The White Witch (5 page)

Apparently on the same train of thought, but unwilling to abandon it as I have, he reaches over, tucking a tendril of hair behind my ear and letting his hand linger on my cheek for a few seconds. I wish it had been longer. He inches closer and I don’t move. Let’s get this straight, I know I should, but I don’t.

“You are astonishingly beautiful.” His lips are so close, I can feel the heat of his breath and smell the chai.

I have no idea if I’m blushing, though I might be, because by now my entire body temperature has risen by at least ten degrees.

“Logan.” I whisper because it’s the only thing I can do, for the life of me, I cannot move.

He smiles, pulling back just a bit as he touches my face again. “I know, too much for friends. I’m sorry.”

A wavy tendril escapes and falls on his forehead and this time I reach forward and move it.

“I should get going.” I say, my voice practically a whisper as push myself off to stand.

“Oh, already?” He leans away from me and I begin to feel a knot in my stomach.

“Well, maybe I can stay a bit longer.” I look at my watch and bite my lip as I mull over this weird situation and the equally weird wave of feelings. I sit back down and give him a smirk. “ So will you tell me about school or is that off limits too?”

“Very funny.” He raises an eyebrow at me before continuing. “I just finished my bachelor’s in business at Cornell.”

“Woah, wait, how old are you?”

“Twenty. I finished high school early and jumped right into the University, since I had already gathered some college credit. Told you, my dad doesn’t kid around when it comes to business.” He furrows his brow and purses his lips a bit. “How old are you?”

“Seventeen, but my birthday is coming up.” I sit up a bit taller.

“When’s your birthday?”

“Next Friday, graduation day.”

“Ah, the big one-eight, have anything planned?”

“Not really, dad and Liz have a big Ice Skating competition at the rink that weekend, so Liz wanted to celebrate tomorrow along with celebrating my acceptance into Harvard and University of Pennsylvania. Although, knowing Liz there will be a birthday breakfast or dinner next weekend too.”

He smiles and nods his head. “That’s impressive, do you know which one you’d rather attend?”

“Not sure yet. I’ll do a semester here before I decide.” I look down at my hands as I fidget with my fingers.

“So, Liz? I’m guessing she’s your stepmom?”

I chuckle, “Yeah, she’s really cool. Never really pressed the whole ‘you can call me mom’ thing on me.”

“That is cool. What about your real mom, do you guys get along that well too?”

I drop my gaze back to my fingers “She’s-” I hesitate for a moment. “She passed away giving birth to me.”

Logan hangs his head. “Damnit Kate, I’m sorry, I-“

“No worries, you couldn’t have known.” I interrupt before he can get angry with himself for asking. “My dad says I look just like her and that my personality is a lot like hers so we probably would have gotten along.” I pause again, not even knowing why I’m divulging this to him. “Well, it
was
like hers. She was very outgoing and sweet.”

“Hey,” Logan puts his thumb and forefinger on my chin turning my face towards him. “You are very outgoing and sweet too. I think you just take a while to let people in, that’s all.”

I offer a weak smile as an empty sadness overcomes me. “I just wish I could have had the chance to know her, you know?” I glance outside and a sudden wind has picked up, rattling the branches in the trees and yanking the leaves from their home, sending them on their way. In the distance, I see two eyes looking at me. They belong to a tall man, wearing a trench coat. From here, I can see that his hair is dark, and the stare is terrifying.
No, it can’t be
.  I close my eyes and when I look again, Mr. Wentworth is gone.

Logan puts his arm around me, pulling me in for a quick hug and bringing me back to the moment at hand. “I’m sorry.”

I take another glance at the now empty tree lot.
Must be my crazy emotions
.

I wipe the tears from my eyes before they have a chance to fall. “I’ve never talked to anyone about her. Well, except my dad, and Liz once.” I sit up and face him. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to rain on our conversation.”

“You didn’t rain on the conversation. In fact, I’m honored you felt that you could talk to me.” He reaches over and slides my hair off my shoulder and onto my back, freeing my cheek for him to touch.

It ends too soon as the phone in his pocket buzzes and he reaches for it.

I barely get a glimpse of the ID before he slides it open, approving the call. “Yeah mom.” He runs his fingers through his hair and sighs. “No. I told you I don’t want to be there.” He listens for a moment, but his intense gaze is on the ground. “I don’t understand why he has to be leading the meeting anyway.” He steals a glance at me. “I don’t care if dad gets mad.” He says through gritted teeth. “Yes. Bye.” He sighs again before turning his attention back to me. “Sorry about that. My dad wanted me at-“ He hesitates, “this meeting, but I don’t want to be there.”

