Mundahlia (The Mundahlian Era, #1) (11 page)

“Eighteen going on nineteen soon. What about you,
Jett
?” I matched the way he emphasized my name.

“Twenty going on twenty-one soon. So, how about I go get some clothes on and help you find your way home, cool?” He crossed his arms, “I happen to know my way around these parts.”

No way dude! First you touch me, then I see you partly naked.
Who knows what would happen. “Oh. I think I can manage,” I told him.

“You sure?” he asked. “You told me that before, but then needed my help anyway.”

“I don’t think I ever asked you to help me, you just sort of did it anyway.”

“Well, all right then,” he turned and started off, going further into the deep part of the ever-so-deep forest. “Are you
really
sure?” he asked again, turning around once more.

“
Yes
! I’m sure!” I called, covering my eyes again.

“
Mhm?
” he said like a question. “It was nice meeting you—
again
, Rini,” he added over his shoulder—continuing his stride.

I turned and took a few steps. A few leaves in the
wall of bush
shook
. Maybe Jett’s company couldn’t hurt. He’s just trying to help—I think?

“On second thought,” I called to him. He stopped in his steps from a good distance away and faced me. “Maybe it’ll be better if you did help me. After all you
do
know your way around these parts, right?”

He nodded then grinned. “Well, then, follow me,” he responded from afar. “If you can keep up,” he added.

We came to a large cabin—bigger than mine, nestled by an eerie looking lake, after traveling a few minutes deeper into the woods. “Exactly how is going deeper into the forest going to help me find my way home?”

“Relax, this is
my
place,” he explained, heading up the porch steps. “I’m just going to shower and grab some clothes. That is, unless you want me to accompany you home like
this
,” he let go of the door handle to the screen door and faced me with his hands out in show. As if advertising himself.

There wasn’t a bush covering anything this time, but I still couldn’t bring myself to peek. At least, not directly. I saw
something
from my peripherary. He was more than comfortable freely exposing himself. Naturist maybe? “Fine, but hurry up. It’s getting creepy out here.” I rubbed my arms for warmth. “And cold.” It had gotten a lot cooler than it was before. The moon was now in its full position, making the woods dark, and I couldn’t even see past a few feet into them. He must of seen that I was cold because he let go of the screen door again and strode over to the edge of the porch.

“Yeah, it’s colder down here, because of the lake.” He leant over the wooden railing and pointed to the moonlit lake behind the cabin. Its still, dark water—a mirror, reflecting the night sky. “It’s the best way to spend the hot days,” he laughed. “You should try it sometime.” He finally opened the front door, stopping midway. The golden light from inside wrapped around his body and cast itself down the porch steps and onto the dirt and stones. “You coming, Rini?” he asked. “Or are you just going to stay out here by yourself. Whatever’s fine by me.”

I bit my lip—listing all the pros and cons of both situations in my mind. He could be part of a Mafia or gang in there that’ll sell my parts or even me as a whole to the highest bidder, or something else cinematically sinister. Another rustle from the bushes behind me sounded. He wins.

“Fine.” I stepped into the cabin—warm air rushing past me.

“Take a seat,” he motioned to the living room, complete with old couches and a warm lit fireplace—the reasoning for the heat I felt. Sitting on a sofa across the room, a younger looking guy with short dark hair, played around with a laptop. “That’s Max. He’s a really smart guy, but loses himself in that computer all day, every day,” Jett told me before disappearing into a hall lined with doors.

“Hey,” I said, sitting on a lumpy mold-green colored couch across him.

Max peered over his screen for a little bit and twitched his nose as he looked at me. He was dramatically different than Jett, almost scrawny. His black shirt had the picture of several female comic book heros with the words
My kind of woman!
above them. He was cute. In that cute, awkward, techie guy way. “Hey. How’s it going?” he said in a soft voice. Shy maybe?

“Oh. Um, good,” I said. “I’m waiting for uh,
Jett
, to take me back home.”

“I see.” His eyes were drawn back to the screen and he began typing profusely.

“Yeah. That’s a pretty cool computer,” I nodded toward the small compact computer on his lap.

“Her name’s April,” he said. “She’s a MacBook Pro.”

“That’s cool, I have one too. I got it as an early graduation present from my parents. I don’t have a name for it yet, though.”

