My Imaginary Boyfriend, Finale

Previous episode: http://emilyrachellewrites.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-imaginary-boyfriend-episode-ten.html



My favorite singer is Taylor Swift. I don't have a favorite song, or a favorite album. But I associate each individual song or album of hers with something particular - maybe an emotion, or an event, or a person.

Some are more obvious connections. I can't listen to "Best Day" without imagining myself singing to my mom for Mother's Day or at my wedding. "I'm Only Me When I'm With You" may have lyrics featuring romance, but ever since watching the music video, it makes me think of my best friend Mikaela. Generally I get this vague idea of taking a road trip with her.

I did that once. It changed my life.

None of Taylor's songs or albums affect me more than Red. I will never hear Red - the song or any of the others from the album - without thinking of Rykel.

Electric eyes that look like coming home, like the clear blue sky over my parents' house in the middle of October. Half-head of shaggy blond hair, sometimes spiked up out of the way, sometimes flopping over those piercing eyes.

Tattoos, two tasteful patterns, one arm apiece, with stories I never learned and never will. An entire history, a lifestyle, of which I only ever saw a tiny peek. Strong, muscled arms under one of five ripped and faded t-shirts, three of them advertising that aggravating rock band.

Piercings, scattered over both ears and eyebrows, none actually made of metal because metal and electricity don't mix well. Electricity... a pulsing blue light that scared me and drew me in all at once, floating in a little orb over the parking lot that first night. A night in an old roller skating rink that went horribly, crazily wrong.

And hands covered in scars. So many scars.

Everything about him screamed trouble. He might as well have come with one of those tags, the kind manufacturers put on hair dryers and flat irons. "Warning of electric shock."

You could say that again.

Red makes me think of Rykel. I never know whether to laugh or cry. But one thing's for sure.

Trouble raced through my life on a motorcycle, and I'll never be the same again.

My Imaginary Boyfriend, Episode Ten: Heartbreaker

Previous episode: http://emilyrachellewrites.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-imaginary-boyfriend-episode-nine-and.html


 Four days pass before I hear back from Rykel.

The first day, I pretend not to think about it. After all, Rykel's not exactly the most dependable or predictable sort of person.

The second day, I send him a friendly little text, asking if he wants to make plans for some time this week. There's no reply.

I'm a bit quiet and snippy the next day, and I know it. Stacia gives me my space. I spend most of my classes doodling in the margins of my notebook.

It's five o'clock in the evening the next day when my phone vibrates in my pocket. I slip out the door of the school library and slide the phone open.

Thirty minutes.


It takes me exactly twenty-one minutes to brush and braid my hair, put on some nice earrings, and touch up my makeup. It takes me four more minutes to walk to the coffee shop. Rykel takes eleven minutes to arrive. He doesn't get up from the motorcycle when he parks, so I stand and walk towards him, feeling ten feet tall in my brown fall high-heeled boots and trendy green button-up. I grin.

"What's the plan?"

No grin. No teasing. Just Rykel's scratchy voice, lower than usual. "Hop on."

My smile falls, but I slide onto the leather seat beside him. Arms around his waist, we drive through town without speaking. He pulls into a parking space by the town park and climbs off the seat, then offers his hand to me. "Up for a walk?"

I shrug and take his hand. What's wrong?

We walk silently, hand in hand, along the path between the bare trees. The dead leaves of fall crunch under our feet, and the chill of approaching winter sends shivers through my body. I can feel the tension radiating off of Rykel, rolling through his arm down to our clasped hands. When we reach a black metal bench, I stop. Rykel stops but doesn't turn to me.

"Rykel, what's going on?"

He doesn't respond, instead releasing my hand and taking a seat on the bench. After a moment, I sit down next to him. I wait for him to speak - to just look at me, even.

He doesn't.

"Rykel, come on, talk to me!"

Finally, he turns his head and looks me in the eye. My breath catches in my throat. His voice is thick when he speaks. "We can't keep doing this, Emily."

My pulse skyrockets. This can't - he can't mean - "What do you mean?"

"This. Us." He looks down to the ground, the dark brown leaves contrasting with the rough white cement under our bench. "You and me, it just... doesn't work."

"We've made it work so far." My voice is heavy; my throat is tight. I refuse to cry. "What about that kiss? We have something - something special."

"But we haven't managed - it doesn't work!" He clenches his fists and shoots up from our seat. He turns to look at me with a frightening crackle in his eyes, a spark of something dangerous. "People at Polytech are starting to question where I keep disappearing to. Word is getting out. I'm supposed to be keeping away from public, Emily. Keeping my real name secret." He swallows hard and looks up at the sky. "At the roller rink..." His eyes return to mine, the spark fading away to reveal raw emotion. "You could have gotten hurt. Seriously hurt, Emily. And it would have been my fault."

There's a pause. I open my mouth to protest, but he puts his hand up. "It can't happen again. Even if we made this work, even if I managed at Polytech, we couldn't ever be close. This, whatever you say we have, it could never go anywhere."

I'm torn between numb shock and a cocktail of emotions I can't put names to. I don't even know what to think, much less say. Is he right?

"So this is it?" I can't bring myself to say the word goodbye.

He swallows several times. "It has to be." The words are a hoarse, scratchy whisper.

I nod and look down at my hands clasped in my lap. I close my eyes. I. Will. Not. Cry.

Rykel's hand on my own startles me. I look up and open my eyes. He's sitting beside me again.

"I'm just not safe, okay?" He pauses, removes his hand. I feel cold without his touch warming me. "The rules at Polytech, my Conductivity... we just can't make it work."

He stands and offers his hand. I take it, but force myself to let go as soon as I'm standing. What should I say? What is there to say? My stomach is twisted over.

"Do you want me to take you back to the coffee shop?"

I want to rewind. I want to go back to before this walk, before that kiss.

Before I fell in love.

"No. I..." I clear my throat. Tears can wait for the privacy of my dorm room. "I'll walk back."

"Okay." His voice is soft, his expression controlled. I can't meet his eyes, can't face the idea that this boy in front of me is so simply and quickly removing me from his life. There's a long pause before he speaks again; his voice is broken. "Look, I hate having to do this. But I... I need to get back to Polytech now."

I nod. My head drops and I wipe away a stray tear. I will not cry. I won't.

Rykel's hand brushes my chin. I pull away.

"Goodbye," I whisper.

"I don't do goodbyes, ginger," he whispers back.

Leaves crunch under each step as he walks away from me. A winter wind tugs at my hair. I wrap my arms around my waist and shiver.

My Imaginary Boyfriend, Episode Nine: And Greet

Previous episode: http://emilyrachellewrites.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-imaginary-boyfriend-episode-eight.html


Dizzy. So very dizzy.

And nauseated.

My entire body feels heavy. Everything aches and nothing will move. The room is hot, blazing hot. My mouth, dried out, tastes like metal and cotton. I gasp for breaths, but my chest barely moves.


The voices. They're so loud. My head pounds at each sound. I wish they would just stop talking.

"What did you do to her?" The girl screeches. Her words echo through my ears. Oh, it hurts.

"I didn't do anything! I didn't mean to, anyway." A male voice, one I recognize. I can't place it right now, but I don't want to. I just want to go back to sleep. Please, please just be quiet.

"Didn't do anything? This doesn't look like nothing!" This time it's a boy yelling. Why won't they just stop? I squeeze my eyes tightly and turn my head away from the irritating noise.

"Alec, lower your voice." The familiar voice again, this time a bit softer. "Guys, look. I think she's coming to."

A hand, smooth and cool, rests against my forehead for a moment. I groan and struggle against the gunk sealing my eyelids shut. Another hand, warm and calloused, slips into mine.

"Emily? Emily, can you hear me?"

"Don't rush her, Rykel." That annoying boy again. Why does he sound so mad?

"Emily, you don't know me, but don't worry." Now the girl's voice - quieter, softer. She sounds much nicer this way. Her voice is pretty. "Alec and I will take care of everything." She goes quiet. What is she talking about?

What is going on?

I finally manage to open my eyes, taking in a shock of curly red hair next to a familiar pair of concerned blue eyes before I slam my eyes closed again. "The light. It hurts."

"She can talk. That's good." The worried boy. He sounds relieved now. Why wouldn't I be able to talk?

The girl speaks again. "Alec, shush. Don't worry, Emily, you don't need to open your eyes. Just... just tell me, do you think you can move? I mean, what hurts?"

I groan again. "Everything."

