Gifted Connections 2

“What’s that?” I asked deliberately acting obtuse.

“You have six connections…” he said hesitantly, like he was treading on thin ice.

I stood up and held a hand out to him. He took it cautiously. I waited for him to begin running once more and fell into step beside him.

“I do,” I finally answered him, noticing he was horribly out of shape as he panted beside me.

“You made fire, you made that scientist reveal himself, you put up a force field, you carried a man twice your size, and you healed a dead man,” he must have noticed the faux paus of his last comment, because he blushed furiously. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled quickly.

I looked at him in consideration. “There aren’t many people that know the true nature of my abilities and the fact that I have six connections.”

“But that’s impossible,” he spluttered.

“It should be,” I shrugged nonchalantly, but even I could see how it was unbelievable. If I wasn’t living it, I would find it hard to believe

Remy and Rachel had already reached the stop sign and was headed back to the house.

“We should pick up our pace if we want to get back to get the children to school on time,” I encouraged him.

“Running is just not my thing,” he muttered. “I think Jemmy is my spirit animal,” he grumbled.

I giggled. I think we were on the right track now.

Running had helped me take my mind off things for a moment, but it hadn’t lasted long. I took a quick shower after my run and got dressed in a pair of jeans, long sleeve grey Henley, and a white vest with a hoodie attached to it. I grabbed my heather-gray boots as I walked out of the room. I was so thankful for the family I had found. Especially where the children were concerned. There was no way I would have had the time to get ready and get them ready as well.

I rushed down to the den to meet Micah’s tutor before heading to the kitchen. She seemed bright and had a solid game plan to get him ready by next year. Micah didn’t seem very happy about not being able to go to school with the other kids, but he also understood that he wasn’t ready to join other children his age. There was no way he was willing to be stuck in a classroom full of kids much younger than him, either. He was disappointed, but he still had an upbeat and confident attitude.

The team had brought their change of clothing with them, so they could shower from here. Breakfast was a simple affair this morning—bagels, fruit, and muffins. The children eagerly grabbed the muffins.

The kitchen was packed once again. I had to dodge in and out of people just to grab a bagel to throw in the toaster. Will had left long ago to tell Collin’s parents the tragic news. I had paused in the doorway, fully expecting to see him at the bar, drinking his coffee, eating his toast, and reading his newspaper. My stomach clenched at the thought of what he had to do. My heart sank. I no longer had an appetite, but I didn’t want to land in the hospital again, and I had some weight to gain.

“Don’t forget you have your audition this morning,” Jace reminded me with a kiss to the back of my head.

“I’m not going. I already emailed the school my apologies,” I said as I spread cream cheese on my jalapeno cheddar bagel.

I took a bite of my bagel and noticed, once again, all eyes were on me. “You love music,” Gavin finally spoke up. “You went through a lot to get that audition again.”

I refused to meet his eyes as I took a thermos of coffee from Troy. It hadn’t taken him long to remember how I liked my coffee. “I really haven’t had the time to practice all weekend, and I’m not ready.”

Jace seemed to be searching his memory for something. “You really didn’t need the practice. You could do that song in your sleep.”

I shook my head and took another bite of few. I took my time chewing it before swallowing. “I’m not embarrassing myself.”

“Every time before a game, I always psyched myself out too. You just need to trust yourself, you know you can do it,” Jaxson hugged me briefly.

“I’m not ready,” I repeated myself with a shrug.

“Listen Blake,” Noah said slowly. “I know how hard it is…but you need to continue…living.”

I was irrationally irritated at this point. “I said I’m not ready,” I said forcefully. “Can’t you guys respect that!”

“Blake—" Ella came skipping up to me.

“What?!” I snapped and realized I had. I felt guilty immediately. “I’m sorry, Ella, what would you like, hon?”

She handed me picture. “Look, I drew you a picture.”

“Great, thanks,” I forced a smile, not bothering to look at the picture before I shoved it in my messenger bag. I would look at it later.