Moksha Mates by Marisa Cooper (book club books txt) 📖

I closed my locker with one hand, balancing my school books with the other. I turned slightly and someone bumped into me. The books dropped and the person snickered. I sighed and started to pick them up.
"Here, let me help you." A hand picked up my algebra book. I looked up. The owner of the hand was busily picking up my books and binders. He wore round glasses over his gray eyes and his black hair was tousled. He seemed familiar somehow...
"Thanks." I stood up; he did likewise. I couldn't place him to any place or any one. "Excuse me, but do I know you?"
He laughed. "I was about to ask the same of you." He explained. "I'll take that as a no then."
"Same." I stuck out my hand. "Caitlin Bulstrode."
He shifted his hand out of the pile of books to shake it as well.

I lifted my hand daintily and Andreas grasped it. He bent over it and kissed it...

I blinked. The dude was not

kissing my hand. He was pumping it enthusiastically.
"My name is Andrew Stoner. Um, here are your books." He loaded them into my arms.

Andreas bowed and handed me a handkerchief embroidered with a purple 'T'. I accepted it. "Thank you, kind sir."

"Thanks, Andrew." I replied automatically. Then I frowned. What was going on with me?
Andrew laughed nervously. "No problem. Are you okay?"
Exactly the thing I was wondering myself. "I'm fine. It's...just really hot."
"Okay." Andrew wasn't convinced though. He talked of other subjects, thankfully and left the matter alone.
I mused over the visions I had. Either I was going crazy or it really was the heat. I decided it was the heat; it was hot for the first day of summer.
"Caitlin, did you hear me?" Andrew asked. I jolted out of my thoughts.
"Sorry. I was caught up in thinking. What were you saying?"
Andrew took a deep breath. "I asked if you wanted to go to the Summer Siesta with me? I know we just met, but I feel like I've known you for a long time."
The Summer Siesta was a dance commemorating the end of school. I didn't have a date for it yet and it was tomorrow.
"Sure." I smiled. "I'll go with you."
"Great!" Andrew pumped the air. "Well, I'll see you later."
"Okay then. Bye!" I waved at him. He trotted off, still grinning like a jack-o-lantern.

It was noon. Trumpets blew as father and I entered the tournament stands. The knights were lining up on the field.
Father rose and signaled for the trumpets to stop. "Knights!" He bellowed, pointing furiously. "We have gathered to fight for the hand of our daughter, Trinette."
The arena exploded with the applause as I waved. I sought out Andreas; I saw him by the end of the line. He winked and gestured toward his lance. I followed the direction of his gesture; my handkerchief was tied around his lance. My eyes filled with tears of gratitude.
"Let the tournament begin." Father yelled and sat down.
First was Christophe and an anonymous knight. Christophe won.
Another knight and Christophe. The winner was Christophe.
I couldn't believe my eyes; Christophe was beating every knight! Soon, he'll come to Andreas....
I didn't want to think of it.
Christophe beat five more knights. My heart started to pound rather quickly.
Three more knights. Andreas was next. What he did would either make me the wife of Christophe or the wife of Andreas.
Christophe turned to Andreas. He had a huge grin on his face as if he knew no one could beat him.
As if!
Andreas answered that with a swift kick at his horse. Their horses came running toward each other, their lances gleaming in the twilight...
Andreas unseated him. Christophe had flown off his horse and was looking quite foolish.
All was silent. Then the crows was screaming, surging toward the victor. I stood up and raced with them.
"Andreas!" I screamed as I ran. I could see Andreas surrounded by a crowd of well-wishers. "Andreas!"
He turned around at the sound of his name. "Trinette!" When I reached him, he grabbed me by the waist and spun me around...

I woke up. The dream was still fresh in my mind; proof that my sanity was gone.
Or was it? I got down to serious thinking.
I had only started when I met Andrew. Now I was visions involving a dude name Andreas.
I sat up quickly. Could there be a connection between the two names? They certainly were similiar. I decided to go talk to her

.

I marched to Angela's door. It swung open. As usual, it was loud, with the boombox thumping out Fall Out Boy. "Angela?" I called out. "I need to talk to you."
Angela came out of the closet. With her dyed pink pixie cut, she look extraordinary. "What's up, quirt?" She asked. Angela marched over to her boombox and shut it off.
"I need Cliff's Notes on reincarnation. It's important."
"Oh. The soul could be reborn in an human being, plant, or demon. Past personalities recognize each other. Names would be relatively the same. It would continue until the body is free of sin or go on forever. Hindus called it moksha." Angela explained superiorly.
"Okay. Thanks." I walked out. I had to talk to Andrew.


"And that's it." I finished.
Andrew and I met at the Summer Siesta. Immediately, I started to explain my visions. He seemed incredulous.
"I looked up Andreas and Andrew." I continued. "They are variations of the same name. Caitlin and Trinette are variations as well. I believe we are reincarnated friends during the Middle Ages ."
Andrew nodded. "I believe you. I had visions too. Same people too. So..you want to dance again, then?"
I laughed, knowing it was our first time. This life that is. "Sure Andreas. I'd love to dance again."

Text: This is the pure work of Marisa Cooper.
Publication Date: 07-17-2011

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
To the Dream-Sender, who gave me the foundations for this story.