Something of a Kind - By Miranda Wheeler Page 0,85
she wasn’t interested, and there was another man that apparently made her hate us all forever. When I tried again, she was… dying and you were a ferocious teenager, and again, I was too late.”
“It never is,” Aly corrected, filling in a hanging silent. “You have opportunities to change things now. I’ll leave that at that. As far as the video…”
“You want to know what to do with it,” he said, leaning back. “If it should be kept secret?”
Aly nodded.
“Well, it depends on a series of factors. How do you feel about the species? Do you want it noted or cataloged? Do you want to handle the ridicule that comes with coming forward? What is your stance on it – should it be protected, studied, left alone, or contained? After evaluating that, prepare yourself for ninetysomething percent of people to completely write you off. Consider dealing with a tarnished reputation, having your name on something that would affect future career choices. And”
“And Noah’s as well,” she finished, nodding. “Can you use the footage anonymously?”
“We could, if that’s what you want,” he agreed, expression grim.
“I’m going to talk to Noah. I’ll think about it,” she decided, analyzing his expression for approval. He seemed pleased. “You do that,” he said.
~
Though eternally confused, the experience of running in the sunlight was much different than when she was sobbing beneath the stars. Yards away at the docks, Aly watched Noah half-hug his sister. Sarah stood, tears falling, chest heaving. Nodding at her brother, she smiled at Aly as she passed, breaking into a run towards the house at her back.
She knows.
As Aly crossed the pier, Noah stood, meeting her halfway. Unsure whether touching his arm would hurt, she waited until he wrapped the good one around her waist, pulling her close, tight against his chest. He smelled of wood and leather, classic and comforting. She smiled as his lips brushed her forehead.
Heart fluttering, she tried to hold her breathe, lest she audibly lose it. Her flesh tingled, sending gallons of adrenaline through her veins, where his fingertips trailed her face. Holding her close, his voice no louder than breath, he murmured her name. She flushed; skin alive as she pressed her lips to his. Sliding her arms around his neck, trying to favor one side, she whispered, “Everything okay?”
“Mine, ours – the world’s different,” he sighed. “You?”
Aly mused, “I think I’m staying in town for a while.”
“What? Not scared off?” Noah teased.
“If the Gigit can’t do it, there’s a good chance I’ll stick around.”
“Oh, but you haven’t meant Illie, yet,” Noah laughed.
Aly blinked. “Illie?”
“You are Greg Glass’s daughter,” he said, “And you’ve never heard of the lake monster?”
“Illie?”
“Aly Glass.” Noah shook his head, leaning his forehead against hers. “Please don’t ask me to take you to Lake Iliamna.”
He kissed her before she could reply.
Something Of A Kind ©2012 by Miranda Wheeler.
ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
A current high school student, 16-year-old author Miranda Wheeler lives with her loving family in her hometown of Torrington, Connecticut. An avid reader, she’s been whipping through books and producing novel-length projects (though
none published prior to Something Of A Kind) from the early age of eleven. Having previously released short stories, some published in magazines such as TeenInk and others via “indie” mediums, she has many plans of continuing to write, as well as pursuing other passions and an eventual teaching career. While the official cover is a work in progress and the title won’t be released until the promotional media is obtained, several other projects are in the works: a YA steampunk novella and a YA sci-fi-romance novel, in addition to unofficial talks of a Something Of A Kind sequel.
For more information and updates on her latest work, visit the author’s website at: http://mirandawheeler.blogspot.com
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Firstly, I thank my mother. A talented author, no one else was more supportive, amusing, reflective, helpful, and wonderfully amazing than she. This book is dedicated to her, because without her, I would have never written it. Had she not insisted so ardently, occasionally via parodied poems or impromptu lyrics from songs that both do and don’t exist, I would never have braved the first chapter. In the same way she magically manages to shove me through the doors of school each year, or make me laugh at my most horrific failures, she got me through this novel – even when the silly expression on the other side of the laptop hindered many-a-chapter. Thank you for pulling me through this odd dream of mine. It’s was never something I even dared to fathom creating at a lowly sixteen.
Secondly, my entire family deserves credit, specifically my father and my younger brothers, Justin and Bobby. No one else endured such a brunt of infuriatingly boring documentaries or instigative debates over things my inner dreamer intends always to believe in. Additionally, the grandmothers who offered encouragement and my grandfather, another author, for his bizarre and entertaining Adirondack stories, as well as the aunts, uncles, cousins, and secondcousins who told me to “go for it” – they all absolutely deserve my utmost appreciation.
My friends, who though teasing, never (vocally) doubted the feat could be accomplished, were beyond patient with my MIA behavior during this process. My church family, who consistently expressed belief that I shared my parents’ talents, always has my love. To the myriad of teacherswho said they knew I’d be an author – thank you. While blushing, I secretly adored every suggestion of hope, swallowing whispers of happiness every time I was encouraged.
Final but foremost, I seek to glorify my heavenly Father. May He forgive me for capturing the absurd moments of the story people who so boldly cried out to me. I’m for You, always.
Something Of A Kind ©2012 by Miranda Wheeler.