The White Witch (9 page)

“It’s ok. I’m just glad you are alright.” He presses his forehead to mine.

My gosh, I love when he does that.

“What happened to you?” I whisper as I bring my eyes up to meet his gaze, drawing my lips dangerously close to his. He has both his hands on my face and I see his lips curl up as he just stares at me.

“I tracked down Erebos and had a chat with him.” He licks his lips and I can smell the mint on his breath. “I didn’t want to outright accuse him of showing up at your house since you weren’t one hundred percent sure. So I asked him if he had seen you. He hesitated when he answered.” Logan gives a wicked smirk and raises an eyebrow. “Bad move. I didn’t bother to ask him again. Instead I explained that he is never to come near you again, or he will deal with me.”

Logan releases my face and takes my hands in his. “He didn’t appreciate me threatening him.”

“So he hit you? For someone who does business with you, he sure has no idea how to behave!” I clench my teeth as I bring my hand up to his bruising jaw bone, caressing it carefully.

“Well, Erebos is also family, so he thinks he can do or say as he pleases.”

“Oh.” I close my eyes for a moment. “Damnit, I didn’t mean to cause problems in your family.” My gut twists.

“What? What are you apologizing for? It’s not your fault that he looked for you.”

I sigh.“Speaking of that,” I shuffle my feet, “why do you suppose he did? Did he say?”

Logan set his jaw, his gaze distant. “No. He is a little psychotic with the handling of business and might have thought you were a threat or something.”

“A threat?” I set my hands on my hips. “How would I be a threat?”

Logan takes my hands off my hips and laces his fingers with mine, a sweet smile makes it’s way across his face. “Because you have distracted me since I met you.” He yanks me close until I am against him, letting go of my hands as he wraps his arms around me. “The last thing I have wanted to think about is business.” He licks his lips again and I am more than tempted to push up on the balls of my feet and press my lips to his, but I refrain.

“Watch it Polo, you don’t want to get too close. I’m a loner, remember? What if I decide to push you away again?” I give him a sly grin.

“I will push back harder to get close to you again.” He brings his face down until his nose meets mine.

Of course!
I think as the phone at his hip buzzes, though he doesn’t seem as phased as I am. “Don’t you have to get that?”

“I’d rather not.” He smiles wide until it reaches his eyes, but the buzzing doesn’t stop. He sighs and resigns himself to unclipping the phone and sliding it open. “Hey.” I vaguely hear a woman’s voice, but I can’t make out the words. “Yeah I did.”

Logan takes a step back and his lips are pressed into a thin line. “I tried asking nicely and it didn’t work.” He starts pacing the length of the living room, reaching the window seat at the far end. “Because she is important to me.” I hear him say as he walks back to me. “No.” he rolls his eyes. “Why?” He rolls his eyes. “Fine… fine, I’ll think about it. Bye.” Logan clips the phone back onto the holster.

“Everything ok?” I dig my hands into my pockets.

Logan looks me over and a corner of his mouth creeps up. “It seems that I may have called a bit of unwanted attention to us.” He walks closer and puts his hands on my hips, his fingers grazing the skin I exposed when I pushed my hands into my pockets. A shiver runs through me and I feel a wicked smile creep across my face.

“Us?” I question, raising my eyebrow.

He purses his lips together then lets out a quick laugh. “Yes, us. My mother heard about me confronting Erebos.”

“Oh.”

“See, I’ve never been this… distracted with anyone and have never defended someone to anyone in my family.”

“You’re kidding, right?” I raise an eyebrow again. “You’ve never had a girlfr-…” I stop myself unwilling to say the word because I am not sure if that is what I am. “A girl you were seeing that you really liked, or fell for, or were distracted by? I find that really hard to believe, Polo.”

“Why is that?” He releases me and steps back. “Why do you keep finding that so hard to believe? You said the same thing at the coffee shop.”

“Because!” I pull my hands out of my pocket and point them in his direction. “Look at you! I don’t even know why you are here!”

“What?” Logan’s expression drops.

“No, not like that.” I drop my face in my hands for a moment and look at him again. “I mean…  you can have any girl you want. I’m not saying I’m ugly, but I know there are prettier girls out there with better bodies that would kill for a chance to be with you. And you chose me, a girl who lately crazy shit has been happening around… and to! A girl, who looks more like the girl next door than a girl in a magazine. A girl who has a little more hips that half the girls in Shippan. A girl who pushes everyone away and responds with a sarcastic comment for half the stuff people say to her. A girl who-”

“Who cares more than she likes to let on.” He interrupts as he studies me, his eyes a little lighter blue than when he got here. “A girl, whose reason for pushing people away is probably because she doesn’t want to get hurt. A girl, who if I had the choice
would
be in a magazine because I say she is gorgeous. A girl who,”

He steps forward putting his hands on my hips again, sending a warmth throughout my body. “yes, does not look like she starves herself, but damned if you don’t look like you are one hell of an athlete.” He runs his hands up to my waist, his thumbs grazing my stomach again. “I don’t want any of those other girls.” The corners of his lips pull up. “I don’t care who they are or what they think they can offer. I can guarantee that none of them can have the effect you have on me.”

