CHAPTER SIX - The Yellow House With The White Trim
"You have a really good voice," I heard a quiet voice say.
"Hmm?" I opened my eyes and saw that we were inching along the highway, like we had been for the past fifteen minutes, stuck in traffic.
"Your voice. You sing really well," Byron repeated, drumming his fingers on the driving wheel.
"Oh." I didn't even realize it, but I was singing along to Evanescence's 'My Immortal' that was playing from the burnt mix CD that was in the stereo. I turned around in my seat and was surprised to see that Karen and Jenny had fallen asleep, despite all the coffee they had just consumed.
"It's a kinda depressing song, isn't it?" Byron asked, changing the subject when I didn't say anything.
"Yeah. I've heard that it's about trying to deal someone's death," I replied. "Whichever way you take it though, I think it centres around losing this immense love you once had. The song's just really haunting.. I guess that's why I like it so much."
"Speaking from personal experiences?" Byron slowly asked, looking at me inquiringly. I searched his eyes for any signs of teasing or mischief. He seemed serious.
"I – No. Well, not really," I answered, pulling myself away from his gaze. I was starting to get that same weird feeling in my stomach again.
"I just think it's really sad how someone can put 150% of themselves into something, only to lose it all in the end," he remarked.
"Speaking from personal experience?" I mimicked, jokingly -- though somewhere inside of me, I knew I was partly serious and wanted to know the answer. I had grown up with Byron and his brothers my whole life, and yet surprisingly knew little about them. I mean, we'd always hang out, joke around and everything – but I knew little of who they really were as individuals. Adam and Jordan were always the loud jokesters and Byron was the relatively quieter one, the easiest to talk to. Yet he still remained a mystery to me, even after all these years.
"Not really," he replied, chuckling.
"So, what?" I asked mischievously. "You're not going to divulge any secrets from the mystery that is Byron Pike?" He laughed. We were finally free of traffic and were gaining speed down the interstate.
"Um, maybe not just right now," he replied, with a twinkle in his eye. "What about you? Any secrets?"
"Hmm..." I said playfully. "Oh! I know one! I secretly like to drink milk straight from the carton when no one's looking."
"Not exactly what I was looking for – but I'll take it," he replied, grinning. "Oh hey! There it is!" He motioned over to the sign that read SEA CITY, EXIT 15 KM.
Soon enough, we were driving off the exit ramp and I rolled the down the windows, to smell and feel the fresh sea air blowing by.
"Oh hey, we're here," I heard Jenny pipe up from the backseat.
"Wake up Karen, I doubt she'd want to miss this," I murmured, already enticed by everything I was seeing. The bustle of people, the stores and restaurants. I could see the boardwalk not too far off in the distance, with a Ferris Wheel and rollercoaster looming up above. I could hear the sounds of waves and of the kids as they played on the sandy beaches.
The ocean couldn't have been more gorgeous, a gleaming blue that filled the horizon.
---
Byron drove through the streets of Sea City and soon enough turned into a driveway which was at the back of a large, very old-fashioned house, painted yellow with a white trim. Just as we all got out of my car to stretch our legs, the Explorer pulled up next to us.
"I love it already!" Becca cried, grinning, jumping out from the back seat.
"Hi guys!" It was Mrs. Pike, greeting us with a smile from the back door. "Bring everything in. The bedrooms are upstairs. Arrange yourselves accordingly. Just one rule to abide by: girls and boys must be in separate rooms altogether." She was eyeing Becca and Jordan, with a twinkle in her eye. Becca blushed.
Byron popped the trunk and I grabbed my Nike sports bag and messenger bag. All the girls lugged their stuff to the third floor, where there were a couple of empty rooms.
"We call this one!" Becca said, pulling me and Vanessa inside a room with three twin beds and a window seat that faced the front of the house and had a gorgeous view of the ocean. It was close to sundown, so I reminded myself to get my camera ready for when sunset came around – I imagined it to be an unbelievable view from there.
Becca, Vanessa and I began to unpack and started chatting about all the things we just had to do before leaving on Monday. A knock came to our door a few minutes later. It was Jordan, popping his head through the door opening.
"Hey. You guys done?" he asked.
"Almost," I replied, folding my last tank top and placing it in the bureau drawer. Becca had just finished helping Vanessa hang our windbreakers in the closet.
"Great. My Dad planned a welcome barbeque for all of us. It's almost ready, and mostly everyone's out on the front porch."
"Mmm.. so that's what smells so good," Becca replied.
We followed Jordan downstairs and could hear a lively chatter through the french doors which opened out into the front porch.
"Ah! The last of our guests are here," Mr. Pike announced as he saw us. He was wearing a really goofy chef's hat and an apron that said, 'Humour me. Just pretend you like it.' I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
All the Pike's were there, minus Mallory who I found out later was away at college, taking summer courses. Nicky, Claire and Margo were all very tanned, still in their bathing suits, obviously just fresh out of the water. They seemed very excited to have more company around the house. Vanessa handed us glasses of fruit punch as Mrs. Pike loudly cleared her throat and raised her glass.
"A toast! To a wonderful long weekend with friends and family!" she announced, grinning.
"And," I added, "a toast to Mr. and Mrs. Pike! To say a very gracious thank you for welcoming all of us into their home."
"Here, here!" everyone cried, laughing. We all clinked glasses and gathered around the table which was filled with enough salad, hamburgers, hot dogs and chips to feed an entire army.