20. Everything You Want
Chapter twenty
Everything You Want
S he hated herself-no, disappointment, she was disappointed in herself. Talia had always considered herself to be a good person, even from a young age. When that baby bird fell from a tree, she nursed it back to health; stayed up all night, set up heat lamps and gave it little droppers of food. And when that injured cat crawled its way to her front door after those nasty neighborhood boys thought they’d have a little fun with some fireworks, she rushed the cat to Mr. Jones, the town’s veterinarian, convinced him to take her whole piggy bank savings for payment, and afterward turned those boys in to the local sheriff. Justice served.
Teenage years were even harder for Talia, her mom had pulled away emotionally for reasons she didn’t understand and her dad was always working, but she held onto her desire to help others. She volunteered at the homeless shelter, the children’s hospital, befriended every wallflower and so called, ‘loser’.
Then came along Sebastian Thomas. Her world got turned upside down. She still considered herself a good person, but, Bass, made her selfish. Spending her time in his arms instead of volunteering. Befriending his friends and not spending as much time with her animals. And finally, going against her parents’ wishes when they demanded she stop seeing Bass. She refused, and the fragile relationship she had with them, shattered.
Bass proved her parents right in the end. He abandoned her. Cut her heart with a knife clean in half. She became a shell of herself, moving through life in slow motion, barely registering the things happening around her.
Angela was the one who picked her up. She made her laugh again, and suddenly she was enjoying her art with a passion she hadn’t felt in years. Creating magic and beauty with her hands. She didn’t even care that her parents all but disowned her when she chose art history for a major, because she had Angela. They were each other's family.
Talia nearly lost her mind when one day a stranger was wearing her face. Had this alien been any other being, in their own skin, alien or not, Talia would have helped them with no questions asked and would have even roped Angela into whatever crazy situation they were in.
But here was this, ALIEN. Wearing her best friends’ face. Why would any sane person befriend a body snatcher? And it was obsessed with her. She should have had some common sense, she should have run for the hills!
So why hadn’t she?
It was this feeling. Somewhere deep inside of her, was a tiny warm butterfly beating its wings. The more time she spent with them the more her belly grew with warmth. Then her heart did something strange. It shifted. As if a tiny current of electricity ignited in her chest and began to flow through her veins, igniting spark after spark that could not be ignored.
But they were still wearing Angela’s face. Touching Talia with Angela’s skin. And her mind was still telling her that this whole situation was crazy, that at any moment they would reveal their truth and hurt her.
And then it happened. They did hurt her. But not in the physical way she expected, something much worse. They told her that they were not only Brad, the first person to make her feel hopeful for romance again, but also Bass, her Bass, and who knows how many other people? She nearly drowned in her own emotions.
She was scared-no, terrified. Talia was tortured with not knowing if she was doing the right thing by helping them, by trusting them. This was new territory for her, for anyone.
If it weren’t for that tiny flutter that had grown, and the small spark that was electrifying every inch within her, she would never have helped this foreign thing.
Thing? No.
They were no longer a thing, they were Estrellas. her , Estrellas. No matter how hard her mind tried yelling at her, the love in her heart would dampen the screams. Soon, she wasn’t seeing Angela as often. Soon, she was only seeing Estrellas, and that was scary. Talia refused to lose her friend, her best friend. She had to keep reminding herself that Angela still existed somewhere.
Suddenly, keeping Angela and Estrellas as two separate people in her mind was becoming more and more a battle of sheer willpower.
Finally, Talia realized that the only way to keep from losing her sanity, would be to give in. Let go of the fear and doubt in her mind, and trust her heart. Trust that warm baby butterfly that only continued to grow.
At that moment, she let her tears go and fell into Estrellas’ embrace. It felt as though a thousand pounds had fallen from her shoulders.
She was home.
The sun was high in the sky when they left the cafe. Talia had a bounce in her step and a smile spread across her face. For the first time in days, she could breathe again. She could see Estrellas for what they really were. A good person that she loved. No matter how badly she tried to deny it, she was in love with Estrellas.
