And each person in the house was aliens, who were apparently trying to capture him, and steal his acne. It was the weirdest experience for everyone involved. Leland, held the kitchen hostage and threw plates at anyone who entered yelling, ‘I hate zits but I hate aliens more. You can’t have my pimples!’ Cassie thought he had an episode, some psychological issues Leland suffered from as a child. Actually, seeing Leland run around the kitchen high off all-nighters was quite amusing. Especially with Ronnie knowing the real reason he was acting like a coo coo bird. It was like she was in on her own secret.

When Ronnie did heavily sell drugs, she sold anything they wanted, not considering the danger she was putting them and anyone else in. Now, Ronnie considers the life of others. “Leland, pick something else. You will not give the girl you are going out on a date with all-nighters. Who knows what could happen to you two.”

“Why are you so concerned about her? Who cares, as long as we have a good time.”

“No, us women need to stick together and watch out for each other even when the other woman doesn’t know. She doesn’t know what you’re up to. And it is wrong to drug people.”

Leland rolled his eyes. “She’s for it, Ronnie. Can you just get the goods?”

“Call her and let me ask her. She says yeah. . . I’ll get you one and you can split it.”

“Split it!” Leland objected.

“You don’t remember how lit you were the last time you shot one. You only need half, believe me.”

“Whatever, are you going to get it?”

“Soon as you call her. I’ll check around for you, see who has any.”

Leland dialed a number and passed Ronnie the phone. The line rung and rung until a girl with a squeaky voice answered. “Hi, Leland.”

“Um, hi this isn’t Leland. It’s his sister, Ronnie. Uh, are you trying to ride tonight when you go out with Leland?” The girl mumbled. “Leland, she’s mumbling and not able to answer the question. Clearly, all-nighters are not a good choice. Your basic brownie or sniffing of permanent markers will work fine.” Ronnie handed him the phone.

“Gail, can you stop babbling and let her know you want it.” He listened as Gail spoke clearly. “She’s all about this girl power crap and wants to get your okay so she can stop thinking that I’m trying to date rape drug you.” He listened. He rolled his eyes and moved his hand as if it were talking. “Okay.” He handed Ronnie back the phone.

“Yes.” Ronnie said.

“Thanks for looking out for your fellow girl. Please don’t let Leland bring me anything strong. I’m not trying to ride. ..as you put it. I just want to feel a little buzz. But be aware of what’s going on, and remember what happened tomorrow.”

“Okay, I know what would be good.” Ronnie hung up. “She prefers to not be high as a kite. I think you knew that. Boys like you end up in jail. . .you know that.”

“Shut up and tell me what you’re going to give me.”

“Two lollypops. They’re lighter and cheaper. She’ll be hazy, smiling and laughing at all your corny jokes that match your uh. . .” Ronnie pinched the shoulder of Leland’s odd sweater. “Is this a sweater vest?”

Leland moved out of her grasps. “As a matter of fact, it is.” He straightened it, smoothing his hands over his chest.

Ronnie was disgusted by Leland’s sweater vest he chose to wear with Dockers and slacks, in seventy-six degreeweather. “Uh, okay. Well. . . she’ll be safe and you’ll be just right. Not high enough to try to take advantage of her but a little floaty, enough to still have a good time.”

“I don’t want to float. I wanna fly.”

“Fly when you come home. Not out with her.” Ronnie didn’t want Leland to get too high because who knows what type of nerd danger Gail will be in and Ronnie needed him tonight. If he came home like an astronaut no way was she going make it to Bronze. “What time you coming back?”

“Where are you trying to go?” He narrowed his eyes looking down at her. “And with who?”

“Bronze, Harris Park.”

“Bronze. . . Bleeding Pores, Bronze.” Leland exclaimed.

Ronnie turned up her lip. “Uh yeah, you got a crush on him or something?”

“Ronnie, I swear I will help you get out if you ask him to meet Gail for me. She would love to meet him. I’m a small fan too, but I’d be in so good if I could make that happen.”

“You’ve known I knew Bronze since the Coffee Shop concert.”

“I thought you were a fan girl. Pre-groupie. I didn’t know you knew him, knew him.”

“Deal. Get me out so I don’t have to sneak and I’ll get Bronze to say hi to Gail.”

“Yes!” Leland cheered. “Okay, 8-o-clock. Be ready to go.” Leland charged up the stairs, calling for Cassie.

Ronnie rushed to her computer, as she clicked Bronze’s name to send him a message, a message came through from Armani.

Armani: I finally got a date with Star, we are going to Scotties, the lounge. Please tell me you can get out and go.

Ronnie waited to reply to Armani. Scotties was a small lounge for teens. They served non-alcoholic beverages in shotand martini glasses. Most teenagers went there to hangout, and of course, . . .get high. Ronnie was trying to stay away from drugs. Keep away from the potheads. But with Leland, it was a little hard to do.

Ronnie quickly emailed Bronze informing him of the time change.

Ronnie: 8:30 okay for me to meet you? I’m going to get dropped off. Oh, and you have a fan girl who would like for you to say high and maybe shake her hand.

Ronnie reopened Armani’s email.

Ronnie: I’ll let you know. Score on winning a date with Star. He’s one of my best friends, DO NOT be a bitch to him.

The computer dinged as Ronnie was walking away.

Bronze: I’ll be way done by then. Eight-thirty works for me. I was concerned about you walking over there anyway. I was going to offer to pick you up near your house. Fan girl, ha. . . Yeah, okay. If it’s what you want. See you later. Don’t forget about the dress.

Ronnie: I won’t forget about the dress.

Cassie switched out Ronnie’s bracelets. “Ronnie, tomorrow your probation officer will be stopping by. He said they will be testing and they may do a random search. I trust you, I know they will not find anything. But please don’t mention I’ve let you go out a few times. I’m only trying to make life not as hard on you as it already has been.”

“Of course I wouldn’t mention it. I appreciate you caring. Thank you again for taking off the cuffs.”

Cassie softly smiled, her brows rose as she concluded, “He said there will be something he’d like to talk about with you, but he didn’t tell me what it was.”

“Thank you for letting me know.”

Cassie responded with a warm smile.

Things in Ronnie’s life were beginning to feel acceptable. She finally felt like she could stop running and settle into the Beverly home and not feel like she needed to get out of there the instant she got off those bracelets. Finally, Ronnie felt like she was able to breathe.

She still had her friends who weren’t trying to make any life changes but Ronnie was a good influence. Once she was able to get out and get a phone she’d start trying to convince them to give up the street rat life too.

“Leland, if you introduce me to Bronze, I am going to love you forever.” Gail, Leland’s date announced when she got into the front passenger seat.

Ronnie sat in the back wishing tomorrow her PO would tell her she could have a music player and a cell phone. Or a cell phone with a music player in it and she’d just get some Beats to drown out the world. Like the sucky face sound coming from the front seat.

“Can you drive? I’m going to be late.” Ronnie smacked her lips loudly. “And if you don’t mind, Leland. Save the pre-sex activities for when I’m not around.”

Leland turned up the music, drowning Ronnie out as he drove to Harris Park.

“Oh my goodness! That’s him. That’s Bronze.” Gail exclaimed excitedly, bouncing around in her seat.

Ronnie rolled her eyes. “This is why he acts like that. From fan girls crushing on him before he’s even hit Madison Square Garden.”

