02 Seekers Read Free Page A

stance. Alex’s
    breakup made me sad…I had loved seeing her in a normal relationship. It was proof that normal could exist in my world. As far ‘normal’ as normal ever really was…
    “I guess I’d better take this up to them,” I said gesturing at the food, knowing Ellen would forget to eat if I didn’t take her food to her.
    “I think I should shower,” he glanced down at his sweaty clothes.
    Neither of us moved. Daniel stared at the floor, and I stared at the clock over the kitchen door.
    We both remained lost in separate, serious thoughts for a long moment. Then, I closed the
    distance between us and put a hand on his cheek. “I’m glad I don’t have to lie to you.” His eyes met mine, full of doubt. “I’m glad…I’m just glad,” I added.
    You shouldn’t be. He realized I could hear his thoughts through our shared touch and cut me out abruptly. To cover for his hasty block, he kissed me on the neck. He started to leave the kitchen to take his shower, another distraction to get away from me. He paused at the door, his back to me. “I promise to try my hardest to make sure you don’t regret feeling that way.”
    He stepped down the hall and up my stairs without another word. I picked up the sandwiches and followed him up, hearing him start the shower, and went to Ellen’s room to help pick out a dress.
    Alex was sprawled out on Ellen’s bed, her feet dangling over the edge. She was talking to Ellen as Ellen changed in her closet.
    “Daniel and I were going to go to a movie tonight, but I’ll stay home instead,” I told Alex setting the food down on the nightstand.
    “What for?” Alex asked, grabbing one of the sandwiches.
    “‘Cause you just broke up with a guy you like, which has made you sad, which, in turn, makes me sad.”
    Alex shook her head at my offer. “Thanks, but no thanks. It’s not like Davis is my first breakup or anything. My first breakup, now that was hard…Andy Henderson. He had the best smile too.
    Man…you could swim in that smile. You could swim laps around that smile…laps and laps.”
    “That’s a visual…” I stared at her, doubting she was as okay as she was trying to make me
    believe. “We can watch one of your horrible reality TV shows and binge on Rocky Road.”
    “Oh, you do know how to tempt a girl, but I’m fine. Honestly,” she said.
    “Swear you’re not just being selfless,” I commanded, holding up the thumb I had cut to give her my blood; the blood that made us sisters.
    She touched her thumb to mine. “I swear.”
    “All right, but when I get back we’re going to talk about it,” I said.
    “That sounds so ominous. Oh! I love that one, Ellen!”
    Ellen stepped into the middle of the room and twirled around in a dark blue dress, the dress beautiful against her pale skin, and smiled. The room brightened with her smile and some of the negative emotions I had been harboring dropped away. Alex was right. It was perfect. I joined Alex on the bed and felt myself unwind as I joined in on their conversation. It was a feeling that couldn’t last.
    Daniel and I got into the car in silence. His dark mood spoke a thousand times louder than any words ever could. He had been introverted since our conversation in the kitchen. ‘Introverted’
    was a word Daniel didn’t know most days of the week.
    “What’s wrong?” I asked over the music he had playing.
    “What makes you think something is wrong?” he asked.
    “You’re showing symptoms of keeping things from me. Minor symptoms include avoiding my
    eyes. Major symptoms include trying to touch your nose with your eyebrows.”
    His scowl faded, and he laughed. “Is there a cure?”
    “Truth,” I said pointedly.
    His answer was immediate. “I’ve been in contact with an old friend, who seems to think there’s a way of finding out what Marcus is planning, and why he has spent so many resources in tracking you down.”
    “Shouldn’t that be a good thing?” I asked.
    Daniel made a face and