Blank Girl - (Book One)

Chapter 12 - That Instant

Greg

Stupid ass Ryan! I growled to myself. He kept appearing and disappearing just out of reach. I definitely wasn't ever going to be fast enough to catch him. I mean, how can I when he can literally just blink out of existence and reappear elsewhere? I was just about to give up when my cell phone rang. I stopped in my tracks when I saw my mom's face as opposed to my dad's. It was odd that that she was calling, normally it was my dad.

"Mom?"

"We're ready to have that chat now Gregory. Please bring Cassie home." My mom looked worried. Obviously, speaking with Jack had finally yielded some answers, maybe not good ones. She smiled, but that uneasiness was still in her eyes. "Oh, and do be careful on the drive home."

We hung up and I glanced over to Cassie, Toby, and Grace sitting and chatting. It was nice to see Cassie opening up. She seemed especially comfortable with Grace, though Grace did tend to have that effect on people. Apparently, Toby had already demolished my fries and had started in on my burger. Oh well, there was food at home.

I jogged over to them, after a moment Ryan appeared by my side. "Sorry guys, I gotta steal Cassie."

They all stood and Grace was the first to pipe up. "Okay, but Cassie, I'm going to hold you to giving us a demonstration. I really want to see you in action."

"I really don't know if-" Cassie started.

"I'm sure it's fine." Toby smiled. "It's okay if you destroy stuff here. How will you get better if you don't try right?"

"I'm pretty sure she'll be practicing under strict supervision guys."

"Aww!" Grace pouted. "Fine, but I call dibs for our first mission."

Cassie looked up at me, the fear in her eyes apparent. "Mission?"

"Uh, yeah, but there's plenty of time to talk about stuff like that later. Right now my parents want to talk to us.

Grace gave me a sideways glance. I didn't have to read her mind to know that she was feeling guilty about her comment. She had no way of knowing that we hadn't been debriefed yet. Grace has been itching to get back out into the wide world since she came to Blackburn Bay and I had to admit that the two girls would probably make a good, if odd, team. Grace had come to terms with her unique ability relatively quickly, but I didn't think Cassie would be so quick to acclimate.

We said goodbye to the trio and drove back to the house in near silence. She was thinking loudly again. Something about not wanting to live the plot to one of her favorite comic books. I chuckled to myself and she frowned at me.

"What's funny?"

"You," I smirked.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you to keep your powers to yourself?"

"Quite the opposite really. My mom actively encourages stretching my mental muscles." I waggled my eyebrow suggestively.

"You really do have no shame."

"True, and besides that, a very active imagination. If you want to live in a comic book, I'm sure I can order an outfit for you online."

"If you were listening, you would have heard me think that I didn't want to."

I pretended to ignore her. "I'm thinking maybe one of those Black Widow get-ups. I think you could give Scarlett Johansson a run for her money."

"You do know I've never seen her right?"

She laughed along with me as I realized that she was completely correct. Regardless though, I had made her laugh and taken her mind off of the dark path. It was better that she not let her mind run away with her. There was no way that her love of comics was going to help her cope with the real world. The Order was as ruthless as it was secretive. They controlled governments, banks, schools, and more all around the world. They owned news corporations and therefore, owned the information people had access to. Politics, money, education, information... Really it all added up to one thing, power.

"Greg?"

"Huh?"

"It will be all right, won't it?"

"I don't know."

"What? No cocky smirk or off-hand comment about how amazing you are?"

"I promised I would never lie to you." I sighed and ran my hand through my hair as I parked the car up. I unbuckled my seat belt and turned to face her. "The people we are dealing with had something to do with whatever it was Jack was wrapped up in. The fact that he was, for all intents and purposes, undercover with you for three years means that they knew you were special. If there's even a hint that you really didn't die that night, if Emily missed something, or if one of those stupid kids remembers something they shouldn't, they will come for you."

"And then what?"

"Then I'll kill as many of them as I can and hope it's enough to keep you safe."

"Why?" She was so vulnerable, so sad, so lost and I wanted so very much to kiss her.

"I don't know why." I lifted a hand to her face and gently pushed a strand of hair away. "But ever since I met you, I've wanted to protect you."

"But you don't even know me." Cassie closed her eyes and maybe without even realizing it, she leaned into my hand.

I brushed my thumb against her cheek and felt that familiar electricity arc from my skin to hers. I noticed for the first time that the electricity was black with a stream of blue through it. It was the same color as her eyes. The ice that I saw so often there, had melted. "I don't think that spark would keep happening if that really mattered, do you?"

"Greg, I-"

"I'm going to kiss you now, unless you tell me not to." I spoke firmly, but softly. I waited a moment for her to object, but she only leaned nearer to me.

I tilted her chin up ever so slightly and closed the distance. For that moment, I forgot that we were in a car, in broad daylight, parked in front of my parent's estate. No, that instant was an eternity. The first touch of her lips sent that blue-black charge racing down my spine and I puller her in closer. There was still the slight salty taste from lunch and her bottom lip quivered when I nipped at it. I felt her hands touch my neck and delved deeper into the moment.

Then it was over. My eternity was broken. She seemed suddenly aware of herself and her surroundings. I could see her try to catch her breath as she fiddled with the seat belt. I let her go and pushed the button, releasing her.

-

Author's Note - Wow... So this took me all day to write and it's not edited yet. I will probably edit tomorrow, but for right now, I'm pretty happy with it!

Chapter dedicated to YoursTrulyMaryZ as a thank you for the cover and for being an amazing reader and new friend!