“You sure about that Polo?” I cross my hands over my chest beneath slightly above average breasts. “I can be a pretty big pain in the ass.”

“Oh I know that.” His expression lightens and he lets go of my hips as he folds his arms too, stretching his dress shirt tight against the muscles in his arms and chest.

“Oh really?!” I drop my hands to my hips trying to feign anger, but his response was not what I expected and I really just want to laugh.

“Yes really. But I like a challenge.” He furrows his brow and cocks his head to the side. “I thought you would have figured that out by now… hhmmm, maybe you are a bigger challenge than I thought.”

I gasp with exaggeration and smack him playfully on his arm, feeling the firmness of his biceps first hands.
Damn
. Logan drops his hands and quickly closes the gap between us, but I step back out of reach. “Wouldn’t want to make it too easy for you.” I say as I cock my head to the side and raise my eyebrow at him again.

Logan smiles big and nods. 

I open my mouth to say something but shut it quickly and turn to walk to the kitchen. “Would you like something to drink?” I call over my shoulder.

Logan follows behind and settles into a chair that he pulls out from under the breakfast table. “Can I ask you something?” He starts as I grab a glass and walk to the refrigerator.

“Sure.”

“Were you about to say something right before coming over here?” He shrugs his shoulders and runs a hand through his hair. “It just looked like you were going to say something to me, but didn’t.”

“I was.” I press the glass to the lever on the fridge and fill it with water before turning around again. “I just… “ I chew on my lip wondering if I should bring down another wall but decide to wait.

As I hand him the glass I see that the water inside is swirling hard and It almost slips from my hand. Logan puts out both his hands, steadying mine and the glass. “You ok?”

“Yeah.” I look down at the water that has slowed and then back to him. “I wanted to ask you something, but I think I’ll wait.”

Logan furrows his brows. “You sure about that? You can ask me anything you want.”

I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. “I know,” I say, though I didn’t actually know that. I wonder if I should let him in more than I already have and decide against it, yet again. As it is, I’m not sure just how dangerous it could be for him.

It’s Friday morning and the week has gone by pretty quickly, miraculously, without drama or ‘occurrences’. I spend almost every night with Logan either at the coffee shop or sitting in my hammock in the backyard. Dad and Liz seem to like him. Tuesday night they had gotten home from working late to find Logan and I sitting on the sofa watching a movie, dad was a bit stand-off-ish, in his attempt to do ‘the dad thing’ as he called it. It was actually quite amusing.

I pull my black vintage rockabilly Audrey Hepburn style dress from the closet and sigh. Graduation day. As I slip it on and zip up the back, I can’t help but think of the relief today brings. Finally putting an end to the torturous past four years will allow me to concentrate on other things. Not like I haven’t already been doing that, though. I have done endless research on the Penhale Massacre. I am disappointed to find there hasn’t been much information put out on it. I am definitely feeling much more relaxed around Mr. Wentworth and although I feel a pull to talk to him some more, I still don’t feel like I’m ready.

I put on my five inch black heels with a satin bow at the back of the ankle strap and run my hands over my just straightened hair. I look in the mirror and drag my fingers along the small belt at my waist. With my hair straightened like this, I look a little less like my mother and I’m not sure I like it.

My mother, I think of her and my thoughts wander to whether or not she struggled with her powers as I do.  According to my father she was raised by her aunt after her mother died giving birth to her, but I have no idea if our ‘powers’ manifest in each of us, or just some. I only met this aunt once when I was much younger and I hear from her through cards on my birthday and Christmas. I briefly entertain the thought of looking up this one connection to my mother’s past to find out more about her and make a mental note to consider it seriously later. I was wondering again last night whether or not I should say anything to Logan when he was over, but chickened out again.

“What’s wrong?” Logan shifts to be closer to me as the hammock swings in the breeze, his watch catching the glimmer of light from the night sky.

“Nothing.” I turn my attention away, looking for constellations. Too bad I only know three of them.

“That’s what you always say.” He drags a lock of hair that the wind has blown over across my neck back onto the hammock. A shiver to run through me as his finger touches my skin.

“Maybe that’s always the case.” I shrug my shoulders, while keeping my attention on the stars.

“Or maybe you’re hiding something from me.”

I close my eyes when his two fingers touch my chin, turning my face to him.

