Chapter Five

Luke held the heavy front door open and Vicky strolled through waiting for him inside. He let the door swing shut, walking back up beside her. She gazed into his eyes, grinning mischievously. “Thanks. One of these days, you’re going to forget to do that, and it’s going to disappoint me.”

Draping his arm back around her shoulders, he hugged her to him as they walked. “I won’t ever forget to treat you like a lady.” They reached their first period classroom, and he paused. “Are you going to meet me for lunch?”

“Sure. I’ll try not to be late today.” She walked to her desk, and sat down.

Looking all around her, the smile dropped off of her face when she noticed that everyone’s eyes were upon her. Some stared with open contempt, others with fear, but no one, except for Luke, appeared friendly. She turned to face the front of the class, placing her bag beneath her desk. “Great.”

Luke sat down behind her. Leaning forward, he whispered, “It’ll get better in a day or two.”

“I’ll have to take your word for it,” she whispered back.

Luke laughed softly as the bell rang.

Sara’s desk was empty. “Hummm Hmmm. . .”

“What are you thinking?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Father Turner cleared his throat. “Is there something that you’d like to share with the class, Vicky?”

Her eyes grew wide, and she flushed a deep red at being singled out.

Swallowing hard, she glanced around the room. “N . . . no . . . Father Turner . . . sorry.”

He cleared his throat again. “It’s nice to see you came dressed appropriately for class today.”

She slumped down in her chair. “Yes, sir,” she replied in a small voice.

It will be okay. She frowned in confusion, whipping her head around to look at Luke. He grinned, wiggling his eyebrows. I forgot to tell you that I could do that.

“Vicky, turn back around and face the front,” Father Turner commanded harshly.

She cringed, slowly turning. Sorry. She heard Luke again and she rolled her eyes.

“I’m sorry if facing the front is such an inconvenience, Miss Phillips.”

She shifted uneasy in her chair. “I’m sorry?”

“‘I’m sorry’ isn’t a question. Either you are or you aren’t sorry.”

She shook her head frantically. “No, Father Turner, I didn’t understand your statement about it being an inconvenience.” He gave her a stern look, and she swallowed hard. “It’s no inconvenience at all.”

“See me after class.”

Her heart sank. “Yes, sir.”

I’m sorry, Vicky. Luke intruded in her thoughts again. She closed her eyes, nodding once to acknowledge his apology. “I’ll wait for you after class. ”

Propping her elbow on the desk, she rested her chin on her open palm letting out a long slow breath. Oh, Luke, why couldn’t you have told me you could do that before class?

Because the subject never came up.

She sat up straight in the desk. Wait a minute. You can hear me?

Yes.

Hey, this could come in handy. How far away can you do this?

You’re the first one that I’ve been able to do this with other than my family. I don’t know, maybe five miles or so.

So, I can just call out to you, and you’ll hear me.

Yeah, I guess so.

This could be bad, too. Can you turn it off?

I don’t think I can. Once I’ve tuned in, I can’t tune out. It’s complicated.

You better not hold anything I think against me. I don’t know if I can control my thoughts.

She could hear him laugh at her. You better pay attention before you get into more trouble with Father Turner.

Tell me about it.

The classroom door opened and Sara walked through the door with a tardy slip in her hand. She tossed her silky blond hair over her shoulder. “I’m sorry that I’m late, Father Turner. I had a flat tire.”

Father Turner accepted the paper, inspecting it. “Take your seat, Sara.”

She smiled at the other students in the class until she locked eyes with Vicky. The smile dropped, all color leaving her face.

Vicky glared back. She’s surprised to see me. She sent the thought to Luke.

It does seem like that, doesn’t it?

Wait a minute. That doesn’t prove anything

What do you mean? Why not?

I haven’t seen Sara since the confrontation in the girl’s bathroom yesterday. I scared her pretty bad. She may still be reacting to that.

You really aren’t like Sara. She would have acted first and thought about it later, if at all.

Tell that to your cousin Chuck.

I plan to tell him. I may just have to knock some sense into him.

No, Luke. He’s entitled to his own opinion.

Maybe so, but he doesn’t have to be so rude about it.

You’re sweet, but please don’t resort to violence. I don’t see how that will help my cause any.

I see your point.

“Luke!”

He jerked his head up, locking eyes with Father Turner. “Uh . . . sir?”

Uh oh .

Father Turner crossed his arms over his chest and glared. “See me after class

“Yes, sir.” It seems like we’re both in trouble.

I’m sorry.

“Don’t be sorry. We’ll go to confession together. ”