Under Your Skin: Chapter One

    "You just need to get your feet back under you. You'll be on the track again in no time."

    Nodding, I started wheeling the chair towards the grass. "I just want-"

    "What sweetheart?" Mom knelt beside me, the happiness in her eyes making my new heart ache. Dad knelt beside her, their undivided attention on me. How could I possibly say something so ridiculous as, "I want to touch the tree." They'd cry, then I'd cry, then we'd never make it home and I
was sure the house full of guests waiting for me were already getting impatient.

    "Nothing. Lets go."

    "Yes!" Mom clapped her hands and grabbed the bags she'd been carrying before hurrying towards the car. Dad stepped away for a minute, then returned with a dandelion. He held it out to me with a smile, then grabbed the chair handles and rolled me after Mom.

    The drive home went fast, my eyes glued out the window. Had there always been so many trees? Was it just me or were there more boats on the lake? What happened to Mac's Ice Cream shop on Main? Is that a tattoo parlor?

    "Time changes everything, Ace. The town has really grown." Mom frowned out the window. "Though yes, that is a tattoo parlor."

    Dad grinned, but quickly hid it. "You can't win them all, Sweetie."

    "I know that. Don't I know that?" She looked back at me, her brow furrowed. "I just thought that the Mayor's word was worth something. Apparently I was wrong. Apparently I'm just a figure head with no real power and-"

    "Alright, Anne. You don't want to get going. We're almost home."

    Smirking, she reigned in her temper, then gasped. "The party! Oh Ace." She turned
around to look at me, her voice instantly doing the calm, soothing thing it did when she was about to drop a bomb. Thankfully, I was fully aware."

    "Mia already told me. She didn't want Jake to drop the surprise, so she raced over the second you gave the okay."

    "Oh. I don't approve of her reason, but I'm glad she thought to warn you. I hope she kept it small."

    We pulled up in front of our house and I sighed. The two story house was the same sky blue with white shutters. The wrap around porch still had it's swing and Grandmas old rocker. The flowers that once edged the yard, were dead or dying, but otherwise, the house was the same. I took a deep breath and another, gulping down air to keep from doing exactly what I didn't want to do.

    "Ace?" They both whipped around and before I could speak, Dad was out of the car and pulling my door open.

    I waved him off and squeezed my eyes shut. "I'm sorry." I choked out, before burying my face in my hands. They each slid in the backseat with me and wrapped their arms around me, holding me tight. When we'd calmed, we wiped our tears away and slid out of the car.

    "Alright. I'm gonna go warn them you're coming." Mom turned and sprinted up the steps, nearly tripping and falling in her haste. When she reached the door and threw it open, she was greeted with a resounding 'Surprise'! Mom froze, her back growing rigid.

    Before she could respond, a high pitch voice echoed out to the street. "What did I say, people?! She just had her heart replaced and you want to scream at her?" An amazon pushed her way out of the house and screamed.
     "Ace!" She ran down the stairs and pulled up short, directly before her. Taking a deep breath, she threw her arms out. "I'm going to hug you now." She pulled her gingerly into her arms. "I've missed you so much."

    "I saw you this morning. My mom said small, Mia. This isn't-"

    "And it was such a long morning." She sighed, then stepped away like I hadn't spoken. "I can't wait to show you what I've done to your room."

    I smothered my unease and forced a smile. "Great."

    "Ok Mia, how about we let everyone else see Ace?"

    "Who?" She frowned. "Oh, right. Inside. I can show you your room later."

    Nodding, I followed her back up to the house and stepped inside to chagrined faces. They approached me like I expected them to, slowly and cautiously. They were careful not to touch me too much and never near my chest. It was stranger then I thought it would be. I'd left a town full
of large, rambunctious people just overflowing with love to share and now I'd come back to strangers. I greeted them each in turn, smiling on the outside, but inside, exhausted.

    Near the end, a large bear of a man, shoved his way through the crowd and smiled, his arms held out. "Do you remember me, Dear?"

    I frowned, feigning confusion. "I'm sorry. You look familiar, but I just can't place the face."

    Gasping, he clutched a hand over his heart. Then grabbed his arm and stumbled back into a chair. He collapsed onto it with a crash, the forced making the walls shake. "Oh my heart!"

    The crowd gasped, as I covered my mouth, trying to hold the sound inside. When I could hold it no more, I exploded into a fit of giggles. I doubled over, laughing so hard, my chest burned. I pressed a hand over my staple.

    "Johnson! That is horribly inappropriate." Dad shook his head and came over to me. "Are you alright?"

    "What?" He sat up, frowning. "Too soon? Pshaw!" He waved them away and chuckled, his large belly shaking.

    "Dad!" Mom shook her head, her face full of disappointment.

    Grandpa sat up and wiped his eyes. "Aw, don't be mad, Annabeth. Ace thought it was funny."

    "Yeah, but she's doped up on pain killers, so I'm sure she'd think anything was funny."

    I spun around as he edged his way through the crowd, his blue eyes finding mine. He smiled and I swear I felt my heart give a small jump. Good. This one loved him too. "Jake."

    "Ace." He closed the space between us in two strides and pulled me gently in his arms. He pressed his cheek to mine and sighed. "You're really here. You're home." I nodded and leaned back to meet his eyes. He started to lean forward, then stopped and turned to my parents. "Ah."

    "We'll allow it." Mom grinned and turned to find Dad shaking his head. An elbow to the ribs later, he waved them on.

    His lips met mine briefly and the crowd awed appropriately. "We have so much to catch up on."

    "So much? Did you have a busy morning too?"

    "Too?"

    "First Mia, now you. I had trouble getting you both up for school on time. Now you're running around before dawn?"

    He gave a small chuckle, but glanced across the room to where Mia hovered. She saw them looking, then spun and made herself busy. Before I could ask, he pulled me close. "I had to buy a real alarm clock once my old one broke." He pressed a finger gently to the spot over her bandage. I
opened my mouth to protest, but then Mom swept in.

    "Ace, I'd like you to meet someone." She smiled at Jake, then led me away. "You must be exhausted. I'm sorry, Sweetie. This was a bad idea."

    "No. It's not. I was looking forward to seeing everyone again. Really." I squeezed her arm as she led me back toward the family room.

    "Alright, but after this guest, you are going straight to bed."

    "I've already spent months in bed, Mom. I want-"

    "Then another night won't matter." She grinned, then plastered her Mayor face on before turning and gesturing to the man standing by the piano. "Mr. Knight, allow me to introduce my daughter. Ace, this is Mr. Knight, he just moved to town."

     From behind, he looked innocent enough, tall, with short black hair. He appeared to be in his early twenties, despite being dressed in a suit. When he turned, I felt the air around me grow first warm, almost hot, but when his black eyes met mine, I shivered and everything went dark.   
     He reached out to grab me as I fell forward, his hands burning my skin where they touched. I knew him. But I didn't know him. I pressed my hand over his as he helped me into a seat, holding him to me. When my vision cleared and I could see his face again, I knew.