VII. Handwriting on the Wall
The following days passed by in somewhat of a blur, blending together with nothing particularly out of the ordinary- whatever remained of the ordinary. Jared and Paul continued to sit with the girls at lunch, both sporting dark circles around their eyes nearly each day. Nina and Kim had briefly discussed what may be causing them to get no sleep, and Nina pointed out that it was most likely whatever had made them friends in the first place.
Rumors about Sam Uley recruiting members for a gang had been whispered throughout the halls here and there, certainly thickening when Paul had returned to school and miraculously stopped hanging out with his old friends in favor of Jared- they had even gone as far as to stalk by their booth, glaring. Paul had grown red hot with anger, and Jared had nearly dragged him out of the cafeteria before he could do something stupid.
The girls had decided that they didn't believe such rumors. Nina had even, carefully, explained how welcoming and polite Sam had been when she and Jared had been working on their project at Emily's house.
It was Friday afternoon, and the clouds had broken just enough to let the sun peek through and kiss the dampened earth. Nina had inhaled deeply the moment they had emerged from their school building, shutting her eyes as the sun met her skin.
Kim and Jared had stopped to wait for her as she did so, and when she opened her eyes, she met their stares with a grin- Jared's instantaneously forming as a response. Paul had strutted ahead of them, a natural air of arrogance floating around him.
"Yeah, Paul," Jared called out, mischief in his smile, "we'll catch up, don't worry."
Nina chuckled quietly, Kim beside her staring admiringly at Jared as they walked.
"Piss off," Paul rebutted, picking up his pace, "I've gotta meet Sam." He picked up a light jog, nearing the sidewalk along the edge of the woods before disappearing into the treeline.
Jared glanced at the girls, rolling his eyes and chuckling.
"He's awfully moody, isn't he?" Nina wondered, eyes still trained on where Paul had vanished. Jared chuckled again, shaking his head.
"You don't know the half of it."
When they reached Kim's car, Nina leaned back against the hood of it, eyes falling shut for another moment. Kim rested a shoulder against her driver's side window.
"So Nina…" Jared began, a lighthearted airiness in his voice, "Emily comes home this weekend."
Nina's eyes opened, already glittering with excitement.
"Really?"
Jared nodded, smiling back at her.
Kim raised an eyebrow, "Emily?"
"Emily Young," Jared supplied.
"She got attacked by a bear earlier this week and was in the hospital," Nina pursed her lips to the side.
"That's horrible…" Kim mumbled, shaking her head. Her thumb nail fell between her teeth.
"Sue is gonna bring her home Sunday, I thought you might want to come for dinner with everyone?"
The eagerness that leapt in Nina's chest nearly sent the words from her mouth without her permission, but then her eyes moved to Kim, waiting patiently to go get her clothes for the weekend. Her eyes dropped to her shoes for a moment.
"I don't know," Nina finally spoke, glancing subconsciously in Kim's direction before looking at Jared's face. He was frowning.
They fell silent.
In an instant, Jared perked up again, a familiar glint in his eyes, "Kim, why don't you come too?"
Nina and Kim raised their eyebrows.
"I'm sure Em would love the company."
The girls shared a glance, Nina's curiosity at an all-time high. Kim was smiling, though, with a faint blush creeping in along the edges of her face, and Nina knew she would never forgive her if she made her miss out on an invitation from Jared. So she nodded, and Kim's face lit up with excitement as she nodded back to Jared.
"We'd love to!"
"Awesome, I'll text you when Sue's on the way and you guys can head over," Jared spoke in Nina's direction, eyes never leaving her face, but Kim still nodded attentively and smiled as she opened up her door and slid into the car.
Jared took a step in Nina's direction, smile lingering, eyes soft.
"See you Sunday."
She shook her head slowly at his recurring behavior, her eyes narrowed. The corners of her lips dared to tilt upwards and proved to be enough to widen Jared's smile.
Nina plopped into the passenger seat, her mood depleting as she looked at the time on the dash. Her lips fell into a thin line, dread setting in.
"Maybe she's running late?" Kim spoke quietly, though optimistically, eyebrows coming together slightly.
"Doubtful," Nina grumbled, pulling her seatbelt across herself aggressively, "let's just go."
Kim nodded and silently began driving.
As if in a conspiracy with time itself, the girls arrived at Nina's seemingly quicker than ever before.
Her mother's car was parked in the driveway, a small, champagne colored sedan with rust creeping out from every seam. They wordlessly stepped out of Kim's car and trudged up the front steps. With a kick from Nina's converse, they were in.
She was standing at the kitchen counter, humming to herself, flipping through a newspaper that was at least a week old. Beside her sat a coffee mug. Her hair was a thick, dark curtain that shielded her face from view, and Nina hated that it bore some resemblance to her own dark hair.