“But he’s on his way!” she squealed. “Imagine saying, I knew Bronze before he was huge and he was just as amazing then as he is now. Oh the stories. You think I can get him to kiss my hand, my cheek?”

“NO! Definitely not,” Leland shouted.

“And this is your future,” Ronnie stated sardonically.

Bronze was leaning against the parks sign under the streetlight. He pushed from it when the car pulled in front of him, shining more light on his already swollen head.

Ronnie jumped out and was cut off on her walk to him when Gail pushed her out of the way and ran for him.

He just about ran away before she was pulled to a stop by Leland. “Gosh, had he not stopped her, she would have smacked into you,” Ronnie told him.

“Tell me about it. Hug?”

“No,” Ronnie waved him toward the girl. “Go handle your groupie love.”

Bronze shrugged. “Nah, I’m not in the mood.”

He turned to walk away and Ronnie stopped him. “Please,” she whispered. “It’s the only way I’m able to get out. If you don’t at least speak to her, he’ll tattle on me.”

“Tattle?”

“Please or I’m going home.”

Bronze rolled his eyes and  walked away from her to Gail. “Hey Gail. You want me to sign your boob?”

“Ah!” She screamed. “Please yes!” She lost her shirt and stood in the night in her bra handing Bronze her marker. “Gail. G. A. I. L. and add ‘my girl’. And please can I get a hug and a picture.”

Bronze turned to Ronnie and pointed in Gail’s direction with his back to Gail so she couldn’t see him. Ronnie rolled her eyes and Bronze quickly hitched his brows. “Yeah, sure,” he stated smoothly, turning back.

Gail screamed and squealed until she and Leland left.

“Bet that made your day,” Ronnie told Bronze as they strolled through the park.

Bronze breathed deeply. “Sometimes it’s cool. Fans let you know you’re doing something right, even when they’re local. But you know how I feel about this band stuff. I’m just in it to stay busy.”

“That’s what you say. Secretly, I think you love being a part of the band. You love having girls swooning over you. And love making love to those mics you sing in.”

“Secretly I love making love to those mics. Singing is love for me. It’s a stress reliever, and escape from. . .” he threw up his free hand. “Whatever this is.” His right hand held the guitar case. “But I could do without the band and the fans. If I could just record songs, and sing them live. I’d be set.”

Ronnie quietly walked beside him, enjoying the cool night’s breeze. They walked along the paved path to a shelter. She sat on the wood table beside him and watched as he unloaded his guitar.

He handed it to her. “Okay, play whatever tune you’d like and I’ll match the song to it. Even if it’s something you’ve pulled off the top of your head. I’ll sing to it.”

“How’d you know I know how to play?”

“You know how people have gaydar. Well, I have a musicdar.”

Ronnie laughed.

“Score,” Bronze whispered quietly, staring at her.

“Ugh,” Ronnie grunted. “Stop doing that.”

Bronze shook his head. “I can’t. I love to see you smile. Those corners tipping does something to my heart. Makes it flutter.” He patted his hand on his chest twice, shooting Ronnie a rock-star-smile.

“Cut the crap, Bronze. Don’t sell me a dream.”

Bronze huffed, frustrated. “Here you go, Ronnie. Because I’d hate to chase you through this park, I’m not going to comment and just encourage you to play, please. I’ve been waiting for this moment a while, and I can’t wait to sing you this song. You mind if I take a picture of you.”

“Yeah,” Ronnie tested the guitar strings. “Don’t go sharing it and cropping it, putting it on naked girls’ bodies.” She strummed the strings once. And thought of a song she knew Bronze’s voice would complement if he sang against its tune.

She played the soft tune of I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You.

Bronze’s head whipped to her as she played. She didn’t notice him at first, listening to the soothing melody of one of her favorite songs that she was playing. She was trapped in her own passion for a split second.

“What?” she questioned breaking the trance the tune had on Bronze.

“Ingrid or Elvis?”

“Ingrid. It’s one of my favorite songs.”

Bronze nodded and closed his eyes, his head smoothly swayed to the melody and it looked so peaceful Ronnie did the same. She closed her eyes and listened.

I thought bright, blue skies gave me life

Or snow white mountains, covered in bright sunlight

The winds breeze, blowing through the trees

Was relaxing until I heard her sing.

It all started when I saw her smile, blue eyes gleaming, caught me from a mile

Away,

In her stare, she would fill me up

And without knowing I was falling in love.

Ronnie played as she listened to Bronze hum. She was mellow, so relaxed. Bronze’s voice was beautiful and he and her playing together was magical.

He stopped humming and Ronnie took the solo. She poured her heart into it, lifting away from the world as her mind sketched an image of her playing the guitar with Bronze sitting next to her singing. She sketched more trees in their background and made sure to capture every detail of the shelter and benches and tables to bring the picture to life.

Lips. . .stole hers.

Ronnie stopped playing and leaned back, opening her eyes. “What are you doing?”

Bronze licked his lips. “Ronnie, I had too.” He stepped closer to her. “I’m not Bronze right now, I’m not Cynical. I don’t know who I am. I’m so open and raw with you it throws me off. It’s why I can’t get it right.” Bronze spilled it all out, sorrow, confusion and a pinch of happiness was strong in his eyes and furrow of his eyebrows. “You take me somewhere amazing even when you’re telling me to kick rocks. I love it. I’m sorry. I want you, Ronnie. I’m not looking for you to dedicate yourself to me or anything and I’m not going to lie to you and say I’ll be with you forever or we can build a relationship that will last forever. Honestly, we’re young and anything can happen. But seriously I want to work on something with you. I love putting a smile on your face and I want to know you better so I can keep doing it.” He kissed Ronnie again and quickly pulled away. “I’m flooded when I kiss you. I’m flooded so quick it stops me and makes me not want to kiss you again but my body desires the feeling.” He gazed in her eyes moving back and forth between them. “Like I’m craving the high but too afraid to take the hit.”

Ronnie was speechless for a minute. The guitar was heavy in her lap, Cynical or Bronze, she didn’t know who he was at that moment. But the handsome young man with dark hair, blue eyes, strong jaw and neck, pierced ears, a button-down shirt and jeans was having her questioning everything. There were no little voices to help her out with this one. ..everything was quiet.

“Bronze. . .”

“Play.” He encouraged, with heartening eyes. “Play.” Ronnie played a soft melody, one that was unfamiliar to him and her. She was going with it. “Now, smile.”

Ronnie gave him a soft grin.

And Bronze sang his song to her again. Singing to the melody of her new rhythm.

“I love it when you play for me, Ronnie. I thought your smile was something to lose my mind over.” Bronze cut in his song to say.

Ronnie giggled as he continued. She closed her eyes and listened to Bronze and the guitar sweep her off the table and fly up to the clouds. Something about when he sang. . .Ronnie couldn’t ignore that she liked him. . .some of him.

A cool breeze covered the area they sat in. Bronze had stopped singing and Ronnie was frozen. She heard but could not see. The world was at a standstill.

“Cynical” a smooth voice called out. “She has the glow of a Nix. What are you doing here?”

Cynical moved himself in front of Ronnie, waving his hands back and forth in front of her closed eyes. “How did you do that, Casher?”

“It’s a gift. You’ll be able to soon enough. This, whatever you’re trying to make with this young girl. I warn you, this hue, this. . .” Casher waved his hand in a circular motion in Ronnie’s direction. “Radiant glow. You see its color, a pastel green?”

