The Awakener (21 page)

“I
know, Trent, but, think about it, it makes the most sense,” he interrupted.

Trent didn’t say anything
, and she heard the floorboards crack. She backed away as she heard Micah say, “We better get back to the party. I need you to be on my side for this one.”

“I got your back. Don’t get your feathers in a ruffle,” Trent said, his voice sounding a lot closer.

She panicked and, whirling around, saw the bathroom. She ducked in just as the office door opened. She waited until she heard them walk past, her heart beating wildly at how close she’d been to being caught.

Micah likes me after all!
Elated, she stared at reflection in the mirror. She was practically floating, but then slowly, she came back down to reality as she remembered the rest of the conversation.

I marry Andrew?

It wasn’t a bad thing really. Andrew was wonderful and she did think she loved him, most of the time.
So why do I feel so devastated?

She pulled herself from the bathroom, grabbed a soda from the kitchen, and hurried back to the deck.
She was relieved everyone, excluding Micah and Damon, were now in the pool. Micah smiled at her as she passed their table. She smiled back, hoping his ability to see things didn’t allow him to read minds too.

“Eden, there you are! Come get in,” Andrew called out to her.

She hurried toward the pool, dove in, and swam over to Andrew.

“What’s wrong
? You look upset.”

Oh great,
am I that transparent?
“Nothing.” She dipped under and came up, smoothing her hair back off her face.

Apparently,
Trent had decided to play chicken in that split second she’d been under.

“Jessie, you’re with me,” Trent
said, giving Jessie a wide grin.

I guess Trent doesn’t always obey the Seer’s orders
. She could see displeasure flashing in Jessie’s hazel eyes.

“Come on, Jessie,” Trent urged.

Jessie hesitated, and then to Eden’s surprise, she sighed
. “Fine, but don’t complain if we win, Eden.”

“That’s my girl,” Trent laughed.
Jessie gave him a sour face. He ignored it and dove under her legs, bringing her up on his shoulders. Eden had barely gotten herself balanced on Andrew when she was sent flying back into the water. Coming up, she saw Jessie giggling triumphantly. Glad to see her friend was having fun, Eden tried again… and again… only to have Jessie knock her off effortlessly.

“Oh, yeah, that’s
right, Andrew, eat it,” Trent crowed. Eden sort of felt bad for Andrew, but was thrilled Jessie was having a good time.

“Enough,” Eden cried
out, after falling off one too many times. “I’m terrible at this! It’s your turn, Caitlyn. I’m going to float around the lazy river.”

Caitlyn looked startled as Andrew dove under her legs and pulled her up out of the water.
Eden let her body glide away into the current, loving the feel of swimming with the jets. It felt like she’d entered a weightless sphere. Someone bumped her foot, and thinking it’d be Andrew, she flipped around. Instead of blue-green eyes, she saw only light blue. She felt like her heart was being pinched and her stomach did a summersault.
Why’s he everywhere I turn lately?

He swam alongside her, and she didn’t push for it to be a race. For some
reason, she wasn’t in a rush to be shot out into the deep end. She knew she shouldn’t do it, but for a moment, she allowed herself to acknowledge the fact that Micah did like her. All those glances in her direction did mean something after all, and now, hearing why he hadn’t act on it, she began to understand why many times those stares appeared painful.
He does want me, but he can’t be with me. Because a mission? What mission?

And for the other reason, she thought
.
I marry Andrew.

Eden’s body was pushed into the deep end, where the river ended.

Micah swam away, jumped out of the pool, and walked back to Damon on the deck.
Treading water, she wondered if he’d jumped in just to swim with her. Searching for Andrew, she found him on the rocks next to Caitlyn. As she watched, they both jumped high into the air and landed into the water, causing a huge splash and rolling waves. She was glad Andrew’s attention was elsewhere. Wondering what happened to Jessie, Eden heard laughing in the lazy river. Relieved Jessie was preoccupied, Eden climbed out of the pool. Normally, she would’ve worried her friend would see through her with her hawk-like eyes. But for once, Jessie was thinking about Jessie, which was a good thing.

Wrapping a towel around her body, she shuffled toward the house.
Micah was still sitting at the deck table with Damon; they both glanced at her.

“Hungry,” she said lamely, feeling the need to explain herself.
Micah grinned and Damon shifted in his seat. She slipped through the door and, hearing the piano being played, made her way to the living room instead. Her family wasn’t musically inclined, so as a child, Eden was always loved when Mrs. Hawkins would sit at the piano and play.

Peering in the room, she was surprised to see it was Willow sitting on the bench, not Micah’s mom.
I didn’t even know she played.
Since she was still wet, Eden leaned her head against the doorframe. The notes spoke to her, the song beautiful. Micah’s parents were sitting on a couch, listening. She’d always admired Willow but now, seeing this hidden talent, she could only stare in awe. She was startled when someone brushed past her.

Her eyes widened; Damon made his way to the unoccupied couch.
He glanced once at Willow and then shut his eyes, his face relaxing. His head nodded forward, his shoulders slumping.
Did he just fall asleep?

She shifted her gaze away and was surprised Micah stood on the other side of the doorway, his eyes focused on Damon.
Willow, oblivious to all of them, played, her fingers moving swiftly across the keys, giving Eden the chills. When the song ended, Willow gasped when everyone clapped.

“Oh Willow, that was beautiful,” Micah’s mom exclaimed.

“We’d love to hear more,” his dad added.

Willow glanced at Damon. “Thanks, I don’t know too many songs by heart, but that’s one of my favorites.”

“I have music if you’d like to look through it.”
Micah’s mom went to one of the bookshelves and pulled out stacks of sheet music.