Just then, a loud slam from the kitchen to the right of us sounded, making both of us jump. Another male, dressed in a black tank top and khaki shorts, made his way in with a beer in his hand. When he caught sight of me, anger quickly filled his eyes.
What did I do?
I asked myself.

He put a hand to the back of his head. “You,
chick
, whoever you are, you’re in my spot,” He told me—lips pursed. “Move!”

What a dick!
“Oh. I’m sorry,” I apologized, yielding a fake smile. I slid across to the other side, giving him plenty of space. He plopped himself down and dug a remote from within the couch cushions.
Dick guy
switched the channel to a basketball game, already in its third quarter and took a sip from a brown bottle of beer.

“Ray, where are your manners?” another male, this time older and familiar entered the room.

“The same place where you head is,” he stated—feet up on the coffee table.

“Mr. Luna?” I said, facing my substitute that had just entered the room.
What the hell?
I thought.

“Sarina, is it?” He rubbed his chin as if he were intrigued by something. “I suppose you aren’t here for tutoring?” he laughed.

“What
are
you here for?” Ray called from the couch as he scratched his testicles through his shorts with one hand and took a sip of beer with the other. Gross.

Mr. Luna held out his hand to signal him to settle down, then sat in the futon next to Max. “So tell me, what brings Alice to this part of Wonderland?”

He probably knew, I wouldn’t be caught dead this far into the forest. It was hidden, mysterious, and at night—scary. Hell, during the day it was still scary. I already told one of them my reason for venturing to these parts. Might as well tell them all.

“A wolf.” I heard the words before my mouth stopped moving. Jett’s voice had answered the question for me from behind a closed door in the hall. The shower sputtered to life in the background.

The men exchanged a look with each other. Even Ray removed his hands from his shorts—for a few seconds, that is.

“A wolf, you say?” Something had caught Mr. Luna’s attention—there was a twinkle in his eyes, “in Austin?” I didn’t feel comfortable being alone in a house, scratch that…
cabin
, with a bunch of men, each about twice my size. Something Lifetime movies had taught me to avoid.

“Interesting,” He said, his voice all-too interested.

The front door flung open, hitting the outside of the cabin with a
Smack!

“I can’t believe you did that to me—again!” a booming female voice blurted. Finally another girl.

“Baby, come on! I couldn’t help it! I had to tell the chef what he did wrong with the soup.” A masculine voice followed. “Please forgive me!”

“I’ve told you! I don’t like to be embarrassed in public!” her voice grew closer, as well as her footsteps. “Everybody in the restaurant was looking at us!”

“Oh boy, here comes the fireworks!” Ray laughed to himself. “Hey Del, please give Mark his
huevos
back!” He called from over his shoulder.

“Stay out of this!” The woman named
Del
yelled. A shoe came flying from behind the wall sectioning off the living room and front entrance. It hit Ray square on the back of the head. I had to keep myself from laughing.

“
Perra!
” he growled rubbing the area. “We have a guest you know!”

Both pair of footsteps, the girl’s and the man that was with her, came around the corner. “What do you mean we have-“ she stopped the moment she saw me and her dark eyes as sharp as knives pierced into mine. “Who the hell is this?” she pointed to me as if no one had seen me standing in the room before. It was a little too frank.

Del stood with her arms folded in her chest, studying me from head to toe. Her orangey-red hair fell past her shoulders and over a black tank top. Her curves were hidden behind short denim shorts. Behind her, a golden-haired Mark looked over her shoulder. He looked equally as brawny and built like Jett, and seemed friendly—smiling a welcoming smile. Del, on the other hand, I wasn’t too sure about. She looked as if she could either be your best friend, or kick your ass—probably even both.

“Hi, I’m Rini,” I extended my hand to them. Instead of receiving a handshake, Del reached for my sticky meat stained arm and brought it to her nose.

“Um,” I uttered with a nervous laugh.
Okay?

“Sorry, you smell like meat,” she loosened her grip from my hand, then shook it. “I’m Delilah, but these idiots call me Del.” She moved out of the way so Mark could greet me as well. In his hands, he held a small baby girl. I could of squealed at the incredible cuteness, but I had to keep in mind that I didn’t know them. A stranger asking to cuddle your baby is sort of awkward. Even more so when they smell of meat.

“Hi there. I’m Mark, and this little girl right here is named Kaylee.”

“Aww, how old is she?” I asked.

“Ten months.”

