Inner animal. by Emily Zimmerman. (books to read for 12 year olds .TXT) 📖

room, or is it just…any one I think of?” I asked her.
“It can be anyone within a mile from here that you’ve seen or know the name of.”
I nodded and closed my eyes, before I realized what was happening, my mind strayed to Bane, and I started drawing. In my mind flashed a face, my face. The emotions I felt weren’t…mine. I could sense that they were coming from his mind. Love, sadness, guilt, anger, all jumbled up with the picture of my face. The picture suddenly switched to my parents, they were sitting in front of him, on the sundeck.
I caught what they were saying as well. They were asking him if they could trust him with me. I felt hopefulness sprout, and I knew it was from both Bane and I, this time.
“I promise” echoed in Bane’s thoughts.
That’s when a touch to my arm made my eyes snap open. I looked at Velody. “I didn’t want to bother you, but I think I’ll have to. The captain just had someone inform us that we arrived ahead of schedule. We’re here.” She said and I felt my eyes widen.
Chapter fourteen:

As one of the headmasters led me to my dorm, I wrung my hands with nerves. I knew all the material, but going to college is always nerve wracking. The brief hope I’d felt while listening to my parents conversation with Bane was crushed as he wouldn’t even look at me when we got off the boat. The headmaster stopped beside the door and pulled out a key, opening it.
My room was much like the old one. Accept that the walls were purple. My old bed was lost in the fire, but a new bed was set in the middle of the room, against the wall. Two large windows sat behind it. The floor was hardwood, and there was a ceiling fan in the middle of the room.
“You’ll have a box of things sent up to your room along with your schedule for Monday.” The headmaster informed, unsmiling, and unkind.
I nodded, and he handed me the key and left. I could feel my eyes brimming with tears as I closed the door behind him. Sniffing, I rubbed my arms as a dark coldness made goose bumps trail the length of them. I missed Bane’s warmth, he would make the cold go away.
But we screwed up, and he wasn’t even allowed to look at me now.
I curled up at the head of the bed and closed my eyes, letting the tears fall. A new sanctuary, a new start. This didn’t feel like a sanctuary, though, this felt like prison, without Bane here. At least I wasn’t being mercilessly attacked by Jaykoren anymore, I would have probably died, if I hadn’t left.
I lay down and let myself drift off, my thoughts dwelling heavily on Bane.

I awoke to a knock at the door, sitting up, I groggily rolled out of bed and gradually made my way to the door. “I’m coming, I’m coming.” I muttered, rubbing my eyes.
I opened the door, looking up to meet familiar blue eyes. Before he could say a word, I flew into his arms, wrapping mine around his neck and burying my head into his chest. “Bane!”
He clutched me tightly for a moment, his nose buried in my hair. “Nina.” He whispered softly.
“Bane, I’m so sorry.” I said, my breath catching as I cried.
“Don’t be sorry, love. I’m the one who should be sorry. You’re parents have made a deal with me. I’m to be your protector, if I can keep away from you…physically. Meaning I can’t be with you, Nina. I can be around you all day; we just can’t touch…at all.” He told me.
I pulled my head back to look at him. “But-“
“Shh, it’ll be alright.” He assured softly. “I’m hoping that if I do this, they’ll see that we’re both responsible, and let us be together again, but for now, I’m just going to have to content myself with having you around me.” He said, lifting his hand to stroke my temple.
I removed my arms from his neck, a little embarrassed at myself. “I guess I kind of made you break your promise, huh?” I asked him, taking a step back.
He chuckled. “Don’t worry. It’s just one minor slip up.”
I sighed, looking away from him. “I…I’m sorry, Bane this is all my fault. If I had never…never let this happen, then we would still be together, and my parents wouldn’t hate us both.” I whispered.
“Hey.” He whispered, lifting my chin so I would look at him. “Don’t say that. They’ll come around. I mean they can’t keep us apart forever. Just remember the plan.” He said, a small smile on his lips.
I smiled back. “Live on the beach with Fido, have twenty kids, have thirty grandchildren.” I relayed.
He chuckled. “Right.”
I took a deep breath. “You’re right. They can’t keep us apart forever. So let’s deal with this the way we should, like adults.” I said.
“That’s my girl.” He approved.
“There you are, Nina.” Mom called from the end of the hall.
“Hey, Mom.” I said, glancing at Bane, whose mouth tightened into a thin line. They were watching us.
She smiled at me. “I was just passing by and wanted to see how you were settled in.” She said, but I could see the lie in her eyes.
“Sure.” I muttered, having to keep from rolling my eyes. “I’m all settled in.” I told her, gesturing to the open door.
“Good!” Her eyes flickered between Bane and I, and she cleared her throat. “I should go find your father. He wanted to let your Aunt Lamina know where to find us in case of emergency.” She said, backing away.
“You do that.” I told her.
After she was gone, I looked at Bane, rolling my eyes. “They think they’re going to catch us having sex in the hall.” I said sarcastically.
Bane let out a bark of laughter and leaned against the opposite wall. “Nope. We haven’t tried that area yet.” He said, looking around as if considering.
I let out a giggle and punched him in the arm. “You’re an animal.”
He grinned rakishly at me for a moment, but as his eyes flickered down to my lips, then my hands, his smile dimmed. “I miss you already.”
I sighed softly. “I know.”
We sat in silence for a few seconds, before Bane let out a deep breath and smiled slightly at me. “I’m going to help unload the yacht…I’ll see you Monday.” He said, eyes tightening.
As I watched him walk down the hall, his words echoed in my head. ‘I’ll see you Monday.’ No ‘I love you.’ Just…’I’ll see you Monday.’
And he said Monday. He didn’t plan on seeing me any sooner…just Monday. My heart lurched, but I squared my shoulders and marched back into my room. I did this, so I was going to have to deal with it.

Imprint

Text: I own this book! And I do not appreciate those who would try to steal it!
Images: Google Images.
Editing: Me.
Translation: Me.
Publication Date: 04-26-2012

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