Warmth consumed me, why was it so hot. I pulled on my right leg to kick the covers off and felt pressure, no weight restraining me from movement. I reluctantly opened my eyes and peered over at Caleb. Instantly the prior night came flooding back and embarrassment filled me. I knew he would be there at the party Ava told me, still trying to forget everything else I forgot all about him. Then when he was standing in front of me he was all my mind could comprehend. The desire I felt was incomparable to anything I felt before.
The urge to pee out willed my need to continue to lie next to him. I strained to pull my leg from underneath him, failing at preventing him from stirring.
"Where are you going?" He spoke without opening his eyes
"I have to pee." I whispered into his face
He removed his leg from over mine and I scurried to the bathroom. I don't know how I held all the liquor in my bladder, but gradual relief found me when I finally depleted the content. I showered and cleaned myself up sneaking back into the room to get some clothes. Once dressed I debated with myself if I should wake him but decided against it, instead went on the hunt for some food. I needed something to fill the nauseas feeling in my stomach. I walked into the kitchen as my mother placed a tomato and bacon sandwich in front of me.
"Here this should help."
"Thanks mom." I took a bite
"Even though you deserve the after math."
"I know." I spoke with a mouth full.
"Here, take these." My mom shook out a couple of pills and handed it to me.
Before I could grasp the pills a foreign hand pulled me back and I felt my back against a solid chest. Recognition of Calebs smell was instant.
"They are just aspirin." I heard my fathers voice from the door way. "Though she will continue her meds."
"No," Caleb said sternly.
"This is not part of the compromise." My father voice rose
"Stop!" I screamed.
I don't know where my voice came from but I was tired of all discussion about me, without my input.
I looked up to see everyone's gaze on me.
"I need some answers." I said in a softer tone.
I could see my dads annoyance
"And you deserve them." Caleb said sitting next to me but maintained contact.
"THAT IS MY DECISION!!" My dads hand can down cracking the counter
My mother rushed to his side, her touch instantly providing some requiescence.
"Why can I not make decisions about my life?" Pleading was my only way to
"The decisions I make are to protect you."
"Which I would be more compliant to if I understood what was going on."
Everyone grew quiet
"Doesn't she have the right to know that much." Calebs fingers played across mine. "She doesn't even understand the draw, or the pain, she feels. She cannot explain her own senses or why they appear and disappear. There is a part of her she is completely oblivious to, and that is all your fault."
Calebs calm voice was confronted with a defense of tone my father adopted to prove his point.
"I'll take that fault if it means her safety." My father stubbornly argued
"I want to know… I want to understand." I tried to discover my voice
My mother's eyes softened on me and seen the desperation I tried to convey.
"We have to tell her something Jeremiah." You could hear the pleading in my mother's voice.
The loud sound of my father inhaling and exhaling could be heard.
"If you don't then I will." Caleb challenged, which did not sit well with my father
Though I could tell my father was not accepting of Caleb's challenge he did not retaliate with a response. Instead he placed his focus on me.
"We are different than others," he paused searching for the words. "The thing that makes us different, has placed you in danger. That is why I have chosen to suppressed your heterogeneity to make you blend in with…humans."
"Humans?" I mimicked they way he lingered on the word human, "As in we are not."
"The extent of our talents progress pass the capability of the average person. That is why you are able to run faster and longer than most. Why you never get sick. The medicine you get can only mask the extremity of your ability but cannot restrain them completely."
"For the rest of us like you, we have to remember not to run too fast, jump too high, or grasp too tightly."
I sat there thinking about what was trying to convey.
"What does that all mean?" I instantly regretted the continuous questioning.
I could see what my father disclosed to me has already been painful. I felt responsible I didn't want to push anymore if he was going to suffer.
"What about Caleb?"
"He is the same." My father said as my hand began to run across the back of Caleb's
"No, the pull. Why…?" I couldn't complete my thought, but I saw an instant smile tug at Caleb's lips.
"It's apart of what we are. I feel the same for your mom." He looked over his shoulder to my mom. "Separating can be painful, but can be managed. But I guess for you young people there is no self restraint."
