Kindle Edition
Category:
Action/Thriller
Publisher: EKG Publishing
Type: Fiction
Pages: 481
Price: $2.99 (eBook)
Sylvia is on the journey of her life to earn the gifts and talents her grandmother promised her. A whole year of attracting boys that she can't have while juggling an unwanted adventure may be more than she can handle this year.
Sylvia Kennin turns sixteen and was thrust into a family curse - or is it a blessing? - That will change her life forever. There are hundreds of challenges she must overcome before her seventeenth birthday when The Change will be complete. Most importantly, she must make it to her seventeenth birthday with her virtue intact. You wouldn't think that would be hard for a girl who’s too tall, too plain and wears glasses. Oddly enough, there's just something about Sylvia that no single male can resist.
For six months now Sylvia has struggled to accept her fate and make do with what she has to work with. Now, her father has taken a job in Alaska of all places. He’s uprooting not only his daughter, but his second wife and her twins. Sylvia who has to leave her safe and familiar home, in Oklahoma, to hit the long road to the unknown northern wilds.
Vulnerable and homesick she dodges the affections of the Affecteds along the way. From saying good-bye to Calvin in Oklahoma, she then has to say good-bye to Kevin and his two brothers in Nebraska. Oregon brings a whole gaggle of boys with the sullen Rob at the top of the heap. If someone, on the Alaska Marine Highway, asks you if you’re a Phase-walker, turn around and run the other way.
All these boys and she can’t just keep one, so she wouldn’t be so lonely. The Change is wrecking her life and it had better be worth it.
Excerpt
Calvin's strong arms had me pinned to the ground in my front yard. “Sylvia, you can’t leave.” His lips sought for a kiss.
I struggled for enough breath to yell. This wasn’t quite how I’d pictured our parting. I avoided looking in his wild blue eyes for fear I would stop fighting. Apathy would bring a halt to any chance I had to become extremely special as the family legend promised.
He was eighteen, popular and the boy next door that I’d had a mega crush on for six years. Calvin Thompson was the epitome of gorgeous. I’m not quite sure how I’d gone from totally hating him to worshipping the ground he walked on.
What was I doing struggling? Oh yeah, special … extremely special?
***
Before The Change started over the Christmas holiday, I was devastated he would leave for college in Florida that July. No longer would Calvin reside next door for me to daydream over. No more heart palpitating glimpses as he came and went. No more incentive for me to walk down the halls of our high school. No reason to get up in the morning. The whole ordeal had been The Great Trauma of my life until I found out we were moving to Alaska. Now, Calvin and I were going to opposite ends of the earth and I couldn’t have been more miserable.
My biggest fantasy involved next summer when he came home from college and I was a senior – who just happened to be making plans to attend his college. We would meet on the sidewalk in front of our houses, just like any other summer day. The birds would sing, the day would be hot enough for shorts and a tank top, but not humid. This time he would finally see me for the woman I’d grown into, not the gangly little girl with scabby knees who moved in next door when he was twelve. Our eyes would meet and ZAP! He would be so totally in love with me that all the other girls in his life, mostly gorgeous cheerleaders, would mean nothing to him. He would see only me. Ah, what a wonderful fantasy.
That had been before the start of The Change.
At first, everything seemed normal with Calvin, even though everything else in my life wasn’t. He ignored me and I followed him all over our high school drooling in his wake.
One month after my sixteenth birthday the world tilted.
Over the crowded hall I spotted Calvin’s blonde spiky ’do. I straightened my blouse, quickly smoothed back a few escaping hairs and tucked them behind my ear. Hopefully, I didn’t look too goofy just in case he happened to glance in my direction. Maggie, my second best friend, laughed at me as she, too, straightened her perky brown hair. We checked each other’s teeth and made sure nothing was on our faces. I turned back in time to see Calvin emerge from the nameless masses and a spotlight exploded over him.
Okay, not really, but it seemed like it to me.
