Ethereal Bonds

Chapter 1

I heard heavy footsteps on the wooden floorboards upstairs, and suddenly my alarm jolted me awake. I, Madison Birkeland, jumped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom, brushing my teeth and taking a quick shower.

As I combed my long brown hair, my older brother Ethan burst into my room with bags in his hands.

“Get ready, Mady! Everyone's leaving in ten minutes.”

Oh yeah, I almost forgot we were spending the summer at our grandparents' farmhouse. As soon as Ethan left the room, I stopped dawdling and started packing my suitcase. I even double-checked to make sure I had everything I needed. Hurrying down the stairs, I saw Ethan's best friend, Daniel Hansen, standing outside by Ethan's car.

Daniel looked at me and smiled. I frowned at him. I couldn't stand him, yet I couldn't take my eyes off him. He looked so damn gorgeous, with his jet-black wavy hair blowing in the wind and his blue eyes matching my earrings. He had a dragon tattoo on his right arm, was a vegetarian, and had dated all the cheerleaders at our school. He was the quintessential high school heartthrob, the seemingly perfect boyfriend who, despite his reputation as a notorious player, is still the subject of gossip years after graduation. But he was Ethan's best friend, so what could possibly go wrong this summer? He was an impressive basketball player, but not as cool as Ethan. My brother was just an excuse to watch Captain Handsome play every game and every practice. But he always saw me as his best friend's little sister. Despite being a heartbreaker, he was the muse of my early-morning and late-night fantasies—the one I wished could be my first kiss, my first everything. Yet, I feared he would use me and discard me into his collection of one-night stands. Though I've never been in a relationship before, in my mind, I'm already dating him without him even knowing.

I climbed into Ethan's car and I started texting my best friend, Alyssa Eriksen, telling her how boring this summer was going to be. The good news was she would be staying nearby, so she could visit me once in a while. Phew!

Daniel and Ethan finished loading everything into the car and got in. Daniel turned around and looked at me.

“Hey little sister, I hope this will be a summer we never forget. It will be like the good old times.” Yeah, the good old times when you always brought along your latest lover! Seeing him with a new girl every month feels like he is continuously stabbing me with that gorgeous smile of his, while I fall for him more with every passing second. I just pretend it doesn’t bother me, that his love life doesn’t bother me.

“Come on, let’s go!” Ethan interjected.

On the way to the highway, we stopped at a food market.

“Buy all the stuff you need for this road trip. It's going to take eight hours to reach the farmhouse.” Ethan said as he parked in the supermarket parking lot.

I was just getting out of the car when Daniel, who had scrambled out quickly, stumbled and rushed to my door, opening it like he was my butler. I looked up at him in shock as he gestured towards the entrance with his hand stretched out.

“Uh, okay. Thanks, Daniel, but you know I have hands that can open doors by myself, right?” OH MY GOSH, WHY IS HE BEING SO NICE??

He chuckled. “Can’t I be nice?”

Ethan didn't even notice, acting as if this was completely normal. He was already walking away from the car.

“Come on, guys, we don't have all day!”

“Coming!” I shouted at Ethan, giving a confused look at Daniel. I felt so giddy! Butterflies! Butterflies!

Daniel closed the door behind me and walked alongside me. I tried to ignore the Dior Sauvage perfume filling up my lungs. He smelled like a delicious snack I wanted to devour, or better yet, I wanted to be the snack he devoured. I walked towards the chilled section and grabbed some ready-made coffee bottles. It was going to be a long day. It was going to be a long summer of trying not to jump his bones. I found myself in the snack aisle, searching for some gluten-free options.

“What are you looking for?” Daniel whispered in my ear while towering behind me.

“Jus…just looking for gluten-free snacks.” I stammered.

“I can help you with that. Now, let’s see.” He said while his hand reached high up on the shelf. Goosebumps prickled my skin as I felt his warm breath on my neck. I tried hard not to show how affected I was and didn't turn around.

“There you go—rice crackers, 100% gluten-free!” he said with a big smile on his face.

“Thank you, Daniel.” I said, turning around and holding onto the snack, trying to take it from him. He didn’t let it go. I looked into his eyes, blue ocean eyes. His lips curled as he looked down at my lips. I knew that look, just from watching so many romantic movies. He was thinking of kissing me! Siri, Play Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish.