The girl laughs, but it sounds forced. "Well don't overdo yourself, then. My name's Nissa. We'll take care of things, okay? You just rest there for a minute." I hear the squeak of shoes against bare floor as the girl walks away, then the low hum of voices too far from me to make anything out. The person holding my hand remains, though.

I pour all my energy into clearing my head. Focus, Emily. Try to remember. Rykel and I were on a date... the roller rink... the kiss. Oh yeah. Hm. "Rykel?"

"I'm right here." He squeezes my hand.

"What happened?"

He clears his throat and lowers his voice. "Well. Um. You blacked out."

I laugh. It makes my chest and stomach hurt, but really, nothing is throbbing or burning. I'm just aching all over, and so very tired. "Yeah. I figured that much out."

He laughs too, but the sound is strained. "I'm not really sure what happened. I mean..."

I open my eyes just a crack and force myself to wait for them to adjust, ignoring the burn of the lights. Eventually I manage to open them all the way and focus on Rykel kneeling beside me. "Help me sit up?"

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

I stretch my arms out in front of me, releasing his hand. "Yeah. I'm fine now. Just sore."

He slides over behind my head, still kneeling on the ground, and hooks his arms under mine. Slowly he drags me over to the side railing of the rink. I notice a red-haired girl and a very tall brunette guy standing towards the end of the rink... in pajamas? That must be Nissa and Alec.

Once I'm sitting with my back propped up against the railing, I pull my feet up to my side and start unlacing the roller skates. I nod my head in Nissa and Alec's direction. "Friends of yours?"

Rykel rubs the back of his neck and glances towards them. "Yeah." There's a pause before he continues. "Actually, they... we go to Polytech together."

It takes me a few minutes to understand what he's saying. They're Conductives too, with powers. "Oh." I set my roller skates next to me and tuck the laces inside before meeting his gaze. "So..."

He smiles a little and shrugs, but it's clear to me that this is not the grinning, cocky Rykel I know. Neither of us is really sure what to say.

I have plenty of questions. Might as well get them out. "How long was I out?"

He shrugs. "Maybe ten minutes? Fifteen? I'm not sure."

I nod. Longer than I thought, but then, there had to have been enough time for Rykel to contact Nissa and Alec and for them to get here. "Okay. Um... you said you don't know what really happened? You know, like... why I blacked out?"

He blushes. Rykel is blushing. Huh. "Well, I'm guessing something about electricity and, um, kissing had something to do with it."

I laugh. I can't help it. "Alright then. We'll leave it at that for now." I look back over to Nissa and Alec, who are watching us, and look like they don't want us to know that. "Are they... are they both like you?"

"Conductives? Yeah. But they have different release skills."

I raise my eyebrows but refrain from asking. I know there's a lot of rules about secrecy at Polytech. If Rykel wanted to tell me about his friends, he'd have told me.

"Can I meet them? Properly, I mean?"

Finally a real Rykel grin. "Sure. Why not? You think you can walk?"

I nod. With one arm over Rykel's neck and most of my weight on him, I manage to stand up. I brace myself for dizziness or nausea, but nothing comes. Nothing except the sensation that my entire body is so heavy and all I want to do is go to bed. I ease myself away from Rykel and roll my shoulders and neck. Rykel slips his hand into mine and we walk towards his friends.

Nissa smiles as we approach. Alec examines me from head to toe. "Are you feeling better? Sure you should be walking?"

I smile and nod. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine now. Thanks. For everything."

Alec smiles. "Okay, good. Good." There's an awkward pause in which all of us just stand and look at each other.

"So, I'm Emily." I hold my free hand out to Nissa.

She jumps out to take it. "Oh! Of course. Sorry. Nissa." Her hair bounces around her head with every movement.

I nod and turn to Alec, who stands off to the side, looking at Nissa. "You're Alec, yeah?"

He turns his gaze towards me. "Yep. That's me."

Another heavy silence follows. Finally, I speak. "Thanks, Nissa, Alec. I'm sure you guys were a great help tonight. But I'm really sore and tired, and it's probably like four in the morning by now, so if you don't mind..."

Nissa nods. "Oh, yeah, of course. It was nice to meet you, even under the circumstances." She pulls me into a warm hug before stepping back beside Alec. "We'll be leaving you two, then."

Alec and Nissa head for the front door of the building. I slide my hand into Rykel's and we follow them silently. He hits the lights and pulls the door shut behind us, picking the padlock up off the pavement and clicking it back into place.

It's a long ride back to the little coffee shop right off campus, with the roar of the motorcycle's engines the only sound. Once we arrive, I climb off the cycle and adjust my purse nervously. How should I say goodbye after a night like that?

Rykel nods to me. "See you later, sweetheart."

I nod back. "Later."

He grips the handlebars and prepares to set off. I jump towards him and kiss his cheek. He turns to me, a strange, startled expression on his face. I smile shyly. "Good night."

With another nod, he revs the engine and drives away.

My Imaginary Boyfriend, Episode Eight: Electric

It's here! It's here! It's finally here! Better late than never, eh?

Previous episode: http://emilyrachellewrites.blogspot.com/2013/09/my-imaginary-boyfriend-episode-seven.html




"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Sure it is. Nobody comes out here this time of night." Rykel pulls my bobby pin out of the lock and hands it to me with a grin, shadowy in the lack of moonlight or streetlamps. I slide it back into the back of my French braid.

I fiddle with the thin strap of my purse hanging over the shoulder of my faded black Hunger Games t-shirt. "But is it safe? I mean, there's no security cameras or... or alarms, or anything?"


I can barely see the outline of his shoulders shrug under his black t-shirt as he slides the old padlock off the door handles. He turns to face me, still grinning, eyes hidden in the darkness. "Here? Nah. This rink is the only place still open out here and it closes at eight. Even the druggies and creepers don't bother with this side of town." He slips his rough, warm hand into mine as he mumbles, "That might have something to do with my previous visits, though."

I can't help but giggle. He opens the door to the roller rink and leads me inside. "What?" I strain to make out anything, but it's too dark. The smell of old shoes clashes with that of cleaning spray.

"Don't worry about it. Yes, we're perfectly safe here." Rykel releases my hand. After a second, blinding light floods the building.

I blink several times to adjust. To the left, a ghost town consists of a run down concession stand, DJ sound room, and kiddie play area. On the right stands a room lined with shelves of roller skates and blades. The scuffed tan and red rink reflects bits and pieces of the light. "Not too shabby in here."

"It's the only rink in town." Rykel climbs up into the window of the skate storage room and disappears between shelves. I drift over in that direction and wait outside the room for him. He continues talking, but I can't really understand what he's saying. Something about location and business and only rink in town. He returns to the window with one pair of skates, which he sets on the counter before turning to the shelves on right. "Babe, what size are you?"

A skitter runs down my spine. I'm not sure I'll ever get used to his pet names - or if I really want to. "Seven and a half, probably. It's been a while since I've been skating."

He emerges from the shelves and slides my skates across the counter to me. Grabbing his own pair, he slides back over the counter and hops down.

I've only managed to lace up one skate when he stands and grins at me, blond hair flopping over one side of his face. "Ready?"

I laugh. "Give me a minute." He waits while I finish lacing up the second skate, then stand shakily. "I think I'm ready now. I'm gonna have to go slow at first, though."

He shrugs. "Works for me. Can't promise to slow down for you."

I roll my eyes as he rolls out onto the rink and sets off. It takes several shaky steps for me to make it to the rink, where I grip tightly to the chipped railing. After a few pulls along the railing, I push away and cautiously set off.

"Eh, you're not that bad."

I glance over my shoulder to see Rykel fly past me, grinning away. I laugh. "Hey, careful! You're the only one here to get me home if any injuries occur."

He just laughs back at me. "C'mon, I know you can go faster than that!"

I shake my head, but I do start to push myself. It only takes a few minutes for me to adjust to wheeling around. Even if it has been a while since I last set foot in a roller rink, I've had plenty of practice. Soon Rykel and I are at a steady pace, staying somewhat in rhythm with each other. After a few quiet times around the rink, he heads off of the rink without warning. I can't stop without falling, but I try to slow down. "Hey, where you going?"

There's no answer. I shrug and keep skating. A few minutes pass before music blasts from the speakers around the rink, effectively scaring me onto my hands and knees. Rykel reappears just in time to see me pulling myself up at the railing.

"A little warning would've been appreciated." I have to raise my voice over the music, but I'm not really upset. I did notice the radio station flipped on is my favorite, not the channel preset on his cycle radio.

