Aspen and the Dream Walkers

  Chapter 20

  Trouble at School

  Norma parked the Honda outside the school and twisted to face her daughter in the seat next to her.

  "Did you ever think you'd see the day I'd be doing this?" She reached out and pinched Aspen's cheek lightly between her thumb and forefinger.

  With a smile, Aspen grabbed her backpack from the backseat. "I think it's about time."

  "Look after yourself at school today, young lady. I made lunch for you, and packed a can of soda."

  "Thanks, Mom."

  "Don't go near Miriam. Uncle Leeman got the divorce papers and a restraining order against Stephan so he won't bother you. If he does, go straight to the office. Do you understand?"

  Norma tucked Aspen's dream catcher back under the neckline of her light blue summer dress, and combed her bangs away from her face with her fingers.

  "Mommm." Aspen dragged out the word.

  "Have a good day, honey. I love you."

  "Love you too," she said as she climbed out of the car.

  "I'll pick you up here after school."

  Before her mother could say anything else, Aspen waved and sprinted toward the school building.

  She raced into the first class of the day and hesitated when as she spotted Dylan sitting in the chair behind her desk, a vintage Led Zeppelin T-shirt stretched tightly across his chest. He watched her carefully as she entered the room. Without looking at him, she pulled her shoulders back and walked to her desk.

  So what if he'd seen her with Ray yesterday? Dylan hadn't stopped Ruby when she'd been holding on to him. It wasn't as if they were in a relationship anyway, and if he thought that she was going to sit around and wait for him to make a move, then he had it wrong. She puffed at a strand of hair that had escaped her ponytail. Maybe it would do him good to see how she'd felt last night.

  Sitting still proved to be difficult, and she moved forward in the seat. The longer she pictured the two of them at the river, the more her temper flared, and soon her cheeks were flushed. If Dylan poked her with his pen, she would grab it and throw it on the floor. Her hair lifted on her arms, and she forced herself to calm down and breathe slowly.

  Dylan didn't speak to her but she could feel his presence, and his clean soapy fragrance enveloped her. After a while, Aspen sat back in the desk, but his warm breath tickled her neck. A rash of goose bumps erupted on her forearms, and she jerked forward in the seat once more.

  His deep voice chuckled behind her, but she wouldn't let him see how badly he affected her so she ignored him completely. As soon as the bell sounded, Aspen sprang up, grabbed her bag, and charged out of the classroom.

  Time dragged after that, but once it was lunchtime, she slipped into the bathroom, thankful that Dylan hadn't talked to her in any of her classes up till then.

  After she'd checked out her reflection in the floor-length mirror and smoothed her summer dress against her thighs, she redid the elastic on her ponytail and washed her hands in one of the sinks along the wall.

  With a quick tug, she pulled a paper towel from the dispenser and dried her hands. Miriam walked into the room just as she was about to leave, and she froze instantly.

  "You little twit. I hate you! Do you know that?" Miriam sneered.

  Aspen rolled her eyes. Nothing good ever happened in this bathroom, and she would definitely use another restroom in the future.

  "You're the cause of all my problems. I absolutely hate you!" Miriam continued and advanced toward her. "My dad is crying at home. He doesn't eat and he can't get dressed in the morning, and it's all because of you. I know you told your mom to leave."

  Aspen didn't speak and stared at Miriam. If Stephan wasn't eating, it was probably because her mother wasn't there to make meals, but she didn't say a word.

  "He's a total mess and you've ruined my life," Miriam went on. "I used to enjoy going home, but now the kitchen is filthy and the rooms are a wreck."

  Her lip trembled, and Aspen could see that she was really upset.

  "Dad keeps arguing with me and nothing I do is right anymore. I hope you're happy now."

  Miriam stepped so close that her breath puffed against Aspen's cheek, and she poked a stiff finger in her chest. Luckily, the leather bracelet stopped Aspen from shocking Miriam. She felt a bit sorry for her stepsister, and didn't want to add to her misery by electrocuting her. If Miriam needed a chance to rant, she would let her. The long mirror pressed coldly against her back as Miriam crowded her. The girl's eyes were watery and red, and her clothes were wrinkled.

