His thoughts are racing at a million miles an hour. I don't want her to go. How do I tell my mom? What if something happens and we break up? What happens when she goes to college? I can't leave her behind. I listen and he closes his eyes. I leap onto him and throw my arms around his neck. I kiss him and he secures me around my waist. I inhale the scent I'm becoming too familiar with.
Between kisses, he says, "We'll figure this out, okay? I won't leave you unless you want me to. We'll figure it out as we go." He kisses me again and I wrap my arms around his waist.
"I can take this day by day if you promise not to leave during the school year. You have to stay through graduation," I tell him.
He reluctantly nods his head and holds his pinkie out to me. With a smile, I grab onto it with my pinkie and tell him, "You can't break a pinkie promise." He smiles too and leans down to kiss me again. When I open my eyes, I don't see him. I feel him around me, but we've disappeared. I pull away from him and suddenly we are both in full sight.
"Did you walk me to my car last night? At the stadium," I ask.
"I just wanted to make sure you got to your car safely, but I didn't want Harper to spot us," he grabs onto my hands and adds, "I didn't want to fight when I told you about this Ellie, I just wanted you to know why it took me a little while to tell you."
I nod and he pulls me over so we can both sit back on the bench.
"That's the exact reason I haven't told anyone my secrets," I say as I lean onto his shoulder, "I don't know what their reactions would be if they found out. It becomes exhausting to know everyone's thoughts all the time. It's hard to have a conversation with anyone. I used to love finding out secrets about people and then file them away in case I ever needed them, but now, nothing is a mystery. I know everything about everyone and I know what everyone thinks about me. It's definitely made me grow thicker skin."
"I am with you there. Being the poor kid with an absent father generated a lot of thoughts from the people in our old town. I was a pity party to people all the time. I just couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't wait to get away. I was so glad when Mom decided to get the hell out of that town."
"So your dad has no idea about what you can do?"
He shakes his head, "Nope. My mom has even made it clear that if he found us, I am not supposed to share a detail of what I can do. To be honest, I think it freaks her out that I can openly read her mind so she chooses to stay away from me. She's made a lot of mistakes in life and she doesn't like me knowing about all of them."
"Yeah, I would never tell my parents. I couldn't watch their reactions or listen to how they honestly felt about me cheating my way through life." It's weird to finally say these things out loud. These secrets I've held so close to me for years just flow out of me now. And what's amazing is that I don't feel like I am being judged.
I pull a penny from my pocket and place it in Liam's hand. I imagine a dime is in his hand and soon he thinks that's what he sees.
"You're still holding a penny," I tell him, "I've just made you think it's a dime." He runs his finger along the edge and smiles, "Yeah, it's smooth. There are no ridges." I turn the penny into a quarter and he smiles.
"And now you're the only person who knows how my trick works," I say as I grab the penny from his hand. "Have any of the others you've met had only the ability to read minds? Or did they all have multiple talents?" I ask as he leans his head against mine. The light breeze is attempting to cool us off and it's nice to be alone.
"I think all of them have the ability to read minds and then, as far as I know, they only had one other talent, like you do. I'm still the only one I know with three. He looks out toward the grassy field beyond the swing set and continues, "I always wondered if I developed this talent through thinking about it. When I was little, my parents used to have loud, scary fights and I wished I could become invisible and leave the house without them noticing. I was stunned when one day I could actually do it." His fingers trace the lines in my palm and all the angry energy is gone. His touch is soft and his lightness gives me goosebumps.
"How much did your other girlfriend know?" I know it's a sensitive subject, but I ask anyway.
He smiles and looks down at me, "I knew that earlier girlfriend comment was lingering in your mind and I'd just like to clarify that I was fifteen, just turned sixteen. Nothing is ever serious at that age." I laugh, but I know I took Derek seriously when I was sixteen. I was just doodling his last name attached to mine on my notebook a few weeks ago.
As soon as I think go on, he does, "Stephanie knew of my talents but not my whole Iowa upbringing. I met her in California and she was also using her talents to make money and she eventually wanted to use mine as well. It's easy to know someone's intentions when you can read their mind, so shortly after I found out she was using me, I picked up and moved again. I haven't spoken to her since."
So that's that then. His first girlfriend wasn't who he thought she was. Much like my first boyfriend.
I continue to pepper him with questions throughout the afternoon and when the sun disappears under the trees, I know it's time to head home. This day was not only an emotional roller coaster but also a very informative one. I make sure Liam has nothing else to hide and he lets me in his head the entire car ride home. It's like listening to the radio on low volume when he starts to sing a song in his head. I follow along with the words and bob my head as we drive.
When we arrive back at my house, he opens my car door and holds my hand until we reach the front door. I glance up at the night sky and see a few stars peeking through. One catches my attention, and I point it out.
"Make a wish," I think, but then realize Liam can probably hear what I'm wishing for anyway.
"I won't listen to your wish, Ellie. I promise," he says.
I take in the evening and revel in the beauty of one of the last summer night skies. The air is pleasantly warm, and I know we only have a few more weeks until fall welcomes us. I take a deep breath and close my eyes. I wish that we will all be okay on Friday. That no one will get hurt.
I look back at Liam, but his focus is still on the stars.
