An Everyday Anomaly
A/N: With all the homework I have, I really should not be starting another fic but this one is calling to me. I had to do it.
READ THIS AND I'LL GIVE YOU A COOKIE:
Some of you might have ready my first real story, Just Like Clockwork, which was about a girl named Lucy Everard traveling back in time and finding herself on the island with the rest of the boys. I won't say anymore because well… I don't want to give away the ending. Okay, so it wasn't the best story out there. Hey, it might even be one of the worst. I was thirteen when I started it and I'm pretty darn glad I finished it. I just hope this new piece, An Everyday Anomaly, is better. For the sake of myself as a writer, it better be.
This story is not exactly a sequel of JLC. It's actually somewhat of a prequel, or a sister piece, or whatever you want to call it. Anyhoo, they're in the same family. AEA is going to be about Lucy's great-aunt's visit to the island as a girl. You don't necessarily have to read JLC first, but I highly suggest you skim it. If you do decide to read it, do forgive my, at times, horribly improper use of the thesaurus and overall corniness (themes which might occasionally appear in this story as well – sorry in advance!).
Well, enough of my blabbering. Go ahead and read. I hope it doesn't disappoint!
Chapter 1: The Gift
Eliza knew she shouldn't have been there. She reveled in that fact. After all, some children are born scholars; others are born snoops. Eliza Everard was among the latter. Born with a natural curiosity, she'd always been a bit of a troublemaker.
The most dangerous of her endeavors occurred on the evening of her brother's eighteenth birthday. A few of their relatives and family friends came over around seven – laughing and drinking and cajoling through the night. It was nearing two o'clock in the morning when her Uncle Ed started singing Irish folk songs, flailing his hands about, knocking over a vase in his drunken fervor. Eliza's mother swept up the mess and good-naturedly herded everyone toward the door.
Thinking she could escape a slobbery kiss from her Aunt Gertrude, Eliza excused herself and scurried in the direction of the bathroom. That was when she heard it – the voices. Male voices, both hushed. One calm, one excited. Her father's voice, she realized. And her brother's.
Eliza followed the voices down the hallway to a guestroom, where a sliver of light made its way through the cracks in the doorway. She crept up alongside the wall, carefully not to make any noise. Pressing her ear against the cool wood, she peered in through the keyhole, hoping her beating heart would not give her away.
Her father stood facing Ralph, his hands tucked into his pant pockets. He looked happy, but serious at the same time. "You're eighteen today," he began in a drawling voice that seemed foreign coming from his own mouth. "And as of today, you are legally an adult, and with all these new privileges comes responsibility."
Ralph nodded his agreement. He was perched on the edge of his bed sheet, anxious for what was to come. Though he didn't say anything, Eliza knew he was hoping for a Rolls-Royce.
"You'll be off to university soon," he said. "I expect you to make something of yourself."
"I know, Dad."
"Here," he fished something out of his pocket. She heard Ralph let out an audible gasp. Eliza tried to squeeze her face further into the keyhole, but her father's back was blocking the way. Something told her that whatever he was holding, it wasn't car keys.
His voice was steady as he explained. "You recall the stories? Of your grandfather and your great-grandfather and the fathers before them?"
Ralph hesitated. "Not exactly."
"Well, now you will," her father replied, and Eliza could have sworn he was smiling. He laughed at his son's confusion. "This is not your typical heirloom. It has been passed down through our family through centuries. In your very grasp is power to relive history." He placed the object in Ralph's palm and gently clasped his fingers over it. "I'm proud of you, son," he said finally, drawing his fists back into his suit.
"I'm not sure I understand," Ralph said, shaking his head in bewilderment.
Dad chuckled to himself. "Time is funny thing, Ralph. Learn this well."
Eliza held her breath as she watched Ralph hold the seemingly miraculous gift under the lampshade. Light reflected off his eyes from the gold, gleaming pocket watch that lay between his fingers. At first, Eliza could not help but feel disappointed. It looked so small in her brother's large hands. So harmless and insignificant – or so it seemed.
Well, shake it up baby now (Shake it up baby)
Twist and shout (Twist and shout)
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon baby now (Come on baby)
Come on and work it on out (work it on out)
It was six o'clock on a Thursday evening and the record player was on full blast. Eliza's homework lay cast aside in the corner, forgotten. She was jumping on her bed, dancing around her room, singing at the top of her lungs. It was her newest album. Something by Britain's latest band, The Beatles.
"Eliza!"
She heard her mother summoning her from the kitchen, but she took great care to ignore it.
"Eliza Everard! Would you turn that music down please?"
But Eliza was in her element. Music never failed to transport her to an entirely different world – a world without any math homework or snobby teachers or Wendy Forster's who was entirely convinced that she and her abnormally large schnoz were the center of the universe. Yes, Eliza enjoyed music very much… That is, until her mother opened up her big mouth and dragged her back to reality.
"Eliza!" came the voice from the kitchen. "Eliza! Oh, forget it."
She was distantly aware of the sound of the doorbell ringing, yet she assumed it was salesman or a neighbor of some sort. It was when she paused to switch records when she heard her brother's laughter coming from the foyer. Her eyes lit up and she was out the door in a second.
"Ralph!" she exclaimed, sliding down the banister with practiced ease, launching herself into his arms. "We weren't expecting you until tomorrow!"