  "Your mother destroyed my life. I've got no clean clothes to wear and I don't get supper anymore." Miriam raised her voice again. "Your mom is a complete slut, running away with another man."

  Aspen gasped. She'd felt sorry for Miriam at first, but no one insulted her mother. "Don't you ever speak about my mom like that. Why don't you wash the dishes and make supper yourself? Maybe if you weren't so lazy, you'd be okay. And he's my dad's brother, by the way."

  It was as though Miriam was waiting for Aspen to challenge her. She raised both hands and grasped Aspen's cheeks with a bruising force, then slammed her head against the mirror.

  Aspen's skull hit the solid surface, and she cried out in pain. The mirror shattered instantly from the blow, but didn't fall apart. She reached up to touch her head and felt a sticky moistness in her hair.

  Without warning, Miriam slammed her head back again, and black spots appeared in Aspen's vision. Her legs wobbled as Miriam smashed her head back once more. This time, the mirror broke apart and small pieces pierced her scalp as she collapsed on the floor. No one entered the bathroom, and Aspen's head throbbed so badly that she couldn't think. She opened her mouth to call for help, but no sound came out of her throat. She was dazed and almost lost consciousness.

  Just as Miriam pulled back her foot to kick her, Dylan shoved open the bathroom door. He grabbed Miriam's arm and shocked her violently, and she jerked in his grip.

  "What are you doing?" he shouted.

  Miriam shrank back with wild eyes and flicked her fingers to rid herself of the pain. "I'm reporting you to the principal. Get out of here!" Then she dashed out of the room without a second glance at her stepsister.

  Dylan knelt down next to Aspen and cradled her head carefully in his lap, dusting pieces of mirror from her face. Tears rimmed her eyes.

  "Th-thank you," she spluttered. Her body was weak, and she struggled to remain conscious.

  "It's okay, baby, I've got you. Shh." Turning around, he pulled a paper towel from the dispenser on the wall and wiped blood from her forehead. It trickled down her face in a steady stream.

  "Here, let me heal that for you." It took a second for him to free the dream catcher from his T-shirt and to touch it while holding her hand. A yellow glow blanketed her, and Aspen felt the steady charge of his energy together with the healing properties of the necklace as it rushed through her body.

  Although she was weak, she couldn't feel any pain when she touched her head. The cuts were completely healed.

  With a groan, Dylan let the dream catcher go and hugged her face against his chest. "Aspen, what did she do to you?"

  Miss Thompson rushed into the bathroom, her eyes frantic as she took in the blood and glass that covered the floor. "What's going on here?"

  Dylan looked up. "Aspen's stepsister did this. She's got a restraining order against her stepfather, but they didn't get one for his daughter, Miriam."

  Miss Thompson bent down and helped Dylan as he lifted Aspen. "You poor thing. We need to get you to the nurse right now."

  Aspen's voice was shaky as she said, "No, I want to go home, please. My mom will help me. Just keep Miriam away from me."

  "Of course. Let me help you." Miss Thompson held on to Aspen and dusted pieces of glass from her clothing. As soon as she was standing, Dylan wrapped an arm over her shoulder and pulled her back against his chest. Once she was nestled in his embrace, he dialed a number on his phone.

  "Leeman, Aspen's
been hurt. Miriam attacked her and we need you to get over here as soon as possible .?.?. Yeah, we'll wait for you in front."

  He ended the call and slipped his hands under Aspen's knees. She gasped as he lifted her into his arms. Warm fingers grasped her thighs as he shifted her and tucked the material of her skirt under her legs.

  "I'm all right, you can put me down." Although he'd healed her, she couldn't say that in front of Miss Thompson, and she wondered why he'd picked her up.

  Dylan looked down at her and his face softened as he winked. "I'll take care of you. You've lost blood and could faint again. I guess saving you in the bathroom is going to become a habit."

