Karmas return, p.1
Karma's Return, page 1
Table of Contents
Karma's Return (Ancient Souls)
Books in the Ancient Souls Trilogy
DEDICATION
CHAPTER 1 | Psychology Class
CHAPTER 2 | Intervention
CHAPTER 3 | Heavy Thoughts
CHAPTER 4 | Breakfast
CHAPTER 5 | Acid Stench
CHAPTER 6 | Visiting Gram
CHAPTER 7 | Lunch
CHAPTER 8 | Practice
CHAPTER 9 | The letter
CHAPTER 10 | Benched
CHAPTER 11 | Socrates
CHAPTER 12 | Walk & Talk
CHAPTER 13 | Confrontation
CHAPTER 14 | YMCA
CHAPTER 15 | Friend Zoned
CHAPTER 16 | Pasta Feed
CHAPTER 17 | Hard Talks
CHAPTER 18 | Game Day
CHAPTER 19 | Blurry Dreams
CHAPTER 20 | Sneaky Date
CHAPTER 21 | Reunion
CHAPTER 22 | Gaia’s Temper
Chapter 23 | Lesson in Empathy
Epilogue | Play-Offs
This Concludes Karma’s Return
What’s next?
About the Authors
Bonus Chapter
Books in the Ancient Souls Trilogy
DEDICATION
CHAPTER 1
Psychology Class
CHAPTER 2
Intervention
CHAPTER 3
Heavy Thoughts
CHAPTER 4
Breakfast
CHAPTER 5
Acid Stench
CHAPTER 6
Visiting Gram
CHAPTER 7
Lunch
CHAPTER 8
Practice
CHAPTER 9
The letter
CHAPTER 10
Benched
CHAPTER 11
Socrates
CHAPTER 12
Walk & Talk
CHAPTER 13
Confrontation
CHAPTER 14
YMCA
CHAPTER 15
Friend Zoned
CHAPTER 16
Pasta Feed
CHAPTER 17
Hard Talks
CHAPTER 18
Game Day
CHAPTER 19
Blurry Dreams
CHAPTER 20
Sneaky Date
CHAPTER 21
Reunion
CHAPTER 22
Gaia’s Temper
Chapter 23
Lesson in Empathy
Epilogue
Play-Offs
About the Authors
Bonus Chapter
Copyright © 2021
By Elin Peer
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the author, excepting brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews.
Asin:
Karma’s Return – Ancient Souls #1
First Edition
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons or organizations is coincidental and not intended by the author. Recommended for mature readers due to adult content.
Cover Art by Damonza
Editing: by Martin O’Hearn
Books in the Ancient Souls Trilogy
These books are inspired by our belief in reincarnation and the work that Pearl does with spirit guides.
However, they do not represent a true depiction of how we believe the afterlife to be.
For entertainment purposes, we’ve invented a simplified version that is more relatable to readers who are unfamiliar with the spirit world.
Trigger Warning:
Although these books are generally joyful in nature, they do address subjects like depression, self-harm, and suicide. Some of the characters use a bit of foul language and there are scenes of violence.
All characters are fictional and any likeness to a living person or organization is coincidental.
For the best reading experience and to avoid spoilers this is the recommended order to read the books.
#1 Karma’s Return
#2 Gaia’s Oath
#3 Miracle’s Talent
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DEDICATION
This trilogy was always supposed to be a shared mother/daughter project between us.
What we didn’t count on was the youngest daughter in our house stepping up and helping as well.
Smilla, you are a fierce and opinionated editor who offered valuable comments and corrections to this story.
Being a teenager yourself, you added golden details and made sure everything was as authentic as possible
This book is for you, Smilla.
Your aura shines golden.
Elin & Pearl
CHAPTER 1
Psychology Class
Emma
I read the question written in fat letters on the whiteboard one more time.
Would you want to be able to read other people’s minds?
Ms. Weber always did this when there was a heavy topic on the agenda in her psychology classes. She would split us into four groups and encourage a healthy group discussion to wake us up in the beginning of class before she dived into the real subject of the day.
Next to me sat Caleb. He was a junior like me, but why he chose psychology would probably take a psychologist to figure out since he never took anything seriously. The most I had ever seen him engaged was in a discussion on which was better, Pepsi or Coca-Cola, and that hadn’t even been the real topic of discussion. With a snicker, he whispered to his buddy, Deshawn,
“I would totally like to read thoughts. Then I could tell how many of the girls have had sexual fantasies about me.”
May, an opinionated feminist whose hair was black and purple, had chosen to sit on a table instead of the uncomfortable plastic chairs the high school had to offer. Dangling her legs back and forth, she told Caleb, “Sorry to say it, but I can guarantee you that you have never even crossed one of the girls’ minds in that way.”
Turning her attention to Ty, who sat between her and me, she asked him. “What about you? Would you like to read thoughts?”
