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My heart beat like a jackhammer in my ears while my feet continuously hit the concrete ground below with sharp clacks. I could feel the adrenaline as it thrummed through my veins. Who knew encountering a stranger in your home was all it took to run like your life depended on it?
Because it likely did. And I was even more grateful that my mom had given me the pepper spray. That guy could’ve been a burglar, or a thief, or a murderer, or—
As exhaustion started catching up to me, I felt the sting burning in my lungs. The sensation snapped me out of whatever train of thought I’d been riding. In a frenzy, I stopped near a tree and climbed it. My legs hurt, and if the strange man found me, I could chuck ice cubes at him… or something.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jAYpnMwe2
Once I made it up, I sat on a branch and fished my phone out of my blazer pocket.
Police first?
Then I thought, No, Mom will be home soon. Best to warn her.
Her timing, however, beat mine. Before I was able to click on her contact, I received an incoming call from her. I answered the phone. Before she could say anything, I told her, “MOM, DON’T GO HOME! THERE’S A STRANGE MAN IN THE HOUSE.”
There was a pause. The silence dragged on longer than it needed to, and panic started to settle in again—until…153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zLJig0K99
She started laughing. Not a giggle or a chuckle. Full-blown, maniacal laughter.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiNcZpkcqG
“M-Mom, I’m serious…”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WhK5WLE0t
“I know, honey. Just… that explains so much.” The laughter on her end began to calm down. “I should’ve warned you this morning before sending you off to school…”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx83mvdt1Hu
Her words gave me pause. Then I replied, “You… know the man?”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcvyhL1ZWm
Her laughing still persisted, though not as wild as before. It was starting to taper off. “Yes! He actually called me when you ran off. He panicked so bad. I intended to introduce you to each other!”
I felt colder. She had to be kidding me.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMIuYiJgKL
“At least I know you have self-preservation, sweetie! Couldn’t tell after last week’s incident…”
I answered, “Mom. I sprayed your friend in the eyes with pepper spray.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeYCkHZgQ9
“I know! He complained about the burning—but seemed more distracted. Carter, please come home now. It’s safe…”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm92CtFIBm0
I sighed. “In a minute. Everything hurts, and I am in a tree.”
There was a pause. Then Mom asked, “A tree…??” She sighed. “Which street?”
I answered, “Malsvein Drive,” after glancing at a nearby sign.
She went silent for a few minutes, presumably inputting the address. Then she asked, “Carter, how the hell did you manage to make it to the city district on foot without overheating?”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o2cbvfekU
It sounded rhetorical, so I didn’t answer. I hadn’t even realized I’d made it that far from home. No wonder everything hurt. But it did explain why this area was much more lively than my neighborhood—less horn honking, fewer strangers likely to mug you. Beautiful lights glowing everywhere. I probably looked suspicious.
Once it finally settled in, I rubbed my temple, murmuring to myself, “I climbed a tree… in the Dashburke city district… after running here on foot.”
My mom answered that comment, though. “Yes. Yes, you did. You need to be careful. Your only indicator of exhaustion is pain. You can’t even sweat.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczlEW1PWZ1
“I know, Mom,” I answered.
“You should’ve been careful,” she told me.
“I know, Mom,” I repeated, redundantly.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtMQKgqmwF
Once I saw the familiar SUV, I hopped down from the tree and wobbled a bit before regaining balance. The phone hung up as I knocked on the window. I heard the clinking of the lock, then opened the door and climbed into my seat.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBzAFVmlhw
“Soooo… boys…” my mom mentioned.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWegvbT4x1N
The guy huffed, and I stayed silent out of pure embarrassment.
Mom made an “ahem” sound, then gestured to me. “Zachary, this is my son Carter. I told you about him.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQL3q5TBPs
The man—Zachary—nodded. Mom then pointed to him. “Carter, this is my boyfriend Zachary.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQiFMQlYUl
I choked. He laughed.
I shouted, “BOYFRIEND!? WHEN DID YOU START DATING!?”
Then they both started laughing. I continued, a bit dazed. “I… sprayed my mom’s boyfriend with cayenne pepper water…”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz73usDeyrN
Zachary stopped laughing, then placed a hand on my shoulder. He flinched a bit, but orange eyes met mine, and he told me, “It’s good, it’s good. Your mom explained she forgot to tell you I would be visiting. The burning didn’t last that long! I was, er, more concerned about the teenager running into crime-ridden streets.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiO1R8Fz3Sb
That made me feel more guilty.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnDHwbx3AM
“I am so sorry, Zachary…” I told him. He seemed oddly tolerant of the cold. I noticed it took him a few moments before pulling his hand away. Orange eyes weren’t natural either. Another Neitlim patient? Easy to deduce. Probably had a condition related to earth, metals, fire, or other forms of cold resistance.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSV9SHPV4Sr
“It’s okay, Carter. I hold nothing against you. At least you have good survival instinct… compared to last week.”
I huffed.
“Are we gonna keep bringing up how I nearly died?” At this rate, the guilt would start ebbing away.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3a2OjTwUzO
Mom told me, “Carter, he visited you a few times in the ICU. He was the one who baked those cookies you liked.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQwlFYd79h
“Oh… thank you then. Zachary, they were very good,” I told him.
He chuckled. “I was told you liked them.”
I speculated he was only trying to win me over so he could date my mom without issue, or… even ask her to marry him or something. Despite her last marriage going wrong. If this was the case, I would have to hold off on giving him my approval… if it was.
I inquired, “How long have you two been dating?”
Mom answered it. “Nearly a year now? We met when I still worked at the café. We had agreed to wait to introduce you both once we knew we were compatible. And here we are!”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxn4bZtt4Pb
Zachary took her free hand and told her, “That was the best day of my—”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2seuQMsyW
I completely tuned out and gagged. It was instinctual. Why the PDA in the car, I had no idea. Then laughter drew my attention.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXssYWf3BW
I stared at them, then blinked. Very slowly.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11jUqbgRTQ
“Teenagers!” they both chirped in unison. I raised an eyebrow.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wVP1Nm0LU
Then asked Zachary, “So Zachie, do you have any kids? Will I have step-siblings?”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUnqfkI3NL
His face went a deep crimson. “No, I don’t have any kids—don’t need to worry on that front!”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOW4SOO3X0i
There was some nervous laughter, and I felt a smirk appear on my face. I knew where to pick on him now.
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When we made it home, I ran up the stairs and changed out of my school uniform. I put on some sweats and a blue oversized hoodie. A sigh of exhaustion escaped my lips. I stretched before collapsing on the bed.
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Zachary, apparently, would end up staying the night.
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But he’d be gone by the time I woke up...
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