He spit out the last words, eyeing Caleb as he lessened the space between us. I felt his shift as soon as my father said the word 'separating'.
"After… " Caleb gritted between his teeth but paused, "time of being together. Then separation can be… tolerated."
My dad released a small growl which seemed out of his control. I raised an eyebrow, questioning constant growling.
"How come I don't make that noise?' I questioned out loud.
"It's a part of the whole thing, but is hidden with your other senses." My father responded
"What other senses?"
The inhaled motion returned, and I knew I was playing with fire.
"It's okay, I understand enough for now."
My fathers whole body relaxed
"And I'll continue to take the medicine." I reached for the bottle.
"This is a suppressant Mira. It is the reason why your senses are blocked." Caleb voiced his disbelief, placing his other hand on mine stopping me from grabbing the bottle.
"If my father feels it is keeping me safe," I shrugged "compromise."
Caleb released his hand preventing me from grabbing the bottle. I took the pills and swallowed some juice.
"What was the compromise you and Caleb came up with?"
He inhaled, the unfordable presence appeared in his stance again. Caleb Chimed in, to take the stress away or to add further irritation, I'm not sure.
"You get to stay after School with me every day for 20 minutes, On Friday we get 3 hours, and Saturday and Sunday I can come over for 2. A compromise, not great though."
"We never said anything about Saturday and Sunday." My father narrowed his eyes
"It's getting harder to have days away." Caleb responded keeping his eyes on me.
"Saturday, no Sunday," My dad countered
"Deal," I agreed before an argument aroused.
I smiled sweetly at Caleb who looked slightly hurt. I kissed him on the temple earning a snarl from my dad that seemed more closely related to a vicious bark. Caleb stood up and grabbed my hand.
"What are you doing?" My father panicked
"Its Saturday, I have her for two hours." Caleb said grinning
"I get that but where do you think you are going?" My father countered
"We never agreed it had to be in this house." Caleb joyfully responded. "Though you try to try to fight it you I know you can sense my strength. You know she is safe so long as she is with me."
My mother stood beside my father and rested a hand on his shoulder. My fathers eyes lowered and I could tell he was conceding.
"Two hours and I'll have her back I promise."
"Don't go showing off either, and she knows enough." My father rushed out the rules.
Caleb agreed as we walked to his car parked in the front. Caleb opened my door and and helped me in, buckling me up, and then walking around to his side.
"Where are we going?" I asked as he pulled off.
"You ever been bowling," His smile twinkling across his striking teeth.
As soon as we were in motion Caleb grasped my hand in his and held it the whole way there. Our conversation was consumed with our disbelief in the terms my father agreed upon.
I could not lie about the excitement I felt when we pulled up to the bowling alley. I never been to one before I don't think the appeal of going with my parents was ever there and I never had any friends to go places with.
My door opened and I peered up to Calebs outstretched hand. I quickly grabbed his hand allowed him to pull me from the car. Our hands continued to be intertwined as we walked to the building. The noise of the balls hitting against the bins was over bearing at first as my hand flew to my ears.
"Are you okay?" Caleb bent down to my eye level. "We can go somewhere if it is too loud."
"No, I'm okay." I lowered my hands and smiled to reassure him. "I was just surprised."
I was embarrassed to admit this was my first time, but Im sure he already knew.
"Come on let's get our shoes.'
"I already have shoes on."
"Bowling shoes." He stated hoping I would understand.
I looked back at him with confusion
"We have to wear special shoes on the floor so we don't mess up the wood."
My face filled with embarrassment again and he guided me to the counter. After we got the lane Caleb helped me into the new pair of shoes and entered our names in the computer. I stood beside him as I took in my surroundings
"Me and my friends come up here all the time."
"You look so excited." I smiled down at him.
He pressed one more final button and stood up in close proximity to me.
"Of course I am, you're here with me." He buried his face in my neck placing a soft kiss in the crook.
I'm pretty sure my face is going to bed stuck in a smile at this rate. He grabbed his ball and stood at the top of the lane. He took his form and sent the ball flying down the lane. The ball hit the middle of the pins knocking them all down. He turned around looking smug.
