SAVANTS
The Chapture 51

The biggest problem as the weekend approaches is how much my parents should know about the plan. As a mother and I was against knowing they would immediately ban me from going and cancel the meeting.

But Victor always supported me, in the end it was decided that he should talk to Sally and Simon about the possibility that the people behind the kidnapping were still out there, without really mentioning Maria Toscana Kelly.

On Friday night, my last day before the trip, I lay curled up on the couch in the Benedict family home next to Zed while he watched baseball.

He hugged me, his hands were in a big bowl of popcorn. Everyone in the family had kept themselves busy, knowing that Zed wanted to be alone this time with me before I left for Vegas in the morning.

Less interested in the game of baseball and studying it, I stared at the curve of Zed's neck, his jawline, and his pointed nose.

How can there be such an outrageous human being .. well, the only word I can think of is 'perfect'. It seems unfair to all of us, just ordinary humans.

I thought he was too enamored by the game to notice that I was admiring him, but I was wrong. He started laughing.

"Sky, you're being a spy?"

"Is spying the same as peeping?"

"Looks."

"But I like seeing you." I said honestly.

"I'm trying to watch baseball here-it's like, holy teaching."

I snuggled closer to him. How much longer can I do this? "I didn't stop you."

"But you're making me unfocused. I can feel your eyes on my face as if you're feeling my whole face."

"Your face is very good."

"Well, thank you, Miss Bright."

"Together, Mr. Benedict." I waited a little, then whispered. "Now you should say 'And yours isn't bad either.''

He turned his attention away from the screen to look down at my upside-down face. "There's a script for this? What, in Romance 101?"

"Uh huh's. One compliment demands in return."

He scrunched his forehead while thinking. "Then, Miss Bright, you have a very nice left ear ...."

I threw it with a handful of popcorn.

"Did I fail?" ask him innocently.

"Yes, you did it."

He removed the popcorn bowl from my reach, raised his leg up on the sofa and pulled me over it so I lay with my head on his chest, our toes touching.

I made a small circle on his chest, enjoying the vibration of his body's warmth. She was so different from me - strong where I was always small.

"That's better. Then let me say, Miss Bright, you have the most beautiful left ear, the right ear and everything that you have are all very beautiful and only I have the right to see it. I really like your hair, even though it's scattered everywhere." He took a few hairs to his mouth and kissed them.

"Well, if you insist on kissing her."

"Yes, I insist. I had to put it on the list as my personal right that no one else could have. I'll send a letter to the president tonight."

"Hm." I looked at the screen. "How much is the score?"

"Who cares?"

Now there's a right answer.

A few minutes just lying together and hugging each other. I feel at peace, regardless of what awaits tomorrow. But then, stupidly me, I had to sculpt the harmony and let the first crack develop between us. "Zed's?"

"Hmm?"

"Don't you think the effort to bring me back to Vegas is, well, kind of obvious?"

I feel like he's tense. "What do you mean?"

"The Kelly family - at least Daniel Kelly and Maria - they're very strong. Surely they know you'll still be watching me? They thought you'd be suspicious of a sudden invitation like this."

His fingers stroked along my spine, making me feel like a little electric shock to my entire body. "Yes, you have a point. So what does that mean?"

I shrugged, hoping to concentrate on the wonderful sensations she made rather than fixating on my anxious thoughts. "I might not be able to finish it. Can you see what's going to happen?"

He was silent for a moment. "No, I can't. I saw you at the Vegas-flash casino-but it doesn't continue any further. As I said, I can't control what I see yet and with you and my family, at this distance from events, there are too many variables to get a clear picture."

"What if they use me to attract your family again? They probably thought Victor would be ready to protect me. I may be bringing my parents and your brother into greater danger."

"You forgot to worry about yourself. You know I'm very much against you doing this. If you doubt it's not too late to back off."

"But it still puts you and your family at risk."

"Yes, it's gonna happen."

"It's not fair."

"No, but I believe we did a good job when we used our powers together. You are very precious to me Sky. No one else on Savant Net can do what we do."

I pushed my elbow. "I can't live like that." I got off her, sat on the edge of the couch. He has suffered greatly with the tension of his work.

What would he do when he realized I wouldn't survive - that I ran scared because I was more afraid of soul mates than I was afraid of Daniel Kelly? I'm afraid the two of us will end up like my biological parents killing each other just because of soul mates.

He must have heard my echoes of fear because he caught my waist to stop me from making any further distance between us. "I want you to be happy. We'll finish it."

No, you're not gonna do it. "You're saying that now, but people are after you and your family knows." I tried to warn him not to be hard on himself. "Things changed. I mean, I doubt a lot of people live with their high school sweethearts."

