Days of Darkness

Chapter 67

You've told me how the link feels to you," Hank said. "Maybe you're attracted to his musical talent." It was almost scary how fast Hank's mind worked. He was putting things together that the average person wouldn't even think were related.

"We're just friends," I repeated.

"I thought you just told me he's taking you to the prom."

"We're just going there together," I insisted. "We don't want to miss our senior prom." Hank gave me a confused look that ended in an out of place smile. "What?" I asked.

"It's just that your face brightened when you talked about him," Hank said, his smile growing.

"It did not!" His smile disappeared.

"You haven't bonded with him," Hank said, his tone making it a question. With him, it was verification. He already knew the answer.

"No, of course not." I hated the way Hank nodded and stroked his chin with his hand. He was thinking, judging, and analyzing. "And it's none of your business," I added when his thinking looked liked it was trending toward intrusive.

"No, I guess it isn't," Hank said. His whole body shifted away from me. It hurt to watch him shrink away, and I realized I had responded too harshly.

"Sorry," I said softer. "Everyone keeps talking like we're a couple. I don't like feeling boxed in."

"Then we won't discuss politics, religion, or Caleb," Hank said, leaning forward with a smile. I smiled back now that he understood. He relaxed when I did and changed the subject. "Your bond is stronger, or maybe I don't remember like I thought I did. Have you been able to access unbonded people?"

"I don't know." I replied. "I guess I sensed some feelings at the concert, but everyone was so charged up, I'm not sure it wasn't just mob excitement. Why?"

"Duress, or a strong need, triggered something different in the past," Hank explained. "Your Mom and Dad could draw on people they didn't even know when they thought you or each other were in danger."

They told me," I said.

"You haven't experienced anything like that?" Hank asked. "No knowledge from an unknown source or new abilities you've never learned."

"Nothing like that," I said and then chuckled. "It'd be kind of nice to just pluck the winning lottery numbers out of someone's mind. I've always dreamt of a mansion on the beach."

"I don't think you or the lottery work that way," Hank said with a laugh. "I believe some of your abilities are dormant because of the life your parents have given you. Without traumatic events, your mind falls out of practice." I thought of the concert and the triggering music. It was a surprising event, but I wasn't sure it fell into the traumatic category. It was almost like I was bonding with myself for a moment, more confusing than anything else.

"I'm weaker because I don't need to be stronger," I summarized.

"Exactly," Hank said. "Though I don't think you're weaker, only your power. In some ways, you're stronger, learning to live without your full power." I smiled at the idea. He paused a moment before he continued. "We all wondered what would come when you matured. I'm glad to see that empathy and not self interest takes main stage." I felt my face heat when I thought of how I retracted my power when I was angry at Mom. I used it as a tool to punish her, more so than to isolate myself.

"I'm not perfect," I admitted.

"No," Hank laughed, "teenagers usually aren't. I was a terror myself. To this day, I'll never understand how my parents survived my high school years." I urged him on and he happily explained what he meant by terror. It was good to hear that I wasn't as awful as I thought. There were other people on earth whose faults exceeded my own. I never took my Dad's car out before I got my license and ran into a police car. Never did I make homemade firecrackers and set the garage on fire. Sneaking out of the house at two in the morning had never entered my mind, much less painting slurs about the principle on the side of the school.

"I had you pegged as a nerd," I laughed.

"Things settled down when I went to college," Hank said. "I met Victoria, who was a nerd. A young man will do many things to impress a woman. She liked good grades. I loved her."

"You're a romantic," I said.

"She's the romantic," Hank corrected. "I'm just the fool who can't live without her."

"That's what I want!" I said. "No bond. Just someone who loves me for who I am."

"But, the bond is part of who you are," Hank said quietly. I could hear the hesitation in his voice. He saw it as an asset and knew I felt differently. It was part of me, that is true. I won't let it be a thing that forces some man into my arms.

"What are you going to tell the military about your visit?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Nothing," Hank answered. "They have long ago learned to trust me. I fly all over the place and consult with many in academia. This will just be one of those trips if they even know to ask."

"Thanks," I said and leaned forward and hugged my uncle. I knew, without the bond, that my welfare was rated above the Military's need to know. I could feel his body relax into the hug. Some reservations faded in the embrace. We were as much family as friends.

.16 - Teegan

"Caleb!" Gene shouted across the lunchroom. Gene ignored Mr. Sampson's scowl. Pinned to Gene's shirt was a pre-calc pop quiz with a big red B+ circled at the top. Caleb, surprisingly, only smiled and nodded his head as he changed his direction to join us. His comfort level with Gene had increased to a point that he lost his embarrassed blush.

"You are the man," Gene said as Caleb approached. He held out his fist which Caleb confidently collided with his own.

"You going to wear that all day?" Caleb asked, pointing at the test.

"A B+ from Prichard? Damn right," Gene announced happily. The study group had met twice, and Caleb had turned out to be a wonderful tutor. He was able to explain a lot of the complexity away, and gave us tools to break down word problems into their component parts. Gene thought he was the second coming. "This might as well be my scholarship," Gene added, smacking the paper loudly with the flat of his hand. I envied his ability not to be embarrassed by anything.

"I got an A-," Samantha interjected. Gene rolled his eyes but kept his mouth shut. I didn't add my A into the mix, thinking it would wound Gene's ego.

"Just being around you makes us smarter," Gene complimented Caleb. Caleb took the seat next to mine and plopped his brown bag on the table.

"Maybe I'll get taller hanging around you," Caleb joked, making Gene laugh.

"Anything," Gene said in an oath taking mode, "you need anything, and I'm there." This time, Caleb did blush. Gene meant it, and Caleb wasn't ready for it. I wondered if he ever had a loyal friend like Gene.

"He's a good teacher," I added proudly. The fact that I was proud made me falter and look away.

"You guys going to the Henderson bash this weekend?" Gene asked. The way his eyes focused and the tone of his voice made me think he was asking us as a couple. Samantha was holding back a smile. She had noticed it as well. I looked at a very confused Caleb, who had no idea how to answer.

"I wasn't invited," I replied.

"Me either," Caleb added.