My breath caught as his beautiful blue eyes lifted and he scanned the crowd. Would he actually glance in my direction?
He not only glanced, but turned his whole head before his body jerked around, too. Then he stopped right in front of me.
OMGosh!
“Hi, Sylvia. Do you have science now?”
OMGosh!
My mouth dropped open. I couldn’t speak. If it hadn't been for the putrid smell emanating from the last period's lab experiment I might’ve thought I was dreaming. Maggie nudged me in the back.
“Yeah,” I croaked, anything but suave.
“Cool.” He nodded.
I tried again. “Yeah.” Still couldn’t find anything to follow my pathetic attempt at conversation.
He looked around. “I’d better get to class.”
“Yeah.” Was that all I could come up with? I’m such a dork.
After the awkward moment I thought for sure Calvin would avoid me. Instead, he made a point to smile when he saw me in the halls, and waved from his house. Every little tidbit of attention was like manna from heaven. That’s all there was.
Until today.
***
Today started out innocently enough. The sun beat mercilessly overhead as the moving van pulled from the curb. Tim and I were loading the last of our suitcases into the cargo carrier on top of our minivan. The surface could have broiled meat, like my hand, for instance.
My strawberry blonde stepbrother Tim, now eleven, had become very useful when he wasn't bugging the heck out of me. Tam, his twin sister, was inside helping their mother, Sue, in our generic suburban house, the house that no longer belonged to us. Tam was packing the food basket and drink cooler. My stomach hoped Sue remembered peppered jerky, my favorite. Dad, under the hood, checked all the car fluids, again. Even hot and tired, he was determined we’d get as far as Wichita, Kansas today. Knowing him, he would do it, or we would die trying.
I’d watched Calvin’s split level house hoping I would get to see him before we left. I even cleaned the sweat and fingerprints off my glasses twice to make sure I could see him clearly if he showed himself.
Earlier, he’d come out and stood on his stoop and watched us, but went back in. I was grateful. I’d at least gotten a long glance. He came out a few minutes later and walked down the steps, then immediately turned around and went back in his house like he’d forgotten something.
Two glances.
I was so lucky.
With the last suitcase in the carrier, I felt like a fish swimming upstream in the boiling humidity. I wrestled with the latch and it bit me. A cuss word slipped out as I hopped around holding my throbbing finger. Dad huffed from under the hood before he emerged to give me a scathing look that made me wilt all the more.
“Sylvia, not in front of Tim.” He stepped around and latched the car top carrier without any effort. Of course it closed easily for him.
He returned under the hood after giving me a warning glare. Sucking my finger I looked to Calvin’s domicile and the beautiful flower gardens that I would miss. His mom, Mrs. Thompson, came out of their house with her arm through Calvin’s, and they walked over to us. It looked as though she were pulling him along. It was nice of her to make Calvin say good-bye. I’d always liked his mom.
Sue came out, finger combing her short, strawberry blonde hair with the miniature Mom, Tam, following close behind. Sue put on one of her sparkling fake smiles and greeted Mrs. Thompson. “Hi, Teresa.”
How can she look so crisp and cool in her red capris outfit? No wrinkles or sweat stains, unbelievable.
“Looks like you’re all packed. Are you sure you have to go all the way to Alaska?” Mrs. Thompson’s sweet face appeared genuinely sad as she looked at Dad.
Dad wiped his hands with a rag. “Yeah, it’s a little too late to change our minds now.”
Mrs. Thompson smiled warmly at him. “Well, the neighborhood barbecues won’t be the same without you.” She touched his arm and he moved to stand next to Sue.
The neighborhood get -together would probably be more fun without Sue fussing the whole time. Then again, she only really complained at me. Heaven forbid I have fun.
“And we’re going to miss you, too.” Sue gushed as she took Dad’s arm and leaned against him.
I knew Sue wouldn't think twice about the woman, but she put on a good show. She even reached up to return Mrs. Thompson's hug, with a slight squeeze.
