Love Lines

12: Keep Your Opinions...

Chapter Twelve

I stood in front of the doorway and stared at it. I wasn't going to admit Andrzej was right. The thing stayed dormant and I continued to stare like it was going to make it open. This was ridiculous and there was no reason for me to stay here anymore. I knew the building, learned a few things that weren't to my liking, and I just wanted to go home and see my father. What was so wrong about that?

"You're thinking really hard about something."

I looked to my left and found Union standing next to me. A familiar face. Good. He looked somewhat wary but when he dared a glance at me, his eyes lit up a little when he noticed I wasn't upset with him.

"I want to go home but the thing won't work for me."

"That means you're not supposed to leave yet."

"Does it look like I care?"

He just smiled and turned back to the doorway. "I wish to go home, please."

Both the doorway and the room started to hum as power was drawn from all over to the empty expanse of the doorframe in front of us. I stared in wide eyed wander as a visible crack formed right in front of me. It was an illusion almost, something you would see in a magic show.

The fissure was lit up from the other side and as cracking glass would do, little fractures started to bleed out from the first one. When they reached the ornate frame, the wood lit up and shot the light back towards the middle. I had to turn my face away when a quick flash of radiance exploded as they culminated in the center. I squeezed my eyes closed trying to get rid of the little black dots that obscured my vision.

I was blind. I had to be. The damn thing was really bright.

Union laughed softly next to me and I opened my eyes to scowl at him. He could've warned me the thing was going to do that.

"I don't think you're getting used to the weirdness, Nat."

"Is it horrible if I say I'm half pretending none of this is real?"

"No. I said the same thing my first week. After a while, it all settles and nothing will surprise you. Come on. I'll take you home."

"I thought you said if it didn't work for me then I wasn't supposed to leave."

"Are you telling me you don't want to go home? Because I can leave you here..."

He took a step towards the doorway while he was talking, which now appeared like a rippling mirror, and I jerked to follow him. "No, no. That's not what I'm saying. I just don't want you to get into trouble because you took me home with you." His face screwed up a little, amusement dancing in his eyes. "I mean...your parents are going to freak out if a girl comes out of your room." His lips quirked up. "I—I mean...you know what I mean."

He shook his head, obviously suppressing a smile. "No. Please, continue explaining it. You're doing a stand up job at trying."

"Ha-ha. Very funny. Stop making fun of me and take me home."

"Yes, ma'am." He held out his hand and I looked at it like it was the most foreign thing in the world to me. "You have to take my hand."

"Uh...why?"

"Because I'm pretty sure if you don't, Janus will reject you going through on your own and keep you here until he's ready for you to leave."

"Oh. Well in that case..." I took his hand and stepped up next to him. "Beam me through, Scotty."

"That's what I thought."

Traveling back through the doorway wasn't so bad and it still worried me that I possibly might have to speak to his parents before I went go home. Any responsible parent would inquire after a strange girl popping out of their son's room no matter the time of day.