He smiles sheepishly and shrugs. "Sorry!" With a lot more ease than I'd imagined him capable of, he slips up to my side and holds out his hand. "Shall we?"

I grasp onto his hand. "Just don't blame me if we go crashing down. Keeping steady on my own two feet is hard enough."

He laughs and waits for me to set the pace. We speed through one, two, five, eight times around the rink like this. Hand in hand, my favorite singers filling the otherwise empty rink. After two songs, a man's voice echoes through the building, announcing the hokey-pokey.

I stare at Rykel for a second before we both burst out laughing. "Really? They have this pre-recorded?"

"Now that I didn't know."

We ignore the hokey-pokey music playing and stick to our pace. When it ends, I expect the radio station to switch back on. Instead, the announcer's voice again fills the room. "Alright now, the kids have had their turn. Let's go for something a little more laid back. It's couple's skate time!"

I roll my eyes when the song switches on. It's an old-ish song I've heard I don't know how many times. My parents both have it on homemade CD mixes my dad made back when they were dating.

Rykel groans and stops skating. I swing my arms out to keep from falling over at the sudden stop. "You've got to be kidding me."

I chuckle and shake my head. "It's not that bad. Just... overrated? I'm sure the radio will come back on as soon as it's over."

Only after I tug him along does Rykel resume skating. I mimic the low, slow voice of the singer while we skate, making both of us laugh. Then Rykel stops and rolls over to the center of the rink, where he starts doing spins and sharp turns. I watch him show off.

"Your cycle give you practice, did it?" I tease.

He grins and skids to a stop. "Oh, sure it did! Wheels are wheels."

I take the hand he reaches out to me. Instead of leading me back out to the sides like I expect, though, he pulls me in and starts doing something resembling a trick spin and dancing.

"What are you doing? Rykel, I'm gonna fall. Rykel, Rykel, stop!" I'm somewhere between screeching and giggling. "C'mon, seriously!"

My right foot slides out from under me and I fall back onto the floor, my sides aching with laughter. He trips over my leg and falls onto his hands and knees, also gasping.

"Rykel!" I let my torso lay back and fight to stop laughing. "You're... you're nuts."

He crawls over to me and puts one hand on each side of my head, grinning down at me. "I know."

My laughter fades and I smile up at him, feeling silly here on the floor. I start to ask for him to help me up, but the words dissolve on my tongue.

Because Rykel is no longer grinning down at me. His electric blue eyes take on a look I've only seen once before, dancing in that parking lot outside the movie theater. Neither of us grins, or laughs, or speaks. Instead, in less than a second, his eyes close and his face rushes towards mine. Before I can close my eyes or even register what's happening, his lips press against mine.

I don't know why. Maybe it's because of the shock of the moment. Maybe it's the adrenaline from the skating, the laughter. Maybe it's because it's at least three in the morning and I'm on the opposite side of town in a roller rink a celebrity helped me break into. Maybe it's the conductivity, the same phenomenon that occured the day I met Rykel in the gas station.

I don't know. All I know is that the jolt that shoots through my body at that kiss is unlike anything I've ever felt before... then I black out.

 

My Imaginary Boyfriend, Episode Seven: Meet

Previous episode: http://emilyrachellewrites.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-imaginary-boyfriend-episode-six.html


 "Do we have to do this now?  I thought we were going to eat first."

I giggle and grab Rykel's hand, dragging him across the parking lot.  "Come on, it will only take a few minutes.  She probably has class soon or something anyway.  I just want to introduce you."

The wind whips my hair around my face, wrapping it around my glasses and catching it on my lip gloss.  I repeatedly tug the strands away with my free hand and straighten my brown and blue plaid button-up shirt over the top of my jeans.  I love fall; all my cutest clothes work best with the crisp weather and defined colors around me.  I glance back at the boy behind me.

Rykel, of course, will always be Rykel.  I'm beginning to wonder if he even owns more than five t-shirts, all of them ripped in some way.  He definitely can't own more than three or four pairs of practically destroyed jeans.  I'm pretty sure his idea of style begins and ends with the number of holes he makes in his skin.

Opposites attract, right?


"What's your roommate's name again?"

"Stacia.  She's great.  Very fun, lots of energy.  Majoring in art."  I reach the front door of my dorm building and swipe my card to let us in.  I wave at the RA on duty as we walk inside.  "Come on, we're on the fourth floor.  I always take the stairs."

Rykel, still dragging his feet behind me, follows me to the stairs behind a door on our right.  "What's wrong with the elevator?"

I shrug.  "Nothing.  Just more exercise this way."

I end up holding the door to my floor open while he climbs the final flight of stairs, then bouncing ahead of him down the hall.  Only two girls are outside their rooms right now, and I wave at them as I pass.  I don't have time to stop and chat or introduce them to Rykel, not right now.  I am a girl on a mission.

Today, Stacia is going to meet my punk boyfriend, and it's going to be awesome.

Something about my roommate meeting my boyfriend feels official.  It's like we're going to the next level or something, meeting the friends.  I mean, it's nothing compared to meeting the family - I laugh and cringe simultaneously at that thought - but still, there's a very important air to this moment.

I stick my head inside my room door.  "Hey Stac, there's someone here you need to meet.  You ready?"

A crazy mess of red frames the flustered face that pops out around the corner of the bathroom, contrasting with her flaming red lipstick.  Her blue eyes are comically wide.  "Um, now?"

I nod.  "Yeah, now.  Come on, get your butt out here."

"Okay, okay, gimme a sec."

I let the door fall closed behind me and turn to grin at Rykel, with his arms crossed over his red t-shirt and one eyebrow raised.

"Ready?"

He grins.  "I'm always ready, babe."

I roll my eyes, but I'm still grinning wide.  Ever the flirt.

The latch of the door clicks open behind me.  I grab Rykel's hand, pull him up to stand next to me, and twirl around to face the door in one swift (if not very smooth) motion.  Stacia, wearing a white tank top and blazing red pants with her red curls somewhat controlled in her signature bun-pile-thing, swings the door open.  I grab the door frame to keep myself from tripping over my own boots.

She stares at us, a puzzled expression.  Beyond the red lipstick, her makeup involves one shadowed and one bare eye.  "So..."

"Stacia, meet Rykel.  Boyfriend, meet roommate."  I turn my grin to Stacia.

Her eyes grow wide and she grins, lighting up her whole face.  "Oh!  Rykel!  Okay!  I know you!"  She jumps out into the hall and squeezes Rykel in a hug.

His grin disappears, and he stands stiffly in surprise until my roommate releases him.  He runs his hand through the hair on the right side of his head, glancing at me.  I bite my lip to keep from laughing.  He shrugs and grins again.

"So... you're Stacia.  I don't know you."

She laughs.  "Oh, well, I mean obviously we've never met, but Emily is always talking about you, so, see, I know tons about you.  Man, what I wouldn't give to see that cycle.  You look just like I thought, too!"  She walks around him in circles, examining him head to toe, like a fashion designer on those movies about royalty.  "The hair, and the tattoos, and just - wow!"  She laughs.  "Wow!  She didn't really do the piercings justice, though.  How many do you have, man?!"

Rykel lifts his chin in that cocky pose of his.  I roll my eyes and giggle.  "Ooo-kay, well, I know you've got class soon, right?"

She cranes her head to peer at the clock on the wall at the end of the hall.  "Oh crap!  Yes, yes, yes, I need to go!  Bye Emily, bye Emily's boyfriend, nice to meet you and all!"  She proceeds to race back into our room and slam the door.

I turn to Rykel and adjust the purse strap on my shoulder, laughing.  "Now we can go eat."

He rubs his hands together.  "Yes!  Thank you.  Chinese sound good?"

"Sure, whatever.  Chinese always sounds good."

He wraps his arm around my shoulders and leads me to the elevator.  I don't protest.  We head out into the parking lot and slide into our places on the cycle's leather seats before pushing off onto the highway.

My Imaginary Boyfriend, Episode Six: Fearless

Previous episode: http://emilyrachellewrites.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-imaginary-boyfriend-episode-five.html

 

My stomach and cheeks ache and my throat is scratchy from the salty popcorn, but I can't stop laughing.  Rykel's scratchy laugh joins mine and I bask in the wonderful feeling of just being together.

