Pretend With Me (Midnight Society #1) (2 page)

“Why?” he questioned, smirking.
“I don’t see the point of you knowing my name, we’re
never going to see each other again but considering the
fact that you saved me from ‘utter humiliation’ and all that,
my name ...”
“Jenifer, you can come in now,” another voice said,
cutting me off and I turned to the find the secretary
waving me forward.
“You – you’re Jen? Your name is Jenifer Carson?” he
asked slowly, his frown deepening by the second. I turned
back towards him shrugging carelessly.
“Whoa,” he muttered as the half-smirk-half-smile died
instantly, replaced by total confusion. Before I could do
anything, he opened his chiseled lips, but nothing came
out. Finally, after a full minute of him standing there,
silently gaping at me he said, “This is guaranteed to be
interesting. You’re nothing like I thought…”
My eyebrows rose at this and deciding that he wasn't
worth the trouble, I turned away from him and went to the
secretary.
“I'll see you in the parking lot,” he called after me.
“Fuck off,” I muttered just low enough for him to
hear.
“Hello Miss Carson,” the secretary smiled at me. She
was a short, chubby lady, around fifty-five and smelled
strongly of cinnamon. “I was just about to page you. Did
your mom call you?” My only response was a slight shake
of my head. “Oh, well your mom called and she wants you
home.”
“Um... did she say why?” I asked in a small voice,
silently hoping that nothing bad had happened. There was
only so much pain and heartache a person could take,
surely by now I had reached my limit.
“No, but she did say it was an emergency and she sent
a lovely young man to get you - he just walked out of the
office,” she smiled. I nodded and turned around already
knowing exactly who the ‘lovely young man’ was.
“Thanks,” I muttered and started for the main entrance
of the office that led directly to the front of the school and
visitors' parking lot.
Without thinking, I pushed open the doors and the
blinding sunlight bathed me. Instantly I felt a headache
flare to life as my eyes threatened to burst into flames and
instinctively I got out my sunglasses and flipped them on.
My eyesight was better than the average human’s and
therefore much more sensitive. In fact, all my senses were
and this was scientifically proven. Doctors were stunned
when they did the tests. They couldn’t understand why I
could sense things that most other people couldn’t, and
this wasn’t the only time I had baffled them either. When I
was born, I was really sick and weak. I was given only days
to live, but despite everything my parents were told and
against the odds, I survived.
Finding the guy wasn't hard. He was leaning at the side
of one of the most amazing and expensive cars in the car
park and like an idiot, I stood there gawking at it. Another
one of his amused smiles lit up his face when he saw me
and instantly I snapped the blank mask back on my face.
He walked over to the passenger’s side and opened the
door for me. I got in and then seconds later he did the
same and pulled out of the school's car park.
“Who are you?” I asked, turning to face him.
“Eric Wilson,” he smiled triumphantly, looking as
though he won something.
I had so many questions. How did he know my
parents? Why had my mom sent him and not my dad, and
then there was his reaction when he heard my name. But
more than that, I needed to know that my parents were
okay or nothing bad had happened to my friends in
Trinidad. Instantly my mind went back to that night and
holding Daren in my arms, watching him die, the room
that smelled of his blood, and the tightening in my throat
returned with vengeance.
“You’re staring at me,” Eric noted without as much as
glancing my way.
“No,” I muttered. “I’m looking at you... continuously.”
“Well stop. It’s stalker-ish,” he commanded bored,
expecting me to obey.
“Eric...” I hesitated, my voice going soft and unsure.
“When I get home... I won’t find police cars or an
ambulance, would I?”
He didn’t answer right away and in my head I began to
imagine the worst. Panic flooded through me and I felt my
heart rate pick up. My muscles tightened and I could
already feel the throbbing ache in my chest, pulling me
down. “Relax Jen,” Eric said calmly. “You won’t find
anything like that. Your parents are fine, I assure you.”
I nodded. “So why do they want me home?” My heart
was still hammering away in my chest and I took a breath,
trying to force calmness onto my body.
Another long silent moment passed and then he said “I
can’t tell you. Your mother and father would want to tell
you.”
