Free Jax (A Neveah Short Story) by Angie Merriam Page A

today son,”
his father said and nodded toward the path. Jax followed his
father’s eyes and saw Annika walking towards them. Her blond hair
was piled high on her head with flower’s thread throughout the
strands. He felt his heart speed up just a little, and his belly
fluttered. He'd been experiencing these feelings at the sight of
her for a while, but he wasn't sure what to do about them. He
resigned to being happy to see her and shot his father a smile.
    “Thanks for the help Papa. Maybe it will
happen tomorrow.”
    “Go, have a good time. Hello Annika,” he
called to her as he waved goodbye to his son.
    “Hey Annika,” he said with a smile strung
from ear to ear.
    “Hey Jax. What are we doing today?” She
asked, the same smile on her face. “Let's go to our spot, I have
something to tell you,” he said excitedly. He wanted to tell her
about the animal living inside of him. He rarely spoke to her about
his ability. Although she knew he was a shape-shifter just as well
as she knew she was a calmer. He knew she'd learned to use her
powers at a young age because she regularly used it on him, and he
was grateful. Had it not been for her he would have been in trouble
at least twice as much as he already was. He was excited to tell
her about his gift though. He was hoping to impress her, which was
a first for him. He'd never given impressing Annika a second
thought until now.
    “Okay, let's go.” Annika always followed Jax.
He was her best friend.
    Their spot was close to Jax's home but away
from prying eyes. They discovered it on one of their many
adventures. Nestled between a circle of trees and backed against
the side of a mountain was a large pond. The water sparkled like
crystal and had several small streams falling into it. The
surrounding trees produced red blossoms that reflected in the
water. When the sun shone just right it looked like rubies floating
below the surface of the pond. It had to have been the only place
in the universe that reflected the two so perfectly. The water:
warm, clear, inviting and peaceful like Annika. The trees: dark,
shadowy, shady and magnificent like Jax.
     
    They ran to their spot and arrived breathless
but giggling. They collapsed onto the ground, catching their breath
between the laughter. “I beat you,” Annika said proudly. “We were
not racing,” Jax retorted, sounding hurt. She slapped his arm in
response. “Yes we were. It's an unspoken thing Jax. We always race.
If we are running, we are racing and I beat you. Don't be a sore
loser,” she taunted and saw the slight upturn of his lips.
    “Did you call me a loser?” He asked and she
eagerly nodded her head in response. “What are you gonna do about
it?” She replied and before she knew it, Jax had her on her back.
He sat lightly on top of her, her hands pinned above her head. “I
don't know. What should I do about it?” She stuck her tongue out at
him in defiance. “Oh really?” He said before his hands found all of
her ticklish spots. He knew them all. He loved watching her giggle
and squirm. Tickling her was his favorite form of punishment.
    “Ahh, Jax stop,” she managed to say between
fits of laughter. “Please, stop,” she happily pleaded before
freeing one of her hands and shoving her fingers into his rib cage.
The attack caught him by surprise, and he lost his grip on her
other hand. Annika took the opportunity and quickly began tickling
him back until he fell off of her, and she sat on top of him,
smiling triumphantly.
    “Ha, I know you're just as ticklish as me,”
she said laughing at his now squirming body. “You're losing your
touch my friend,” she taunted.
    “I let you win,” he said laughing.
    “No you didn't!”
    “Yes I did. I let you win the race and the
tickle match.”
    He seized her arms and flipped her over
again. She looked at him stunned. Her wide blue eyes were like
windows into her soul. They danced and lured him in and suddenly
Jax felt differently about Annika. He