Dude. Finals are over. haha. Who0hO0.
Chapter Two.
Wordlessly, we crossed the street, carefully avoiding any contact, so as not to look suspicious, to cars that came our way.
Not that it was a problem. There weren't any automobiles, driving around in the middle of the night. In Brooklyn, maybe. Queens, definitely. But not here. Not in Carmel.
We arrived at the Mission in a fairly short amount of time, the moon just coming out from beyond a thick layer of clouds as we knocked on the front door of the rectory, bringing into high relief the features of Father Dominic, who opened it.
He gestured for us to enter. We did so, silently, the only noise I heard traced back to the thunderous palpitations of my own hammering heart. We followed him into a small room, at the north end of the hallway.
Father D's room. The one he shared with Jesse.
----
The Junipero Serra Mission Academy—grades K through 12, as my mother had informed me that morning—as it turns out; consisted not only of the many students, wandering the hallways, but also of tourists, as well; clad in Bermuda shorts and vigorously snapping photos of the bubbling fountain, which stands alone in the center of the courtyard.
Apparently, or at least, according to Father Dominic—the current principle—the mission basilica is prone to every day visits from packs of tourists, some who have traveled from different places, all around the globe, just to view the vast dome that lay beyond the tiny parking lot.
Then he looks at me as if expecting some sign of recognition, for me to say something that indicates I've been here before. Neat, I say. Real special.
"You'll also find," says Father Dominic, guiding me gently across the breezeway, "that we have many respectable students, here at the Mission. In fact," he says, taking my by the leading me by the shoulders affectionately, the way I've seen fathers and their sons—not that my father ever did that—and pushing me in the direction of the fountain, "there's one right now."
I look around, curiously. He leads me to gently, still holding on to my shoulders, towards a young lady dressed in black, arms folded across her chest, her pale hair draping lazily over her shoulders. She waves, and then pushes up the lens of her glasses.
I blink. The contrast of her clothing against her milky white skin, and somewhat purplish eyes, is quite shocking. Almost as if she were…well, an albino.
"CeeCee Webbs," the girls says; extending a pale, white hand. I take it, shaking it gently. "Jesse de Silva," I mutter. "Pleased to meet you."
She smiles, and looks to Father Dominic, her eyes wide. At first I'm slightly suspicious of what she's thinking, she looks as though she's seen a specter, but she recovers quickly, and says, her tone entirely business-like, "You as well."
Then she goes on to explain her new position, as vice-president of the junior class. "Since Kelly is 'sick' right now," she adds, and rolls her eyes expressively, "it's my job to make sure you are shown around properly, so you can get acquainted with your fellow classmates."
Again, I blink. Never in my life have I heard anyone my age speak so professionally. It seems that where CeeCee is concerned, being vice president is the perfect job for her.
"Oh." I say. Then, so as not to look completely dense, "Well, then. Thank you very much."
This seems to be enough of an introduction to Father Dominic, since he smiles, warmly, and says, patting me on the back, "Well, then, Jesse. Seeing as you two are acquainted, I should be going back to my paperwork now."
I nod, slightly overwhelmed by the sudden culture shock I was experiencing—we never had albinos in Illinois, much less tourists in Bermuda shorts—and turn to look at CeeCee, who smiles, slyly, winking at Father Dominic. I can only assume he winked back, since he says, "I'll trust you to lead him to his first class, CeeCee," and disappears quickly down the breezeway, in the direction whence we came.
I stare at his retreating figure for a moment, until CeeCee clears her throat and says, considerably more casual this time, "Come on. I'll introduce you to Adam."
I can only assume that this 'Adam,' must be very special to her, judging from the beatific smile that lights up about her face as she utters the name on her lips.
Then she leads me across the courtyard, the sun bouncing off the highlights in her bright hair.
All around me, I catch sights of couples, huddled together on the benches. "Shouldn't we be in class?" I ask, somewhat worried. I don't know why, but it seems I'm always a bit hesitant to disobey rules.
She chuckles, and says cheerfully, "It's lunch."
----
Adam, it turns out was a boy around seventeen years old. Who just got his license, as he proudly exclaimed.
"No more learner's permit for me, dude!" He says, while CeeCee punches him playfullyon the shoulder."I can take girls anywhere I want now.Without supervision."
I flinch, somewhat disgusted by the idea of what this young man would do, when alone with someone in his car. Particularly if this someone were of the female persuasion.
But CeeCee just giggles, and turns a rather alarming shade of pink. Just as I assumed,she seems to be rather infatuated, if the way she giggled, is any indication. Though I'm happy to report, that Adam returns the favor, even if the two of them haven't noticed it yet.
"Well, man." Says Adam, and I am shocked to find that he is addressing his sentences to me. "Got any chicks you wanna take out in the old Tavishmobile?"
I stare at him. "What?"
