The Intuitives(24)

So Kaitlyn had hugged her one more time for good measure and then slid into the limousine, closed her eyes for half a minute, and ended up sleeping all the way to the airport, the weight of adult responsibility finally lifted from her shoulders.

By the time she had boarded the plane, however, her excitement had once again reached full throttle, and she had chatted all of her airborne neighbors up a storm. When she finally landed in Jackson Hole, she had so many people laughing with her and waving good-bye that the entire ICIC team collectively overlooked her until she bounced right up to their seats, throwing her arms around Miss Williams without any warning whatsoever.

“Well, hello there, Kaitlyn!” Miss Williams said, laughing, and she hugged Kaitlyn back just as warmly until the girl finally let go.

“Hi!” Kaitlyn giggled at Miss Williams and then looked around at the others.

“These are your classmates—”

“Hi!” she said again, waving generally to them all without waiting for names.

Without even realizing what he was doing, Daniel was already rising to his feet.

“I’m Daniel,” he said, and then he paused awkwardly. He thought he might have been about to hug her himself, as though he had known her his whole life, which was not like him at all. Confused, he just stood there, but Kaitlyn’s smile never wavered.

“Hello, Daniel,” she said easily.

“Smooth move, Romeo,” Sam muttered. Roman shot a reflexive glare at her but soon realized that the taunt was aimed at Daniel, not at him.

Daniel frowned, realizing he had just done this horribly inept thing in front of everyone and having no idea how to fix it, when Kaitlyn herself came to his rescue.

“Want to carry my bag for me?” she asked. She was wearing jeans and sneakers and a pretty, white blouse, but her backpack practically exploded with color, tie-dyed in broad swirls of yellow and green and blue and purple, although how anyone had tie-dyed a backpack he had no idea.

“Sure,” he said, grateful to have something slightly less awkward to do than just standing there helplessly and listening to Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful” playing in the background of his awareness. He took her backpack in one hand, slinging it over his shoulder, and then picked up his guitar bag, slinging it over the other shoulder, making sure he would still be able to carry the portable amp.

Sam rolled her eyes, reaching past him to shake Kaitlyn’s hand.

“Sam,” she said.

“Kaitlyn!” Kaitlyn replied happily.

“I’m Mackenzie.” Mackenzie smiled at her, and Kaitlyn smiled back. “And this is Roman.” Mackenzie winked at Roman when she said it, making him blush a little.

“Hi,” Roman said.

“Hi, Roman!”

Roman couldn’t help but stare as tiny champagne bubbles rose gently from the new girl’s hair, floating delicately into the concourse. As each new bubble lifted away, another formed in its place, a few more steadily coalescing and then lifting off from her neck and shoulders, and others sliding all the way up her arms from her fingertips, now that he was really watching. In fact, tiny champagne bubbles seemed to appear everywhere, leaving shimmering, gossamer tracks all over her skin. It was all he could do not to reach out and try to catch one in his hands.

? ? ?

Rush’s flight was the last to come in. He arrived at 8:16 p.m. and disembarked just a few minutes later, an HRT Alpha: Year One T-shirt on his back and a scowl permanently affixed to his face. When Christina Williams introduced herself, he only nodded, refusing to speak.

“These are your classmates, Ashton: Roman, Daniel, Sam, Mackenzie, and Kaitlyn.”

“My name is ‘Rush,’” was all he said in reply.

“Of course,” she agreed easily. If the nickname surprised her, she didn’t show it in the slightest. “Rush. My apologies.”

He nodded, somewhat appeased, but the frown never left his face. After an extended silence, it became painfully obvious that he was not going to greet anyone else.

“OK then, it’s been a long day,” Miss Williams said finally. “Let’s get going. We’re meeting our driver outside with the rest of your luggage. Follow me.”

The group headed out, subdued in the wake of Rush’s open hostility—all except Kaitlyn, that is, who was still trying to be friendly.

“Hi!” she said brightly. “I’m Kaitlyn!” But Rush just stared her down until she fell back a few steps, shrugging.

Daniel had never been so relieved in all his life.

He felt like Rush must look like a superhero next to him, standing easily two inches taller and a good number of well-muscled pounds heavier than his lean, musician’s frame. He was perfectly happy for Rush to ignore Kaitlyn—and anyone else he wanted to, for that matter.

As they made their way toward the exit, Roman couldn’t help but watch the newcomer. He seemed so angry, but all Roman could focus on was his suit of glorious silver armor, etched in delicate blue markings that glowed upon its surface as though lit from within.

He trailed back as far as their sharp-eyed caretaker would allow, watching them all walk together: racing embers of white flame; a swirling, rainbow waterfall; delicate champagne bubbles; a glowing anime hero; and a giant, golden bear, right in the middle of the group, lumbering down the concourse and towering silently above them all.