She knew she still could not cross that physical boundary. Not until Angela was back where she belonged, and Estrellas had their own body, but she also could no longer hide her feelings. This powerful thing inside her would not be shoved down. Talia embraced it. She savored it, licking every sweet racing pulse in her chest and sugared jellybean in her belly. It was as if something in their souls had called to each other. Estrellas was her person, human or not, and she was going to fight tooth and nail to help them win their freedom from the other Stathos’s.
Her love for them didn’t fully erase the ebbing fear that throbbed within her when her mind would quiet. Something was coming, she could feel in her bones. But with Estrellas at her side, she could face whatever was to come. They could take on anything as long as they had each other.
Talia buckled herself into her car and waited until Estrellas was secure as well. “So, what do you think about cooking Bill dinner for a change? Want to stop by the grocery store and get a few things?”
Estrellas smiled at her with an ease she hadn’t seen before, peaceful maybe? “Yes. I think that sounds like a wonderful idea.” They said.
Talia glanced in her rearview and side mirrors before easing the car out of the parking space, shifted to first and pulled out of the lot.
The warm desert air caressed her skin like a silken blanket blowing in the breeze. I could get used to this heat. Just as she was about to turn onto the street that led to the market, a sign caught her eye.
‘Paintball wars, two miles’ and a rainbow painted hand pointing to the right.
“Oh, we’re definitely going!” Talia declared with excitement.
Estrellas narrowed their eyes in confusion. “I’m sorry, going where?”
Talia pointed to the sign ahead and asked. “Ever been paintballing?”
They laughed. “I can’t say if I have. But if you’re excited, I’m excited. Let’s go!”
Five minutes later Talia slowed into a dirt parking lot. A banner made of colored triangles hung above a makeshift entrance held up by tall wooden poles. A one-person ticket booth sat behind it and a short girl with pixie brown hair, and bold glasses, wearing a dinosaur shirt, greeted them with enthusiasm.
“How can I help you?” She asked.
“Two please.” Talia said.
“You are in luck, the next battle round is about to begin!” The girl said. “Are you renting any gear today?” She asked.
Talia laughed. “Yes, all of it.”
“Coming right up! That’ll be $45 each.”
Talia handed over her parent’s credit card. The girl rang them up and wrapped neon green nylon bracelets around each of their wrists. The girl disappeared from view and re-emerged from behind the ticket booth and wheeled herself over to a large table filled with equipment. She reached for what she needed and handed each of them a face mask, a sleeveless colored jacket with lots of stuffed pockets probably full of extra paintballs, and a paintball gun.
“Line up over there” she pointed, “and wait for the bell.” She looked at Talia, “You’ll be on the red team” then she looked to Estrellas, “and you’ll be on the blue team.” She maneuvered her wheelchair with ease when she rolled around them back towards the booth, then shouted over her shoulder. “Have fun!”
Hay bales were stacked into a maze formation seven feet high with two front entrances across a large open field. At least a dozen people grouped together near each of the entrances. Blue on one side and red on the other.
Excitement had Talia bouncing on her heels. She stuck her hand out towards Estrellas to shake. They took her hand, confusion etched on their face. “Good luck!” Talia said. She pulled her hand back and giggled as she hurried to her team. They won’t have any idea what hit them. She thought as she laughed to herself. For just a moment, she thought maybe she should have explained what was happening to Estrellas. But they were a centuries old being, they could figure it out, and besides Talia rarely embraced a competitive nature, she needed this. She needed to blow off some steam.
Talia held the gun between her thighs, then pulled on her face mask and jacket. She tucked the gun under her arm and stretched her neck side to side. The bell rang. She took a deep breath and ran forward.
Past the entrance there were so many ways forward that her team quickly disappeared. She was alone. Talia's breath came in rapid bursts as she slowly peeked around each corner before running to the next place to hide. She stood and came face to face with a blue jacket, she shot, no hesitation, and ran on. Adrenaline coursed her veins pumping her body full of energy and drive to win.
She took out three more opponents before suddenly emerging from the maze into a more open obstacle course type space. It was chaos. There suddenly seemed to be far more people than she had realized. She rushed forward to a tall metal slab sticking out of the ground and took cover behind it. Paintballs flew in all directions. Splattering paint surrounded her. I need to move.
