Friday Fun, Short Stories (part VI!) and Other Good Things!

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Alright, what is everyone up to this weekend? Fun plans in the works? Other good things? Do tell!

Today I have a few more awesome posts to share: Faith Sullivan (amazing author of Heatbeat & Unexpected) is letting me take over her blog, along with Kelly Hashway (have you read Touched By Death yet?!?), along with Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy. All have giveaway opportunities so swing by!

Things have taken a turn for the strange for James and Sandra. Ready for the next installment?

Entry #6

~James knew Steven would never mention what happened, not when it reflected badly on him. But that certainly didn’t mean I forgot about it.

I almost said something the next day in History. There were plenty of questions I wanted to ask. But there were no words. I felt like I would need to invent a new language to speak to him. It didn’t help that he ignored me—sitting right next to me, but worlds away.

I couldn’t decide if I should be relieved or angry. Still, with his attention elsewhere, it did make spying easier. I counted the clock ticks between breaths he took, watching the catch of his white shirt on his shoulders as it rose and fell. I nearly made it to 120 between breaths before I saw him breathe again.

How was that possible? I couldn’t make it to thirty.

Something was definitely, absolutely different about James. I just didn’t know what, and honestly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

In Photography I found a seat near James and Richie, straining to hear their conversation. I caught words—death, future, frustrated—but nothing more.

He waited for me after I finished yet again, but I ignored him, hurrying past him on my way to my car.

“I know you have questions. I could make it easier to find answers. Let me take you out. Just for an hour. And you can ask anything you’d like.”

Something about his tone caught my attention. I glanced at him, my hands buried in my bag as I hunted for my keys. The look he wore was different. Almost painful. Something within me twisted.

“No, thank you. You should keep away. It’d be better for both of us.” I said the words, but my heart wasn’t in them. After yesterday, the strange things I’d picked up today, I was more curious than ever. But finding out the truth of whatever made James Henniker different seemed to scream I would be happier not knowing.

There was good reason for it to frighten me. I still wonder if it would have been better if I heeded that fear.