Chapter 11

The apartment was dark when Aeron got in, the only light was streaming from Lesley’s door. Aeron should go thank her again for letting her use her driver, but she just didn’t want to see anyone at the moment. She had reached her doorway when the blood curdling scream from the next room reached her ears. She turned on her crutches and moved as fast as her four legs would carry her, twisting the hand grips so the pop-knives were exposed.

Aeron kicked in Lesley’s bedroom door with her good leg, swinging on the crutches for momentum. At first it seemed everything was fine, except Lesley standing on her bed, tangled in sheets, as if she had seen a ghost.

“Over there! Over there!” Lesley screamed, pointing toward the bathroom.

Aeron swung around, looking for the intruder. There was no one there. “Les, Where?”

“On the wall!”

Aeron looked back and saw it: a spider. It was about the size of a quarter and slowly making its way toward the ceiling. Aeron looked from Lesley to the intruder, trying not to roll her eyes.

She slid the pop knives back into her crutches and used one to reach up and squish the uninvited guest. “All set.”

“Thanks,” Lesley said, lowering herself back onto the bed. “Glad I didn’t wake you,” she added, taking in Aeron’s clothes. “Did you have a good night?”

Aeron thought about her chat with Mason, and her fleeing from Luke. “I’ve had worse. You all right?”

“Yeah. Just startled me on my way to the bathroom. Thanks.”

Aeron nodded and headed back to the living area. She was surprised no one else had come running, but then again she wasn’t sure anyone else was home. Aeron looked at her watchit was only eleven-thirty. No one would be back from their dates yet. Aeron fed Jazz a wet food and took the pain meds Shannon had left her. She fell right to sleep, without even changing out of her clothes.

It was unseasonably warm for the end of October, and Aeron was glad she had worn only a hoodie. Perry was leaning against the closed doors of the stables with a set of bow and arrows in his hand.

“Think you can handle one of these with a bum leg?” he asked. “Shannon called.” It was explanation enough for Aeron.

“It’s been awhile, but I think I can handle it.”

They took a golf cart to the archery range, and Perry was surprisingly quiet. Aeron didn’t mind, but felt he was up to something. The range was exactly how she remembered it as a child: simple. It was an open field with basic targets scattered across it at various distances.

Perry helped her out of the golf cart and they made their way to a picnic table. He plopped himself down and pulled out a thermos. “Would you like some apple cider?” he asked, offering her the first cup.

“No thanks. I’m just going to do some warm up shots.”

He nodded and she turned her back to him, picking out her targets. She aimed toward the closet target, and pulled back on the bow; it was an old fashion one, not the fancy kind used for hunting. She took a breath and released: bull’s-eye.

“Wow,” Perry said with a whistle. “I thought the last time you did this was years ago.”

“It was,” Aeron said, smiling. It felt good—no great—to pick up where she had left off. She continued in silence, sinking arrow after arrow into the targets. After a half-hour she took a small break while an arrow-boy was retrieving her arrows.

Aeron removed her hoodie—she had worked up a sweat—and heard Perry choke on his cider. “You alright?” she asked, looking at him with concern. He was staring at the wrist where Luke’s cuff bracelet still sat. “What?”

“That is one nice bracelet,” he said, noncommittally.

“Thanks.” She looked down at it. She wore it out of habit really—at least that’s what she told herself. She reached across the picnic table for the thermos, and Perry reached out, stroking the cuff bracelet. Aeron jerked her hand back, and so did Perry—with a small swear—and stuck his finger in his mouth: he was bleeding.

“I’m sorry!” Aeron said, jumping up and looking around for something to stop the bleeding.

He just waved her off. “I’m fine. A minor flesh wound.”

Aeron nodded and sat back down. It was easy to forget how sharp the blades of the cuff were.

“You know, it took him all summer to find a jeweler in Europe to make that,” Perry said suddenly, nodding his head to her wrist. Aeron’s heart sank. Of course he had been gallivanting around Europe looking for someone to make her the perfect gift.

She grabbed her bow and thanked the arrow-boy as he set the box of arrows down. She strung the bow, aimed and fired. She missed. Aeron strung another and took a deep breath.

Concentrate, she told herself and fired. She hit the far edge of the target—next to the one she was aiming for.

“Crap!” she said, throwing the bow down. “This is all crap!”

Perry jumped up. “Aeron! What the hell?” She didn’t answer. Instead she steadied herself back on her crutches and took a deep breath.

“Nothing. This is my first day out and about since the muggers, and Shannon has me on these pretty rainbow pills…”

“You’re full of it,” he said. “I’m not sure what happened that night, but I know you well enough to know muggers had nothing to do with it.” She didn’t answer. “You should go to talk to him. He’s been pretty down lately—”

Aeron whipped her head up to look at him. “He’s here? Does Decius know?”

“Of course he’s here—he lives here. Where did you think he sulked off to? And how should I know who knows he’s here? The kid mopes around all day expecting sympathy for something I have no idea about. If you ask me he’s a little over dramatic.”

Aeron lips twitched at the idea of Luke being over dramatic. A picture from last year’s Halloween party crept into her mind: thick, black eye-liner, with matching lipstick; netted black tank and matching wings. He had been the dark angel to her white one.

