Smolder Chapter 11

“Ready to head home?” Aiden’s voice snapped Jade out of her swirling thoughts, dragging her realization back into sharp focus.
“Aiden!” she shouted, almost too loudly, startling him as he jerked backward.
“Whoa, jeez, volume control, Jade!” he said, rubbing his ear. “What’s up?”
“Aiden! I think something crazy is going on but you need to hear me out first, okay?”
He raised an eyebrow and wandered over to where their bags lay. “Is this one of those ‘let’s go talk in private’ conversations, or an ‘I’m so excited I need to spill my guts right now’ kind of thing?”
“The latter!” she said, pushing him down into a seated position with a hand on his shoulder. She took the water bottle he offered, her sneakers thudding softly against the wooden platform as she paced back and forth, trying to gather her thoughts.
How do I even phrase this? she wondered, but she had never been one for subtlety. Blurting it all out seemed like the simplest approach.
“So... I think I can read your mind,” she said, watching for his reaction.
He blinked, then let out a laugh. “Ha! Very funny, Jade. Can we go home now? ” He started to stand, clearly thinking she was joking.
“No, I’m serious!” she exclaimed, stepping in front of him to stop him from getting up. “I think I’ve been hearing your thoughts inside my head.”
Aiden stopped, his laughter fading into uncertainty. He studied her face, his usual carefree demeanor wavering. “Jade... come on, that’s ridiculous.” He tried to laugh it off again, but there was a flicker of doubt behind his smile. The laugh lines around his eyes weren’t as deep as usual.
“No more ridiculous than me being a human flamethrower.” she shrugged, determined not to let him brush this off. She saw him settle back down, his posture signaling that he was prepared to hear her out, even if he thought she sounded a bit unhinged. She took a deep breath and launched into her explanation.
“I’m not sure when it started, but there have been moments where I’ve felt overwhelmed by these emotions that aren’t mine, like they just... pop into my head. And until about five minutes ago, I didn’t realize that it only happens when I’m around you.”
His expression shifted slightly, the humor draining from his face as he listened. Jade knew he was starting to take her seriously.
“I thought back on it. Yesterday, in your room, something felt off. The day before, during our fight, I could feel your frustration. And earlier, when you came to check on me before the party it happened again. I didn’t realize it, but now it makes sense.” She paused, trying to gauge his reaction.
His brow furrowed as he processed her words, his arms crossed as if bracing for something he wasn’t sure he wanted to believe.
Jade continued, her voice softening. “And it goes back even further. I think it started after I woke up from my coma. I just didn’t realize it then. But when you visited me... on the days Benjamin wasn’t there... things felt strange, like I was picking up on your feelings.”
His gaze flickered, his eyes searching hers for any sign that this was a prank or a misunderstanding. But her serious expression left no doubt she was telling the truth, or at least what she believed was the truth.
“So, you’re saying... you can read my thoughts? Like, telepathy or something?” he asked cautiously, still skeptical but no longer dismissive.
“Not exactly,” she said, trying to explain it. “It’s more like... I can feel your emotions like they bleed into my own. I’m not hearing full sentences but I know what you’re feeling. And sometimes, it’s so strong that it feels like my thoughts are being pushed aside.”
He leaned back, his eyes fixed on her as he tried to wrap his mind around what she was saying. “And this only happens with me?”
She nodded. “As far as I know, yes.”
They both fell silent, the weight of her revelation hanging in the air. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then looked at her with a seriousness she wasn’t used to seeing in him.
“Okay,” he said after a long pause. “Let’s say you’re right. That somehow, you’re connected to my emotions. Why do you think that’s happening? Why now?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because of everything that’s happened to me the coma, unlocking my powers, the weird mixed-breed stuff. But I do know one thing for sure. This isn’t just some coincidence. I’ve felt it, Aiden.”
He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. “Well, if you’re right, this is... huge. Like, we need to figure out what’s going on with you.”
She nodded, relieved that he wasn’t dismissing her anymore. “I know I need answers. But the thing is... I think this could be dangerous. If I can pick up on your emotions, what’s stopping me from picking up on someone else’s? Or worse, what if they can get inside my head too?”
His face darkened at the thought. “We need to talk to someone who knows more about this stuff. The Conclave, maybe?”
Her stomach tightened. The last thing she wanted was to be put under more scrutiny by the Conclave, but she knew he was right. If this was real, it was bigger than just them.
“Aiden, this is so bizarre,” she said, still processing. “You can speak to my brain.”
They were best friends, but the idea of him knowing her thoughts and that kind of intimacy felt unnerving. What if he could hear everything? She was perfectly fine being the one receiving his emotions, but the idea of her secrets spilling out? That was another thing entirely.
He seemed to read the hesitation on her face. “Okay,” he said slowly, shifting so they sat knee-to-knee, facing each other. “Let’s test it. I’ll think of a number, and you try to figure out what it is.”
She gave him a skeptical look. “I don’t think it works like that.”
“Just try,” he insisted. “Come on, what’s the harm?”
She sighed and nodded, deciding to give it a shot. Focusing on his forehead, Jade tried to “see” inside his mind. But all she noticed was how much blonder his hair had gotten since arriving here and his tan was darker. Concentrate, she told herself, then switched tactics, staring into his eyes instead. She repeated silently in her head, Number... what number are you thinking?