Chapter 2

 

 

Water battered him and he gasped at the chill. He shielded himself with his arm, blocking his eyes as he ran. Shouts of delight rang out as he sprinted through the sprays, running blind. Eighty feet passed in a blur of water until Kate’s voice brought him to a stop.

The water guns cut off and those viewing the spectacle began to applaud. Sopping wet and freezing in the warm May sun, Reed raised a hand and took a bow. Then he turned to Kate standing with the envelope, her smile rivaling the sun in the sky.

“Are you cold?” she asked innocently, her green eyes sparkling behind the masquerade mask.

“Freezing,” he said, shivering. “Did you fill them with ice water?”

“Yes.”

He laughed at the devious detail. Reed felt the attention of many eyes, but Kate’s gaze held him bound. The laughter and applause faded into the background. Then she handed him the envelope and leaned up to kiss him on the cheek.

“Couldn’t resist,” she said mischievously.

She turned and strode away, taking most of her water gun toting army with her. Someone sprayed Reed in the back as he walked past, and Reed gasped, turning to find Jackson and Shelby with matching smirks. Both wore the masks from the last Halloween, the gladiator helmets sharp and angular.

“Did you have to join her on this invite?” Reed asked.

“Just obeying orders,” Shelby said.

“I would have done it anyway,” Jackson said smugly.

Shelby turned and sprayed him in the face, and then laughed as he stared in shock. Then his eyes gained a wicked gleam and he sprayed her back. In seconds the other erstwhile soldiers, eager for more, were quick to pick sides.

Reed dodged the hasty sprays and dragged the envelope back to his bag, out of reach from the furious melee. Water and shouts were hurled with equal measure, and the laughter spilled into the viewing crowd.

Reed wrung his clothes out and turned the envelope around to read the gigantic letters. In bold letters it gave a date and a time, followed by a cryptic invitation. Then Dr. Caldin appeared at his elbow to read it aloud.

“Guns, guns, everywhere and not a trigger to pull.”

“It’s a dating challenge,” Reed explained.

“Oh, I already know about your little game,” he said.

Reed raised an eyebrow. “When did you find out?”

“I already knew,” he said. “I saw the article in the school paper and put two and two together. It was an invitation that matched your style, if a little more audacious than you prefer.  It’s about time a girl turned the tables on you.”

“What do you make of this?” Reed asked, gesturing to the invite.

He smiled. “I suspect you are going to be using firearms. Do be safe. I’d like to hear how this particular story ends.”

Reed gave a wry laugh and glanced at the water fight, which was rapidly ending as the weapons ran out of ammunition. He fleetingly wondered if his professor was standing next to him so Reed would not be drawn into the fight a second time. The old man’s eyes certainly betrayed a sense of mischief.

“I’ll see you next week, Dr. Caldin.”

“Until next time, Mr. Hansen,” he said, and strolled away.

Reed collected his bag and strode toward his car, leaving a trail of wet footprints on the sidewalk. The crowd began to disperse as the water fight came to a close, but several observers were still posting videos of the miniature war.

The video was probably already online, with anyone he’d ever dated getting a close-up view of him being soaked. He wondered what impact it would have on his future dating, and for the first time found himself grateful that he just had two semesters before graduation.  

He passed students that eyed his sodden clothes with surprise, having not seen the incident. Then one smirked, suggesting he’d already seen the video. Reed grinned in turn as they walked by each other.

“Hope she’s worth it,” the guy said.

“The best ones always are,” Reed said.

The student snorted, half in agreement and half in doubt. Then he went on his way, but Reed’s own words lingered as he walked to his car. His feet squished, water leaking from his shoes with every step. A girl looked at him strangely at the sound, but he flashed a disarming smile and stepped to his car.

Then he spotted the towel tucked under the windshield wiper. He picked up the towel, pleased to find it warmed by the sun. He rubbed the soft material across his face and then pressed it against his shirt. As he dried himself the best he could without undressing, he marveled at the subtle gesture.

Kate could have left him to fend for himself, but she’d gone out of her way to leave a towel for him. He smiled as he placed the towel on his seat and sank into the driver’s seat. For the moment he managed to push thoughts of Aura aside and toyed with the prospect of a future together with Kate.

Would she be his girlfriend? Would they still go on dates? Afraid of how much the idea appealed to him, he turned his thoughts to the coming week. He’d missed his chance to ask Kate on a date, so his next attempt had to be good. Although there were several ideas he’d contemplated, one stood out more than any other, and he smiled. It was three weeks away, plenty of time to schedule a tour.

He pulled into his driveway and withdrew his phone. After a quick Google search, he located the right website and browsed the tour times. Then he found the number and dialed. A moment later a pleasant-sounding woman picked up.

“Hidee Gold Mine.”

He asked for Terry and when the man picked up the phone Reed smiled. He’d met Terry a few years ago at a tour of the mine and had gone back a couple of times. The old miner liked Reed and was more than happy to book another visit.

“What’s the girl’s name?” Terry asked.

“Kate,” he said. “And she’s a special one.”

“Oh?”

Reed smiled at the amount of emotion the man managed to pack into a single syllable. “You’ll see when you meet her,” he replied. “I just want to plan something new.”

“I’ll figure it out,” Terry replied.

Reed hung up shortly after and nodded to himself, excited at the prospect of taking Kate on such an unusual date. But it would have to be unique. He had no desire to repeat the same experience and he’d already been to a tour of the mine with other girls. Already brainstorming ideas, he exited the car just as Jackson and Shelby pulled into the driveway. All equally drenched, they squished their way to the house together.

“How did she get so many to help?” Reed asked.

“As you said,” Shelby chuckled. “Everyone likes to be part of a romance.”

“Is that why you help me when I ask a girl out?”

“Of course,” Jackson said.

“I get to shower first,” Shelby said.

“But I was the victim,” Reed protested.

“I’m the girl,” Shelby said with an apologetic shrug, ducking into the bathroom.

Jackson laughed. “She’s got you there.”

Reed grinned and strode to his room, the cooler air of the house already making him shiver. Deciding he couldn’t wait for the shower, he stripped and dried before donning new clothes. When he stepped out he found Jackson also changed, albeit shirtless, sitting at the dinner table pouring himself a bowl of Fruity Pebbles.

“Can I ask you a question?” Jackson asked.

“You already did.”

Jackson grunted in irritation, nearly spilling cereal from his mouth. Then he swallowed and said, “We both know how you feel about Kate. What’s holding you back?”

Reed gestured dismissively, the habitual response coming with a disarming smile. But this time he found all the weight of indecision to be stifling. He stepped to the table and sank into a seat to stare at Jackson.

“You can’t tell anyone—even Shelby.”

Jackson raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised he’d gotten an answer. “Roommate’s promise.”

Reed looked away and listened to the shower run, wondering how he could possibly tell the whole story. But the words bubbled up like vomit, forcing themselves from his mouth. Before he could stop himself, he began to speak.

“Let me tell you about Aura . . .”