Spiritus, a Paranormal Romance (Spiritus Series, Book #1) (27 page)

Time moved on and I was barely aware of it. I could see my life going on all around me, but I didn’t feel like a part of it.

Christmas came and went with its twinkling lights. Dad and I stayed up late Christmas Eve watching the flames in the fireplace while we ate popcorn balls and listened to strange silence of the falling snow. I saw Billie and Ally a few times over the winter break and then it was back to school.

I didn’t really pay attention to the rest of winter and before long spring made the earth green again. It seemed like all the flowers and trees were blooming and all I did was blink and it was graduation night.

I stood with the other graduates in the cafeteria, all of us shouting and screaming with excitement. The teachers were trying to get us all in order and lined up.

“Come on people!” Mrs. Temple complained and clapped her hands for our attention. “This is not that difficult.”

Somehow she managed to form the line, pulling at this one and shoving the next. She walked down the line and straightened our caps and smoothed our robes, nodding to herself as the music started.

I craned my neck toward Billie and Ally, smiling and waving just before we all marched single file into the gymnasium. They were both ridiculously animated in waving back and then we were all marching.

Did it really happen as fast as it seemed? We all went in, took our seats, and then we were going toward the stage. It went by in a blur.

I heard my name being called and I stepped forward. Principal McGuiness was handing me my diploma and shaking my trembling hand. It was a little pathetic to hear Dad’s solitary clapping when the other graduates had an entire cheering section, but even that didn’t dampen my spirits.

“Congratulations, Ms. McAllister.” He said formally.

“Thanks.”

I expected something more. It was all over.

There were cheers, applause, and a cloud of hats in the air. Everyone was hugging and crying. Families poured down from the bleachers, claiming their graduate.

Ally danced up to me, all smiles and giggles. “Can you believe it’s really over?”

“Not really.”

Her Mom was pulling at her arm. Ally nodded and backed away, still smiling. “Call me later and we’ll all get together and do something.”

“Okay.” I called to her.

A few seconds later I spotted Billie with her mother and grandparents. She smiled and waved, but seemed unable to get away. I motioned for her to call me later.

Dad picked his way through the crowd and caught me up in a hug and swung me in a circle. “I’m so proud of you!”

“Thanks.” I said, staggering and dizzy.

“You okay?” Dad asked, reaching out to balance me.

I smiled, “Sure. It’s just so crowded and hot.”

“Maybe you should step outside.” Dad suggested. “I’ll go get the truck and you meet me out front, okay?”

I nodded, fanning myself with my cap. I wove through the crowd, smiling and waving as people called out to me. It was a relief to walk out the exit and stand in the early evening.

The sun had just set and the sky was just starting to turn purple. I took a deep breath and sighed, still smiling to myself. I unzipped my robe and held it open so that the late spring breeze could reach the thin summer dress I wore underneath.

A few people were already leaving, their families pulling them away for traditional celebrations before they escaped for less formal escapades.

“Congratulations.” A voice said behind me.

I jumped and spun around. Jonah stood there smiling with his robe folded over his arm.

“Thanks.” I said, blushing. It was still odd to have him speaking to me. Those first weeks after the storm were strained, now our conversations consisted of bland politeness.

“Going home already?” He asked.

“Yeah, my Dad went to go get the truck.” I said, not sure where to look. His eyes were too beautiful, his face to handsome, so I settled for staring at the polished toes of his shoes.

“You’re lucky,” He said with a sigh. “My Mom is in there talking to a few of the ladies she graduated with and even though they run into each other all the time, I have a feeling I’ll be stuck here a while.”

“I’m sorry.” I said and dared to glance up at his face. Why was this so difficult?

“Nothing for you to be sorry about, I’m used to it.” He said with a polite smile.

“Oh, well that makes it easier I guess.”

“Have you decided on a college yet?” He asked.

“Not yet.”

“Are you thinking about going away for school or going to a college close to home?”

“Close to home.” I replied, my heart aching at the idea of leaving the house where I could keep my memories close.

Jonah cleared his throat and shoved his hands in his pockets, his robe wrinkled and forgotten in the bend of his arm. “So, what are your plans later?”

“I’m not sure.” I said, looking down at my own feet. “I’m supposed to call Ally so that we can all get together and do something.”

“Hopefully it won’t be anything up at the quarry.”

I looked up then, I couldn’t help it. His eyes met mine before I looked away. I could still picture that night when he pulled me from the water and saved my life.

“Yeah, I doubt she’d suggest that.” I said.

He shifted back and forth on his feet, “I would hope not. I don’t know if I could do that again.”

“So, what are you going to do?” I asked trying to change the subject.

He took a step toward me, “I don’t know yet. I was hoping to run into you somehow, but you’re not giving me much to go on.”

I looked up again, not sure if he was serious. He was smiling and seemed relaxed and sincere enough. I couldn’t help but to smile back.

Far off I could hear Dad honking the truck horn. I could just make out the beam of his headlights in front of the building. I turned back to Jonah, still unsure. I didn’t really know what to say.

