Chapter 16. Nuances

Chapter16. Nuances

People who hadn't known Ester and Spencer for as long as I did would think that they couldn't be more different. Ester was studious, a bit on the serious side, wouldn't hold back on her opinions, and tended to stick to the brainy crowd in school. Spencer was loud when he wanted to be, made fun of anything he saw, and thought of books like the second coming of Hitler.

But they shared one thing in common. Their sense of adventure.

No matter how firm Ester was or how much of a dork Spencer could be sometimes, they always joined together for new experiences. That's when Spencer's genius would come in. However dangerous or troublesome the escapade could get, he'd manage to convince Ester to do it by taunting her with promises of experiments, testing theories, learning.

As their closest friend, I couldn't be happier that they operated like this. If they didn't, I probably wouldn't be sneaking in the neighborhood in the middle of the night, trying to get inside the Governor's mansion.

"Follow me," Spencer whispered. He turned forward, ducked, then crept to the street. Ester and I stuck to the shadows while going after him.

We didn't go directly to the mansion though. To my surprise, we entered the yard to the left of my house, the one that had always been abandoned. We passed the garden gnomes, the broken tires, the scattered boxes and the empty bottles. The grass crunched under my shoes until it went past my knees, going all the way to my waist. This place was a dumpsite.

Spencer stopped when we reached a fence. It stretched to the right and left, preventing anyone from trespassing on the other side where the Governor's residence awaited. The moonlight didn't hide my frown as Spencer turned to me. "I know how it looks," he murmured.

My eyes raised to the 7-foot partition. "Am I supposed to climb that?" I whispered.

"The climbing isn't until later," Ester answered.

Spencer grinned and disappeared under the grass. There was rustling on the spot where he vanished, before his thumb poked upward in a gesture of assurance. "Still here," his muffled voice said.

Ester nodded to me. "You remember how we used to play here thinking the place was haunted?"

"Yeah?"

She motioned to the fence. "Spencer and I made a small hole leading to the Governor's mansion back then. I guess they didn't see it when they closed off the place to prepare for the Morgan's return."

"You sneaky son-of-a-gun." My smile was wide.

"Hurry guys," Spencer whispered. "I don't see guards on the other side."

"How sure are you that we won't get caught?"

"I trust Brad. He said he's friends with one of the guards and would call him tonight."

My stomach churned with the mention of that guy. Did this mean he was doing me a favor?

Ester inched closer to me. "Think when you're inside, Des." She then placed a hand over my head, gave me an encouraging nod, and pushed me down.

For a while all I could see was green. The overgrowth tickled my cheek, my nose, everywhere it got. Spencer had created a path for me. I only needed to follow in his footsteps, scratching my elbows along the way.

"Through there," he said when we met. The way he was pointing to was a small hole under the fence. So small that it wouldn't be noticeable to anyone who wasn't looking for it.

"Can we fit?"

"Yup. I'll go first." He got to his belly, pressed his chest on the ground, and began to make his way to the hole. A few seconds later, he made bird-like sounds on the other side, too low to catch attention. I got on my stomach and went after him.

The two of us were standing right below Genesis' balcony when Ester joined. Her face was smudged with dirt, but the expectant look she gave Spencer demanded to be taken seriously. "What are you waiting for?"

"You actually." Spencer took the rope slung over his waist, let the hook dangle downward, and looked up. Once he measured the distance, he twisted the hook until it made a whirlwind motion next to him. It was so cool seeing it thrown upward then latching on the balustrade. He pulled it a couple of times before turning to me. "It's secure. Don't fall on your way up."

"Aren't you coming with me?" I glanced from one twin to the other.

Ester wiped the smudge on her nose and shook her head. "We thought we'd give you some time alone," she said. "And besides, it would be harder to leave if there's many of us."

I looked at the rope uncertainly. She had a point, but that didn't mean I liked it.

"Okay then. Message you later? I left the Blackberry in my room."

"Later," Spencer promised.

The twins and their rope were gone by the time I swiveled around from the balcony. Was it stupid of me to forget to ask how to go home? Maybe they had another plan.

Or maybe you should concentrate on getting inside first, Destiny. You just got here.

