The Edge of Forever (15 page)

I think about sidestepping, but there’s no point. Obviously he’s going to aggravate the crap out of me until I stop. “Fine. What do you want?”

Trevor runs his hand through his hair. “I can’t believe you’re mad because I went outside to talk to Naomi. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal.”

“You must think I’m the stupidest person on the planet.”

“What’re you talking about? She was trying to mess with you so I took care of it.” His brow furrows. “Did you want to handle her yourself?”

Okay, so he’s going to lie. I better stop this conversation before it goes any further. “I heard what you said to Naomi.”

Trevor cocks his head to the side. “Heard what?”

“I heard you tell her that meeting me was a joke.” My voice rises on the last word. Two girls walking by stare at us. When they’re out of earshot, I continue, “After that I left. Simple as that.”

I try to move around him, but he holds out a hand to stop me. “Whoa, I think you heard wrong.”

Some people say their blood boils when they’re angry. Now I understand what they mean. “Excuse me? I most certainly did
not
hear wrong.”

Trevor rubs the back of his neck. “I’m screwing this up. What I meant is you must’ve misunderstood what I said. I didn’t tell Naomi the meeting was a joke.”

“I know what you said.”

“Alora, I said it was
not
a joke. Naomi thought I was meeting with you to piss her off, but that wasn’t what I was doing.” He smiles again, reaching out to touch my arm. I jerk back. His smile melts away and he murmurs, “I’m really sorry. I wish you would’ve told me. It sounds like a big misunderstanding.”

Seriously? Does he really think I’m that naive? I start to tell him exactly what he can do with his smiles and excuses when a shrill voice interrupts.

“What the hell are you doing?” Kate comes up behind Trevor, glaring at him.

“What’re you talking about?” he asks, returning her glare.

“You’re really going after her?” Kate gestures to me with a flick of her wrist.

“That’s none of your, or anybody else’s, business.”

“I’m sure Mama wouldn’t agree. She’s gonna die when she finds out you’re messing around with Grace’s trash niece.”

My mouth drops open as I try to formulate a withering comeback, but Trevor says in a low voice, “And who’s gonna tell Mama? I know plenty of dirt on you, so you better keep your mouth shut if you know what’s good for you.”

“Whatever. Have your fun. And when you end up with a nasty disease, don’t come crying to me.” She spins around, her dark hair fanning out behind her, and storms back toward the school.

Trevor shakes his head. “Sorry about that. Kate and Naomi have been up each other’s asses for as long as I can remember.”

“Good for them.” I turn around again. Maybe I can make it to the parking lot this time.

Trevor falls in step beside me. “Look, don’t worry about Naomi. I’ll take care of that problem.” I glance up at him. He’s staring straight ahead, his jaw clenched.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means she won’t bother us anymore.”

“There’s another problem,” I say, frowning. “There’s no us.”

“Not yet.”

Jeez, how cocky can he be? I will never fall for his tricks and worship at the Altar of Trevor. Not. A. Chance.

“What can I do to convince you to go out with me? And not just a study date, I want a real date.”

My eyes want to roll so badly. He thinks he can charm me, but I know what I heard yesterday. He did tell Naomi meeting me yesterday was a joke. I may have had a few blackouts, but my hearing is fine. “No, Trevor. There’s nothing you can say that’ll make me want to go out with you. So why don’t you do us both a favor and find somebody else.”

Trevor pretends to think, scratching his chin. His eyes drift to somewhere over my shoulder and he grins. “How about this? We make it a double date: the two of us, your friend, and one of my buds.”

“You know what I think? You need to clean your ears out. I said no, and I’m not going to change my mind. So please quit bothering me.” I try to walk away, but Trevor grabs me, his fingers biting into my upper arm. I stare at the vise-like grip. “Let. Me. Go.”

Trevor holds on a second longer before releasing me. He steps back, his eyes widening, his mouth parting slightly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything. I just really want to go out with you, and you won’t listen to me.”

He looks like he wants to say something else. Instead he clamps his lips tightly together and walks away. I watch until he gets to his truck before checking out the red mark on my arm. It hurts a little, enough to remind me of what he did. Yeah, I definitely don’t want anything to do with a guy who loses his cool when he can’t get his way.

