First Light (35 page)

‘So what’s going on?’ I asked as we drove to her apartment.

‘He’s a prat!’ she said flippantly, suddenly back to the fiery girl I was used to. ‘He told me last night we couldn’t see each other any more. Tells me it’s because people at work are beginning to notice and all that crap. Pretends he’s really upset, blah, blah, blah. Then today he starts flirting outrageously with that Tanya chick. The guy’s a prat.’

‘You’re right. He is. I’m so sorry, Al.’

She clicked her tongue and pouted her red lips in the rear-view mirror as if checking her lipstick was still in place. ‘Don’t be. He’s just a guy. I didn’t even care that much, but I guess I just think – ergh! It’s so annoying. He isn’t even that good looking and he chased me and chased me. It’s always the same. This stupid small-town mentality. He was the best of a bad bunch and so I let my guard down and now he’s screwed me over. Prat.’

After her rant, and an extended silence, we both got the giggles.

‘So, is Diana going to come out with us?’ I said when we finally stopped laughing.

‘Babe, I really don’t want to go out tonight. I’m not wallowing, I promise. I just know what I’m like. I’ll rebound on the first guy I see, and that’s not what I need right now.’

‘Okay,’ I said, seeing her point. ‘You wanna just hang out at yours then? Drink some wine?’

‘I’d love that. I’ll stop and get some Ben & Jerry’s too. Chunky Monkey?’

‘Phish Food.’

‘Both.’

We laughed again.

Two tubs of ice cream later and Alexandra fell asleep on the sofa. I said goodbye to Diana and caught a taxi home. I was completely exhausted and wishing Kalen had a phone so I could call him. As I walked into my bedroom and kicked off my shoes, however, he was already lying back on my bed, one foot folded over the other, a book in his hands. My bed had never looked so inviting. I resisted the urge to run to him. I held up my index finger to let him know I needed a minute, then went to my bathroom to brush my teeth and change into my pyjamas.

He welcomed me into my bed silently and I slipped into the nook between his arm and chest. It was my very own slice of heaven.

‘You’re late tonight,’ he whispered into my hair.

‘You should have a phone,’ I pointed out. When he didn’t respond I said, ‘I had a lousy day.’

‘Wanna tell me about it?’

‘The guy Alexandra was seeing at work broke it off with her. He’s flirting with another girl in the office. It was harsh. I felt really sorry for her.’

He didn’t reply, but he wrapped his arms tighter around me and kissed the back of my neck. Very swiftly, my day drifted away from me.

It felt as though we’d been sleeping for hours when he woke up suddenly, sitting bolt upright and holding his chest as though someone had driven a sword through it.

‘Kal?’ I whispered. ‘Are you okay?’

He nodded.

‘Bad dreams?’

‘Hideous nightmares,’ he muttered.

The look of sadness on his face caught me off guard, so that I almost couldn’t breathe.

‘Here,’ I said, fluffing the pillows behind me so I could sit up and make room for him in my arms for once. Hesitantly, he laid his head on me.

Determined to keep his nightmares at bay, I stayed awake for the rest of the night while he slept. Finally, when the sound of birds singing alerted me to the proximity of daylight, I let my eyes close.

Clanots Ocean – March 2010

‘Stop!’

They were re-grouping. Men who he’d taken down were slowly getting to their feet. The leader – whom he’d heard called Joe – held his gaze, standing behind Ronnie’s unconscious body.

‘You don’t get to call timeout, boy.’

‘I’ll stop fighting,’ Kalen responded blackly.

The man pulled his black balaclava from his head. Kalen recognised him instantly – he’d broken his nose in the pub. Black and purple bruises still hung under his eyes.

‘I’ll let you take me now. Just call an ambulance so they can help her.’

They all started laughing. Joe turned back to smile at his comrades. ‘Is this guy for real?’ he asked them, before looking at Kalen once more. ‘That’s not how this works–’

‘She’ll be missed,’ Kalen interrupted. ‘She’s well liked in this town and you know the police won’t let it drop. Nobody will miss me and I’m the one you want anyway. Let her go and I’ll let you tie me up and take me where you want.’

The men laughed again, a spiteful sound that Kalen wanted to make them choke on, but the leader wasn’t laughing and Kalen knew he had his full attention. His dark brown eyes narrowed as he considered Kalen’s offer.

‘Take her down to the beach, boys, leave her where she’ll be found,’ Joe said, without taking his eyes from Kalen. ‘And get the van for this one.’

‘That’s not the deal. She needs medical help,’ said Kalen.

‘It’s the only deal you’re gonna get. Take it or leave it.’

Gritting his teeth, Kalen nodded, watching the men pick up Ronnie’s tiny body and carry her across the road to a grassy bank beside the beach.

‘I’m gonna enjoy this,’ said Joe, rubbing his jaw between his thumb and forefinger.

Without comment, Kalen stepped forward and held out his hands.

38
–
Laith

Kalen had forced me to go back to school,
which I didn’t find fair, seeing as he didn’t have to go, but he’d told me rather cockily that he already knew everything. Somehow, I found it impossible to argue. In return, he agreed to let me watch him and the boys train later in the evening. It was the only thing getting me through the day. Mae had barely acknowledged me in registration and even though we sat together in French she found a way to ignore me. Exams were in three weeks and we were going over old ground – purely revision. I knew Mae would ace the tests; she and I had got straight As all year. Still, she kept her head down, scribbling furiously as though she was too busy to even look in my direction.

