Parahuman (Parahuman Series) Page 13

  “Okay.” He walked around to the driver’s side.

  Laney’s frowned deepened at Devan’s attitude. She was becoming used to his short responses and serious manner, but the tone he was using now seemed distant and cold. Climbing into the passenger side Laney fastened her seat belt and gave him an apologetic smile.

  “I’d like to give you some money to pay for a new tire, since it was my idea to come out here.”

  Devan started the jeep, a frown lining his forehead. “It was no fault of yours that my tire obtained a flat.” He did a tight u-turn having no problem maneuvering in the small space.

  Laney was picking up some grim undercurrents in the air and she didn’t understand how it could be just from a flat tire. “Well, I’m feeling a little responsible and awful that you’re going to have to pay for a new tire.”

  “Money is not a problem.”

  Laney rolled her eyes at Devan’s comment. “You could be a millionaire, and I would still want to give you something.”

  Devan was carefully navigating the dirt road. “What I meant was the tire is not damaged. There was something wrong with the valve stem.”

  Laney was stumped. “Oh…well that’s good.” Why was he in such a grim mood then?

  Devan turned right at the main road. It was weird seeing someone drive in the dark with sunglasses on. He stared straight ahead in silence.

  “A dollar for your thoughts?” Laney asked just to break the silence. It was starting to feel uncomfortable.

  “I thought it was ‘a penny for your thoughts’?”

  “Inflation…and I don’t want your thoughts to seem cheap or anything.” Laney teased, trying to lighten the dour atmosphere.

  Laney detected a slight indecision to Devan’s manner. His head turned her way slightly like he was looking at her out of the corner of his eye but then it slanted forward.

  “I was thinking it’s too bad I couldn’t stay here in Silverton, and that I’m going to be sorry to leave.”

  Laney’s heart skipped a beat…or stopped. “Leaving!” Okay, that might have been a little too screechy. Trying to moderate her tone Laney continued. “You just moved here. Why would you be leaving already?” Each sentence came out in a halting breath.

  “We’ll probably stay until the end of the school year; another month or so. I was just thinking that it wouldn’t be fair to your father to take that tour position for such a short time, so I’m going to rescind my application of employment. I hope I didn’t waste too much of his time.”

  Laney’s throat felt like it was closing up. Blinking hard and breathing jerkily through her nose Laney reminded herself that she had only known Devan for two days, scant hours, there was no reason to be feeling this way. But, again, feelings had their own zip codes sometimes.

  “Why would you move here for only a few months?”

  Devan’s hand lifted to his sunglasses, fiddled with them for a second, and then removed them, setting them in the empty cup holder. Laney couldn’t stop herself from staring intently at his the side of his face, waiting for him to turn toward her. He didn’t however.

  Laney’s gaze fell to Devan’s lips when he started talking again. The skin around them was tight and the muscles in his jaw were moving like he was grinding his teeth. “My uncle has decided to come out of retirement and might be accepting a job in Atlanta.”

  Laney’s heart pinched painfully at the thought of him moving so far away. “I’m sure my dad would appreciate the help until he can find another candidate.” She said desperately. This was probably…most likely…not true, because it would just cause her dad more work in training one person and then having to train another when Devan left. Laney blatantly disregarded that fact though.

  “Actually, it is more cost effect for your father not to hire me.” Devan refuted neutrally.

  Jeez, it was like he was reading her mind, but then Laney should have realized that Devan would know all about job effectiveness. He’d already displayed that he wasn’t just another pretty face.

  Could he have sounded like he could care less about the entire situation though? Laney thought they had had a real moment at the river back there, but it appeared not…at least for Devan.

  A car was coming from the other direction, its headlights shining in through the front glass. Devan brought his hand up as if the light was too bright; his eyes were narrowed as though in discomfort.

  “The next driveway on the left is mine.” Laney pointed up ahead. She could hear the hurt and bewilderment in her voice and hoped Devan couldn’t hear it. The last thing she wanted was to sound like a pathetic fool.

  Laney’s house was set off the road about fifty yards. It was a two story log cabin with a wrap around porch that had been built sixty some years ago by her grandpa Jennings. Over time they had cleared away many of the trees to expand the yard.

  A single porch light was on and the flickering glow of the television could be seen through the front window. Laney knew her dad would have heard the engine of the jeep and would assume it was her coming home from the party. He would take for granted that it was Hali dropping her off, but if he came to the window he would receive quite a surprise, because not only wasn’t it Hali, but it was a boy.

  No boy had ever brought Laney home after one of the parties, not even Jarrod, because Laney had never been given the green light to date. Not that she ever had the inclination to date anyone from her school. Laney had grown up with all of them and not one of them had sent her heart into palpitations.

  Not until an overly tall…

  Extremely puzzling…

  Particularly aggravating, and somewhat endearing, male came to town…

  Got her heart palpitating...

  And then planned to leave, screwing everything up.

  Laney felt like she was going to cry, but she wasn’t going to allow herself to be turned inside out on account of a guy she’d just met.

  “Should I come in and tell your father?”Devan inquired.