Sela arrives soon after I get to her car with a scowl on her face. “Girl, what was going on with Trevor? I saw y’all talking and him grabbing your arm. Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” I say as I open the car door. “I am now.”

Just as long as he stays away from me.

After Sela drops me off at home, I go straight to the kitchen to finally get something to eat. I glance through the window over the sink and spot Aunt Grace and Mr. Palmer in the rose garden, sitting on one of the white wrought iron benches. Mr. Palmer says something and Aunt Grace laughs and places a hand on his arm. I let out a snort. I can’t believe she is flirting with him.

Aunt Grace is always friendly to guests when they stay, but it seems like every time Mr. Palmer is around, she goes looking for him. I know her husband has been dead for a long time and she’s lonely, but it never occurred to me she might want to date someone, especially Mr. Palmer. He’s nice enough, but not the type I’d expect Aunt Grace to crush on.

It’s none of my business. I grab something to eat and head upstairs to search for John Miller’s contact information.

An hour later, I still haven’t found anything. From what little Aunt Grace has told me, she and Dad originally lived somewhere around Atlanta. There are thirty-three John Millers living there. I’ve already called half of them without finding the right one.

I close my laptop and stare at the wall. My head is pounding from looking at the screen for so long. And I can’t get that confrontation with Trevor out of my head. I look at where he grabbed me, noticing the faint bruise. My muscles are tense and twitchy, like rubber bands ready to be launched across a room.

I need to get out of here.

After I change into a pair of running shorts, I tiptoe downstairs. I don’t want to talk to Aunt Grace if I can help it.

But before I reach the back door, it opens and Aunt Grace steps in, followed by Mr. Palmer. She’s got this ridiculously happy look on her face. As soon as she sees me, she changes into Concerned Aunt.

“Where do you think you’re going, missy?”

“Out for a run.”

“Have you finished your homework?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I look away, hating how much I’ve lied to her lately, but I sure can’t tell her what I’ve really been doing. And I’m going to go insane if I stay in my room any longer.

“Well, okay, but don’t stay out all afternoon.” She glances at Mr. Palmer and smiles. “Dave has never tried chicken and dumplings, so I’m going to make some for supper.”

Mr. Palmer’s eyes follow me as I move past him. “See you in a little while, Alora.”

I jog to the path that takes me to the river. I stop when I reach the forest so I can slide my iPod out of the small pocket inside my shorts. Once the music is blaring, I really take off.

It feels good, my legs pumping and my heart racing. It’s weird how this forest, with its tangled trees and gnarled bushes, unsettles and soothes me at the same time. I come here when I need to think, when I need to unwind, when I need to be alone.

So it’s odd when a strange feeling creeps over me like a spider crawling on my skin. I feel like I’m not alone. I stop and take the earbuds out. A bird chirps overhead. Something scurries in the branches above me, probably a squirrel.

It’s nothing. I tell myself to get a freaking grip and start running again. Soon I emerge on the riverbank. I sit on the dock, pulling my legs close to my chest, and stare at the flowing water. I wish I had my sketchbook with me. A lot of times, when I’m not in the mood to run, I’ll come out here anyway and work on my drawings. Something about the water lapping gently in the background is soothing and makes it easier for me to concentrate on getting every line and detail just right.

Behind me, something steps on a stick. The snapping sound is soft, but seems magnified against the quiet. I scramble to my feet and stare hard at the trees. I don’t see anything. That figures. It’s probably an animal.

I guess it’s because of what’s happened to me this week, but I’m extra paranoid. I know that’s crazy. Why would anybody want to follow me?

Oh well, I need to get back to the house. John Miller’s info isn’t going to magically appear in my inbox, no matter how much I wish that would happen. And the history stuff I need to study won’t miraculously imprint itself in my brain.

Any more than the weird feeling that I’m not alone won’t go away.

I head back to the path, but before I can start running, Trevor emerges from behind a large oak tree. I take a step back. “What are you doing here?”