“I haven’t seen him like this since his dad was killed,” Perry was saying, whisking the image away. “Go talk to him.”

Aeron leaned down, grabbed the bow back up and nodded. She should go and talk to him. This whole situation was wrong—she should be on two working legs, and Luke should be next to her, missing every target. She loaded an arrow closed her eyes. If she hit the target she’d suck it up and talk to him. If she missed she’d go back home and never speak to him, or Perry, again.

Aeron released her finger and heard the solid thump. She cracked her eyes: bull’s eye. Good, she thought, almost savagely, as she dropped the bow next to the box of returned arrows. Halloween was in two days and it was really too late for someone else to be the monkey to her banana.

The warmth of the Wayward home almost overwhelmed Aeron, and it wasn’t the temperature. There were Jack-o-Lantern’s lining the walkway, and rubber bats hanging on the porch. When she rang the doorbell it was the sound of a cackling witch.

Perry’s mother greeted her at the door, wearing a Halloween themed apron. “Why, hello Aeron! It’s been such a long time. Please, please, come in!”

“Thanks for letting me in, Mrs. Wayward,” Aeron said.

“Oh, Aeron. No need to be so formal! You’ve been here enough times, you can call me Betty. What happened to that ankle of yours?”

“A training accident. I should be able to walk on it by next week.”

“That’s good news, at least!” Betty said. She led Aeron through the living room—where there were couches were intended for sitting—and into the kitchen where Aeron took a seat at the island. It seemed the entire house was decked out for Halloween.

“The decorations look amazing, Mrs. Wayward. Did you do this all yourself?”

“Mostly. It is my favorite holiday, but the boys think I’m a little crazy, so I don’t get much help. Is there anything in particular I can do for you today? Or could I entice you to join in making these Halloween treats?” Betty pulled a handful of orange Rice-Krispy treats from a bowl.

“Actually, I was wondering if Luke was around?”

“Sure, he’s in his bedroom. But let me warn you,” she said with a small smile, “he’s been quiet the angsty teen lately. Visit at your own risk!”

“Thanks, Mrs. Wayward,” Aeron said, and with a small laugh headed for the stairs. Aeron found him staring out the window, with the afternoon sun silhouetting him. She cleared her throat, announcing her presence, but he didn’t turn around.

“How’s your ankle?” he asked. “Still gimping around?”

“Yup,” she said, standing in the doorway. “Can we talk?”

“Isn’t that what we’re doing?”

“Aren’t you snarky today,” she said, and entered the room. She dropped down on his unmade bed and tossed her crutches to the ground.

“Oh, I’ve picked a thing or two up from you,” Luke said, turning around. He looked terrible. He didn’t smile. There were purple bags under his eyes, and Aeron wondered if he had lost his razor weeks ago and was just too lazy to look for it—this certainly wasn’t the person she had thought she had seen last night.

“You look like crap,” she said, bluntly. “When was the last time you showered?”

Luke paused, and looked as if he were actually thinking about it. “I’m not sure. What day is it?” he asked.

“October, the twenty-ninth. We have the big Halloween bash tomorrow. Please tell me you haven’t decided to go as a bum.”

Luke’s lips twitched, but he managed to keep his face serious. “What is it you want, Aeron. I didn’t realize I warranted a personal visit.”

“I didn’t come for you. In fact if I had known you were here, I might have blown off this class all together.”

Luke didn’t say anything. Instead, he picked up her crutches and walked to the door, holding them out. She raised her eyebrows at him.

“Leave,” he said.

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t know why you came up here, Aeron, but you can go now. We obviously have nothing more to discuss than last time we saw each other.” Luke continued to hold her crutches out.

Aeron stood, and gimped her way to the door. Was she really being rejected? She hoped her face wasn’t showing her shock. She took the crutches—just as her cheeks and eyes began to burn. She ducked her head to hide her face.

“Luke…” But she didn’t know what to say. She had come up to make things right—to bring him home; she didn’t want to run from him—she wanted to run to him. But being rejected had never crossed her mind. She felt a hand beneath her chin, and allowed it to lift her face.

“Ronnie,” Luke breathed, and his face was inches from hers. She closed her eyes, and he kissed her. The warmth of Aeron’s face spread through her body. She dropped the crutches and wrapped her arms around him.

When the kiss finally broke, Aeron found herself lying across the bed—how had that happened?—with Luke beside her, breathless.

“You ruined a perfectly good storm-out,” Aeron sighed.

“Please,” Luke said, sitting up. “You weren’t storming anywhere. If anything, you were retreating with you tail between your legs.” Aeron sighed in defeat.

Luke reached up and pulled her into his arms and they laid in silence. Aeron didn’t know where they went now. Had he forgiven her for not confiding in him? Was it a conversation they would eventually have, once the resentment built back up? She pulled herself out of his arms,  and unconsciously began fiddling with her cuff bracelet.

“Lulu, we really should talk. This whole thing with my father—”

“Will be dealt with another time, if I have to kill him myself,” he said with a smile.