She turned towards them as they entered the kitchen, Kim closely behind Nina's left shoulder.
"Funny seeing you here on a Friday…" her mother spoke, her voice coarse and deeper than what her appearance may indicate.
"Just here to grab my things for the weekend," Nina raised her chin as she responded to her, lips a thin line.
"I hate when you make that face. You look like your-"
"I know."
Nina brushed by the counter in pursuit of her room, Kim following behind silently.
"Electricity needs to be paid!" Her mother hollered. The girls were just through Nina's bedroom door, Kim already finding the duffel bag as Nina gathered clothes.
"I already did it!" Nina called back, an edge in her voice, "I got dad's pension and covered everything." She rolled her eyes, lowering her voice as she shared a glance with Kim, "just like always."
Nina's hand fell onto her hiking boots, and she raised an eyebrow to Kim, grinning broadly. Kim crinkled her nose and shook her head, and Nina removed her hand with a tight chuckle.
With a full bag slung over her shoulder, Nina led Kim back out into the main area of the house. Her mother had moved to the window above the sink, mug in hand, and she turned to face them that time, dead, dark eyes staring at Nina's face.
Nina remembered when her father was still alive and her mother's face was rounded with life, her russett skin holding a sort of glow. She had been beautiful, really, with a broad nose and sharp cheekbones that reminded of the women in her history books.
As she stared at her then, gaunt features and dull skin, it was evident that that woman had died along with her father.
"Leaving?" A thin eyebrow arched in Nina's direction.
Purposely, she made the thin-lipped face again and nodded.
Her mother looked away, and Nina took the opportunity to move once again, making it to and out the front door with no further interaction. She and Kim were in the car as quickly as possible and beginning the holy drive to Kim's house.
Annie, Kim's mother, had just started dinner when the girls entered the house, the lights casting an orange hue around the room while the oven gave off warmth. She smiled at them, her face only faltering when she took in their faces. With one glance at the clock on the stove, she nodded knowingly and went back to chopping vegetables on the counter, allowing the girls to tuck away into Kim's room until dinner was ready.
Saturday, another miraculously sunny day, was spent on Kim's back porch, sipping on cider as Kim began her college applications. Nina had sat with her legs crossed on the edge of the table, a notebook and map in front of her, as she charted her ideal travel route pending their graduation. Little by little, she had began to save money from her father's pension checks with the hopes of buying herself a vehicle she could travel in… along with a newer model of camera.
The girls had worked peacefully across the table from one another, chattering on occasion about their options- Nina couldn't imagine going through another four years of schooling, and Kim was terrified of the idea of leaving home and not knowing what came next.
Sunday morning dawned with the return of their usual rainfall, black storm clouds and the rumble of thunder leaving a sense of foreboding in its wake.
Jared's text came just after noon, and Kim was eager to take on the rain in pursuit of time with him. She had nearly made it to her car before the rain had soaked her, having burst through the front door with abandon. She turned back to the house where Nina stood, a black rain jacket zipped up and a white one held up by a single finger.
"Thanks," Kim giggled lightly as she took the jacket, slipping it on and flipping up the hood before taking back off for the car. Nina directed her to Emily's house, a familiar warmth settling over her as they arrived.
Jared was in the driveway when they pulled in, a hesitant smile on his face, seemingly unbothered by the rain.
"Hey guys," he tossed an arm over Nina's shoulder, tucking her beneath his arm carefully. She sucked her cheeks in, casting a worrisome glance in Kim's direction. Upon meeting her watchful eyes, she wiggled herself from his grasp and moved swiftly up the front steps. Without a second thought, she let herself in.
Sue Clearwater was in the kitchen, putting something in the oven as she stepped inside.
"Hi, Nina," she spoke kindly, standing up and taking off her potholders. With the tip of her head, Nina's eyes found Emily.
She was seated in the recliner in the corner of the living room, and unfortunately, if it weren't for the way she called out to Nina, she wouldn't have recognized her.
"There you are, sweet face, come here!"
"Emily," her cheeks filled with heat and she smiled at the older girl as she approached her. She made an attempt to not stare at all the angry wounds that escaped from the containment of bandages and gauze.
It was like nothing she had ever seen before. From hairline to chin, the right side of her face was black and blue. Bandages did their best to cover and compress the violent, angry gashes that seemed to have shredded the once silky skin below, but tentacles of stitches snaked their way out in most spots, and Nina did her best to pretend they simply weren't there. The wounds trickled down her right arm and the length of her fingertips, though they didn't stop her from reaching upwards for a hug from Nina, the younger girl graciously, though cautiously, returning it.
