Witness: See Series (Volume 1)(80)
I looked to my side at Draven. “I wanna hear those lyrics.”
He blushed slightly. “Not tonight, love.”
“You have to practice it, though; make it perfect.”
“I have to practice the whole set – nine songs. We’re basically the headliner.”
I was instantly nervous for him. “I should go, let you practice.”
He reached his arm around me. “Just give me a few hours. Can I stay with you tonight?” he asked.
I blushed to tell him yes. He stole an innocent kiss before he took our plates to the sink and followed the others upstairs, leaving me alone with Nana. I silently helped her clean the kitchen. I could still hear the music upstairs, but no vocals. I knew Draven was waiting for me to leave. “I guess I better go,” I said as I wiped the table off.
“I’ll walk out with you,” Nana said.
I was sure I was about to get a speech or some kind of wise words, so I didn’t argue; instead, I walked out the garage door and made my way to my car.
“I had a long talk with your mom today,” she said as I opened the door to my car.
“Yeah, I did, too,” I said as I thought over how eerie it was just to appear in her office.
“Do you want to talk about it? Anything with me?” she asked as she stepped closer.
I found myself staring into space as everything I figured out over the past few days rushed through my mind. Then I broke my stare and locked eyes with her. I let her see it all, every second - even the ones with Silas.
She didn’t say anything for a moment or so. “Yeah, it’s all left me speechless, too,” I said, trying to smile through it.
As she stepped closer to me, her wise eyes slowly moved over my confused expression. “I’m going to give you very simple advice: your heart lies with the one your thoughts drift to without warning.”
“Draven,” I said instantly.
She nodded. “Even in Silas’ embrace, your thoughts were of his safety.”
“I guess…I’m just afraid of what I can’t remember…I mean, he just vaguely showed me a life beyond this one – and I felt a powerful emotion of love.”
“We don’t remember our past lives for a reason. Forgetting is natural.”
“Would you say the same if it was reversed – if I’d forgotten Draven in a past life? When I forgot him in this life, all of you did everything in your power to help me remember.”
“You did forget Draven in a past life. You forgot the moment you stepped away from Silas and committed to Draven – the moment that set the course for your destiny. Forgetting him a few months ago was temporary, something that would have never lasted long - with or without the help of any of us.”
“I just want to know; I want to know it all. I hate being blind.”
“You’re wide awake, child. Find the positive: Britain taking your memory then helped you learn to fight blindly for what your heart is leading you to.”
“That could be the only positive,” I mumbled. I was still angry at him for that. I was terrified that it had hindered us, caused this evil to sneak up on us.
“Find the wins and hold on to them,” she said as she reached to hug me. I hugged her back, then slid into my driver’s seat. I wanted to leave so Draven would rehearse – so he’d come to me faster.
Chapter Seventeen
When I got home, I found my house still dark and empty. As I walked up the stairs to my room, I texted Kara, asking her where she was. She texted back: ‘Drove up to get mom – Monroe and I are staying here tonight be back tomorrow - I left you three VM to tell you that.’
I made a face, feeling somewhat disappointed that I was all alone - well, almost alone; my father’s guitar was quietly playing throughout the house. When I reached my room, I left the lights off and slowly walked to the window. I could see Draven’s house from here, see them rehearsing. Even though I couldn’t hear the words, I could feel the power of the music. I leaned against the window and stared blankly, lost in a vacant thought.
Something caught my attention. Just above Draven’s house, the sky seemed darker – like, really dark. I looked back through the window to Draven’s house and watched Aden play; from the motion of his hands, I knew they were playing my song. My heart started to race...it was working...the darkness was coming – the song was pulling them back into this world. A grin spread across my face and literally jumped in place. Then something else caught my eye, a light. Parallel to Draven’s house was the dog park – the pond I was at last night. I realized that the only reason the sky around Draven’s house looked darker was that that glow was reflecting against it.
I leaned my forehead against the glass and focused my eyes. I was almost certain I could see butterflies - millions of them. I stepped back slowly, fighting with my thoughts. I was certain Silas was there. My father’s guitar roared to life the moment I considered going there.
“I’m just gonna talk to him, tell him it’s solved. Britain has Madison, Draven is gonna stay with me – stay good,” I said as loud as I could over the sound.
It just grew louder, and for the first time in my life I deliberately disobeyed my father. I ran down the steps to my car in the garage. Oddly, my heart didn’t race and anxiety didn’t plague me as I drove the few short minutes to the park. I was calm long before I pulled into the spot I parked in last night.