Two Years Later
My dad's white pickup truck slowly idles down the road, and the crackling of the rocks beneath the tires sounds soothing to my ears.
"Helang, remember your training and stay in control." My dad speaks up breaking the content silence we've been in. Although he remains calm, his tone hints at something more ominous and I look at him for a long moment before I nod with determination.
"I will father," I say giving him my best smile to break the slight tension.
"Cheeky." My father says reaching one hand over to pat my head while the other rests on the steering wheel.
We pull up to the main village of multiple houses and my eyes scan around with anticipation. When we come to a stop, I see who I'm looking for and I open the door with haste.
"Jessie!" I cry out waving animatedly with both my arms as soon as I get out of the truck.
His head slowly swivels my way and his black hair shags in his face almost blocking the look of his grey eyes.
A cheshire grin overtakes his features when he sees me and he opens his arms just in time when I barrel straight into him with a hug.
He gently pushes me back and I look up at his goofy grin, his smile is so contagious that I can't help but smile and giggle a little.
"Well, look at you! You look so much healthier and happier!" He praises giving me a once-over.
After Mr. McCarter took me to my dad two years ago, I decided I wanted to stay with him; but only if he was comfortable with it. When I was a kid, me and dad were really close, but we have been estranged all these years. He was really ecstatic about me wanting to live with him because my mom never let him see me and did everything she possibly could for him not to find me. As a God-fearing woman, she always claimed that she needed to beat the devil outta me; she took it quite literally and made sure my dad wasn't there to interfere, claiming he was a demon in disguise.
Anyways, like my childhood memories, my dad is still rocking the Viking style and even has a few tribal tattoos to match the vibe. In addition to everything, my dad has even started teaching me more about what we are. My panic attacks have been less severe and with a lot of patience and meditation, I've learned how to control and harness the magic I was born with.
Granted, I was absolutely terrified when I learned I was able to control the wind and conjure up storms. I also learned another reason why I was sedated so much when I was finally taken from my mom and it had a lot to do with me creating insane storms from my instability.
Personally, I like to make it rain and listen to the thunder while I sit on the wrap-around porch of my dad's house. Especially now that I have a better control and understanding of my magic.
About six months into my living with my dad, Jessie showed up looking like a nervous wreck. He was fidgety and had trouble making eye contact. I wanted to slam the door in his face and not have anything to do with him. Ever since that dream I had with him being super aggressive towards me, I had to tell myself it was all a dream and he probably isn't actually like that.
"Can we be friends?" He asked me looking really nervous but hopeful. Not wanting to be mean and deciding to give him the benefit of the doubt, I cautiously but optimistically agreed and now here we are.
Best friends.
I smile up at Jessie and giggle a bit while a blush takes over my features.
"Aaaw, thanks, Jessie!" I say becoming a bit bashful.
"Honestly I've never felt better. Oh! I've learned a few things too." I say in a playful taunt.
Jessie looks at me, amusement dancing in his eyes as he gives me a look of mock horror.
"Oh no! What party tricks have you learned now?!" He says shrinking away with a shudder.
I full on belly laugh and slap his chest playfully.
"Oh my gosh! Stop!" I say laughing still.
Anyways, I decided to just show him since explaining felt pointless.
Thunderstorm clouds started rolling in and the wind picked up heavily before a full on downpour landed only on top of Jessie, drenching him completely from head to toe. I make the small storm go away and smile condescendingly.
His mouth forms a perfect "O" and I watch as he goes from being stunned to looking mischievous when I make the rain stop.
He begins to slowly walk my way and I say his name with playful caution.
"Jessie...," I drawl his name out with caution as I slowly walk backwards to get away.
He slowly advances towards me like a predator hunting its prey and my heart spikes when he lunges with a manic grin.
"NO!" I squeal running away when he opened his arms yelling out that he just wanted a hug.
"C'mere Heleng! I only wanna whittle hug!" He taunts me when I evade his first water hug attack.
We ran around the yard like a couple of lunatics laughing our asses off. Eventually, he did catch me and I grumbled as he drenched my entire left side while he laughed with victorious amusement.
After playing around,me and Jessie went over to my dad's truck.
My dad climbs down from the truck shaking his head and chuckling as he helps me with my bags and suitcases. Jessie grabs the duffle bag from my hands and slings it over his shoulders and we all make our way over to the main house so I can announce my arrival.
.
.
.
