Phoenix: Book One of The Stardust Series (15 page)

I remained silent,
considering, and then nodded slowly. “I still wish you had talked to me, but I
am very grateful for all you have done.” I paused. “Thank you for letting me
stay here and for the new clothes.”

“Don’t mention it.
You’re welcome to stay as long as you want.” His face was unreadable as ever,
but beneath the stony exterior, I sensed that this was his way of apologizing.

Ready for a change of
subject, I cleared my throat. “So, where are the bats?”

Knox raised his
eyebrows and tilted his head. “Huh?”

“You know. The bats.” I
leaned forward as if to share a secret. “Isn’t this your Batcave?” I whispered
conspiratorially.

He laughed, the sound
deep and hearty, and I smiled in return.

“No bats. But lots of
cars, cars that put the Batmobile to shame. Want to take a seat?” He gestured
to a stool nearby.

He stood in front of
the hood of the truck, and I sat on the stool watching, curious. I didn’t want
to break his concentration so I stayed silent. While still looking at the hood,
he spoke. “Do you know much about cars?”

I laughed. “Not really.
Apart from how to drive one and how to change a tire.”

He nodded. “Those are
both important skills; at one point that was the extent of my knowledge too.”

Looking at the hood’s
contents, hands on hips, he seemed intent on solving something. Seeing him in
the garage, I smiled to myself; it felt more like his home than any other part
of the loft. While I imagined the process of fixing cars could be frustrating
at times, it also seemed like it could be intensely gratifying. Sensing that
Knox had worked out his latest kink, I figured I could speak now without
interrupting his thoughts.

I fiddled with a loose
screw sitting on top of the nearest toolbox. “How did you become so interested
in cars?”

He picked up a part. “I
guess it was like most things—part necessity, part interest.” He grabbed a tool
from the floor. “I used to pick up odd jobs when Theo and I were younger. I
noticed that I was most interested in the ones that involved cars, and not just
because they paid the best. At first, I had no clue what I was doing, but I
gained skills and knowledge over time.”

I continued playing
with the screw, watching Knox while he worked. “My dad and I used to love
listening to
Car Talk.
Click and Clack, and many of their callers, were
hilarious. Our truck was pretty old but ran well. I kept hoping that something
would break just so I could call them. I imagined imitating funny truck noises;
then they’d tell me how to fix it, and I would be able to.”

Knox looked up at me
and grinned widely, his mouth still closed. The smile reached his eyes, and I
could feel his approval.

I snickered.
“Obviously, that was kind of far-fetched considering the extent of my
knowledge.”

He chuckled. “Perhaps a
little, but it doesn’t have to be. You could learn.”

I grinned. “I’d like
that.”

We remained there a
while, me sitting on the stool observing, Knox working on the car. We talked
occasionally, but silence felt just as natural as talking. Used to seeing Knox
in crisis mode, it was nice to see him at home. I liked him better this way;
living with him temporarily may not be so bad after all.

I didn’t realize how
much time had passed until my leg started falling asleep. I stood, gently
shaking it. Debating whether to ask my question, my insides danced with
anticipation. “So, will you show me black beauty?”

He sputtered. “Black
Beauty? That’s a horse. I think you mean the black beast,” his voice sort of
growling playfully at the end.

I laughed. “Yeah,
that’s the one.”

“Sure, I’ll even take
you for a ride sometime.”

Admissions

I re-read the same
sentence for the third time before shutting the book with a sigh. Knowing that
Ethan could show up at the loft any minute was making me ridiculously antsy. I
glanced at the clock again, the hands moving agonizingly slow toward eight
o’clock. Even though it had been five days since overhearing his phone
conversation, the sting of his duplicity was still fresh. I just wanted to get
this over with so I could move on with the day.

Trying to distract myself,
I watched Theo completing his homework at the dining table. It was odd seeing
him in serious mode since he was usually so lighthearted. Of course, his
clothes still gave off a fun-loving vibe. Today’s vintage tee was mostly
covered by a casual tweed blazer, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. His
dark-wash jeans were once again rolled at the hem, displaying a pair of
well-worn Converse sneakers. The combination probably would have looked odd on
most guys but somehow looked effortlessly fashionable on Theo.

I was glad he
volunteered to be my personal shopper and style guru. Now that I was starting a
new life, however brief, I felt more motivated than usual to make an effort.
And since I was visiting campus with Theo and Chase today, I even put a little
extra time into diffusing my long, wavy hair and picking out the right outfit.
Now,
if I could just get rid of these stupid crutches . . . 

As if on cue, I heard
the front door open, and Ethan strolled in. My heart started pounding, a
mixture of nerves and anticipation. He was the picture of confidence, dressed
in dark slacks and, of course, a patterned button-down shirt.

I stood up to greet him
and his eyes took me in from head-to-toe. “You look nice. But, I sort of miss
seeing you dressed in my clothes,” he said with his trademark smirk.