Cynical nodded.

“It’s the beginning. It means someone has a claiming on her. It’s nothing serious and the Nix, the one who did this to her. Whoever it may be. . .he doesn’t know about it. She knows nothing about it. But if they forego this. You won’t get her.”

“I’m not trying to get her. I like her, I’ll admit. She’s special. She’s different. She’s almost perfect. And look,” he pointed. “She plays the guitar. I bet she sings.” Cynical stood back and admired her. “I bet her voice is amazing. She’s amazing.” He shook his head. “I could go on about her all day, but I assume you have somewhere to be. Thanks for the warning big brother, I got it.”

“I don’t want to see you get hurt. Nixes are over protective and mischievous creatures. They come with flutters, those little annoying pixies that whisper in your ear when you’re close to them or heavily overcome by them. The most annoying creatures. The pixies only come when the Nix’s placed a liking on you or a dislike on you. You do not want that type of enemy.”

“Casher, I got. From what I know, I’m the only guy Ronnie’s seeing on this level. If I need you, bro, I’ll call you.”

“All right, stay protected. Stay unseen. Stay out of trouble.”

Casher clapped loudly, flashing a white light over the entire area, causing the conversation to have never happened in Ronnie’s mind.

Chapter 2

“This was nice. We should start our own band,” Bronze said, putting his car in park. He stopped at the corner down from Ronnie’s house.

Ronnie smirked looking out the passenger window. “Right. . .maybe.”

“This is our last night out?”

She looked away from the window at him. “Not our last.”

“Smile for me, Ronnie. And I’ll let you out the car. I know you’re in a rush to get away from me.”

She shook her head. “I’m not. I thought tonight was kind of beautiful. I love hearing you sing. Your voice is amazing. Uh, don’t let that go to your head.”

Bronze put his hands out around his head and pushed the invisible expanding bubble back down.

“I’ll see you later, Bronze. Thanks for the song.”

“Thanks for coming out.” He tapped his cheek. “Thanks for the kiss too.” Bronze was actually kind of sweet. And tonight was an amazing night for her.

Ronnie leaned over and offered him a little kiss on the cheek. “You’re welcome.”

“Thanks for accommodating my request. I love this short sun dress by the way. It makes you look like you’re a Taylor Swift kind of girl.”

Ronnie chuckled. “And what kind of girl is that?”

“Innocent and bubbly. Never committed a crime a day in her life. It would have been on point had you not wore the boots.”

“You know why I wear the boots.”

“I know, to hide your ankle bracelet. But even with the boots, it’s hot. I felt I was with an innocent rocker chick. Instead of bubbly. Like a mix between Swift and that chick from Evanescence.”

Ronnie cackled, looking down at her white dress long sleeve dress that flared at the bottom and her biker boots. She always wore high top gym shoes or boots. “Yeah, I see where you’re going with that. I’ll email you later, Bronze.”

“K.”

Ronnie got out and ran down the sidewalk to her house. Tonight’s lie was to say Leland dropped her off and kept going to drop off Gail. It was far before twelve and Leland’s car was not in the driveway so she was okay.

“Ronda? Is that you?” Cassie asked when Ronnie’s bracelets beeped on entry.

Nope just some random, walking in your house with beeping bracelets. “Yes, Cassie.” Ronnie cleaned up and headed for bed. Before she laid down, she checked her email. She had many messages but none from Hale. He didn’t reach out to her last night and none today.

She went to her spot on the floor and her sketch pad to sketch the images she imagined while she was out.

She flipped through pages seeing a few extras of Hale that she didn’t recall sketching. They were new, being the last four pages before a blank one. Flipping through the pages, she looked them over not remembering them. Of course, she knew her work and it, indeed, was hers. She could remember her arm moving about the page. But that was it, not heractually drawing them.

Ronnie turned to the last page of Hale looking out at her. With him standing in the middle of a street, looking at her. The drawing of his stare was so precise it caught Ronnie in it. She stared, feeling pieces of her, her breath, her desires, her feelings, so much being stolen from her. She tried to look away, tried to close the book but couldn’t, with her hands trying to push it closed but being kept apart like magnetic opposites.

Hale’s eyes in the drawing began to glimmer, tearing her apart, quickening her breaths, slowing her heart. Killing her by the second. . .

“Stop,” she called breathlessly. Chest caving in as she gasped for air. “Please Hale, stop it,” she whispered, trying to bring her left hand to her neck. She gasped and tried to take in oxygen as he suffocated her until she passed out.

“Ronda.” Cassie yelled down the stairs. “Ronda.”

Ronnie coughed and gasped for air, laying on the basement floor.

Cassie rushed down the stairs, drawing back the curtain. “Ronda, are you okay? What happened.” Worried, she touched over Ronnie’s face and hair. Concerned, she stared at Ronnie as she tried to catch her breath unable to explain what happened, and she didn’t know for sure if she was okay.

“I’m sorry, Cassie.” Ronnie leaned against the bed.

Cassie looked around her, eyes resting on Ronnie’s sketch pad. She admired Ronnie’s work with wide eyes as she slowly picked it up. “You drew this, Ronda? This is amazing.”

“Please don’t, Cassie.” Ronnie didn’t have the energy to grab the pad from her. A weird sensation was humming through her body, slowly paralyzing her. Like when one of your body parts fall asleep, and the pricks from the blood rushing through it stalls you because of the pain.

Respectfully, Cassie closed the pad and set it on top of Ronnie’s bed. “Are you feeling okay? she asked in a light tone. “Mr. Cassimere is here.”

Ronnie rolled her eyes. “Please don’t tell him you found me like this. He’ll think I was lifted or something. And I wasn’t. I don’t know what happened. I just passed out.” Ronnie slowly recalled. “I’m okay, though.”

“Good, I’m going to go back upstairs and let him know you’ll be up shortly. Don’t take too long.”

Ronnie nodded, refusing to pull herself from the floor just yet. She watched Cassie get up and close the thick pink and purple curtain. She overheard Cassie telling her probation officer, Mr. Cassimere that she’ll be up soon. They had to be sitting in the kitchen for Ronnie to hear them so clearly.

The annoying prickling sensation finally stopped, and Ronnie pulled herself from the floor. She dressed and ran a brush through her hair.

“Hi Cassimere,” Ronnie greeted humbly. She didn’t want him to think anything was up, so she perked up her distressed mood, put on her best, I’m a bad ass grin, and plopped down in one of the kitchen table’s chairs across from him.

“Good morning Ronnie. How has school been?” He always ran through questions first.

“Good.”

“Have you joined any activities?”

And Ronnie always gave the same answers. “Oh, I’ve considered a few but being on house arrest and the requirement to be in the house at a specific time kind of drowns out any extracurricular. Know what I mean, Fred.” She crossed her arms and quickly nodded once.

Mr. Cassimere shook his head. “How are things around the house?”

“Oh, they’re here and there. A few chairs that are pretty comfortable. A nice kitchen table.” She hit it twice. “It’s pretty sturdy. All the sensors work well. Keep me nice and grounded.”

“Do you have anything you’d like to share with me?”

“Well, this one time at band camp. . .”

“Ronnie, can you take this serious for once,” Mr. Cassimere scolded.

