Balancer's Soul (23 page)

“Of course, I’m sorry I just didn’t
remember it. Being so early in the morning I had forgotten.”
Jillian hid a giggle in a cough and Sarah thought
“I know he didn’t ask me, Mother. We were all
there when he left. I don’t see any problems in giving her a ride
though.”
She knew her mother heard
telepathically.

Jillian spoke with her mind
“Push her for information. I really want to know
what my future son-in-law has up his sleeve.”

“You and me both. He will be
my mate remember?”
She nodded, catching the drift. And
then a light smile touched her lips.

“Kara, would you like to bring a snack with
you to school? We have fresh fruit and granola bars.” Jillian was
trying to be a good host in her offering.

“I wouldn’t want to impose.” Kara said while
leaning away.

Jillian said quickly “No imposition really.
We are after all, almost family.”

Kara playfully smacked Jillian’s arm. “Yeah,
at the rate Brother and Sarah are heading, we will be. Hey Jillian,
have you seen a change in your sister as I have in my brother?”

Kara waited for an answer. Moments later
Jillian sat her coffee on the table and leaned back into the sofa.
She looked right at her child and her golden eyes began twinkling.
“Yes Sarah has changed. She used to be so shy and quiet, unsure of
herself as well as looking plain and beaten down.” She smiled a
little more brightly. “In the past few weeks after meeting Connor,
she radiates happiness. She looks fulfilled and more beautiful as a
woman than I ever could have imagined her to ever be. It has been a
remarkable change.”

“Mother, is that
true?”
Jillian gave the slightest nod as a truthful
answer. Kara jumped in by saying “Brother, is the same way. He is
now really smiling. His head was always down like he was trying to
hide. Good luck with that considering his size. He never had anyone
in his life that he’s ever liked before. Everyone he’s practically
ever met has picked and made fun of him just because he always
wears dark clothing and hides his face behind his hair. Now he is
confident and happy just being near your sister.”

Jillian nodded in agreement as Kara stood and
walked into the kitchen. Sarah walked up to her mother and spoke
very quietly. “How long has she been here?”

“About ten or fifteen minutes, I’d wager. I
didn’t know who she was until she said she was Connor’s sister. It
was hard to imagine because the only thing they share is hair
color. I didn’t even try to read her mind just in case she could
feel things like your mate-to-be does. I invited her in for a drink
and we started talking. You were in the shower when she knocked on
the door. She is a good and pleasant child to be around. I like
this family and we are finally going to have some fun around here.”
She spoke just as quietly.

Shaking her head didn’t help clear the images
that sprang forth. “Connor and I are going to be hustled on both
ends aren’t we?”

“What else is family for?” Jillian stated
with a chuckle.

“Sarah, would you like anything before we
leave?” Kara called from behind the kitchen wall.

“She really is a pleasant
child, when she isn’t trying to be annoying.”
Sarah
mused. “I’ll have an apple please.” She called to her with her back
to the kitchen. Moments later Sarah heard something whistling
through the air.

As she spun to the noise, something red hit
her cheek rather hard.

Stunned into stillness, Sarah heard the
object hit the ground. Jillian sat stunned, Sarah suspected because
she remained silent. Slowly looking down at the object that hit her
face and registering it as a red apple, she sighed.

Kara ran up, looking ashamed. “I’m so sorry,
Sarah. Did it hurt? It’s a habit of mine. Everyone at my house
throws just about everything to each other. It keeps our reflexes
sharp and is easier than always walking over. Are you alright?”

Jillian no longer stayed shocked as she
laughed and then said “I love this family! It’s never boring or
dull being around either one of them.” She giggled and stood up,
patting Kara’s back. “Kara, we are going to be great friends. I can
just feel it in the air.”

“Thanks Jillian, but are you really alright
Sarah?” She still looked worried.

Silently Sarah grasped the fallen apple and
stood back up. “Kara, I am alright, but we need to get going.”
Kara’s expression said she was truly sorry.

