Free Timesurfers by Rhonda Sermon

What is going on with you
today?”
    “Stop the car,” Cate yelled.
“STOP...THE...CAR.”
    Brittany pulled over, and Cate scrambled onto
the pavement.
    “Are you all right?” Eve’s forehead crinkled
with concern.
    I could ask you the same
question , Cate thought. “I’m going to walk the last bit. My
head feels funky.”
    Eve scooted over the leather seat. “I’ll come
with.”
    “No!”
    Eve looked taken aback.
    “No,” Cate repeated more calmly. “There was a
bit of a thing at my house this morning. I need a few minutes.”
    Brittany’s Jeep disappeared around the
corner, and Cate crumpled onto the pavement. Tears prickled behind
her eyes. “Blubbering won’t help you,” she mumbled and wiped her
eyes with the back of her hand. Her shoulders shook as stray tears
trickled down her cheeks. The tears escalated to gigantic, body
wrenching sobs.
    “Cate?” Zach lumbered toward her, concern on
his round face. She slapped away the hand he offered to help her
up. Could her day get any worse?
    “Cate,” a second voice called.
    Yes, it could.
    Austin jogged across the road with the ease
and grace of a supremely fit athlete. “Come on.” His dimples
showed, and his grey eyes sparkled as he helped her up.
    She took deep breaths and attempted to
control her sobs, envious of the high-energy vibe Austin exuded. He
clearly loved his life.
    Zach grabbed Austin’s arm. “Hands off.”
    His fingers firm on Cate’s hand, Austin gave
Zach a withering glare. “Step away, Newbie, this is one fight you
don’t want to pick.”
    Zach hovered, undecided. He stepped back. “If
you hurt her...”
    Cate wiped her nose with the heel of her
hand. Austin held out a perfectly folded linen handkerchief to her.
She wiped her face and blew her nose. Very attractive.
    “Shoo!” Austin motioned Zach away.
    “Cate?” Zach asked.
    “Go, Zach. We’re done. HEY!” She grabbed his
arm. “Your nose. It’s...normal,” she spluttered.
    “That’s a matter for debate.” Austin peered
at Zach.
    “I broke his nose last night.” She stabbed an
index finger toward Zach. “Now it’s all...not broken.”
    Austin’s eyes narrowed. “Hmm. Come on.” He
moved Cate toward school. “Zach, if I turn and see any part of you
following us, I’ll snap it off.”
    Zach slunk away.
    Cate shook off Austin’s hand. She was done
waiting for answers. “I think someone followed me home yesterday.
What do you know about that?”
    “Well spotted. We all followed you home
yesterday.”
    Her spider sense had been on the mark. “Why
the hell would you do that? Who are you? What do you want?”
    “I’m Austin. I’m nineteen and a Leo. I like
long walks on the beach and—”
    “Cut the crap. If you followed me home, you
saw me whack Zach. Don’t tempt me to slug you too. Who are
you?”
    Austin’s eyes hardened. He went from relaxed
to warrior in an instant. “Everyone saw you punch Zach because your
porch light was on. We’ll have to agree to disagree on the idea you
could hurt me.”
    “Really?” Her pent up frustration begged for
release.
    “I’d wipe the floor with you.” He raised his
chin, full of confidence.
    Cate shrugged. “You had fair warning.” She
gave a knife-hand strike to Austin’s neck.
    He smiled as he swatted her hand away. “You
want to go there? Seriously?”
    She used the same move with the other
hand.
    He slid away from her, as fluid and graceful
as water. “Let’s not.”
    An idea sprang to mind to wipe the cocky grin
from his face. With a shrug, she stepped closer, hands held in
front of her. “You’re way too fast for
me.” As Austin relaxed, she flashed forward. She grabbed his
shoulders and smashed her knee into his groin. He doubled over, his
face contorted in pain.
    He attempted to stand as she came at him
again, but there was no coming back from the pain of a hit that
low. He landed on the ground, and she pressed a foot against his
throat. “Let’s try this again.” She leaned and dug her