Kate Evangelista - Til Death

He brought my hand to his cheek then kissed the center of my palm. My lips pulled up into a slow smile.

“How are you?” he whispered. His voice was so gentle that I almost didn’t recognize it. He was being extra nice today.

“I had a dream” was my answer to his question.

“What about?” He tilted his head to the side, not once losing his smile.

“That I died and I was brought back to life.”

His expression turned thoughtful for a second. “I wish,” he said, alternating kisses on each cheek, “you didn’t have to suffer that pain.”

I flushed. My proof of life. “Is it time?”

He dipped his chin once. “David and Caroline will meet us there.”

“I guess the nap’s over.” I already wore a black silk blouse, a balloon skirt, and wedge boots before I shut my eyes for a second. “Do I look as tired as I feel?”

His eyes softened, and he twirled a curl that fell over my forehead. “We don’t have to go. They’ll understand.”

Hard to believe that only a week ago I’d died. Like literally meeting my maker kind of died. Then I woke up in my room two days later with Grams sleeping on a chair by my bed. At first I thought it was a weird version of heaven.

I sat up and kissed Dillan. Just a quick peck. More time for Pop Rock kisses later. I had time now. No more death visions. And the best part, I wasn’t a target anymore. It was back to a normal life for me.

“Let’s go,” I said.

…

My official story for missing a week of school was a nasty case of the flu. Lame, but believable. The day I woke up, Grams told me Dillan had come to sit with me every day since he brought me home unconscious from Greenwood. When he’d arrived for his visit, and he saw me up, Grams had to tap him on the shoulder just to get him out of his daze.

Since then we hadn’t talked much. We still had to figure out what to call our relationship. Dillan did just kill me, so I decided I’d wait to have the talk . Last thing I needed was to freak him out any more than I already had. I eyed him in the car now. He looked calm, but he could be faking it for my sake.

Penny called several times during the week to check up on me. I still couldn’t shake how bizarre she’d acted under Ormand’s control. But I worried for nothing. The second we started talking on the phone, it was like nothing happened. She even came to visit me when I wasn’t “contagious” anymore, bringing over my homework and filling me in on everything I’d missed.

The way Dillan and the others covered up Bowen’s and Ormand’s deaths was by burning down the bookstore. Official story was Bowen ran into the store to save Ormand but they never made it out alive.

“What’s the real story?” I asked Dillan, smoothing over imaginary wrinkles on my skirt.

“Are you sure you want to know?” He gave me a sidelong glance. I didn’t miss the knot his eyebrows coming together made. He was trying to be careful. I didn’t need that shit.

“I want to know.”

He sighed. “We cornered Ormand and he burned himself to death by casting a spell.”

In the back of my mind something told me that wasn’t what happened, but I was dead at the time so how should I know? I didn’t worry about it. I was just glad the craziness was over. I reached over and squeezed his hand. He brought it up to his lips. A hot flush spread over my cheeks. A feeling, until recently, I thought I’d never experience again.

The GT eased into one of the only available slots left in Greenwood’s parking lot. It seemed like everyone in town had turned up to pay their respects to the swimming star, now turned town hero. I smiled at that. Even after what happened, Bowen still deserved to be remembered in a positive light. He was as much a victim in all of this as we all were.

Dillan opened my door and reached in to help me slid out of the GT. I gathered my skirt close after a gust of wind threatened to give everyone in the lot a peepshow. The crisp autumn air touched my cheeks. The scent of pine and grass filled my lungs. And a secret smile, one that celebrated discreetly the life given back to me, played on my lips. Then the arms of the boy who had enough courage to overcome his fears embraced me.

“What’s up?” I whispered.

Heat flashed in his eyes at the sound of my voice. It seemed he still couldn’t believe I was alive. I had to fix that. I snaked my arms around him and pulled him closer. I waited until he spoke again.

“I thought—”

“I didn’t.” I cut him off. “I’m here.”

He took my face in his hands and kissed me. A deep, life changing kiss. The slip of his tongue, the nibble of his teeth, all carried secret promises for later. I lost myself in him, letting go of the aching feeling that my life will forever be different.

Facebook status: It’s Complicated.

“You’re not seriously making out at a memorial, are you?” Kyle’s sarcasm meant he was back to normal.

We separated then Dillan brought his lips back for one last electric touch. Just when he left me wanting more, he stepped away from my arms. Oh, he’ll pay for that later. The jerk.

I sighed and faced my best friend. “Give me a break. I just recovered .”

Kyle smiled from ear to ear. “It’s good to have you back.” He came closer. “Scared us for a bit there.”

“Well, I didn’t see you visiting the day I woke up.”

His gaze fell. Just at the top of his scarf peeked out a scar. I pummeled the anger that came from seeing it back down before it overwhelmed me. That scar had brothers and sisters hidden beneath the black cashmere. Ormand left his mark on all of us—some more obvious than others.

“That’s my cue.” Dillan put a hand on the small of my back.

I glanced up at him. The newness of the compassion in his expression still surprised me. Something in him had changed, too. He leaned down and kissed my cheek before he left me alone with Kyle.

I watched him walk to the entrance of Greenwood, hands in the pockets of his coat. Then I looked at Kyle and said, “So.”

“So,” he echoed.

“What do you have to say for yourself?”

“First off, I’m sorry.”

I grinned at his awkwardness. “Hold the sincerity, why don’t you?”

He returned my grin. “I think you should ask me anything you want to know. That’s the best apology I can make.” He ran his fingers through his slicked back hair.

“No more lies?”

“I have none left. You’re part of the fold now.”

“Be ready when I take you up on that offer.” I pocketed my hands and stared up at a sky that reminded me so much of Dillan’s eyes. “Let’s walk. The memorial’s about to start.” I linked my arm with his and we ambled to the massive wrought iron gates.

Before we reached the memorial site, I whispered, “Promise me, no matter what, even if it’s for my own good, no more secrets.” I stopped and looked into my best friend’s stormy gray eyes. “I’d rather know the truth before someone else I care about gets hurt or worse.” I squeezed his arm. “Promise me.”

We stared into each other’s eyes for the longest minute. Then he smiled his charming smile. He bent forward and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “I promise…even of it kills me.”

“Is there something I should know about you two?” a cheery voice asked.

I whipped around. “Penny!” I drew my other best friend into the biggest, tightest hug I could manage without fusing our bodies together. I’d almost lost her. If it weren’t for…I shook my head. She was safe now. Better yet, she was Penny again.

“Whoa! Hey!” She returned the hug. “What’s with the sudden touchy feely? We just spoke on the phone last night. Epic conversation, by the way.”