Aeron wasn’t sure if he was joking—she wasn’t sure if she cared. “Did you really spend your entire time in Europe looking for a jeweler who could make this?” She held up her left wrist.

Luke pulled her wrist into his lap. “Yeah. It was the only good thing about Grandfather dragging me around meeting his contacts. Perry was so annoyed with me; I think he ended up hooking up with some girl in Paris after our first week there.”

“She was from Madrid,” Perry said, from the doorway. Aeron and Luke jumped apart—Aeron slicing Luke’s hand on the cuff as she ripped it away.

“Crap!” Luke yelled, and stuck his hand in his mouth.

“Ah, we now have matching wounds, cousin.” Perry held up his injured hand.

“Lulu, I’m so sorry!” Aeron glared toward the door. “What are you doing here, Perry?”

“You left this on the range.” He tossed the hoodie to Aeron. “And a word of advice, love birds; I get you’re new to this whole dating thing, but learn to shut a door!” Luke chucked a pillow toward the door, but Perry had already vanished.

“I should be going anyway,” Aeron said, pulling on the hoodie and grabbing her crutches.

“George will be wondering what took me so long.”

“Maybe I should come too,” Luke said, standing up. “We haven’t even talked.”

“Whose fault is that?” Aeron said, a smirk lighting her face. “Get yourself cleaned up—shave, and get some sleep. You can come home tomorrow.”

Luke smiled. “Home. Sounds about right.” He kissed her gently. “See you tomorrow, Ronnie.”

***

Shannon, Alicia, and Lesley were eating dinner when Aeron walked in. “What kept you?” Shannon asked, annoyance written all over her face.

“Why hello to you too,” Aeron said. “What’s wrong? Did your date with Ivan not go so well?” She plopped down on one of the stools at the breakfast bar, and spooned some pasta onto a plate.

“My date with Ivan was fine,” Shannon said. “He’s a perfect gentleman.”

“Wonderful,” Aeron said, with her mouth full. “Just don’t break his heart. I need him.”

Shannon rolled her eyes. “So where have you been?” Shannon asked again.

“I just got caught up at class is all; you know how much I love my archery.” Aeron shot a sideward glance to Alicia. It had been so long since their conversation about equestrian, but Aeron wasn’t sure if Alicia knew—or would care—about Aeron’s only elective. Shannon raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment.

“Are we still going out tomorrow night?” Lesley asked.

Shannon gave her a quizzical look. “Tomorrow night?”

“Halloween party, at Sapphire. We go every year,” Lesley said slowly.

“Of course we are!” Aeron said. “We missed a good party for my birthday; I am not missing Halloween too.”

“I’ve already picked out my outfit,” Alicia said shyly.

“You mean costume?” Aeron asked.

“Sure, but I’m going as a cowgirl.”

“And is your mystery man going as a cowboy?” Lesley teased.

“Perhaps,” Alicia said, her face turning red.

“What are you going as, Aeron?” Shannon asked.

Aeron felt her cheeks begin to redden. Shannon knew she had seen Luke. Had Perry told her?

“Well?” Lesley prodded, with honest curiosity. “You and Luke always…” and she stopped. “I’m sorry Aeron!”

“It’s fine,” Aeron said. “I might as well tell you, as you’ll find out tomorrow—I saw Luke today.” Lesley and Alicia gasped—the perfect girlfriend gasp—and Shannon rolled her eyes. “He’ll be coming to the party tomorrow night, and moving back here.”

“About time he came to his senses!” Lesley said. “He’s such a drama queen.”

“I’m glad,” Alicia sighed. “This place doesn’t feel like home without him.” Aeron couldn’t agree more.

“Oh!” Shannon said suddenly, jumping up and taking an envelope off the fridge door.

“This was delivered for you.” She handed the envelope over to Aeron.

Aeron turned flipped it over—an official letter from the Institute. “Who dropped it off?”

“Just a currier.”

Aeron ripped it open. She had never gotten an official letter before—it usually meant you were in serious trouble. But it wasn’t addressed to her.

Dear Mr. Anderson,

Molly Anderson’s first assignment will take place on Sunday, the thirty-first of October at one a.m. on the eighth floor of building H.

Sincerely,

Amy Spragg

“It’s from Mason; my instructions on when to meet Molly,” Aeron said, deflating slightly at the time and date.

“When?” Shannon asked, now cleaning up dinner.

“Tomorrow night. One a.m.”

“That’s a terrible time!” Alicia said.

“It will be worth it,” Lesley added.

Aeron had to agree. As much as she would love to party all night with her friends, shadowing Molly was more important. She got up, looking from her crutches to Shannon. “Do you think I can ditch these yet?”

“I suppose. But you’ll have to make-do with a walking cast.”

Aeron nodded. “Great. Let’s get this thing off.”

“We’ll have to go to the fifth floor,” Shannon said, glancing side ways to Aeron, who groaned.

“We got the dishes,” Lesley said, heading toward the sink. “You go get that hideous thing  off your leg.”

Aeron nodded, and headed toward the door with Shannon. “Thanks guys.”

“Wait!” Alicia called. “You never did say what you were going to be tomorrow night.”

Aeron smiled. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”