Tyler Stone was a senior, known to everyone at school because of his role on the football field. He and I weren’t friends; but four years ago, he had been to my house, playing video games with my older brother, William. Ever since then, I’d been cursed with a pathetic crush on him. Whoever said crushes were delightful were liars. The sensation of butterflies in my stomach was relentless when Ty was around and I wished I could turn it off. Small things like a whiff of his cologne or his picking a seat close to mine in class would set off a whole swarm of the tickling beasts and make it hard to focus. Last year, I couldn’t see a tall guy with dreadlocks without my heart racing. This year, Ty had cut his hair to a short afro and it seemed he was everywhere I looked, except most times the guy turned around and it wasn’t him. When that happened, I was always left disappointed.
Ty seemed to consider May’s question for a moment before he declared, “Yeah, I think I would like to read minds.”
Raising her thin eyebrows, May grilled him. “Why? Is it for the same reason as Caleb?”
“No. I think reading minds would help me understand people better. It’s obvious that many pretend to be someone they’re not. I would love to see behind the façade and get to know the real person with all their imperfections.”
“Are you speaking from experience?” May asked. “I mean about putting up a front?”
Ty bobbed his broad shoulders in a small shrug. “I would like to say no, but I think we all do it. It’s easier that way.”
“Easier how?” May leaned forward, resting her elbows on her thighs. The white soles of her black Converses were covered with black sharpie. I admired that May was brave enough to express who she was through her hair, clothing, and shoes. From her writing things like Nirvana forever, love is love, and farts are energy too, I already knew her taste in music and that she had a sense of humor.
While May used her tongue to play with the piercing under her lower plump lip, Ty looked down and scratched his plastic chair with his short thumbnail. “I guess sharing your inner thoughts and feelings just isn’t easy for everyone.”
May had that look on her face, like she wanted to dig deeper but was restraining herself. I wondered if she would grow up to work as a therapist or a social worker since asking personal questions seemed like second nature to her. If that was her dream, then a high school psychology class was a good place to start. “That’s okay, Ty. You don’t have to answer.”
Sometimes people took group discussions as an opportunity to slack off but May seemed like she enjoyed the provoking questions and did her best to create interesting conversations that everyone was a part of... even the quiet students like me.
“What about you, Emma? Would you like to read minds?” May asked causing everyone in the group to turn their heads and look at me – the girl who barely ever spoke. Their attention made me sink a little deeper in my seat, feeling painfully aware that my shoes were muddy from my walk with my dog this morning and I hadn’t had time to style my hair today.
“So would you?” May pressed.
Finding my voice was hard when my heart pounded, and nervous energy made my knee bob up and down. “Ehm... no,” I muttered, shaking my head.
“Why? Reading minds is like having a superpower,” Caleb pointed out, as if I hadn’t understood the question right.
“Then it’s not a superpower I would like to have. It sounds more like a nightmare. People are mean enough to your face. I can’t imagine how many times my feelings would be hurt in a single day if I could hear their thoughts too.”
“Ah, so you think all people have mean thoughts about you?” May concluded.
Caleb was quick to agree. “You’re probably right. Especially girls, they always bitch about everyone they know.”
“Wow, that’s a generalization,” May defended us girls, her lips falling into a straight line as her sour gaze shot to Caleb.
Deshawn snapped back, “No, but seriously, Emma is right. Everyone has mean thoughts whether they like it or not.”
“Does wanting to bang all the girls count as mean thoughts?” Caleb asked, raising a bushy eyebrow as his thin lips stretched in an amused grin.
Caleb’s comment made Deshawn snicker quietly, while May asked him, “What the hell happened to you, Caleb? I’ll bet you were one of those boys who ran away from girls in the lower grades, and now you’re obsessed with us. Seriously, dude, do you have anything other than sex on your miniature-sized mind?”
My gaze scanned the dated classroom with the scratched-up furniture and walls. I wanted to make sure that Ms. Weber wasn’t listening to our conversation, but she was at her desk working on her computer.
“I think about food and videogames too,” Caleb said with sarcasm. Leaning toward May, he lowered his voice to a whisper. “Tell you what; if you chase me, I promise that I won’t run away.”
May rolled her brown eyes. “In your dreams.”
I was jealous of how confident she seemed and sat for a moment admiring the way she had applied bright yellow eyeliner in a futuristic way that made her look cool and edgy.
May seemed like the type of girl people would write songs and poems about. She probably never got picked on because she was strong and would just snap back with an intelligent reply. A girl as interesting and smart as her probably never got left out of things. I wish I were like May, or at least I wish I had her courage to speak up.
“I think it would be safer if it was only guys who could read thoughts,” Deshawn speculated. “Emma said herself that she didn’t want that ability and we guys could use the help to figure out what you girls are thinking. Besides, if girls at Westlake could read minds, they would walk around feeling offended all the time.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because you wouldn’t be able to handle how we guys get turned on by the smallest things you girls do.” Deshawn smirked before leaning back in his plastic chair.