  Even though he smiled, nothing could hide the look of concern on his face, so she lifted her arms obediently around his neck and dropped her face against his chest. He smelled clean and earthy, and his aftershave mixed with the warmth of his body. Students watched as he carried her down the hallway, and she snuggled deeper into the fabric of his T-shirt to avoid their curious stares. The teacher had already run ahead to get help.

  A steady current flowed from his body into hers and made her hum with pleasure. She felt herself growing stronger in his arms. Dylan rubbed his thumb against the bare skin of her thigh as he walked, and she wiggled in his arms.

  "What happened?"

  Aspen opened her eyes as Leeman spoke next to her.

  "Miriam slammed her against the mirror in the bathroom."

  "What!" Leeman was so angry, his eyes flashed from blue to silver in a steady pulse.

  "Your eyes, Uncle Leeman," she chided him softly. "They're silver. You need to calm down. I'm all right, Dylan healed me already."

  Leeman looked at her for a long moment and then glared at Dylan. "Then why are you carrying her?"

  "She's still in shock." Without thinking, Dylan tightened his grip on her.

  "It's okay, you can put me down now."

  Dylan shook his head. "Uh-uh. Not until Miriam is in the principal's office."

  A commotion up ahead made Aspen twist around to see Miriam being escorted into the principal's office. She shrank back against Dylan's broad chest as her stepsister glared at her, but he'd already turned her away from Miriam's stare.

  "Besides, you're as light as a feather, and I kinda like this," he whispered.

  His words made her forget about Miriam. When she blushed and tucked her cheek against him again, she could hear his heart pounding in her ear.

  Leeman stayed behind to talk to the principal as Dylan carried Aspen to their car. As soon as Norma saw her daughter, she ran to meet them.

  "Aspen, are you hurt?" she cried.

  "No, Mom. Dylan healed me. I told him to put me down, but he said no."

  Norma glanced at Dylan, and he gently dropped Aspen's legs so she could stand on the ground. Even though she felt better, he kept his arm around her waist, and she tried to brush her skirt down as quickly as possible.

  "Leeman said you'd heal her," Norma said, her eyebrows drawn together in concern, "and told me to wait at the car so he could sort things out. I wanted to come in, but he wouldn't let me."

  "I'm fine, Mom. The blood looks bad, but I don't even have a scratch anymore."

  "Luckily the wound wasn't too deep, otherwise my dream catcher wouldn't heal you that quickly," Dylan added.

  "Get in the car, honey. Your uncle will be out in a second."

  As soon as the SUV's door was open, Aspen climbed into the backseat. Once inside, Dylan followed her and closed the door behind him. He slipped his arm around her shoulder and drew her up against him.

  Leeman returned from the school building and Norma got into the passenger seat. After checking on Aspen, he turned the ignition and the heavy car fired up instantly.

  They were about to leave the parking lot when Stephan's motorcycle roared past them. He raised his hand to stop them as he recognized Norma, and then made a turn in the road. With a brush of the throttle, he began to follow them.

  Norma panicked. "Hurry, Leeman, don't let him catch us."

  "Relax. You've got a restraining order. I'll call the cops if he comes too close."

  Whatever Stephan wanted to say must have been serious, and he trailed them right up to the house. Once they'd stopped, he ripped off his helmet and flicked the bike stand down. He looked menacing in dark chinos and a black biker's jacket.

  "Norma!" he shouted.

  Leeman got out of the car first. His long black hair flapped against his shirt as he strode toward Stephan.

  "She's got a restraining order against you, idiot. Now get out of here before I call the police."

  Although Leeman's figure was imposing, Stephan ignored him and shouted out to Aspen's mom again. "Norma, please. I just need to see that you're okay."

  Both men glared at each other but when Stephan tried to walk forward, Leeman held up his hand and jolted Stephan with the raw energy surrounding him. Leeman was so powerful that he didn't even need to make contact.