We knock on one of the house doors and a middle aged lady with a kid clinging to her leg answers. When we tell her we're looking for Steven's dad, she closes her eyes and smiles. She welcomes us into her quaint home and tells us that she'll give him a call.
Me and my dad get comfortable on the sofa and the lady scolds Jessie for trying to sit down being soaked. She fusses over him for a moment and even gets him a towel. He waves off her nagging with a grumble and she walks away shaking her head muttering how kids these days have no manners.
About fifteen minutes later, a knock is heard and Steven's dad welcomed me with a warm smile and a handshake.
Then he takes in the wet mess that Jessie is and my drenched left side and shakes his head with amusement.
"It's good to see you again Helang. We've missed having you." He says making polite conversation.
"Well, Jessie wanted me to come over for the summer if that's ok? I promise I won't be such a nuisance this time around." I say rubbing the back of my neck in embarrassment.
"It seems perfectly fine to me. However, this is the first time I'm hearing of this summer visit. I will need to see about making proper arrangements for where you're to sleep." He says giving Jessie a stare that speaks volumes about a talk later.
Then, he notices my dad and mentions how we should take a walk over to his house and we all leave after thanking the lady for her hospitality.
"Also, I want to stress that you were in no way a nuisance the last time you were here. Everyone reacts differently to trauma. All that matters now, is that you're doing better. Am I correct?" He says with an inviting grin.
I give him a tight lipped smile and barely nod.
"I have a better control than before, although I'm still struggling with some things." I say vaguely.
Pausing for a moment I realize that he mentioned sleeping arrangements.
"Is it ok if I just stay with Jessie?" I ask a bit hopeful considering he's my only friend here.
"Helang, that's not very ladylike." My dad scolds and I flush with embarrassment.
"I didn't mean it that way! I really don't know many people here..." I say trailing off when I see we've made it to our destination. I look at Steven's house and I feel my heart skip for a moment but the feeling passes quickly.
"I'm sorry, but I never caught your name-" My dad casually interjects.
"Oh, did I not introduce myself?" He questions but also makes no effort to give an answer.
My dad cocks an eyebrow and Steven's dad proceeds inside the house cool as a cucumber still making no effort to answer.
We all file inside the house and Jessie closes the door behind us. He then tells my dad that they can just put my stuff by the door for now before we follow Steven's dad to the back of the house.
"Don't worry about him, only a few people know his name." Jessie speaks up and my dad gives a scathing glance at Steven's dad's back.
We hear his audibly sigh with resignation and he glances back just long enough.
"Just call me Mr. E." He responds as he opens the door to his office.
My dad licks on his front teeth and nods casually.
"You can call me Mr. Ravenscher. I'll be taking my leave now. I trust my girl will safe here?"
"Of course! There's no safer place than here." Mr. E reassures my dad. Once my dad is satisfied, he turns to me and wraps me in a tight hug and I reciprocate with just as much enthusiasm.
"I'll be back by the end summer sweetheart. You be safe and don't get into any trouble." My dad says against the crown of my head.
"I won't," I say thickly.
My dad kisses my forehead and finally makes his way outside back to the truck and I'm left in the office with Mr. E and Jessie.
Before any more can be said, the door bursts open and standing in the doorway drenched in sweat is Steven. His nostrils flare with every deep breath he takes and I watch as his shoulders heave with every inhale. His shoulders and arms that were once as thin as twigs now have a noticeable muscle build to them and I feel my throat constrict and all the liquid in my mouth disappear. Seeing him again after all this time makes my heart do a flip, but I harden my eyes and turn back to his dad.
"I have no one else that I trust to be around here. I'll be happy to be in a different room or bed than him but I want to be close by." I insist staring intently at Mr. E while I try in vain to ignore the heavy breathing coming from Steven's nostrils and I gulp trying to keep my composure.
"Steven, please come back later. I'm in the middle of a discussion with Ms. Helang and Mr. John Carter."
My eyebrows furrow and I look at Jessie who's sitting stiff as a board now. I smirk at him with a promise in my eyes to tease him later.
"Father..."
His dad pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs with exasperation.
My stomach did a flip and I involuntarily squish my thighs together trying to calm the heat that's forming when I hear his semi-deep voice and the strain beneath that one word.
I cast my eyes down to my lap and try to calm my now racing heart.
Stupid, stupid, heart.
A low growl snaps me out of my haze; the door shuts way too loud and I'm left sitting in the office alone.
"What the hell?" I say eyebrows drawn together as I look around with confusion when I don't see anyone in the office anymore.