Talia put the gun strap over her head and across her back then looked up. The tall slab had small holes perfect for climbing. She had to be fast, but had a chance, not many were looking up. She climbed. Moving her body as quick as she could, paintballs began exploding close to her hands but luckily missing her by millimeters. She reached the top and to her left was a stack of old tractor tires. She took a deep breath and jumped. The rubber surface of the tires made it hard to catch her footing, she slipped but managed to hang on, dangling feet above the ground. To her left was a wooden platform with two walls, perfect for a high vantage point with cover.
Talia swung her body side to side for momentum before flinging her body to the platform, her hands landed. She grabbed the wood boards tight, and pulled herself up to her elbows. She swung one leg up and onto the platform, pulled herself up onto her belly, and rolled behind the walls.
She lay there a moment, heart beating rapidly, she laughed. I’m a badass. She crawled on her stomach over to the edge and looked down. Identifying multiple targets, she pulled the gun from her back and began to aim. One. Two. Three. Four more hits before people started to realize where she was. Paintballs started flying up and she scooted back. She peeked again and saw someone climbing their way up to her. She pulled her gun forward again and aimed.
She was about to take the shot when she saw Estrellas further down below. One of her teammates had Estrellas in their sights. Talia shifted her gun to the left, aimed, and shot. She hit her target, her teammate and saved Estrellas, just as a paintball from the person who had climbed up hit her hard right in the facemask. Eliminated. What the fuck was that?
Talia couldn’t explain why she saved Estrellas, her opponent, but some instinct seemed to take over and she had a sudden urge to protect them, sacrificing herself in the process. Somehow, she didn’t regret it. In fact, she’d do it again. She lay there on her back breathing heavily and smiling.
After a few minutes she carefully made her way back to the ground, through the maze, and out to the front entrance. She returned her equipment and waited patiently for Estrellas to emerge.
Ten minutes later there they were. Strutting out with a crowd of blue’s patting themselves on the back and pumping their fists in the air in victory. Happiness poured through her at seeing Estrellas so proud of themselves, so celebrated.
Estrellas looked around until they spotted Talia. They walked to her and stopped in front of her. “So, looks like I’m a natural.” They said with a smirk.
“Looks like it!” Talia said happily. “Come on” she nudged them with her shoulder, “let’s go get Bill some supper.”
Talia woke with a start. Her room was dark, cold. She tried to slow her breathing. What was that? A noise had roused her from sleep. The energy in the room was… off.
Something’s wrong .
It was as if someone was watching her, hidden in the shadows. She slowly placed her feet on the floor squinting into the quiet. Her heart beat in her ears.
Footsteps.
Heavy and fast.
Estrellas burst into the room. “He’s here. He found us!” They whispered urgently while pulling her to a stand. Eyes wild, they yanked on her arms dragging her out the room and into the hallway. They ushered her to the end of the hallway and pulled on the rope that brought down the attic stairs.
“Hide up there. I’ll lead him away. Don’t come down until it’s safe. ” They said before urging her to climb up and shut the stairs hiding her from view.
Alone.
Cobwebs lined the rafters and floor beams, Talia, careful not to walk in between the beams on the floor, hurried to the far corner of the attic. She hunched down wrapping her arms around her knees and shivered in the darkness.
There was movement below her. She could hear Bill shouting and Estrellas grunting. Talia’s heart raced. Her jaw tensed. In moments debris on the attic floor rattled, a loud ear pounding sound filled her head. She pressed her hands against her ears and closed her eyes tightly. The whole house shifted and Talia was tossed into the wall. Pain shot up her back and her head made a sharp thwacking sound when it banged against the wall.
She screamed out.
Bright green light flooded up between the floorboards as if the whole house was exploding with light. Talia squinted against the sharpness of it. A thunderous clash exploded above her head and a giant gaping hole opened in the roof above, jagged around the edges, as splinters of wood rained down her.
Consciousness threatened to evade her as she was lifted by the light into the sky. Her teeth chattered and her muscles twitched until finally, she could no longer hold on.
Everything went black.