“I’m sorry I was mean to you before,” I whispered. He
turned to me confused, looking at me as if I was telling
him I was a guy. He was utterly baffled by my sudden
apology for a second and then something happened -
changed - within him so fast and abrupt that I couldn't be
sure something had really changed at all. His eyes went
soft and warm to the point that they almost liquefied
before me. A small, gentle, almost invisible smile tugged at
the corner of his lips as he stared at me, completely
ignoring the road before us.
“What?” I blinked, clearing my throat feeling as if he
was searching my soul, looking at all my mistakes and
secrets - my horrible past.
“Nothing,” he whispered and pulled into my driveway,
right beside a black, slick limo. Who was this guy?
“What are you exactly, royalty or something?” I asked,
gaping at the shiny limo. Eric didn’t say anything, instead
his head shook slightly and an amused smile played at the
corner of his lips.
“Or something,” he muttered amused as I opened the
door but just as I was about to step out a hand shot in
front of me and closed the door. I looked to Eric and
found that once again his face was inches from my own.
Dry static suddenly filled the car and my breathing
became uneasy. My throat went dry and in my chest, my
heart was ripping apart my ribcage. I swallowed and
blinked a few times, but it had no effect on what was going
on inside me. Something stronger was taking control and I
didn't like it. It made me feel like I wasn’t in control - like I
was vulnerable.
“I need to tell you something.” He paused for only a
second, deliberating whether he should continue or not. “I
need to tell you this before you go in there because I’m
sure that once you do you'll... hate me,” he sighed,
troubled.
“Jen,” he said and took a deep breath. I could tell that
this was hard for him to get out so I sat there, breathing in
his addictive scent and waited. His eyes held mine and
even though most of what he’d just said made no sense to
me, I nodded dazed.
I was abruptly gripped by the urge to touch him. I
wanted to feel his skin, to run my hands through his dark
hair and at that thought butterflies sprouted in my
stomach. My heart hammered away, even louder than
before. I was sure that he could hear it just as vividly as I
could feel it beating in my chest.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered and placed a gentle hand
on my cheek. One touch - that was all it took for my body
to melt into a puddle and for my brain to completely shut
down. I felt myself lean into his hand and my eyes closed
instantly. Then seconds after, his lips brushed against mine
lightly. I kissed him back, gentle and soft at first, but then
something awakened within me and the kiss became angry
and urgent. My hands released the sides of the seat that I
realised I was clenching onto so tightly and wormed
around his neck and through his hair.
Eric pulled away from me and a foreign moan of
protest and disappointment escaped my throat. Then I felt
his lips, hot on my skin trailing down my neck. Another
moan, one of pure pleasure this time rose from my throat.
My hands pulled him closer to me, wanting to discard any
existing space between us. His lips were hot on my neck.
Everywhere he touched, he left a fiery trail that only got
more heated as time went on. I pulled him back up to my
lips and felt his hands run along my sides. My blood w as
slowly beginning to sizzle in my veins.
Jen
, I heard Daren’s voice in my head, and like a surge
of electricity, a sharp aching pain ran through my entire
body.
I’m dead - how can you do this to me?
he asked. His voice
was gentle yet stern, and it snapped me back to reality at
once. Immediately my eyes shot open and I shoved Eric
off me, panting as pure overwhelming guilt pushed
through my system as though it were blood pumping
through my veins. It was then that I caught a glance of
myself in the mirror and was shocked at the girl staring
back at me.
There was no way that person could be me, I thought.
Her eyes were shining and alive. She seemed confident as
if she was a whole person. Her face was flushed. Life and
vitality leaked from her pores, making her skin glow. She
was alive and unbroken; she wasn’t
me
.
I was stunned, literally. I felt like I hadn't seen this girl
in years. She was the me of a past life - one that I had
given up completely and seeing her resurface was like
taking a bullet to the heart. Seeing her made my insides
vibrate with pure guilt and pain. It was strange that one
kiss from a complete stranger could make her live again,
and this scared me. I didn’t want this, not anymore. Tears
welled up in my eyes and desperately I fought against
them.
“That was. . . interesting,” Eric said still smiling.
