7. Didn't See That One Coming.
It was a Sunday afternoon, five months after my fateful first day in Tyonek; Christi, Taylor, and I were sprawled out on the living room floor, finishing up our homework. It was just another part of our relaxing routine.
Taylor and Christi had become my best friends. I had talked to Amy a couple more times, she'd come up to me during my first week, asking all about Taylor. She, like everyone else, had been shocked at how close I had become to the gorgeous siblings in such a short amount of time.
I had slowly but surely begun to stop missing California as much, until I'd stopped missing it all together. I couldn't imagine home without my two new friends.
Christi had without a doubt become the best friend I'd ever had. I told her anything and everything. And as time passed, it became easier and easier to talk to Taylor. My stomach still flip-flopped whenever he touched me, but I could now control my breathing and blush only a little pink instead of burning red.
Taylor seemed to have grown a little more since the first day I had met him, but it passed unnoticed. Christi; however, had shot up. Before, she had been about my size; she was now a good six feet, at least.
We lay on our stomachs, quizzing each other on Physics, Calculus, Algebra 2, Biology, English and so on. Gram came bustling into the living room, and stopped at the end of the hallway. We had pushed back the couch so as to stretch out more comfortably and we sat in a little triangle, with a pile of text books and notebooks in the middle.
Gram laughed quietly to herself as she stepped over and around us to get what she was looking for.
Finally, we finished, and then migrated to the kitchen to sit in the little booth and talk with Gram as she cooked. Taylor and Christi ate so much, it was a miracle they were so skinny.
"Augh, Taylor, can we go home? I don't feel very good," complained Christi suddenly.
I looked at her; she looked weird, not sick, but weird, and why the sudden ailment. Just a second ago she was fine.
"Umm, sure," replied Taylor, giving me a questioning look.
Christi never got sick. She kept in amazing shape—she had become my new running partner; although, recently it had become impossible to keep up with her—and she always ate healthy.
We went back to the living room and gathered up their things. Christi walked over to me and gave me a quick hug. Her skin was warm.
"You better get her home," I said to Taylor, as I turned to tell him goodbye.
"Yeah…" said Taylor, he seemed to be in another place, his expression was weird.
"I'll see ya," he said without looking at me as he turned to walk out the door.
I shut the door and lowered my eyebrows in concentration, trying to think of a logical explanation.
I pushed the furniture back in place—with Gram's help, I couldn't believe Taylor had done it on his own—and gathered up my books. I plopped everything onto my desk and picked up my latest book off the nightstand. I was reading The Odyssey for the second time.
I read for a while, and then got ready for bed. I made sure everything was ready for school tomorrow and then set my alarm. Since Taylor picked me up in the mornings I no longer had to leave the house at seven. That meant I got to sleep an extra twenty-five minutes!
I set my alarm and nestled under my covers, pulling them up to my chin.
My alarm went off as usual and I rolled out of bed. I got dressed, ate breakfast, and brushed my teeth, then sat back to wait for my friends. I waited and waited, but they never came.
I rushed out the door at seven thirty. But as I ran to school I couldn't help but feel worried, not angry. Something must have happened. They would've called if they could've, and I couldn't help but think that it had to do with Christi and her sudden plague.
I burst into English fifteen minutes late. I moved quickly to the back, waiting for Taylor and his sunny personality to burst through the door any minute. But he never came. I waited patiently, half expecting him to come late and crack a joke before ruffling my hair and sitting down next to me.
I would act annoyed, but really be pleased, it was our little joke. I went through several scenarios similar to these in my mind as Mr. King droned on and on. Before I knew it, the bell was ringing and students were gathering their things together.
Taylor never came. Still, I half expected him to be waiting outside the classroom, but still, nothing. I held my breath as I opened my locker, but no post-it-note was stuck to my door.
I hoped the rest of the day, in vain, that he would be waiting for me outside my classes, or saving a seat for me in the cafeteria.
I ate lunch alone. I was annoyed that he didn't show, but also scared. Had something happened to Christi? I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. I was annoyed that they hadn't called, but more than that, I was worried.
Finally, the shrill bell rang, announcing the end of the school day. I hurried to grab the text books I would need for homework out of my locker and then shrugged into my rain jacket.
I poked my head out the double glass doors, it was drizzling. I sighed before stepping out into the cold rain. I hadn't walked in over a month. I wound my scarf tighter around my neck before pulling my hood up over my head.
I listened to the pitter patter of the rain against my hood as I trudged through the oppressive weather to the house. Taylor and Christi still plagued my thoughts and I shuddered involuntarily at the thought of something happening to them.
