Chapter 14

The Turnaround

"Zen Master!"

Muffy hailed Alan Monday afternoon, right after final bell. she had missed him in the morning and somehow managed to miss him at lunch as well. It was important that she talk to him today, however, so she had made a point to get out of last period in time to catch him at his locker.

"Oh, hi," Alan said, pulling on a rumpled navy-blue jacket.

The collar had unfolded with the motion and was now sticking straight up. Alan was quick to fold it down again and smooth it out.

"You're on your way to Belmont now, right?"

"Right, but I need to let you know…"

Her phone was in her hand, ready to touch base with her brother and let him know she was on her way. She held it up as if it would help her demonstrate.

"I had to uninstall Study Buddy from my Infinity," she said, speaking of the prog Alan had created for her as a study aid. "It was kind of buggy after your last update."

"Really?" he said, sounding apologetic. "Man… I should've tested it myself first, but I didn't this time. I'm sorry, Muffy. Thanks for telling me. I'll look into it as soon as I can."

"Cool," she said. "Have a good afternoon!"

"Before you go…" he said hastily as he shouldered his bag, "Do you think I could use your garage on tutoring days to work on a project? I would only need about half an hour after every session. Just for a while?"

Muffy cocked her head to one side as she thought about it. No one really used the garage at the Crosswire estate unless Bailey needed to fix something or her father wanted to pay one of his cars a visit. She doubted a couple of weeknights would be a problem. The request still struck her as odd.

"I don't see why not, but why do you need our garage? Don't you have a whole workshop to yourself?"

Alan hesitated.

"I do. You're right, I do. But, my parents… How to explain… They would rather I not spend time in there for a while. It's part of the silly hiatus they've imposed on me. They assume it will help me reduce stress. Restrictions—what a pain, am I right?"

Alan smiled a hearty smile that did not seem altogether genuine. He also looked tired. This was the first Muffy had heard of restrictions. Aside from their tutoring sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, she assumed he had carried on with his schedule as normal.

"What kind of restrictions?" she said, trying not to sound too nosy.

"Oh, nothing. They think I'm fragile," he said with an obviously fake laugh, "so they've banned me from work and the shop."

He did not elaborate, but she felt as if he were still holding back. Muffy grew more concerned. If he was supposedly resting and reducing his stress, why did he have impressive bags under his eyes for a fifteen-year-old? He had sounded so positive over the phone yesterday, yet here he stood, looking as tired and disheveled as he had the day in the ice cream shop, when she had solicited him to be her tutor. Something must be up.

"And you can't wait until after they lift your restrictions to work on your project?"

"Maybe, but I'd like to at least make some headway. Working on it, even in minute increments, will make a substantial difference in my progress. I'll be several steps ahead once I finally make it back into my shop."

"Is your project for school?"

She was certain she knew the answer. If it had been for school, he likely would not need to hide it from his parents.

"It's—why are you asking so many questions?"

His façade was beginning to crack. He sounded irritated, something else reminiscent of that day in the ice cream shop.

"Because," Muffy said evenly in as much effort to keep herself calm as it was to soothe Alan, "now I'm not so sure I should say 'yes' to you, not if it's against your parents wishes. What are you working on?"

"Muffy—"

"I can't let you do it unless I know what it is or why it's so important that it can't wait. You'll be working in my house, after all. If it's dangerous, then—"

"It's not dangerous, I swear. You won't have to worry about me damaging anything."

"I'm not talking about wrecking the garage," she said pointedly.

Alan shifted his weight from one foot to the other, sucking in a frustrated sigh through his teeth.

"Don't— Don't be like them, please. Anyway, if I told you, you'd just think it's weird."

"Probably, yeah. So just tell me. You're not getting the O-K from me until you do."

He held back a wince and exhaled, long and deep. He looked from side to side, ensuring no one was close enough to be interested in what he was saying, then got closer to her.

"So… So, you remember Saturday night, right, and all the things Prunella said about Lydia?"

How could she forget?

"It's all I have been able to think about, just going over it again and again. I think—and I can't believe I'm saying this—that she was telling me the truth."

Muffy could not believe she had worried. Alan really had been feeling better. He was cracking jokes. Her giggles were soft, and she swatted him lightly on his chest.

"For a second there, you really had me going."

Alan's face fell.

"As I suspected, you think it's weird."

"You're serious? Wait—is this what you mean by turning Saturday into a positive experience? Positive how? And what does my garage have to do with it?"

"I did some research. There are some…things I can do…devices I can build that might help me determine if…I'm being haunted. There, I said it."

"Haunted? Alan, what's going on? What did Prunella say that convinced you you're being haunted?"

"There's a lot more to it than just the séance. I don't have the time to explain it all thoroughly right now, so just trust me. A lot of inexplicable things have been happening. I've been having an inordinate amount of strange dreams. And they feel so real, to the point where I'm uncertain where they end and reality begins. I have reason to believe lights have turned themselves on. And everything Prunella said was alarmingly accurate, down to very intimate details, and there is no explanation for how she knew. If Lydia has been watching over me, like Prunella said…if she contacted me through Prunella, then maybe there's a way I can speak with her directly, cut out the middle man, literally. If Prunella can do it, perhaps I can, too. Now, according to the research I've done, there are several data points that can be collected when trying to detect paranormal activity…"

Muffy was horrified, not able to believe what she was hearing. He had been doing so well. As he quietly rattled off the different meters and devices he planned to construct, she wondered how he had managed to fall so far in such a brief amount of time. Somehow, Prunella had managed to rip Alan to shreds, reducing him to the Buster Baxter of ghost hunting. And she hated her for it.

