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The black-masked pirate clasped Ophelia’s hand and led her into a quiet waltz. He was all muscle, not bulky action hero muscle, but lean muscle like a martial artist.
The scarf covered his hair completely; a gold earring pierced one ear and glinted in the dim lights. She’d seen movie pirates wear earrings but didn’t know any real boys with pierced ears. Her fingers lifted off his shoulder on their own accord and almost touched it.
He stood a handful of inches taller than her, not at all intimidating.
Ophelia looked at his left hand holding hers. He’s so nervous he automatically led with his favored hand, instead of his right.
A ring glimmered gold on his pinky finger, the flat face of it etched with a griffin. The noblest mythological creature, symbolic of courage and loyalty. Ophelia’s Honors English paper, ‘The Scientific Origins of European Mythology’ had scored a straight A.
“Who’s dancing with Martin Brynner’s girlfriend?” Someone didn’t bother to muffle his voice enough. “He is so dead.”
Ophelia’s nose stung, and she gripped his hand a little tighter. “We shouldn’t...”
“Do you want me to stop?”
“No. Maybe.”
“Then, I won’t.”
Ophelia licked her dry lips and tried not to breathe too fast. “Martin’s dad’s the police and his mom’s the principal. He can beat the crap out of you and get away with it.”
“My sister went out with a guy like him. I’ve dealt with his kind before.” He rubbed the small of her back.
And she liked it very much.
“You need to be free to live.”
Free to live. Ophelia remained fixed on his masked face. “How?”
“We’ll find a way. You’re the smartest girl I know, smart as my sister.”
“Why did you leave me drawings and...and things?”
“When I first came to town, I saw you in the little café with you friends.” He braved a smile. “They were yapping about regular girl stuff, but you just sat and stared out the window.”
“They’re not interested in anything I like.” Ophelia glanced at the buffet table, but her sister had disappeared. An image popped into her mind and she gasped. “That was you?”
“That was who? What do you mean?”
Her mouth dried from hanging open. “I felt something funny.” Tickles around my neck. “And I looked, and I saw someone walking out. I thought you were just a late season tourist. Was that you?”
“What were you staring at out the window just before?”
“A barn owl.”
He smiled fully, showing slightly crooked, though well-cared for teeth. “That was me.”
“That was you. Oh, I love owls. I think barn owls are the most beautiful birds in the world. I was wondering what she was doing so far North. I thought you had such a nice...” ...butt. “Well, where did you go?”
“Back to my truck to draw the barn owl for you.” He had such an engaging voice, a tenor on the deep end, and he smelled like birch trees in the snow. “I’m going to be a wildlife biologist, specializing in raptors.”
New oxygen rushed into Ophelia’s chest. “I think that’s the most wonderful thing in the world to be.”
He smiled, blushed red, and even laughed a little.
“That sounded really stupid.”
He shook his head. “No, it didn’t. I love birds, too.”
“Really?” I want to kiss him so bad it hurts.
He nodded. “What about you? Gonna be a doctor like your mom?”
“Archaeologist. I prefer studying people who’ve been dead a while. Less blood.”
“One would think.” His eyes narrowed at her little joke and he surveyed the crowd.
Ophelia had long ago accepted she wasn’t the funny twin. Disregarding his stoic reaction, she ached to press her lips to his chin.
His breath quickened and mingled with hers, his mouth mere centimeters away.
“You move like a ninja.” The words popped out of her mouth before she could think clearly enough to stop them.
He didn’t reply.
She searched the visible crowd near the punch table for her sister. I’ll be begging to kiss his feet next.
“Aikido, actually, but it’s in the same family of Japanese martial arts.”
“What?”
“I was surprised you recognized the movements.” His eyes sparkled in the disco lights.
“My dad’s into martial arts movies, you know, like Bruce Lee. We always wanted to learn karate, but no one around here knows anything about it.”
“Mrs. Cox and Mrs. Langdon both hold black sashes in Tai Chi, actually.” A door shut somewhere, and he listened for a second. “I need to disappear again.”
“I understand.” Ophelia’s heart sank into her stomach.
His gaze remained with hers. “Actually, you don’t. My anonymity is my primary advantage over Martin. His kind cannot be taken in a straight fight.”
Another door close, but Ophelia couldn’t loosen her grip even when he did. Don’t drop down and cling to his leg, for crying out loud.
“I won’t be far. And I’ll keep watch.”
Ophelia kissed him.
He froze at her touch like someone had shouted ‘no’ in his ear, but then he melted his kiss all over hers, embracing her lips and moving them together. He let go, wide-eyed, and slipped back into the darkness.
Ophelia’s hands trembled against her face. I kissed him. I can’t believe I kissed him first. In all her days, she’d never done anything so bold.
“Someone kissed your girlfriend.” One of Martin’s spies didn’t bother to keep his voice down.
“What?” But Martin seemed a million miles away.
Any second, she was sure she’d melt into a happy puddle of goo.
Bianca appeared and grabbed her hands in a little dance. “Oh, my dog, he kissed you? That is so romantic.”
Martin strode across the floor, couples leaping out of his way. “What’s going on here?”
Ophelia faced him and instinctively blocked access to Bianca.
“She just upgraded to a better kisser, you bottom-dwelling carp.”
“Ooh, no, Bianca, please shut up.” Ophelia had always been sure her sister’s big mouth would get her killed one day.
Martin captured Ophelia in his arms. “Shut-up and leave us alone.”
“That’s it, go ahead and keep deluding yourself. It’ll be so much more fun when reality knocks you on your butt.” Bianca walked away.
Martin hugged Ophelia close, smoothed a hand over her face, and kissed her hair. “My poor Sweet, I’ll find the monster and make sure he never bothers you again.”
“She kissed him first.” Katelyn’s voice trailed them through the music.
