Bound by Duty

Chapter Two

I was lying in bed the next morning, my arm thrown across my eyes, my hair tangled and spread across the pillow. I probably shouldn't call it a bed. Really, it was a twin mattress thrown in the corner of my room, but it was there and I was trying to convince myself I could still sleep. Last night's dream hovered on the edges of my mind, but I was used to being able to block out the hazy ones. Hazy nights were the best nights because it meant I actually slept. This morning's problem was that every time I closed my eyes all I could see was him. Aidan.

I had a hundred questions I wanted to ask him but had no idea why. More than anything, I wanted to know how he was the first boy I'd ever met to make me feel like this; like I'd been lit on fire from the inside out. Even though I've never had a real boyfriend, I have had crushes before, but no one had ever stopped me in my tracks like he did. My curiosity about him almost outweighed how hot he was. Almost.

Finally, I gave up, forcing myself out of the bed and into the bathroom. The hot water would soothe out the tension and the coffee pot in the kitchen would do the rest. Of course, as I padded into the kitchen after my shower, Bethany was already holding my mug out toward me as she stood at the counter stirring her own. She was an early riser and already cheery at this ungodly hour, even though she'd been out late last night and had been dropped off by none other than Micah himself. I had heard their futile attempts at whispering as I stared at the ceiling hoping for sleep.

"Ame, you know I was right, right? That party was exactly what we needed. Girl, you've got to get out more. Meet a guy like Micah!" She bumped me with her hip and tried to hide her Cheshire smile behind her coffee mug.

I harrumphed a little and rolled my eyes.

"Oh, no you don't, honey. You aren't raining on my parade today. I'm riding high and I have his number to prove it!" Bethany sauntered into the living room like she was walking a pageant floor. She had a box full of trophies claiming her title of Miss Sweet Pea, Miss Rankin County, and a host of other things, so she strutted like a superstar. As she settled into the couch, I was met with a perfectly-sculpted arched eyebrow and the question I dreaded most. "So, where exactly did you run off to last night? Did you meet a guy? You're holding out on me, aren't you?"

I hated how excited she looked at the prospect and how well she could already read me. But, for whatever reason, I just couldn't tell her about Aidan. I didn't know exactly what to say; how to describe the oddest encounter I'd ever had with a guy. How to explain that someone who initially seemed so dangerous didn't feel that way at all. I just knew I would sound like an idiot.

"You know me. I wandered around for a while, got bored, walked the beach, and then headed home. I wasn't actually feeling the greatest and I didn't want to bust up your moment with Micah." I hated lying. I hated how necessary lying was.

"Really? Another migraine? Well, that sucks. Next time I won't bail on you. Pinky swear. We'll make the rounds together and see if we can find you a matching cutie so we can do doubles!" Bethany dropped back into the couch with a wide grin.

I could only shake my head and laugh as I headed back to my room, leaving her to reminisce about last night. Curled into my beloved chocolate brown papasan chair, I tried to relax as my fingers slipped and slid across the satin edges of the blanket that hung over the side. Even after months spent with Bethany and realizing that she was the first real friend I've ever had, my first true best friend on top of that, I was afraid of her judgment. There was so much I wanted to share with her, but it just wasn't possible.

Early on, I had tried to explain some of my background and why I am the way that I am, but it wasn't like I could explain my powers and where I really came from. I told her about my mom and tried to explain to her that my relationship with my father was rocky at best, and basically non-existent at worst. That my only real friend growing up was my nanny Rynna, who had been my mom's best friend.