“Enough talk about this,” Ava decreed, and I flinched in surprise. “Not because you don’t deserve to know, but you need time to process so you can figure out what questions you want to ask, sweetheart. So, how about you mull it over, and any of us will answer whatever questions you come up with?”
“For now, I only have one,” I whispered in a thick voice, and they waited with expectant expressions. “Is this ability of mine the reason everyone texted me?” Riff barked a laugh while Char chuckled with a shake of his head, Ava looked confused, and Marcus sighed heavily.
“No,” Char told me, his voice shaking with suppressed laughter. “They texted you because they care, Angel. You can’t make them care, that is beyond you. Nor can you make anyone love you. As far as I know, there does not exist a creature that can force another to feel love. Now, while they can sense you’re in pain, that doesn’t force them to do anything about it. They chose to offer their sympathy and lend an ear if you need one. You’re an adorable dork, Angel.”
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
Whistling, Marcus brought a stool to place behind the counter, indicating it with a smile after he sent Riff to get our homework. Moments later, I sat with three backpacks around my feet, doing my homework at the counter, off the clock, while Riff and Char sported their vests. Now and then, I glanced up to smile at customers when they greeted me, but otherwise, I focused on my work. Once I finished, I sketched Char with a slight smile.
Blinking, I jerked in surprise, causing pain to shoot along my spine, when Marcus placed a box on the counter, covering my sketchbook. “I only have the songs I’ve heard you humming or singing on there so far. But it’s ready to go, and you can add music at my house whenever you like. I’ve got the same songs on a USB, so when you get a laptop, you can add them to it. Otherwise, your library will be incomplete, and it’ll remove the songs from your iPod, all right?” Marcus murmured, and my cheeks heated before becoming cold. “Do not protest, Angel. Consider it a late birthday present, all right?”
Swallowing nervously, I nodded and picked up the box with shaking fingers. Opening it, I found a silver iPod nestled inside and its cords. Ava appeared from behind Marcus to place a pair of wireless headphones on the counter with a sweet smile. Its box followed a moment later, and I stared at them with tears burning my eyes. When I sniffled, they smiled, shaking their heads before coming around to hug me. Ava patiently explained how to charge and use the headphones, kissing the top of my head before she and Marcus waved goodbye and left.
Trembling with excitement, I turned the headphones on, placing them on my head and hitting the power button on my new iPod. Ava said Marcus already paired the devices, so they were ready to go whenever I was. So long as they meant them as birthday presents, I didn’t feel as guilty for accepting such expensive gifts even though I knew I didn’t deserve them. It made me so happy when I got Matty something for his birthday, especially if I was sure he’d love it, and I couldn’t deny anyone that wonderful feeling. Even though I should, because I was so undeserving of these gifts.
Still, my soul thrummed with happiness to have music I controlled for the first time. I never put songs on my phone because I didn’t have a way to do so. I didn’t want to download any apps that might put the slightest hint of my information where the bastard could find it. Scrolling through my choices, I smiled upon discovering many of my favorite songs and picked one to listen to before I resumed sketching. Char and Riff seemed to brighten when they noticed how happy I was, and my soul became peaceful for the moment.
Unfortunately, I stopped paying as much attention to the few customers that came to the store, while I focused on drawing. I sketched Char at the counter with his bad-boy grin while he waited for customers to approach. I almost expected the Char I drew to chuckle and drawl a line guaranteed to make me smile. A shadow fell over me, and I leaned my head back to discover Riff standing over me with a smirk softened by his expression of awe. I moved one headphone behind my ear when he tilted his head to the side.
“Someday, draw me like that too, okay? I feel you’ve captured him in a way no one else can. Like you’ve got the essence of his soul on that page. It’s hard to explain, but I’m jealous,” Riff whispered in my ear. He gave me a pouty expression that was so pathetic I couldn’t stop the laughter bubbling in my throat. The twinkling in his eyes ruined his attempt at looking even poutier, and I shook my head with a smile, moving my headphone back while rolling my eyes.
When Riff distracted me, Char grabbed my sketchbook because he studied my drawing when I glanced at him. My breath caught in my throat,
