*Special little...preview of sorts in this chapter. I don't own Robert Frost, "For Once, Then Something", or any video games. Just sayin'.
Charlotte tapped her pencil absentmindedly against the tabletop as she stared at then textbook in front of her. Challenging herself to solve math problems in her mind rather than writing them out was usually enough to occupy her for a little while, but tonight her restless body was rebelling again. She stopped with a jolt when she realized the table was shuddering under the violence of her twitching legs.
The purple-masked turtle sighed inwardly and shot a glance at Timothy across from her. The fourteen-year-old blue-masked turtle didn't appear to notice the miniature earthquake she'd been creating. More like he chose to ignore it. "Sorry, Tim."
He looked up from his tablet. "Hm?"
"Don't act like you didn't feel that," Charlotte ordered. "I know how irritating it is, and I'm the one doing it."
Tim shook his head. "It's no big deal."
"I don't have to sit here. You'd probably get more done if I worked somewhere else."
"You're not bothering me," he insisted. "Your twin on the other hand..."
She snorted. "Oh. I know. I never try to do any homework around Jayden. His attention span lasts all of ninety seconds, unless he's fixing something."
Timothy smiled. "Funny how that works."
"You're sure I'm not annoying you?"
The blue-masked turtle folded his hands on top of the table. "You're like, the least annoying person I know."
The words were kind, but she didn't have the heart to believe them. Charlotte knew her abilities were a source of aggravation to others, both in training and every day life. She'd resolved to living with the over-abundance of energy, but the desire to alienate herself at times hadn't lifted. That's why the others are out enjoying the snow, and I sit here. It wouldn't be so bad if Jayden and Olivia didn't turn everything into a competition.
No "game" seemed harmless any more, not since her red-masked cousin had pulled a hamstring around Thanksgiving, doing nothing more than trying to keep up with her.
"Charlotte?"
She blinked rapidly and rotated toward Tim's quizzical look.
"Where did you go?" he asked.
She exhaled and picked up her pencil. "Nowhere. Just got off track again, but you know how that is. I'm sorry - can't even hold a decent conversation tonight."
"You need to stop apologizing for things."
"I don't do it on purpose."
"Charlie, it's me. When have I ever given you a hard time or teased you about this stuff?"
"You don't."
"So relax. How far along are you in the Trig?"
She shrugged. "I've only been reviewing and practicing some of the problems from Unit 4 in my head. What are you working on?"
He glanced down at the tablet. "Trying to find a poem to base my essay on."
Charlotte gave him a strange look. "You don't usually leave things to the last minute. Are you having a hard time finding what you want?"
"I've found plenty of poems I like, but I want it to mean something, y'know?" Tim gazed at the table steadily. "We do these assignments because we need to learn and it's expected of us, but this one..."
"It's more personal," she supplied. "Is that the problem?"
"I guess." Timothy swiped a finger across the screen, bringing the dark display back to life. "I've been mulling over the same phrase for the last twenty minutes."
"What's it from?"
"Robert Frost. 'For Once, Then, Something'."
"I'm not familiar with that one."
"It's pretty unique for his writing style."
"What's it about?"
"That's up for interpretation, like a lot of poetry. But what he really seems to be saying is that people see things differently. He was taunted by others because they all chose to look into a well the same way, and he took another approach. A deeper glimpse."
"Did he see something the others couldn't?"
"Briefly," Tim said, soft. "But then it was lost." He paused a long moment, then went on. "'Water came to rebuke the too clear water. One drop fell from a fern, and lo, a ripple shook whatever it was lay there at the bottom. Blurred it, blotted it out. What was that whiteness? Truth? A pebble of quartz? For once, then, something.'"
Charlotte sat back in her chair, resting arms comfortably across her chest. "What does that say to you?"
Tim kept staring at the screen. "He came so close to something, but wasn't able to touch it. It's there – he's seen it—but not well enough to identify what it was, or hold onto it for even a moment."
She contemplated the words. "He could try looking again. If something's there, it's bound to turn up."
"If there was an object there to begin with," Tim added. "Eyes play tricks all the time."
"He wouldn't know for sure unless he kept looking."
"What if a person looks for something deeper their entire life, and never finds it? What then?"