Already embarrassed, I
felt even more awkward when Theo came over and casually slung his arm around my
shoulder. “Doesn’t she look great? And you haven’t even seen the good dress
yet,” he said with a suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows.

I avoided Ethan’s gaze,
unsure how he would react to Theo’s easy display of affection. “Is that so? I’m
looking forward to it.” He took a step toward us, “Now, it’s time to look at
that ankle. You’ve been using your crutches, right?” I nodded.

I took a seat on the
couch, and Ethan sat down close enough that our knees were almost touching. He
drew my leg up and rested it on his thigh while he examined my ankle. “Any pain
when you put full weight on that foot?”

“Not for the last day
or so. It feels much better.” I refused to look at him, hoping he wouldn’t
realize how uncomfortable I was feeling around him.

He lightly ran his
thumb over my ankle a few times, and I automatically looked up at him in
surprise. From behind his glasses, his warm brown eyes searched mine, silently
inquiring.
Can he tell that I’m trying to avoid him?

“Well, as long as
you’re not in pain, you can go without the crutches. But, I don’t want you to
overdo it, which means no running yet.”

I moved my leg away
from his. “Okay, thanks. It will be a relief just to walk normally again.”

Ethan looked at me for
a long moment before standing. “It was nice to see you kids, but I’m late for
work. See you later?” He was looking directly at me, so I nodded before saying
good-bye.

After he left, I felt
my anxiety melt away. Hopefully it would be easier by the next time I saw him.
I knew I’d eventually have to confront him, but I wasn’t ready for that just
yet.

Theo went into the
kitchen and came back with a gift bag and a playful grin. “Here’s a little gift
to celebrate kicking those crutches to the curb.”

“What? Theo, you really
shouldn’t have.”

“Oh, shush. Are you
trying to spoil my fun?” He pushed out his bottom lip into a small pout.
“Please?”

Unable to resist his
endearing charm, I laughed. “Fine.”

I opened the gift to
find an adorable pair of cork sandals with a wedge heel. I slipped them on and
buckled the ankle straps. They fit perfectly and were surprisingly comfortable.

I hopped up from the
couch, my skirt fluffing gently with the movement. Wearing what felt like a
goofy grin, I said, “Thank you, Theo. They’re perfect.”

He gave me wide smile.
“Of course they are.” He tugged my hair gently. “Okay, let’s hit the road!”

*  *  *

Today we were riding in
Theo’s Outback. We bypassed the highway and drove on side roads for maybe ten
minutes before we reached the entrance to campus. It was clear that we had
arrived when a large redwood sign greeted us: “University of California Santa
Cruz.”

Driving over rolling
hills nestled among the redwoods, we passed signs for various schools and even
a campus farm. The roads and sidewalks were bustling with shuttle buses,
students on bikes, others walking, and some in cars. As we drove, Theo threw in
random bits about the campus and its history. I was amazed that the campus had
over twenty-five miles of hiking trails.

We turned off the main
road and headed toward a large building. Several stories tall, it was covered
in large squares of alternating metal and glass. It reminded me of an enormous
rectangular Rubik’s Cube. The bike rack was full, and students walked by,
passing the sign that said “Engineering.”

I finally spotted Chase
standing outside the building beneath a group of trees. Wearing khaki cargo
shorts and a button-down chambray shirt rolled up to his elbows, Chase looked
even better than I remembered. He had on a backpack, and his hands were
grasping the straps; when he spotted Theo’s car, he smiled and waved. My heart
fluttered happily in response.

Theo pulled up to the
curb and Chase came around to open my door. I hopped out and saw his eyes widen
as he quickly looked me over, making me blush slightly. He reached a strong arm
around me for a quick one-armed hug. “Hi, Haley.” I smiled and squeezed back
automatically, surprised not only by the impromptu hug but how natural it felt.

Theo waved at us from
across the passenger seat. “I’m off to class. Catch up with you for lunch. Be
good!”

As Theo drove off, I
suddenly felt shy, and I sensed that Chase did as well. I busied myself
watching the passing students, intrigued by their clothes and hair. Some
hurried by, some listened to music, and others talked with fellow students or
on their cell phones.

Chase cleared his
throat. “I thought you might enjoy a day on campus. Fortunately it looks like
you ditched the crutches. Are you up to a little bit of walking? Our campus is
pretty spread out.”

I grinned and lifted my
foot. “We will see about these shoes Theo gave me, but it would be nice to
stretch my legs.”

Walking in the shade of
the redwoods, the sun gently warmed us, but the air was cool and clear. I
couldn’t imagine a more beautiful campus. As we walked, Chase pointed out
various buildings, from exercise facilities to student centers and dorms.
Absorbed
in the tour, I was startled when we were suddenly engulfed by students that
swarmed into the courtyard outside.

Chase shook his head.
“Class must have just let out. Stay close.”