I crossed my arms tight across my chest, a sorry attempt to stay warm. I looked to my left at the beautiful ocean, stretching on forever. It made me miss the warm, sandy beaches of California, but even in the cold and the rain, I couldn't deny that the rocky, misty beach had become my home.
I finally got to the house and dashed up the muddy driveway. What had before been a mixture of rocks and dirt was now mud and pebbles. I wiped off my shoes on the mat as I reached for the key and unlocked the door.
I walked into the warm house, calling Gram's name. I slipped off my wet shoes and went straight for the fridge, I was starving.
Stuck to the door of the refrigerator was a note.
Leah,
I'm sorry we're not there. Something came up and Beth
needed your Grandfather and me to watch the tackle shop.
There's some pasta in the refrigerator if you're hungry.
We'll be home around 8. Love you.
- Gram
I found the pasta and stuck it in the microwave. I watched it revolve, not really seeing it turn, but instead thinking about what was going on with the Earley's. Why had Taylor ditched the rest of the day, and why had Beth asked Gram and Gramps to watch the shop?
There were no doubts left in my mind. Something was going on, and I was going to find out what it was. I picked up the phone and dial their number—I had it memorized. I waited, but there was no answer. I slammed it down and decided that I would have to talk to Taylor tomorrow. I didn't have a clue what I was going to say, but I knew that I had to say something.
The off feeling that something was wrong was killing me.
I jumped when the microwave beeped. I pulled out the steaming tupper-wear and grabbed a fork before plodding off to my room. I set my backpack down and dug around for my book. I pulled The Odyssey out from the bottom of my bag, and picked up from where I had left off yesterday, eating as I read.
I soon forgot my worries and was lost in the adventures of Odysseus, stopping only when I heard Gram and Gramps walk in the door. I looked at my clock, eight o'clock. Had I really read for four hours? I jumped off the bed to go greet my grandparents.
Gram was tiding up the kitchen when I walked in.
"Why hello there dear, I didn't even hear you."
"Sorry, I was reading." I explained. "How did it go at the store?"
"Oh, just fine dear."
I considered asking Gram if she knew why no one was home as the Earley's, but then I thought better of it. That was their business, not mine, and besides, I would find out from Taylor tomorrow.
After talking with Gram for a while I excused myself to go shower. I pulled on sweats and a sweatshirt and then joined Gram and Gramps for dinner.
I washed the dishes and then reached over to grab the phone. I dialed the Earley's number and waited. Joe picked up after a few rings.
"Hello?" he said quickly, he sounded distracted.
"Hey, Joe? It's Leah, how are you?"
"Fine," he said quickly. A little too quickly.
"Umm, is Leah there?" I was nervous now.
"No, she's um, sick."
"Um, Ok, can you tell her I called?"
"Yes. Bye."
"B—" he'd hung up before I could get the words out of my mouth.
What little worry I had felt before had now tripled, and it was now laced with slight suspicion. I shuffled back to my room and flung myself onto my bed. I tried to imagine what I was going to say to Taylor tomorrow. The conversation with Joe had done nothing but assured me that something was wrong.
I wracked my brain, trying to see if there was anything that had been amiss about the two beautiful siblings yesterday. Nothing but their jaw-dropping beauty and grace came to mind.
Could that be it? That simple? She was just sick, just running a fever? It couldn't be. Christi never got sick, and no one got that sick that fast. And if that were the case, why all the weirdness? She had been warm yesterday, but still, I couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that there was something more going on.
Besides that, Taylor was always hot, like he had just been standing very close to a fire. But he seemed fine; he always came to school and church. I had just accepted it as a part of who he was—he had always gotten slightly defensive whenever I brought it up, so I soon stopped asking.
I groaned and got up to brush my teeth. I sat back down on my bed and read till I was tired. I then dropped my book onto the floor and crawled into the warm covers.
I tried not to think of my mission tomorrow. I would talk with Taylor and he would explain everything, but until then I couldn't let my imagination get away from me. Christi had looked odd, but it was nothing to freak out over.
So why was I?
Instead I tried to think of Taylor. That always working when I wanted a distraction. I soon realized that this too was a bad idea. I closed my eyes and Taylor's face danced around behind my eyelids. I was too hooked on this boy
I rolled over and pulled the covers up over my head, but this did nothing to help the beautiful images from filling my mind. But even with all his beauty and splendor flooding my brain, a small part of me hung on to the nagging suspicion that something was not right.
