Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 116220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Leland lets out a breath. “Wow … a pawnshop enthusiast and vegetable thief? Sounds like a real piece of work.” He peers over at the office, narrowing his eyes. “Must be what your dad came in to talk to Cade about.”
Jeremy perks up. “So he is here?”
“Better not interrupt him,” says Leland, clicking his tongue and winking. “Y’know how your dad can get. Hey, Henry, you think that’s who you saw in the alley? This creep-o?”
Kyle stirs from his thoughts. “I don’t know.”
“I’ll just wait for my dad,” says Jeremy, tossing his backpack onto a neighboring stool with a huff. He tries another peanut. Then another. “They grow on you. Still gross, though.”
“I’ll get you a soda,” says Kyle absently, fetching a glass and filling it up. Leland inspects his bandage, pokes at it and curses under his breath.
It’s almost three in the morning when Kyle is back home. He stands outside for a moment, chewing on his thoughts. He doesn’t know anything about Elias. Doesn’t know where he’s from or what he’s running from. Now to hear that a stranger has been lurking around town raising suspicions at the same time Elias arrives?
The timing is too perfect.
Then there’s the strange figure in the alley, the figure Kyle is certain he saw, who vanished the moment he drew breath.
After years of day-in-and-day-out sameness, everything has become so bizarre overnight.
When Kyle enters the house, he finds Elias sleeping on the couch. For as soft and velvety as his voice is, Elias is a rather heavy snorer. Kyle could hear it outside the house, but inside, it’s even louder. He comes up to the side of the couch, listening to the earthquake that rushes in and pulls back from Elias’s cute parted lips with each slow drawing of breath.
Somehow, the image of this snoring young man doesn’t quite fit the description of a shady guy lingering around town stealing broccoli or whatever from outdoor vegetable bins. Nor a deathly silent figure appearing like a phantom in the alley.
Perhaps none of it is related.
Elias jerks awake so suddenly, even Kyle jumps. Elias’s eyes find Kyle’s in the dark, then he sits up. “Fuck, dozed off. When did you get in? Didn’t realize it’d be so late. I put everything in the fridge. You hungry? Yeah, you’re probably hungry.” Elias wipes his eyes, hops up, and heads off.
After changing into just a t-shirt and shorts, Kyle lingers by the kitchen, watching as Elias whips something up and rambles on about what his night’s been like, and his little adventure of sneaking off to the store before it closed. Kyle focuses on none of it, too lost in his own thoughts as he gazes at Elias.
Even when they sit down to eat, Kyle is still distracted.
After filling his second taco, it seems to occur to Elias that Kyle hasn’t taken a bite of his first. “You gonna eat? Something wrong? The meat’s good, I promise, you watched me cook it. Store didn’t have any guac, which isn’t too surprising out here. You only had one serving spoon, which I used for the salsa, so you gotta scrape the meat and pico onto your tortilla with this knife, if that’s not too awkward. A bit sharp, so be careful.” Elias blinks. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Kyle folds his arms on the table and leans forward. Quite suddenly, he is determined to rekindle that connection he felt earlier tonight, the one that gave him certainty over what Elias was feeling inside. Anything to help him trust Elias. To give clues as to his intentions. Even the faintest bit of extrasensory information will do.
Tristan said once that Kyle might experience this. Like a doorway opening inside his mind, light flooding in. Tristan said it was how he discovered his Lull.
Is this Kyle’s latent talent at long last stirring awake? His extra special ability he has been wishing for?
A connection to others’ emotions?
Kyle wants an ability like Tristan had. He wants a special power. He wants the upper hand. The control. The security.
“You look like you’re trying to take a shit,” says Elias.
Kyle focuses even stronger. He feels like his head might split open as he dives into Elias’s eyes, ever so determined.
Without breaking eye contact, Elias sets down his second taco, then leans across the table, too, bringing his face closer, as if thinking it’s a game. Kyle’s jaw tightens as he listens with every fiber of his body.
Heartbeats. Pulsing.
Breaths flowing in, coursing out.
“Do you see something in my eyes, Kyle?”
It’s strange, hearing his real name out loud again. “Just stay quiet,” whispers Kyle back. “Don’t say anything.”
“What’re you looking for?” asks Elias anyway.
“Shush.”
He leans forward even more. “Want to ask me something? Want to just come out and ask? I’ll answer. Anything.”
Kyle grits his teeth, leaning forward.