Rising Ancients (Book 1)

Chapter 6

Sophie and I continue into town unstopped and undisturbed until we get to the ice cream shop, where we buy moose tracks. When we sit down, I look around with my peripheral vision and don’t notice anything suspicious. Sophie asks me questions about my wings, but she does it “incognito style” using “code words” and other things so it’s not as obvious. I wish I could tell her more than simple choppy answers but I don’t know much about my wings, and even if I did, I wouldn’t know if I could trust Sophie with that information. Since I gained my wings, I’ve become more self-sufficient and antisocial. I also have become more distant and not so trusting. It used to be that I would tell anyone anything. I was an open book and could be read easily, but now I can’t be read and those who try come away more confused than satisfied.

Sophie finishes her questions before her ice cream and before long, we’re sitting in the booth silently. I see the sun go down, and realize the drasticness of my scenario. I ran away from home with one bag of stuff and some jackets. I’m living with my best friend in my home town, heading to Alaska to go live with the moose. I feel tears brim my eyes thinking of my mother, and I blink them away quickly. The last thing I needed from Sophie was more questions. The sunset was the same as the sunrise, yet somehow more breathtakingly beautiful. I feel humble sitting in the little café, and wonder why I wasted my whole life worrying. I’ve worried about all things conceivable, from pimples to dates, the apocalypse to religion, from video games to school, yet, nothing has changed. My worrying causes no disruption in the situations that surround my daily life. My worrying is pointless, I realize. In this moment, I feel such peace fall over me that I get up and walk out the door. Sophie follows me, hoping for an explanation, but I have yet to get one. I search around for Robbie, but can’t seem to find him anywhere. Sophie left me sometime around 9 and went back to her house. I keep looking, and eventually find him as I’m scoping the woods from above. I see a fire and a truck and swoop down to take a closer look. I land and walk out into the light, and see Robbie sitting alone. He looks up and smirks, as though my mere existence amuses him.

“Hey Jennifer,” he speaks without hesitation. I smile, feeling the pain I felt before with a warmth that spreads throughout my body. He remembers my name, I think. I walk over to him and sit down next to him and curl up. I notice the Jack Daniels sitting next to him and grab it. I hear him suck in his breath and I smile mischievously.

“Uh oh,” I whisper in his ear bringing the bottle to my mouth. “Someone’s drinking alcohol.”

I take a big gulp and cringe at the flavor, then take another swig. I see Robbie smile his mischievous and feel his chilled fingers touch mine as he grabs the bottle from me. A spark travels up my arm into my heart and warms my whole body. I grin widely and watch as he chugs down a fifth of the bottle, watching me with those glowing green eyes.

“Challenge accepted,” I say, and take the bottle for another drink. I chug down more of the potent drink and hear Robbie’s laughter. I strive to drink more than him so I chug harder. I feel my stomach churn and give up, handing him the bottle. I laugh as I fall backward off the log and find myself gazing at the stars.

 I hear Robbie whistle before he says, “Damn girl, where’d you learn to drink like that?”

I lift my head up to look at the half empty bottle of whiskey in his hands and I grin. I hold up two thumbs and laugh as I feel the alcohol take hold of my senses. Robbie laughs again before drinking some more and then falls down next to me. I suddenly become self-conscious and I feel as though my lungs are being squeezed. I look over at him and feel a blush creep to my cheeks when I find he’s already staring. My heart squeezes and my breath comes out shaky as he gazes at my lips, licking his own. I lip my lips and then try something. I bite the right half of my bottom lip and smile slightly, giggling almost silently. That did it.