Awakened Read online

  Awakened

  Book One

  Harper Ashley

  This book is dedicated to all those who have supported and encouraged me on this wild ride. Buckle up, guys! It's only the beginning.

  Contents

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  WHAT COMES NEXT?

  About The Author

  Books In This Series

  Books By This Author

  Awakened

  Harper Ashley

  Chapter One

  "She must find a boat and sail in it. No guarantee of shore. Only a conviction that what she wanted could exist, if only she dared to find it." - Jeanette Winterson

  I stare down at the black graduation cap resting on my thighs and watched as the golden tassel spun in tiny circles. I should feel different; I mean the morning after graduation night should feel different right? Even though I was homeschooled and my graduation consisted of all the local homeschooled seniors, it should still count. I always thought that after high school was officially over, there would be this overwhelming sense of identity that would wash over me. After the sixth grade, my parents made the decision to pull me out of the public-school system to make sure I received the best education possible, but that didn't do much for my social life. Glancing down at my phone I see the time, thirty minutes until I’m supposed be sitting in the back seat of my dad's car. I toss the graduation cap on the floor and shuffle to the bathroom. I stand in front of the mirror and examine the girl looking back at me curiously. I wish I’d taken my mom up on her offer to get my hair done. The loose brown curls hang just below my shoulders, and I could’ve used a trim. My eyebrows are still a bit red after excessively tweezing them last night, and I can make out the beginning of a pimple on my chin.

  "Great... anxiety one , Katherine zero." I mutter under my breath. I settle on throwing my hair into a messy bun. It's not like I have anyone to impress. I step back and allow my upper torso to come into view in the mirror. I'd developed more in certain places. It's curious how much can change on the outside when on the inside you are still the same unsure girl that you’ve always been. I take in my reflection one last time before pulling a t-shirt over my head. I almost dot a bit of concealer on the bump but decide against it.

  "Katherine, where are you?" My mother yells from the kitchen. I don't respond immediately, for some reason I’m still zoning out. "Katherine Ivy Wilder, I will not be late! Get down here!" I groan, but not too loudly.

  "I'm coming mother!" I grab what is left of my luggage and make my way down the stairs. "Sorry mom, I don't want to forget anything." She nods, understanding that I constantly stress over every little thing.

  My dad comes in from outside and throws my bag over his shoulder, "I'm sure if you forget anything Michelle would be more than happy to run you to the store. It's only for the summer sweetie, you’ll be fine." My dad gives me his million-dollar watt smile, and I can't help but return the favor. After my dad exits to put the last of my things in the car, the smile disappears. I’m looking forward to spending the summer with my aunt, but l can't help the unease stirring in my belly.

  "Oh Katherine, calm down. You’ll have a great time with Michelle this summer. I know you aren't keen on stepping out of your comfort zone, but it's time to branch out! Plus, you know she’s lonely in that big condo all by herself." I muster up a small smile for my mom hoping that it would be enough to get her off my case. My father's only sister Michelle, or Aunt Shelly as I call her, lives in a massive beachfront condo in Florida. She married a wealthy attorney right out of college. She was madly in love, but he just couldn't stop sleeping around. After catching him with her yoga instructor, she filed for divorce. He gave her whatever she wanted to keep things quiet, which included the condo.

  I continued to zone in and out as my parents discuss their plans for the summer. Once I’ve been dropped off at my Aunt's house in Florida, they’ll begin a road trip across the country featuring stops at every National park and major landmark. I knew they’d been looking forward to this trip, and I knew that I was glad I didn't have to tag along. My Aunt Shelly offered for me to stay with her, and I agreed without putting much thought into it. I had to find something to do and spending three months on the beach seemed like an okay idea to me. My two best friends were both headed to South America on the same Mission Trip. We met at one of the study group sessions sponsored by our homeschooling program. This is what I really wanted to be doing, but my mother would’ve never considered it. I knew that, so Florida it is. As my father merges onto the interstate, I stick my headphones in and close my eyes.

  I must’ve dozed off and am jarred awake by the car door slamming. I look up and see we’re at a service station, and there are palm trees lining the parking lot. "Are we in Florida?" I ask my mother.

  "Yes, we’ve crossed the state line a while ago. We’re not too far from Michelle's condo." I nod and shrink back down into the seat. After my dad fills the tank, we are back on the road. My phone vibrates and I look down, "Getting close? Made Pasta!" I smile at the text from my aunt. "Yeah, I think so. Sounds yummy... thx Shelly." I really am looking forward to spending some time with her, it’s been so long. I've never been to the condo, but my parents said it's huge. "Of course! See you soon!" I slide the phone back into my pocket.

  "Mom, how much further? Shelly cooked." She glances at the GPS,

  "Mm, looks like another half-hour." I close my eyes again.