I slept restlessly. I had nightmares all night, but they didn't make sense. In them, Taylor, Christi and I were walking on the beach, then, suddenly; they turned into fiery, hairy monsters, chasing me.
I woke up, wide awake and shaking. I suppose I deserved that, for all my suspicions I thought to myself. I turned to the glowing clock on my nightstand. It was five-thirty. I got up and went to the bathroom. I showered and got dressed and decided that I would walk to school today. I didn't want to risk being late again.
I walked into the kitchen and was surprised to find Gram fully dressed in front of the stove, singing to herself as she slid a pancake off the pan and onto a plate. I looked at the clock on the microwave. It was a quarter to six. She usually got up about the time that I left the house.
"Gram?" I asked, stifling a yawn, "What are you doing up so early?"
"I got up with your Grandfather; he's already at the store."
"The store?" I asked as I sat down in the booth.
"Beth asked him to watch it again today. I'm headed over there around eight. We might not be back when you're home from school. I'll leave some food for you in the fridge."
Beth can't be at the store. All my suspicions from the previous night flooded back into my mind. This time, I couldn't control my curiosity.
"Gram, why can't Beth watch the store? Is Christi OK?"
Gram froze, almost dropping the plate of pancakes she was bringing over to the table.
"Um, yes dear, everything's fine, don't worry about it." She looked nervous.
So she was in on it too. It seemed like everyone knew something I didn't. Why were they hiding this from me?
The strange reaction from Gram only made my worry burn hotter, but I decided to let the subject rest for now.
I poured syrup on my plate and wracked my brain for an explanation that would make sense. The facts were these: Christi was "sick" and I wasn't allowed to talk to her; everyone acted nervous and defensive when I asked about her; they didn't pick me up yesterday, with no warning; and Beth wasn't able to watch the shop because of some situation that no one wanted to share with me.
The secret couldn't be a good one. Crazy thoughts began racing through my mind, Christi really was sick, and was dying of some rare disease. The whole family was all dangerous criminals, and they were trying to avoid risk of being exposed. They were terrible monsters like the ones from my dream and were out to wreak havoc on the small village of Tyonek…
The stories got more and more outrageous the longer I thought about it.
Finally, I pushed all the ridiculous falsehoods from my mind. I was acting stupid. These were my best friends! There was something going on, that was obvious, but I was blowing it all way out of proportion. Today at school I would calmly ask Taylor to explain what was going on.
I finished up my pancakes and washed the dishes. Gram migrated to the living room to vacuum—she was always cleaning; the house was always spotless—and I to my room to gather up my things.
I kissed Gram goodbye and pulled up the hood of my rain jacket. It was drizzling and dark, but it was peaceful.
I walked into the warm lobby. I shrugged out of my raincoat and shook it out by the door. Little rain drops fell onto the mat. I hung the jacket over my arm and walked calmly to my locker, nodding at the kind receptionist on my way.
I stacked my books neatly and shoved my jacket in to the tiny space remaining.
I walked calmly to English, and then sat down in my usual place in the back row. I waited for Taylor to come and assume his usual place next to mine. He was fifteen minutes late, and I could tell immediately that something was wrong.
He sat down quietly next to me.
I didn't see him until lunch. I walked into the cafeteria and went to sit down at our usual table. I poked at my salad until he came and silently sat down across from me.
"So…" I began, "…Christi's still sick huh?"
He choked on his food and then coughed. He cleared his throat. "Uh, yeah, sick." He looked worried.
Something about his voice and expression still made me doubt. I couldn't figure it out. Why was I being so paranoid?
I gave him a nervous smile, that was meant to be reassuring, and then turned my attention back to the bowl of salad sitting in front of me.
Just then, I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. I wouldn't have noticed it, except for the fact that it was moving inhumanly fast. I jerked my head to the right, but whatever it was; it was gone before I could see it.
"What was that?" I looked back at Taylor. He was staring intently at something behind me; his brow was furrowed, like he was trying to understand a hard algebra problem.
I turned around in my seat. There was a tall, skinny, dark skinned boy in the lunch line looking at Taylor. It looked like he was mouthing something, but he stopped quickly when he noticed I was looking at him. He met my gaze and then dropped his eyes, staring at the dirty, white tile floors.
I turned back around to look at Taylor. He was fidgeting anxiously.
"Hey Leah, sorry, but I gotta go." He said quickly.
His face held a mix of worry, and the strange expression he had on Sunday afternoon.
I nodded but he was already standing up, taking his empty tray with him. He dumped the chip bag, napkin, and juice bottle in the trash can on his way out, and then broke into a run out the cafeteria doors, leaving me speechless and frozen.