Ronnie shook her head. “I have been on my best behavior. Ask anybody. I’m ready to get this over with. Saturday’s are usually days teenagers sleep in. Not go over their life with their probation officer.” Ronnie threw out her hand. “Hand me the cup so I can pee.”

Mr. Cassimere rummaged through his briefcase, taking out a plastic bag with a plastic cup and blue top. “We are going to work on your attitude.”

Ronnie took the bag and left for the bathroom.

She came back and sat. “Now don’t drink and drive. You’re talking major pin time.”

“Cassie tells me you’ve had a change in attitude over the last two weeks. What changed for you?”

Ronnie stared at Mr. Cassimere. He was a young guy, dark skinned with low cut hair. He never wore a suit but collared shirts and jeans, with dress shoes. Ronnie thought he had to be in his late twenties, early thirties. He looked at Ronnie like a test subject. Like she was a scrambled rubrics cube he was destined to get all the colors to match so she’d be fixed and perfect.

Everyone always wanted to fix her. Including herself. But Ronnie loved who she was. She didn’t want to change that. . . She just wanted to change what she did. She was over getting in trouble, being in court houses, house arrests, beeping bracelets, random drops by her PO, and not being able to have her own phone. And things were better, but she wasn’t ready to admit that to him yet.

“Nothing has changed,” she said, slipping into her restricted visage. She blocked out everyone without eye contact, smiles, and body language. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked out the square window of the backdoor. It looked out to an old wooden treehouse Ronnie assumed Leland played on as a child.

“Ronnie, it is okay to be happy. You know that. It’s okay to be comfortable.” His deep voice encouraged.

“Whatever.”

“What do you want, Ronnie? How can I help you?”

Ronnie looked at him through narrow eyes. “You can take these bracelets off. Let me have a phone so that when I do get friends I can talk to them. And extend my time to be in the house by two hours.”

Mr. Cassimere sat back in his chair, looking at Ronnie. She couldn’t tell if he was considering her request or not. He dug in his bag and pulled out a thin binder. Unzipping it, he flipped it open and pulled out a pin. He scratched around on his paper.

“Okay, one phone. One bracelet. Your tracker will be your main bracelet. I’ll also let you remove your anklet. You will continue on the same schedule. If you keep up the good behavior, your house arrest sentence will be up in six months. You will stay on probation for another year. At any point shall you do anything against your probation. Such as―”

“I know the list, you do not have to go through the two sheets you have there.”

Mr. Cassimere nodded. “If any of those things are done, you will be restricted to homeschooling, a longer house arrest sentence, no outside privileges besides viewing it through a window, and your probationary period will extend two years. So even if a police officer thinks you are up to something, they take you in on that thought, that’s it. And let’s not forget you will soon be eighteen and the judge will more than likely no longer charge you as a minor. No more juvenile detention.”

Ronnie took a deep breath. It was a lot to take in. “Okay. I am willing to accommodate all of that as long as you are willing to accommodate my request.”

“Your request for a cell phone and lifting a couple of your bracelets has been accepted. Keep at your good behavior. I expect your drug test to come back clean.”

“I don’t do drugs, so I guess it will.”

He stood. “Okay, Ronnie. I’ll head out of here. I will check on you in two weeks.”

“Hey, when do I get my phone?”

“Ask Mrs. Beverly if she can take you out to get one today.”

Excitement thrilled in Ronnie as she jumped from the chair, running to the living room where Cassie was sitting. Where Cassie was always sitting when Mr. Cassimere was there. “Cassie, my PO said I can have a cell phone. Can we please go get me one? He also said I can get rid of the majority of these bracelets. Can you please put in the code so they pop off? But I have to wear my tracker forever now.”

Cassie smiled at Ronnie bouncing around like a child hyped up on candy. Talking faster than she ever had. “Yes, of course, Ronda.” Cassie said with a smile. “We can go now, after I change out your bracelets.”

“Thank you.” Ronnie reached to hug her, but stopped herself. Instead, she patted her shoulder and waited for her in the kitchen. She looked over her shoulder at Cassie still seated with her lips pursed and her eyes drooped. She wrapped her arms around herself. Cassie probably would have loved to get that hug from Ronnie. She wanted Ronnie to look upon her as a mother, more than a guardian. But it was going to take Ronnie some time, and she hoped Cassie understood.

Ronnie sat in the passenger seat rubbing her now free ankle and wrist that were no longer weighed down from thosepesky bracelets. She’d think she was free had it not been for the white one. But one was better than three.

Cassie got Ronnie the phone she wanted, the newest of its model and got Ronnie the Beats headphones she asked for. Ronnie was in hog heaven leaving the phone store.

She set up her email and sent her number to the few of her friends. The texts started pouring through after that and even back home, at the dinner table, and back down in her room the phone didn’t leave her face.

“Oh no, the apocalypse is coming to Pennsylvania,” Bronze said after Ronnie said hello.

“Bronze, I emailed you like two minutes ago, how are you calling me this fast?”

“Ronze, you don’t mind if I call you Ronze do you? I took a piece of me and gave it to you. Like Adam and Eve. But anyway. Ronze, I’m too excited about this. I doubted when I called I’d hear your voice. I just knew you were playing a joke.”

“Ha ha. . . Ronze. . .” Ronnie tested it on her lips. “Yeah, I guess that will work out.”

“Nice.” A lot of noise, sounded like music or the testing of beats were loud. “Sorry Ronze, I just stepped in the studio. I’ll call you later okay?”

“K.”

Ronnie texted Hale’s number for the third time. She tried calling him private three times. Her texts let him know it was her and he wouldn’t respond. She hadn’t heard from him in a couple days now and she was getting a little nervous.

Their night out was up and down. Amazing and mysterious. She didn’t know what to make of it, but the least he could do was respond to her.

Chapter 3

Ronnie met up with Star by his locker. Two weeks had passed since Ronnie heard from or talked to Hale and she was getting concerned. She’s never ran a guy away before.

“Hey, Star. Have you talked to Hale?”

“Yeah, I was hanging with him last night. Why? What’s up?”

“Uh,” Ronnie adjusted her backpack. “Has he mentioned me?”

“Yeah, he asked about you last night. What happened?”

“Pretend like I didn’t ask. Um, you seeing him today?”

“Yep, he’s actually going to stop by here in a few hours to pick up from me.”

Ronnie nodded. “Ok, do me a favor. Text me before he leaves. Don’t mention it. I just need to catch up with him.”

“No problem. I gotta go, though. I’ll let you know when he’s on his way and when he gets here. It’ll only take a few minutes for the swap.” Star took off for Brett, walking down the hall.

Time ticked by, slow as melting ice.

Ronnie hated school. She hated the long hours of them talking, and that’s what all of her teachers did. . .talk. There weren’t any group activities to involve the student, it was just talking. She missed ditching and doing what she wanted. She missed the free life, but if a life with restrictions could get her closer to being free again, she’d bite the bullet a little while longer and try not to complain.

The phone vibrated in her pocket with Star telling her Hale was there.

If this wasn’t the worst time. Mrs. Perkins was the hardest class to get out of, especially for Ronnie.

She texted Leland telling him she needed him to do something to get Mrs. Perkins away from her classroom for twenty minutes. Leland worked faster than the internet. In the next five minutes, Mrs. Perkins phone was ringing sending her fleeing from the classroom.