  Chapter Two

  "We're here!" My father exclaims as we pull up to a large iron gate. I lean forward and watch as he dials some numbers on the keypad. The gate begins to slowly swing open and we drive into the private community in which the condo is located. I take in the brightly colored houses that line the narrow street. There are a few people walking on the sidewalks, and my father does that awkward finger wave at them as we drive by. We pull into a driveway that leads to a beautiful, turquoise blue condo. I can't help but grin, it’s huge. I instantly love the look of the place. The trim is white, and there are tons of windows. I can just picture how incredible the views will be. I hope my room overlooks the beach.

  My aunt rushes out to greet us, "Hello family! I'm so glad you made it!" Shelly's strawberry-blonde hair is tied back, and her tanned skin is glowing. She looks even more beautiful than I remember.

  "You look amazing Michelle!" My mother says.

  "Oh Rach, living on the water agrees with me!” I run ove
r and give her a big hug. "We’re going to have the best summer, you just wait!" she promises. We file into the condo and dad helps bring in my luggage.

  "Okay Katherine, your room is upstairs. Second room to the right. It has the best view, and you'll have your own balcony! There is a bathroom attached as well so you’ll have some privacy. Go set your things down and come eat." I thank her again and make my way up the stairs to see my new home for the next few months.

  I can't help but grin like an idiot as I take in my room. It’s perfect. There is a huge king-sized bed with a white comforter, a desk where I immediately unpack my laptop bag, and a killer view. Once I plug in my computer, I push open the balcony doors and my senses are overwhelmed by the breeze and salty air. The waves crash against the shore, and I think that it may be nice to sleep with the door open just to hear them as I fall asleep. The weather seems too good to be true, it all does. I look around and notice the neighboring condo is a sea-foam green. I can see a man in the living room watching the news, and a woman enjoying a glass of wine on the porch. She sees me watching and smiles sweetly, I return the smile and walk back inside.

  My parents are discussing something that sounds serious with Aunt Shelly as I make my way down the stairs. I try to stay light on my feet because for whatever reason, I know that if they hear me, they will stop the conversation altogether.

  "I know she's a bright girl, but she needs to let loose some this summer. It's not good for a girl her age to be so damn responsible all the time!" that’s Shelly talking, "When I was her age I – "

  My mother cuts her off, "Michelle, I know what you were doing when you were Katherine's age... and we are pleased she isn't behaving that way. I want her to enjoy her summer, but just remember she has a lot of big decisions to make as well! She has to choose a college, and –" I roll my eyes. Of course, this is the conversation.

  My father's gentle voice interrupts, "Ladies, our Katherine has a good head on her shoulders. We don’t have anything to worry about. Honey, she will be fine. Michelle, we trust you. This will be good for the both of you."

  I exhale and decide to make my presence known when I hear my mother make one last remark, "You're right Dan, our little girl is anything but a wild child." And they all laugh.

  My cheeks are burning, and there are pricks of tears in my eyes. Hearing myself talked about this way isn't fun. They mean no harm, but I can't help but feel like the butt of some joke. Sure, I’m a straight-A student and have never been in trouble. Or gone to a party... or had a boyfriend... or even been on a date for that matter. That didn't mean I was just some stick in the mud though! I had goals, and a plan for my life. I didn't have time for fooling around, and that was no reason to laugh at me. Shake it off Katherine, Shake it off. I walk into the dining room and my parents hug me tightly.

  "We’re going to hit the road soon kid," my dad says. "We want to beat the traffic and have a few hours until we reach our hotel for the night."

  I give them a forced smile,, "Okay, drive safe. I love you." My mom looks like she may cry.

  "Okay, Okay! It’s only a few months. Get going you two! Leave us girls so our summer of awesome can begin!"

  I cringe and she notices. "Summer of awesome?" I ask, and she laughs loudly. I watch as my mom and dad drive away, and we head back into the condo. Shelly asks me loads of questions and eventually asks if I want to take a walk on the beach. "Maybe tomorrow, I’m pretty exhausted." I lie. "Is it alright if I head up to my room? I want to check my email and get settled."

  She looks disappointed, "Of course, let me know if you need anything."

  The first thing I do when I close the bedroom door, is throw my body onto the bed. I sink into the thick down comforter. At least, the bed is amazing. I start unpacking my hanging clothes first. The closet is big, and I don't even come close to having enough to fill it. Next, I start pulling out my folded clothes from the large suitcase and placing them in the dresser. I decide to let some salty, summer air into the room and open the balcony doors. A good bit of time has passed, and I’m sure Shelly is asleep by now. Something catches my eye and I slowly walk towards the railing. I look back over to the neighboring condo and notice they’ve turned off most of the lights. The only remaining light is a small outdoor light towards the corner of the property. There’s movement underneath the dull lamp, and I squint trying to make it out. It’s one of those outdoor showers made for rinsing off the sand after a day on the beach, and there’s a man bathing under it. A naked man.