Willow browsed through them and then picked one, placing it on the piano.
She began to play, and Eden found it a haunting, but pretty, melody. Damon’s eyes were now open, staring at the piano.

Eden glanced back at Micah.
This time their eyes met, and she resisted the urge to look away. He cocked an eyebrow at her as her eyes roamed his face. Knowing he liked her added to the tension she felt between them. She glanced at his full lips, wondering how they’d feel. His eyes darted to hers as well, and her heart thumped unruly in her chest.

The moment ended as Micah broke eye contact and stared back into the living room.
She wondered why, until she felt warm arms wrap around her waist from behind. She stiffened slightly in surprise.

Andrew kissed her cheek and whispered, “Here you are.
You disappeared. You can’t do that to me.”

She knew Andrew was serious, neither one of them had forgotten prom night.
“Sorry, I heard Willow playing. I wanted to listen,” she said quietly, trying not to disturb those in the living room.

Andrew nodded. “Nice.”

Willow played on while the room was captivated. Damon remained slouched back in the couch, but gazed at Willow now. His head nodded to the rhythm of the music, matching Willow’s body movements, both engrossed by the notes.

I must not know enough about music
.

Andrew left her side and joined Micah.

She overheard Andrew say, “No
way, dude. The Yankees are totally going to take it this year.”

Sports
.
Maybe I should go change.
Micah and Andrew both had their shirts on now and, looking into the living room, she saw Willow had changed and Damon, well, he had never went swimming to begin with. Feeling cold, she hurried across the great room and back down to the poolside, where she’d left her clothes. Seeing Caitlyn lounging on a pool chair in the sun, she pulled a chair over and joined her.

“Andrew’s looking for you. He went inside to find you.” Caitlyn squinted over at her.

“I know. He found me… I needed to dry off more. Man, the sun feels wonderful.”

Hearing Jessie’s laughter, Eden scanned the pool to see her and Trent shoot out from the lazy river into the deep end.

Caitlyn observed, “I’ve never seen Jessie like
this
before.”

Eden laughed quietly. “I
know, me either.”

“Do you think he likes her?” Caitlyn whispered.

“Sure hope so, for all of our sakes.”

Trent and Jessie disappeared behind the rocks as they rode the river again.
Eden leaned her head against the pool chair, closing her eyes.

“Is everything ok?”

“Yeah. Why?” Eden kept her eyes shut.

Caitlyn’s voice was quiet
. “Jessie told me you and Micah used to be real close.” Her voice dropped even lower. “She sort of told me about your crush too.”

Eden’s eyes popped open.

“You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to,” Caitlyn added. “You just seem stressed out today. Are you ok?”

Great, if Caitlyn noticed, I bet Andrew has too. Then again, he is a guy…

She was half-tempted to tell Caitlyn everything, but this was hardly the time for a private heart to heart; the chance of being overheard was too great.

“I admit it’s been,” hesitation, “different today, but I’m fine, really.”

Caitlyn glanced at Trent and Jessie coming out again and whispered, “Well, I think he likes you.”

Eden shot a glance at Caitlyn, her mouth dropping open to protest.
“He watches you, Eden. His eyes light up when you enter the room… I know that’s cliché, but it’s so true.”

“Really?” she couldn’t help asking.

Caitlyn eyes were sympathetic. “I think it’s normal for you to have feelings for Micah. You guys were best friends growing up and now…”

Now
he’s hot
, Eden wanted to finish.

Caitlyn
finished, “You’re both older, attractive—”

“You’re making us sound thirty,” Eden cut in, uncomfortable with Caitlyn’s continued observations.

Caitlyn cocked her head to the side. “You know what I mean.”

Yes, maybe I’m not such a monster
. The guilt she felt around Andrew was unbearable.

“Thanks Caitlyn, but I’m pretty sure we’re still only friends.”

She stood, afraid if she stayed any longer, she’d spill her guts to her friend.
I need more time to figure this stuff out.

Caitlyn didn’t push for more.
They made their way into the house. Eden cast one last glance at the pool, getting a glimpse of Trent and Jessie under one of the waterfalls.
At least Jessie’s having the time of her life.

Approaching the living room where everyone had been before, they heard Willow say, “Ok, Micah, I think it’s your mom’s turn now.”

Andrew and Micah were right where she’d left them, standing in the doorway.

Micah smiled at her, sending her heart to her knees, and then turned to his mom
. “You’re totally right, Willow. Mom, you need to play.”

“Oh no, not after hearing you play!
You put me to shame!”

But Willow stood from the piano
bench, gesturing for Micah’s mom to take her place.

“Oh
all right, if I must.” His mom walked over to the piano.

Willow waltzed to the couch where Damon was and
, without hesitation, plopped down right next to him. Damon fidgeted in his seat, his eyes shooting to the floor.

At least he’s not giving her the dirty looks he gives me
.

Lacey shuffled through the sheet music
, and then began playing. Damon’s shoulders slumped, his frame not looking so rigid anymore. Willow crossed her legs, her inside foot brushing Damon’s leg; he brought the leg up, resting his ankle on his heel.

Ok, I’m totally staring…

Eden shifted her gaze back to the boys across from her; Micah appeared to be just as captivated by Damon and Willow as she was, and Andrew’s emerald eyes gave her a quizzical, cocked eyebrow, like,
What are you doing standing so far from me still?

If
that was what that look meant, she wanted to remind him he was the one who stepped away from her in the first place. Instead, she shuffled over to him. He immediately secured her hand in his, and Micah darted into the living room, finding an empty seat next to his dad.