Guardian (The Guardian Trilogy) Read Online Free

am
horrified.  My first kiss with James and it was on public display?
    “So
what’s going on?” she asks impatiently.
    “He
said he has feelings for me.”
    “Well,
duh.  I think everyone knew that but you.”
    My face
twists in confusion.
    “You
never listen to me!  How long have I been telling you this?”  She spins around. 
“Like I said earlier, you’re delusional!”
    Suddenly
nervous, I ask, “What do I do?”
    Shel
leans in toward me on one of her dance moves and laughs.  “Enjoy it!”
    I try
to concentrate on dancing with Shel, but my attention keeps wandering back to
James.  I catch his eye from across the room, and he gives me an amazing smile
that makes my heart beat double time.  I can’t help myself and grin back.  I
think about all the years we’ve known each other and what this could mean.
    Suddenly,
my subconscious propels me forward in time, to about two weeks ago.  It picks
up a memory of our argument, at the moment where I yelled, “What does that
mean?”
    James
pins me with hard eyes.  “I’m trying to tell you nothing happened and you won’t
accept it!”  He’s pissed.
    I’m so
angry with him right now.  It’s an unfamiliar emotion around James; we hardly
ever fight.  I’m a terrible fighter; instead of yelling I usually end up
crying, but on this particular day I was on a roll.  Aggressively I snap, “You
expect me to believe that?”
    “Yes!” 
He looks at me exasperated.  “When have I ever lied to you?”
    I give
him a wary look that questions his statement.
    “So now
you think I lie to you?”
    I don’t
answer.  Instead, I continue to glare at him with my arms crossed.
    “Fine!” 
He heads for the door then turns around, changing his mind.  “Might I remind
you of all I gave up for you?  For us?”
    Not
this again.  I let out an irritated huff.  “Listen, you know why you came
here!”
    “Whatever.” 
He makes it to the door this time.  He leaves, slamming it behind him.
    The
door slam sounds so real that it startles me awake.  My eyes instantly blur
with fresh tears.  I should never have let him leave.

Chapter 3
    When my
parents returned home with my things, I unpacked all the essentials – clothes,
laptop, iPod – and left one box sealed up tight.  My mother thought it would be
best to pack all my pictures and other personal memory-type stuff separately. 
I love her for that.
    Days
later, I stare at the blinking cursor on my laptop screen.  What else is there
to say about the law and how it pertains to S corporations?  This assignment is
about as dry and boring as they come.  But I continue to plug away at it.  I
only have a few remaining course assignments.  It really doesn’t bother me.  The
work keeps my hands and my mind busy when I’m awake; my memory, dreams, and tears
keep me occupied while I’m asleep.
    I hear the
back door open and close, and voices start to carry up the stairs.  Thinking it
is my brother and Kate, I hit save on my laptop and start to make my way down the
stairs so I can pretend to be social.  About two steps down I overhear my mother
say “It’s so good to see you,” her tone suggesting that company has stopped by,
not family.
    “You
too, Marlene,” I hear the voice of James’ father.
    My
stomach instantly turns into knots.  I’m not ready for this.  My pulse starts
to pound behind my ears.
    “Eric,
Carol,” my Dad greets James’ parents as their voices grow louder.  “What can we
do for you?”
    “Is
Emma here?” Mrs. Davis asks, her tone a bit harsh.
    My
mother responds cautiously.  “She’s upstairs.  Would you like me to get her?”
    I know
that I cannot go downstairs.  My heart is racing, and I can feel my face
starting to get hot.
    “Oh no,
no,” James’ dad says nervously.  “We’ve just been…” he hesitates as he searches
for the right words, “concerned about her since the service.”
    “The
service was beautiful,” my mother says.  I can picture her