"McTavish. That's my last name." He looks to CeeCee for confirmation. "Get it? Tavish?"
"We got it, you loser." She says, looking at him bewilderedly, though, no doubt, with a bit of awe. "And besides, I don't think Jesse has any dates he wants to harass in your car yet. I mean, he did only just get here."
The sentence is ordinary enough, if it were not for the warning tone she speaks in. As if reminding Adam of something. Though, of what, I have no idea.
"Come on, Cee." He says chidingly, whatever it was, that CeeCee was hinting about, he seems to have missed the point. Especially since he continues, seemingly unaware of the way CeeCee is kicking him. "Dude, spill. Seen any hot chicks yet?"
"Umm…" I manage to croak—for some inexplicable reason my throat seems to have dried up—as CeeCee, turning an angry shade of red, continues kicking Adam in the knee, this time with unbridled strength.
"Jesus, Cee." He mutters, rubbing on his right knee, the one that CeeCee had so elegantly re-sculpted with her blows, and looks up at her, the disgust plainly evident on his face. "What is wrong with you?"
It was when I got up to buy a corndog—apparently that's all the school supplies for lunch—when I heard it. Just as I am walking by the boy's locker room.
Even if I had been in Adam's car—caught up in some tryst with a dockside doxy—I would not have missed it. The weak protests of a girl.
Following the sound, I wander in the direction of the water fountains. A group of kindergarteners, each one holding their own little Cabbage Patch doll or packet of Pokemon cards—personally, I favored my own collection of Hotwheels—look up when they see me, and scatter about in the direction of the courtyard.
The crying is louder, as I step towards the tiny gate they were all crowding around, just moments ago. Silently I push aside the flimsy steel, and follow the tiny path that—at least, according to the sign—led to the church's cemetery. The muffled sobs are getting clearer, so close I can almost sense them. An eerie feeling overtakes me, and I am a bit hesitant about crossing the last clearing of trees, and into the center of the graveyard.
But something tells me that I have to. That I need to. As if they were waiting, whoever it was beyond those trees.
I take a deep breath, pushing aside the gnarled branches in front of me.
And I freeze.
----
Only a few minutes later I am back in the courtyard, sitting in the vacant seat that CeeCee and Adam had saved for me.
I know there must be something wrong with my face, because CeeCee keeps looking at me, with that same curious expression. The one she gave Father Dominic, when I told her my name. This time Adam seems to have noticed it too, since he's suddenly stopped talking about a movie they watched last week--one that I'm afraid I'm not familiar with--The Stepford Wives.
"Hey," says CeeCee, nudging me with her elbow as she puts down her sandwich. Next time I have to remember to bring my own lunch, since the administration is obviously at a lack of better hotdog vendors. "Why didn't you get a corndog?"
I turn to look at her, and am a bit surprised to see the look in her eyes. She seems genuinely worried about me. As if I mattered. That may have been why I say, "Not hungry." Instead of just, 'leave me alone.'
She has no reply to this one. I can tell she isn't used to dealing with people like me. The dark, troubled and brooding sort, like Stephanie had once described me. Instead, I feel her gaze shift towards Adam. Out of the corner of my eye I see him shrug.
"It's nothing." I say.
Finally the bell rings, like a bolt out of the clear blue, bringing an end to the awkward silence that had consumed out lunch table. CeeCee grabs her books as Adam fumbles around with his walkman.
Now, I realize, it was time to be serious. The two of them grab their book bags, heaving themselves up, and readying for class.
"Come on," CeeCee says, gesturing for me to follow her. I turn around, quickly glancing over the benches we were sitting on. "Hold up," I say, "I forgot my book bag—"
Reaching for the black strap, I sling it over my shoulder. "Okay, let's—"
Only I'm incapable of speech, a split second later, when someone collides with me. Falling over, I grab hold of a pillar, catching a glimpse of chestnut brown hair.
"Miss!" I shout, "Miss! I'm so sorry!"
Extending my hand, I lean over the dainty figure in front of me, it rolls over, quickly, sprawled across the floor.
Taking my hand, she pulls herself up, brushing a cascade of silk from her eyes. "Ow," she mutters. "Oh gosh, I'm so sorry—" But she stops talking, her eyelids aflutter, as she looks up, lifting her dark lashes.
And I am graced with a view of emerald green eyes.
Okay, let me sum up the basics:: These should be fairly obvious to you, though, perhaps you haven't caught it yet.
1. Suze resigned her position as Vice President. As you can see, CeeCee has taken over.
2. Jesse saw something when he went into the courtyard. You'll figure out what it is, in the next chapter.
3. Obviously, the girl he met at the end was Suze. Duh.
4. CeeCee knows something, whilst Adam is in the dark. But not for long.
----
Okay, I'm off to McDonalds. It's STAFF DEVELOPEMENT DAY. Hehehe.
CiAO!!!
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