Silverlake

Chapter 6

*Author's note: Sorry it's so late!! I hope everyone is still enjoying it. Let me know what you think.*

I laughed. 

"Wow. You bring me all the way out here to tell me that? That I'm magic?" I barely said the word magic before bursting into another fit of giggles. 

His face remained stoic.

"Seriously, Tanner? We have something 'evil' to protect? And Sky's involved? Listen, my parents wouldn't keep something like this from me." He took a step closer to the tree stump.

"They didn't tell you because you're the reason it's happening." That gave him a scoff in response.

"I'm responsible? I'm the one who woke up with a tattoo plastered on my skin that I didn't choose!"

"You're the reason for the tattoos! Before you everything was normal! But then, one day, word of you moving back swept through the town, and the next day I wake up with a giant triangle on my back. You know why? Because when your parents left, they broke the barrier. We all had to suffer, until finally when we start moving on, you come back. You think Sky really wants to be your friend? No, she has to be your friend. Her tattoos on her hip, you can check if you think I'm lying."

"I don't think you're lying, I know you are. There's no such thing as magic. No such thing as my family ever living here, and no way that of all of the three 'magic' kids in this place that I am one of them."

"I knew you would be like this. I didn't have to tell you, you know." His voice was aggravated now. 

I stood up, walking towards him as I said, "then why did you?"

By the time he spoke, he was only an inch away from me. "I shouldn't have."His eyes were looking down. It wasn't until he finally met my gaze that I finally understood. 

"You really believe all of this." I wasn't asking. He stayed silent. "Let me see yours."

"What?" That broke him out of his trance. 

"Your tattoo, let me see it." 

He looked confused, but he took a step back before taking off his shirt and turning around. His triangle sat in the middle of his lower back and was about the size of a softball. I closed the gap between us again, pressing my finger tips lightly to trace the tattoo. It felt hot. 

He shivered when I pulled away, and I knew he had felt the heat in the tattoo. 

"We're you the one?" I ask, stepping around to face him again. I pointed to my collar bone. He smiled, but small and almost sheepishly this time. 

"Sometimes we can't help it. It's like a connection that the three of us have."

"I'm sure it is." I started walking back to the car. This time he didn't stop me. He grabbed his shirt and followed me back down the path.

We'd been driving back to school for ten minutes when my curiosity got the best of me. Whether I believed it or not, he did, and I was intrigued. 

"So, what type of magic?"

He glanced and me and then back at the road, "Like good magic and dark magic?"

"No, like potions or telekinesis?" 

"Ah, of course that's what you meant. Our families protect the city with good magic, and I guess you could say it's tele..tele, whatever you said. Mostly, we think it and it happens, with practice. Some better than others." He looked smug. 

"How come I've never done anything magic?" His eyes narrowed.

"You have. Trust me." 

"Hrmph." I felt like I was back at square one. "Well, what about these 'things' that we're protecting the city from? And why us?"

"Us, because this is our city. Our blood can be traced back to the first American's here, and then further," there was something about the way he talked about his history, his family, our families, was something he knew, something he believed in, "as for what we protect it from, well there's something bad coming. Our parents won't tell us, but they're preparing too. Maybe your parents know?" He asked. He sounded so hopeful. 

"Maybe I will." I meant it too. 

We were at school by then and he cut the engine. I went to reach for the handle when he grabbed my arm. 

"Just don't tell anyone else." 

"Fine." He gripped tighter. 

"Reese."

"Look, I promise. Now, let me go." He released my arm quickly. 

I walked back into the school building, texting Sky as I did so. 

We need to talk

She texted back before I had made it to my class. 

After school, meet me at my house.

Tanner had kept his promise. Fourth period was the last class of the day, and it was almost over. Carrie was in this class and I was thankful the seat next to her was empty, so I could distract myself with her babbling. 

"Hey! I missed you at lunch! Did you hear about Branden and Ashley?" I smiled, and let her fill me in, letting my mind wander.