The Power: Building the Circle - Book 2 Read online

  The Power

  Building the Circle – Book 2

  Maggie M Lily

  Copyright © 2020 by Maggie M Lily

  All Rights Reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, events, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Certain long-standing institutions, agencies, and public offices are mentioned, but the characters and situations involved are wholly imaginary.

  for my boys – Again. Always.

  (there are still not eight of them)

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Preface

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Thanks for reading!

  The Trellis Siblings

  Preface

  At twelve years old, Adrian Trellis understood what it was to love. He had met the girl he was going to marry. In years to come, people would talk about the grand love affair that began at such a tender young age.

  At least they would - once he talked to Whitney. The spring dance was coming. After admiring her from afar for most of the school year, this was his opportunity to strike. He was going to ask her to the dance.

  Whitney would be delighted. Together, they'd dance the night away, recognizing their mutual young love for what it was and remain hopelessly devoted to each other until the end of time.

  Just as soon as Adrian talked to her.

  Right after that happened.

  The problem was that Whitney Langcaster was beautiful and popular. Her dark brown hair had chunky auburn and blonde highlights. Her hazel eyes sparkled. She was funny, kind, and smart. Perfect.

  And popular.

  She was always surrounded by a gaggle of giggling girls.

  Adrian was… Adrian. At five-four, he was the shortest boy in his class, shy with bad acne. Adrian was nerdy, rather than smart. He was awkward, not popular. The second of nine Trellis siblings, he often compared himself to his brothers and found himself lacking.

  His elder brother, William, was tall, strong, and sporty. He had already been invited to try out for the varsity football team when he started high school in the fall. Girls followed Will around, hoping he'd smile at them or talk to them. Even though he was a year ahead of Whitney in school, she often tried to get Will to sit with her before school started in the morning.

  His next closest brother in age, Jake, was naturally popular. Always quick with a joke, knowing precisely what to say, everyone loved him. Girls liked to flirt and tease with him; they'd leave notes in his locker. The other guys wanted to surprise Jake, catch him off guard, try to pull pranks. It never worked. Jake was just too cool to be fooled.

  "Just go up and tell her you want to take her to the dance. This doesn't need to be such a production, Adrian," Will said one morning as they waited for the school doors to open.

  "Yeah. What's the worst that can happen? She might say no. Oh well. But she'll probably say yes. Have some confidence in yourself, Adrian. If she says no, then you know, and you don't have to keep agonizing about it," Jake coached.

  "All the girls are always with her. Always. If she said no when it was just me there, I think that'd be OK. But with everyone watching? That'd be terrible," Adrian said for what felt like the thousandth time.

  "You want me to ask her for you?" Will offered.

  "No!" Adrian's voice cracked.

  Will's eyes went to slits. "Why not? I would. I don't care."

  "She likes you. If you ask her, she'll think you're asking her, not me," Adrian mumbled.

  "Whatever, man. I'm not taking that girl to the dance," Will declared.

  That surprised Adrian. "Why not?"

  "Well, because you like her. That wouldn't be right. But she's also annoying. She whines a lot and wants everyone to do things for her," Will said.

  "She's not annoying! You just-"

  "Whatever, Adrian. I'm not taking her to the dance, but I'll ask her if you want me to," Will offered again.

  "Does she take the bus or walk home from school?" Jake asked.

  "Usually she walks," Adrian said.

  "Somehow, I knew you'd know the answer to that. Just follow her home one day, talk to her then, after the girls split up. If they don't split up before her house, ring the bell and ask her. Job's done," Jake said.

  "I can't follow her home! That's creepy!" Adrian exclaimed.

  "Dude, you already know where she lives. Give it up. Don't follow her then, just meet her at her house," Jake grumbled.

  The first bell rang as the doors opened.

  ✽✽✽

  Jake is a genius. This is going to work! Only one other girl is walking with her now, Adrian thought.

  He'd followed more than a half-block behind the girls walking home from school, so it would seem less creepy. Adrian watched, one by one, as the girls split off for their own houses or blocks. Audrey was the last girl left with Whitney. Adrian knew for a fact that Audrey lived down another block because he went to her house once to work on a science project.

  This was it. This was his chance. Audrey was waving goodbye and laughing as she walked away from Whitney. Adrian picked up the pace, but he knew he had almost two blocks to catch up before her house – no need to run.

  "Uh, Whitney?" Adrian said as he got closer.

  "Yes?" She asked, turning to face him.

  "H-hi. Um. I'm Adrian. I'm in your class," he mumbled.

  "I know, you're Will's brother," she looked around him, like Will might be hiding somewhere.

  "Uh, he's not here, it's just me," Adrian said with a blush.

  "Oh. Well, what do you want?" She asked, her tone less polite.

  "Wouldyougotothedance with me?" He asked.

  "Huh?"

  "The spring dance. Would you like to go with me?" Adrian asked slowly, with better annunciation.

  There. It's out. It's done, he thought.

