Eye on Orion by Laura D. Bastian

for your help. ”
    How could I refuse him? Even though it made me angry to be drugged, and though I bristled at the injustice of being spied upon without my knowledge, I felt compelled to go easy on him. I didn't know if it was the look in his eyes or the beauty of his face as I stared at him, or a combination of both, but I felt myself caving.
    â€œ I won't keep asking you, but it doesn't mean I won't be thinking about it. ”
    â€œ That is understandable. I must also ask you to not say anything about this to anyone. ”
    â€œ I don't think that’ll be a problem.” I shook my head. “Who would believe me? It’s still hard to believe it myself. ”
    â€œ Thank you. We will forever be indebted to you .” He scooted closer to me, took my hand without hesitation, and brought it to his lips. I felt a slight tingle again. Why was I so sensitive to his touch? And why did he keep taking my hand like this? No other guy ever made me feel like he did, but then again, I'd never been crushing on a guy like I was now, even though he irritated me. The softness of his lips and the warmth of his breath on my knuckles felt incredible. It would feel so nice against my own lips. I blushed when I realized what my thoughts were.
    â€œPlease tell me you didn't just hear that thought,” I whispered.
    â€œWhat thought?” He didn't let go of my hand though. The tingles had disappeared, or maybe I had just gotten used to them. I liked the strength of his hands and the way mine fit perfectly in his, but tried not to think of it too much.
    â€œI'd better go in.” I needed to learn how to master my thoughts completely if he could hear them. How naïve I had been, hoping to be in control of the situation.
    â€œMay I have permission to call on you tomorrow?” he asked. Before my heart could start pounding too much he continued. “I would like to see if you can still hear our thoughts in the morning.”
    â€œI have to go in to work at ten. You could come over after nine for a bit,” I said. I might be able to puzzle things out with them if I let him ask me more questions.
    I stood and offered to help him up. Instead he scooted backward, closer to the open window, keeping his butt close to the shingles. I tried to hide a smile that he was scared of heights. I waited for him to climb in first then stepped inside after him. He glanced around my room but didn’t say anything, heading straight for my door.
    He turned to me once he got into the hallway. “ Thank you again .”
    â€œ You're welcome .” We walked down the stairs, Jai in front. He nodded to my dad on his way out the front door.
    Dad sat on the couch with a magazine in his hands. I grinned since the magazine was one of Mom's, and upside down.
    â€œDid you have fun?” Dad tossed the magazine onto the coffee table.
    I shrugged. “He just wanted to see if I felt better. I'm heading to bed. I'll see you tomorrow, Dad.”
    Halfway up the stairs, I heard my dad's thoughts echoing, “What am I gonna do now that she's…” The thought cut off as I moved out of range.
    ****
    Jai came over the next morning at five minutes after nine and spoke to me from outside before I opened the door.
    â€œCan you hear me, Holly?”
    â€œYes,” I said aloud. Then recognizing the faint echo, I realized it was a thought. “ I am saying this in my mind. Do you hear me ?” I felt like a kid playing with a walkie-talkie. I resisted the urge to think testing, testing, one, two, three .
    â€œI hear you fine,” he answered with a small chuckle. “Even through this barrier. Do you mind opening up? I would prefer to avoid having people wonder why I am staring at your door.”
    â€œOh, sorry.” I opened the door and gave him a small smile. We stood in the doorway, looking at each other. Because he stood on the porch, and the step up into my house made me a half-inch higher, he