“Oh. It’s ok, no need to apologize. I’m not keeping you from going, am I?”

“No! No, It’s tomorrow, but regardless, I’m not attending.”

“Oh.”

Michelle comes over asking about another order and Logan convinces me to stay longer. I can only imagine the look of shock that will come over dad and Liz’s faces as they read my text about having coffee with a friend. They immediately text me back telling me to have fun and that it’s ok to be late.
Shocker.

We manage to keep the conversations to books and hockey, though I’d be lying if I said that his demeanor during the phone conversation didn’t worry me. He looked really bothered by whatever was going to be going on at that meeting.

At about one in the morning I decide that I should head home. For real this time.

“Alright, I suppose I’ll have to give in this time.” Logan gives me a weak smile, but it won’t work.

“Yes, you will have to give in. “

We walk outside and I am surprised that there is not even a breeze considering the crazy wind that was beating about earlier.

“Thank you for the tea.” I begin as Logan reaches for the handle of my jeep door.

“It was my pleasure.” He inches closer and I’m not sure I can stop myself a second time from kissing him.

What the heck is going on with me? I just met this guy!

He leans his head down so he’s looking right in my eyes and just barely slides past my lips, giving me a kiss on the cheek. My entire body sighs collectively and I remind myself that it’s a good thing. Keeping his lips close to my ear he whispers, “When can I see you again, Angel?”

“Angel?” My voice comes out breathier than I anticipate.

Logan pulls back just enough to look in my eyes. “Yeah, Angel. You’re the saving grace of this place for me. “ He gives a wicked grin. “Better than Spunky?”

I laugh out loud and can’t keep the smile from my face. “Yes, much better than Spunky.”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

“I’m not really sure.” I take a step back. “Not sure how tomorrow is going to go. I’ll give you a call though.”
Plus, I don’t know how to feel about the fact that I am so comfortable around you. I’ve done too good of a job keeping everyone away for it to change overnight.
I add in my head.

Logan hands me his phone after he lists me as Angel (Katelyn Miller) in his contacts. I give him a grin and punch in my number. It’s not long after I get in my car and pull out of the parking lot, that I get a text.

-
       
Hey Angel, had a great time. Thank U

I can’t help the goofy smile that spreads its way across my face, again. Yeah, this isn’t going to be easy.

I start the day with a good morning text from Logan that leaves me smiling. The afternoon is spent at the rink with Dad and Liz with only a couple of skating sessions for me, squeezed in between trainings and hockey.

My birthday and University acceptance celebration takes longer than I had wanted, but by nine o’clock Ana and her parents have gone home and Dad and Liz have resigned themselves to their room for the night. I had yet another nightmare last night about the light, only this time I was in a forest I didn’t recognize and I was completely alone. It’s plagued me all day and I decide to do some research.

I type in white and blue lights and get nothing but decorative string lights.
Nope, not what I am looking for
. I stare at the search screen for at least ten minutes trying to figure out what I could even call that, but come up with nothing. So I go a different route and search Mr. Gamaliel Wentworth. Nothing. Not a high school picture, not a college picture or degree of studies, nothing.

Great, my discovery of more questions instead of answers leaves me staring at my ceiling for over an hour before finally fading into sleep.

I wake up after a night of completely broken sleep, pull my hair into a long ponytail of brown waves, ignore the dark circles under my eyes, rush through breakfast and make a mad dash to school. I am hoping to get there with enough time to avoid Samantha and confront Mr. Wentworth.

As soon as I walk through the doors, the glares and whispering begin.
Great! Just what I needed
. I ignore them as I have managed to do for so long and head to the main office.

Mr. Wentworth’s assistant has already left for vacation, so I head directly to the peach colored door with the standard gold plate marking it as the Guidance Counselor’s office.

“Come in Ms. Miller.” The voice from the other side is confident.

I stand dumbfounded dropping my hand down to the handle and twisting it.

“I didn’t even get to knock.” I begin as I open the door. “How did you-“

“Wild guess.” He interjected with a sly grin. “Please close the door behind you.” He sighs, “I’m assuming you aren’t here for anything school related.”

I squint my eyes at him, unsure if I should trust him at all, but realizing I have no alternative. “You’re right.” I pull my messenger bag up and rest it on my lap as I take a seat. “What happened the other day?”

He leans forward and puts his elbows on his desk. “You tell me, you were there.”

