant, deep—yes, and as smooth as velvet—true, very stealthily—radiating power. His voice was kind of sexy—
Oooh, God, did I say sexy?
I meant strong...Storm’s voice could cause an avalanche between two mountains when he whispered. Okay, I guess that I could give him sexy. I was sure that some goddess, or an angel up in Heaven would fancy him in a romantic way. I didn’t want to think about anyone, other than me, liking Storm, even if it was impossible for me to ever like him in a romantic way. He was my angel. I was very possessive over him, too.
A tight feeling constricted around my ribcage; something wasn’t right. I felt sick. Was Storm okay? I had not heard from him in weeks…since our fight about Jordan.
My telepathic connection with him told me that he needed me. Storm was, in fact, my biggest hero at one time. Why was he ruining everything? He could have tried to be a little more angelic. I hoped his absence was temporary, and that he hadn’t disappeared forever. He didn’t even say good-bye. I reasoned with my heartache and decided it was his choice to leave. So be it then.
-30-
Reality sings and sometime stings
I had a lot going on and tons to be happy about. Graduation was around the corner. My college days were set in motion. Still, I missed Storm. I wanted him to witness me transcending from a young girl to a woman, in the literal sense.
It was a gorgeous spring day, the flowers were blooming and life was good. I sat idly beneath a big oak tree on the school’s campus just minding my own business. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jordan sailing across the courtyard. He was heading right in my path. My heart leapt and skipped a beat, bubbling over with anticipation.
Jordan’s hair was a dirty blonde with big waves floating down past his shoulders. He reminded me of Brad Pitt in the movie Troy. He had blue eyes and blond hair. What a dangerous combination. His bronzed skin glistened in the sunlight. His shoulders were broad, with or without his football gear mounted upon them.
“Hey, beautiful girl. What are you doing over here all by yourself?” His eyes connected with mine like two waves colliding into each other. I imagined for a millisecond that if he and I had little ones they would inherit the striking light blue of his eyes. They were clear blue like the tips of an ocean wave on a sunny day. “Reading. What’s up?" I smiled brightly. Of course, I knew he had come to ask me to the prom; it was approximately a month away.
“That sounds boring. I hate to read.” Jordan twisted his lips.
Is that the best I could say—“what’s up?” How lame. I thought.
“Yeah, that was kind of lame.”
Storm? Oh my God, he’s back—
“This kid doesn’t deserve much better. Unworthy jerk.”
Storm, is that you? I questioned silently to myself. It had been so long, months since I had heard from him. He was always taking long sabbaticals, especially after having an argument with me. I almost had forgotten what he sounded like. His voice was penetrating. Different than before. My core fluttered with little waves of warmth.
“It’s me,” Storm answered as if he could hear me.
Did he just hear my inner thoughts? I knew this was impossible. He had never been able to hear my private thoughts before. This had to have been just a coincidence. Nonetheless, the one and only Storm was back in my head, like magic, on cue and not a minute too late.
I placed my palm over my mouth in order to discreetly speak to Storm in the presence of Jordan. I learned through the years how to manage talking to him when others were around. I had all sorts of tricks. Sometimes, I would pretend to cough, sneeze or simply used code words that we had come up with. I shifted my shoulders, turning my face away from Jordan and pretended that I had to sneeze.
“Oh my God. Ah-choo! Stop interrupting. Ah-choo!” I inadvertently scowled at Storm just above a whisper so he could hear me. “Where have you been?” I snapped. I missed him and I wanted answers. Crap, this was bad timing, as I quickly realized the confusion I had caused for Jordan.
“Huh?” Jordan questioned. “It’s good to see you too.”
“Not you—uh, I mean, it’s good to see...Oh never-mind. It’s my—” I paused nervously. Angel.
Should I just tell Jordan I have a guardian angel talking to me at the same time? Crap. Storm decided to reappear at the worst time of all. Of course he did. Maybe he never actually left and was laying dormant in my brain like a bear in hibernation. Now, he was back to devour Jordan, or make me look like an idiot in front of him. That’s my Storm, sensing when a man was within two feet of me.
“Hey, you don’t have to explain, pretty girl.” Jordan sort of bobbed his head.
“He is not for you Brielle...get rid of him.”
“Ah-choo! Shut up,” I whispered loud enough—unfortunately too loud that Jordan heard, again.
“What?” Jordan chuckled, nervously. He seemed surprised that I was speaking to him in such a brash tone. Of course, I wasn’t really. I had to think of something quickly.
“Oh crap. I am not talking to you, it’s my little brother.” I rolled my eyes upward, annoyingly. “You know how little brothers can be.” I pulled off my earplugs, pretending as if I was talking to him on my cell. Earlier, I had actually been listening to music, but Jordan didn’t need to know that. I raised my cell to my ear. “Hey...I will deal with you later, buster.” I said firmly, keeping up the false pretenses then pressed the end call button on my phone.
