10.

I would have never thought I would miss school, especially Kingsley, but sitting in front of my window Sunday night, I could not wait to get back there. Or rather, I could not wait to get out from under Aunt Syl’s watchful eye.

The tests at the hospital all came back normal. I knew they would, I knew that whatever was wrong with me was not going to show up on a hospital chart or graph, unless maybe it was a mental hospital.

Aunt Syl was less than convinced when they told me everything was fine and I could go home. And since she decided to use some of her accumulating vacation days just to be sure I didn’t die, I had been under constant supervision.

My week had been full of manicures, pedicures, hair appointments and hours and hours of yoga. I had done enough up-dog, down-dog, warrior two for a lifetime. At first it was really great to spend so much time with Aunt Syl, but so much relaxing was hard for both of us to accomplish.

My aunt was an important ER doctor. She was used to constant movement and nights of sleeplessness. I was used to her absence for days at a time, and taking care of myself. I wasn't sure if we had ever spent that much quality time together. It was nice at first, but we were both too used to being alone.

Finally that afternoon, she couldn’t stay home any longer and found an excuse to go to the hospital. Since I’d never had an episode at home, I was pretty sure she believed I’d be ok by now.

The only other person I had seen was Lilly. She had faithfully brought me my homework every night and stayed for supper. She had also sat with me for hours explaining it, especially French. She was just as fluent as everyone else. Why I hadn’t thought to ask her for help to begin with was beyond me.

Lilly was what Kingsley called a “boardy”; which meant that her parents lived elsewhere and rented her an apartment during the school year. Apparently most of the students at Kingsley lived like that. Their parents were all super important and super rich, so they sent their children far away and provided them with all of the teenage necessities: food, lodging, chauffeurs, cooks, maids, tutors and no-limit black American Express cards.

I had heard of that sort of thing before, but my idea of a prep school worth all of that kind of trouble was located usually near an ocean, not the middle of nowhere. When I asked Lilly why these students didn’t go somewhere like New York, or North Carolina she informed me that Kingsley was the trifecta for people of our stature. Since that only confused me more, she explained that Kingsley was not only the best of the best in the world of academia, but it was located where students couldn’t find too much trouble and most of the parents were either close friends with the school board or Principal Saint.

I doubted I fit in to any of those categories for attending, but remembered Aunt Syl’s sizable donation to the science department before my admission forms were accepted. Despite all of her freedom however, I could tell that Lilly was lonely. Thankfully, Aunt Syl loved her just as much as I did and so she spent most of her time at our house, only refusing to spend the night. Eventually I figured I would just convince her to just move in with us.

I saw headlights flash into my driveway and they pulled me out of my musing. Aunt Syl must have just gotten home from the hospital. I threw an oversized navy blue Kingsley sweatshirt on over my tank top; it hung down over my shorts and made me look like it was the only thing I had on. I gave up on my Calculus homework and headed down to the kitchen, hoping she brought home something to eat with her.

The weather had cooled down a tiny bit and through the windows a nice breeze gave the house a freshly-mowed-grass smell. I inhaled the pleasing aroma, thankful the humidity was finally letting up a bit. Soon the leaves would be turning colors and the rain would come; my favorite time of year.

Just as I entered the kitchen the doorbell rang. I turned around and walked back through the living room to the front door. I flung the door open, expecting to see my aunt, wondering why she chose the front door instead of the garage. To my shock and horror however, Kiran was standing in the doorway looking like a page out of magazine. What was he doing here?

“What are you doing here?” I blurted out loud, completely aware of exactly what I was wearing and the mess my hair was in, piled on top of my head.

“Don’t you look cute?” he said mischievously, in his crisp English accent. He gave me his signature smirk and let his eyes drift over my legs. His wavy blonde hair was slicked back away from his face and he was wearing a black motorcycle jacket. I felt like I was in a scene from “Rebel without a Cause.”

“What are you doing here?” I repeated, stunned and practically drooling.

“I came to see if you were ok. You haven’t been at school all week; I thought maybe something terrible had happened to you,” he stepped past me into my house and I inhaled his scent, feeling suddenly dizzy.

“Um, come in then,” I still managed some sarcasm though my mind was swirling and I could feel the pin pricks of electricity start to return.

“So are you… okay?” he turned back around to face me; his smirk still playing at the corners of his lips. His voice relayed no real emotion of concern and I could tell that he knew I would be fine before he came.

“I’m fine,” I said, or at least I was fine until he showed up.

“Good,” he took a step closer. I pushed the door closed and leaned back against it, not really sure what to do now. I glanced around the room, debating if I should have asked him if he wanted something to eat, or if I should have just kicked him out.

“Yep,” I replied shortly, filling the awkward silence. I looked around the room again; hoping some piece of interesting information would come to me, and noticed he was still looking at me. “What?” I said half laughing, half humiliated.

“What are you wearing?” he took another step closer and lifted the hem of my sweatshirt with one finger, letting his other fingers brush lightly against my thigh.

I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t do anything with him that close. Although his fingers were barely touching me, it was like they were completely weighing me down. The excitement his touch brought, scared me slightly and I found myself trying to remember how to breathe.