Express clouded. "You're not fair, Sky. I've felt something strange about you for a few days, now that you're shaken by the soul mate thing, you know, but soul mates have nothing in common with high school sweethearts - our relationship is much deeper."

We were still side by side, I just blamed myself because I was the one taking a step back.

I just try to sound mature and make sense. "I think I've been fair and have been realistic."

"Is that how you see me?" Zed's face hardened, reminding me that he had no reputation in trouble for no reason. "Didn't you feel what I felt? Are you still closing your power?"

Of course, I felt it too much and it scared me. "I don't know what's normal and what's not. I know I love you but I can't do this." I put some distance between us.

"So that's it." He sat down and moved to the end of the sofa. "Well, while you're thinking about your problems, I'll watch the rest of the baseball game."

"Zed, please. I need to talk about this."

He floated a bowl of popcorn into his lap. "We talked about it. So far you've determined that I'm just a guy you dated in High School. You're running from the miracle that we've found each other and we're already bound by destiny."

I squeezed my hand. I don't want to make her angry, but how not when I'm fighting for my emotional survival? He doesn't understand what's at stake for me.

"Listen, Zed, my parents killed each other because of my mother's soul mate. I don't want history to repeat itself. I don't have that kind of power here." I patted my head.

He gave a short nod. "I understand. Your mother and father can't control her powers, so you also think you can't control her either. It doesn't make sense, but you probably know it. When I saw her, your parents got in trouble because Fate did it to them and your mother ran away from your father when she met her soul mate, had your mother waited for her soul mate for longer it would not have happened. Those who made the mistake and you're responsible?"

I don't like his criticism of my mother. "I'm trying to explain my feelings, Zed."

"And what about how I feel, Sky?" He******* a handful of popcorn, struggling to hold back his anger. "I will walk across the embers of fire for you or Hell, I will also walk in front of a gun for you. But is that enough to prove that I love you? That you were for me? I don't know what else I can do to convince you."

"Please don't be angry."

"I'm not angry. I'm just disappointed, you're selfish Sky."

God, it's worse. "I'm sorry."

"Yes, okay." He pretended to watch the game but I could see that his emotions were mixed into being between disappointed and hurt.

I feel so heartbroken at what I just did. He offered me love - it was something unique but I destroyed it.

Making your soul mate reject you is like tearing yourself in half, but somehow I can't help myself.

I hurt her just because I was so afraid the same thing happened to my parents happened to us. Like a mountain climber cutting off his own hand to save himself, the pain now is better than more suffering later, right? Oh my God, am I right or am I just running?

Confused and scared, I turned off the television.

"Hey!" Zed tried to grab the remote.

"Give me a minute and then you can conclude again." I tucked the controller behind my back. "I'm really sorry. I'm not the most confident person. You said I was always surprised when someone liked me but it wasn't acting. I don't expect people to like me much less love me. I just didn't feel so good and now you can understand why. I guess it was your bad luck to end up with me as a soul mate.''

Zed rubbed his face and hair, trying to gather his thoughts. "I don't blame you."

"I know you don't blame me but you've seen what's inside me, warts and all." I laughed hysterically.

My heart was pounding, I had made a big mistake, but I couldn't leave it thinking that I didn't have strong feelings for her.

Maybe I can't be what he wants, but I can prove that I love him sincerely. "You said you walked in front of a gun to show me that you loved me. Well, I guess I can only do the same for you. I'll go to Vegas tomorrow - and I'll do it for you."

He stood up straight. "No... Holy shit"

I threw him his remote which he caught by reflex. "I'm not as good as you are about things about Savant and we both have to live with that.

"I just can't risk being like my parents with you - I don't think I'll survive." I took a breath. "But Victor's plan is the only way I can think of to give you proof that even though my head is messed up, I love you."

I already said my part. I couldn't read Zed's response was chaotic and he fell silent.

"So, you can .. um .. go back to watching tv. I'll go to bed early."

He took my hand and stopped me. "Sky?"

"Yes?"

"I still love you more than ever. I'll wait until you're ready."

I felt a huge wave of guilt. I'll never be ready.

"I just don't want you to risk yourself for me." Continue her.

I folded my hands. "Yes, I can guess."

He pulled me closer and hugged me, his big hands rising to support the back of my head, warmth seeping into the skin. "I'll talk to Victor about your concerns. I'll insist on going. My future vision worked well before an event occurred even with a distraction. I can help anticipate problems."

"From a safe distance?"

"From a reasonable distance. Close enough to be there to help, but not so close to give Kelly an advantage."

"OK." I rubbed my palm over his chest, silently apologizing for the heartache I caused. "I can handle it and I'm sorry."