  He glanced up at her beautiful face. Hazel eyes glowing with happiness, her mouth was opening. She was going to say yes. He knew it. They'd be in love forever!

  Laughter burst from her mouth in a loud giggle.

  "OMG, what? Did you just ask me to the spring dance?" She asked.

  "Um. Yeah."

  "You. Asked me. That's so funny! I can't wait to tell Audrey; she'll be so upset," Whitney continued to laugh.

  "Um. So, do you want to? Go to the dance?"

  "Why in the world would I go to the dance with you? You're a geek. I'm going with Alex Brutus unless Will asks me."

  Adrian blinked, trying to think of what to say next.

  Whitney's voice turned scornful. "You're a nerd. I wouldn't go with you if you were the only boy who asked. I'd rather go alone than go with you. Why would you think to ask me? Why would I go with you?" r />
  That hurt. Adrian had spent most of a year idolizing this girl, only for her to laugh in his face and call him names. The pain quickly morphed into something more.

  For the first time in his life, Adrian was truly angry. Humiliated. His body was overwhelmed with energy, fueled by the anger that he poured into his words.

  "You'd go with me because we'd have a great time! Alex Brutus is a jerk! I've seen him spit in your lunch and then brag to the guys that you've swapped spit. I would never do that because I'm not a jackass. You should go out with a nice guy like me!" Adrian yelled at her.

  As he yelled, there was a sharp spike of pain in Adrian's forehead that made him double over. Blood was dripping from his nose.

  "Ouch," he muttered, wondering if he was going to be sick.

  "Adrian, are you OK?" Whitney asked in a soft, gentle voice.

  He stood up straight again. Adrian's head was still excruciating, but he wouldn't let her see that. She'd probably laugh at him again. He scowled at her.

  "I'm fine," he growled.

  "You're bleeding," she said while reaching out to touch his face. "I think I have some Kleenex in my bag, one sec."

  He took the tissue from her and wiped his face. The bleeding had already stopped. "Thanks. I'll see you around, I guess," he muttered.

  "Wait! Adrian?"

  He turned around. "What?"

  "Are you picking me up for the dance? What time? Or should I meet you there? My mom might be able to take us if your mom can't," she said.

  "I thought you were going with Alex Brutus," Adrian said, tone flat.

  Whitney shook her head. "No. No, Alex Brutus is a jerk and a jackass. I'm going to go with a nice guy like you because we'd have a great time."

  Convinced she was making fun of him, Adrian started the long walk home, heart-sore and sorry that he hadn't listened to William.

  By the time the Trellis boys got to school the following morning, Whitney had told everyone that she was going to the dance with Adrian.

  She also outed Alex Brutus as a jerk and a jackass that spit in girls' food. Alex didn't live it down until he went away to college.

  William ended up going to the dance with Audrey Stevens, the sweet, smart girl that had a crush on Adrian since fourth grade. On the day that Whitney announced her date to the dance, Will found Audrey crying alone, around the corner of the school. He asked her to the spring dance immediately, knowing that his little brother had gotten it wrong.

  ✽✽✽

  For the rest of middle school and well into freshman year of high school, Whitney Langcaster followed Adrian around every chance she got. If Adrian walked by while Whitney was talking to someone else, she'd pause in the conversation to talk about what a nice guy he was. She'd bring up the dance they went to together, where they had a great time.

  It didn't matter if she'd told the story before. Whitney said it every time she saw him. If they spoke directly, she'd repeat, over and over, what a nice guy he was and what a great time she had at the dance.

  Adrian learned to avoid her. It saved Whitney from the humiliation of people laughing at her repetitive conversation.

  ✽✽✽

  By the time Whiney was free of the mental compulsion, Adrian had figured out how the angry energy worked, if not what it was. Terrified of the effects and ashamed of what happened with Whitney, he learned to control his temper and let the energy out in other ways.

  Chapter 1

  "Aunt Lucy, I found help," Ree muttered while pulling on her hand.

  "Ree, I told you to wait on the bench. What are you doing, honey? You're going to get too tired if you stand here with me," she bent down to adjust a shoelace.

  "I'm OK! Really! He's going to help!" Ree exclaimed.

  "What, baby? No. We don't know him," Lucy muttered.

  Ree's help was touching her papers.

  Lucy slapped his hand. "Don't touch my stuff."

  "Gah," he yelped.

  Really, jackass? It was a hand slap.

  "Why would you tell him that? Leave my kid alone. You have nothing to do with this."

  "No, really, Aunt Lucy. He said he'd talk to the money people," Ree was all in on this guy.

  The guy nodded. "It's true. I did."

  "Why would you say that to a little kid? What the hell's wrong with you, man? He's five. He doesn't know you're full of it and trying to hit on me. Get the --" Lucy paused to reconsider her wording choice. "Get the heck out of here."

  "Ah, I'm not- I wasn't- I wouldn't. Well, OK, I would, probably would... Maybe. Maybe not. But, not like this. I mean, maybe in other circumstances. I agree. Guys that would do that to a little kid - no good. Anyway, no. I really am going to help. If you want help. I can help."