  Laney wanted to hit him for how polite and remote he sounded, instead her grip tightened on the door handle ready to make a jump for it as he pulled up to her porch. “No, I can tell him. He will be disappointed because I could tell he really liked you and appreciated your skills.” Laney tried to scoot forward and realized her seatbelt was still buckled. That would have been mortifying, trying to jump from the jeep with it was still attached. Unlatching it quickly she went for the door again.

  “Thank you.”

  The words and the gravelly tenor of Devan’s voice had Laney’s hand freezing on the lever. Looking back over her shoulder Laney found herself pinned to the spot by Devan’s gaze. He was looking right at her—finally—with those amazing eyes of his. Amazing eyes that she was still unable to see because of the dim lighting, but to at last have eye to eye contact with him was incredible. She might not be able to read what was going on in those eyes, but she could feel something being conveyed by his body language.

  What did he mean with that ‘thank you’? It seemed to express a lot.

  Because touch was inherent to Laney she reached out before even realizing it and laid a hand on Devan’s arm. The arm tensed but didn’t flinch away, and Laney felt a shot of joy that he allowed her contact when she had just begun to sense that he hadn’t been flinching away from her touch specifically, he just wasn’t comfortable with the whole concept of touching.

  And that thought brought a whole new sense of sadness for him.

  “I’m really sorry about the tire, and I’m really really sorry about Jarrod, but I had a good time tonight.” Laney had to hold her tongue because so much more wanted to explode from her mouth.

  Devan’s gaze settled on Laney’s hand. His grip tightened on the steering wheel—Laney forced her hand to stay put—and then his hands relaxed as though he willed them to. Laney expelled the breath that she had been unconsciously holding, and finally noticed that Devan’s arm was extremely warm, and that his arm hair was exceptionally soft…for a guy’s. She wa
s scarcely able to stop herself from caressing it.

  A sigh blew from Devan’s mouth and he looked like he was about to say something, but then his head lifted from their adjoin flesh.

  “I think Nick is wondering what is going on.”

  Laney snatched her hand away reflexively. It was weird having your dad witness a potential touchy feely moment with a boy. Talk about awkward.

  Glancing up at the house Laney couldn’t see her father anywhere. The only light came from the living room window and he wasn’t there, unless he was peeking from around a curtain and Laney couldn’t see her father doing something that sneaky.

  “How do you know? I can’t see him anywhere.” Laney squinted real hard at the window curtains.

  “He’s at the front door, waiting.”

  Just then the inside front hallway light switched on illuminating her father’s face in the window, with a crater size frown etched between his brows. The outside front porch light flickered off and on. How Devan has seen her dad in that pitch black nothingness of a window was a mystery? But then that described just about everything about Devan.

  “I guess that’s my signal.” Prior to his ‘thank you’ Laney couldn’t wait to hurl herself from the jeep, now she reluctantly slid out. The ‘thank you’ had changed her entire view of the past conversation.

  Standing in the open door Laney stared at Devan. He appeared to be studying his fingers that were once again gripping and relaxing on the steering wheel. His head tilted her way slightly and his eye seemed to glow for a second before he tilted his face away. Trick of the light?

  “So I guess I will see you tomorrow.” Laney said softly.

  “I imagine, seeing as the school only houses fifty six students.”

  Many people’s tone would have been humorous, sarcastic, or even ironic, but not Devan’s. He stated those words ever so matter-of-factly. That’s what made them so…Devan.

  He shifted the jeep into drive. “Goodbye Laney.”

  Laney stepped back from the Jeep and watched as Devan drove away, and tried really hard not to take his aloof manner to heart.

  It was hard though.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Devan pulled a U-turn, watching Laney in his review mirror as he drove away. He could see her eyes puckered in bewilderment. Devan understood where her confusion was coming from. She had taken him to a very special place of hers tonight, they had conversed candidly—or as candidly as he could—and then the next minute he was basically snubbing her.

  He had been purposely antisocial, but this at least was sure to keep her away from him. Jarrod was too much of a wild card, and Devan’s only hope of avoiding unwanted attention was to accede to Jarrod’s requests or threats, as they were. Hopefully, withdrawing from the job position and keeping his distance from Laney would turn Jarrod’s attention back to his other interests: such as; pulling the wings off butterflies, blowing up frogs with firecrackers, or tying two cats’ tails together and letting them go at it.

  Devan hit the dashboard with his fist, shocked by the aggression coursing through him. He’d been irritated at other people before, but the depth of the emotion he was feeling now eclipsed all those other experiences.

  Turning right, Devan drove through town yet again heading for the cliff they had climbed this afternoon. He needed to vent some energy.

  Parking in the same spot, Devan jumped from the jeep and sprinted to the base of the cliff and immediately began climbing. He didn’t hold back this time; jumping from one hand grip to another reducing his climbing time from this afternoon by more than half.

  Unfortunately, he reached the top way too soon. Breathing easily, his hands abraded from the climb, Devan gazed around at the scenery he had only briefly looked at before; on account of his interest in Laney’s visage more.

