"Truth," I said, fist bumping him before heading off to my room. Clicking the door closed, I debated climbing in my bed, but I felt way too keyed up to actually sleep now. Instead, I grabbed my laptop off the desk and sat on the edge of my bed with it open on my lap. Finally, when my server connected to the Wi-Fi, I Googled famous buildings in Rome. I'd been thinking about Italy since Emrys had mentioned it earlier that evening. I was curious to see the place he talked so fondly about.
Multiple sites pulled up from my search and I clicked on the first one I recognized. A large picture of the Pantheon popped up. Leaning in close, I took in the marble flooring and centuries-old architecture. Placing the computer on the bed beside me, I studied the image one last time, picturing myself standing beneath the elaborate dome of the building.
In an instant, I found myself lying atop a very irate overweight elderly gentleman. I jumped to my feet, reaching a hand down to help up the poor guy I had landed on.
"I'm sorry, I must have stumbled," I tried apologizing, but it came out as a laugh. He refused my hand, attracting even more attention by obviously cussing me out in a language I didn't understand. He looked at me like I'd appeared out of thin air, which essentially I had. I tried helping him up again, but my laughter only insulted him more. I left him behind, looking bewildered as I tried to maneuver around the crowds in the building. I hadn't even considered the time difference or the fact that the Pantheon would be teeming with tourists. Afraid the angry man I had just given a lap dance to would hand me over to security, I headed for the far side of the room, intent on putting more distance between us. After several minutes had elapsed without sirens and a lynch mob to drag me away, I loosened up and enjoyed the breathtaking sights around me. Sunlight worked much like a spotlight, streaming down from the small opening at the top of the dome. The rays danced across the marble flooring, showcasing just a small section of the room. Looking up, I was fascinated by the complexity of the massive dome above me. I could have spent all day there, but knew that it wouldn't bode well if Krista and Mark discovered I wasn't in my room. Moving away from the crowds, I found a relatively empty area behind one of the pillars. I focused on the bed in my room, intent on landing in the same spot I had departed from.
My bed bounced slightly beneath me as it adjusted to the sudden weight of my body. I smiled at Mouse who was nestled on the pillows on my bed.
"I did it, Mouse," I said, grinning broadly.
Mouse acknowledged my words with a plaintive meow that could have loosely translated to "good for you" before standing up and stretching and settling back in the same spot.
"You're just a big baby," I said, leaning over to scratch him under the chin where he liked. Fatigue finally caught up to me as I settled in beside him. I kicked off my shoes and dragged my quilt over me before sleep could claim me completely.
***
"Holy shit, you can Place Travel," Lynn shrieked in my ear hours later as she threw herself on my bed where Mouse had been when I fell asleep.
"What?" I said groggily, too tired to pry my eyes open.
"Krista called a powwow this morning to tell us about your newest freak-ass gift," she said, pushing on my shoulder to wake me. "Is it true you really fell from the top of the Empire State Building?"
"Uh-huh," I mumbled with my eyes still shut.
"Holy monkey balls. I bet that was insane."
"You could say that," I said, yawning. "What time is it?" I asked, finally opening my eyes. The light through the French doors made me squint as I peered at her.
"Just after ten," she said, sitting cross-legged beside me.
"I thought you had a rule about waking before noon?" I asked, blocking the sunlight with my forearm. "And why are you so chipper? If I didn't know any better, I'd say your body has been taken over by body snatchers."
"I can be pleasant," she said, smacking my arm. "What? I can," she said when I snickered. "Now, are you going to get your lazy buttface up out of bed and tell me about last night, or do I need to push you out of bed?"
"Fine," I said, dragging my body up so I could lean back against my headboard. "Hey, before I forget, do you and Robert want to double tonight?" I asked.
"Sure. Where do you guys want to go?"
"Um, I'm not sure. We kind of forgot to talk about that part. I guess maybe dinner and a movie," I answered, yawning again.
"Sweet. Now stop stalling and tell me about your new talent."
"Fine, bossy mossy," I grumbled, launching into a detailed explanation of everything that had transpired the evening before. I omitted my trip to Rome from the discussion, pretty sure if Krista found out I would be in deep shit.