Ronnie left the classroom to the back of the school to meet Hale before he left.

She caught him getting into the driver seat of a white truck.

Grabbing his arm, keeping him from climbing in she said, “Are you avoiding me or something? I call, I text. . . you don’t respond or answer any of them.”

Hale wiped his chin then ran his hand over his hair. “Look, Ronnie,” he said distressed.

“No, it’s fine. I get it. I just thought you would at least have the balls to tell me what was up instead of blowing me off.”

She turned and Hale grabbed her. “Wait, Nonie.”

“Don’t call me that,” she snarled. She was angry and growing angrier by the second. She let Hale get deep under her skin and he had done nothing to her but not talk to her.

“Nonie, I can explain.”

She pushed him away from her when he pulled her arm again. “I asked you not to call me that.” She charged away.

“No, you told me not to call you that.” He followed her. “You didn’t ask.”

She whipped around to him. “Then explain,” she demanded.

“I wasn’t avoiding you.” She gave him an insulted look. “Okay, I was avoiding you. But it wasn’t you. You are perfect. It’s nothing wrong with you.”

“Then what?”

He shook his head. “I can’t tell you.”

“Whatever.” She threw up her hand, rolling her eyes. “You know, I thought you were different. I thought you weren’t going to be like everyone else. Be as heartless and as belligerent as the rest of the idiots who walked in and out of my lifebut I guess I was wrong.”

Hale straightened his shoulders and held his head high. “I guess you were.”

Ronnie’s chest swelled. Her hand pulsed as she balled it into a fist, wishing she could ram it into Hale’s face. But she had no real reason to hit him. She flushed in anger, and her insides demanded answers she didn’t know the questions to. “Ugh!” she complained loud and irritated. “Why then. Tell me why you just showed up at the coffee shop and hoped to see me? Why talk to me for hours upon hours for nights and nights, then you help me out by taking a stash for me? You drop by my house and convince Cassie into letting me go out. Whatever kind of magic that was. And then you take me out to this ultra-amazing spot. . .” She stalled as that evening played back to her. Remembering his gaze and how uncomfortable it made her when it felt like he was stealing pieces of her away. “I don’t know, Hale. Then you. . .you kissed me. You freaking filled me up to drain me, and I don’t understand that.”

“You remembered what happened that night, at the cliff. That never happened before and I know you were uncomfortable all though we both went with it and tried to ignore it like we didn’t feel it. But I did, and from the fear in your eyes when you blurted your ex’s name. I know you felt it too. I just can’t with you, Ronnie.” He turned.

Ronnie grabbed him, twisting him back to face her. “You are not going to keep walking away from me.”

“What do you want from me, Ronnie, huh?”

She had no idea. “I don’t want anything from you.”

“Then let me go,” he muttered.

Ronnie hand clutched his thick arm tighter. “No.” she whispered. “Everything was fine until you looked at me. And now you won’t stop. It sounds odd, me saying that out loud but I know what I mean in my head. I see you staring at meand something happens. But I can’t stop looking, I can’t look away. It’s a little scary. . .It’s a lot scary, and that’s not what I’m after.” Ronnie let his arm go. “I’m not after you. I just like the way you make me feel. Like for a long time I was. . .”

“You were your own downfall, your own black hole.”

“Right, then you―”

“It’s not me, Ronnie. You’re using me because I remind you of your past.” He did remind Ronnie of her past. “I’m not out to be used. If you’re going to like me, you’re going to like me for me. Not because I have grey eyes, dimples, and talk like he did.”

“That is not why I like you. Yeah, your eyes are a huge reminder of him. But your traits are still your traits. Look, I’m not a dog. I’m not going to beg you to talk to me. You don’t want to, fine. Just the next girl you decide to pick up and drop, no, throw in the ground. Don’t. Hurting someone is only beneficial for the hurter. And it sucks for the hurtee and the people of their future.”

“Don’t be mad. It’s not you. I swear it’s not you.”

She had been avoiding eye contact, until that second. Their gazes locked and she saw, her and Hale in a time later from that moment. Scenes flashed of them together years ago, places she knew she’d only visited with Arson. Spots in his life, it had to be Hale’s life because she saw places she’d never been.

Lights flashed like the shutter of a camera, images scattered like channels changing too fast until her vision popped back to looking at his eyes. The air of her body was slowly leaving and she gasped for air, standing immobile in front of Hale.

“Stop.” She forced the words out breathlessly. “Ha―” she was cut off from lack of air. Her eyes stayed locked in his as she gasped for oxygen, pleading with her eyes to be set free.

Hale was all but aware of what was going on. His look also showed confusion as a glimmer rest in his pupils begging to be set free of this hold he’d placed on Ronnie. Trying to give back the life and air he was stealing from her. He was accidentally stealing memories she’d shared with Arson, replacing them with himself. Stealing her future, placing him in it and he had no control over what was going on.

Ronnie shoved him away from her, the instant he blinked. “What are you!?” she blurted, panting, gasping for air.

Hale jumped in his truck and peeled out of the parking lot. Leaving Ronnie, hunched over holding her neck, praying she’d never feel anything like that again.

Chapter 4

Things in Ronnie’s life somewhat died down, just other things were looking up. She’d gotten some pretty good grades, a few Bs and Cs which in Ronnie’s book was amazing. She was still looking at summer school which was just around the corner with her Junior year quickly coming to a close. But she expected that. She pretty much blew her entire freshman and sophomore year. The least she wanted to do was graduate high school. Along with her street rat tag, she did not want to add high school dropout.

A drop-out-street-rat-run-away was just too long of a name. The runaway part was slowly starting to fade anyway.

Ronnie was in between feelings as weeks flew by. Her PO meetings were going well and she was looking at being free from house arrest in four short months. By October she’d be a free bird, no more bracelets, no more meetings every two weeks, and no more school to home. She was also looking forward to no longer needing to depend on Leland.

“Ronze, we’ve been dating for almost four months now. I think it’s time we make us official. Ronze, Bronze’s.”

Ronnie snorted. “No,” she said, kicking back on his couch. She’d left school early to hear his band play. He begged and begged her to come by and listen and she finally caved in.

“Okay, then how about Ronze, Bronze’s girl. Or would you prefer chick. You’re like a chick kind of girl.”

“Would you be quiet? I haven’t seen this movie in forever.” She roughly pressed the volume button on his oversized remote. It worked everything in the house.

“What’s wrong with you, Ronnie?”

“Nothing.” Ronnie laid back on the arm of the couch. “I’m just trying to watch this movie and you’re talking about making it official.”

“Oh, this must be one of those conversations.” He crossed his arms in front of his chest and scooted away fromRonnie, to the other side of the couch.

Ronnie rolled her eyes. “Cynical. Don’t be,” she sassed.

“Do you separate my names based on my personality?”

“Yes.”

“Ronze, seriously, we’ve been on this for a while. You’re not trying to be my girl?”

Ronnie sat up. “You leave for California in, like, three months. It would never work. Look at how you are at home. Look at what happens at the spots you play in nearby cities. I’m not going to ruin that for you. Even though the big band isn’t your thing. . .you like the lifestyle. Go enjoy yourself. I’ll be here as your friend. When you come home, we’ll run through songs as I or you play.” She shrugged. “Rock stars don’t have girlfriends.”