"Did you-"  I suck in a breath.  "Did you see the look on her face - in the airport scene?  She was just like - Oh man, that was awful!  She is such a terrible actress."  My words dissolve into giggles, and I ignore the other patrons in the theater lobby glaring in our direction.  I can't help it if they came to a terrible horror movie to actually be scared.  I'm here to have fun!

"That part when the alien came out was way worse!  We're in the twenty-first century.  There's this thing called CGI.  Those people clearly don't know how to use it."

Rykel slips his warm, strong hand into mine and, still laughing, we exit the theater into the dark parking lot.
 The pavement, wet from the rain while we were inside, glistens under the glow of the street lights.  That damp, earthy after-rain smell fills the cool night air.  I untie the jacket around my waist and slide it on over my Hunger Games t-shirt, flipping my hair out over my collar before slipping my hand back into Rykel's.

I let out a deep breath and smile.  Music from a country radio station is playing through speakers mounted on the walls of the movie theater.  One of my favorite songs comes on and I step in time to the beat.

Rykel laughs and I look up at him.  "What?  I love this song.  Don't tell me you don't like Taylor Swift.  Come on!"

He shakes his head; I roll my eyes.  After a minute, though, he pauses.  I turn to him.  He looks older, more mature somehow under the strange lighting that casts shadows over his half-hair, red ripped-sleeved t-shirt, and thick, tattooed arms.    "What's the matter?"

"Want to dance?"

"Here?  Now?"

He nods.

I smile nervously and look down.  This is definitely out of character, and there are still several people in the parking lot around us.  But I'm not about to pass up the chance.  I look back up at him.  "Yes!"

He pulls me closer to him and takes my free hand in his.  Strong, scarred fingers wrap between mine.  I rest my head in the groove of his shoulder and close my eyes, breathing in his smell.  Heat between our so-close bodies, the thick smell of earth and rain, soft strains from a song I love, the spicy smell of the boy I've fallen for, a peaceful calm in my laughter-aching belly all tumble through my senses into my heart.

When the song ends, I sigh and reluctantly pull away.  "We should be going."

He nods and drops one of my hands, squeezing the other and sliding his free hand into his pocket.  "I got you something."

I watch his face, but he doesn't make eye contact.  "What is it?"

He pulls his hand out of his pocket, with his fingers wrapped around something small.  "It's nothing much.  I saw it at that store in the mall when we first came in, and I thought you'd like it.  I mean, it seems like your kind of thing.  Just - here."  He holds out his hand and opens it to reveal a delicate silver necklace.

I take it and slide my fingers in the chain, letting it fall so I can hold up the charm.  "Oh, it's a motorcycle!"  I giggle and look up at Rykel.

He smiles, but his eyes still seem a little uncertain.  "So you like it?"

"Of course I do!  It's perfect."  I let go of his hand and undo the clasp, then turn my back to him.  "Here, can you hold my hair up?"

"Okay."  His hands brush against my neck as he gathers the hair together and holds it up out of the way.

I slip the necklace on, and the clasp catches on the second try.  Rykel releases my hair and I turn back to him, holding the necklace up to look down at it.  "I love it, Rykel.  It's perfect," I repeat.

I look up to see him practically beaming at me.  I slide my hand back in his, still smiling.  "Let's go."

We walk back to the motorcycle.  I wipe the water off the seat with my hand and Rykel reaches over and starts the engine, but he doesn't climb on.  He grins at me.

"One more song?"

I laugh.  "What song would that be?"

He leans over the motorcycle and turns on the radio.  An electric guitar starts to play.  I raise my eyebrows.

"Come on, we did your song.  This is my kind of music."

I laugh again and shake my head.  "Okay, you win.  But I'm warning you, this won't be pretty.  Dancing is not exactly a strength of mine."  And I definitely don't know how to dance to this kind of song.

He grabs my hands and we start to do something that I guess resembles dancing.  I feel like a cross between a freshly-beheaded chicken and a little kid who's had one too many Mountain Dews.  Still, I'm laughing and bouncing around and having fun even if I do look like an idiot.  Rykel is definitely doing better than me, although I'm not sure if his kind of dancing would fit in anywhere except an 80's movie.  Whatever.  We make an awesome pair, looking like fools in the parking lot.

The song, which I honestly thought sounded like the same set of chords played over and over again, ends soon.  I collapse onto the motorcycle seat and try to calm down my laughter.  Rykel watches me, grinning.

"It was awful, wasn't it?  I told you."  I reach for the helmet hanging on the handlebars and pull my hair out of my face to strap it on.

Rykel crosses his arms and leans against the car parked beside us.  "You're fun, you know that?"

I focus on putting my helmet on and not looking at him.  No matter how much I hang out with guys, I can never quite figure out how to take a compliment from them.  I know for a fact that I'm blushing right now.  "Well... thanks?  I mean you're not exactly a bore either."

He chuckles and pushes off the car, stepping up beside me.  He reaches out and grasps the handlebars, but before he climbs on he leans in beside me and whispers in my ear.  "I mean it.  You're a special girl, Emily."  He climbs onto the motorcycle seat and I wrap my arms around his chest.  As the engine revs and we take off out of the parking lot, I can feel practically my entire body blushing.

Is this love?

My Imaginary Boyfriend, Episode Five: Comfort Zones

Previous episode: http://emilyrachellewrites.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-imaginary-boyfriend-episode-four.html


I'm leaving my final class for the day when my phone vibrates.  Mikaela texts me about once a week at least, so I figure it's probably her.  We haven't talked much since we got back from our Gatlinburg road trip.  However, I'm surprised to see Rykel's name pop up on the screen.  He hasn't contacted me since our first date four nights ago; I texted him the next morning just to say hi but I wasn't sure if I should try again since he never responded.

Meet me at five.  Coffee shop.  Wear something nice, sweetheart.  - Rykel

I bite my lip as a smile tugs at my cheeks.  I check the time - 4:15.  I have forty-five minutes to get ready.  Maybe my roommate will let me borrow that top she wore last night.  It's the perfect color for me and we're the same size.
* * *

I'm sitting at a table in front of the coffee shop at five after, wearing my roommate's green ruffled blouse and my new tapered denim capris with my trusty brown flip-flips.  This time, I come prepared; I spend the twenty minutes I'm waiting reading on my Kindle.  When I hear the engines of Rykel's motorcycle pull up, I slide the ereader into my purse and stand up.

Rykel pulls off his helmet and flips his head to toss his scraggly blond hair out of his screaming blue eyes.  He saunters up to me, tugging on one piercing-riddled ear.  Today he's wearing a blue shirt with the sleeves torn off and jeans.  "Ready, doll?"

I smile and take the helmet he offers me, sliding it on.  "What's the plan today?"

He climbs back on to the seat and gives me a hand up, but he doesn't start the engines yet.  "I'm thinking we'll get a bite to eat and then it's up to you.  Anyplace you've been wanting to go lately?"

I wrap my arms around his waist and lay my head against his neck, breathing in his scent.  There's no movies out that I've been interested in this month.  The roller skating place is only open on the weekends during the school year.  I can't really think of anything else... except...  "How do you feel about shopping?"

He laughs and turns to look at me from the side.  "What do you have in mind?"

I grin.  "Well, there's this new store that just opened in the mall.  It's kind of my favorite and there's never been one in this area before.  Their grand opening was last week."

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to stop by."  He revs up the engines and whips out of the parking lot onto the road.  I lean back a little and enjoy the thrill of the wind speeding past me.

A few minutes later, Rykel pulls into the parking lot of a tiny restaurant with an odd name.  I've never been here before.  I slide off the seat behind him and hand him the helmet, looking through the windows.  "Where are we?"

He sets the helmet on the handlebars and slides his hand into mine.  "It's a vegetarian joint.  I know the owner.  Thought you might like to try it."

I shrug and walk through the door he holds open for me with his free hand.  "I'll try anything once."
Rykel knows exactly what he wants - this huge meal that reminds me of a veggie burger - but I take a while to figure out my order.  Days like these I wish I weren't so picky.  There's way too many foods I wish I liked, but I can't stand.  Finally I settle on a tofu meal of some sort.  It looks like scrambled eggs, and I've always wanted to try tofu.  Why not?

I choose a table and grab straws and napkins.  Rykel carries over our tray once the food's ready.  I take my plate and set it down in front of me.  I sit and look at it for a minute, just playing with my fork.

Rykel laughs.  "Come on, babe.  Just try it!"

I smile and shrug.  "Okay, here goes."  I dig my fork into the pile on my plate and, with a glass of water at the ready, take a bite.