  No one in the world could look upon this scene the same way Devan was at this moment; in complete darkness but with absolute clarity. The night brought out a variety of animals that would have otherwise been sleeping; bears scavenging for food, a coyote dining on an unlucky victim of a hunt, elk were scattered throughout the panorama, and there were a multitude of other animals foraging for their midnight diners.

  Any other time these sights would have calmed Devan’s emotions, but tonight it wasn’t having any effect at all. He flopped down on his back and looked up at the stars hoping to distract himself with the constellations available at this time of the season, but Orion, Leo, and Taurus didn’t have any appeal for him tonight.

  Instead, Laney’s face kept intruding into his consciousness.

  Devan wasn’t sure what it was about her that he found so interesting. What made her so different from everyone else? She was very attractive, but others had been just as good-looking. She was sociable, but again others had been sociable.

  However, her sociable had been different. While others had been friendly they had never really taken the time to make friends with him. They had never stuck up for him as Laney had with Jarrod. When Laney had run after Devan at the party it seemed as if she were choosing him above all her other friends. The thrill of it had been…inconceivable. Devan had felt a joy to that only once before; ten years earlier after his escape and his first taste of freedom.

  Unfortunately, there was nothing Devan could do about the situation. Jarrod was too unpredictable. Devan would have to keep his distance from Laney.

  Sighing, Devan stood up, took one last look around, and reminded himself that he at least had this in his life.

  It didn’t lift his spirits like it usually did.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  Devan went for his customary sprint around the perimeter the next morning before school. He had not slept well the night before and the sounds and smells of the forest cleared his mind, somewhat, of the anxiety that had been clouding it.

  However, it wasn’t just for exercise that he came out on these daily runs; it was also for a systematic knowledge of the landscape. Knowledge made for better escape possibilities.

  After a while the fingers of light began to penetrate the darkness and he reluctantly turned to head back toward the house, but drew up short at a familiar scent.

  Wolves!

  Devan stopped and rotated, contemplating this information. He’d come across the scent of wolves before in other regions, but to find them here in Silverton was attention-grabbing. Why would a pack of wolves be in Colorado when they hadn’t been seen here in over sixty years? It wasn’t necessarily a philosophical conundrum, but it was interesting none-the-less.

  It was a subject matter that would have to be shelved for later though, because school was waiting. Devan maintained his heading toward the house making it in time for a shower and stack of pancakes with a side plate of sausage. He then stole out of the house while Brett remained sleeping.

  Silverton High School was off the main road―like everything else―so it wasn’t difficult to find. It was connected to Silverton Middle School by the gymnasium that was mutually shared by the two. There were few dozen vehicles already in the parking lot and more were arriving as Devan found a spot nearest the exit—for his hurried departure later.

  Stepping out of the jeep Devan could see scores of curious glances swinging his way. As there were only fifty-six students in the high school class an unfamiliar vehicle didn’t go unnoticed, nor did he. Flipping the hood of his jacket over his head for some anonymity and to discourage any possible conversations Devan headed for the school’s office.

  He opened the office door to find two female secretaries, an older brunette and slightly younger dirty blonde, a student… a young freshman by the looks of him, and another adult reprimanding said possible freshman.

  They all halted in what they were doing to stare at him.

  Stepping up to the counter Devan waited patiently for someone to regain their wits. Thankfully, it didn’t take too long for one secretary to overcome her astonishment.

  “You must be Devan Ferris.” The brunette said, walking up to the counter. It was a li
teral statement, because who else would he be.

  “Yes ma’am.” He answered because he’d come to comprehend that’s what people expected.

  The others continued to stare, and Devan could also hear students in the hall walking past making comments on his appearance.

  “Well, it’s nice to meet you. My name is Mrs. Coats, this is Mrs. Cantin, and that there Mr. Doug.” Mrs. Coats waved her arm at the other secretary and the reprimanding teacher. They smiled in greeting but their expressions contained a certain amount of indecision. The freshman regarded Devan with trepidation.

  Devan forced a smile and gave nod of greeting. He knew the adults were probably having qualms about his size, wondering if he was going to be a problem. The freshman was most likely wondering if Devan was going to beat up on him at a later date.

  “Your uncle told us about your eyesight situation and we’ve informed your teachers so you won’t have any problems with wearing your glasses in class.” Mrs. Coats stated in a maternal tone. “The teachers will have to give an explanation to the other students so they don’t think you’re being treated special.” She turned pink and stuttered over the word ‘special’ as though just by saying it Devan was being labeled as abnormal.

  If she only knew.

  She handed over two sheets of papers; one a class schedule which included his locker information, the other a map of the school—something he seriously doubted would be needed. Then came the customary new student information, and as she did this the others finally resumed what they had been doing before Devan walked in. The freshman was let off with a cautionary lecture of running in the halls, but as soon as he hit the hallway Devan heard the sound of sneakers sprinting away.

  “Do you need help finding your first class?” Mrs. Coats asked helpfully when she was done, smiling in a sympathetic way—like she knew what the day held for him.

  “No, I’m sure I can find it,” Devan assured her, holding up the map. He would end up tossing it out immediately as he had it memorized already. Even without his photographic memory it would have been effortless, because the school was just one long hallway with classes on either side.