"And you don't need, like, recharging time?" she asked when I finished.
"Nope. The traveling doesn't sap me at all. If anything, it seems to energize me."
"That's pretty sweet," she said.
"Yeah, it just adds to my cool factor," I quipped, ducking out of reach as she took a swing at me. "Did Haniel say anything about sending you guys back out?" I asked, changing the subject.
"Nah, I think they wound up sending someone else since you required babysitting," she teased, rising from my bed. "I better hit the road. I have several jobs I need to finish up today before we go out tonight," she added.
"What, no more babysitting?" I said rolling my eyes. "Do you need any help?" I added. She worked as a freelance graphic designer and had a wide spectrum of clients that ranged from web designs to cover art for books. She was responsible for all the covers in Krista's Dark Night novels. Before she and Robert had left the last time, she showed me a few things and let me help her on a couple of her projects.
"Not today, but I have a big job booked next week that I would really appreciate your help with."
"Sounds like a plan, Stan," I said, giving her a wave as I headed to my bathroom to get ready.
After the excitement of the night before, the morning and afternoon dragged along in a lackluster kind of way. Krista spent the majority of the day trying to catch up on her writing, while Mark worked all afternoon poring over papers students from his summer class had turned in. I spent the day holed up in my room on my MacBook, pulling up places I would like to visit. I memorized details from the pictures that would help me in my travels. After the fiasco in Rome, I decided it was imperative that I never land inside a building again. I now understood why Emrys had taken me to the alley in Shanghai. I'm sure it was considered rude to land on your friend's lap.
At five o'clock, I finally closed up my laptop and dressed for my first-ever double date. I was a little apprehensive that my friends and Emrys wouldn't hit it off, but I figured it couldn't be any worse than Haniel's reaction to him.
"Don't you look nice," Krista proclaimed when I entered the living room.
"You mean you like this better than my normal tanks?" I asked, pointing at the delicate white blouse with black stitching I had found at the back of my closet. I'd paired it with a pair of black jeans and a less-scuffed-up pair of black boots. My hair hung down my back like a curtain of black that shined in the light from the multiple brushings I had given it. Eyeliner lined my eyes, making them appear more exotic and bigger. A touch of clear lip gloss from a tube I found buried at the bottom of a drawer in my bathroom coated my lips, making them glisten in the light.
"Just a bit," she teased.
"Don't get used to it. I miss my tanks already," I threatened.
The doorbell rang before she could reply.
"Saved by the bell," she called after me.
"Hey," I said, opening the door to reveal Lynn, Robert, and Emrys who looked as handsome as he had the night before. "Did you all drive together?" I teased, swinging the door open so they could enter.
"No, your stud here appeared when we were pulling in," Lynn joked, walking by me.
"Stud," Emrys said, smirking at me. "I think that loosely translates to 'hot,'" he added, linking his fingers through mine.
"Either that or she thinks you're a horse's ass and she just got confused," I teased as everyone else laughed.
"What movie are you guys planning on seeing?" Mark asked, sliding an arm around Krista's shoulders and pulling her snug against him.
"Well, I'd still like to see the zombie one I was supposed to see last month," I hedged, knowing Lynn's aversion to zombies.
"No way," she said, shaking her head to emphasize her point.
"Fine, what do you want to see?" I pouted.
"I don't think your zombie movie is even out anymore," Robert said, pulling up the movie app on his phone. "We can see the new Spiderman movie, it just came out today," he said hopefully, looking at us like a puppy begging for a treat.
"I'm game," I answered, looking at Emrys for approval. He looked bemused at our conversation."I'm good for anything," he answered, linking his fingers through mine.
"Spiderman is good with me. That new guy they got is smoking," Lynn teased, smiling mischievously at Robert just before he swept her up in his arms and planted a sound kiss on her upturned lips.
"Are they always like that?" Emrys whispered in my ear.
"I know, sickening, right?" I answered, though I really didn't feel that way. The bond between Guides and Protectors was the strongest ever created, and the love they shared could literally light up a room.
"Do you really think so?" he asked quietly, looking like he was in on my secret.