“Eden,” he breathed softly, almost whispering. I willed myself to look up into his eyes and his gaze was so intense I couldn’t look away; he smiled softly. “Why haven’t you called to let me know you are alright? After saving your life on numerous occasions, I think I deserve at least a phone call.... a friend would have called,” he pouted sarcastically but leaned his face in closer, too bad for him, I saw through him.

“I apparently need to remind you that we are not friends,” I retorted quickly, snapping out of my daze. A wave of embarrassment washed over me; he shouldn’t have been able to manipulate me so easily just because he was the most gorgeous thing I had ever seen.

I tore my eyes away from his and walked across the room, leaving him to face the door alone. Maybe he would take the hint. I definitely did not need to be reminded of how often I had fainted in the last few days.

I didn’t care if I had to stand ten feet away from him at all times, I was not going to let him get to me so easily. His face flashed with frustration before he put his seductive mask back on. Apparently he thought I would be easy.

“Oh come on,” he crooned, “We’re friends. I thought we were going to try to get along.”

“You thought wrong,” I said flatly. Now that my emotions had calmed down, I could feel the slow tingling of electricity making its way through my veins. It had been days since I had to deal with the energy, I had almost forgotten how uncomfortable it was.

“Eden, what do you have against me? Why all of the hostility?” he gave me a playful smile and walked over to one of Syl’s oversized, leather couches and plopped down. Great. How did you get rid of somebody who refused to be gotten rid of?

“What hostility?” I questioned, feigning innocence.

“I just don’t understand why you won’t confide in me,” although his posture was relaxed, his gaze remained intense and I watched his jaw flex and un-flex. I wondered at his use of the word “confide.” Weren’t we just talking about my gratitude?

“Kiran, there is nothing to confide. I have no idea what you are talking about. If you want a thank you, well, then thank you. I appreciate all of the concussions you have saved me from,” I laughed a little, trying to pretend he was as ridiculous as he sounded.

“You’re lying. You are more than what you seem,” he sat up straight and folded his arms across his chest. He looked like a little kid pouting. “I could help you, you know.”

“Oh, you want to help me?” I mocked, mimicking his accent, although it came out very badly. I wasn’t sure exactly what ethnicity I had just impersonated… Indian perhaps? “Now, I’ll tell you. Oh wait, there’s nothing to tell.” I finished sarcastically.

“Are you expecting someone?” he stood up abruptly and glanced around the room.

“My aunt,” I said, looking around as well. We were standing at opposite sides of the room, but the electricity coursing through my blood was growing steadily stronger.

“No, someone else,” he squinted his eyes and walked around the room. “I’m getting tired of this, old man,” he mumbled it so quietly, and his accent was so thick that I was not sure what or who he was talking to.

He turned away from the window and walked straight over to me, dropping all pretenses. His eyes were hungry and his face said something I didn’t recognize… maybe desire? I backed slowly away from him, not sure what he was about to do. My foot bumped into the fireplace and I knew that I was pinned. Electricity and anxiety washed over me.

Kiran let me struggle; I saw the familiar smirk returning to his lips. He looked over me until finally letting his eyes settle on mine. I lost myself in the depth of his ocean blue eyes and worried that I was willing to say or do anything he wanted now.

“You’re not crazy, you know,” he placed his hands on my arms and pulled me slightly closer. My stomach erupted with butterflies and that almost made me forget about the energy nearly knocking me off of my feet.

“I wish I knew what you were talking about,” I lied, but I knew the conviction didn’t reach my voice.

“Sure,” he leaned in closer, hesitating for a moment, our lips just barely apart. Kiran looked at me for a second longer before changing his mind and kissing me tenderly on the cheek. He let his lips linger on my face, the warmth of his body heat warming me all over. I felt my body tremble as his sweet breath tickled my face.

I was not sure how to react, or even if I could react. Since this was the first kiss I had ever received from a boy, ever…. I was completely frozen. His lips left my cheek burning, and my body began to overheat; and I couldn’t tell if it was from his kiss or the electricity surging through me at an alarming rate.

He looked into my eyes again, watching my reaction. Unfortunately for him, all I could do was stand perfectly still, willing my body under control. He laughed gently and then turned around and walked out the front door.

I placed my hands behind my back and pointed them towards the fireplace. Not entirely sure why I felt the need to be discreet in my own home, especially now that I was alone, I let the energy escape through my palms and into the open hearth. Thankfully the only damage I did was to my ears from the loud popping noise of the small explosion I created; otherwise a large fire was the only evidence of the electricity I let escape.

I heard the garage door open and knew that it was my aunt coming home for sure this time. I was too shell-shocked from Kiran's surprise visit to want to see or talk to her, so I headed for the stairs. My body was weak and my stomach still full of butterflies. I obviously couldn’t understand my feelings for Kiran, it was no wonder that I could barely control my actions either. A shiver ran up my spine and I couldn't decide if it was from excitement or fear.

Just as I passed by the living room window however, I saw somebody or something move from behind a tree in the front yard. I stood there staring for a few seconds, one foot on the staircase, one on the wood floor, expecting Kiran to jump out from behind the large oak or something. But instead of Kiran, a tall, masculine figure walked out from behind the tree, clearly not Kiran.

He was dressed in a long trench coat, and bowler hat, and walked slowly and purposefully across my yard and down the street. A shiver once again traveled up my back, only this time I clearly recognized it as fear. Somebody had been watching me.