"I believe my father stated, no showing off."
"I can't help it."
He gently pulled me by the arm towards the carousel with the ball.
"Pick a ball that is comfortable."
I picked up two different balls inserting my fingers and checking see if they were comfortable. I picked the one marked with a 5.
"You want me to help you?" He asked standing near by.
"No, I want to try it first." I said determined
"Go ahead."
My eyes focused on the center of the pins, I pulled my ball back and as he hand went forward I let it go lining up with the center of the pins again. I watched as the ball speed down the lane faster than Calebs and smacked into the pins. The blunt force of the ball send the pins falling in a flash. I turned back with excitement towards Caleb. He looked shocked but quickly covered it up and matched my level of excitement.
"That was awesome."
Caleb took his turn again and this time one of the pins remained. He grabbed his ball again as it came through the carousel.
"Isn't it my turn?" I asked him perplexed.
���If you don't knock down all of the pins you get another chance to knock them all down. You don't get as many point though."
On his second turn Caleb knocks the last pin down returned triumphed. I walked took my turn knocking all the pins down again. Caleb shook his head but didn't look as thrilled as I was. He refrained from explaining his emotion and took his turn. This time he knocked down even fewer pins and knocked down every pin but two in his second turn. I was winning, I wonder if he is was letting me. I took the position to go again. I knocked the pins down again but this time I notice the guy in the next lane looking in my direction.
I walked to Caleb who remained by the couch next to the lane. He brought into a hug. I loved the constant contact he between the two of us. It always provided calming and satisfying feeling.
"What's wrong?"
"Don't worry sweet heart, he just mad his girl is kicking his ass." The man in the next lane laughed as he stepped up to his lane.
I turned my attention back to Caleb to gauge his emotions. He stepped closer to me speaking in a whisper. My face twisted in he same concerned manner as his.
"Remember what we talked about before, how we're different from humans and sometimes we have to be careful in what we do?"
"Yeah." I matched my tone with his.
Caleb tried to lighten the mood by smiling down at me.
"No human can throw a ball precisely where it's supposed to go every time, or even with that force."
I began to panic when he tighten his hold on my waist calming me down.
"It's okay just try to shift the ball around some of the time and throw the ball lighter."
I bit on my lip and his smile brightened.
"I'll help you on your next turn." He said kissing me on the cheek and then went to take his turn.
I watched as he pulled the ball back and threw the ball towards the pin. I spotted the slight change in the direction he angled the ball at the last moment. He looked back me and hid a message behind his smile. He was hoping I noticed his tactics. I grabbed my ball and walked up to Caleb. He slid his hand along side of mine.
"Alright, so when you go to aim the ball at the pins just slightly angle the ball away from the center. Though that won't be enough if you use all of your force."
Caleb's hand pulled back his arm with mine and as we brought my arm forward I felt him pull back slightly as we aimed slightly to the left. The ball still sprawled down he lane with great speed but not as fast as before. All of the pins on he left fell. Wed stood in the same position and this time aimed to the right. All of the pins fell. I jumped up with excitement that was able to properly hit the pins.
"She did better without your help." The guy from lane next to ours snorted.
We continued to take our turns interchangeably me getting better at masking my intentional means of deviating my aim.
"So how many girls have you brought here?" I asked him as stood next go him while he took his turn
"Don't worry about that, Mira you're the only girl I have ever dated. I couldn't take the chance of pissing off my Luna."
"Moon?" I questioned him.
"Think of it as a pet name. Your turn" he gestured for me to take my turn. "What about you?"
"What about me?" Rolled the ball down the lane and he turned to me with golden glistening color in his eye.
"Kissed anyone, dated?" He questioned
"Have you met my father?" I asked him "I never had any real friends." I said quietly
I took my second turn and he went
"What other things do you do for fun?"
"Sometimes we go for a run, you should join us sometimes?" The golden color returned to his eye
"Why do your eyes turn that color?" I asked before thinking
He smiled at me, "It's a … non human thing."