The baby in his arms began to squirm as she looked at my unfamiliar face. She opened her mouth, and her face tightened as she began to let out a cry.

“Martin, why don’t you take her for a bit,” Mark strode over to Mr. Luna and passed her over to him. Kaylee fidgeted for a second before cuddling in the warmth of Martin’s chest as he began to rock her.
Aww.

“Ready?” Jett appeared by the opening of the hall, “Let me take you home, Rini.” He took a second to look at the others that arrived and nodded, then he looked back at me to give me a nod toward the door. “Come on.”

He had changed into some khaki shorts and a black Rolling Stones T-shirt. His hair had been tamed and the dirt that was once marked on his skin, was gone, along with the stubble that was once on his now clean-shaven face.

“It was great meeting you all,” I said, waving goodbye and ducking out of their family meeting.

“Nice family,” I said, following Jett’s stride down the front steps and into the forest.

“Yeah, they’re all right.”

“Well, Mr. Lun-
Martin,
” I corrected, “is actually my substitute.”

“Really?” he laughed. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Why?”

He stuck his hands into his wide pockets, “He can be quite a handful sometimes.”

“He’s all right,” I smiled.

There was utter silence as we continued through the forest, side by side. So close in fact, that I couldn’t help but notice the delightful scent emanating from his body. Woodsy, fresh, musky and clean, with an undertone of cinnamon or something else with a kick. A mysterious scent I’d never gotten a sniff of before.

“So Rini,” he began. “I hear it’s supposed to be hot this weekend.”

“Or so I’ve heard.” I pulled a small leaf from a nearby shrub and tore it in my hand.

“And, well, I wasn’t joking about the swimming at the lake part, so—” He trailed off.

“
So—
what?” I said, tossing the shreds of leaf aside. Poor leaf, it was just an innocent bystander. It can thank my nervousness for why it had to die.

“Why don’t you come and swim with me and my family? That is, unless you have something else to do.”

I would be lying if I said I didn’t. I would probably have plans with Celeste and George, or even Sarah. But, something about him made me not want to pass on the idea.
God, what is wrong with me?

“Well, my friend Sarah is going to come over for a sleepover this weekend for Spring Break,” I said. There was a barely there, but still noticeable hint of disappointment in his face. “—but would it be all right if I brought her along?” A refreshing swim in the lake sounded marvelous. Even better since I wouldn’t have to be alone.

“Sure,” he smiled. It was an infectious smile that I caught as well. “Sounds like a plan.”

When we arrived on the porch of my cabin, I dug into my pocket for the key. Jett stood beside me as I opened the door and stuck half of myself in. The cool air wrapped around my exposed leg.

“Thank you.” I extended a hand to him—thanking him for helping me find my way home. It felt too formal—like I had just done a business deal.

He looked at my hand, a little dissatisfied, but shook it either way. Was he expecting more? If he was, he wasn’t going to get it.

“Anytime,” he finally said, looking up with another smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes.

Before I could close the door, a question burned in my mind.

“Quick question, before you go,” I held out a finger to stop him on his way down the stairs.

He paused three steps down and turned to face me. “Shoot.”

“Exactly how am I supposed to find the afore mentioned lake, or you again?”

“Good question.” He hopped up the steps. “Do you have a cell phone?”

“Is that a serious question?” I raised my eyebrow slightly. Mostly everyone and their dog has a cell phone nowadays.

“Funny too? Aren’t you something special?” Jett reached into his pocket for a folded up piece of paper with a number already written on it. “Here's my number.”

“Oh, how convenient,” I laughed, taking it into my hand. “I take it you have more of these that you give out to women on a daily basis?”

He laughed. “No, I wrote it down earlier. I was going to give it to you either way, you just happened to beat me to it.”

“I didn’t exactly ask for your number,” I reminded him, bringing my hands into my chest.

“Yeah, well you didn’t exactly turn it down either.” He winked and made for the steps. “Text me your number in a little bit,” he called over his shoulder, disappearing into the woodland.
Smooth, real smooth.

Inside, I cast the knife onto the end table and plucked my phone from the counter. 1 new text message, 1 new voicemail & 1 missed call

The call was from George saying that they were home and to tell them when I would be back. They probably thought I was with Sarah. I sent him a text saying that I was safely back in my cabin, and not to worry. I opened the folded paper and entered the number into my contacts before I sent Jett a text.