I heard footsteps approaching us. “You guys look awfully close. Ew, Daniel.” Ethan grabbed him by the T-shirt from behind to pull him away from me. Daniel laughed and said, “I was just getting Mady some snacks.”

“Uh…yeah, I…thanks!” I stammered. If Ethan hadn't found us, Daniel might have made a move on me.

Afterwards, we got back in the car, and Ethan continued driving. As I tried to nap in the backseat. Suddenly, I woke up and saw a dirt road with trees everywhere.

I sat up properly, and Ethan said, “Finally, you're awake! I can't believe you slept all the way here, even after drinking all that coffee”

“Uh huh." I was too lazy to say anything because all I could see in the side mirror was Daniel looking at me.

“What's up, Mady?” Daniel asked.

I forgot to respond because I saw the farmhouse in the distance. There were chickens, goats, ducks, pigs, and cows everywhere, even Buster the shepherd dog, and Buddy the brown horse. I loved both of them. Grandma appeared, wearing a brown cowgirl-style suit and a straw hat over her shiny gray hair. But then I noticed something sad in the picture—Grandpa was in a wheelchair. Slick tears pricked my eyes and flowed down my rosy cheeks.

“Ethan, stop the car!” I shouted.

He immediately stopped, and I jumped out, my sneakers crushing the wildflowers growing at the edge of the dirt road and ran towards them. I got down to my knees in front of Grandpa and hugged his legs, crying.

Grandpa patted my head, and Grandma came close, saying, “Mady, please don’t cry!”

Ethan and Daniel came over, giving hugs to Grandpa and Grandma. Ethan lifted me and held me close. His eyes were filled with tears; he didn’t know either.

Grandma broke the ice, “So, how was the journey? You guys must be hungry!”

“No… uh… I’m fine. Had some snacks on our way here.” I looked at Grandma and forced a smile as I approached her and gave her a big hug. She rubbed my back and said, “Mmm… we missed you guys so much! Especially, you! My favorite granddaughter!”

I laughed, “I am your only granddaughter!” I pulled away from the hug and looked at her and Grandpa. “Well, aren’t you guys glad we are here for the summer? And we brought Daniel because he was begging to come along with us.”

“We are so happy to accommodate you! You are family, after all. But I’m quite surprised that you’re alone this summer. Where is the blonde?” Grandma said, teasing Daniel.

Daniel laughed nervously, looking back and forth between me and Grandma, “Which one?” Yeah, you heard it. Every single girl he was with was blonde. Which I am not, unfortunately.

“Honey, they are tired! Let’s all go in.” Grandpa said to Grandma. We took our luggage and walked inside.

-

Daniel came inside my room and closed the door behind him.

“What do you want?” I asked as if I’m annoyed. But I’m not, oh my gosh why is he here? He even closed the door! He sat on the bed beside me, not too close, not too far.

“I know it's hard to believe that an amazing rancher is in a wheelchair, but that's what happens when people get older. You're aging second by second.” Daniel whispered softly. “Try not to be sad around them, and just enjoy the moment.”

“You’re right!” I said while he crept closer and sat just beside me, our shoulders touching. My mouth opened just slightly as I looked at his glossy, puckered-up pink lips. Oh, I bet they are so soft. Oh shoot, I did that look, the look you give when you want to kiss. f**k! Look at his eyes! Look at his eyes!

He was looking at me, he was checking me out. I felt like I was being x-rayed, like he could see through my clothes. My body is average, I would say, not curvy or sexy. I like staying fit but I don't have an aesthetically pleasing body, I think. And what if Daniel thinks I'm ugly or something? I turned the other way and sat away from him, feeling ashamed. His type is blonde cheerleaders and I’m nowhere close to that!

He gently cupped my chin and turned my head towards him, giving me a lustful smile. His touch sent shivers down my spine. “You aren’t little anymore, huh?” He took a peek down at my cleavage. From where his head is at, he can see my bosom on full display! What’s happening? “Uh, yeah, I mean… I’ll be graduating soon.” I stammered.

“I know you have the hots for me.” His voice sounded deeper and huskier. He leaned in closer, close enough to kiss. His other hand grabbed my tush, which made my eyes open wide in shock. It wasn’t as gentle as when he held my chin; this almost feels as if it's demanding.

I could feel Daniel's presence drawing closer, his eyes locked onto mine with a mixture of nervousness and determination. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears with an electric tension filled the air.