I shook my head.
"I didn't think so."
"Well, goody for you," I said so my tough girl image wouldn't be completely lost in all my mush.
"Ready?" Lynn asked, finally untangling herself from Robert's embrace.
"Unless you two need a room real quick," I scolded.
"Aw, you want to play sucky face too," she said, making a fish face in front of me that I'm sure was supposed to be a kissy face.
"You wish, perv," I said, giving her a shove as we headed out to their car.
The irony of Emrys and me riding in a car wasn't lost on me. We could have easily met them at the theater, but the charade of our double date required us to behave like humans.
"So, Jordyn, I heard through the Krista grapevine that you can PT," Robert said, looking at me in the rearview mirror.
"PT?" Emrys asked, looking intrigued.
"Place Travel," Lynn answered for me, twisting around in her seat so she could talk to us.
"Yeah, I kind of discovered it by accident last night," I said, filling them in on my near-death experience the night before.
"Insane," Robert said, shaking his head incredulously.
"I know, right?" I said, looking at Emrys to see what he thought. "You knew," I said, seeing the look on his face.
"Yeah, the first time I traveled with you I could feel it. It was almost like a resistance. I'm guessing it's because your own mind wants to be in control of your travels."
"Why didn't you tell me?" I accused.
"I wasn't a hundred percent. More importantly, though, is why your Archie Haniel didn't tell you," he stated.
"Believe me, we covered that topic last night too," I answered. "Haniel was as helpful as ever," I added sarcastically.
"Yeah, Haniel has always been a rule follower. Believe me, his secrets have bit us all in the ass at one time or another," Robert stated.
"Rules are fine, but not when Jordyn's safety is in question, that's not cool," Emrys said, sounding pissed.
"Awww, you're like my own knight in shining armor," I teased, touched over his misplaced anger. His protectiveness was sweet though unnecessary.
"Can you please help me feel like a man and at least pretend I can protect you?" he grumbled.
"Oh, my, I do believe that's a bee over there. Be still, my scared beating heart. I need my big strong manly man to kill it for me," I said in the weakest Southern accent ever.
Robert and Lynn busted out laughing as Emrys reached over to mush my hair. "You're a regular old jester," he growled in my ear before dropping a kiss on my neck that instantly sent my pulse racing.
"Jester, what are you, seventy?" I teased.
"Give or take a few years," he answered, shrugging his shoulders.
"Gross. I can't crush on an old man," I said, gagging like I was disgusted.
"Crushing?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
"That can be construed in many different ways. I could be saying that it'd be wrong to crush an old man."
"Is she always this cocky?" he asked Lynn and Robert.
"Every second of every day," Lynn answered dryly.
"Yeah, we'd gang up on her and give her a dose of humbleness, but she'd most likely kick all of our asses without breaking a nail," Robert griped good-naturedly.
"Hey, it's what I do. Don't hate on the awesomesauce of my abilities," I joked, blowing on my nails.
Lynn snorted at my words. "Awesomesauce? Where do you come up with this stuff?"
"What? That word is oh-so-popular with the crowd from my school. Matter of fact, it's starting to grow on me. I think everything is going to be awesomesauce."
"I'd like to see a little humblesauce," Robert quipped, turning the car into the theater parking lot.
"Envysauce makes you look like babysauce," I teased, climbing from the vehicle.
"OMG, enough with the sauce," Lynn complained, slamming her car door.
"Babe, angrysauce won't earn you any Goobers," Robert teased.
"Say goodbye to sexysauce if I hear it again," she threatened.
"Ooooh, Robert. You better stay down for the count. You just got knocked cold," I laughed.
"And you. There are other ways to get you. You're not always awake," she threatened me before turning back around to grab Robert's hand.
"Grumpysauce," I whispered to an amused Emrys whose shoulders were shaking with suppressed laughter.
"You're a nut," he said when he was finally able to talk.
"Truth," I answered, grabbing his hand as we bought our tickets for the movie. The moment felt so normal I couldn't help grinning. Looking at us, you would've thought we were human. Lynn and Robert were already at the concession stand ordering when we joined them.