She Came From the Forest (James and Tera: book 1)

23

The drive home was shorter than usual. I mean, it didn't take long to get to my house from Sage's anyway, but the ride was short, short because tonight was the night. The night I'd been fearing since I first met Kurt. The night that Tera would put her life on the line against him.

She pulled into my yard, not letting the stand down and stayed put on her bike. The sun was still setting, and the orange rays shined off of her lovely yellow eyes. This was it.

"I wanted to say thank you." She told me suddenly. "For being there for me. For being a friend."

I stood quiet, not able to respond at all. I had never had to go through something like this. I had never had to say goodbyes to anyone who was about to face death in the eye. It was like troops seeing their families before being sent into battle. I know how those families must feel now.

She looked at me, and a pained smile crossed her face. "I love you. Don't look so down. I'll come back, I promise."

I bent down and kissed her. It was a harder kiss than before, but held much meaning. She was caught by surprise by it, but held a hand on the back of my neck to pull me closer.

After we separated, I finally spoke. "What will you do now?"

She shrugged. "Go home for a few. Take a few deep breaths and get focused. I can't lose this fight, ya know." She tapped me on my nose. "I've gotta keep to the promise I just made."

She winked, kissed me one more time, and back her bike up. She looked back at me one more time before driving off.

It hurt. I stood and watched her on her bike as she drove out of sight. I turned and walked towards the front door. Before I could get to the knob, it opened, and Zane stepped out.

"Oh, hey punk." He told me with the same smile he always gave when he wanted to make fun of me. "Girlfriend drop you off? That's kind of sad having a girl drive you around."

I ignored him and tried to get past him, but he put an arm out. "Whoa whoa, take it easy." He told me. "It's sad, but there's nothing wrong with it." Huh, he's never really talked to me in a considerate way like this. "Besides, I want to talk to you."

I stood still before nodding. "What's up?"

"I've been thinking. I've been thinking about the way you stood up to me the other day." He said.

I rolled my eyes. "Look if you're gonna complain then I don't wanna hear it."

"Whoa, hold on for a minute, damn." He said, laughing a bit. "That's what I mean. You got fire in you now. That aggression."

"I'm not aggressive." I told him. "I'm just tired of being pushed around like I'm nothing."

He gave a sinister grin. "You've got my blood running through you. We have that will to fight, it's just that yours woke up a little late. I don't know whether or not it was that girl or what, but I like it."

What was he getting at? He'd never had a full conversation with me like this, and the subject was showing mixed signals. I'm thinking he wants to be proud of me, but also I feel that he wants to challenge me.

"Well, I've got to go." He said, walking past me into the yard. "Me and the boys are hanging out tonight." He was walking towards his truck when he stopped at the driver's side and turned. "I'm glad you found someone like her. She brings out the fight and happiness in you."