“This one does.” He grabbed her legs and yanked her down the couch to him. “You will be.” He leaned over her, getting in her face. “I guess I have to go in and sing flat so they’ll kick me out the band. Get to Cali, tell our manager I don’t want the deal and them and their 120 G’s can suck it. The fans. . .I’ll tell them to kiss my ass, I’m only a star for Ronnie’s sky.”

She covered his mouth before he could let something else out Bronzy. “Shut up.”

He moved her hand. “Shut up and kiss you?”

“No,” she moved away from him back to the other side of the couch.

Bronze scooted down to her. “You are starting off our relationship the wrong way.”

Ronnie laughed.

She was just there, with Bronze. There were no sparks, no gazes, no if onlys. They did share something, they had special moments, especially when they would play together, and he did make her smile often. He especially pulled feelings from her when he sung to her, looking into her eyes. But battling his multiple personalities was stressful. One day they’d be nice to each other and the next day they’d be fighting. Playing battle of the last word.

Just recently Bronze brought up the “be my girlfriend” talk. Ronnie wasn’t interested. Relationships were stressful and she wasn’t the type to make commitments. Plus, Bronze seemed like he would be a little controlling and the only way to control Ronnie was through bracelets and curfews, with threats of juvi and jail. She liked Bronze, yeah, but something kept her from taking it there with him.

“If I told you I loved you would you say yes?” Cynical asked.

“Do you love me?” Ronnie asked, eyes glued to the television, unaffected by the seriousness if his question.

“No, but if I told you that. . .”

She looked at him, taken aback. “Why would you say something you don’t mean?”

He shrugged. “Because it might be what you want to hear. Street rat’s like you don’t hear those words often,” he joked.

Ronnie punched him. “Don’t call me a street rat.”

“You call you a street rat,” he retorted.

“That’s different. And you shouldn’t say something because you think the other person wants to hear it. That’s being dishonest.”

“Who cares about being honest? As long as it makes the other person feel good that’s what matters. Who cares if I don’t mean it, as long as you believe I do, and you’re happy that I do. That’s what matters.”

Ronnie stupidly stared at Cynical. “That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Are you serious?”

“I am serious, but not about telling you something I don’t mean. I do a little.”

Ronnie was distracted from digging further into his statement from her phone buzzing with a text.

Cassie: I’ll pick you up from school. Your judge wants to see you in his court room at 3:15. Spur of the moment hearing. I hope you have on something appropriate for seeing a judge.

“Crap!” Ronnie jumped up. “Bronze, you have to drop me back off at school.”

“Why? What happened?”

It was 2:25, school let out at 2:45 and they had no time to get there. Cassie was always early when picking up Ronnie and she didn’t want to get caught running back into the school. “Please just come on.” She pulled him.

He slowly rose from the couch, grabbing his keys from the coffee table. “I guess you’re going to tell me why all of a sudden you have to leave when we get in the car.”

“Yes, if that makes you feel better.”

Bronze drove like someone’s grandma. “Bronze, please hurry up. If I’m not there by the time she gets there she’s going to check my tracker. I cannot get busted. If I do, everything is over for me. And I will hate you forever. You do not want to get on my bad side. . .believe me.”

He sped up. “What happened? I’m really concerned. No gimmicks. I want to know what’s up.”

“I got a random court date. No forewarning. No heads up. Cassie is going to pick me up and take me over there. I’m nervous. I don’t know what my judge is calling me in for.” Ronnie fiddled her fingers as her left leg jumped.

“Calm down, Ronze. You’ve been good right? You shouldn’t have anything to worry about.”

“I don’t know. No, I haven’t been good.”

“How not?” They came up to the school. Bronze’s dashboard clock read 2:35. “You said you’ve been clean. No sells. You’ve steered clear.”

“Can we talk about it later? I really have to go. Pull by the side in case she’s in the lot. I’ll stand by the door until everyone comes out. Thanks.”

Bronze tilted his head to the side and leaned toward Ronnie.

She kissed his cheek.

“Call me and let me know you’re good when you’re done,” He called before she closed the door.

Ronnie ran to the door and waited the remaining two minutes for the bell to ring.

In the crowd Ronnie walk to the lot spotting Cassie’s beige sedan. “Good afternoon.” Ronnie greeted solemnly. “Why the sudden court call?”

“I don’t know, Ronda. Mr. Cassimere called two hours ago and said you needed to be there.”

Ronnie grew more nervous by the second.

Ronnie’s hand shook as she walked into the court room. It was half empty this late in the afternoon, but by the looks of it, the people may be there for a few more hours.

A police officer came out of a back door where they usually bring the jail birds. Alex was close behind her, cuffed.

Crap, crap, crap. . .

“Alexis Mormon,” the court officer called.

Alex, in her orange jumpsuit approached the judge’s podium. “You do understand you are being charged with illegal distribution of narcotics, fleeing, and resisting arrest.” The judge said, looking over her file. Alex was eighteen, who knows what he had up her sleeve for her.

“Yes,” Alex answered.

Mr. Cassimere took a seat next to Ronnie, quickly he said, “Alexis has made a statement. She has presented your name as a local drug trafficker in exchange of a shorter term. I worked on getting you a state’s attorney. She’s good. Don’t worry. I’ve gotten a couple of your teachers to write a report for you, Cassie has written a report about your improved behavior and I’ve documented all my visits. We know you have been good, we will be able to convince the judge.” He assured.

Ronnie nodded, growing nauseous. She was sweating a rain storm, water sliding down the back of her ears and tickling her neck. Her breaths were short and she was so angry with Alex. How could she do that to her.

“Please stand off to the side,” the judge requested of Alex.

The police officer walked with Alex over to the wall.

“Ronnie White,” the judge called dropping Ronnie’s heart to her butt.

Her breaths were long and heavy as she stood up. Her legs were swollen and heavy as she approached the judge’s bench. She looked up into the old eyes of Judge Malcom Wittham. She had seen him a few times over the two years she’d been in Pennsylvania. He was old and could have been approaching retirement.

He shook his head and his stern glower of disappointment told Ronnie there was no convincing. She’d been in front of him too many times to believe anything besides Ronnie was a no good trouble maker who has convinced everyone in town to lie for her.

She wanted to plead her case. Her eyes shook as tears began to slowly well. But she stayed quiet and patiently waited.

The judge stuck his hand out to the tall, petite, long brunette haired woman that took up space next to her.

She walked up and handed over a thick brown envelope.

Please, please, Ronnie prayed. Please let him let me off. Please let him just give me a little bit of favor. Whatever she said I did I didn’t do. I cannot go back on lock down. They’ll throw me in juvi for who knows how long. Please, I can’t go back. Things are just starting to turn around.

The judge placed the papers he pulled from the envelope down, with two flicks of his hand he sentenced, “ten months juvenile detention.”

All hope was gone. . .

Ronnie dropped to her knees hearing Cassie cry out “No.” Two police officers surrounded her, pulled her from the ground, and slapped the cuffs on her.

He didn’t ask any questions, he didn’t care about whatever the state’s attorney had for him, he could have cared less about the words from her PO, or the better behavior of Ronnie’s new personality. None of that mattered.

Chapter 5

Ronnie stared at the passing trees with her head pressed against the window of the transport bus. She wanted to cry, she wanted to cry a raging river. The air she breathed was so hot it burned her nose. It was because of her growing anger, the fight back of her tears, and the restraint she had to control it. It was hard but she managed.