"I'm so glad you're home," Nina murmured against her hair, the words leaving her mouth before she even knew it. Emily squeezed her a little bit tighter.
When the screen door shut behind them, the two released one another from their embrace, turning as Jared led Kim inside, gesturing in their direction. Nina watched as Sue raised an eyebrow as she took in Kim, but Kim was too caught up in Jared to notice.
"Kim," Nina spoke, sitting down on the loveseat next to Emily's recliner, "this is Emily Young."
Kim approached her shyly, and Nina was grateful for the way she avoided looking at her bandages for too long as she did so.
"I'm Kim. It's so nice to meet you, I'm so sorry about your accident."
With what she could muster of a soft smile, Emily beckoned her closer. She took one of her hands gently between her own and squeezed, "Thank you for joining us today, I love when the house is full of life."
Kim blushed as Emily released her hand, tentatively sitting beside Nina and taking in the small house.
With the food in the oven, Sue joined them in the living room, she and Jared taking seats on the couch across from them. Nina couldn't help but notice the way that Sue's eyes lingered on Kim with question, or the way that Kim was looking at Jared, and especially not the way that Emily's eyes flickered between the two of them. She felt both intrusive and uneasy.
"So Kim…" Emily finally spoke, gingerly adjusting herself in the chair, "you're a senior too? Like Nina and Jared?"
Her wording struck Nina odd, though her face- still painfully beautiful despite its trauma- held no sign of malice.
Kim nodded, eyes hardly leaving Jared's face- which was conveniently pointed in Nina's direction- as she spoke, "M'hm, Jared and I have almost always had classes together."
Nina swallowed hard, her teeth finding the sides of her cheeks with pressure as she forced her eyes to wander around the room. She felt another set of eyes on her, but she fought against the urge to investigate.
"Going away for college?" Sue's voice was crisp, and the tone forced Nina's eyes to find her with question. She was sitting as she had been, legs crossed, but her elbow had come to rest on her top leg, her chin just grazing the divets of her knuckles.
"I'm not really sure yet," Kim shrugged a shoulder, "I'm looking at some in-state, but I also like some in Oregon."
Sue hummed a quiet sort of response, and Jared's eyes found Nina's with amusement.
"Nina, dear," Sue's voice was softer as she spoke then, her hands dropping back into her lap and clasping one another, "Jared says you plan on traveling?"
She had began to wonder, over her time with both Sue and Emily, just how much Jared had told them about her, and her mind began working out reasons why he may speak of her as much as it seemed.
"That's the plan," she unknowingly sat up straighter and smiled as she spoke, "I'm working on a travel blog worth notice, but…" a corner of her mouth stretched outward with exaggeration, "traveling is kinda necessary for that."
"I'd love to see your photos some time," Emily joined in, and Sue glanced at her briefly before nodding in agreement.
"You know, there's that whole magazine full of pictures that people take, places all over the country- all over the world!" She tapped at her chin with her index finger, "what's that magazine called?" Her eyes scanned the room.
"National Geographic?" Jared raised an eyebrow.
"Yes!" Sue nodded, bringing her hands back together as she faced Nina, "that's the one. National Geographic. Maybe you could end up working for them."
Nina's smile widened, "That'd be pretty amazing," she giggled, the tip of an ear, just visible with her hair tucked behind it, glowed pink.
Emily attempted to hide her flinch when she leaned forward, and her "good" eyebrow raised, "Plan on having a travel buddy?"
Nina dared to believe that Emily's eyes flickered in Jared's direction, but she held her attention on Emily.
"Hey Sue," Jared stood up abruptly, scratching at the back of his head, "do you think the food is almost ready? I could go grab the guys."
The curious mood that had settled in the room was lifted as everyone began to move, Kim offering to help Sue set the table as Nina worked to get Emily across the room to it. Jared had nearly fled out the door, calling that he'd be back with Sam and Paul.
When all three boys returned, Nina was struck by not only the air about them as they entered in a sort of half-hazard triangular formation, but more by Sam's condition. His hair was longer than it had been when she had last seen him, and it was rather unkept. He sported unhappy, purple marks around his eyes, and she would've sworn he had aged since their last meeting.
His eyes found Emily immediately, and Nina couldn't miss the pure unhappiness that lingered in his stare. Feeling unwelcome in that moment, Nina ducked her head and joined Sue as she brought over the last of the food.
When they were all seated, Nina found herself beside Paul, just as at their lunch table. Across from him sat Jared, Kim to his side. Sam and Sue sat at the heads of the table, and Emily was next to Sue, the older woman seeming rather protective over her as she dished out her square of lasagna.
An uncomfortable silence had settled into the room, and Nina was quite sure that no one wanted to be the first to break it. It was as if they were inching along on thin ice.