“I might surprise you, I’m not like other guys you know. Or other people for that matter.” He smiles and I catch the reflection of a few stars in his eyes as the wind softly blows his hair about.

I can’t stop the smile creeping across my face, not that I want to, honestly. “I know you’re not. You don’t take no for an answer and you apparently favor socially awkward freakish girls.”

“And there it is.” Logan rolls his eyes and leans back on the hammock.

“There what is?” I prop myself on my elbow and pinch my brow.

“The self-deprecating remark that you always throw out when you don’t want to answer, or are unsure of what to say.” He puts his arms up, resting his hands behind his head and pulling his shirt up just high enough to expose some of his amazing abs.

“I…I’m sorry. Just habit I guess.” I force myself to get closer to him this time, leaning on his chest and dragging my hand along the hem of his shirt just so my fingers can touch his tight skin, causing him to sigh. Which is sweet, or torturous since I know that it might be too soon to go any further.

“I know.” He kisses the top of my head and brings one arm down to wrap around me. I drag my hand up to rest on his chest. “I just wish you could see yourself, the way I do.”

A soft knock on my door pulls me from my thoughts. “Kate?” My dad’s voice comes through.

“Come in.”

My dad walks in but stops a foot into the doorway. “Wow.” He chews on the inside of his lip. “So much for being my little girl.” He huffs.

I smile at my dad. “I’m always gonna be your little girl. Isn’t that what you’ve said?”

My dad laughs and steps in closer. “Yes I have.” He looks down at a box in his hands. “Liz and I got you something.” He holds out the black box with a white satin bow.

“Dad, you didn’t-”

He holds .vfup his hand stopping me. “Yes we did. Happy Graduation Day.” He gives me a crooked smile.

I pull the white ribbon, undoing the bow and open up the box. Inside hangs a delicate platinum necklace with a heart shaped diamond studded locket. The round diamonds trace the intertwining hearts and fleur-de-lis patterns. “Oh dad, you guys really-”

“Open it.” He says softly.

I open the locket to find my dad’s family crest is on one side and my mother’s is on the other. On the back it’s engraved; Always in your heart as you are in ours.

I throw my arms around my dad as tears roll down my face. His irish spring soap smell surrounds me and I squeeze harder.

“I figured that pictures might be kind of cheesy so, I went with the crests.” He says as he lets me go.

“It’s perfect.” I unlock the clasp and bring it up around my neck. The perfect accessory to my black dress. I wipe the tears from my face and check my make-up to make sure that I didn’t ruin it. My pretty decent attempt at a light smoky eye look is still intact and I can’t stop looking at my new locket. Liz walks into the room and I run over to her, throwing my arms around her neck.  “Thank you so much Liz!”

“Aw, you are so very welcome. We just wanted to let you know how proud we are of you.”  Liz lets me go but grabs hold of my hands. “So,” She gives a smirk and raises her eyebrow, “will Logan be at the graduation?”

I blush a little and steal a glance at my dad. “Yeah. He is going to meet us there and then he said he has something planned for me this evening.”

“I like him.” Liz winks at me and lets go of my hands. “He’s brought out a side of you that we were afraid we would never get a chance to see.”

My dad shakes his head. “He’d just better not break my girl’s heart. That’s all I’m saying.” My dad takes Liz’s hand and starts heading out of the room. “Oh, I forgot, there is one more gift. Now, this is a birthday, graduation, acceptance into University gift rolled into one. Okay?”

I scrunch my nose at my dad as he reaches into his pocket, pulls something out and tosses it at me. I put out my hand to catch it and the metal clinks against the white gold ring my dad gave to me on my sixteenth birthday. I open my hand to see a brand new key hooked onto a phoenix keychain that reads; Kate’s Jeep.

My mouth drops open and I stare at my dad and Liz. Their smiles so wide they reach their eyes.

“You’re kidding!” I scream excitedly.

My dad lets out a chuckle. “Go find out for yourself.”

I stomp my feet like a child for a minute and run out the doorway right past them and down the stairs, trying not to twist my ankle in the process. Heels and stairs are not a good mix!

I yank open the front door and sitting in the driveway is a brand new twenty-fourteen black Jeep wrangler unlimited with all the grills and bars, extra large tires and a big red bow on the top of it. “Holy Crap! I can’t believe you guys did this!” I turn to find my dad and Liz right behind me. I throw my arms around them and squeeze them tight. “Is this what you were doing this morning?”

They look at each other with a sideways glance and laugh.

I run out to my new car and immediately upon opening the door I am hit with the new car smell that I thought I would never experience for myself. I sit in the driver’s seat and take in all the accessories and buttons and black leather accents.

“Turn it on!” My dad yells out as he approaches the driver door.

