Whispering Tempest

Chapter Twelve - Not Another Tempest Thing

Chapter Twelve – Not Another Tempest Thing

“Gail,” the prowler cries out as I fight against him with all my might. “Gail, it’s just me!”

I push him off me and cling on to my pounding chest. Xander readjusts his leather jacket while chuckling to himself and leaning on my house. The mini shears in my hand are thrown into the ground so their handles stick up. Sweat glistens on them from my clammy palms in the moonlight. My head turns back to the guy standing there; not a demon or a peeping tom, just my idiot friend.

“You know you could have texted me saying you were outside!”

“I did,” he says trying to conceal the huge grin on his face. He points to my phone making me flip up the screen to find the last text he sent. My eyes roll after I read:

Xan-Xan – rocks on your window not cutting it. Come down & let me in!

My arms push him hard but he hardly defends himself. He’s too busy laughing at startling me.

“You could have said something before even heading here,” I argue. Xander removes his leather jacket and throws it on the patio table. His head wiggles back and forth like he thought about warning me but didn’t care enough to do it. Yup, he’s as stubborn as Katie and I when he wants to be. “I just want to be alone right now,” my lips sigh.

“And I don’t buy that,” Xan flat out tells me. “Why are you outside anyway?”

My cigarette is replaced in my mouth until I catch Xander’s gaze. He’s not much of a health nut but his mother washes his clothing still and the smoke from my light sometimes gets him in trouble. I put it out in the ash tray on the table and stare at the glittering sky.

I wish I was a star. That way all I’d have to do is watch things unfold. Plus, I’d get to sleep half the day. It’s a win in every aspect. Too bad I’m a puny human who has just been tossed into a culture I’ve never heard of until recently. Dusty clouds roll in over my view of the stars but it doesn’t block it completely. I switch to stare at the moon even though I’d never want to be that; too much attention. I’d rather be a lonely star that someone would wish on every once in a while.

Xander lets me stand there quietly for a few moments while I look to the places he can’t see. Usually he’s one to make sarcastic remarks about my absent-minded staring but he keeps them to himself. We lean on the wall beside my backdoor where Xan takes my hand in comfort. He’s the kindest person I know but can also be the biggest prick if you rub him the wrong way. A conundrum wrapped in contradictions, grungy clothes and spiky blonde hair.

“Come on,” he whispers, disturbing my thoughts. “What’s racking around that noggin of yours Miss Abigail?”

“Why do you talk like you’re thirty,” I ask him, purposefully avoiding his question. This is met with his blank face and a long sigh. I turn from him, deciding to relax at my old spot on the porch swing. Xan follows me over and leans on the railings above me since I’ve take up the entire seat.

“Scoot over,” he commands gently. My finger points lazily to the grass because I am too cozy to move a muscle. But since Xander isn’t taking any of my crap today, he lifts my legs up for me and sits beneath them. “I want to make sure you’re okay. Whatever you’re going through is more than your fight with Katie so spit it out.”

My teeth bite at my lip and my tongue begins to twirl around my left snakebite piercing. Why can’t he leave me alone? It’s so much harder with him here. Xan stares intently at my but I shift to lay on my side and avoid his gaze. How can I keep a secret from him if all he does is be nice and care? Stupid Xander…