I shook the troublesome thoughts away and walked forward.

What if she doesn't want me to be here though? Gabrielle said Genesis put the basket in the trash. Why would she do that?

Oh, God. I was overthinking again. Couldn't I go a second without that?

I wiggled my arms and exhaled. Just go already.

The door leading to Genesis' room wasn't locked. It didn't make a sound as I swung it forward either. There was a brief moment of adjustment as I went inside. It was darker there than outside.

"You're more persistent than I gave you credit for."

I jumped when I heard the voice. Genesis wasn't asleep. She was seated on a chair next to her study table, legs crossed, arms folded on her lap, staring at me from afar. Her white t-shirt pressed to her chest when she stood. She wasn't wearing anything underneath, nor did she have jeans. I turned away quickly.

"Why are you here?" she said.

It took a few seconds to say what I wanted to say. My brain has turned into mashed potato. "I. . . Uhh. . . Weren't you suck? I mean sick?"

"No. Maybe. . . I must be if you're here."

"Which is it really?" I mustered the courage to stare at her again. Why was I so bothered with what she was wearing? It wasn't an issue before. "I didn't realize you'd be awake. Maybe I should go back tomorrow."

"So if I was asleep, you'd stay?" A smile flitted on her lips as she went to the bed. "That's creepy even for you, Des."

"Sorry."

"I like creepy. Come here."

I blinked as the nightlight above her bed opened. It was harsh, surprising, but with just enough light to help me walk steadily without tripping on my feet.

She sighed when I sat on the mattress. Her eyes closed a brief second before they focused on me. She wasn't wearing her contacts. "So. . . What's so important that you'd commit trespassing and risk disappointing Mr. Jones?"

"You."

Her eyes flickered light a candle. "Me?"

"Yeah. I thought you were sick. You haven't been to school for a week."

"Do I look sick to you?"

I took care not to go lower than her neck as I stared. "No."

"I'm not sick then." She turned her head away.

"You're not well either."

"That's subjective, Destiny. Each of us is a little sick inside. Me more than others."

"But you're not like that," I blurted. "You're the most perfect, dazzling, sweetest human being there is."

It could be the light. It could be my own eyes deceiving me. But her cheeks turned pinker.

"What do you want?" she said.

"I told you. I came here to check if you're alright."

"You've seen me. What will you do next?"

"Dress you."

Her brows raised. "Dress me?"

I grasped the end of my sweater and took it off at once. Genesis' bafflement doubled when I reached for her, bunched up the sweater, and wore it over her head.

"Destiny?" She wiggled her hands through the sleeves with my help.

"Yeah?"

"Why are you doing this?"

I stopped what I was doing for a second to consider. "I want to protect you, Gene. However small it is, I want to protect you. So please stop keeping things from me anymore."

Her eyes were watery when her head poked out. The sweater covered her snuggly. "You're giving me a hard time, you know that?"

"For what?"

"Nothing." She collapsed on the bed and groaned. Genesis covered both eyes with an arm, stationary despite her heavy breathing. After a while, she smoothed out the covers beside her. "Stay," she said.

"Are you sure?"

"Please."

She hadn't said please in a long time. She hadn't asked me to accompany her like this. It was always me pushing us to be together lately. It was always me who wanted her.

The feeling on my chest was unbelievably serene even though my mind was close to exploding. It must be her scent. It was all over the place, like cotton candy spilling in every corner.

Genesis didn't move when I crawled to her side. She stayed stock-still, eyes closed, lip bitten. I was the one who made the crazy sounds. I just couldn't keep my breaths from coming out of my mouth, fast and high.

"Can I hug you?" I whispered.

The muscle on her jaw moved.

"It's okay if you don't want to," I went on. "It's just a thought. We used to—"

"Okay," she said. "Okay."

I released the breath I've been holding and turned slowly to her. My arms couldn't have been mine as I wrapped it over her chest. They didn't feel attached to me.

After the two of us have settled into this strange position where I'm hugging her and she was frozen like a pillow, Genesis opened her eyes. "Are you happy now?" she said.

"Yes. Aren't you?"

The muscles on her throat worked as she swallowed. "It's been so long. I've forgotten how it felt like."