She was aware they were discussing something more vital than a poem. "I think...I'm not sure," Charlotte said haltingly. "When you search intensely for an object, other things might be missed. Like...what's happening outside the well? What other beautiful things are waiting to be discovered while this guy keeps staring at the same spot, hoping to find the elusive item?
"I'm sure that's not the point of the poem, but I never claimed to be a writer. If someone is frustrated by their inability to see 'deeper' into a well, maybe it's time to start studying something else. It makes me think of that phrase, 'not being able to see the forest for the trees'."
Timothy nodded. "That's probably true. When you're talking about a forest, one tree isn't as relevant as the entire group."
"They're all important," she corrected. "They couldn't be a forest without growing and living in the same vicinity. They'd just be...random trees, sprouting up on their own."
"Makes sense," he mumbled. "Think I'll come back to this later."
"Essay is due in a couple days," she reminded him.
"I know, but I need to think it over some more." He twisted his head toward the long windows of the sky deck and stared at the snow covered rooftop. "I think it's starting to snow again."
Charlotte shoved her chair back from the table. "Hopefully the others will come back soon."
Tim chuckled. "Nate will make sure of that."
The purple-masked turtle got to her feet and walked toward the window. "Why didn't you want to go with them?"
"I love the team," he told her. "But a little space never hurt anybody."
"You're not exactly flying solo."
"You can't tell me it's not more peaceful when we're the only ones around."
"Easier to do homework," she acknowledged, then smiled as something occurred to her. All the built up pressure to...be more careful and hold myself back is so much less around Tim. I'm glad he stayed behind too. It took a couple of seconds for her to realize she was grinning at the blue-masked turtle for no reason, and then she instantly jerked her head back to the window.
"You know what sucks?" he remarked.
"What?"
"It could snow fifteen feet out there, and we'll still have school in the morning."
She laughed. "The curse of being home schooled."
"Can't escape the teachers because you live with them." Tim turned away from the window. "I've had my fill of homework. Do you wanna do something else?"
"You could take another stab at Jonathan's high score on Super Smash Brothers."
"Charlie, you don't like video games."
"Never stopped me from watching someone else play."
"Where's the fun in that?"
"It's fun for you," she said pointedly.
"I'm not gonna be greedy. Let's find something to do together, since we're the odd ones out tonight." He cleared his throat after finishing the sentence. "Not that we're odd, or you're odd. We chose to stay behind, so maybe they think we're weird, or...I should stop talking."
She smiled reassuringly. "We're in the best position, as far as I'm concerned. Nice, warm, dry...and we can finish off Aunt Kari's double chocolate chunk cookies before the others get back."
"There were some left?"
"Always. She keeps a few tucked away in random spots."
"Why am I just hearing about this?"
Charlotte took a couple steps in the direction of the kitchenette. "If I told everyone, there would never be any to find."
"I can keep my mouth shut."
"I trust you will."
The fifteen-year old braced both hands on the counter and boosted herself on top of the surface to reach a shelf over the sink. The innocuous-looking box of pre-made stuffing mix was nothing to be suspicious of, but Charlotte knew better. She peered into the box, and was rewarded with the expected treats. "Got them."
Timothy shook his head while she descended. "How'd you find them?"
"Tim, have you ever known Karina to cook stuffing from a box?"
He hesitated, then grinned. "She says it's poison."
"Exactly. So why's the box up there? Perfect camouflage."
"I'm glad you're here to figure these things out."
Charlotte handed over three cookies from the stash and motioned him to one of the sitting areas. "If you don't want to play a game, we could watch TV. Laugh over how much snow the weather people think we're going to get."
"They're generally the most accurate when the snow is already on the ground. 'We got our yardstick out and can tell you for certain that we have 3.5 centimeters.'"
"Got a little more this time. They do their best, I guess," she allowed. "I'm glad none of them are using the term 'Snowpocalypse' this year."
Timothy picked up the remote and handed it to her. "We need to savor the last few minutes of control until the others get here, Charlie."
"And finish the cookies so there's no evidence. Jayden is like a bloodhound when it comes to food."
Charlotte flipped on the guide so they could scroll through the current programs faster, but she only paid half attention to the screen. The blue-masked turtle was in such a relaxed state, she hoped the others would stay out a while longer. Tim's similar to me in that respect. We both enjoy our quiet time. Action and adventure are fun, but there's nowhere else I'd rather be tonight.