The Protectors: New Generation Book 1

33 - Headache From Hell - Tallulah POV

The town near the cabin, Maple Valley, is a quaint little town. Older businesses are still running, probably because of the community support. Brick buildings with large display windows line the street. The smell of coffee and fresh baked bread drifts down the street from a small café on the corner. A few people window shop, and I'm blinded by the appearance of so many colors at once. I have my glasses on, but they aren't helping me with this.

The group I'm with have about the same colors as they usually do, and that doesn't seem to affect me as much. Ande has yellow and orange, Carleigh has blue and different shades of purple, and Mick has red, but it's a different shade of red.

Looking up more colors hit my eyes, but I manage them. I need to get used to this soon, since it's not going away. Mothers talk while pushing strollers to some nearby destination. Some have typical colors that dominate my life now. One mother has a purple haze around her, but I can't imagine she's in the same mood as Carleigh, based on her red face. A few different shades of colors come to view. My heart races and breathing picks up at the thought that even more colors will invade my life.

As the group walks by a park, kids are laughing and playing, shouting at their friends.

"Hey, Tally, want me to push you in the swing." Danny asks as he walks up.

"Sure."

I hold on tight to the chain the swing hangs from, but I have no fear. Danny never pushes me too high. He always asks if I am high enough or too high. He's my own Prince Charming that I remember hearing about when mommy reads stories to me. He never lets me fall and always saves me. He will always save me from the evil hag.

I chuckle at the memory now. I had forgotten that at five I thought he was the best thing in the world, other than mommy and daddy—and ice cream.

"What ya laughin' about?" Mick asks from my right.

I try to play it cool. "Just a memory."

Ande elbows me from my left. She comes around and starts walking backwards to interrogate me. "Must have been a good one to have you smile the way you do."

"Sure. Okay. A memory from when I was five. It's not earth shattering news."

"Something about that memory made you smile." Carleigh says from where she's walking next to me.

What is this? Is it Gang-Up-on-Tally Day?

"Fine." I huff. "I thought Danny would always be my Prince Charming."

"You mean that hot one in the picture on your dresser," Ande says with a huge grin.

I crinkle my nose.

Ande's jaw drops. "Seriously?"

I shake my head. "He's like my brother."

"But he's not your brother, and that is the difference. Maybe he still is your Prince Charming," Carleigh says.

I scratch my nose and shake the notion away. "Nah. He's just my best friend."

Silence covers the group as my three companions just nod. I don't think they believe me. Do I believe me?

Thankfully, Ande spots some sort of store up ahead that has her all excited. Her body halo is now more orange than yellow—maybe I should pay attention to this.

When the rest of us catch up, we are standing in front of a thrift store with a huge rack of clothes near the window.

"This has ya all excited?" Mick questions.