“I didn’t realize I was gonna end up here,” he says with a shrug. “I felt like shit after I left you at school today. I went home, but I felt like I was suffocating there. I had to get out and walk. And the next thing I know, I saw someone running ahead of me. I got closer and found . . . you.” He takes a few steps toward me. I force myself to stay still even though all I want to do is flee. “I guess it was fate.”

Or not. The Monroes’ house is on a huge tract of land several miles down the road from here. It’s possible to walk from there to here, but the thing is, I’ve never seen Trevor in the forest before today.

I don’t know what his game is. I just know I need to get away. How to do that without making him mad again? If he grabbed my arm in front of everyone at school, what would he do to me when we’re alone? “I need to get back to the house,” I say, edging away from him. “Aunt Grace told me I couldn’t stay out here long.”

“See, there you go again,” he says, running his hand through his hair. “You’re trying to avoid me. I don’t get it.”

He probably doesn’t get it. From what I’ve heard, no girl has ever rejected Trevor. I decide to try a different tactic. “Why don’t you call me later? I really do need to get back to the house.”

I take a few more steps away from Trevor, but this time he moves to block me. My already racing heart goes into overdrive. I try to keep my voice steady as I say, “I’m not kidding. I have to go home.”

“And I just want to talk to you for a few minutes.”

“What’s going on here?”

Mr. Palmer is standing a few feet behind Trevor, holding his camera. I let out a shuddering breath. I’m so glad to see him. “Nothing. I was just leaving.”

Still eying Trevor, Mr. Palmer says, “Grace will have supper done soon.”

“I was just telling Trevor I need to go,” I say.

Trevor glares at Mr. Palmer, who’s nearly as tall as him, then suddenly his face smoothes out into a neutral, almost bored expression. “I guess I’ll head home, too.” He backs away from us and says, “See you at school, Alora.”

When he’s out of sight, Mr. Palmer asks, “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” I take a few backwards steps as I say this. While I’m glad Mr. Palmer showed up when he did, I just want to get out of here. “I’m gonna run back to the house. I need to get my exercise in for the day.”

He looks in the direction Trevor went, then smiles at me. “No problem. I would join you, but I want to take a few more pictures.” He holds up his camera. “I’m really enjoying the scenery out here.”

I start running again but can’t shake the uneasy feeling that’s descended over me. Like Trevor is still out there in the woods, watching my every step.

18

BRIDGER

MARCH 17, 2146

M
y hurt knee twinges as I whirl around. A military Space Bender is standing a few feet away, aiming a stunner at my chest.

“Get those hands up now,” she commands.

The Academy requires cadets to receive a half-stun during the first year, to get an idea of what it’s like to break the rules. I swore I’d never be on the receiving end of a stunner after that. I raise my hands high over my head.

“Good boy,” she says. Her dark eyes narrow as she takes in every inch of me. I always thought it would be sexy to have a woman check me out like that, but this pisses me off. “Don’t you dare try to shift, Creed. I’ve been authorized to use whatever force is necessary to take you into custody.”

As I stare at the Space Bender, with that self-satisfied smirk on her face, I truly realize how completely screwed I am. I knew there was a high possibility I’d revert to my own time since I don’t have a Chronoband. I should have taken precautions. Like shifting well out of the tracking parameters the DTA obviously set up around this area. But no, I had to hurry and shift without considering every option. Now the DTA will haul me before another tribunal. My only defense then will be to plea insanity.

Or I could go back again and finish what I started.

Two choices.

Both with bad consequences.

I close my eyes but realize I shouldn’t have done that when the Space Bender yells, “Stop!”

Her stunner crackles a split second before I’m hit. Fire blazes through my body. This is so much worse than a half-stun. I feel like I’m dying. My muscles freeze, and I crash to the ground.

All I can do is glare at the Space Bender as she activates her DataLink. “I’ve got Creed. He was attempting to shift again, so I immobilized him.”

She walks a few paces away, whispering into her DataLink. She doesn’t have to worry about me going anywhere—I won’t be able to move for at least ten minutes. And shifting is impossible until the effects of the stun wear off. It’s just me and the ground. I grit my teeth so hard that my jaw starts to hurt.

The smell of dirt and grass fills my nostrils as I concentrate on calming myself. I try to think soothing thoughts. Like grabbing her stunner and shooting her so she can see how it feels.