“What?” Martin spun around.
“I saw her. She’s a two-timing little bitch.” Katelyn was his previous girlfriend, tall with big boobs, and dressed like Malibu Barbie for the night.
In a blur, Martin grabbed the back of Katelyn’s hair and forced her head down.
“Martin, no.” Ophelia gripped his solid arm.
“She called you a bitch.”
Ophelia spoke fast. “It was dark. She probably drank too much coffee. Please, please let her go.”
Martin’s softened. “All right. But, only for you.” He returned attention to Katelyn. “Apologize.”
“I’m sorry, Martin.” Katelyn’s voice was weak and very near a whimper.
“To Ophelia.”
“I’m sorry, Ophelia.”
Martin released her.
Katelyn ran away, crying, into the silent, gaping crowd.
Martin locked Ophelia up in his arms again. “They can’t understand your divine purpose, but I promise you won’t need to put up with this much longer.”
“Martin...” Freakin’ psycho.
He smoothed hair away from her face and kissed her upper cheek. “I love you. I’ll always keep you safe with me, I promise. Let’s go eat.”
“I need to test my sugar level.”
“I’ll come with you.” Martin grinned like she’d invited him to bed.
“I don’t like to test with anyone around.” Ophelia squirmed, and he let her go. She hurried into the crowd.
Katelyn hung out near the exit with a couple of friends, plastic cup in hand. “You kissed the other boy first. I saw you.” She glared like Martin’s behavior was her fault.
Ophelia slowed to a stop. She gets mostly A’s. How can she be so stupid?
“Aren’t you going to say anything?”
Or maybe she’s not stupid. Maybe she’s used to being treated like crap and thinks it’s normal. Ophelia walked out. Her heels sounded on the linoleum as she walked past the banged-up orange lockers. She pushed through the restroom door and was glad to be alone. Well, I know it’s not normal. I just haven’t figured out how to deal with it yet.
The four stalls to her right were empty, so were the four white sinks and long wall mirror to her left. She proceeded to the heating unit under the window and set her purse down.
My secret admirer’s gone, and I still don’t know who he is. She drew a deep breath and let it go while digging her blood sugar monitor out. I would rather die than go back to Martin. Maybe Bianca and Jimmy can help me sneak home.
Sniffing and wiping away a relentless tear, she pressed a finger to the tip of the soft triangular-shaped monitor. She studied the numbers. “Crap. Mom’s gonna to freak out when she sees these.” She shoved the monitor back in her purse and picked out a sterile wipe. It was bad enough being a teenage diabetic. It was worse yet needing her mommy to manage it for her. I can perform root canal on a PC, but I can’t handle my own diabetes. The door opening drew her attention over her shoulder. “Martin.”
He grinned. “I missed you.”
“This is the girls’ restroom. What if someone needs to pee?”
Martin shrugged one shoulder and walked over, fixing a stare on her pricked finger. “They can wait.”
Ophelia pulled out the wipe.
Martin grasped her hand and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Please, don’t. Leaves a nasty aftertaste.”
“A what?”
Martin kissed her, keeping hold of her hand and cupping her face in his other hand. He pressed kisses over her cheek to her ear. “My goddess.”
“Martin, I don’t.” A wave of goodness spread out from his lips and hand. I can’t be feeling this. I don’t love him. His arm went back up around her waist and she fell into it like a rag doll, cradled to the floor. Her finger hurt. Martin’s doing something to me.
It was like she was underwater, but her body floated on the surface and he was somewhere up there with it.
As much as she tried, she could not focus her thoughts.
A door slamming into the wall disrupted her attempts to comprehend Martin.
Martin let go of her finger and jerked his head to the side.
Her beloved was suddenly there, his rage boiling in the air around Martin. “I see. You’re so stupid and ugly you can’t get a real girl to willingly give it to you. So, you knock one out and just take it. How pathetic.”
Martin shrieked a roaring sound which accelerated into an inhuman pitch.
Ophelia’s body hit the floor and Martin leapt away.
Boots struck the floor, followed by whooshing.
The door slammed on the boot sounds as they died away and vanished altogether, leaving only silence.
The floor she lay upon froze her, but she couldn’t see it. Her eyes remained stubbornly closed.
A second later, the door creaked open again and shoes sounded on the floor, men’s dress shoes.
Strange. All the guys wear boots.
Someone knelt beside her and touched cold fingers to her face. He sniffed too.
You’re freezing. Want to borrow my gloves? Are you sick?
Surprise and curiosity flooded from him into her mind. You’re not afraid of me? You’re the Sweet.
Uh, thanks, I think. Your accent is cute. Where you from?
Astonishment raced in among her thoughts like a dog suddenly exploring a field of new flowers. You can hear me?
Don’t be silly. You’re right next to me. Why can’t I move or see you? It feels like I’m under water.
His strong arms gathered her up and he stood with her. You will recover. The diabecracker intervened in time.
What’s a diabecracker?
A human who loves a diabetic.
His chest was cold against her. Oh. My dad has a coat you can borrow.
You do not fear me?
You won’t hurt me. Again, his question made no sense. It was completely absurd.
Do you comprehend what I am? His self-loathing swamped his other emotions.
You’re my friend.
Yes. Yes, I am your friend. The oxygen around them seemed to vibrate with his astonishment. How can you be empathic?
What’s ‘empathic?’ It came to her from her parents’ favorite old show. Oh. Like Counselor Troi on Next Gen. I’m not Betazoid. So, you’re a Trekkie too?
What’s a Trekkie? The confusion rolled into divine astonishment and a sucking of air. You have pointed ears!
I’m not a Vulcan, really. Ophelia’s ears heated up with no way to disguise them. It’s a birth defect. Sorry.
You’re an elf!