Rykel watches me, his signature grin in place.  "So?"

I swallow and smile.  "Actually, it just tastes like... eggs."

He laughs.  "Not bad, huh?"

I giggle.  We finish our meal relatively quickly, both focused on the food rather than conversation.  After dumping our trash, we step outside.  Rykel climbs onto his motorcycle.

"The big mall over by the old theater, right?"

I nod and slide onto seat behind him, clicking my helmet in place.  "Yep.  I just want to take a look around.  Hopefully it won't take too long."

"Alright.  I can't promise I'll be interested, but we can go."  He revs up the engine, I slide my arms around him, and we're off.

The store, Charming Charlie, is one of a chain of accessory stores - mostly jewelry, but they carry purses, scarves, shoes, and some clothing, too.  I know Rykel probably won't like it, but I'm sure we can find another store in the mall to stop in for him if he wants.  I hope he's not as anti-shopping as guys tend to be.  I just really love Charming Charlie, and I haven't been there since I visited the one where my family lives back in Easter.

We find a parking spot and enter the mall hand-in-hand.  I spot the shiny black letters almost immediately and point them out.  "There!"  I try very hard not to squeal.  I might be dragging Rykel behind me at this point, to be honest.  We enter the store and I stop to gaze around, take it all in.  The sparkling, shiny wares in the various color-sorted sections whisper to me.  Buy me!  Buy me!  "Oh, I love this place!"

I turn and look at Rykel.

"Is there anything here without ruffles?"

I laugh.  The phrase 'fish out of water' comes to mind.  "I know.  You hate it.  I'll only be a minute.  Then we can go to another store or somewhere else.  Whatever you want, I promise.  Okay?"

He nods.  "Okay, whatever."  Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he shuffles his feet over so he's out of the sight of any shoppers out in the main hallway and leans against a mirror on the wall between two necklace displays.  "Just don't be long."

"I won't!"  I take off to my favorite section, the blue.  Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings.... oh, I love them all!  This is cute.  That's sooo pretty.  I love that.  Hm.  I guess I could see someone else wearing that one, but it's not for me.  Oh-what is that?  I am so buying this!  Ew.  Why would anyone buy that?

I'm sure I've already stretched Rykel's patience twice by the time I finally settle on what I want to buy and head to the register.  I remember our ride here on the motorcycle and ask the lady to staple the bag closed.  A few minutes later, two paper-wrapped bracelets lie in the bottom of my paper shopping bag, and I find Rykel slouching on a bench outside the store.

"Sorry."  I offer a sheepish look of penitence and hold up my bag.  "I know that took a while.  I'm done now.  What do you want to do?"

He stands up and shrugs.  "That place looks like that My Little Pony show on steroids.  "

I laugh.  "I won't make you come again.  What's next?"

"Why don't we just go for a drive?"

"Okay."

He smiles and takes my hand.  We take our time leaving the mall.  Rykel stops just outside the building.  He pulls a small box, about the size of a deck of cards, out of his pocket.  "Mind if I take a smoke before we set off?"

I stare at the box of cigarettes.  "Smoke?"

He nods.  "Yeah, I smoke.  Sorry, did I never mention that?"

I swallow, not sure how to react.  "Um.  Guess not."

"We're not allowed to at Polytech, and I don't get out often.  The rules and all that.  I haven't had a smoke in a solid month, at least.  So... do you mind waiting?"

Yes.  Yes, I do.  Well, I don't mind waiting, but I definitely mind the smoking.  Still, he was patient with me at Charming Charlie... I guess I kind of owe him.  I sigh.  "Sure, that's fine.  I'll just wait over by the motorcycle."

He nods and lights up a cigarette as I walk over to the motorcycle and sit down on it.  I watch him, wondering what else I don't know about this guy.  The list of what I do know is shockingly short when I think about it.

Emily, you are in sooo over your head.

My Imaginary Boyfriend, Episode Four: Guest Episode by SJ Aisling!

Today we have the actual author of Conductives and creator of Rykel, my friend SJ Aisling, here with a very special installment of My Imaginary Boyfriend!  Words cannot describe how awesome it is to have the original author of a work love your fanfiction this much.

Previous episode: http://emilyrachellewrites.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-imaginary-boyfriend-episode-three.html

Hey everyone! I'm Stacia Joy, and I'm here today by the request of Emily to guest post about her fanfic of my WIP scifi/paranormal trilogy, Conductive. She wrote the fanfic for the writing/art contest I'm hosting at my blog (there are still some entry slots left!), and I've had a lot of fun reading her take on my character Rykel. So much fun, in fact, I found myself HAVING to write a scene in response to what'd she'd written! And, naturally, I was delighted when she asked me to share this scene with you all!

* * *

"Um, Rykel, who was that girl you brought to the gala last night?" Nissa whispered under the cover of the usual buzz of lunchtime conversation, leaning over the table in the pale blue and white Polytech cafeteria.

"Oh, the cute little ginger? Her name's Emily." Rykel looked up from turning his mashed potatoes into a replica of the abominable snowman.

"Emily who?"

Rykel shrugged and smashed his potato snowman. "No idea."

"Where did you meet her? I'd never seen her before."

"No biggie. Last night was the second time I'd seen her."

Nissa put down her fork and frowned at him, green eyes narrowed. "You need to stop dragging all these unsuspecting girls to publicized events! This Emily does know you have a new girlfriend practically every month, right?"


Rykel shook his head and prodded his potatoes again. "This stuff is awful. The cooking here is an insult to food. This is like trying to eat styrofoam put in a blender."

"Rykel!"

"What?"

"You're not just going to disappear on this girl, too, are you? It's really mean to get all these girls' hopes up, and then just leave."

"I don't leave." Rykel stopped torturing his potatoes and sat up suddenly.

"You do."

"I don't. I just… stop coming around."

"If you're not coming, you've left."

Rykel tossed his fork down and folded his arms over his chest, glaring at his plate. His strong jaw began to work, the muscles sliding and growing taught.

Ooooh boy. Nissa let out a long sigh. Grumpy Rykel time. I've really pushed his buttons now.  "How about you actually give this girl a try, for once? She seemed really nice, the little bit I saw of her. You didn't even introduce her to anybody."

"She was really freaked out, okay?" Rykel muttered.

"Nice. So she's not a Conductive." Nissa rolled her eyes, then looked back at Rykel again sharply. "Wait. You… didn't tell her about the gala, did you."

Rykel shrugged, still seemingly trying to incinerate his plate with his eyes.

"No wonder she looked like a deer in the headlights every time one of the cameras flashed." Nissa slumped against her chair and pulled at her pet curl. "Please tell me you at least did something classy with her when you two disappeared last night."

"I took her to that Asian joint. Dragon Palace, or something. She likes chicken."

"DON'T try to use the fact that she easts meat as an excuse to dump her."

"I didn't say I was gonna dump her!" Rykel snapped, louder than he probably meant, and several people at the nearby tables turned to look at him and Nissa. He glared at them all as if they'd suggested taking a can of spray paint to his Indian motorcycle, then jerked his head to his left to stare out the wide windows sweeping the entire length of the curved cafeteria hall at the courtyard beyond.

Nissa ignored the spectators and paid some deserving attention to her chicken Caesar salad with bacon. Once the pitch of voices around them returned to their normal high as everyone went back to the conversations at their respective rectangular tables, she whispered, "Well, were you planning on seeing her again?"

Rykel didn't answer right away.

"Dunno." He shrugged.

"Well, you better get your act together, Rykel." Nissa jabbed at him with her fork, her numerous bangles jingling together. "A lot of these girls you've had around have been really nice people, and you're going to regret not getting to know one of them well, someday. So either stick with this Emily for a decent amount of time, or get it over with and tell her it was just a one time thing - your scapegoat for not having a date for last night."

"Cut it out!" Rykel's voice crackled, and his eyes flickered brighter blue as he shot a glance at her. "Don't tell me what to do!"

"I'm not. Calm down, Rykel." Nissa sighed, blowing a strand of her curly copper hair out of her face.  "You're going to melt your chair again if you don't. I'm just saying that maybe your idea of dating isn't the best idea."

"Said the girl who's never dated. Even though I've offered several times."

"Rykel, we're friends. And that's why I'm talking to you about this. It's also why I don't take your offers, but that's an entirely different conversation. Please, just think about what I said, at least. And maybe introduce Emily to me and the others."

