The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven (105 page)

             
“I’m going to grab a soda, you want?” Josie asked, taking the hint that I needed to talk to Riley. I shook my head no. “Riley?”

             
“No thank you,” she stammered.

             
“I’ll be back,” Josie said, jumping off the bed.

             
Once Josie was gone I turned to Riley. “So what’s up?”

             
“Nothing,” she said, looking at the box again.

             
“Riley, you don’t think just because Josie’s back that means I don’t have time for you?”

             
“Um, I did kind of think I was just filling in so now that she’s back I guess you don’t need me anymore.”

             
“Riley, that is not true and you were never a replacement friend. Both of you are my good friends and I will always have time for you. I’m so sorry you feel that way. I wish you would have said something earlier. If I had realized I was making you feel that way I never would have –”

             
“Ella, it’s not your fault. I was being silly.”

             
“Riley, no you weren’t. I don’t ever want you to think you can’t come to me if something is bothering you, okay? Promise me, no matter what. If something is bothering you even if it seems silly, you’ll tell me?” She nodded and I gave her a hug. “Now, what are you waiting for? Open the box so we can see the dress.”

             
She smiled brightly and tore off the tape. The dress was even prettier than I remembered. “Go try it on so we know it fits,” I said, scooting her into the bathroom.

             
Josie returned to the room while Riley was changing. “Everything good?” she asked.

             
“Yeah, it’s good,” I said as Riley stepped out of the bathroom. “Oh, Riley, it looks great!”

             
“You think so?” I nodded. “It’s a little big at the top though,” she said, biting her lip.

             
“I can fix that,” Josie said, jumping up. “We don’t all have big boobs like Ella so I know a few tricks to make it seem like you do.” I rolled my eyes at her comment.

             
“Oh. I don’t want to stuff,” Riley said bashfully.

             
Josie laughed. “No, not stuff. All you need is a good push up bra and someone who can take the dress in.”

             
“I don’t know anyone who can do that?” Riley said, looking at me.

             
“Now you do,” Josie said smiling. “Ella, do you have any pins?”

             
“Please, you should see all the extra stuff my mom packed. I’m sure if I dig deep enough I’ll find a sewing machine,” I joked.

              The three of us sat around gossiping until Josie and I had to leave for training. I offered for Riley to come with even though I knew Josie thought it was a bad idea. I just hated the thought of not being able to tell my friends what might happen at the dance. Asking Riley to come with and practice with us made me feel better about her knowing a few things to defend herself.

             
Riley agreed to come with because she said she could use the practice.

             
When we got to the gym, Roman and Dean were there also. Dean marched straight for me and pulled me to the side. “Why didn’t you tell me Ella?” he said angrily. Apparently Gabe and Billy had filled him in on what was going on and felt he should be here too to learn what he could.

             
“With everything else that was going on I really didn’t have a chance to,” I said a little annoyed at his attack.

             
“I think Jack planning an attack on the school is something pretty damn important to have just slipped your mind,” he yelled loud enough for Riley to hear.

             
“What did you say?” Riley asked, joining us. I gave Dean a nasty look for his big mouth then turned to Josie for what to do.

             
“I’ll take this one,” Josie said. “Might as well. I’m already in enough trouble for telling you. What else can they do?” She pulled Riley over to the bleachers and sat her down. I followed and sat on the other side of Riley. “Okay, so, the whole reason I’m here is because I came to warn Ella about something and then got caught for doing it. I’m telling you this because I don’t want you to be mad at Ella for keeping it from you. I wasn’t supposed to tell her and I told her she couldn’t tell anyone else so I want you to know it’s not her fault.”

             
Riley looked at me. “What’s going on?”

             
Josie continued. “There’s going to be an attack on the school.”

             
“What, when?”

             
“Saturday sometime during the dance,” I said.

             
“Ella, we have to tell Mr. Callahan and make him cancel the dance.”

             
I shook my head. “He knows Riley and we can’t cancel the dance.”

             
“Why not?”

             
“Because I was never supposed to interfere,” Josie said softly.

             
“I don’t understand?” Riley said, looking between us.

             
“I don’t really understand it either Riley, but I don’t want you to worry. Everything is being taken care of. All of the teachers and the guardians know. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you,” I said, hoping to somewhat make her feel better.

             
“But what about Justin, Cameron, Sienna, and all the rest?  Do they know? What happens to them?”

             
I had to bite my lip to keep the tears from falling. “They don’t know and we can’t tell them. We can’t risk this leaking and setting panic amongst the rest of the school.”

             
“They have to know Ella. This is crazy. They have to be warned,” she said, getting up and I turned to Josie worried. “I’m sorry Ella, but I have to tell Justin and the rest of them. I won’t let them get hurt.” She made her way toward the door.

             
“What do I do?” I asked Josie.

             
Everyone figured out what was going on and tried to stop Riley. Roman and Billy tried to coax her not to leave. “Compel her,” Dean said.