“I’m well aware of my presence there, sir, but regardless, I have a distinct feeling that you know something I don’t.” I look for some sort of reaction, but when he doesn’t say anything, I continue. “When I was in your office and the police were right outside your door, you told me that the first light I saw had to be lightning, like you didn’t want me to give the police any other option. Why?”

“Because if they thought it was anything else, you could likely be in trouble.”

“Like what though? I mean, you think it is something else, don’t you?” My leg stars bobbing up and down and I feel the anxiety welling up inside me.

He looks at me with his brows slightly furrowed and opens his mouth for a moment before closing it again. I almost feel like he is waiting for me to say something that will trigger what he wants to say to me. “What do you think it was, or could be, Ms. Miller? Can I call you Katelyn?”

“Yes, Katelyn is fine. I just don’t know. I didn’t set anything off and I don’t think anyone else did either, and to be honest, I don’t think it was lightning at all.” I prop my elbows on my lap and bury my face in my hands as the first bell rings.

“Don’t worry about the class, I’ll give you a pass for being late.”

“I need you to figure this out, Katelyn. I need you to really consider what happened, what you may have done, intentional or not-“

“Wait, what do you mean intentional or not? You think I did something!”

“Oh, I know you did. It had to come from you.” He takes out his notepad and begins to scribble out my late pass. “Sometimes you have to think beyond reason. Is this the first time something unexplainable has happened to you?”

I stare at him, unable to respond. Mr. Wentworth just shakes his head like he knew the answer to that before he even asked me. “I have to go.” I say numbly. I take my late note off his desk and leave the office.

Taking into consideration the fog I am in, it becomes quite easy to ignore the whispers. Though there are a few that have congratulated me and tried shaking my hand. As I approach homeroom, I see Samantha heading towards me. I brace myself for the inevitable ‘fakelyn’ comments and endless torment, but she quickly tears her eyes away from me and turns down a hallway.
Is she afraid of me?

After classes filled with movies and ‘social time’, I decide to head to the beach to clear my head. 
Think beyond reason. Pft. What the hell is that supposed to mean?
He’s being so cryptic. I realize that I forgot to ask why there is no trace of him online and make a mental note to ask him the next time I see him.

I stop for gas by the Westpoint Beach Club and see a black tahoe parked across the way at a sandwich shop. Though I know it’s a long shot, I head over to see if it’s Logan. Sure enough, as I pull up I see him standing by the car, arguing with an older gentleman. He is a bit taller than Logan, which would probably put him at six-three or six-four, he has brownish-red hair pulled back into a ponytail. From what I can see from the parking spot I pull into, he seems to be very serious, a permanent furrow in his brow mars his thin face.

I step out of the car but wonder if I should walk over since they seem very intense in conversation. However, as soon as I am about to step back, Logan looks over. Not around the lot, not in my general direction, but right at me, as if he knew that I was right there.

He smiles at me, but it’s halfhearted and he nudges his head for me to come over.

“I will tell you for the last time, Erebos. I have no intention of attending the meeting. Good day.”

I walk up and feel that I am invading a deeply personal conversation. The older man, I now know as Erebos looks me over slowly, squinting a bit when he looks at my face.

“Hi, I didn’t mean to interrupt, I just saw your car, and thought-“ I drop off as he shakes his head.

“You aren’t interrupting. Erebos was just leaving.”

The older man sets his jaw, inclines his head to us, and turns on his heel to leave, though not without a huff.

“Business?” I ask, turning my attention to Logan.

“Yeah, something like that.” He smiles at me and his eyes soften.

“Is his name really Erebos? As in, the personification of primordial darkness in the Greek legends?”

“Yep, primordial darkness definitely describes him.”

“Sounds like he’s loads of fun.”  I press my lips and shoot a glance over my shoulder to see Erebos pull out of a parking spot in a black Mercedes.

“Oh yeah,” Logan rolls his eyes. “Regular party animal.” He finishes with a laugh as he leans closer, giving me a kiss on the cheek. “Sorry Angel, didn’t properly say hello when you walked up.”

I smile and don’t have to look away since the sun is shining down and my cheeks are already red. “You clean up very nice there, Polo.” I step back and look him over. The black dress slacks he has on fit him nicely as does the black button down dress shirt. He looks like he just stepped off the cover of a GQ magazine. His hair is gelled back, but still looks soft and touchable.

“Why thank you.” He strikes a pose, then laughs it off. “Are you hungry? They have great sandwiches here.” He jams a thumb at the restaurant behind him.

“Oh, no, I was just heading to the beach for a bit.”

Logan looks me over. “You’re going to change there?” He asks, his gaze falling back to my jeans.

