| PART NINE “Well, Oh Mighty Second,” Alex began, “what now?” We turned to Michael who looked at him angrily. “I don’t know. I’m not your mother.” Alex held up his hands and I cringed a little. Michael was angry at anyone and everyone about missing the summit. I hate it when he gets this way. Ava stood suddenly and started for the entrance. “Ava, where are you going?” I asked. She looked back to me and I could see the torment she went through because of Lonnie and Rath. “I’m going out,” she replied quietly. I nodded slowly, trying to decide whether I should join her. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to join you,” Alex said to Ava. She regarded his offer a moment before nodding. Alex joined her and they walked into the tunnels. Exhausted from my lack of sleep, I went to one of the couches to lie down. I heard the springs on the other couch groan and I knew Michael had done the same. After a few minutes, he finally talked. “I’m sorry, Liz.” I rolled my head towards him and asked, “What do you have to be sorry about?” He looked to me and replied, “I’m sorry about Max and Tess. Especially about finding out this way.” I looked back to the ceiling and replied, “Don’t worry about me, Michael. I’m fine with it.” “Don’t lie to me, Liz. I know you. I know how much he means to you. I read all about it in your journal.” “I’m not lying, Michael. Ask Alex. I’m glad Max has moved on.” “Great, now you’re in denial.” I laughed and looked over at him again. “I’m not in denial, Michael. I’m telling the truth. And I’d rather not get into it right now. So just believe me, ok?” I could tell he still didn’t believe me, but he let it go. Sighing, he rolled on his side so he was facing me. I smiled and did the same. “So tell me, do you still write in that thing?” He asked. “My journal?” I asked. He nodded in reply. “Yeah, I have it in my bag in fact,” I replied, with a small blush. I still couldn’t believe he’d read it. How embarrassing! “Oh, really?” He said with a tinge of something in his voice. Suddenly he lunged for my bag and I realized he was going for my journal. My reaction wasn’t fast enough and in an instant he pulled my journal out of the bag. “Give it to me, Michael,” I said, while jumping for the book he was holding over his head and out of my reach. “Oh, come on, Parker,” he said, whining playfully. “Let me catch up on my reading.” He started laughing at my angry attempts to get the book from him. I jumped but my fingertips didn’t even graze past his wrists. Finally I stopped jumping and he relaxed some, still laughing at my expression. I smiled wryly back before jumping on him, taking us, and the book, down on the floor. Straddling him, I finally reached the book, but he wouldn’t let go. With his free hand he started tickling me and I fell to his side, begging him to stop. He finally stopped tickling me and we lay there looking at each other suspiciously, letting our breath return to normal. “Give me my journal,” I said, trying my hardest to sound forceful and not desperate. “And if I don’t?” he said playfully. “Oh, you’ll give it to me,” I replied, a mischievous smile on my lips. “Oh, really?” he asked, disbelieving. I grinned again and sat up quickly, straddling him once again. Leaning forward, so that my face was above his, I replied, “I have my ways.” Large, amazed eyes looked into mine and he took a deep breath. When he didn’t move to stop me, I continued. Placing my hands on his arms, I slowly leaned my body closer to his. I let my hands trace over his forearms, moving closer to journal. My face was only inches above his now, my chest brushing against his. Our lower bodies were pressed together, the heat building between us. I could tell his heart was beating as hard as mine. I briefly wondered how far I should take this before stopping. Or should I even bother stopping? When my hand was only inches from the book and my lips were only an inch from his, he suddenly grabbed my wrist with his hand. I gasped a little and sat up slightly from the surprise. “I’m impressed, Parker,” he whispered huskily, his eyes sparkling with the knowledge that he had caught me. Frustrated and angry, I pulled my wrists from his grasp and grabbed the journal. This time when he tried to stop me a small zap of power hit his hand. “Ow!” he yelped, sitting up suddenly with me still on his lap. He dropped the book and started rubbing his hand. Served him right. “Why the hell did you do that?” Suddenly feeling guilty, I reached for his hand. “Let me see.” “I’m fine,” he said angrily. He was trying to get out of my reach but couldn’t since I was still on him. “Michael, I’m sorry,” I said, grabbing his hands and looking into his eyes. “I didn’t mean to. I just wanted my journal back.” “I know,” he replied. “I’m just not used to getting zapped. Especially by you.” I nodded and looked down at my hand, studying it. “It seems like I should have some kind of … opening or something,” I mumbled. “I mean, where does the power come out?” Michael shrugged and replied, “I’m not sure. But one thing is obvious …” I looked at him expectantly. “You need to learn some control,” he finished. I smiled, a little embarrassed. “I do, don’t I?” Nodding his head and chuckling, he replied, “Yeah.” “Will you teach me?” I asked. He looked surprised and replied, “You know I’m not good at controlling my powers. I doubt I’d be much help to you.” “Michael, I need some help and I want you to be the one to help me.” He looked back at me, and we sat there, watching each other for a moment. “Michael?” I said, smiling a bit and raising my eyebrows. He looked at me a moment more. “Ok, Parker. Let’s go.” He put his hands on my hips then and lifted me up so he could stand. I followed him into one of the tunnels. “Ok,” he said, pulling his hands through his hair. “Using powers is all about focus. It takes a lot of control and you have to know your limits and capabilities.” I nodded, making mental notes as he continued. “We usually use our powers when we’re threatened. So this,” he said as he raised my arm so it was extended in front of me, “is how we usually stand. It works well when we need to defend ourselves.” He looked around then and found a rock, about the size of a baseball, and put it about 20 feet away from me. “We’ll use that for target practice,” he said, returning to my side. “What do I do? Are you going to show me?” I asked, looking up at him. He looked down at me and shrugged. “It’s pretty natural. I don’t care what Ava says. Using your powers for defense is automatic.” “Defending myself from a rock?” I asked grinning. He smirked. “Not quite.” And then Michael raised his hand towards the rock. I turned and saw that the rock was now suspended in air about 4 feet above the ground. Gasping, I watched as the rock hung there before flying straight towards Michael’s chest. I flung my hand up and a burst of power shot at the rock, nicking its side and sending it across the room. “Michael!” I squeaked. “What the hell are you thinking? That would have hit you!” Michael calmly walked to the rock to survey the damage and said, “I’d rather have it hit me than you.” Then he looked at me. “I told you it was automatic. We just need to work on your aim.” We practiced my powers a few times more, mainly on aiming and building them in strength and intensity. And luckily there were no more flying rocks. Ava and Alex returned shortly after we finished practicing, and Michael suggested I get some sleep while he went to get food for everyone. I agreed and curled up on one of the couches to get some rest. --------------- Author’s Note: I know the last couple parts were short, but the next one is going to be action packed and pretty large. I promise you’ll like it (it’s my personal favorite). |