Surrounded by so many
people was unlike anything I had ever experienced; I was immersed in their
colors, their smells, their voices. Overwhelmed by the sheer number of people,
I felt like a fish swimming upstream against the current. I was thankful to
have Chase at my side as we moved through the crowd. His arm briefly brushed
against mine, and my skin tingled in response.

Amazed, I spoke, mostly
to myself. “So. Many. People.”

Despite the chatter of
other students, Chase must have heard my remark. He laughed gently and looked
toward me before a look of concern clouded his face.

Once we had cleared the
path of the other students, he gently touched my back. “You okay?”

Slightly out of breath
but grinning, I responded. “Yeah, just not used to seeing many, well any,
people, really.”

He nodded knowingly,
one side of his mouth lifting. “We have a decent number of students on campus,
around 17,000.” I felt my eyes widen.
That’s more people than the combined
population of Coleville and Minden, plus some.

Past the crush of
students, it didn’t take me long to relax again and enjoy the scenery. Despite
feeling overwhelmed at first, being around other people was a rush. I felt
energized by the movement and the sheer newness of the experience.

After a quick tour of
the library and a stop by the outdoor pool, it was almost time to meet Theo for
lunch. For the second or third time since I had been on campus, a girl smiled
at Chase. But when she looked at me, I felt like she was sizing me up. I didn’t
stop to dwell on it; thanks to all the walking and the excitement, my stomach
was growling.

As we neared the café,
Chase dug his hands in his pockets. “I’m glad to see you enjoying yourself. I
hope now that you’re here we’ll get to hang out under more normal
circumstances.”

I rolled my eyes
playfully. “Yeah, normal circumstances.” I paused and spoke again with a more
serious tone. “I would like that. Maybe I can beat you again at Monopoly.” I
smirked.

Before Chase could
respond, Theo showed up. Theo was full of energy despite a full morning of
classes. He led us upstairs before stopping to open a glass door with the name
“Terra Fresca” etched on it. Theo said it was one of his favorites on campus
because it was a little nicer than the dining halls and offered table service.

Regardless of the food,
I could see the allure of the café. The inside was cozy with upholstered
chairs, small round tables, bookshelves, and even a fireplace. Large windows
overlooked the forest and sunshine poured through the trees. Groups of students
clustered around tables eating and conversing.

We sat at a round table
and quickly ordered before Theo started talking again. “So, Haley. Have your
major picked out yet?”

I snorted, the idea of
me going to college seemed preposterous.
And yet
, I thought,
here I
am.

Theo pouted. “Come on,
at least humor me and tell me what you would pick.”

Without hesitating, I
replied. “Astronomy.”

Theo smiled. “Now that
wasn’t so hard, was it?”

“Your turn. What’s your
major?”

Chase laughed as if I
had made a joke. Theo glared at him before turning to me. “Mr. Studious thinks
it’s funny that I’ve changed my major once or twice because I couldn’t narrow down
my many interests.”

Chase nodded. “‘Many’
might even be an understatement. In the past few years, you’ve started rock
climbing, tango dancing, and cycling. You originally enrolled as an
anthropology major, quickly switched to philosophy, then considered linguistics
before finally settling on the history of art and visual culture, whatever that
means.”

I laughed as Theo
elbowed Chase. “Okay, thank you. I think we get the point.” He straightened,
lifting his chin proudly. “I prefer to see myself as a modern-day Renaissance
man.”

I sipped my water and
set it on the table. “So what exactly is the history of art and . . . whatever
Chase said?”

“It’s basically
traditional art history on steroids. Since images can play a role in
perceptions or a reflection of a belief or value, they give us clues as to what
is important not only to the society they were created for but also the
creator. In other words, we study images from the past and present—whether a
painting, video game, or even a tattoo—and consider the social impact.”

The waiter finally
arrived with our food. We were all so hungry that we dug in and the
conversation lapsed momentarily. When I finally slowed down, I saw yet another
student in a “Banana Slugs - No Known Predators” T-shirt walk by.

Many students wore
graphic tees, but I kept seeing this one in particular, and it stuck out to me.
Looking at Theo and Chase, I bit my lip before speaking. “Speaking of images,
what’s up with those T-shirts?” I inclined my head toward a passing student
wearing one. “Don’t they know that raccoons eat banana slugs?”

Chase and Theo glanced
at each other, scarcely suppressing surprise and amusement. They both started
to speak before Chase nodded to Theo to take over. “First, don’t hate on banana
slugs; they are our revered and feared mascot.” I couldn’t resist laughing
before Theo shot me a playful stink eye.

He paused to pick up
some food on his fork and then pointed it at me. “Second, why do you know so
much about banana slugs?”

I shrugged. “Growing
up, my dad and I went for walks in the forest. We had a deal, a game, really.
Whenever I encountered something new, he told me the name only. I could ask any
questions I wanted, but he would only answer ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ After returning
home, I’d usually research the plant, animal, bug, whatever.”

Even Theo was silent
for a moment, his eyebrow raised.
Was my admission that strange?
The
waiter returned to refill our drinks, and I was thankful for the distraction.