“Yeah Babe, that’s cool. I just came over to ask if you would like to go to the prom with me?”
Oh my god, he called me babe. What next?
“How about bitch, whore or slut...he’s no good Brielle. Trust me!”
I inwardly lashed back at Storm, all along knowing that he could not hear me...but, for some reason, it felt gratifying to me anyway. Wow, you’re such a potty mouth, and such an asshole at times, too. I thought you came back to help me. But, hell no! Not you—not my angel...you rather cause me misery.
“Who ever said I was an angel.” Storm interjected, chuckling half-heartily. He had a valid point. He had never really confessed to me that he was an actual angel. And, I never directly asked, except once I asked where he was. Perhaps I was too afraid to know the truth.
What? You can hear me? I thought...you couldn’t hear my inner thoughts—I needed a diversion and time to think. So, I started coughing and sneezing more.
“Can now...It’s taken almost eighteen years, but I figured it out while I was away.”
“Hey, do you want me to come back? You seem sick or something,” Jordan said as he backed away.
“No. Please, stay. Just let me send this text. Do you mind?” I needed this curve, to stall for a minute. Multi-tasking two conversations was making me sweat.
“Suit yourself...I’ll just sit here and stare at your beautiful face.” Jordan winked.
Awww...he winked at me.
“Yep! It starts with the winks and before you know it he will be whipping you.” Storm intervened, again.
Oh my God, this can’t be happening, now my private thoughts are going to be invaded too! You may as well kill me now.
“Yeah, we will talk about that later,” Storm sinisterly retorted.
What? I panicked for a fraction of a millisecond then said inwardly with a hint of sarcasm. Great. Are you going to throw me into hell?
“There’s an option.”
What?
“I’m just kidding. Relax, my little lady.”
A strange, unsettling tingle raced down my spine. My heart fluttered oddly and a warm heady feeling scattered to my limbs.
Why is this happening? It’s Storm’s voice. Something is different. Did he sound more soothing than before? No. Deeper? I don’t think so.
But, something was different, what was it? Maybe, it was just my nerves. I felt over stimulated by the two men vying for my attention.
Wait...Storm’s not a man!
I pushed the thoughts away and fast. Especially, since he could hear them all now.
“Brielle...did I lose you in your thoughts,” he said teasingly. “I said I was only kidding...Doll.”
Storm was purposefully playing with me. What was with all the sweet pen names? I was getting hot in places I won’t mention, but mostly under my collar.
Yeah, I thought so...you’re an angel and angels don’t punish good little girls, I snapped inwardly at him. Now disappear, troll!
Meanwhile, Jordan planted his tight athletic butt down next to me on my blanket. The palm of his hand found its way to my bare knee.
He gripped my flesh, in a not so tender manner. Spine chilling goose bumps raced over my skin. I almost stopped breathing in that moment. A feeling of panic rose in me. Jordan’s touch made my skin crawl...I reckoned I would grow to love his touch much more than I did in the moment.
Something was nagging me. Why did Storm call me his little lady? Gross. I tried not to focus on him.
“Hey, pay attention to me when I speak to you,” Jordan ordered rather demandingly and yanked at my ponytail.
“Ouch,” I squealed.
“Did he hurt you?” Storm abruptly asked. “I’ll rip him apart with one finger if he ever touches you.”
I said Ac-hoo! Jeez. Go away.
“I’m not feeling like you want me here,” Jordan pouted half-jokingly.
“Yes...of course I do.” I secured my ponytail in my hand. I wasn’t sure how Storm would tear Jordan apart, but for some reason I didn’t doubt him. “I was just enjoying the weather. I love windy spring days.”
“Yeah, I heard you get lost in your own head.”
“Huh? Who said that about me?”
“Don’t worry about it—it’s not a big deal. It doesn’t matter to me if you talk to yourself out loud.” He chuckled, and pinched my waistline.
“Stop. Who said I talk to myself?” I demanded to know.
“The entire school knows you’re a little freak. But I like it. You’re fucking hot as shit. A little freakiness is cool with me.
“Hopefully, you’re a freak in the bed, too.” Jordan thought.
“You should hear how he’s disrespecting you,” Storm retorted. I ignored him for a second, trying to keep the three way conversation straight.
“Whoa...Jordan, I don’t like that you think I am a freak.”
“Storm, you can hear Jordan’s thoughts, too?”
Hum this might be good, then again, maybe not.
“Brie...everyone has demons.” Jordan paused.
“Yeah, and her demon is going to kick your human ass!” Storm bellowed.