Turning to face her again, Rykel leaned his elbows on the tabletop and pressed the bridge of his nose between his fingers. He took several deep breaths, his eyes closed.

"I think she'd be too scared to meet you guys," he muttered.

"Why would she - Oh no. You didn't tell her about us, did you?"

"Not about you and Alec and everybody else. I kinda almost fried her when I shook her hand the first time, though, so I sorta HAD to give an explanation." Rykel glanced up at Nissa, his slow, cocky grin began to spread across his face behind his scarred hands.

"Rykel, you are NOT supposed to just go around telling people you're a Conductive!" Nissa slumped back in her chair, her oversized 'Team Conductive' hoodie scrunching up her back. "Gosh, Danton is going to have a coronary."

"Only if he finds out." Rykel straightened and cocked back his head, flicking his blond hair out of his right eye.

"Emily isn't going to go around telling everyone, do you think?"

"Nah. I don't think so. I made her promise not to."

"How did you manage that?"

"By telling her I'd see her again. She was psyched."

"Are you actually going to see her again?"

"I think so. I put my number in her phone."

"You… in HER phone? What?" Nissa sat up and put her hands on her hips.

"She dropped it. So I picked it up. But I hit a lot of buttons on the way to giving it back to her."

"My gosh, Rykel. You're such a jerk. I don't know how any of these girls fall for you."

"Cause I'm also awesome." Rykel put his hands behind his head, and Nissa relaxed, knowing the action was a sign that all danger of Rykel's losing control through anger was past.

"In a really jerky way." She rolled her eyes.

"Whatever. Want a ride after lunch? I've gotten the Indian all cleaned up."

"YES!" Nissa bounced in her chair, curls flouncing in all directions, and Rykel grinned even more broadly, chuckling.

"Nice, Nissy. Real nice. Should I put my number in your phone, too?"

* * *

Stacia Joy is a mainly-self-taught writer and illustrator, and her debut fantasy novel, Becoming the Chateran (Book One of the Chateran Series), is due to be released soon. When not writing or immersed in art, Stacia Joy enjoys numerous pastimes that include Irish dancing, playing the folk harp and piano and composing music, singing, dressing up, and petting kittens. She is nearly fluent in sarcasm, has suffered from sesquipedalianism for years, and often tosses helpless people who barely know her into her books as inspiration. 

To learn more about Conductive, her other writing, and her art/illustrations, just drop by Stacia Joy's blog, Facebook page, or Tumblr.

My Imaginary Boyfriend, Episode Three: Blue

Any of you, my lovely readers, who hoped to see more of Rykel's and my story owe this new Saturday series to the clamoring of my mom and best friend who convinced me to finish.  Huge thanks to S.J. Aisling, actual author/creator of Rykel and his real story, Conductives.  S.J. and I are friends and she's not only agreed that this series is a good idea - she's willing to read the pieces before they're live and possibly throw in an installment or two of her own!  So, without further ado...

Episode three of My Imaginary Boyfriend, a Conductives fanfiction series by Emily Rachelle with help from the author, S.J. Aisling.

Previous episode: http://emilyrachellewrites.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-imaginary-boyfriend-episode-two-five.html


I laugh.  Considering how little I know about this tattoo-sporting, motorcycle-driving, secret-identity guy, I ought to be a little wary.  But something in Rykel's electric blue eyes grinning at me makes joy bubble through my heart.

He leans forward and sets his left elbow on the table, cocking one eyebrow.  I notice a few faded scars scattered along his hand.  Wonder what's up with those.  "Okay, hon, so.  Basically, I was born with this... problem."


I nod and take another bite of my noodles.  "Okay."  What does he mean?  Wherever he's going with this, I can definitely say it sounds interesting.

He ruffles his hair with his hand, flipping it off towards his ear.  I hold back a smile at the gesture.  He is incredibly good-looking.  "You've closed a car door and had that static shock before, right?"

"Sure."  Who hasn't?  I can't stand the feeling.

"Some people are born with this genetic... thing that actually causes them to store up that energy inside."

I nod.  "Okay."  Obviously he must mean he's one of these people.

He pauses and rests both hands on the tablecloth, seeming to wait for a further reaction.  I shrug.  "So?  I follow you."

"You believe me?"

"Why not?"

A slow smile stretches across his rough face.  "Alright.  The people eventually have to get rid of all that energy, so they do this thing called a Release.  Since they're releasing the energy and all."

"Cool.  Isn't that kind of dangerous?"  I glance at his hands.  The scars line both hands.

He laughs, and the scratchy sound touches that odd spot in my chest.  I look up at him.  "Yeah, babe, that it is.  There's explosions and power problems and a whole lot of problems like that, especially when they don't know what they're doing.  It's something you have to practice and learn control for.  You know?"

I smile.  "Makes sense."  I pause to eat another bite before prodding him on.  "So where is all this going?"   Just say it already.

He swallows and chuckles.  "See, actually, there's a whole group of these people.  They're called Conductives, and they study at this special school.  Honestly, it's more like a high-tech military base.  All the security and rules are insane."  He rolls his eyes.  "It is a pretty sweet place, just run by control freaks.  Anyway... well, I'm kind of... one of them."

I raise my eyebrows and laugh.  "Cool."  I look out the window to my right before looking back at Rykel.  "That's just... huh."

He nods, grinning wildly.  "It's pretty awesome."

"I'd say!  So, you're like a superhero?"

I didn't realize his grin could get bigger.  If he didn't have the physique of a hardcore Marine, I'd call it adorable.  "Yeah, pretty much."

"Do you guys have specific powers?  Or you just all do the same things with the energy?"

"Hey, I'm unique, sweetheart."  He glances around the restaurant and then leans in closer to me.  I giggle.  "Want to see?"

I nod and try not to squeal my answer.  "Yes!"  I grab my purse off the back of my chair.

He reaches into his back pocket to pull out his wallet.  "You can wait by the Indian while I pay."

"The what?"

He gestures towards the front of the restaurant.  "My motorcycle.  It's an Indian."

"Oh!  Okay."

It only takes a few minutes for him to join me in the parking lot.  He hands me the helmet and I strap it on and situate myself on the motorcycle seat behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist.  I lay the side of my head against his neck while he drives to shield myself from the cold night air.  He's so strong and warm.

He passes through a few intersections before reaching a gym that's been closed for almost a year and pulls into the parking lot.  I slide off the motorcycle seat and hang the helmet on the handlebar.  I bite my lip as I slide my purse back over my shoulder.  Is this safe?  I'm nervous and excited in the same breath.  He slides his fingers through mine and pulls me away from the motorcycle and the empty building.  I shiver and smile at him.

"You sure you ready for this, babe?"

I love his pet names.  "Yes.  I won't freak out."

He grins.  "Okay.  Oh, and one more thing," he adds, his smile suddenly gone.  "You have to promise you won't tell."

I nod, equally serious.  "Of course.  I promise."

The fun, grinning Rykel returns as quickly as it vanished.  "Here goes nothing!"

He lets go of my hand and snaps his fingers with his other hand.  In between his index finger and thumb, a little blue glowing orb floats in the air.  Like you might throw a pebble or a marble, he tosses the floating light away from us and it hits the parking lot.  A tiny explosion like fireworks goes off with a staticky noise when the orb hits the asphalt, then it fades with a sizzle.  Little black scorch marks streak the parking lot where the collision happened.

I'm sure my eyes are as wide as saucers.  Rykel is looking at me.

"Hey babe.  You okay?"

I shake my head to snap myself out of it and meet his worried gaze.  "That-"  I clear my throat and try again, knowing that my voice is barely above a whisper.  "That was freaking awesome."

"You don't look too great."

"I'm fine."  I give a small smile and glance back at the scorch marks.  "I just... it's a lot to take in."  I look back at Rykel and notice something on his hand.  "Hey, you're bleeding."

He covers the cut with his other hand and shrugs.  "It's no biggie."

I pull my gaze away from his hands and look back up at him.  "Is that how you got all your scars?"

Rykel shrugs again and wipes his hands on his jeans before taking mine and leading me back to the motorcycle.  "Why don't I get you back?  It's getting late."

I hold back my disappointment and sigh in assent.  "You're right."

The ride back to the coffee shop feels like an eternity but ends too soon.  Rykel helps me off the seat and squeezes my hand before releasing me.  I smile.  "I had fun tonight."

He smiles a little and slides his hands in his pockets.  "Yeah, it was cool.  So I'll see you around?"

