A WHOLE NEW WORLD...
from GRAY ISLAND
“I was out walking.” Cadi
shook her head, sending a cascade of glistening raindrops from her honey-brown
hair. The droplets seemed to descend in slow motion, twinkling like stardust.
“In the rain?”
“It isn’t raining
anymore. Besides, I don’t mind. Rain is part of nature. We’re part of nature.
It all fits, right?”
“I guess. I prefer to
stay dry.”
“Oh? I can’t help but
notice you’re out here, same as I am.”
“I…uh, yeah. I couldn’t
sleep. And then I spotted you from my window.” He paused, fumbling for his next
few words. “I…um…I saw Ivar tonight.”
Her rosy lips thinned.
“I heard. I’m sorry he tormented you.”
Sage shrugged
self-consciously. “It’s a public place. I guess he had a right to be there,
same as I did.”
“Stuff like that
happens because we have only one restaurant on the island. I know he goes there
with his friends once in a while.”
“Do you ever go with
him?” Sage asked hopefully.
“No. My parents won’t
let me go anywhere that serves alcohol… besides, that place is a little noisy
for my tastes.”
“I know what you mean.”
They fell into step
together as they trudged though the sodden forest. The water dripping on her
skin didn’t seem to bother her at all, nor did the chilly air. She was used to
it, Sage supposed. Maybe he’d get used to it one day, too. But, no—he had no
idea of staying that long.
Cadi did make it
tempting to stick around a while, though.
“What’s the deal with
you and Ivar, anyway?” he finally asked, unable to keep a note of strain from
his voice. “You said once he wasn’t your boyfriend. But is he…I mean, are you
and he…?”
She didn’t wait for him
to finish. “I don’t like labels, personally. Do you?”
“I don’t know. It’s
kind of hard to tell what’s inside the can without one.”
She laughed, a genuine
and easy sort of laugh that banished the cold from his body. He smiled too.
They walked on, side by side, not touching but enjoying the moment. At least,
he was. And she seemed happy enough to stay beside him.
“I’m glad you have a
sense of humor,” Cadi said. “Not many people around here do.”
“The weather makes them
that way, maybe. No sun. I’ve been feeling kind of strange myself.”
“Not because of the
weather. Haven’t you figured that out yet?” She stopped and looked at him
intently.
“No. What do you mean?
Figured what out?”
“Sage…you don’t know
your father very well, do you? Or much about his life here?”
“Nah. Why would I? My
parents split up and he took off when I was less than a year old. I haven’t had
much contact with him since. Then, all of a sudden, my mother got this bright
idea to send me out here to live with him.”
“She didn’t tell you
why?” Cadi seemed genuinely concerned.
“Not in so many words.
I figure she couldn’t handle me anymore. You know, hormones, bad temper, the
usual teenage stuff.”
“No, Sage. It wasn’t
the normal teenaged stuff. Trust me.”
“What do you mean?” He
scowled and started walking again. “Are you trying to tell me my father is a
serial killer or something?”
“No! No, Jeremy’s all
right. I admit, my parents aren’t crazy about him, but they live on the other
side of the island, so that’s to be expected.”
Sage scowled. “Don’t
you come over to this side for school?”
“No. We have private
lessons in the compound. Ivar’s father, Laurent—he’s sort of like our
governor—appoints teachers for us. Sometimes he lectures to us, too. We can
study at our own pace. I kind of like it that way. I don’t think I’d do well in
your kind of school.”
“You’re kidding. That
sounds like something from another century!”
“No, it’s modern
enough. We have electricity and everything.” Her sardonic laugh ended in a
sigh. “There’s a lot about this place you don’t understand, Sage.”
“I’ll be the first to
admit that.”
She took his hand. He
squeezed back. “You’ll find out a lot, soon enough. Too soon, and I hate
thinking about it. I want to remember you like this: just a normal guy from
Boston, taking an innocent walk with me through the forest. I wish it could
stay like that.”
“What are you talking
about? What do you mean? I’m lost.” He looked around at the dark trees that
hemmed them in on all sides. Nothing looked familiar. “In more ways than one.”
“Don’t worry. You won’t
be for long. Don’t try to answer these questions too soon. Let some things be a
mystery. Once you look for answers, everything gets complicated.”
“I guess so. But I’d
still like to know the truth.”
“And I like mystery.
Maybe we’re not so compatible after all.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Then let some things
stay unsaid. Don’t ask me things. Let’s just spend time together and enjoy it.”
“Okay. If that’s what
you want.”
“I do, and I want
things between us to be special. Like magic.” She grasped his hand, pulling him
to a stop. Then she leaned up and kissed him on the mouth. Startled, Sage
responded awkwardly at first. Despite what he’d seen in movies and TV shows, he
wasn’t quite sure which way to tilt his lips, and at one point his front teeth
knocked against hers. When she didn’t move away, though, he decided to let
instinct guide him. That worked out better, as their mouths began to slide
together in a balanced and highly enjoyable rhythm.
Magic
was an understatement.