“I have to go.” I said, wishing Dad had better timing.

“I understand.” He said and took another step forward. “I just wanted to say congratulations.”

“Thanks again.” I said and took a few steps away and then turned back to him. “I hope I do see you around later. We can all get together and celebrate it being over.”

Before I knew what was happening, he placed my arms around his neck and embraced me. It was just a hug, but there was something intimate about it or maybe it was just wishful thinking on my part.

I spotted it then, just over Jonah’s shoulder, a pair of luminous blue eyes staring out at me from the shadows. I saw those eyes and I knew it was all far from over.

Look for
Haunted
the next book in the exciting
Spiritus
series available soon!

For more information about upcoming releases:

http://www.DanaMichelleBurnett.com

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An excerpt from

Two Out of Three

An exciting contemporary romance from Dana Michelle Burnett!

Chapter 1

Sarah Anne Deardon was a talented young woman, more so than any seventeen year old girl had a right to be. She was also beautiful, but seldom did people notice it. No one could look beyond her shy and timid ways to see the striking attributes that she inherited from her mother.

From her mother, she inherited the smooth lines of her oval face and her strong jaw. A sharp face ironically filled with the submissive qualities of a frightened rabbit. She had pale green eyes that were deep set in her pretty face, eyes that no one else in the family had. Those eyes held a far off look at all times, like a child engrossed in the world of make-believe.

She did make an attractive sight as she stood in the wings of the stage waiting her cue in her peasant girl costume of dark blue. Her crimson hair was pulled back in a mass of curls at the nape of her neck. Her appearance was an asset, the child-like look, the seeming total ignorance of the world and its cruelties, but it was her talent that won her the lead in
Giselle
.

Standing apart from the other dancers, Sarah seemed poised and in control of the world around her. What a deception! If only they could have seen the longing in her eyes, the desperate need for approval, they would have seen how terrified she was.

Like most shy adolescents, people often mistook her withdrawn silence as her being arrogant or too proud. Perhaps they even believed that she thought herself too good for the likes of normal people, but Sarah looked up to others. It was true that she came from a wealthy family, but she was far from thinking that she was above it all.

Her mother gave her love and encouragement, but it was her father that was responsible for Sarah’s withdrawn personality. He was an abusive man, often drunk, but Sarah feared no one would believe her tales of horror when he seemed such an upstanding citizen to the rest of the New York society. Her only escape from his mental and physical cruelty was the ballet; there she could fall into a world where all her dreams could come true by the final act.

In the wings it was easy to believe that dreams could come true. Everywhere there were beautiful people in beautiful costumes. Only she and a choice few from the dance studio were selected to dance with the New York City Ballet, and then to be given the opportunity to dance the lead role, it seemed like a dream come true. It all seemed so unreal, so much better than the reality that she didn’t really belong in.

Despite her wealthy background, Sarah had few friends and knew little of the sort of social life that her peers enjoyed. She lived in the pages of her romance novels and the staged embraces of the ballet, for it was the only sort of romance that she had known in her young life. It was perhaps that last reason that made her love dancing so much, for it was the one thing in the world that Sarah felt passionate about and only when on stage could she experience the romance that she had only read about.

Sarah stole a glance at the other dancers, she was envious of them all standing together and chatting in whispers. Most of all she wondered what it would be like to be Jaclyn Wright, the pretty ballerina that all the male dancers gathered around. She smiled and tossed her bonnet covered head as Sarah looked on, wishing that she had such power over men.

Jaclyn hated Sarah. She too had been up for the lead role. Miss Lucy considered Sarah a better choice, a decision that shocked Sarah as much as it insulted Jaclyn.

Across the room her eyes met with Sarah’s, they were deep dark eyes that were full of hate. Jaclyn turned to her admirers, “The little princess looks awful nervous. I think she’s realized that she’s bitten off more than her rich mouth can chew.”

Dropping her gaze, Sarah tried to hide the tears that were building up, would no one ever approve of her? The worst part was that Jaclyn was probably right. She was in over her head and everyone knew it.

The orchestra began to tune their instruments, Sarah felt as if it was her nerves that they kept plucking over and over. Miss Lucy with her snowy hair and small powerful body was beside her. She smiled at Sarah with eyes no bigger than those of a mouse.

Sarah loved Miss Lucy dearly, for only she could see past the shy girl and see the person deep within. She reached up and put a thin arm around Sarah’s shoulders. “Don’t listen to them. You will dance beautifully.”

“
Thank you.” Sarah said softly, but the compliment did little to ease her doubts. She twisted and wrung her hands, “I don’t think I can do this. I’m too afraid, let Jaclyn go out there in my place.”

Miss Lucy placed her rough hands on Sarah’s thin shoulders and spun her around. She had surprising strength for a woman standing only five feet tall. “Listen to me Sarah, you’re not backing down. This is an incredible opportunity and you will not throw it away. We’ve both worked too hard for this. This isn’t just about you; my name is on the line too.”