"So I'll see you again?"  I try not to let myself show just how excited just being around him makes me.  I'm not sure if I'm successful.

"Sure."  He pauses before adding, with his smile fading, "Well, if nobody finds out about me.  I'm serious, you can't tell anyone - about me being a Conductive or the party tonight or that thing back in the parking lot - especially that."

I nod.  "Rykel, I promised.  You can trust me."  He doesn't grin or laugh, and it makes me uneasy.  "Really.  Rykel, whether or not we see each other again, I won't tell."

He smiles and my uneasiness flees.  "Okay then.  Night, sweetheart!"

I wave while he climbs onto his motorcycle and revs up the engine.  "Good night, Rykel!"  With a puff of exhaust and the squeal of his tires, he flies away, and I turn to walk back to school campus.

Heart Torn in Two {The Fun}

You can read Heart Torn in Two and follow to keep up with the latest chapters on Fanfiction.net.

The Playlist



On Pinterest

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Susan

Caspian

The Girl

 The Boy

Two hearts. Two worlds. Two children. When Susan leaves Narnia the second time, she leaves much more than a lover behind and carries a great secret with her. Will her life ever be whole again? Caspian/Susan. Movie canon. Begins during Prince Caspian. Rated T to be safe.

Heart Torn in Two

My Imaginary Boyfriend, Episode Two: Five Minutes of Fame

See the contest this is for here: http://sjaisling.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/artwriting-contest-when-imaginary-worlds-collide/

Read my first entry (and the first part of this story) here: http://emilyrachellewrites.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-imaginary-boyfriend-episode-one.html

See even more of Rykel at his interview follow-up, where most of the questions are mine! Haha check it out: http://sjaisling.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/ask-rykel/

It so happens that the first 150-ish words of this story (the portion that can be seen before the jump) are also my entry into this contest: http://goteenwriters.blogspot.com/2013/07/new-writing-contest-ive-never-been-type.html


 I've never been the type of girl to say yes to just any boy.  I have a list exactly thirty items long that every potential date must meet - not to mention highly conservative parents.

You can see how holding hands with Jack Brant Rykel at a glam celebrity party is as great a shock to me as anyone who knows me.  (No pun intended.)

It wasn't the stardom, I'll tell you that.  I'd never even heard of the Conductives when I met him.  I can't really say what attracted me to him.  I knew he was trouble the moment I first saw him in a convenience store buying Red Bull.  Even now, I feel like I don't know much more than that.

So when he asked me out the first time I called him, I still don't know why I said yes.
 All he told me was to wear something nice and be ready at six at a coffee shop near my school campus.  Now, at 5:40, I sit waiting anxiously in said shop.  At 6:18, Rykel walks in.  He smiles when he sees me.

"Hey babe.  You ready?"

I smile and stand, smoothing out my knee-length blue dress.  I was so afraid of under- or over-dressing, but the Sunday-morning suitable dress, braided crown of hair, and gold flip flops work perfectly with his dress pants and not-completely-buttoned white dress shirt.  Of course, his many (many!) piercings really set us apart.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

He slides his hand into mine and I bite my bottom lip, nervous and pleased at the same time.  We walk out to the parking lot.

I hadn't really considered the fact that he drove a motorcycle back at the convenience store.  After a bit of finagling with my dress, I manage to get myself properly seated behind Rykel with my little black purse securely between my legs.

Rykel passes me a helmet.  "This will be yours for tonight, sweetheart.  You'll have to hold on tight to me so you don't fall off."

I smile shyly and curse my fair, freckly skin as I feel heat blossoming into a deep red blush.  "Thanks."

I strap my helmet on and wrap my hands around his waist.  He grins back at me.  "Ready, ginger?"

I laugh.  "Ready as I'll ever be!"

He revs up the engine and pushes off.  Wind rushes past my face and I laugh, giddy with the speed and excitement of riding a motorcycle for the second time in my life.  The noise from the wind makes it impossible to talk, so I just enjoy the wind whipping around us and the warmth of sitting so close to him.

Eventually we reach a large, elaborate brick building with a grand marble fountain and several vehicles pulling through the circular driveway.  To my surprise, Rykel slows and turns in to the driveway.

"What are we doing?"

He turns and grins at me again; I feel heat course from my heart through my body.  "You'll see."

We follow the course of the cars - even limos! - until it's our turn to disembark.  Rykel puts down the motorcycle rest, steps off the seat, and offers me a hand.  I slip my purse strap onto my shoulder and accept his help, careful to keep my dress pulled down as I slide off the seat.  Once I've pulled off the helmet, handed it to the valet, and patted down my red hair, I have a chance to look around.

Red carpet leads through the doors of a mansion, with cameramen and women lining the walkway.  They snap away as I stand taking everything in.  Rykel waves at the crowds, smiling.  I have no idea what to say or do.  Where are we?

Rykel slips his arm around my waist like it's second nature.  I glance up at him.  He smiles, whispering, "Just follow my lead."

We pose for photos.  Rykel signs autographs and shakes hands with fans - I guess they're his fans?  I wonder if he's an actor or singer or something.  Interviewers ask all sorts of questions, from "powers" to "girlfriend" and other things that I don't understand.  Who is this man standing next to me?

Eventually we make it inside, where there are much fewer cameras and nobody asking questions.  There's also several people wearing very nice, very formal, and very expensive-looking clothing, walking by tables of hors d'oeuvre and champagne flutes.

Rykel turns to me and lays his hands on my shoulders.  His shockingly blue eyes sparkle as he smirks at me.  "So, how we doin' sweetheart?"

I respond with the first coherent thought that I have.  "I'm underdressed."

He laughs and drops his hands.  I find myself surprised to be missing the warm, strong sensation.  "Nah, you look great."  He flips his hair out of his eyes.  "Anything else?"

I cross my arms.  "Who are you, and where are we?"

He takes my hand in his, uncrossing my arms, and gives a playful handshake.  "Jack Brant Rykel, Conductive training at Polytech, at your service."

I blink a few times.  "Conductive?"  Polytech?  Huh?

He cocks his eyebrow.  "Listen, babe, give me a minute and we can split if you want.  I'll explain everything.  You and me, some dinner maybe?  I just had to make an appearance, that's all."

"Um... okay.  That works."  I really have no idea what is going on.

He stops to talk with a few people, flirting openly with the ladies.  I'm receiving the general idea that most people here just tolerate him.  After a few minutes, he grabs my hand and leads me through one richly decorated room after another.  We reach a back door that opens into a parking lot.  With Rykel leading me, we weave among the vehicles until we reach his motorcycle.

It's a short drive to town and the small Asian restaurant where we stop.  Rykel pulls out my chair for me before sitting and we look through the menus without saying much.  When the waiter comes for our order, I get a chicken and noodles meal I used to have in Japan.  Rykel orders a... veggie meal?  I wait to talk to him until after the waiter has taken our menus and left.

"Are you one of those healthy eater people?"  He certainly doesn't strike me as one.

He shrugs.  "I'm vegetarian."

I raise my eyebrows in surprise.  "Oh."  I'm not sure what else to say.  "Seems there's a lot I don't know about you."

He laughs and I smile, quite aware of the butterflies racing inside me.  "You know that shock you felt when we first met, shaking hands in the gas station?"

"Yeah."  What does that have to do with anything?

He grins.  "There's a whole lot more to that."

My Imaginary Boyfriend, Episode One: Trouble

Hello, my lovely readers!  How is your Saturday morning?  I know today ought to be a new DIY Party Diva, but I've gotten bored with that series, and when you're bored then blogging is no fun and your readers can tell.  Instead, I've decided to use Saturdays like I do Tuesdays and Thursdays for now - writing about whatever strikes my fancy rather than starting a new series.  For today, I'd like to share a little something I wrote last week.  It's not your usual short story - in fact, there are no original characters of mine in it, but it's not a fanfiction, either!  (Not technically.)  It's an entry into my friend S.J's writing and art contest.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I strap my helmet on and wrap my hands around his waist.  He grins back at me.  "Ready, ginger?"

I laugh.  "Ready as I'll ever be!"

He revs up the engine and pushes off.  Wind rushes past my face and I laugh, giddy with the speed and excitement of riding a motorcycle for the second time in my life.


* * *

I never would have met him if it weren't for the trip to the convenience store.  I always forget something, every time I pack, whether I'm going somewhere or returning home.  Usually it's nothing big - a necklace, my perfume, an extra pair of socks - but every once in a while I forget something major.

In this case, my deodorant.