She’d gotten so far, all to end up back at square one. What was she trying so hard for? She wasn’t the best teen, but she was trying. She turned a lot of her life around. And it was all for nothing. It just showed, no matter how much you change, or what you did, with no question or care people will always see you as a street rat. Change your clothes and brush your air. . .you’re nothing.

“Hey Ronnie.” Angel sat beside her in the welcome room.

Ronnie looked at her then away. “Hi.”

“What got you back in here?” Angel literally jumped from juvi spots over the United States. She had to. Every time Ronnie was booked she ran into her. And the last time she was leaving Ohio.

“Snitching friend. You visiting?”

“No, I’m here for a year. I can’t get it right. Once I turn eighteen I’m going to the real jail, my mother tells me.”

Angel went on and Ronnie tuned her out. She wasn’t up for hearing the ‘I’m a bad ass, hear me roar’ story.

Ten months was a long time and this was only day one.

Desperate and determined to get out early, Ronnie made every attempt to attend group, classes, and community service. Mr. Cassimere came to see her every Thursday with the sorry face.

The last meeting they had he informed Ronnie they were trying to get her time cut down. So far, it wasn’t looking good. Ronnie needed to get out early, she couldn’t be eighteen and still locked up. She didn’t want to go to jail especially for something she didn’t do. For once she was innocent and there she was doing time because of her friend.

Ronnie dragged her feet to the visitor’s area where she sat with Cassie and Mr. Cassimere.

“Hi Ronda. How are you?” Cassie greeted, restraining from hugging her.

“Hi,” Ronnie responded dryly, sitting in the chair across the table from them.

Mr. Cassimere gave a hopeful smile. “So, seven months to go. I’ve been hearing good things from your mentor. The warden has had no complaints. You’ll be out in no time.”

Ronnie nodded, rolling her eyes. “Yeah, no time in seven months.”

“Ronda, I do not want you to get discouraged. You have made such a great ch―”

Ronnie shook her head. “Cassie, I’m sorry but don’t sell me that shit, excuse me. Stuff. I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m not in the mood. If you all only came here to look at me, try to tell me about keeping my hopes up. My hopes are up. I know I’m not going to be in here forever. So just save it.” Ronnie stood and left.

“Hey Ronnie.” Marlene stopped Ronnie on her walk to her room.

“Yeah, what’s up Marli.” Everyone called her that because that’s who she looked like, but on the chunkier side.

Marlene scratched her dirty dreads, shaking flakes on her shoulders and the floor. “I hear you got plugs on the outside.” She said, dragging out her words.

“What?” Ronnie disgruntledly questioned. Flabbergasted she’d be asking her about getting plugs out in the open where anyone could hear. She wouldn’t say anything even if they weren’t.

“Yeah, I get out tomorrow and I’ll need some hits.”

Ronnie attempted to step around Marlene and she blocked her path. Her wide load of a chest smashed into Ronnie, shoving her back.

Rule number 33 – No fights. Talking about an extra time.

Some of these girls just lived to make others’ lives a living hell. It’s not like they all weren’t in the same place, but it wasn’t enough. They had to find a way to make it worse. The life of a bully is a waste of life.

“I don’t want any drama with you, Marli. If you get out tomorrow, good for you.”

She tried to walk around her again.

“Nah, nah, Ronnie.” She continued to block her path.

“Ronnie,” Officer Franz called from down the hall. Saving both, Marli and Ronnie. “You have another visitor.”

Ronnie eyed Marlene on her turn around, wishing she could smash her fist in her face.

She walked to the opening of the visitor’s area instantly spotting those innocent grey eyes. She rolled her eyes and started to turn around.

“Wait,” Hale tried not to yell. He couldn’t run to her because the police officers wouldn’t let the visitors pass a certain area of the room.

Ronnie shuffled her feet to his table. “Why are you here?” she asked as she sat down.

There are two major times when you do not want a guy you’re crushing on to see you. Right when you wake up and when you’re in a juvenile detention center, with your hair looking like it hasn’t seen sunlight, a comb or a brush. And let’s not mention the lack of Chap Stick.

Ronnie licked her lips and discretely covered her mouth with her sleeved hand.

“Ronnie, I’m sorry. If I had known you were in here I would have come to see you sooner.”

“You didn’t need to come see me.”

Hale reached across the table, taking her hands in his. “What if I told you I can get you out of here?” he whispered.

“What?” Ronnie said in disfavor. “What are you talking about?”

“Seriously.” He looked at her hopefully. “You trust me right? It’s not just some odd thing. This,” he pointed between them, “that thing we feel, when we look at each other. There is an explanation to it. Let me kidnap you, Nonie.”

“No.” Ronnie snatched her hands from him.

Hale looked up at the ceiling.

It’s okay. It’s okay. Okay. . . The three little voices called out to Ronnie in the mitts of buzzing whispers―she hadn’t heard for months―crowding her head. Say yes. . .

“Nonie, listen,” Hale said, hinting to her with a slow nod to his head. “It is okay.”

The whispers were not quiet, they were loud and unclear. “Stop. Shut up,” Ronnie growled, trying not to be loud and draw attention to them.

“Nonie, you know how you look in my eyes and see something else. How you see him. . . How you die and become reborn. How it seems like I’m taking you away from you. Like I’m taking parts of you, keeping them for myself. Do you know what I’m talking about?”

“No,” Ronnie lied. “I don’t get any of that.”

Hale leaned back in his chair. “Fine, Ronnie. Stay here then.”

“I intend to. I’ll be out in seven months. But don’t you worry about that. You’ll just send me to voicemail, ignore my texts and blow me off.”

“Please, Nonie, I’m sorry about that. But come with me. We can get out of here right now. You won’t have to wait seven months.”

“How?”

“Will you come?”

Ronnie thought, avoiding looking in Hale’s eyes. She took in his expression, the hopeful pinch to the middle of his brows that perfectly aligned with his nose, the soft tremble to his lips, and the beg in his chin.

Hesitantly, nervous, and clearly pressured by the tiny voices whispering go, go, go in her ear she said, “Yes.”

Hale smiled and snapped his fingers. “New.”

Chapter 6

The warm sun beamed brightly against Ronnie’s skin. She stretched and yawned, feeling as if she’d slept for days.

She sat up in a bed of yellow tulips, all wet with the morning dew. She looked around her.  She sat in a small circledfield surrounded by trees. The sky was a crisp blue, cloudless. Small pixies burst from the trees, flying around her area. Leaving a trail of their glittered dust behind them.

“What is this place?” she asked, watching pink, purple, and red flowers bloom from the trees.

“Shh.” it sounded like Hale from behind her. “You’ll scare them if you talk to loud.” He whispered as he sat down, facing her. “It’s my home.”

“Home?”

“Yes.” He gave a short nod.

Soft droplets fell against Ronnie’s bare shoulders. The fact that her shoulders had no covering caused her to look over herself. From the grey suit and slip-ons, her clothes had changed to a white tank, black leggings, and no shoes.