"Change of plans!" Ralph said. He caught her and spun her around. After a few turns, he set her gently on her feet. "Someone's been eating. Filled out there a bit, haven't you?" he joked, patting her stomach teasingly.
Eliza withdrew from him with an indignant humph. "Speak for yourself," she challenged. "That sweater looked a lot less snug last semester."
He fingered her school jumper. It had a bright orange splotch on it from art class, where she had attempted to paint an abstract representation of life on Mars. "Setting a new trend? I must say, the I-Don't-Give-A-Damn-About-My-Appearance look really suits you."
She was just about to ruin his perfectly groomed haircut when their mother stepped between them. "Cut it out, the two of you." She tried to appear stern, but was betrayed by the laughter in her eyes. "Can't you see we've got company?"
For the first time, Eliza noticed the pretty redheaded girl lingering in the doorway. No, girl was not the right word to describe her. She was practically a woman, another college student, no doubt. And she was tall, with alabaster skin and just a hint of freckles. Her dress was very simple and modest, but somehow made look like a movie star. Even her purse gave off the air of perfection.
Ralph seemed to come to his senses, though Eliza did not. She mutely watched as he put his arm around the redhead and guided to the middle of the foyer. "Mother, Ellie – this is Nancy. She's my girlfriend."
Nancy only smiled, revealing a set of amazingly straight, shining teeth. "Hello," she greeted them sincerely. She automatically kissed their mum on both cheeks and even gave Eliza a hug, one that Eliza did not wholeheartedly return. "So you're the famous Eliza Everard," she said to her. "Ralph's told me so much about you."
Eliza smiled weakly, acutely aware her soiled jumper and slightly crooked teeth. "Oh, did he really?" Her expression was happy, her voice carefully contained. Best not let her big brother know that she hated his new girlfriend already.
"What do you mean she's going to stay here? It's Christmas! Hasn't she got a family to go to?"
"Her mother is dead and her father is with the military somewhere overseas. Letting her stay with us is the least we could do. How would you feel, spending the holidays alone in a deserted dormitory?"
Eliza was having a hushed argument with her mother in the laundry room. She had plainly stated her feelings about Nancy and demanded she seek refuge somewhere else. It was selfish, that she knew, but she wasn't sure she was prepared to share her brother with anyone else.
"Can you just try to be nice to her?" Mum pleaded. "For Ralph's sake."
With one last sigh, she nodded and leapt from her perch on the washing machine. "Okay, I'll try."
Her mother smiled and kissed her lightly on the forehead. "Good. Now go bug your father."
Eliza complied and made her way to the parlor, where her father sat in his usual armchair. The radio was buzzing beside him and he had a fresh cigar in his right hand. His brow was furrowed as he listened to national occurrences and politics and a bunch of other things she did not understand.
She hated watching her father as he listened to the news. He became a different person, all formality and seriousness – not a trace of laughter in his eyes. That was why, every Christmas, she would make the same request – the he refrained from listening to the radio by any means necessary. He would always pretend to forget, as he settled into his chair, armed with a glass of wine, maybe, and some tobacco. Eliza would pretend not to be disappointed, but in the end, she always was.
"Hi Daddy," she climbed into his lap, resting her head on his shoulder.
He grinned and ruffled her blonde head. "Hello, pumpkin. How goes it?" But she could tell he was only half listening.
"Daddy," she pouted. "You promised."
He glanced at the radio and said," I know, Eliza, but this is going to be a big story. Besides, Christmas Eve isn't until tomorrow. You understand, don't you?"
"I suppose so." She forced the corners of her mouth to curve upward, just to make him happy.
"That's my girl," he said, before tuning into the news once more.
Eliza got up, feeling rejected by both her parents. There was only one person she could go to, and that was Ralph.
She made her way up the stairs to his bedroom. Tapping lightly on his door, she called for him, but he didn't seem to hear her. She opened the door a crack and poked her head inside. "Ralph?"
He was sitting at his bureau, his back facing her. The only light in the room was from something gold and glowing in his hands. Her heart nearly stopped. The watch! It had to be.
Ralph was muttering to himself. His body was stiff. She guessed his face was scrunched up in concentration. Eliza was frozen for several minutes, afraid to move. But as usual, curiosity got the better of her. She moved one sock-covered foot up a few inches. Bad move. The floor beneath her emitted a long, resounding groan.
Her eyes flew wide open as Ralph sprung to his feet. The watch immediately dimmed as he turned on her with a face like thunder.
"Eliza? What the hell are you doing here? Were you spying on me?"
"No," she squeaked. "No, I would never-"
She yelped as he grabbed her arm and roughly tossed her through the doorway.
"You will forget everything you have just seen. You will tell no one about this – not Mum, not any one of your little friends. Do I make myself clear?" He didn't have to raise his voice. His whispered threats were enough to make her shrink back in fear.
"I'm sorry!" she cried. "I didn't mean to spy on you, Ralph. I won't tell anyone. Please, Ralph. I'm sorry!"
But her only answer was a door slammed in her face.
A/N: Oh dear. I hope I didn't make Ralph too mean. But seriously, if my nonexistent little sister barged in on me while I was relieving my worst memories through a mysterious-looking pocket watch, I would be pretty pissed off too.
This includes the first chapter of An Everyday Anomaly. For once, I have a vague idea of where I'm going with this, but constructive criticism would be very much appreciated!