"Well," Paul's voice seemed too loud in the small house, and he obnoxiously clapped his hands together as he continued, "I had a piss poor week, how about everyone else?" His eyes, dark almonds, scanned the table from one end to the other, lips pursing in question.
"I second that," Emily raised her good hand, her head carefully tilting slightly.
Everyone laughed, excluding Sam, genuine lightheartedness breathing life into the group.
Jared stood up and wandered to the sink, grabbing two glasses from a nearby cabinet and beginning to fill them. When his back was turned, Paul's elbow roughly nudged at Nina's side, and she looked to him with a raised eyebrow. He spared only a moment to smirk at her before he set into motion.
A second later, he had grabbed his fork, jammed it into his mouth to get off the remains of his meal, and was launching it through the air at the back of Jared's head.
In just the time it took for Nina's jaw to drop, Jared had spun on his heels- faster than Nina would've ever dreamed possible- and caught the fork in one hand, the other never faltering in its grip on a half-filled cup.
"Nice try, asshole," Jared smirked, dropping it onto the floor, "gotta be faster than that."
"Dammit," Paul muttered, chuckling darkly as he shook his head.
"Could you two keep it together for just one day?" Emily laughed, tenderly resting a hand on her own side as she smiled, "I just got home, we have a guest over," she gestured at Kim, "and you're already back to acting like wild animals?"
Both boys laughed, and Nina even shared a smile with Sue, but she couldn't help but wonder if only Kim was considered a guest, what was she?
Jared returned to the table and placed one glass of water in front of his own plate before reaching the other one over to Nina's, briefly smiling at her as he sat back down. She didn't have to look in Kim's direction to know the look that was surely on her face.
Nina and Kim cleaned up afterwards as Sue began to change some of Emily's bandages. Sam had nearly flown from the room upon the culmination of their meal, and Nina was alarmed by his frostiness that afternoon, it was certainly different from their last meal together. Paul had followed along behind him, leaving Jared seated at the table.
He turned in his seat to watch as the girls did dishes, and Nina had caught him staring at her a number of times before she spoke. She narrowed her eyes at him, setting down the plate she had been scrubbing and maintaining eye-contact.
"What's up?" He raised his chin haughtily, a smirk passing over his lips.
"Nothing," Nina shrugged casually, leaning forward to rest her elbows on the countertop, "just hanging out, you?"
Beside her, Kim giggled.
"What a coincidence," Jared smiled, "me too."
After the table was cleaned and the dishes were done, Kim thanked Emily for her hospitality and Sue for the food before blushing and blubbering a 'goodbye' to Jared and fleeing to her car. Nina had grinned in her wake and then turned to the women, their faces suddenly lighting up with smiles.
"Come back soon, please," Emily squeezed her hand.
Nina could feel Jared's eyes on her as she promised she'd be back soon. She was getting quite used to the feeling. With one last hug from Sue, she turned and was met with his eyes, a pleasant smile on his face.
It seemed only natural to return the smile, and her heart thudded wildly against her chest as he took another step towards her, a hand slowly coming to meet hers, warm fingers working their way between her own. She sighed at the contact, a breath she hadn't even known she'd been holding.
The starting of Kim's car pulled her from her momentary bliss, and her fingers pulled from Jared's touch as her eyes moved to the front door. She pushed her lips to the side before bringing her eyes back to Jared's.
He was frowning.
"I'll see you tomorrow," she offered, her voice smaller than usual. He nodded, allowing her to pass him as she moved to the door.
"Let me know when you're home safe," his eyes were pleading as she looked back at him, and she couldn't help the way her face softened at the gesture. She nodded with a grin before leaving.
She had just opened the passenger door of the car when Kim began speaking.
"Oh, wait, Nina!" she turned down the music, "I think I lost my chapstick on the loveseat, would you go look?"
Nina nodded and turned back to the house. She slowed as she approached the screen door, listening as Emily and Sue's voices carried out to her.
"You really don't get it?" Emily asked.
"No, I don't," Jared replied, "it's supposed to be easier, isn't it?"
"Not when the best friend-"
"Her name is Kim," Emily interrupted Sue.
"-okay, okay. Not when Kim looks at you like you're the greatest thing she's ever seen."
The house fell silent, and Nina was overwhelmed by the pounding of her heart, the pulsating of her own blood suddenly roaring in her ears.
"You think?" Jared's voice held an air of innocence, and she could hear his feet shuffle on the wood floor.
"Absolutely," Sue and Emily responded together.
Before she could be caught eavesdropping, something she knew she shouldn't be keen on doing, Nina turned on her heel and retreated back down the steps. She flung the car door open, plopped into her seat, and assured Kim she'd buy her a new chapstick after school the following day.