May and I both frowned, but then she turned to Ty. “Do you agree with that statement, or would you say that Deshawn and Caleb are exaggerating?”
Ty cleared his throat. “Ehm, I’m not sure if I should answer that question.”
“Why not? Are you afraid we might judge you?” May asked, arching one of her thin eyebrows as she tucked her frizzy hair behind her ear.
Ty’s gaze landed on me before he looked away and just the nano second of his attention made butterflies attack my stomach. “No, I just... eh, this discussion got very personal is all. It’s not like I want to have sex with every girl I see, but I’m a healthy young male and I can’t deny that there are times when my mind goes in a direction that isn’t exactly PG-friendly.”
“So?” May spread her hands. “Are you under the misconception that we girls only have pure thoughts?”
Ty moved in his seat and looked uncomfortable about being put in the spotlight. “Maybe not you, May, or all girls in general, but I’m pretty sure someone like Emma has pure thoughts.”
I wasn’t prepared for him to mention my name. When Ty gave me a sideway glance, I felt my cheeks flame up and my palms turn sweaty as all the billion times I had fantasized about him came roaring through my mind like a tsunami of sin. If only he knew.
“Would you like to respond to Ty’s assumption of you, Emma?” May asked, after a moment of awkward silence. With my heart racing a hundred miles an hour, her voice sounded distorted, and I was too busy trying to break eye contact with Ty to answer her.
When I didn’t answer fast enough, Deshawn moved on and took the awful attention away from me. “What about you, May, do you think of sex?”
“Sure, I think about it daily and so does my girlfriend. It’s the most natural thing in the world,” May stated while I was trying to process Ty’s impression of me as pure.
“See, that’s why I want to read minds.” Caleb grinned. “I want in on all those fantasies of yours.”
My gaze was now fixed on my intertwined hands in front of me. This was exactly why I was relieved that people couldn’t read my mind. I was good at making it seem like I didn’t care that my teammates excluded me at basketball, and no one at school knew how my world had collapsed when my grandmother died.
Ty thought I was pure because he had no idea about my crush on him. If he could read my mind, he would probably feel uncomfortable being around me. I wasn’t his type, and if he knew how much I thought about him, he would know how a simple smile from him made my day and that I hated that he was dating girls who saw him as a status symbol because of his popularity.
As captain of the football team, the edgy kids at school wrote him off as a cliché, but Ty was so much more than his uniform. I’d seen him fist bump the cafeteria ladies and make them laugh when most kids hardly noticed them at all. I was at the homecoming dance when Ty surprised everyone by taking a group of special ed students to the party and making sure they had a great night.
Some said that he did it to impress his football coach for more playing time, but those were just mean rumors. I had seen him feeding the homeless with his mom, and coaching his younger sister’s softball team for a while. In my eyes, Ty was a kind person with an unfortunate taste in girlfriends.
Ms. Weber’s status as my favorite teacher dropped a little when she gave us a load of homework before letting us out of class.
Unlike the students who hurried to lunch break to spend time with their friends, I took my time packing up and walking slowly down the hall toward the cafeteria.
In middle school I had been social and outgoing, but my closest friends, Lucille and Onyx, had moved away and although I knew many of the people at Westlake High, I wasn’t close to any of them.
“Hey Emma,” a former classmate greeted as he passed me in the hallway.
“Hi.” I smiled at him as he passed. It felt good to be recognized by someone. I knew he was a drummer because I sometimes saw him at our basketball games when he played with the school band. For a brief second, I thought about asking him if he wanted to eat lunch together and catch up, but he probably had plenty of people to sit with.
By the time I got to the cafeteria most of the tables were full. Looking to my left, I considered skipping lunch and going to the library like I so often did, but I hadn’t had breakfast and my stomach was growling.
Finding a chair at a table in the upstairs overflow section of the cafeteria, I sat down. There were six chairs and three of them were taken by sophomore girls who were debating which brand of cereal was the healthiest. They acted as if I was invisible.
Pulling out the lunch I’d brought from home, I ate quickly while scrolling through my phone.
Once in a while I looked up when a table of kids exploded in laughter that made us all look over to see what was going on.
I was close enough to the banister that I could see the tables in the main cafeteria downstairs. Ty sat with his usual group of teammates and seemed to be having a great time.
As I chewed on my turkey sandwich, my thoughts went back to him saying my name in class today. What did he mean when he said I had pure thoughts?
Is it his way of saying that I seem boring to him?
Or maybe he was being sarcastic, and it really means that he thinks I’m a freak.
It was typical of me to overthink things, but I couldn’t help analyzing every word he’d said. If only I had Lucille and Onyx here, we could have used the entire lunch break, dissecting and analyzing Ty’s words.
