The Elementalist Read Online Free Page B

automatic. I heaved a sigh of exasperation. This was going to cost time. Pushing down on the clutch, I turned the key and started the car. It came to life and didn’t die. I smiled, satisfied. I was such a quick study.
    Releasing the clutch, I pressed the gas. The car jerked forward and almost smashed into the garage door. I screamed in fright, adrenaline spiking all the way to my fingers and toes. Closing my eyes, I tried to remain calm. I could do this. My brother, Derek, had a clutch in his car. I’d driven it—once.
    I tried again… with the same results, and then I realized I wasn’t even in reverse.
    It took at least fifteen minutes to figure it out, but oh, happy day when I finally backed out of the driveway without the car jerking or dying. I was surprised Claire’s mom hadn’t come out to see what was wrong.
     
    ***
     
    It didn’t take long to find my way to Brecken’s house. Everything was as I remembered, right down to the dust-bowl park by his house. It seemed like a million years ago that I was here. I pulled into his driveway and hit the brakes with a screech. The car jerked and died. I hadn’t pushed the clutch in. Not caring in the least, I ran to Brecken’s front door, my heart literally racing in anticipation. This was a moment I had dreamed of for so long. To touch him in the flesh. To feel his lips on mine… finally!
    I plowed right into the front door, expecting to slip through the wood like a ghost… out of habit. Pain exploded in my face, and I was temporarily blinded by the stars that danced before my eyes like flashes of lightning.
    A warm, sticky fluid immediately began to run from my nose, down over my lips. I caught it in my hands and stared, amazed at the exquisite throbbing in my face. Blood flowed over my fingers, making them slick and red. I stood there, thrilled to see it, to taste the metallic flavor in my mouth, grateful it was there at all.
    I had a physical body! And it hurt so badly!
    The front door flew open. A cute, young girl of about thirteen, with an expression of horror, stared back at me. Heidi ! She screamed and then ushered me in, pulling me to the kitchen sink, grabbing paper towels to wipe my face.
    “Oh, my gosh! Are you okay? What happened?” she asked. “Brecken! Get up here!”
    A moment later, I heard a familiar pounding on the stairs and then saw the most beautiful boy I had ever met, living or dead. His deep blue eyes were full of concern as he took in the scene, grabbed the paper towels, and led me to the couch, pushing me down onto the cushions.
    “Are you all right?” He stared into my eyes.
    I was positive he recognized me. “It’s me,” I whispered.
    “Let’s get you cleaned up,” he said, wiping my chin, his eyes gazing into mine. And then he frowned. “Do I know you?”
    “Yeah,” I whispered. “You definitely do.”

 
    8
    ~Reunited at Last~
    Alisa
     
    Brecken stopped wiping my face, the bloody towels still in his hand. Both Heidi and Sophie sat on the coffee table watching as though I was a strange phenomenon blown in by a tornado. The thought made me laugh, and then groan, because laughing really hurt… wonderfully.
    “Yeah, I’m okay. I just walked into the door.”
    “Why did you do that?” little Sophie asked. Although she wasn’t so little anymore. She had to be at least ten now.
    I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, the towels pressed to my face. “Habit, I guess.”
    Heidi scowled, confused. “You walk into doors a lot?”
    Smiling, I gazed at these familiar faces. This was right. This was where I was meant to be, where I was most comfortable. I loved these girls as though they were my own little sisters. Reaching out with one arm, I hugged each of them tight.
    When I pulled away, all three stared at me like I was a mental patient. “Uh, sorry. I’m just so glad to be… somewhere I can get cleaned up.” What I really wanted to do was blurt out that it was me ! That I was back and here to stay. “Um, do you