Dad, always affable, smiled. “I couldn’t pass up such a good job offer. This kind of a chance is rare.” He held Sue tighter. “We’re going to miss this house. When you put your hard labor into a place it becomes home.”
Yeah, my hard labor and they’re making me leave it. I wanted to scream.
The adults talked. Calvin stared at our lush green lawn as his breathing accelerated.
Tam must‘ve bored because she grabbed Tim’s prized race car t-shirt and pulled him backward. “Tag.”
Sue frowned. The twins ignored her and were gone, dashing about the yard. It was amusing to watch Sue struggle not to yell at her kids in front of Mrs. Thompson. I was surprised she didn’t go after them. Instead she stayed glued to Dad’s side. Personally, I didn't see how the twins had any energy in this oppressive heat. Their identical shade of strawberry blonde bobbed and weaved about the yard like a heat mirage. I sweated more just watching them.
Calvin cleared his throat and mumbled. “Can I talk to you, Sylv?” He jerked his head away, motioning for me to follow him.
I wasn’t sure I could speak with all the separation anxiety boiling inside me. Nonetheless, I wasn’t going to pass up alone-time with him. “Sure.” I let him lead the way to the large flame bush on the corner of my house.
It was just far enough away we wouldn’t be heard, but close enough my dad could still keep tabs on me. The twins watched. I’d hear all about Calvin and me at the bush all the way to Alaska. I didn't care. Being alone with Calvin was worth the harassment.
At the base of the bush was a large granite rock I brought back from a camping trip with my, now ex-friend Maggie and her girls’ church group. It was the size of a basketball. Even though I was very proud of my rock, Sue wouldn’t let me bring it in the house. Dad, trying to make peace with his wife, relegated it to the bush then gave me his 'don't bring it up again' look. It had actually looked very good there all these years. It was something else I was leaving behind. Something else I would miss.
It's odd what one thinks about during stressful situations.
I straightened my dull blonde hair and hoped Calvin couldn’t see the sweat that trickled down my back and spread like an ink blot on my cotton blouse.
The humidity was stifling, but my adrenalin had me hyped with Calvin so close. It was a good thing I didn’t wear a tank top today or he would’ve seen the waterfall that developed. Before we reached the bush I took my glasses off so he could see the only good feature I had. My friends told me my pale blue eyes were beautiful and I should play them up. If I’d known how, I would have. Well, not this year. Maybe I’d learn how next year when my dad and The Change were done wrecking my life.
Elated that Calvin had graced me with this private audience, I overlooked his fidgeting since everything he did was worth whatever time it took to do it.
My mouth was dry as the desert, but my arm pits were into overdrive, sweating out the last of the two liter soda I drank with the three sandwiches, bag of chips, two apples and three snack cakes … oh, and the two liters of water I chugged to keep my stomach full. My stomach hadn't been fooled and was hungry again. My out of control appetite would have to wait. Calvin wanted to talk to me.
It was exciting that he wanted to spend time with me, and I could feel the tears work their way up from my throat. Afraid I might cry in front of him and ruin any chance – albeit slim I might have, I choked them back. The effort made breathing almost non-existent.
With his hands shoved deep in his jeans pockets, he stared at his high tops instead of me. They alternated between digging his toe into the ground, scuffing it across the grass and kicking my rock. I’d never seen him like this before. He’d always been so confident, so sure of himself. Some insensitive jerks might even say cocky. I found this side of him endearing. What am I saying? Every side of Calvin was endearing.
When he began jack-hammering my rock, I worried. He still hadn’t spoken. Time was running out. Plus, I hated to see my rock abused even if it was by Calvin.
My dad broke the silence and I jumped. “Sylv we’re going to make one more run through the house then we’re out of here.” I could hear the edge in his voice even though he kept smiling for Mrs. Thompson's benefit.
