Enigma (16 page)

Jack picked up his fork. “Let’s just eat so that Kate and I can leave,” Jack said impatiently.

Then Jonathan stood up and politely suggested that I
should
leave. I stood, feeling that he was right, but Jack pulled me back down into my chair.

“Jack, I think your dad is right. I shouldn’t be here. We can have dinner again some other time.”

Jack got up and stormed over to Sebastian. “How dare you make Kate feel so uncomfortable? She’s part of this family now and you will have to accept that. You need to respect that, Seb!”

Sebastian put his hands up and looked over at me. His eyes shone like sparkling emeralds. They were stunning, and different from any other green eyes I had seen before.

“I’m sorry, Kate. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I’m happy to welcome you into our family. You finish your dinner. I feel like I’ve crashed a private party. I’ll go to my room and organize my books.”

“Organize your books?” Jack looked over at Lindsey.

“I applied to Long Beach University at the same time you did, Jack—before I left for France. I was accepted just like you.”

Jack looked over at Lindsey and she looked down at her dinner. He looked back at Seb. “When do you start?”

“Tomorrow.”

“I’m sure Jack will show you the ropes,” Lindsey said hopefully.

Jack didn’t answer.

Seb stood up. “Thanks for keeping my bike clean, Dad. I’m going for a ride this evening.” He kissed Lindsey’s cheek and left the room.

Throughout the rest of the meal, Lindsey glanced over at the empty chair at the head of the table. The four of us sat in silence, pushing food around on our plates, when Lindsey abruptly stood up, her fingers clutching the edge of the table.

“Jack, what is wrong with you? Your brother is trying to make peace with you. He feels terrible about what he’s done.

“Mom, you have to understand; it’s hard for me to be around him.”

I knew that Jack was angry, but I knew he loved his mom and wouldn’t want to hurt or upset her. I dabbed around my mouth with a napkin, desperate for a distraction.

Lindsey was close to tears. “Well you two need to come to an understanding. You have to learn to live with each other to stay alive!” She left the room and Jonathan followed her, glancing over at Jack with a stern look.

Jack slammed his fists on the table and stood, pulling at his hair. I had never seen him so angry and wondered if I should leave and let him have some space. When I stood up ready to leave, Jack spun around and walked over to me.

“Kate, I’m sorry. I had no idea that Seb was back. I should take you home.”

“Seb said he asked you to visit him weeks ago. Why didn’t you tell me about the other letters?”

Jack paused for a moment. “I wasn’t sure what to do. There was so much going on with us,” he said sheepishly.

I sat back down, pushed my plate away, and folded my arms on the table.

“Tell me what your mother meant when she said that you and Seb will have to learn to live together to stay alive?”

Jack sat next to me, and my heart pounded as I anticipated his answer.

“There’s no easy way to tell you this, Kate.”

“Just say it. Whatever it is, I can handle it.” I placed my hand over his and listened to his heavy breathing.

“If I die, Seb will die, too.”

I couldn’t believe it; Sebastian’s curse had backfired. I needed air. I stood up, walked over to the French doors, and threw them open, stumbling onto the patio.

“Kate, you have to understand that when you break my heart, Seb will die too.”

I felt disoriented. Now I was responsible for two people and would eventually kill them. My knees buckled as I struggled to breathe, and Jack caught me.

Suddenly, what had once felt so right began to feel so incredibly wrong.

CHAPTER 16

I
hadn’t slept well and when I woke up, I had a terrible migraine. I’d been thinking about Sebastian attending Long Beach University with me and Jack. He was double-majoring in Art and English Literature like me, and would probably be in some of my classes, which would infuriate Jack.

I threw my bag over my shoulder and headed downstairs to the kitchen, where my mother and Heather were sitting at the table with a selection of herbal teas, which smelled putrid. I grabbed some breakfast and hoped to eat without an interrogation from them, but I knew they’d be itching to quiz me.

Heather took a sip of her tea. “Kate, how was dinner with your boyfriend’s family? They seem very private and I must say that the parents look a little odd—country-like. Did you get any gossip?”

“No, there’s nothing to tell, really.”

“So, tell us what they’re like. Are they poorer than us?”

Giving myself time to think of an answer, I stuffed a large piece of pancake into my mouth.

“Darling, were they nice to you?” my mother asked. “Did they have hired help? Oh, did they use real silverware? What did they serve for dessert? You know I can always tell what a family is like by what dessert they choose.”

I took another bite, wondering how my mother became so shamelessly tactless, and thought about how I would answer her barrage of questions.

“Yes, Mom, they were very nice. They’re a lovely family. Very different from ours. Yes, they had hired help, but they don’t have a regular staff; they find it unnecessary. They used real silverware and we had ice cream with meringue and fresh strawberries for dessert. Now, can I eat my breakfast in peace?”

So I embellished the truth, but she’d never know.

“Well, their standards are obviously a lot lower than ours if they served ice cream for dessert. Very cheap! I feel offended for you, Kate. I suppose they
did
at least have fresh strawberries, although I doubt they were organic.”

“What’s the difference between organic and non-organic strawberries, Mom?” I asked.

“Oh, Kate, I do wonder where you came from,” my mother said.

I was used to my mother’s bitchy nature, and had learned over the last few years to let her comments go through one ear and out the other. I ate the last piece of pancake and walked out of the kitchen, enjoying my mother’s disappointment over my not revealing anything sordid about Jack’s family.

When I got outside, I waited by my car for Jack, and as he approached me, thunder raged in his eyes. “Get in the car, Kate,” he said, throwing himself into the front passenger’s seat and playing with the stereo. “Hurry up will you?”