“It was a pleasure to meet you this morning,
Kara. Will I get to see you tomorrow morning?” Jillian asked
genuinely.

As Kara and Sarah headed towards the garage
door she replied “You can count on that, Jillian. At least you will
until Brother returns.” Sarah couldn’t hold back a defeated groan
or the images of her mother and Connor’s sister becoming the best
of friends. Kara heard the noise and grinned. “Get used to it,
Sister.”

Shutting the door to the garage, the two of
them entered the blue car. They pulled onto the road as Sarah
couldn’t help but ask “Have you heard any news about Connor since
he left?”

“Not a single word, why?” She said
nonchalantly.

“Because I hate it when he isn’t around, but
I despise not knowing what he’s doing. It makes me anxious.” Kara
made her speak bluntly.

Kara turned in the passenger seat to
look at her. “Sarah, even I don’t have an idea about what Brother
is up to. He’s being very covert on whatever it is. What I have
guessed all on my own is that he isn’t touring any colleges though.
He is doing something for you, I bet. Whatever he is planning, it
will all be for you, Sarah. I know how annoying it is to wait, but
trust my brother and everything will always work out. I
know
that much. He’s my brother after
all.”

“You have a lot of faith in my Connor.”

“You’re Connor?” She began looking at Sarah
incredulously and then smiled. “Whatever. It’s not really faith per
say, but when Brother had that look in his eyes after leaving your
house, I knew he was scheming something massive.”

“This will be the longest month of my
existence.” Sarah said under her breath.

“It will all be worth it, Sarah.”

“What is with you and your brother’s
hearing.” Sarah shook her head while Kara grinned in a way that
said ‘That is our secret!’

They made it to school without problems or
traffic. Kara left to meet up with some companions while Sarah
needed to go to the front office.

While Sarah stretched on her toes to retrieve
her mail in her teacher’s box a deep voice said “Miss Branderson, a
word if you don’t mind.” She pulled her arm back and turned around
to see the principal waiting outside his office, staring directly
at her. They’ve met a few times, straightening out how to fit her
in a class as a teacher and all.

“Certainly, but can you reach my mailbox for
me. Someone has moved the box I usually stand on and I doubt you’d
like me climbing on the table.” She said with humor and didn’t
always enjoy her shortness.

He smiled and approached. With his advanced
height he effortlessly grabbed the mail out of the top row of
teacher boxes. Handing it to her he said “Here you go. I’ll see
about having another teacher who’s taller trade with you so your
trouble will be lessened.” As Sarah slid the fliers and teacher
mail in a folder he said “Now can we have a talk?”

She nodded and together they entered his
office. She sat in one of the three chairs while he moved around
the desk to drop in his leather seat. She put her paperwork on the
desk, knowing something like this was bound to happen. “So what do
you need from me?”

The principal leaned back, lacing his fingers
together and setting them on his lap. “I won’t hold you long since
class is about to begin in twenty minutes.” Then his tone turned
calm and serious. “I’ve been hearing word of an incident and
altercation in your class that happened last Friday and some of it
sounds to be fabricated, but I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t
understand the situation. I even got a call from the mayor wanting
evidence to the situation. Apparently his son Mathew was physically
assaulted by Mr. Mark Connolly. That in itself was hard to believe
since he is one of our top students and has never caused this
school any grief, but another other story I’ve heard is that Mr.
Connor May would have done much more if you hadn’t intervened…”

“Let me stop you there.” Sarah said calmly
and the principal inclined his head to allow her to speak. She has
been rehearsing if this situation came to pass. She felt glad she
did because her feelings for Connor would have jeopardized her
standing and caused her to falter. “If you want to hear what really
happened I’ll tell you.” With another nod she explained everything
that transpired, leaving out only that she touched Connor to bring
his senses back. The principal listened patiently to the events,
showing little emotion. He has been at this job for quite some
time. “After Mathew ran away, the class remained till the final
bell.”