“Okay.” I waved as the adults went into our empty, generic house. The twins still played tag, however at a much slower pace. Hopefully they would wear themselves out and sleep in the car so I wouldn't have to put up with their incessant yammering.
Our time was limited and I didn’t want to waste it like this. Not that being with Calvin in any way was a waste of time. Because it wasn’t. He didn’t say anything so I found my voice and forced calm tones, hoping it wouldn’t squeak.
“Well, I guess this is good-bye, you off to Florida and me to Alaska.”
I hoped he would at least shake my hand. A chill ran down my spine at the thought of our fingers touching … our palms squeezed together … My knees went weak just thinking about it. Now there was a memory to bolster me while I was stuck in our vehicle for six days. Maybe even help me through the two years I would be stuck in the wilds of Alaska.
He grabbed me in a bear hug and buried his face in my neck. The chill ran back up my spine with added force. A heat wave rocketed through the rest of my body. Breathe, Sylvia, breathe. My eyes focused. I noticed a hickey on his neck. For some reason, that bothered me, but not enough to push him away. Inhaling his scent my eyes closed involuntarily. I could smell strawberries in his hair. Did we use the same shampoo?
Focus!
His body trembled.
At first, thinking was a no-go, my brain was on overload. This was way too good to be true. Someone was going to wake me from the best dream of my life.
Breathe, focus, think!
I leaned away from him to look at his handsome face. I hoped to figure out what he was thinking. As if I didn’t already know.
He tightened his hold. “Oh Sylv, you can’t leave. I love you,” his voice was thick with emotion.
This was definitely too good to be true, so I knew he was just acting to tease me. Even as sweaty as we both were, he held me in the perfect embrace. He played his part flawlessly, and I enjoyed every second.
I laughed so he would know he hadn’t pulled the wool over my eyes. Although, I had to admit, I really wanted to be fooled, even if for a mere minute. What a glorious minute it would be, too. Ah, to fall completely into the silky smooth depths of heaven itself without reality nagging and spoiling the moment.
He pulled back and looked at me. A tear ran down his perfect cheek. He was really crying. Boy, he was a good actor with real talent. Of course I already knew that. I’d always been swept away as a bystander in the dark school auditorium, watching him work his magic from the spotlight. Sigh. Even without the stage, getting to play a scene with Calvin was a dream come true.
“Sylv, how can you laugh at a time like this?” He sounded heartbroken.
I looked closer at his glazed azure eyes.
A brief shake to clear my head wasn’t enough. He was serious? I wanted to pinch myself to see if I was dreaming, but he had my hands pinned between us with his strong arms.
“You tell your folks you’re not going.” His words rushed out. “You could live with my sister until we can get married.”
He’d actually thought about this … too much.
“Oh, why did I take so long to realize what I had right next door?” His face was anguished.
What did my face look like, because my eyeballs felt like they were going to pop out? I had to be dreaming, but the dream was off somehow. Where was the joy and exhilaration a confession, like that, should’ve produced? All I could muster was confusion.
Then it hit me.
Glazed eyes?
Calvin was affected.
Of course he was. I’m such an idiot.
My heart dropped and everything clicked into place. How stupid of me. I wanted so badly for him to finally realize I was the best girl for him that I didn’t want to see it was only The Change that had his heart gift wrapped for me.
Yes, The stupid Change that was thrust upon me last December, on my sixteenth birthday, that I would have to endure for a whole year. The stupid idiotic Change that had all the guys around thinking they were in love with me. The stupid idiotic bewildering Change that was wrecking my life!!
I wanted to cry.
He tried to kiss me again and I instinctively pulled back. My sudden movement put us off balance and we fell. He landed on me, knocking my breath out. I struggled to breathe while trying to battle his groping hands.
The world definitely wasn’t right if I was fighting off Calvin Thompson. It had to be a nightmare. Perhaps it was the same one I’d been having about being forced to move to Alaska. Maybe I would wake up and find myself snuggled deep under my antique quilt, in my room filled with posters and stuffed animals. My grandmother would still be alive and the family legend would be just that, a legend. She would laugh and tell me how gullible I was.