As I placed my bag in the back seat, I heard footsteps and turned around. Sebastian was leaving his house and I realized that he was the source of Jack’s bad mood. But it seemed wrong to drive off without Sebastian when we were all going to the same place. Ignoring Jack, I waved and shouted, “How are you feeling Sebastian? Are you nervous about starting college?” Seb walked over to me and I leaned against the trunk.

“What are you doing, Kate? We have to go!” Jack yelled. I felt like Jack was a ticking time bomb.

Sebastian smiled. “Thanks for asking, Kate. I’m feeling great, but a little nervous about college, although I’m looking forward to being with you guys.”

Jack leapt out of the car. “Don’t think for a second that you’ll be hovering around us! You can make your own friends and leave us alone.”

Sebastian looked disheartened. “Jack, all I’m doing is talking to Kate. She called me over.” He looked at me. “Sorry Kate, I think it’s best if I go.”

“Yeah, you do that,” he said, getting back into the car.

“Thanks for being polite, Kate. Nice car by the way. Let me grab my bike and I’ll follow you to school.”

“You’re bike’s awesome.”

“If you want to go for a ride sometime, just let me know.”

“Thanks.”

Sebastian walked away and just as I was about to get into the car, Jack leapt out again and grabbed Sebastian by his neck. Sebastian didn’t even attempt to fight him off.

“Jack, stop it! What’s wrong with you?”

Sebastian looked surprised by his brother’s reaction.

“Stay away from Kate!” Jack said. “Don’t even look at her, Seb!” Jack released his grip and Sebastian fixed his collar and picked up his bag.

“What do you think I’m going to do to her, Jack?”

There was a hint of purple emerging in Jack’s eyes and I began to panic.

“I don’t trust you!” Jack shouted.

“I shouldn’t trust you, Jack. But I’m giving you another chance.”

“You ruined my life, Sebastian! Why’d you come back?”

“I’m not going to drag up the past, Jack, but you should’ve listened to Mom and stayed away from Kate. But you couldn’t do that, could you? Because you’re selfish, and now you’ve ruined both our lives!”

I held Jack’s arm.

“It was already too late. We’re meant to be together,” Jack said.

Sebastian looked at me and shook his head; his green eyes were woeful.

“I’m in love with Kate and she’s in love with me. She knows all about the curse you’ve tainted us with, and we’ll deal with whatever happens, together. So whatever trouble you intend on bringing us, know that nothing will tear us apart!”

“Please, stop this. Let’s go,” I said, and walked back to the car. Jack followed me.

“You’re unbelievable, Jack. How could you be so selfish when you’re ruining Kate’s life?” Sebastian called out. “And Kate, whatever you think you feel for Jack, it isn’t real. The curse is influencing your feelings. You two are like magnets drawn to each other in a perfect fantasy. Jack, you knew that the girl you fell in love with would suffer, and you’re delusional if you believe she loves you.”

“Get out of here!” Jack yelled out of the window, and I saw him tightening his fists.

Sebastian walked away shaking his head, and I drove off before Jack had the chance to get out of the car.

A
fter the eventful morning, I was late for class. It had taken me ages to calm Jack down. Luckily, there was a slide show presentation on the history of art, so I snuck into an empty seat. As I pulled out my notebook, my pen fell on the floor. Before I had a chance to retrieve it, someone picked it up for me. I whispered “Thank you,” and recognized the ring on the person’s hand. I looked up and saw Sebastian sitting next to me.

Feeling awkward, I thought of how Jack would feel if he saw me sitting next to his brother, but I smiled, trying to be polite. Then I scanned the room for another available seat, but they were all taken. Sebastian must have seen how edgy I was acting.

“Relax, Kate. I only passed you a pen. The last time I checked, that wasn’t a crime.”

I couldn’t help but laugh quietly. Sebastian was grinning and his smile was mesmerizing. After a while, I felt comfortable next to him as we sat taking notes. When class was over and everyone bolted out of the room, I opened my bag and reached for my cell.

“Checking to see if your boyfriend texted you?”

“Actually, I’m checking the time,” I lied. I didn’t think it was a good idea to engage in a conversation with Sebastian; Jack wouldn’t like it.

“Well, why don’t you just ask me? It’s 11.45am.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize you were wearing a watch,” I said.

“I don’t wear a watch and I don’t have a phone,” he casually replied.

“Then how do you know the time?”

“Well, it’s now 11.47am. I’m always aware of the time. I’m like a not-so-human clock. Go ahead and check your phone,” he said.

I couldn’t believe that he’d be able to know the time, so I went ahead and checked my phone. He was right; it was 11:47am. I was stunned. Jack hadn’t told me that he had this gift.

Sebastian laughed.

“How do you do that?” I asked.

“It’s amazing really. First, I start by lifting my head and slowly looking around the room, and then I find a clock.” He laughed again, and I couldn’t help laughing with him.

“So what’s the food in the cafeteria like?” Sebastian asked.

“Edible, I guess.”

“Well, I’m off to find out. I’ll see you around.”

When Sebastian left the room, I sat alone, intrigued by him, and wishing that I could get to know him better. But then I felt guilty, like I was somehow betraying Jack. Then, I realized that I was supposed to be meeting Jack in front of the cafeteria. I grabbed my bag and ran out of the classroom, hoping that Sebastian wouldn’t bump into his brother; Jack was probably still in a foul mood after their earlier disagreement.

With Jack in my sights, I ran over to him and gave him a hug. He threw his arms around me and kissed my forehead. From the corner of my eye, I saw Sebastian talking to a group of doe-eyed girls, but it didn’t look like he’d been the one to initiate conversation; the girls were obviously standing in his way.

“Just look at him lapping up all the attention he can get,” Jack said. He pulled me in front of him and wrapped his arms around me.