             
“Are you nuts? I’m not going to do that to my friend.”

             
“Ella, it’s the only way,” he said.

             
“He’s right Ella. We can’t risk this getting out. You have to compel her to forget what she heard,” Gabe said.

             
I turned on Dean. “Why can’t you do it? You’re the one who opened your big mouth in the first place,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him.

             
“I can’t and you know I can’t. You’re the only one who is strong enough to make it stick,” he said, knowing well it was killing me to do this.

             
“Fine,” I said, walking over to Riley. “Riley?” I could feel my hands start to shake. My lip began to quiver. “I can’t do this.” I walked away, but Dean caught up to me.

             
“You can do this Ella. I know you can.”

             
“But I never did it before.”

             
“Try it on me first,” he suggested.

             
I looked over his shoulder where Roman was still standing with Billy. “No. I have a better idea. Roman!” He jogged over to us. I put my hands on his shoulders and looked straight into his eyes, concentrating. Once I could feel the power start to rise I said, “Punch Dean in the face.”

             
“What! This is your brilliant idea?” he said, panicked. 

             
I turned to Dean. “Don’t move.” He stood there frozen in fear and then I turned back to Roman. “Punch him, now.” And that’s exactly what he did. I got to say it definitely made me feel better.

             
“I think it’s safe to say it worked,” Josie said, pushing me back over to Riley.

             
“Ella, please,” Riley begged.

             
“Riley,” I began. I was no longer able to stop the tears. “Riley, I’m sorry. I don’t want to do this and you have to know I don’t want anyone to get hurt and that this is killing me.”

             
              I took a breath as the tears spilled down my cheeks. I felt Josie take my hand and I looked back up at Riley. “Riley, you have to forget everything you just saw and heard. You have to forget about the attack on the school. You came here to work on your self-defense and we were just waiting for Gabe to set everything up.” I watched as Riley’s eyes glazed over and then she shook her head and looked up at me.

             
“Ella, why are you crying?” she asked.

             
“I…uh…”

             
“She stubbed her toe,” Josie said.

             
“Are you okay?”

             
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, turning away, not able to face her anymore and annoyed that was the best answer Josie could come up with. When I reached Dean I had forgotten he was still not able to move. If I had my way I would have let him there all day.

             
“You really couldn’t find another way to test your compulsion,” he said, narrowing his eyes and rubbing his jaw.

             
“Just be glad it was Roman and not Gabe. Besides, you hit him first so it was only fair he got to hit you back.”

             
“Yeah but that was –” I glared at him and he shut up.

             
As soon as we knew it was safe, and the compulsion had worked, Gabe and Billy started to set up everything. As far as Riley knew she was just here to work on her self-defense. I managed to pull myself together and get to work. I didn’t do any better today than I did yesterday. Stabbing someone in the heart or cutting off their head was easier said than done. The dummies were made of rubber, but Gabe had explained it would be just as hard on a vampire. I had to manage to get through all the skin and muscle. I also had to learn to avoid bone when I was going for the heart.

             
By the end of the session I was worn out – physically and mentally. I even thought about skipping dinner, but I was too hungry. I spent some extra time in the shower. I thought maybe I could wash away the grief, but I knew I was just kidding myself. I didn’t say a word at dinner. I didn’t even complain about the fact that Mackenzie and her group had joined us. Apparently Dean had told her he would take her to the dance and Sienna agreed to join her coven.

             
“Ella, are you okay?” Cameron asked.

             
“Yeah. I just got a lot of homework to do,” I said, getting up. Not even bothering to finish my dinner. I wasn’t in the mood to socialize and just wanted to be alone.

             
When I got back to my room, I lay on my bed, and closed my eyes trying to forget that I was me. “Hey, you awake?” Josie asked, coming into the room. I sat up. “I brought you some food. You didn’t really eat at dinner so I thought you’d be hungry,” she said, sitting next to me and handing me a sandwich.

             
“Thanks,” I mumbled in between bites.

             
“You wanna talk about it?”

             
“What’s there to say? In two days I’m about to face my enemy who created an army just to get to me. And I know people are going to get hurt. Maybe even my friends and I can’t do anything about it.”

             
“But you are Ella. You are doing something about it. By telling the teachers and the guardians you did the right thing. They will protect the school. From what Gabe told me they are the best of the best so we have nothing to worry about. Besides, what did I tell you about worrying so much?”

             
“That it gives you premature wrinkles,” I sighed.

             
There was a knock on the door. “Hey, can I come in?” Roman asked.

             
“You can even stay here tonight,” Josie said. I looked at her. “I talked to Billy earlier and I’m staying in his room and you should not be alone.”

             
She got up to walk out and I asked, “Aren’t you going to take something to sleep in?”

             
“I don’t plan on sleeping,” she said, closing the door behind her.

             
“Are you okay?” Roman asked, sitting next to me on the bed.

             
I put my sandwich aside and pulled him down on the bed next to me. “Just hold me,” I said, wrapping his arms around me.