The Hidden Descendants

Chapter Six

Berkley

"Here," Al held his hand out and inside his grip was a crisp white envelope, with 'kid' written on the front of it, "take this. You deserve it, Kid."

I hesitantly took the white rectangle from him and slowly started to open it. Inside was not one, but two one-hundred dollar bills. My eyes widened in surprise. "What's this?" I asked as I opened the little piece of paper that was inside.

Miller's Credit UnionJessica Price

That's what the card read. "And this?" I asked the big guy in front of me.

"You need a bank account. Carrying cash around constantly, especially in your situation, is just asking for someone to rob you. Take that money, and anything else you might have, and go open your own account. Your eighteen now, time to do big girl things, Kid." Al gives me a smirk, knowing the endearment 'kid' is a pet peeve of mine.

I place a hand on my hip and jut it out, with a stern look set on my face. "One, stop calling me kid. It's bad enough you've put it in writing. Two, I didn't earn this money. And three, how the hell am I supposed to go open an account when I don't have A, a license and B, a birth certificate?"

Al points a stout finger at the envelope. "That's why I wrote down that name in there. Go see her, she is already aware of your situation and more than willing to help you out."

I narrowed my eyes at him, "Willing? or intimidated?"

He gave me a shrug and a half smile. "I don't see the difference."

I scoff. "Of course you don't." I glance at the paper holding the money, unease settling in and making me hand it back to him. "Either way it doesn't matter, I didn't earn it. Take it back."

"Yo, Boss! They need you up front!" One of the employees yelled through the door.

I watch as my boss puts his hands up in the air and backs away from me, heading toward the front of the pub. "It's yours. Despite what you may think, you have earned that. Besides, it is your birthday, officially, right? Consider it a gift."

"Fine." I shoved the money and note into my backpack. "I'm going for a run. If I'm done before you close, I might need to crash here again, F.Y.I."

Without waiting for a response, I slung my bag over my shoulder and pushed my way out the back door. The man can be seriously irritating. I don't take things unless I've earned them. I don't need anyone's handouts. Besides, that's a quick way to get yourself into a sticky situation. Nine times out of ten, if someone does something 'nice' for you, then they expect something in return. Maybe not that day, or the next, but they will catch up to you eventually. I owe nothing to anyone. I'd like to keep it that way. Maybe I'll go open an account, and maybe I won't. I'll decide later. Right now though, I just need to get changed into my running attire so I can blow off some of this steam I seem to be holding onto.

I quickly make my way to the local park where the public bathrooms are located. I was able to change relatively fast into my running attire, which consisted of black leggins and a black sports bra. Nothing fancy but it does the job.

I shove my bag into the tree around the corner so it's hidden from sight and take off at a brisk pace down the trail. I use running as my outlet. All the stress, anger or any sort of emotion I am overwhelmed with, I release through my run. It's the only time I feel safe enough to let my thoughts run wild.

After about a mile, my skin erupts with goose bumps. I slow my pace to a steady walk and glance up at the sky. The moon is so big, full and bright tonight. Magical, is the best way to describe it. It's absolutely breath taking. I can't seem to take my eyes off of it. I follow along, my feet guiding me along, while my eyes stay glued to the giant white ball in the sky.

I have to look away momentarily while I shove some branches out of my way, or else I'll end up walking into them face first. At this point, I'm way off my normal trail. I've been walking along following this full moon for about ten minutes. My heart rate has returned to normal, the tension I was holding in my shoulders earlier has faded away. The moon isn't just calling me, I'm not just seeing it- I'm feeling it, its reviving me. I want to slap myself for how ridiculous I sound, but I can't, because it's real.

Once I clear the brush, I find myself entering a small meadow. It's surrounded by the trees that line the running trails. Random wild flowers grow everywhere inside of this small opening. The only thing lighting it is the crisp light of the night.

My foot taps on the ground, making sure it's not too soft to sit down on. I plop myself down, tugging my knees to my chest and just stare up at the sky. I don't remember the last time I've ever felt so calm, so free. Honestly? Probably never. Not once in my life- that I can remember- have I felt so peaceful.

I hear some twigs snap in the short distance. I turn my head in that direction, but for some reason my body and brain work together, determining who or whatever it is, isn't a threat. So I just sit and watch, waiting to see who is there. I assume a small animal, maybe? It could be a little fawn that wandered off from its mother, or a raccoon hunting for its next dumpster to dive into. I wait patiently to see which little critter it's going to be, except when it steps through, it's not little. No, it's big, probably still considered a critter, but that's probably more of an opinion than actual fact. Instead of a cute little animal, I'm looking at Kingston Carver.

I'd rather have an animal.

My heart rate speeds up, while my stomach does a little flip at the sight of him. He stands there in loose basketball shorts and a cut-off shirt. His dark locks a little rumpled, and beads of sweat glistening on his forehead. I keep my face void of any emotion. This is the last man I'll ever become a puddle of mush in front of. I expect him to turn his nose up in disgust at me, or possibly even look right over me as if I'm not here. What I didn't expect was for him to move toward me with his eyes locked on mine.

"Who are you?" King's deep voice asked me.

Funny really, I've been going to school with this guy for over a year and he has no idea who I am, even though he 'runs the school'. "If you don't know, then I don't see how it's important now."

His forehead digs into the top of his nose, "It's important because I'm asking."

I barked out a laugh at this man's ego. Is he serious? "I don't care if the Pope is asking. If I've never been of any relevance to him or you before, then I'm not now. Just because we ran into each other and you're curious, knowing who I am doesn't matter." I pushed myself up from the ground, really needing to get away from this guy. His close proximity is going to mess with my head. He smells amazing. Like pine mixed with the ocean. Earthy, strong, and masculine. I got to go. I wipe my hand across my backside to knock off any dust that may have stuck to my leggings. "Nice chat, Kingston." I go to turn and leave, but I only just get turned around when his hand clamps down on my wrist before my foot can even fall to the ground to step away.

"Wait-" He cuts himself off when our skin connects, sending earth shuddering sparks through my entire body. I gasp in a breath while my eyes fall to where our bodies meet. His hand and my wrist. "Tell me you feel that too." He mutters quietly. I gulp because, yes, I freaking feel it and what the hell does it mean? Instead of answering, I ripped my arm away from his grasp.

"Don't touch me." I glared at him while I took a step further away.

"Damn, okay, sorry..." He held his hands up in the air. "You can't tell me you didn't feel that though, I saw your face. You felt it and it surprised you. Which means you didn't feel it in the hallway that day." He's pacing back and forth now, shaking his head. I'm not sure if he's talking to himself or to me. Suddenly, he stops moving and points a finger at me. "You didn't feel it then, but you have now. Why now? What's different about this encounter from the last one?"

"What?" I asked, confused about everything happening right now.

He scoffs, waving his hand in the air. "Please. You know exactly what encounter I'm talking about. Girls like you don't simply bump into guys like me and forget about it that easily."

What. The. F*ck.