"So I just need a few hours and maybe I can get to the bottom of what's been happening to me."

He sounded manic, fearful, excited. His stare was wide.

"I can't do it without your help, though, Muffy. Please say 'yes'."

How in the hell am I supposed to respond to all that?

She could not agitate him, that was for certain. Agitating Alan never worked out well.

"I get it," she said as brightly as she could manage. "Totally. You're approaching this like a true scientist. That's so you."

This is so not you.

"But don't take this the wrong way, Alan. If you're experiencing such…unique problems, the dreams and inexplicable…stuff—"

"Unexplained phenomena," he supplied.

"Yeah…phenomena. That. If you're experiencing these problems, don't you think maybe there are other avenues you could explore that would help you solve them?"

"You're right," he said. "I could purchase a Ouija board. I didn't even consider that."

He had said it without a trace of sarcasm. Was he really that far gone?

"No," Muffy said carefully. "I mean you should seriously consider consulting a professional. You know, someone who has experience with this kind of stuff?"

She had looked into his eyes and said it slowly, hoping to convey to Alan what she meant without having to say it aloud and potentially embarrass him in front of the groups of students passing them by. He needed to talk to Dr. Hartmann-Krause about this today, without question. She hoped he would agree with her.

Alan fell quiet, thoughtful. He dipped his head in a shameful manner.

"I thought about that as well," he said, "but I don't know if I can. I've been very dismissive, ignored her advice for far too long. I'd feel really foolish approaching her with this. I'd have to swallow a lot of pride, and I'm not sure I have the courage to do that."

"It's never too late to ask for help," she said reassuringly. "She has years of experience with this stuff. She'll understand, I'm sure. I doubt there's anything you could tell her that would shock her, and she'll be glad you opened up. That's what she's there for, Alan. Don't be afraid."

He nodded.

"You're right, as much as I hate to admit it. I suppose we all have to do what we must in pursuit of results, humble ourselves, no matter how embarrassing."

"You can do it." She patted his arm gingerly. "I have confidence in you."

Alan checked his watch and lowered his voice.

"I have to hurry if I want to make my appointment. I'll put the project on hold, for now, at least, until after I've spoken with her about it."

"That's the best idea I've heard all day. I think you'll be happy you did. In fact, I know you will."

"Yeah… Yeah. I'm feeling optimistic about it now, thanks to you. Have fun with your brother."

"Always. And you have a good…visit today."

"Sure," he said, backing away as if eager to make it to the exit. "And don't worry, Study Buddy will be fully operational in no time."


The limo passed the sign posted on the side of the interstate.

Belmont

EXIT 1 MILE

A small container of chocolate croissants sat in the seat next to Muffy. They were a favorite of her brother's. This morning, when she had requested Bailey bake some for the trip this evening, Muffy could not wait to present them to Chip. It had been too long since the breakfast goodie basket, too long since she had been able to remind him of the benefits of being close to home. She had her life back now, though, and she was on the verge of keeping it that way, once she won the wager with her father. She would then have the freedom to resume her mission to win her brother over without the threat of her father's wrath hanging over her. As a bonus, Chip was coming to the mansion soon for Thanksgiving. For the Crosswires, things were looking nowhere if not up.

Muffy looked over at the croissants now, however, and the anticipation was no longer there. Her encounter with Alan this afternoon had killed any excitement she had felt over her scheduled visit. Worry over her friend's behavior seeped in, even though she had managed to talk some sense into him at the end of their conversation. She wished she could have foreseen his relapse, or, at the very least, could have sensed Prunella was up to something sinister and shot down her séance idea. Although she had been unaware of Prunella's plan, she felt responsible for what happened. The more she thought about the trick she had pulled, the livider she grew. How dare Prunella use her? How dare she use her to get to someone else, especially someone as fragile as Alan, especially when their friendship was in the process of strengthening. Prunella likely had not realized the gravity of what she had done, but that was beside the point. Whether she had meant to scar Alan with the séance or not, she owed him an apology and an explanation. If Prunella made it clear to Alan that Saturday night was a prank and nothing more, it might go a long way in helping Alan recover.

Prunella had been slippery at the party, making her exit before Muffy could let her have it, further evidence of her malice.

Muffy thought about the oath she had made to her father, that she would try to be better. She thought about her karma deficit and the work that was still ahead of her to prove herself. Sitting around, merely hoping things would get better for Alan was not an option, not when there was something she could do to speed things up. She needed to act right now.

"Muffler, 'sup?" Chip said over the phone line.

"I know this is super late notice," she said, "but I won't be able to make it today."

"You're cancelling on me now, too?"

"Sorry. Look at it this way—maybe you can see Catherine tonight instead."

"Nope. I can't. She's having dinner with the girls tonight at her apartment. I'm all alone. It's becoming a recurring theme in my life…"

Chip sounded glum, disappointed. As much as she felt for him, she did not have time to listen to him bemoan his loneliness.

"I know. I'm really, really sorry, but a problem has come up, and I need to take care of it A-S-A-P."

"The big guy?" he offered.

"What? No. Trust me, this is nothing I can't handle. I'll talk to you soon, Chip, I promise. Love you. Mean it."

As soon as the call ended, Muffy rolled down the cabin's partition window.

"Bailey, the Belmont plans are cancelled this week."

"Is everything all right, Miss Muffy?"

"It's fine," she said matter-of-factly. "Or it's going to be soon enough. Take me back to Elwood City, please. I need to pay Prunella Deegan a friendly little visit."

Perhaps Prunella had managed to escape the Halloween party, but she could not evade Muffy forever.

To be continued…