‘Mae,’ the word caught in my throat. Painful tears burned behind my eyes. I wasn’t sure what to say. I’d been about to apologise, but what was I sorry for? That she didn’t like my boyfriend? As far as I knew, she no longer wanted our friendship and I wasn’t sure what I could have done that was bad enough to deserve how she had cut me off. The bell rang before I could think of something to say. She scooted out of her seat.

‘Ron, sorry, I’ve got to go meet the girls. Let’s catch up this weekend, yeah? If you’re not too busy with your new boyfriend of course.’

With that, she hurried from the room. I sat where I was until the last student had left. Mae had visited me while I was in hospital, but I knew it was everything she could do to keep from telling me
‘I told you so.’
Now, if it were possible, we were drifting further apart than ever.

Slowly, I packed up my things and headed out to where I knew Kal would be waiting. He was leaning on the bonnet of his car, his eyes hidden by sunglasses. From the smile he was trying to suppress, I sensed he was more than comfortable in his new civilian skin, especially as he seemed to command an audience. I ignored the stares of students milling around, but it didn’t mean I wasn’t aware of them. I walked up to him and tiptoed into a kiss. He responded by pulling me closer, lacing his fingers through my hair.

‘Hello to you too,’ he said when we parted, stepping to my side of the car and opening the door.

Leaving my problems at the gate, I slipped inside. It was a relief to drive out of the school grounds. Kalen let go of my hand to change into fifth gear then slid his fingers back through mine. The familiar fields that surrounded Clanots Ocean flew past as we drove to the mansion. I wound down the window. Though it was only April, we were experiencing a fluke summer’s day, the perfect blue sky broken only by a few scattered cotton-ball clouds. It was twenty-two degrees and I had on my favourite frayed denim shorts and a white lace smock. Kalen was wearing his jeans and a short-sleeved fitted tee and, for once, a bright unaffected smile.

'What's it going to be like?' I asked, focusing on what I was about to witness.

Kalen laughed and gunned the accelerator. I didn't have a problem with how fast he drove anymore, if anything I kind of liked it.

‘Like I mentioned this morning,’ he said, ‘we all get a bit antsy sometimes. Stuck indoors, no weapons, no missions. Though I’m glad to be free of the latter, I still crave the training.’

‘So you guys set up your own courses now, your own training?’

‘Well, it’s not really training any more. It’s like – exercise.’

I was about to watch them doing some of what they did best. Kal said it was the first time any of them would have trained in front of a civilian. By all accounts the boys were quite revved up.

‘Before we go in,’ he said as we headed up the winding driveway, ‘I have two things to give you. Well, one’s for me actually. Please don’t make a fuss, they’re both very small.’

‘What? Like
presents
?’

‘Yes – well, one part’s a gift, but it’s no big deal.’

‘Why have you got me a present?’

‘Ronnie, you’re making this very difficult,’ he frowned. ‘Do you have to ask so many questions?’

‘
Sorry.’ I gestured with my hand as if I were locking my mouth and throwing away the key.

He held out a clenched fist in front of my face and as he opened his hand a silver heart dropped down from a delicate chain.

‘Happy belated Birthday.’

I gasped, but quickly held back any inclination to gush – as instructed.

‘Open it,’ he said. It glittered in front of me.

I took it in my palm and popped the tiny clasp. It sprung open to reveal a picture of Dad and me when I was five. The photo had been one of many in our living room; he must have taken it and had it re-sized. It was the most thoughtful present I had ever been given. It was lucky he didn’t want me to make a fuss, because I was lost for words. Taking it from me, he swiped my hair up and gently fastened the chain around my neck.

‘You still have one left and this you’re going to like,’ he quickly drew my attention away from the necklace, when from his inside pocket he withdrew a small mobile phone. My jaw dropped.

‘Only you will have the number and it's for text messages only.’ He tossed it to me and got out of the car before I could speak. Through the window he beckoned me with his index finger and a crooked smile.

I scuttled out and stood beside him.

‘Thank you so much,’ I said seriously.

‘The second half of the gift was long overdue. I apologise for that. You should be able to contact me whenever you need to.’

He slid one arm around my waist, leading us through the back garden. The boys were already waiting. A pile of rope, tires and some equipment I didn’t have the first idea about, sat in the middle of the lawn.

Very quickly, they began and I watched in awe as they interacted with each other. More than friends, more than brothers even; like one person split into five parts. Watching them play fighting was like watching a pack of lions: fast, beautiful… lethal. One wrong move and any of them could have been killed.

Through it all they laughed. Insults were thrown around for bad form or less-than-amazing performance and somehow I was the judge. Even Laith seemed to get a kick out of having someone impartial watch them. I lapped it up, crowning Laith the champion of climbing. He’d scaled the side of the mansion faster than any of the others; although I thought there was nothing to grip on to, they all scurried up like spider monkeys. He was more than happy until Kal received the same title for knife throwing. Laith actually threw his last knife in Kal’s direction with such force that I screamed, but Kal caught it with ease and, with a genuine laugh, branded his friend a bad loser. Laith stalked off to his room.

‘
Shall we have some lunch?’ I asked quickly. Everyone agreed, wanting – as I did – the awkward moment to pass.