  He obviously doesn't see me, and he has no shame. I shouldn't keep watching, but I’m filled with curiosity. I watch as he turns, and the moonlight bounces off the curves of his body. He seems tall, though it’s hard to gauge height from this distance. I imagine that he is tall though, and handsome. I can't quite make out his features, but I can see that he’s muscular. He turns again and I realize there are black markings covering his body. Tattoos, I think. He’s moving slowly, precisely. He stands and lets the water pour over his face. I’ve never seen a naked man before, not in real life. A strange feeling is stirring in my lower belly, and I shift uncomfortably trying to make it subside. Abruptly, the water cuts off and the mysterious man disappears into the darkness.

  Chapter Three

  "Katherine, are you awake? I want to grab brunch!" I roll over and groan. I was up late last night, and this wake-up call is not appreciated. Maybe if I ignore her, she’ll leave me alone. My thoughts are interrupted by a loud knock at the door.

  "Katherine it’s your first day here! You simply cannot sleep it away!" I roll out of bed and open the door. My aunt Shelly is already dressed and wearing a huge smile.

  "Okay, give me a few minutes to get dressed." I say to her. I can't be upset; she is only trying to spend time with me and make my trip a good one. "I'll be right down."

  I settle on some white shorts and a light pink tank top. I take in my appearance and see that the little bump that was trying to break through has subsided a bit. My skin could really use a tan, but I guess that’s something I can work on while I'm here. I look closely at the mirror and examine my freckles. I've always loved them, and they were the main reason I didn't wear makeup. I hated covering them. I dot some concealer under the dark circles threatening to give away just how late I had stayed awake last night and apply a swipe of gloss to my lips. I look very natural, and I like it that way. I gather my unruly hair into another bun. I don’t feel like doing much else with it, and I know Shelly is waiting on me. I slide on my tennis shoes and walk down to meet her.

  "You look great!" she stats as I join her in the kitchen.

  "Thanks, you do too." She does look great. She wears a loose-fitting dress that has a bohemian feel to it, and her hair is in a braid. Her bare face gives away her age, but it doesn’t make her any less beautiful. I envy the golden color of her skin. I make a mental note to lay out as soon as we return from brunch.

  "You're going to love this place! All the locals come here." She chats on about the different things that are good on the menu. I decide on an English muffin and jelly, simple and delicious. The waiter comes back and places two champagne flutes on the table that look to be filled with orange juice. I look at Shelly and she winks.

  "Enjoy the mimosas ladies." I've had a few drinks before, but before noon?

  "Mimosas are my favorite, drink up. Don't worry, it's very relaxed around here." That seems like a bit much. I take a sip, and its surprisingly good. I take my time finishing the drink, while Shelly has a few more. I’m no prude, but the fear of getting in trouble keeps me from accepting her offer for another. My eighteenth birthday is next week, and I’ve never understood the lure of underage drinking.

  "Do you want to walk back? We aren't far. This weather is incredible." I nod.

  This is something we can agree on, it really is incredible here. The sun hits my shoulders as we make our way back to the condo, and I’m looking forward to getting out on the beach to tan.

  "I think I'm going to lay out when we get bac
k if that's alright. I have a book to finish, and I really want to get some color while I'm here."

  Shelly smiles, "Oh yes! Fantastic! There’s nothing more relaxing than spending the day on the sand."

  As we come up to the walkway a woman calls out to Shelly, "Is this your niece we've been hearing so much about?" It's the woman I saw drinking wine on the porch.

  "Cynthia! Yes, this is the one and only Katherine Wilder. She’ll be with me all summer." The woman whose name I now know is Cynthia, smiles at me and clasps her hands around mine.

  "Hello, it's nice to meet you." I offer. She is stunning. What’s with all these beautiful people here? Its intimidating. Her bleach blonde hair is wound tightly underneath a large sunhat, and her perfectly manicured nails make me instantly self-conscious of the chipped paint on mine. Despite her movie star looks she really does seem like a kind woman. Her crystal blue eyes sparkle in the sunlight, and her smile is infectious.

  "The boys are out sailing this morning, let’s do dinner tonight darling! They would love to meet your lovely niece." My stomach drops. I think of the naked man under the moonlight from the previous night and wonder if he was one of her boys.

  "That sounds fabulous, how about eight?" Shelly asks.

  Cynthia responds, "Perfect! Let's meet on the deck then."

  "So, I guess she's your neighbor?" I ask Shelly.

  She explains that The Daltons live next door, and that their two sons come home for the summers. Thomas is eighteen and a freshman at University. He’s studying business and plans to take over his father's company one day. The other son is Beau, and he’s the loose cannon of the family. Apparently, he dropped out of college to sail around the world. He's got a temper on him and has quite the reputation for trouble. Basically, him and his brother are polar opposites.

  "Does he have tattoos?" Word vomit. I blush, and Shelly looks confused.

  "Well, yes. How’d you know?" Her eyebrow is slightly raised as she awaits my response.