“Oh, no, not swimming, I just wanted to go and clear my head. I can’t go skating because there are some classes going on right now.”  I point at the gas station I just left. “I was actually, just putting gas in my car when I saw the tahoe and thought I’d see if it was yours so I can say hi.”

“I see this stalking thing is catchy.” His lips pull into a wry grin. “Looks like your beach afternoon won’t be lasting too long, though.”

I look out to the horizon and despite the fact that the whole day had been clear, I see dark clouds rolling in pretty quickly. “Well, so much for that. Guess I’ll go home.”

“You sure? We can go somewhere together, if you’d like.” He gives a sexy crooked smile.

“I’m sure. I just needed to be alone for a bit, but I guess I’ll do it at home.”

Logan slides his hand into mine. “You ok?”

“Yeah, just have a lot going on, is all.” I smile, but I can see he isn’t buying it.

“If you say so. Will you at least text me later and let me know how you’re doing?” He steps close, leaning his head down and pressing his forehead to mine.

“Yes.” I breathe. I feel a pull to throw myself into his arms but resist, hard.

The breeze in my back yard rolls over me, giving a small reprieve from the hot sun, which, despite the clouds that are rolling in, is still shining. I sway with one leg draping off the hammock mulling over Mr. Wentworth’s words.
Beyond reason
.

“Hey Kate!” Ana’s voice drifts over the fence as her Scottish terrier sits next to her staring at me.

“Hey Ana!” I get up and walk over to the fence. Her dog cocks his head at me, but otherwise does not move.

“That’s weird. Oliver is usually all over the yard as soon as we come outside.”

“Maybe he just likes me.” I say, though I am also wondering what the dog sees or thinks. I’ve heard that they can sense things… unexplainable things.

“You alright? You seemed really distracted in school today.” She bites her lip before continuing. “I was going to text you, but I wasn’t sure if maybe you just needed time alone.”

I’m taken aback by her noticing my demeanor. “Thanks, just had a lot on my mind, lately.”

“Psh, I know what you mean. School, college, parents. It all just kind of culminates at this time huh?”

I feel the sun burning my skin and I look up to find the clouds dissipating. “Weird.”

“Huh?” Ana follows my gaze to the sky. “Oh yeah, that’s so strange right? It was a perfect day and out of nowhere all these clouds just bombarded the sky.”

“Yeah, strange.” I bring my gaze back to Ana. “Hey, thanks for worrying about me today. That’s cool and I appreciate it.” OK, maybe it’s not too bad out here along the edge of my comfort zone.

Ana smiles. “Anytime. I know you aren’t big on having people around you, but if you ever want to talk or just hangout, I’m here.”

“Thanks. Maybe some coffee later tonight?”

Ana nods her head. “Sounds great.” She glanced down to find that Oliver has finally left her side to roam the backyard. “Well, I have to go run some errands, but I’ll text you later for the coffee.”

“Sounds good.” I smile as I walk away and for the first time in a long time the thought of having a friend appeals to me. Not that it didn’t with Logan, but that wasn’t just a feeling of friendship. Despite me fighting it, there is a strangely powerful draw to be near him.

Lying again on the hammock I fall back to my previous thoughts. I start to think to every time something immensely strange has happened and try to find common denominators. So far, the only connection I can make is that I was very emotional. Last Friday, Samantha’s birthday party, and little things like the whirlwind of snowflakes and ice at the rink on Saturday night. Even all the smaller things that others may not notice like the crazy gust of wind, the steam from the chai or even the sudden clouds today happened when something pretty emotional was happening.  Most people would just think of all that as a weird coincidence, but I know better.

My attention is suddenly drawn to the sound of a snapping branch coming from the woods behind my house. I see a set of eyes again staring at me.
Not this time
. I jump off my hammock and head toward the figure. I try to follow him with my sight as I approach, but by the time I reach the tree line he’s gone.

I make my way into the dense preserve but I can’t find him. Several times I look back, ensuring I know how far I am from my house, but it keeps getting smaller in the distance. I pat my pockets for my phone and realize that I left it on the hammock.
Shit
. Okay, if I keep walking in a straight line, I can find my way back. I keep searching for what I am pretty sure is Mr. Wentworth.
If I find him creeping behind my house, so help me God, I will have his ass arrested, after I beat him
. I turn to look for my house and now I can’t see it at all.
Shit, shit, shit
!
Ok, don’t freak out Katelyn
. I give up my pursuit of Mr. Wentworth and try backtracking. The trees start to all look the same with no clear paths.

“Who are you?”

I whirl around to find the source of the voice. My jaw is clenched and my fists are balled at my sides.