“So Mr. May caught you before you hit the
ground because of Mathew pulled the desk out from under you
intentionally? He did this because of a failing test grade? And
before Mr. May attacked Mathew, Mr. Connolly stepped in and punched
him?”

“Yes, that is how it happened.”

He leaned forward and wrote on a notepad that
resided on the large mahogany desk. He then looked up and asked “I
can overlook the actions of Mr. May and Connolly because they were
looking out for your well being, but assaulting a teacher is a
serious matter. How would you like to proceed, Miss
Branderson?”

“If it weren’t for the actions of Connor or
Mark I would have been injured or worse. As such, since the event
didn’t harm anyone I don’t see any reason to press charges at this
time. Mark already dealt the appropriate punishment for Mathew’s
actions, in my opinion. But if something happens again I will press
charges.”

The man’s eyes narrowed slightly. “No legal
actions? If that is your wish I’ll accept it, but might I also
request to have Mathew transferred to another class?”

Sarah sighed. “I don’t believe so because I’m
mature enough to put this matter to rest. Anyway I’d rather keep
him in class so that I can always see him.”

“That is mature…” then the first bell rang,
showing how long they had been speaking. Sarah grabbed her
paperwork and stood. As she reached for the door the principal
asked “What is your relationship with Mr. May?”

Suddenly she stopped with a hand on the
doorknob. Her heart raced at what the implications were. She
quickly thought up “He’s my neighbor who lived across the street,
why?” Sarah then turned to see the man leaning back and smiling
admirably at her.

“Miss Branderson, I heard from a student you
touched his cheek to have him look down on you. I’ve known him for
many years as the target for many childish and deplorable pranks by
the students, but this has been the first case that he has shown he
would fight back. Once, I came upon him getting beaten by four
football players, but I was too far away to intervene. I yelled and
started running. By the time I was close enough the students
responsible were gone, but I stood transfixed as Mr. May simply
stood up and brushed off his clothes. I had never in my life seen
someone take a beating like that and simply brush it off. Never
once has he complained or sought help. Many teachers despise him
and even more students target him, thinking he’s a pushover, but
what I saw that day told me otherwise. I just want you to know I’m
grateful that you stopped him before he unleashed himself upon
Mathew. A boy that big snapping would not be easy to restrain, even
if the bully’s deserve it. He is a nice kid, but troubled. If you
see him don’t tell him about this.”

Deeply touched, Sarah had finally found
someone here who didn’t demean the man she loved. She then said
“Well that won’t be much of a problem because for the next month he
is visiting colleges.”

“Really? Good for him. Alright Miss
Branderson, off to class. We both need to get to work. I’ll also
see about moving your cubby lower, for your own safety.” He smiled
and gestured for her to leave. She did.

Most of the school day went by rather quickly
which greatly surprised her. Sarah began feeling lonely before the
last class started. Mark was the first student to enter the
classroom and he stepped closer like he had something on his
mind.

Wearing a silver shirt and black pants
matched well with his black spiky hair and silver eyes. “Ms. Sarah,
may I please change my seating arrangement to sit closer to the
front of the class?”

“Is there a problem with your current seating
arrangement?”

“No there aren’t any problems like that, but
I made a promise to someone.” He was wearing a ghost of a smile and
she guessed what it meant.

“And just who might that be?”
“Like I have to really ask?”

“Why your fiancé of course… Who else is
there?” He was now smiling broadly and trying not to laugh. His jaw
muscles flexed as he restrained himself.

“My Fiancé!” Sarah’s green eyes widened to
their maximum and her heart started to beat erratically. “He told
you?” Sounding breathless was all she could manage to speak
like.

“He told only me about him revealing his
chest to you. You saw past it because you loved him.” A sly smile
appeared. “I want to know what you thought when he took off his
top.”

“I thought he looked Godly with all of those
muscles. And the mark on his chest makes him look… I cannot begin
to describe how it effects me.” Rambling on wasn’t panning out for
her because her heart ached with him not being here.