  "No, don't," Norma called from the car. Opening the door, she climbed out.

  "Mom, don't go," Aspen pleaded from the back.

  "Shh, Aspen. Your uncle has this under control." Dylan pressed her into the seat as she tried to get out of the car.

  "Norma, I need you," Stephan cried again.

  Aspen's mom tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and played with the dream catcher that hung from her neck. She walked toward the two men.

  "Stephan, you need to go. I'm not coming back to you anymore."

  His face crumpled in dismay as she spoke. "I need you, Norma," he repeated.

  She frowned at him and said sadly, "Exactly, you don't love me and you never have. You needed me to clean and cook for you, nothing else."

  Instantly, Stephan's expression hardened. "That's not true. I took you in when you had no one."

  "You're right, and I repaid you over and over for that. When you met me, I told you that my daughter was a part of me. We're a package deal. I've seen how you've treated Aspen, and it's broken my heart."

  The moment she mentioned Aspen's name, his mouth twisted in disgust. "That little runt has caused so much trouble. You left me because of her, and Miriam is in the principal's office because she reported her. Don't tell me that I should like her," he said with a sneer.

  "No, you're wrong, I've wanted to leave forever, but you made sure that I had no money or possessions. You forced me to rely on you and only gave me what was necessary to survive, never to stand up to you. Well, I'm standing up to you now, and I'm telling you that you're a snake and an evil man for treating me and my daughter the way you did. If I ever see you or Miriam anywhere near us, I'm going to call the cops to arrest you."

  Stephan's cheeks flushed with anger.

  Even though Aspen was tense, her heart swelled with emotion after her mother defended her and told Stephan how she'd truly felt. Her mother had wanted to leave after all. The fact that she'd been mistreated had not been ignored. There was truly nowhere else her mom could have gone.

  Following the scene outside the car, Aspen relaxed her clenched fists and smiled. Dylan had scooted over to the far window to make sure that the situation was still under control. His collar stood up, blocking some of her view, but she could still see her stepfather if she looked over Dylan's shoulder.

  Her smile dropped as Stephan saw her in the car and glared at her.

  "It's all your fault, you little tramp!" he yelled.

  Her temper flared and before she could think, she'd unlocked the car door and slipped outside. It took Dylan a few seconds to realize what she'd done, and he sprang out of the car too. Aspen marched toward Stephan.

  "You're the disgusting one. You're just a bully." With a snarl, she walked right up to him.

  Stephan's eyes bulged and he raised his hand to strike her. A ball of electricity surrounded her and crackled along her skin, raising the hairs on her body. Power rushed from her in a wave and struck him with a huge bang. It swept him off his feet and dumped him into the hedge surrounding
the boundary wall.

  Still shaking, she didn't notice that Dylan had joined her until he laid his hand on her forearm. Glancing at him, she saw his eyes glowing with rage.

  Stephan groaned from within the hedge. He extracted himself painfully from the hard twigs and branches that had broken his fall.

  Leeman strode over to where he struggled in the undergrowth. "If you ever speak to my niece or my sister-in-law like that again, you won't be let off so lightly," he promised. "Get up and get out of here. I don't want to hear that you, or your daughter, are harassing my family in any way again. If I do, I'll make sure you suffer so much that you'll regret the day you met them."

  Dylan shouted at him too. "Stay away. Don't come near Aspen again." A muscle ticked in his jaw and his face was dark with anger.

  Stephan stood up unsteadily and brushed a hand over his face. With a groan, he bent down to pick up his helmet. Fear laced his eyes as he rushed back to his bike. Muttering something that sounded suspiciously like freaks under his breath, he turned the key to start the engine. He pulled the helmet over his head and flipped the throttle. The smell of exhaust floated in the air as he raced off.

  Once he was out of sight, Aspen wrapped her arms around Dylan's waist and let out a sigh of relief. Power flowed from his body to hers, instantly calming her. He pressed his chin onto her head and clasped her against his chest for a long hug.