I slide the key into the ignition and turn, reveling in the roar of the engine, still unable to believe that it is mine. I hug the steering wheel before turning it off and locking it up. “This must have cost you-”

“Ah!” My dad puts up his hand. “Don’t go there.”

I bite the inside of my lip and hug them again. “Thank you so much guys!”

I go inside to get my purse, cap and gown, and before leaving I text a picture of my new Jeep to Logan.

My parents decide to go in a separate car to the graduation since they have to go to the rink for a bit afterwards. I excitedly get into my new jeep and touch every inch of this car that I can reach while I am driving to the country club that has agreed to host our graduation.

I pull into a parking spot near the entrance with my parents pulling in to the spot right beside me. I put on my gown, though I haven’t zipped it up, and I keep my cap in my hands with my clutch that is hanging off my wrist. I glance at the rolling golf greens that must have been freshly cut this morning since the scent of cut grass is the first to hit my senses when I stepped out.

We make our way to the main hall and a mob of parents and their children are already crowding the front. I pass Samantha and her goons and they only glance at me for a second before turning their attention back to the fountain just in front of the main doors. As I approach the crowd of students near the main doors, I see that there are several girls looking in that direction and I wonder if someone’s celebrity parent or sibling is attending the graduation.

I try to find the celebrity they are all gawking at and I see Logan standing by the fountain. His hair is combed back with a couple of waves that have fallen near his temples, he shaved the scruff he had yesterday, so the sun is practically gleaming off his chiseled jawline. He’s in his fitted slacks, with a thin striped maroon and black dress shirt and a black vest over it. If I didn’t know better, I would say that the entire suit was tailored to fit him so snugly.

He spots me through the crowd and smiles as some girls nearby giggle and begin to argue over which one of them he was smiling at. While I get closer, I realize that the person they were all staring at was Logan.

He takes a few steps to meet me and stops just inches from my face, his hand wrapping around my waist as he plants a soft kiss on my cheek and hands me a dozen dark red roses. “You look absolutely stunning.” I feel myself blushing, but I do not pull away. He wraps his arms tight around me and I see several girls whispering amongst themselves and shaking their heads.
Guess the freak didn’t do too bad, huh?

My parents walk up behind me and Logan hugs Liz and shakes my dad’s hand.

“Logan, why don’t you sit with us?” My dad offers, and a warmth consumes me.

“It would be my pleasure, sir.”

Logan takes my hand and we walk in until I’m told that I have to go to another room to prepare for the class entrance.

The entire Graduation barely takes more than an hour. Our class is pretty small in comparison to other high schools due to the extremely selective process of what kids can attend as well as the cost. Several girls that I rarely talk to lean over and said hello, sure to ask if my boyfriend is an actor. Ana, who is sitting next to me and I giggle over the newly found interest in getting to know me and my life.

“So, Ms. Graduate. What will you be doing now?” Logan takes my hand as we are walking out about an hour later and plants a kiss on top of it.

Before I could answer, my dad picks up his pace, stepping up beside Logan. “Actually Logan, we wanted to take Katelyn out to lunch and would like to ask you to join us.”

For a moment, I felt like one of those cartoons whose mouth actually hits the ground when something shocking happens.

“Are… Are you sure Mr. Miller, I would hate to intrude.” I smile at Logan’s charm and refinement, so rarely found in guys his age.

“You would not be intruding, and please, call me Rick.”

From behind my dad Liz is beaming a smile at me and I have a funny feeling that she had a lot to do with him opening up like this.

“I would love to, then. Thank you.” Logan reaches out and shakes my dad’s hand.

Dad and Liz get into their car, leaving Logan and I to sort out transportation. Knowing how excited I am about my new car, Logan offers to leave his car here and either pick it up later, or have someone pick it up, and go in my car.

“So are you going to tell me what the plan is for tonight?” I ask with my voice a little softer than usual in the hopes that he will cave.

“No chance. You will just have to be surprised.” He reaches over and grabs my hand, bringing it over for another kiss. I thank God that we are at a red light because I watch his lips as they touch my hand and wish they were touching my lips. So many times we had been so close and either he would decide otherwise or we would be interrupted.

“Well, if I don’t know, then how will I know what the dress code is?” I try once again to get it out of him.

“Nice try, but to be honest, what you have on now, is perfect.”

The afternoon goes by smoothly at a restaurant on the ocean that my dad chose. At one point the waitress points out that the waves are pounding the rocks below us much stronger than they should be considering the wind was so mild. Immediately Liz looks at me and smiles. I had told Liz about the fact that it seemed all the ‘occurrences’ happen when there are high emotions going on. I even recalled that when my father first told me the story of the night my mother died, a storm rolled in and lasted all night and the next day.