  What the fuck? Idiot. Piss off.

  "I don't know who you are, just go. Please," she said.

  "You all need to go," the billing bitch yelled.

  "Nancy, we're not going to go-" the guy said.

  "You are going to go. You don't have anything to do with this," Lucy told him.

  "I'm not going to go," he said. "Wait-"

  "You're all going to go, or I'm going to call security."

  "I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE!" Lucy yelled. They'd driven almost an hour to talk to this woman. "We're going to figure this out!"

  "I'm calling security! Other people are waiting. You need to go. There's nothing more I can do for you, lady! You need money or a different type of insurance. Those are the two options. Medicaid won't pay for this," the bitch yelled.

  Oh, OK. Money and Insurance. Thanks, I'd love that. Where can I get that? Lucy mentally rolled her eyes.

  "Holy hell. NANCY! Don't call security, I don't want you to get fired!" The guy yelled.

  "You're a nutter!" Lucy had enough. "You have nothing to do with this! What the fuck, man!"

  Henry gasped.

  "Sorry, baby. Sorry, I didn't mean to use the bad word. Sorry," she apologized.

  The asshole was laughing.

  "I called security," the billing bitch sneered.

  "Henry, my man, we've made a mess of this," the guy said to Ree.

  Why did Ree give the guy his name?! He knows better than that.

  Henry nodded at him.

  "Don't you talk to him! You leave us be!" Lucy yelled.

  "I run a foun-" he started to say.

  "I don't care! GET OUT OF HERE!" She yelled.

  The guy sighed. Ree was watching him. This asshole got Ree all worked up.

  "We'll straighten it out," he said to Ree.

  "Folks, it's time for you to go!" the security guard called as he entered the room.

  "I'm not going-" Lucy yelled.

  "This woman needs to-" the billing bitch yelled.

  "Time to-" the security guard tried to yell over them.

  The jerked yelled something that made the billing bitch pause.

  Everyone in the room stopped and stared at him, including Ree.

  "My name is Adrian Trellis. I run the Beloved Foundation for Children. I'd like to help get this sorted out."

  Foundation? What foundation?

  Everyone in the room was still staring at him. Lucy was thoroughly confused.

  "Well, it's for children. And other stuff. It's a big foundation. But, part of it is for children. That's the part we care about here," he babbled. "Yay kids!"

  Ree was laughing at him.

  "Let's step out into the hallway and talk about what's needed," the guy said to Lucy.

  As the door to the billing office was closing behind them, someone yelled, "Oh. There he is. AAADDDDRRRIAAAANNNN!"

  "Oh, boy," the guy said.

  Adrian? He must be Adrian. I think he said his name was Adrian, right? This ought to be good, Lucy thought.

  The guy came to a full stop a few yards away. "Oh, there you are, Lucy. Hi."

  Do I know him? Maybe from the bar?

  "I don't think I know you," Lucy said.

  "You don't. Hi, I'm Sam." They shook hands.

  "I'
m not going to be weird. Hey, this guy wants to kiss your ass," Sam gestured to a guy in a suit.

  OK, he's not going to be weird. We have that going for us. I gotta get Ree out of here.

  Sam took a coffee cup from the other guy. Adrian. "It's cold and tastes like teenage angst. He won't drink this." Sam handed the offending coffee to the suit guy.

  "Mr. Fuller, nice to see you again. I'll take that back," Adrian said as he took the coffee back.

  "Have you seen the 'rents?" Sam asked.

  "No, they're probably with Jake and Matty," Adrian said.

  Sam looked puzzled. "No, I don't think so."

  "What do you need, Mr. Fuller?" Adrian asked.

  "I was hoping to give you a tour of -"

  "BOYS! WHERE IS SHE?" a woman yelled from down the hall.

  The Adrian guy turned to Lucy and Ree. "I apologize in advance. We're having a bit of a family crisis."

  "Where is she?" The woman growled.

  He said something too fast to understand.

  "How is she?" The woman asked.

  "Better. Much better. We can go see her. Let's go see her now," he said.

  The woman turned to the guy in the suit. "Who are you? I don't know you. Are you someone looking for money? Go away. We'll do the money thing later."

  The suit guy didn't know what to do.

  "Go away," she said again.

  The woman turned to Lucy with a toothy smile. "Why hello there. Who might you two be?"

  Why is she hugging Henry? What the fuck, woman, don't touch my kid!

  "Someone looking for money," Lucy grated out.

  "Well, you found it!" The woman grinned.

  Adrian pulled a business card out of his wallet and a pen from his pocket. He scribbled a name and phone number on the back of the card.

  "Lucy, here's my card. On the back, I wrote a phone number for Martha Washington - and yes, it's her real name. She's my assistant. Tell her I said Lurie Children's Hospital, OK? They're probably the best at what he needs in the area. We'll figure it out. She'll be expecting your call and will get everything rolling," Adrian said.

  "Put your phone number, too," the woman instructed.

  He gave the woman a look. "My number is already on the card, Mom."