She pushed her toes through the grass and rubbed her hands over her arms. The wet droplets smeared over her arms making her skin shimmer. “What is this place?” she asked more astonished, taking in its soft colors, the sparkles in the air from the sun shining through the trees. Like the water here was made of gold glitter. The air smelled of sweet flowers, and for a brief second, it made Ronnie feel bubbly. Like a little girl, given her dream to escape off to a faraway land with perfect green trees, beautiful bright flowers of amazing colors; pink, purple, orange, and yellow, a sun that looked like it would shine it’s golden hue forever, and a perfect breeze that cooled Ronnie’s skin, but made her smile when she felt the cool tiny wet droplets fall upon her cheeks. She wiped her cheekbone under left eyes. Looking at her middle finger, and rubbing it with her thumb, she asked again, whispering softly, “what is this amazing place.” The pads of her thumb and middle finger were covered in golden shimmers.

“I’m a Nix,” Hale offered, taking Ronnie’s hand. “Partial Jumper.”

“A Nix. . .like nothing?” Ronnie questioned, scooting away from him, taking her hand from his.

Hale picked a flower from the ground and another grew out of the broken stem. “No, I’m clearly something. But not what you expect. See, a part of me is a jumper. After death, I jump to a new body. My soul never dies. The other half, the Nix is like a wingless fairy.”

Ronnie scooted over further, head blaring in confusion. Suddenly, the image she had of this amazing dreamland was starting to feel like a cover up to hell. “Hale, just tell me what you want and tell me how I got here and how I’m supposed to get back. I’m not in the mood for fairytales and what this crap is you’re trying to make me believe. Honestly, Hale, if you kidnapped me, I get it. I do. Just. . .you know. . .tell me you kidnapped me. I won’t go to the cops, swear. You’re cute and were a really nice guy but I do not want to be kidnapped and stuck for life with you in some fairyland!”

“If you talk too loudly, you are going to freak out the pixies. They’re going to start flying around getting us covered in that disgusting glitter that will take us weeks to get out of our hair. Just calm down, Nonie.”

“Hale, Pixies do not exist!” she yelled.

“Crap. . .” Hale said, grabbing her hand and yanking her from the ground. “Run,” he urged, pulling Ronnie.

“What? Why?”

“Run,” he yelled. Millions of pixies came charging at them from the trees.

Ronnie ran without question, quickly following behind Hale. They passed through the forest with the angry pixies right behind them.

“If this is your home, tell your pixies to stop chasing us,” Ronnie told him.

“They’re not my pixies, they’re yours.”

“What?” Ronnie jerked to the right as Hale pulled her to change directions. Her pixies. . .? Last time she checked she did not come accompanied with pixies and she is not a fix or whatever he called himself. She was flooded with questions that she will begin demanding answers to the moment they stopped running.

“Jump, Nonie,” Hale yelled, jumping from a cliff.

Ronnie was left with no choice but to jump. He was pulling her with him.

They jumped and he pulled Ronnie to him as he glided to the ground. Wingless, he landed softly, letting Ronnie go.

“Keep going. They won’t stop.” He told Ronnie as she tried to catch her breath.

“Damn pixies. Why are they so fast?”

“I have no idea. I just found out they existed like the day after our date on the cliff.” He ran faster forcing Ronnie to do the same. “Hurry,” Hale said. “We’re close, just cross this stream and pass the trees. We’re almost safe.”

Ronnie stumbled, falling flat on her face. The pixies quickly crowded them. Hale had done it again. Swiped her legs right out from under her with his familiarity to Arson.

“Ronnie, say you love me. They’ll leave us alone.” Hale yelled swatting the pixies away.

Ronnie swatted and spit feeling the pixies wings flutter against her lips. “No.”

“Say it. I promise they’ll stop.”

“No.”

“Nonie, it’s okay for you to tell me you love me.” He said, copying Arson’s voice. The exact same way he said it to Ronnie five years ago, in the exact same tone.

Drawn immobile Ronnie stopped fighting the pixies. They smacked into her face, her arms, neck, and legs. They were annoying but they didn’t hurt. She watched Hale battle the pixies and a tear crept from her eyes as she uttered, “I love you, Arson.”

The pixies froze and dropped to the floor.

Feeling uneasy, she looked off, down the stream, rubbing the muscle of her arm where she still felt Hale’s hand. The stream glistened the rainbow colors of the pixies as it flowed its path through the trees. She looked back at Hale. “I’m sorry, I meant, Hale.”

“It’s fine.” He waved his hand for her to come over to him. “Watch your step, my home’s just over the stream. We can go there.” He carried Ronnie over the stream so her feet wouldn’t get wet. “I told you I’d take you out of that life you lived in the juvenile detention center. But uh, the way I had to do that was by fast forwarding time. Don’t think I’m crazy but you’re here because I did kidnap you. I snuck into your house and stole you away. I’ll get you back before sunrise.”

Ronnie jumped from Hale’s arms when they made it over the stream. “It’s sunrise!” she blurted.

He harshly pointed at Ronnie. “So you want the pixies to come back?” he asked with aggression, showing his hate for those pixies in the hostility of his question. Ronnie shook her head. “Well you better keep your voice down. They are violent creatures. And if they decide to use their magic who knows what they will do.”

Ronnie was covered in rainbow glitter, head to toe. She lifted her eyes to Hale, a foot in front of her. He was dressed in loose fitting black sweats, a black vest with no shirt or shoes, and also covered in rainbow glitter. She eyed him, growing more and more suspicious by the second. “Do you have magic?”

“Well obviously,” he snorted, walking around her to a small house made by the tree. Two tree’s trunks were meshed together, forming a rounded triangle. A flickering light shined from a window that was above a wooden door, and the door had a black knob. Unlike the entire area, no flowers were around this tree house, but the grass and leaves of the tree were greener.

“Hale, seriously. I hate that you turned out to be a psycho. I thought you were a really nice guy until you blew me off.”

“So you don’t have a problem with that effect. . .I have on you.”

Ronnie was in a whole new world, she had absolutely no idea where she was, how to get home, why everything was so darn colorful, or why the heck pixies existed. Suddenly it occurred to her, “Um. . .did you say you fast forwarded time. . .?” She questioned, baffled, following behind him to the door an inch taller than him. “What the crap? What are you?”

Hale sucked in a patient breath through his nose as his lips pursed. He dropped his hand from the doorknob and face Ronnie. “I’ve tried to explain but you just go crazy. So since you don’t want me to be honest I’ll give you a quick rundown. I have magic powers that allow me to do things you can’t do. One of those things included setting you free from your sentence. You said do it so I did.”

Ronnie nodded, settling for that.

Hale turned back and opened the door to what appeared to be a small cottage, hidden behind a door in a. . .tree. An open room was at its entry with two chairs, a lit fireplace, a little kitchen off to the right with a stove and fridge. A short flight of stairs led to a loft like area where Ronnie saw a bed and a large window beside it, built into the tree. His. . .house smelled like oak. She giggled to herself thinking, yeah, duh, it’s made out of a tree.

Beside the door, Hale turned up a small lantern, providing them with more light. Ronnie had to admit it was cozy. A lot warmer and dryer than the air outside. Besides the furniture, and minimum appliances, the mattress on his bed, and blankets. Everything was made of wood.

“As I was saying about the jumper part,” Hale continued. “Because this may clear up a lot of questions you have. I’m a jumper, a soul that once the body is dead, you move to someone else. Nonie, don’t freak, but I’m Arson.”

Oh, he has completely lost it. “Hale, take me home now!”

Hale shook his head in defeat. He snapped his finger, and said, “Home.”

THE END.... FOR NOW