When my lungs filled my first objective was a scream. “Daaad! Heelllp!”
“You don’t need your dad, you only need me.” He moved for my lips and his hot Doritos breath gushed against my neck. My resolve weakened, I needed reinforcements.
I turned away. “Daaaaad! Helllllllp!”
I spotted Tam wringing her hands as she watched helplessly from the well-manicured sidewalk.
“I promise to be all you’ll ever need,” Calvin groaned in my ear.
He smelled funky. Had he always smelt that way? Since I’d never been this close before, I couldn’t be sure.
I struggled to free myself. “Dad! Help!”
Tam was still there bouncing up and down, worry encasing her young face.
Tim ran to us from the house and tugged on Calvin's arm to no use. “Get off my sister!” Tim pulled with all his might.
What I wouldn’t have given for an older, stronger brother.
“Tell me you love me, Sylv.” He made another try for my lips just as I moved. He ended up in my hair which he smelled appreciatively, nuzzling my ear. If I didn’t get help soon, The Change would be over for me.
Tim hit Calvin on the back. I didn't like that. Sure, I wanted to be rescued, nonetheless I was unsure about anyone hitting the man of my dreams.
Dad showed up with Mrs. Thompson and pulled Tim off as Calvin continued to tell me he loved me. It twisted my heart to hear - The Change-induced -confession.
It took all their strength for Dad and Mrs. Thompson to pry his arms off and drag him away. Sue had to hold Tim back as he continued to hit Calvin.
I lay on the cool grass panting and shaking, unsure if that had been reality, or a daydream gone horribly wrong. The way this year was going it had to be reality. Searching through the green blades I found my glasses. They were askew. I bent them back into shape and put them on.
Sue and the twins helped me up. When my stepmother was sure I could stand on my own she took my glasses and straightened them before handing them back. I cleaned them with my blouse as she and Tam led me to the car. Sue pinched her lips together as though I’d incited this incident. Well, actually, I guess I did. This was just another reason for her to be mad at me.
“Sylvia, tell them you’re staying!” Calvin yelled from his lawn as he dug in his feet. “Please, Sylv, please stay!”
He pleaded with me for everything I’d ever wanted from him. This was so unfair.
Suddenly Calvin went limp. I tensed to bolt to his side. He was only using the dead weight of his body to jar him from their grasp. Mrs. Thompson lost her grip and Calvin tried to jerk his other arm away. Dad had a firm hold, not letting him wriggle his body free. Thank goodness Dad was stronger than Calvin.
I’d never seen the man of my dreams behave like this. It was quite an eye opener. Hmm, I'd always assumed Calvin was stronger than my dad. Everyone, for that matter.
Sue stuffed me in the van, as I stared at poor Calvin. The twins climbed in behind me. Shutting the door, she took the front passenger seat and locked the whole vehicle. I leaned my forehead against the window. The air conditioner cooled the sweat on my back. I shivered.
Calvin looked at me with the saddest eyes I’d ever seen. “Sylvia, please stay!”
Watching while Dad and Mrs. Thompson dragged the yelling Calvin into his house hurt, however it was his beseeching eyes that would haunt me forever.
Things like this had been happening all around me since the family legend turned my life upside down. My grandmother told me guys would notice me more. That turned out to be an understatement of Biblical proportions. She also said I had to be careful and keep my eyes on my goal. A whole year was way too long for what was happening to me, and I had almost six more months to go.
Safely locked in the minivan, my heart continued to pound double-time. When Dad came out he was wet down the front of his polo shirt and jeans. He was grinning, so it must not have gone too bad. Sue unlocked his door and he climbed in.
“It’s a wonder what a cold shower will do for a young man.” He chuckled and started the car.
Sue glared at him, but said nothing.
I knew it wasn’t Calvin’s fault, nevertheless I would never think of him the same way again.
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