A Nightmare on Elm Street: Circle of Death
Chapter 2: Uncertain Futures
After school, Kelly sat down in front of her dresser and studied her own reflection in the mirror. She pushed back a section of her sun-kissed blond hair, frowned at what she saw, then grabbed the cordless phone sitting on her dresser.
She absently pushed back her bangs as she dialed Tanya's number. "Are you busy?" she asked when Tanya came on the line.
"Not anymore," sighed Tanya. "I was photographing my favorite subject, but she got bored and ran off."
Kelly grinned in spite of herself; trying to keep Rowena still was like trying to keep the moon from rising. "It's amazing you hold on to her as long as you do. Out of curiosity, why bother?"
"We have a deal going," explained Tanya. "She let's me test new equipment on her, and I pay her back by letting her paint, sculpt, or paper mache me. Besides, she's a great model."
Kelly couldn't argue. Willowy Rowena, with her perfect skin and striking green eyes, was clearly the kind of girl the camera loved. Most thought the same thing about shapely, creamy-skinned Tanya, but the shy teen preferred staying behind the lens.
"As long as you're free, can you come over? My roots are showing again."
There was a pause. "There isn't anything wrong with your real hair, you know."
Kelly didn't answer as she glanced at a photo tacked to the side of her mirror. It was a picture of the high school cheerleading squad, and she was standing in the middle of the row, proudly sporting school colors and a beauty queen-worthy smile. "We both know you're never going to live up to the image your mother has in her head," Tanya said quietly. "You should really stop trying and just be you for a change."
"It's more than that," Kelly said quickly. "Being blonde, blue-eyed, and being on the squad...it's everything she ever wanted for herself but never got."
"Uh huh. You don't need to study psychology to know that living vicariously through one's child isn't healthy. For either of you."
Kelly tried not to, but her eyes were inevitably drawn to the stack of text books resting on her night stand. "It's only until high school is over," she ventured.
"Have you told her that? Or that you want a degree and maybe even your own practice after college?"
"No..."
"You're going to have to tell her eventually, or you're going to snap."
"I will," Kelly promised.
"When?"
"Soon. I swear."
"You better."
"Anyway, are you coming over or not? You know it's a pain to do this by myself."
Tanya sighed a typical Tanya sigh, but Kelly knew she had already decided to come. For as long as she could remember, Tanya was the one person she could always count on, no matter what.
"I'll be there in a minute," she finally agreed. "But this is the last time," she warned.
Kelly laughed. "Right," she said, and hung up.
Craig absently kicked a dented can out of his way as he walked around to the back of the gas station. He wanted to stay inside where he wouldn't be seen, but his lurking had made the cashier nervous and she told him to buy something or leave. He left, but he didn't want to go home.
He didn't want to tell his father that his grades were starting to slip again. He tried and tried, but he knew he just wasn't smart enough to keep them up. Not up where his father wanted them, anyway.
He gave the can another savage kick before sitting on a rusted metal crate near the brick wall. He fished into the inner pocket of his jacket, pulled out a small bottle and took a long drink.
"Easy, dude, you know what that shit does to you."
Craig blandly returned the bottle to his jacket. "You need something, Aaron?"
The lean boy shrugged, his hands in his pockets. "Just worried about you. I know you're upset, and I know what you do when you're upset."
"I'm fine," Craig muttered.
"No, you're not."
Aaron pushed another crate over with his foot and sat down. "You're stressing out again. Just like when your dad thought you wouldn't make captain."
Craig scowled fiercely. "He wouldn't get away with treating me like this if my mom was still around."
"Hey, don't do that to yourself, or her. You know she fought with everything she had to keep you and your sister. Your dad had a better lawyer. That's all."
Craig knew that was true. His mother had all the love in the world, but his father had the money, so he was the one with custody of his two children.
"Where is she now, anyway? Your sister, I mean."
"Colorado," said Craig glumly. "She'd move to the moon, if she could. Wish I could go with her."
Aaron suddenly grinned, a sign he was about to lighten the mood, or attempt to, at least. Craig doubted he would succeed, but he appreciated the attempt as well as the optimism.
"It's always good to have dreams, dude. But you might want to aim a little lower, for now."
The slim teen looked at him expectantly, and Craig realized Aaron was asking what he wanted to do, if it were up to him. He stared blankly at the side of a nearby building; leave it to Aaron to present a question he had never thought about before. His father had planned his future from the day he was born, literally.
His father took one look at him and said, "He's going to grow up tall and lanky, just like me! He'll rule the courts, no mistake."
Craig had the video to prove it. He didn't want that future, but once it was taken away, he was left with a huge blank. What else could he do?
"If you ask me, you look more like a football player," Aaron joked.
Craig frowned at the idea, but Aaron had a point; Craig had filled out a lot more than expected, and he had stopped growing just shy of what most people considered tall. He wasn't small, but he couldn't imagine being knocked around a football field. "Can't we just stay away from sports?"
Aaron thought for a moment. "Can you cook?"
Despite his dark mood, Craig started to laugh. "What, you trying to snare me into taking your sister's place after she gets married? I can't really picture myself in your family's kitchen. Or in an apron."
"Hey, you're like family to us," Aaron told him seriously. "My mom even said she'd be happy to give you a job at the restaurant. She thinks having you around will be a good influence for me," he added with a grin.
"Oh sure," joked Craig. "I'll roast chickens five nights a week while I pay my way through college. I'll be able to marry Kelly in no time."
"Hey, if that's what you want, dude. Just say the word."
Craig's smile faded. He was only joking, but Aaron was seriously trying to offer him an alternative to the carefully coordinated plan Craig's father had laid out. And it wasn't long before he turned eighteen...he was free to do whatever he wanted after that, no matter how upset it made his father. If he stopped playing ball and started cooking, his father would probably disown him.
The thought made Craig grin; that sounded pretty good about now. "I'm not really sure what I want, but I'll keep you posted, okay?"
Aaron lightly slapped his shoulder. "You do that," he instructed, standing up. "I gotta run...I'm on double-duty while sis picks out her gown and junk. Don't forget, we're meeting later."
"I won't."
They walked to the street together, where Aaron waved and took off running. After thinking about it for a moment, Craig decided not to go home until later. He wasn't supposed to meet the others until after dark, but that was fine. He didn't have many talents, but staying out of sight was one of his best.