When you're on your first ever road trip in the middle of the summer with your best friend, deodorant is not just a modern convenience.  It's not something you're just uncomfortable without.  No, deodorant is a necessity.  That's how I ended up standing in the aisles of Joe's One-Stop Shop, one of the many gas stations with convenience stores that the GPS had led us to.

I hold a different brand of deodorant in each hand, and Mikaela watches me with her arms crossed, blowing her long auburn bangs out of her face.  "Come on, Emily, just pick one!  We have another hour left before we reach Gatlinburg."

I laugh.  "It's only one.  We're going to be there early anyway.  We can't check into the hotel until three."

"Whatever, just pick one!  It's only deodorant."

"Yeah, and I have sensitive skin!  Do you see any unscented?"

She pulls one of every single kind in the store, laying the seven different brands on the floor and sitting Indian-style on the tile.  I set the two I'm holding back on the shelf and run a hand over my long red ponytail, laughing at her there on the floor.  Crazy girl.

"Hm, let's see.  Nope.  Nope.  Nope."  She picks each one up, glances at the label, and slides it to a new pile on her right.

I try to stop laughing and scold her, but fail miserably.  "Mikaela, what are you doing?  Get up off the floor!  It's filthy!"  My words dissolve into giggles.

"Here's one!"  She pops up off the floor with a purple bottle in her hand.  "See?  Unscented.  Now let's put the others away and leave!"

I shake my head, still grinning, and help her return the various containers to the right shelves.  "Here, I'll go pay.  You want to start the car?"  She trades the deodorant for my keys and saunters off towards the door.  I watch her, biting back my envy at how her t-shirt and athletic shorts show off her slim body.  We're all made differently.  God designed Mikaela to be a bombshell with no interest in guys, and me to be a softie who could stand to lose a few pounds here and there.

There are two voluptuous women in shorts and tank tops chattering away in front of the register, something about kids and water bottles and a swimming lesson.  Even the skinny, bleach-blond cashier seems itching to be done, tugging at the piercings sticking out of one ear while she pushes buttons on the register.  I glance around the store while I wait for the women's many, many snack items to be rung up.

I can only see one other person in the store, a wrinkled old man with a cane standing outside the bathroom.  When I hear the bell on the front door ring, I turn to see who else is coming inside.  The door falls shut behind a rather wild-looking young man, who heads directly to the drink section.  I glance away, not wanting to stare, but keep watching him out of the corner of my eye.

The left side of his head is bald, while the other side is covered in thick, kind of long blond hair.  It flops around in front of his eye.  That must be so annoying.  The sleeves of his AC/DC t-shirt have been ripped off; his muscular arms sport a tattoo each - the right side, a bouquet of roses, and the left side, a sort of patterned band.  He's wearing jeans that are hanging low, according to the awful fashion today, and his belt has a chain hanging across it.  There's a beaded necklace, leather bracelet, and those huge circular earrings - plus at least two other piercings in the ear I can see.

That boy is trouble.

He reaches inside the glass refrigerator case and pulls out a Red Bull before getting in line behind me.  I focus on looking straight ahead.  The first woman's purchase is complete, and she stands to the side of her friend, still gabbing while the cashier rings up her food.

I glance at the rack of candy and lighters on the side of the register and notice a box of Mentos.  I'm almost out of those, so I reach over and grab a couple of rolls... and manage to knock down the whole rack in the process.

The rack clatters as it hits the floor and its contents go sliding and rolling in all directions.  The women stop talking to see what's going on, and the cashier bends over the counter.

I lean down and start scooping candy boxes and rolls up to return to their boxes.  "I'm sorry!  I'm so, so sorry!  I'll fix it, I promise!"

The cashier goes back to ringing up purchases, and the women return to their conversation.  I sigh in relief.  At least my little mishap doesn't seem to be a big deal.

Shaved-head guy kneels down to help me.  "Hey, babe, don't sweat it.  Lemme help you."

I look over at him and cock my eyebrows, but I don't say anything.  Babe?  Seriously?

We finish putting the candies and lighters back on the rack.  The guy picks the rack up and slides it back into place on the counter wall.  I brush the knees of my denim capris off, tug on the edge of my green t-shirt, and smile at him.  "Thanks."

He holds out his hand, holding my cell phone.  "No problem.  Name's Rykel.  Here, you dropped this."

"Oh, thank you!  I'm Emily."  My fingers brush his when I take my phone back.  A shock, like I get sometimes closing the minivan door, pulses through my arm.  I pull back and shake it out.

He laughs.  "Sorry.  Sometimes I come across a little... electrifying."  He grins, and I find myself thinking him cute and arrogant in the same moment.

I smile.  "Very funny."  Turning back towards the register, I find the women with the food are picking up their bags and leaving.  I set the bottle of deodorant on the counter and pull out my wallet.  Once I've paid, I grab the bottle and walk to the door.  "Nice to meet you, Rykel."  I nod back at him.  He waves, and I push the door open and jog to the van.

"What took you so long?"  Mikaela taps her fingers impatiently against the steering wheel while I close the passenger door and click my seat belt.

"There was a bit of an incident.  I knocked down a rack and some guy helped me pick everything up."

Mikaela laughs.  "At least it wasn't me!  Was he cute?"

I smile and shake my head.  "What's it matter?  Just drive.  The sooner we get to Gatlinburg, the sooner we can stop at Porkie's for dinner.  Man, their sandwiches are good."

As she pulls out of the parking lot, I look out the window.  Rykel's standing next to an oldish-looking motorcycle, opening his Red Bull and grinning.  Man, that guy must love his energy drinks.  He catches me watching and waves.  I smile and return the gesture before Mikaela pulls out onto the road and we head for the highway and the awesome vacation waiting for us in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

* * *

Three days after returning from my road trip, I need to call a babysitting client and cancel.  I'm scrolling through my phone contacts when I see a familiar name.

Jack Brant Rykel.

It takes me a few minutes to figure out how I know that name.  As soon as I remember, I laugh and shake my head.  "Persistent guy."  I click the menu button to delete it, but with my thumb hovering over the select button, I pause.  Why not?  I exit the menu and hit call instead.  The line rings four times before he picks up.

"Hey?"

I grin.  "You're nuts."

He laughs, a scratchy sound that tugs at a spot in my chest.  Looking back, I think that was the moment of no return.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

What do you guys think?  In case you can't tell, I'm actually the 'character' speaking.  The best friend is my real best friend, Mikaela P. in Florida.

And Rykel?  Well, you can meet him here: http://sjaisling.wordpress.com/2013/06/23/enter-the-incendiary-meet-rykel/

Read more about Rykel: http://sjaisling.wordpress.com/2013/07/16/tats-cats-and-combustion-an-interview-with-rykel/

The piece that inspired this entry: http://sjaisling.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/why-you-shouldnt-date-rykel/  (That, and the fact that I couldn't get the punk out of my head.)

Heart Torn in Two {The Feedback}

Have you heard the news?  I'm writing a fanfiction!  This is no one-shot or hastily posted fluff piece, either - no, I'm in this for the long haul!  But I've already told you about the fanfiction.  Today I'll let the readers speak for me!

Here's what the reviews on Fanfiction.net are saying:

Omigosh finally a decent suspian fic! You are amazing and I can't wait for more! :) ~ HarryPotterNut94

This is AWESOME! Can't wait for more ~ A.Gabrielle-Katherine

Oh my gosh I lovvvvve this so much! I've always preferred the movie-verse and the Suspian is so well written! I can just hear his accent holy crap. And Susan's sad mysterious understated natural beauty just radiates from her. The archer queen has returned! Can't wait for more! ~ Trapped In Narnia

This is interesting. A very different, deeper take on the series. I like it! ~ Alexa Skywalker

And here's what some fellow writers - of fanfiction and original works alike - have to say:

I've loved reading Heart Torn in Two since the day Emily told me about the idea. The subplot to C.S. Lewis' brilliant storyline gives a completely different take on the traditional story which furthers the characterization and world that all Narnia readers came to love. I can't wait to see where the story goes as she branches out of the world of the movie into her own imagination. ~ Kira Hellweg

It is an awesome story.  I love reading it, and I almost die while waiting for more! ~ Adriana Gabrielle

I don't tend to read fanfics, but this one intrigued me from the start. I was excited to read something about Susan and Caspian. Each chapter leaves me waiting for the next, and I must say that it is very well-written compared to a lot of fanfics I have read in the past. ~ Heather Manning