Taylor was a pretty Asian girl who had never made a secret of her attraction to Sam. She was also a freak, a three bar with the power of teleportation. She could instantly go any place she’d ever seen or been before. She called it “bouncing.”
She wore a T-shirt and shorts. Sneakers. Unlaced, no socks. No one dressed well, not anymore. People wore whatever was halfway clean.
And no one traveled unarmed. Taylor had a large knife in a nice leather sheath.
She was not beautiful like Astrid. But not cold and remote and looking at him with defensive, accusing eyes, either. Looking at Taylor did not fill his brain to overflowing with memories of love and rage.
She was not the girl who had been the center of his life for all these months. Not the girl who had left him frustrated, humiliated, feeling like a fool. Feeling more alone than ever.
“Hey, Taylor. Bouncy bouncy Taylor. T’sup?”
“I saw the light,” Taylor said.
“Yeah. I am all about light,” Sam slurred.
She held out the bottle tentatively, not sure what she should do with it.
“Nah.” He waved it off. “I think I’ve had quite enough. Don’t you?” He spoke with extreme care, trying not to slur. Failing.
“Come sit with me, Taylor, Taylor, bouncy Taylor.”
She hesitated.
“Come on. I won’t bite. Good to talk with someone . . . normal.”
Taylor rewarded him with a brief smile. “I don’t know how normal I am.”
“More normal than some. I was just checking on Brittney,” Sam said. “You have a monster inside of you, Taylor? Do you have to be locked in a basement because inside you is some psycho with a whip arm? No? See? You are so normal, Taylor.”
He glared at the barrier, the untouched, unfazed barrier. “Do you ever beg to be burned into ashes so you can be free to go to Jesus, Taylor? Nah. See, that’s what Brittney does. No, you?
??re pretty normal, bouncy Taylor.”
Taylor sat beside him. Not too close. Friend close, conversation close.
Sam said nothing. Two different urges were battling in his head.
His body was saying go for it. And his mind. . . well, it was confused and not exactly in control.
He reached over and took Taylor’s hand. She did not pull her hand away.
He moved his hand up her arm. She stiffened a little and glanced around, making sure they weren’t seen. Or, maybe, hoping they were.
His hand reached her neck. He leaned toward her and pulled her to him.
He kissed her.
She kissed him back.
He kissed her harder. And she slid her hand under his shirt, fingers stroking his bare flesh.
Then he pulled away, fast.
“Sorry, I . . .” He hesitated, his wallowing brain arguing against a body that was suddenly aflame.
Sam stood up very suddenly and walked away.
Taylor laughed gaily at his back. “Come see me when you get tired of mooning over the ice princess, Sam.”