"I had to make a wish too," he whispers, finally turning his gaze back to me. I lean in for a kiss, but he steps back.
"Before you go inside, there's something I've been meaning to ask you."
My curiosity is piqued, and I raise my eyebrows.
With a charming smirk, he asks, "Will you, Miss Eleanor Grace Adler, take me as your boyfriend? Will you allow me to call you mine?"
I catch the sarcastic twinkle in his eye and resist the urge to roll mine.
I laugh at his nonsense and nod. "I thought you already were my boyfriend. I definitely already call you mine." He laughs and cups my face in his hands. When he kisses me, we're both smiling too much to take it seriously, but it's perfect.
When he finally lets go of my hands, he turns and walks toward his car. He's almost to the door when he suddenly sprints back and kisses me again, grabbing me like he can't stay away.
When I finally come up for air, I laugh, "We're going to have to figure out a way to restrain our lips and hands when we're together."
That's when I notice Derek's shiny blue Jeep crawling past my driveway. Liam and I both watch as he slowly drives by. Without missing a beat, Liam kisses me again. I wave to Derek over Liam's shoulder, sealing the moment with a cherry on top.
As soon as we hear Derek speed off, Liam jogs back to his car, opens the door, and finally drives away. I'm practically floating as I open my front door, only to come to a sudden halt when I see my mom standing by the coffee table.
"Liam asked me out!" I shriek, and she bursts out laughing at my excitement.
"Oh! I thought you two were already doing the whole boyfriend-and-girlfriend thing?" she asks, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.
I flop onto the couch after she gives me a big hug, soaking in the joy of the moment.
"I mean, we were, but we weren't like official."
"So, is he your date for Homecoming now too?" she asks.
"No, his suspension lasts through the dance, so they aren't letting him go," I answer, sprawling out across the couch. I grab a plush pillow to prop under my head and rest my legs on the coffee table. My mom promptly swats my legs down before plopping down next to me. I can feel her warmth as she gently starts playing with my hair.
"So, how are you two planning on telling Harper you're an item now?"
I hadn't thought about it. We had agreed to wait until after Homecoming to pursue anything, but I guess it doesn't matter now that he's not going.
"I honestly don't know. You might have to pick me up from the hospital after she finds out."
She laughs, but I'm only kind of kidding.
"I think you just need to be honest with her, Ellie. I know it will be the end of the world for a minute, but then she'll be focused on the next thing," she states plainly. I nod as I stare at our spinning ceiling fan. It will certainly be the end of the world when Harper finds out. Especially since she has no idea we've had a thing going almost all month.
"Or, I can wait until after we graduate to tell her, and by then we'll be in different states," I suggest.
"You only have a couple more months together, Ellie. Then who knows what will happen with all of you. I think the only things you should be taking seriously are your classes and college acceptances. Otherwise, enjoy living in the moment," she tells me.
"Mom, the only things that matter are boys and appearances. The rest is all secondary," I say, catching her side-eye.
"I want to think you're joking there, Ellie," she says flatly, as I roll off the couch and head toward the hallway.
"Goodnight, Mom!" I shout as I walk upstairs to my room.
I want to tell her I'm joking, but the important things in my life right now don't feel like "in-the-moment" things. Figuring out my abilities and sharing my secret with someone is important. Stopping violence at school is very important. And finding a way to keep my face safe from Harper is also, unfortunately, important.
I walk into my closet to grab some pajamas, but the garment bag holding my dress stops me. I pull it out and carry it over to the bed. Dropping it down, I unzip the long zipper and watch as the black glittery fabric spills out. I run my hand over the beading and fall in love with the dress all over again.
I'm sad Liam won't get to see me in it, and I imagine him in a tuxedo. Then I realize, I might be even sadder about not getting to see him in one.
As I zip the bag back up, an idea strikes me. I scramble to find my phone, only to remember I left my purse downstairs in all the excitement. I fly down the steps to grab it, pull out my phone, and scroll to Liam's number. My heart pounds as I wait for him to pick up.
"Miss me already?" He asks as I race back upstairs for some privacy. I close my door with my heel and cross back over to my bed as I say, "You can be my date for homecoming!" I hop back onto my bed and throw myself against my plethora of pillows.
"You know I would, Ellie, but they said I couldn't go to the dance."
"Yeah, yeah, I know, but they wouldn't know you were there if they couldn't see you."
It takes a second for the light bulb to click on in his head before he replies, "Oh... yeah, I guess it wouldn't be hard to sneak in. Are you going to be sad if your date is invisible?"
"As long as you're there, I don't care. You still have to wear a tux, though."
"Alright, I can do that."
I can hear the smile in his voice, and I'm already excited for next Saturday.
"Okay! Well, I'll let you go. We'll figure the rest out later. Goodnight."
I hang up the phone and toss it onto my bed. Then I quickly text Harper and Lily to make plans to hit the mall tomorrow and pick up the rest of our homecoming stuff.
Back in my closet, I carefully zip my dress back into its bag and tuck it away before selecting my pajamas, just in case I wake up to more surprises tomorrow.
I pull my hair up and crawl into bed, my thoughts drifting to homecoming. Dread slowly creeps in when I think about telling Harper about Liam.
Suddenly, falling asleep becomes a lot harder.