“That’s a great way to put it,” I choked out, my voice
strained and dry as I held back the sobs. I then leaned back
on the seat, closing my eyes and taking in slow deep
breaths - desperately trying not to cry in front of Eric.
When I was sure that I was okay, I opened the door,
heading for the house.
From now on, I was going to stay away from Eric - I
didn't want this. I couldn’t be that girl anymore. She
brought out things and feelings in me that I didn’t want
and couldn’t cope with. That Jen had died the night Daren
and Brandon had, and for some reason Eric Wilson had
the power to revive her. The thing was, I didn’t want to be
brought back to life. I didn’t deserve it.
As soon as I walked into the house my mom's voice
filled my head. I followed it and seconds later I found
myself standing in the doorway of my parents' scruffy old
living room, looking on as they sat talking with another
couple I was assuming were Eric's parents.
The first thought I had about them was that they were
absolutely perfect and looked out of place sitting in the
small plain living room. The resemblance between Eric
and his parents were crystal clear. They all had the same
piercing blue eyes - freezing as glazed ice yet as heated as
the centre of fire - and skin so flawless, it was almost like
they'd been protected by bubble wrap all their lives.
The woman was like a Barbie doll that had come to life.
She had long blonde hair that fell to her waist like a curtain
of silk, smooth and not a hair out of place. Her features
were soft and warm, welcoming. The guy in this respect
was different, with a sharply chiseled and strong bone
structure. Where the woman was soft and golden, he was
dark and strange. Black hair rose from his head, shooting
out at all angles as though he hadn't combed it or had run
his hand through it. He looked so much like Eric.
Eric walked past me then, gracefully dumping himself
on the last empty couch and as he did everyone in the
room turned to face me.
“Jen” my mom began and I instantly recognized the
tone she used. It was the same careful lightness she spoke
with every time I woke up screaming. “These are Eric's
parents - Dr. and Mrs. Wilson. Come in and say hello.”
I swallowed hard and took one step into the room.
“Hello.”
“She's beautiful,” Eric's mother said her long delicate
fingers squeezing her husband's arm tightly, and in that
moment, every wall I'd built around myself in the last three
weeks went up as I dropped my bag and walked further
into the room sitting between my parents.
“What’s going on?” I asked looking to my mom.
“Well Jen... you’re... engaged to Eric,” my mom said
choosing her words carefully. I was dumbstruck. I felt my
stomach tighten and my jaw dropped to the floor. A lump
rose in my throat as my eyebrows went up. I swallowed,
staring at my parents blankly.
“What?” I choked out, surprised that my voice worked.
“It’s been so ever since you were born.” This time it
was my father who spoke. I got up at once turning to face
both of them.
“I’m not engaged. I’m not getting married –
I’m
seventeen.” My voice came out bare and void, almost
dead. “Why are you doing this?”
“Remember the story of your birth Jen?” my mom
asked reaching out to touch me. Instinctively I stepped
back and she let her hand fall to her side. “Remember how
back then you were-”
“Yes,” I cut her off. “Doctors gave me days to live, I
survived,” I said, confused now. “But what does that have
to do with getting married at seventeen to a complete
stranger?” I asked. I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t
angry. I should be angry but instead I felt blank and cold
inside. I should be screaming right now, throwing a huge
fit about this; why wasn’t I?
“Well Dr. Wilson – he helped you on the condition
that when you’re seventeen, you would marry his son,
should Eric decide to. He has been giving us your
medication since you were born... It was our only choice
Jen - without his help you would have died...”
“So it was die at birth or be married off to a stranger
that I might end up hating for the rest of my life,” I sighed,
not believing that this was happening. Arranged marriages
didn’t exist anymore - well maybe in some small taboo
village, but not here, not now.
“We didn’t have a choice,” my mom pleaded and then
something inside me snapped awake. It was finally
beginning to sink in now, and I felt the all too familiar
ache beginning to vibrate inside my body.
“I can’t do it, mom,” I said without looking at her,
silently begging her. “I can’t do it. You know why I can’t
marry him.” My voice had gone soft and hoarse as I
desperately tried to keep the tears back. My throat burned.
I swallowed, taking in a deep breath. Suddenly it felt as
though I couldn’t breathe. My chest tightened and my
throat closed up, cutting off my air.