Intertwine (Book 3)

Chapter Eight

The leaves were floating from the trees and onto the penny brown grass below. We were far into the fall and planning to head into Mother Nature’s winter mixture.

Hot chocolate. Apple pie with vanilla ice cream. Roasted turkey. A fire place bright and knee-high socks that would keep my legs warm. My mom would switch to a movie, Halloween classics to be exact.

Hocus Pocus. Halloween. She loved the old classic horror films, which is what they would play all month long.

My snack bowl in hand, I turned on the television and searched the channels for something that would keep my attention. Nothing. There was nothing that would even make me smile. Everything reminded me of my mother.

There were the memories, enjoyable times we would spend together. She loved the fall just as much as the males here did.

There was a light knock against the bedroom room. I gave the okay for their entry. The door opened. Her face, lifeless and plain.

She pushed forth a smile I found unnecessary and downright foolish. I knew how she struggled to create that smile. I just did not need her to pretend for me.

"Keira." She sat beside me. I slid my snack bowl. She thanked me in a whisper before she took a handful of chips.

It has limited her freedom. She has spent a great amount of time with the others. The trackers. No, it was not an order given to her; it was more of a task she took on for herself.

"You can sleep." It was impossible not to the notice to dark circles around her eyes and the slumped posture when she entered.

I pressed up against her for warmth. She titled her head, resting it against my own. She inhaled before she exhaled, allowing her eyes to shudder to a close, sending her into a sleep I could see she desperately needed....

I rubbed my hands against the jean material of my pants. My hands were covered in perspiration and so was the back of my neck.

Watching as Jess scrambled around my bedroom, I began to wonder if allowing her in was a good choice.

"This is cute." She stuffed a pair of Nike shorts in to my duffle bag, which she had found deep inside of my closet. "And this."

I picked up my cellular phone. Scrolling, I clicked my mother's name once again. Just as before, it rung before it switched to her voicemail. It was a learned phrase that would never leave my mind. Her voice. Angelic almost. Light and also mesmerizing to me.

It has been months, but it was us that kept her phone active. Jason knew that it was the only piece I had to my mother.

"Aniyah?" I ended the call before I stuffed my phone into my pocket. Her eyes were on me, watching my behavior. "Look, I can cancel this if you like?"

I could see the disappointment in Jess's eyes, which screamed for me to not kill our day. Even though a part of me was reluctant to attend, I just did not want to destroy the joy of the last positive person around me.

"It's fine, I'm ready when you are." I pulled my already packed bag from the chair, allowing Jess to take the lead to exit.

"Great. Let me get my bag then."

Jess ran to her room in a hurry as I stood in the doorway, releasing heavy breaths to calm my rushing mind.

***

Deep down, I assumed Maya would disagree with our choices to train elsewhere since she has been my trainer for almost a year. With her exhaustion and stress, I could understand why she did not stop us from going.

"This should be fun." Jess's fingers clutched down onto the steering wheel as she zipped through the crossroads and into town.

I could not understand. I know others would frown upon us going but they had no say-so in what he did. But Jason? I expected a whirlwind of his anger to blow through the house.

Instead, all I got was a sheepish smile and a few other words.

Jess parked in the lot, cutting the ignition of the car before she removed her seat belt.

"You remember our agreement, right?"

I opened the door exiting the car as I grabbed my bag.

"I know, I know." She slammed the door closed. "He touches, I smack."

"And?"

"And we leave." She rolled her eyes, tossing her bag over her shoulder and began to walk toward the entrance of the Avalanche gym.

Upon entering, there was a welcoming smile as we approached the awaiting receptionist.

"Hello ladies?" She gestured for us to scan our key cards. "You have come back."