Genesis shook me awake the next day. She was already dressed in jeans, but was still wearing the sweater I lent. "Wake up, sleepyhead. You need to leave."

I sat and rubbed my eyes. It felt like I've only gotten a minute of sleep.

Genesis' room was too much of a mystery not to fawn over. While she was asleep, I glanced around the place, hoping to understand the girl that occupied the space.

Everything seemed normal at first. It was still her room from our childhood. The books on the shelves might have been replaced with advanced texts, and the stuffed toys on the bed removed, but everything was clean and orderly like the way it had always been.

Then I saw the ceiling, and everything just got more peculiar.

"Did you hear me?" she said again. "Up."

"Just give me a minute. . ." I stretched and yawned. My eyes pulled towards the ceiling again, same as it did all-throughout the night. "Is that you on the painting?" I asked.

Genesis glanced up. She didn't look too happy as her eyes skimmed the painting above us. A painting that she obviously did herself. I only saw her art once for the welcoming committee, but that was enough to make me know her style.

"No," she denied.

"I know it's you. You have the same eyes." I pouted and rolled off the bed. Why would she need to lie?

"It's not me," she repeated.

"Fine. It's not you. But who is she? Why does it look like she's kissing someone when she isn't?"

"You have too many questions," she snapped. "Can't you just leave me alone?"

My eyes lowered to her. Her face was formed into a scowl. "Sorry. . . I didn't mean to pry."

Her shoulders relaxed. "Apology accepted. Now can we please go? I know the twins would have helped you get here, and I also know you've forgotten to ask them how to go home. We need to sneak you out before the staff wakes up."

She didn't wait for me to agree. She took my hand and dragged me to the door.

Genesis was extra quiet when her head poked out on the hallway. She stepped through the threshold, glanced around, then motioned for me to follow.

"Shouldn't the staff be awake to protect the Governor?" I asked.

"Some of them are, but they're more relaxed at this hour. They're usually having their coffee."

The grand staircase was empty when we took the first step down. I wasn't done asking questions.

"How about your parents? Gaby?"

"They won't be awake for another hour, and Gaby's a lost cause."

"Gaby is a lost cause." I tiptoed right behind her, careful to keep minimal distance between us. Genesis smelled like she did last night, like all the things I loved. It made me smile. "I feel like we're star-crossed lovers trying to escape. Don't you feel that sometimes too?"

My nose bumped to her back when she paused. Her eyes were guarded when she glanced over her shoulder to me. "No I don't," she said.

All the talk has left me when we got down. She was pissed off again. She was pissed off with every little thing.

Rather than going to the living room, she directed me towards a smaller hallway that would take us to the kitchen. I didn't go here often as a kid, though I memorized the place whenever I did.

"There's another door in the dining area leading outside," Genesis whispered. "I'll call the guards for a pep talk to get their attention, while you sneak back to wherever you came from. Sounds good?"

"Yeah." I hurried behind her. "Will I see you in school later? Won't you get in trouble for this?"

"I never get in trouble. This is my choice." She swiveled to me before I could ask her what it meant. "Thanks for coming here by the way. I felt. . . happy." She exhaled. "But don't do it again. Coming here isn't always a good idea."

"Okay."

She pointed past the narrow corridor where the kitchen appliances seemed to end. Genesis then moved forward stealthily, shoulders rigid, me trailing close. We've just entered the dining room when I smacked on her back again. This time I rubbed my nose. I wasn't expecting her to stop so suddenly.

"Good morning," someone greeted from the table. The voice was thick, deep, commanding even when you didn't know who it belonged to. But I did know who it was. It was impossible not to.

The Governor didn't stand from his chair as he beckoned to us with a bright smile. "Come and have breakfast with me. We have so many things to talk about."

A/N: This story isn't a eureka moment like my other books. It's not supposed to raise questions. It answers them in life. And should you feel that you relate with their heartbreaks, their special moments, their happiness, give back by leaving a comment. Tell your friends about it.

P.S. I rarely do erotic (unless I feel like it), so please don't inbox me about that. There are other venues, other materials meant for it. I'm here to tickle your imagination, not fondle something else. Love you.

Destiny Jones' Playlist: