Chapter 11
Morning crept like a stealthy jaguar, the sun rising without warning. Its rays burned through Will's blinds, blinding him even as he slept. He shielded his eyes and slipped out from under the covers. His knee let out a painful throb, but was otherwise healthy enough to bear his weight. Out of instinct, he trudged to the bathroom and stared at his reflection in the mirror. Something was tugging at him, as if he were forgetting something. However, that only turned out to be Ebony pawing his leg. Will let her out to do her business and watched her sprint back into the house with renewed vigor. After pouring kibble into her bowl, it still seemed as if something was missing. He glanced at the kitchen table and noticed the Kay Jeweler's catalog that he discarded the previous night. Out of boredom, Will flipped through the pages. His eyes stumbled upon a gleaming silver necklace with a heart pendant. The word love was etched on the metal. The image acted as a slap across the face. How could he have forgotten about Alyss' birthday party? He ate, showered, and dressed quickly. He grabbed his car keys, drawing Ebony's attention away from her food. She cocked her head sideways, confused; Will never leaves this early on a Saturday. He knelt down, beckoning for her to come. She trotted across the tile and sat down like the perfect lady she portrayed. He reached to pet her head; in turn, she began licking his wrist.
"I won't be gone long," Will promised. Ebony nipped him lightly, as if she were saying "You better." Will stood up and sprinted down the stairs into the garage. He shot a text to Jenny and Cassandra, requesting they meet him at the mall in a few minutes. He would break the news to Horace in person. Early morning traffic was frustrating and time consuming. Will plugged his IPod to his speakers and chose the song One Step Closer by Linkin Park. He enabled the shuffle system and placed it in a cup holder. Drivers next to him glared, as if the roar of the guitars was somehow offending them. As the song drew to a close, Will looked behind him, checking to see how far he had moved. He cursed silently, beginning to think that he would reach Horace's house faster if he got out the car and ran the rest of the way. After enduring Pain Redefined, The Collapse, Everybody's Fool, and The Diary of Jane, traffic thinned out, allowing Will a steady journey to meet his friend. He pulled up to Horace's marble white, two story house. Will rang the doorbell while listening to Horace's German Shepard, Rusty, bark through the glass peers. The only thing Will lacked was Horace's presence, so he rang the doorbell again, listening to its muffled chiming. He leaned back on the porch railing and stared up at the sky. Five seconds passed…ten…twenty…thirty seconds ticked away and no indication Horace would answer the door. Will considered calling him, letting his ringtone act as his alarm clock. Before he could retrieve his phone, the sound of locks dismantling drew Will's attention away. Horace stood in the midst, half wrestling his dog from pouncing on Will. His hair was dripping, probably because he had just taken a shower.
"Cass told me you wanted us to go the mall," Horace greeted. "I figured you'd turn up." Will grinned; he started down the porch steps before Horace said: "Come on, my mom's cooking breakfast." This snagged the flowing thoughts in Will's mind. Mrs. Altman was one of those hosts who on most occasions would overfeed her guests. She was indeed an amazing chef.
"Oh no, I don't want to be any trouble," Will refused. Horace stood rigid; this was the first time Will had refused his mother's food.
"Don't be an idiot," Horace remarked. "Come in, as thin as you are, you're probably starved!" Will shrugged and stepped inside onto hardwood. He removed his shoes out of habit and followed Horace into the kitchen. Mrs. Altman was tall, but not as tall as her son. She donned a flowered apron around her waist; her brown hair was tied in a ponytail so as to keep it away from her face. She looked up whilst scrambling a plethora of eggs in a large pan. She regarded him sweetly.
"Oh hello, Will!" she greeted brightly. She possessed a personality such as those in Disney movies, where the woman would be so graceful that birds perched themselves upon her arms and head. Will only hoped that she wouldn't burst into song. Mrs. Altman was widowed; Horace had mentioned to Will that his father was killed in a car crash. They bore the same pained expression, as if the thought was still unbearable to think. "Are you hungry?" Horace elbowed him hard in the ribs, forcing him to reconsider his thoughts.
"Yes ma'am," Will replied politely, rubbing his side. She flashed him an excited smile and turned her attention back to the stove. Horace led him to the table and sat down next to
Will. A loud ring startled them; Mrs. Altman began humming nonchalantly while she opened the oven. Within her mitted grasp was a tray upholding large, fluffy biscuits. Will's stomach resembled Ebony growling; it cried out for nourishment. Horace took notice and snorted. They sat in silence, too vacant for words as they watched Mrs. Altman pulled three plates from an overhead cabinet. Will shifted uneasily in his seat.
"Uh, would you like some help?" Will asked her. This had stolen her attention. Mrs. Altman's eyes were fixed upon him, looking as if no one had asked this of her. Nevertheless, her motherly smile revealed its presence.
"Oh, no thank you dear," she denied good naturedly. Her eyes darted onto Horace, a visible expectant glint visible. Horace showed no reaction. "Why can't you be polite like him?" She pointed at Will as she finished her speech.
Horace shrugged. "I'm not a big softy like he is." Will aimed a kick at Horace, but caught the leg of his chair. Will bit his lip to keep silent, hoping Mrs. Altman didn't hear the bang from under the table. Horace stared down at his twiddling thumbs, searching for words. Finally he said: "Why did you ask me, Jenny, and Cass to the mall?" Will shrugged.
"Am I not allowed to go the mall with my friends?" Will inquired.
"Will, Cass said you texted her and Jenny to meet you at 9:00," Horace began. He regarded the clock hovering over his silver microwave. "And it's 7:30 now, even for you, this is strange." He studied Will's face and then nodded apprehensively, as if the answer was sitting plainly on his face.
"Cass said this, Cass said that," Will mocked. "What are you, in love with her?" A deep, revealing red blush dusted Horace's cheeks. He was silent for a few seconds and then said nonchalantly: "No." Will opened his mouth to argue, but Mrs. Altman had beaten him to the point of contradiction. She placed three plates of eggs and sausage patties onto the table, two for Horace and Will. She positioned the tray of biscuits in the middle of the table. After that, Mrs. Altman sank down into her chair, clutching her mug of coffee. The aroma nearly stole Will's attention away from Horace; as he began shoveling food into his guzzle.
"Horace, you told me last night that you were in love with her," she revealed. "You wanted advice, looking so desperate to tell her." Will nearly choked on his bite of eggs; Horace face was now obscured by his hands. What spots Will was still able to see was colored a bright crimson.
"Why don't you just announce it to the world?" Horace remarked, defeated. Will leapt to his feet, drawing both of their attentions, and woke Rusty who was dozing in the corner.
"Ha! I knew it! You like her!" Will cooed. Mrs. Altman snorted; Horace clasped his hands to his ears, eager to escape the boisterous echo.
"Jeez Will!" he complained. "Do you have to be so loud?" Will sat down, gesturing apologetically. He attacked his sausage links as if they offended him, pretending as if nothing happened. Horace searched for a new topic, one that would shift attention away from him, preferably onto Will.
"So why are we going to the mall anyways?" Horace asked, attacking his plate as if his food had offended him. His eyes then widened, as if a memory had just now struck him. "Did Crowley and Halt get to you?" Will waved his hand back and forth, indicating a slight influence.
"I don't have anything to give Alyss," Will added. "She told me not to get her anything though." Horace raised his arms, as if the answer were hanging obliviously in the air.
"Then why are you so worried about it?" Horace asked. "She told you that she didn't want a present." Will stared at him strangely.
"How thick can your skull be?" he asked rhetorically. "It's a test, and besides, even if she didn't want anything, I would disobey her request."
"Who told you not to get her anything?" she asked curiously. Horace pounced on the opportunity the moment it presented itself.
"Remember what I said a couple years ago?" Horace asked. "You know, of this girl that had transformed Will into shyness?" Will groaned in disbelief; Horace's mouth twisted itself into a satisfied grin.
"Who haven't you told?" Will complained.
"Halt, but you saw yourself that he figured it out on his own," Horace answered. Will rolled his eyes in disgust. Mrs. Altman waved her hand, ordering Horace to cease his antics.
"Shush Horace," she ordered. She then returned her gaze back upon Will. "why did this girl tell you not to get her anything?" Will split his biscuit with his knife and thought for a few seconds, then shrugged.
"Well, what do you kids plan on doing at the mall?" This question drew even Horace's attention away from his plate, which Will deemed miraculous. Will pulled the jewelry catalog from his pocket. Mrs. Altman's eyes regarded it nervously, as if it were an aggressive snake. Her hand inched toward it hesitantly. She gripped it the catalog with her fingers; Mrs. Altman spent the next few minutes combing over the gleaming images. Will and Horace spoke no words devoting their attentions to the delectable food sitting depressed and unattended. Finally, Mrs. Altman had spoken up. She beckoned Will to her side; Horace collected the plates and dashed upstairs to brush his teeth. Mrs. Altman beckoned Will to her side and pointed to the image of the silver necklace of which captured Will's attention earlier in the morning.
"This looks pretty!" she pointed out blithely. "Do you have a picture of her?" Will consulted his IPod, enlarged the photo Jenny had taken the previous night. He watched an adoring smile piece itself together the moment Mrs. Altman's eyes had fallen upon the screen.
"Oh! You kids look so cute together!" she swooned. Mrs. Altman squinted, as if there were an odd detail about the picture. Confusion set in Will's mind; he resisted the urge to snatch his IPod away to see what was appearing so peculiar. "Are her eyes that blue?" Will swooped down, peering in between Mrs. Altman's thumbs. The glow in Alyss' eyes seemed unnatural, even if they were blue.
"That's probably just a glare," Will assumed. "Her eyes are gray believe it or not." Mrs. Altman nodded comprehensively. She flicked her thumb across the screen, revealing an image Will expected not to have. It was a frozen piece of his favorite moment. He assumed Jenny snuck another picture without his knowledge or consent. It depicted Alyss, her arms still draped around his neck, her lips kissing his cheek. He was unable to determine whether this was out of affection or just a friendly gesture. Mrs. Altman's heart melted; Will touched his fingers to his cheek, rubbing the spot where he believed her lips touched him. Affection was bubbling in his insides, his mind felt warm and fuzzy. Horace returned to the kitchen wreaking of spearmint toothpaste and Listerine mouthwash. Of course, Mrs. Altman had chosen to make her admiration verbal; invoking curiosity in Horace's mind.
"What?" he asked, flattening his hair as he strode up to the table. Horace's eyes had fallen upon the picture before Will was able to wrestle his IPod from Mrs. Altman's clutches. A mischievous grin crossed his expression. Will stared at him, a failed attempt to act if there was nothing. "Whose idea was that?" He sounded as if he had just won a contest.
"Jenny's," Will replied simply. Horace looked confused. He was sure Will or Alyss would be at fault; how Jenny was involved was still shrouded in a mysterious veil. Will snorted; the dumbfounded look on Horace's face was golden. Horace attempted to ask how, but words refused to escape his lips. Will took this into the form of a question. "Jenny snuck a picture when Alyss kissed me on the cheek." Horace nodded; his confusion fading. Mrs. Altman exchanged glances between Horace and Will, and finally said: "Well you two best get going if you don't want to be late." Will waved it aside.
"Doesn't matter, Jenny and Cass show up thirty minutes late anyways," Will excused. Horace jabbed him in the back, urging towards the front door.
"Bye mom!" Horace called.
"Thanks for breakfast!" Will added. Horace regarded Will the moment the door had clicked shut behind him.
"When did she kiss you on the cheek?" Horace asked. Will stared at him as if this were obvious.
"Last night after the game," Will replied. "She said 'I've got to go', hugged me and kissed me." He paused, losing himself in his thoughts. Pressure mounted reminiscent of the moments leading to the football game, but for a different purpose. His heart felt heavy, he had to tell her how he felt. Nothing to him was as precious as her heart. Often in times of boredom, Will would grant his thoughts freedom. In unison, they produced his heart's desire, to hold her hand, to hear her say that she loves him and be truthful. A loud snap startled him; disappointment filled his insides. He unlocked the car, permitting Horace's entry. Will plugged his IPod to the speakers and chose the song She Will Be Loved by Maroon Five. Horace stared him strangely. Will noticed this and shrugged. "I like it." Horace shook his head and sat back in his seat. All but the music was silent. Halfway through Animal I Have Become, Will paused the song and words escaped Horace's lips as if it were a massive jail break.
"So why are we going to the mall?" Horace asked once again. Will dared not remove his eyes from the road, he pulled a rolled up jewelry catalog from his pocket and dropped it onto Horace's lap. Horace opened it and skimmed through its contents. "As many times as I've seen her, I have never seen Alyss with so much as a piece of a necklace." To a steady stop at a red light and Will, peering out of the corner of his eye; pointed at the silver heart necklace.
"Perhaps her mind's view will shift," Will argued. Doubt gripped Horace firmly, refusing to release. He knew Alyss well enough that all emotions but love would melt away should Will present her with his poem. He believed it was a bit softy, but he thought love made all who succumb to it would turn a bit fruity. Of course, Will may have forgotten about it; perhaps a little reminder would be in order.
"You know, some girl's like gifts from the heart," Horace hinted. The answer appeared clearer to Will than Horace expected.
"I plan on giving her my poem too," Will answered. Horace nodded apprehensively, his eyes darting momentarily to the image of the silver necklace.
"A girl's opinion would speak more than mine would," he pointed out.
"Why would you say that?"
"Gee, maybe because you plan on giving it to a GIRL!" Horace answered emphatically. "A girl's heart would turn to a pool should on read your poem." Will smiled and shook his head. The light turned and Three Days Grace roared through the speakers.
Cassandra and Jenny sat on the bench outside the doors, conversing in a silent language of which Will could not comprehend. Horace and Will walked up to them and their conversation died away upon acknowledgement. Jenny and Cassandra stood, exchanging hugs with Will and Horace. Will observed Horace and Cassandra; their hug spoke another message than what was given to its participants. It was more of a boyfriend-girlfriend type of hug rather than one meant only for friends. Jenny leaned over to Will and whispered: "Don't you think they'd make a cute couple?" Will ponder a bit and then shrugged.
"I guess so," Will replied. This was the answer Will hoped. Jenny desired, but to no avail. Jenny stared at him.
"You guess so," she echoed. Will slashed back to this morning where Horace admitted adoration for Cassandra. He wrestled with dueling emotions within his head, torn between telling and remained silent. Will shifted his feet nervously.
"Horace mentioned Cassandra this morning," Will revealed, lowering his voice as to not draw the attentions of his topic away from each other. Jenny regarded him, her eyes staring starved, depraved of the sight of seeing his mouth move.
"What did he say?" Jenny asked eagerly. Will directed a swift glance over towards Horace and Cassandra in case they approached. He leaned into Jenny's ear, obscuring his mouth his hand.
"I was teasing him because it was 'Cass said this' and 'Cass said that', I was joking about Horace being in love with her and he said he wasn't," Will whispered. He looked nervously away, but returned his attention back onto Jenny. He leaned into the side of her head. "Then Mrs. Altman said that he told her last night that he was in love with Cassandra." He removed his face from her hair, Jenny's mouth was blanketed by the palms of her hands. Before she could make any sort of sound, Horace and Cassandra were now next to them, regarding Jenny with upmost confusion. She turned to Will, desperate for a lie. Will acted as though nothing was wrong, but Jenny had already made the indication.
"What are you two up to?" Horace asked mischievously. Will watched a blush dust Jenny's cheeks. He could feel her heart pounding.
"We…w-were um…" Jenny stammered. Will intervened.
"Reading my poem," he finished. Jenny exhaled in relief. Cassandra stared at him strangely.
"What poem?" she interrogated. Will slapped a hand over his face, Jenny turned away, and Horace's tongue protruded from his mouth.
"The one he's going to give to Alyss," Horace answered as though this were supposed to be obvious. Cassandra spread her arms innocently.
"Well I didn't know," she excused. Horace shook his head. Cassandra scanned the ground, as if she believed Will might have dropped it. "Where is it?" Jenny's heart stopped in its tracks; it never occurred to her that Cassandra would ask. Will was prepared for it however. He retrieved his IPod from his pocket, consulted the poem and handed it to Cassandra. When it has less an inch from her fingertips, Will pulled it back. She stared at him in disbelief. He selected the song Perfect Weapon by Black Veil Brides, pulled the poem back to the screen, and dropped it into Cassandra's grasp.
"I wrote it to the tune," Will explained. Cassandra nodded and took the headphones. Her eyes drank in the beauty of words. The mid morning sun beat on their exposed necks. Jenny huffed in discomfort.
"Can we go inside now? It's getting hot out here," she remarked. They strode through the doors into the noisy, comforting atmosphere of the mall. A rush of cool air met them as they slipped through the sliding doors. Jenny looked at Will inquiringly, consulting his council. He looked around for a directory for he never paid much attention to the jewelry store's location. Will scanned the board until he felt someone tap him behind the shoulder. He turned to see Cassandra holding his IPod out to him. Adoration glittered in her eyes as she stared eagerly at Will.
"Oh Will!" she swooned. "That is the sweetest gesture ever!" Jenny opened her mouth, probably to say that she wanted to read it as well. His eyes gestured silently, granting permission. Cassandra turned her attention to the directory.
"So what are we looking for anyway?"
"Kay Jeweler's," Will answered. Cassandra and Jenny exchanged gleeful giggles. The whites of their eyes suddenly brightened from the excitement. Will knew of no reason for this behavior, but he discarded it.
"Forget the guide, we know where it is!" Jenny announced brightly. Horace and Will followed them down the escalator. A few minutes passed and they found themselves surrounded by cases of glittering jewelry. The perfumed air filled their nostrils. A woman approached them. She wore a gray suit, her reddish hair flowed to the bottom of her neck. A wedding ring was wrapped pleasantly around her finger, a gold necklace draped around her neck.
"Can I help you?" she asked. Will felt an air of loneliness come over him. He turned to find Cassandra, Jenny, and Horace outside the store, as to not hinder him. Will consulted the catalog, his eyes pouring over hundreds of necklace sets. AT last, he felt upon the silver heart. His finger marked the spot in the page. The saleswoman studied the image for a few seconds, then beckoned him to follow. As she unlocked the case, Will heard her ask. "Is this for someone special?" Will snorted; he found it amusing that she believed Will would purchase a necklace like that for himself. A joke pieced itself together, but Will resisted the urge to make it vocal. Instead, he nodded. He retrieved his IPod, pulled the image of him and Alyss, frozen smiles lingering on their faces. The saleswoman regarded the picture and immediately, adoration crept slowly onto her face.
"Awww! You two look so adorable together!" she swooned, positioning the necklace into its cushioned box. "How long have you two been together?" Will's expression turned sad. Two failed years enveloped his thoughts. His heart hungered for her presence, to feel her touch and breathe the same air. Will took a discouraged breath.
"We're not together," Will said grimly. The woman looked confused.
"Then what is she then?" Will sighed. Perhaps the word 'love' on the pendant would provide an answer, but he thought wrong.
"She's just a friend," Will replied half-heartedly. No signal of comprehension showed her understood. Slowly, the answer pieced together like a puzzle. Once more, the woman gazed admirably at Will.
"Oh! That's so romantic! She cooed. Will nodded in relief. The woman a tsk-tsk sound with her tongue, her touched smile not daring to fade. "Well, she'll definitely fall for you when you give her this." Will huffed, assured of his plan. His mind was fried, the details were complex and difficult to understand.
"Thanks," Will said simply. His imagination was running chaotic; he pictured himself presenting the necklace to Alyss. Tears welled in the corner of eyes as her gaze drank in the presence of the necklace. Her hands covered her shock, unbelieving Will had chosen her above all other girls. The saleswoman shifted her attention up at Will, watching as he swayed slightly. She tapped Will lightly, startling him. Will jumped back, nearly toppling a collection of inexpensive pieces.
"Do you want me to gift wrap it?" she asked. It was a ridiculous question, for the knowledge of how to present jewelry to a girl hung over his head. Will too, knew of this. He shook his head. The woman then guided him over to the register. "$50 please." Will consulted his wallet and pulled her request. After collecting the bills, she picked up the box, treating it as if it were an egg, and placed it carefully into a gift bag. She bade a warm farewell to Will, muttering of how sweet he was. Will felt himself turning in all directions, hoping to catch a glimpse of his friends. He spotted them sitting on a bench; Horace watched Cassandra and Jenny playing Hot Hands. The game looked uninteresting as Will observed Jenny make several futile attempts to catch the back of Cassandra's hands. Will strode over to the; none of whom indicated they knew of his presence. He tapped Horace's shin lightly with his foot. Horace jumped, nearly falling off the bench. He stared irritated at Will. Cassandra averted her gaze long enough for Jenny to catch her off guard.
"Ha! Finally!" Jenny remarked triumphantly. Cassandra rolled her eyes, ceasing their game.
"So are you done?" Cassandra asked. Will held up the bag. A breath of relief issued from her mouth. "Finally, you guys want to just walk around for a few?" 'For a few' was code for a few hours. Before Will could reply, Horace accepted so fast that his feelings for Cassandra couldn't be more obvious. Will and Jenny fell behind; he selected the song, pulled up the poem and handed his IPod over to Jenny. Will watched Cassandra and Horace, repulsed by their constant flirting: Horace would say something, she would slap his arm playfully, he would complement her, and she would blush. A sick feeling knotted her stomach. Will was talented in the art of flirting, but in Alyss' presence, it was much different. Any complement would steal copious amounts of strength, rendering him so weak that remaining silent was necessary. How Horace could be relaxed around Cassandra was beyond his understanding. Jenny rapped him on the shoulder lightly, her eyes glittering.
"Oh my gosh!" she gasped. "Alyss is lucky to have a guy like you!" Will took back his IPod and stuffed it back into his pocket.
"We're not together though!" Will contradicted. He wanted to say yet, but he wasn't so sure he could pull it off. Alyss was the type of girl that you could only find one of. This would certainly grant her a sense of pride.
"Oh lighten up Will!" Jenny urged. "You and Alyss were meant to find one another." Only Will felt the need to challenge her.
"I wasn't meant to be shy around her," Will remarked. "Surely, there was no intention for me to lack guts to talk to her."
"Quit being so negative!" Jenny ordered, slapping his arm rather hard. She sighed, exasperated. They remained silent while following Horace and Cassandra, who exhibited no intent of putting their flirting to a halt. Finally, the quiet air had been broken. "I see the way she looks at you." Will stared, puzzled of her remark. If there was some special glint in her eyes, will had been totally oblivious to it.
"What do you mean?" he asked. Jenny rolled her eyes.
"I mean it's too obvious," she explained. "Will, you're the master of reading body language, I'm surprised you haven't picked up on her signs." Will never paid that much attention to her body language for trying to have a full conversation with her was difficult enough without multitasking.
"She fidgets and turns a lot," Will pointed out. "I know that means she's nervous." Jenny held out her hands.
"There you go!" she remarked. Her expression relaxed. "Trust me, just relax around her, and talk to her like you would me or Cass."
"How do I give her the poem and the necklace?" Will asked. Jenny pondered for a few seconds and shrugged.
"You'll know it when time presents itself," Jenny answered. Will absorbed her words, allowing them to echo in the back of his mind. He and Horace endured a few hours of Jenny and Cassandra combing through clothing stores, trying on different outfits. By the time they were prepared to leave, they were carrying new bikinis, in which Horace and Will judged. Already, his supply of strength had been exhausted. He almost regretted having to go to Alyss' party later, but the thought of her replenished him. Cassandra and Horace exchanged another hug. This resembled that of the one Will and Alyss shared the previous night. Neither participant wished to let go of the other. However, when Cassandra's father pulled up, they released, but reluctantly. Jenny brushed Will's arm, drawing his attention.
"Remember what I told you," Jenny told him. "Do that and she will be yours by the end of the night." Will grew even more tense. His nerves made his stomach churn sickly, his heart was pounding against his chest. He was silent as he dropped Horace off. After Horace slipped through his front door, Will plugged his IPod back into the car speakers. Even the motivating rock songs were unable to sway his tension. He thought of all that could go wrong, all that could spell failure. If this were the case, Will couldn't think what he would turn to. He desired no other girl, he wanted to love one, the one he deemed God's gift to the world. Alyss would surely deem him unworthy. With this mind, Will wondered whether or not he should even go. He sat depressed in his garage. Ebony could be heard whining and pawing at the door. He dialed Cassandra's number to tell her to tell Alyss that he wasn't going.
"Hello?" she greeted.
"Hey Cass," Will greeted glumly. He could picture her concerned expression.
"Oh Will, what's up?" she asked. "You sound depressed." Will sighed deeply.
"Are you still going to Alyss' party?" he asked.
"Yeah of course!" she replied brightly. The answer struck her hard; there was no other reason for him to call. "Don't tell me you changed your mind!" Will wished he could. His words hung in his throat, unwilling to drown his doubts. He heard her groan in frustration.
"I don't feel right," Will lied. He could feel her displeasure through the phone. His stomach let out an irritated moan.
"Do you mean you feel sick?" she asked.
"No, it's just…" The word was tangled in his throat. Cassandra was breathless as if the slightest sound was able to mask the volume of his voice. Will finally found the strength to finish his sentence. "Complicated." Cassandra groaned, resembling an agitated child not having their way. She thought this typical, two years of the inability to Alyss hanging over his head. But even this was unlike the Will she had grown up with. He had never before been afraid of failure, even with Football. Why he decided to change was unclear to her. She knew Will's heart was throbbing, screaming out only for Alyss' heart. It was the same the other way around and she was clueless as to why they hesitated around each other. Nevertheless, she still needed to be firm.
"Will, you are not skipping out on the party," Cassandra told him through clenched teeth. "You will not miss an opportunity to hold the hand of happiness." Only Will held the courage to protest.
"But…" Cassandra cut him off.
"You are going to this party if I have to drag you there by your kicking feet!" Cassandra finished. Will was at loss for words. Cassandra assumed his silence was his way of signifying defeat. "Good, I'll pick you up in case your silence is false." Before Will could respond, Cassandra hung up, Will sighed; there was no escape, nowhere to hide, concealed from his emotions. The black velvet box, for which closed its mouth over the necklace, suddenly captured Will's eye. He pulled it from the bag and opened it, his eyes pouring over its gleaming contents. He fixed his gaze upon the pendant. The word 'love' spoke dividends in the back of his mind. Will pulled his poem from his IPod. His own style had painted his past, present, and the wishes for his future. The memory of the birth of love for Alyss was all too vague. Each second was precise; he felt the loss of space between each breath. He clung onto every detail of her breathtaking image, nearly passing out from the aura she put out. It was their very first day of high school, the very first class of the day. He sat with George and Horace in the back of the room. It was their very first day of high school, their freshman year. It was the first class of the day. He sat with George and Horace in the back of the room, commenting on various sites around them. George struck them with amusement when he saw a poster for the Percy Jackson movie. Perhaps by accident, Will had turned and lost himself in her beauty. Horace hit him in the back of the head, bringing back a sense of reality.
"Why don't you go talk to her?" he suggested. Will, radiating with confidence, stood from his seat, and strode over to her. However, each step had to be taken with more effort than the last as he drew closer. He formulated a method in the mere seconds it took him to cross the room, one that he never granted a chance to prove its worth. The only word that he spoke was a common one.
"Hi," he greeted. Alyss rounded on him, her hypnotizing smile stilling the beat of his heart. Will faltered, his sense of pride abandoning him. What Will never knew was that his manner at that particular moment had taken grip of her heart. No boy, especially one as unique as Will ever approached her. The effect that they had on one another was well hidden from the other. For two years, the only word he was able to speak was 'hi,' the rest of his speech was broken. Alyss was no different. But now, sick feelings wriggled through his stomach like a worm, replacing the fragmented words. His nerves were more chaotic and were more concerned with the task of shielding their master from embarrassment. It never occurred to him that Alyss harbored adoration that would only intensify when his words failed him. He pulled Jenny's lecture from deep within his mind. The way he felt right now would require a sedative to calm him. The necklace, the poem, the memories, all spoke a common message. Above all, including Football, Will desire Alyss, hungering to hold her hand, to love her and be truthful when he says it. He breathed deeply, trying to relax himself. He removed the bag from his car, shutting the door behind him. Ebony still scratched at the door, whimpering, longing to see her master. Will pushed the door open, allowing space for his large Black Labrador to pounce on him. He was buffeted a couple steps; Ebony's tail waved back and forth like a whip. Will noted to avoid her backside. He threw the bag down onto his bed and sat down at his desk. He opened his laptop, revealing a black, blank screen. He played with ebony while waiting for his computer to turn on. For the next couple hours, Will combed over his poem, making minor changes here and there. His doorbell rang and Will let out an exasperated sigh.
"I'll be there in a minute! He called uselessly. He knew very well that nobody, no matter how good their hearing is, would be able to hear him through the door. Will waited impatiently, watching his printer slowly spit words onto the paper. "Hurry up!" Urging it did no good. At last, the final sheet was released and Will stapled them together. He gathered the black velvet jewelry box from the bag and his IPod. He was fully prepared to face Cassandra, but instead found Halt and Crowley.
"What are you doing here?" Will demanded. Halt raised his hands innocently.
"Are we not allowed to come visit you?" Halt remarked.
"No, you're not," Will muttered. "What do you want?" Halt pretended not to have heard the question. His eyes fell onto the stapled sheets of paper.
"Is that your poem?" he asked. Will regarded it and nodded. They stood there awkwardly and silently, the cruel, relentless post summer air blanketing them. Sweat broke from Will's face.
"So are you going to get in here or are you going to stand there until we all fry?" Will offered. Crowley and Halt took crooked steps onto the hardwood floor. Will led them into the living room. Crowley's gaze darted to the black case. His mouth spread into a broad, triumphant grin.
"I see you took our advice," Crowley observed. Will's attention shifted down to the case and then back to Crowley. "What did you get her?" Will said nothing; instead he slid his fingers to the creases and pried its mouth open, revealing its precious contents. Halt and Crowley drank in the image and nodded, impressed.
"Nice," Crowley commented. Will studied the necklace for a couple seconds and then closed the case. He was still struck curious as to why they were at his house.
"Why are you here?" Will repeated.
"Cass sent us over," Halt replied. "She said that you've lost your marbles." Will assumed Cassandra meant his nerves were attempting to seize control of his mind. Will wondered why their conversation had to become public news. He would have preferred that his fear remain quiet.
"I'm just nervous that's all," Will excused. "She didn't need to send you over." Halt rolled his eyes. This was too predictable. Will avoided Alyss for two years; his nerves were at fault. Even now, Will was locked in an agonizing stalemate; his shyness was still fortified.
"She thought you might run off," Halt replied plainly. Will stared at him. Halt raised his hands innocently. "Hey, it's her logic, I don't know what goes on inside of her mind."
"I've got an idea of what does," Will grumbled to himself. Halt discarded his remark.
"There's no need to be nervous," he assured. "You've been in love with her for two years, you should be dying to go!" Will felt not what Halt spoke of. His stomach still churned, nauseated.
"What is wrong with you?" Crowley interrogated. "Alyss invited you to go in the first place." That may be so, but it didn't change Will's condition. Two years had a substantial effect on him. Fear ruled his mind; it became almost like the air he breathed whenever Alyss walked the same hallway and occupied the same room as he did. Talking to her would render him weak, lacking strength to get through the rest of the day. If her mere presence had this effect on him, he hated to imagine his state after being by her side for three, maybe four hours.
"I don't know what she'll think when I show up," Will mumbled. The sickening sensation slowly died away, only for its spot to be filled by sadness.
"She'll think 'Oh my gosh! I can't believe he's here!'" Halt assumed. In Will's mind, no girl could, can, or will match her attributes.
"She's the most beautiful girl in the world," Will remarked. "I'm not good enough for her." Halt and Crowley groaned, a frustrating wave crashing down upon them. The temptation to tell him seemed more appealing with every second Will felt the need to protest. Their efforts were useless, nothing would sway his opinion. The doorbell rang once again, interrupting Halt's next words. Will rolled his eyes, wondering what plague had been set upon him this time. Cassandra stood, twisting idly.
Good one, Will thought. The clamor of feet echoed off the walls in the foyer. Cassandra took no notice of Halt and Crowley's presence, as if she had never sent them in the first place.
"You ready?" she asked. She gave him no chance to respond before she spotted the flaw in the picture before her. "Where's your bathing suit?" Will's face felt hot. He thrust his IPod, his poem, and the case into Cassandra's surprised hands, and sprinted upstairs. He grabbed his black swimming trunks and thundered downstairs. Cassandra led him to her silver Mazda with Halt and Crowley at their heels.
"We'll meet you at the party!" he called out to them. Crowley leaned over to him.
"Do you even know where Alyss lives?" he asked. Will watched him shake his head.
"No clue," he heard Halt answer. Will snorted and rolled his eyes, sinking down into the passenger seat next to Cassandra. The air in the car on the way to the party was silent. His head felt heavy from the doubts racing through the highways in his mind. All he had done to fulfill his heart's most treasured desire all could have been in vain. Cassandra nudged him, trying to inject positive thoughts into his mind.
"How are you feeling?" she asked. Will sighed deeply, hinting more dismal than an uplifting tone. Cassandra's eyes directed him sympathy; Will had never been so nervous that he sank into depression. She recalled the incident in their sophomore year, a broken attempt of Will's trying to ask Alyss to homecoming. His words had entangled themselves, leaving Alyss draped in a blanket of confusion. Will had sank into a slump for several months and spent much time alone, his mind open to his dejecting thoughts and discouragement. Alyss even took note of this and asked Cassandra and Jenny several times what pulled Will into a state of melancholy. Cassandra watched him, his head staring resting against the window, staring enviously at those they passed, who looked as if they had been blessed with happiness. A new thought struck her. She had named it unimportant for when he came out of his state of cheerlessness, Will exhibited symptoms of a life perfected. But now, he looked like death clung to his back, as if Will were giving it a piggy-back ride. He needed something, no matter how miniscule , to lift his spirits.
"Alyss talked to Jenny and me after the game last night," she began. This peaked Will's interests. He sat upright so fast that his head banged against the ceiling. Cassandra laughed quietly as to not arouse any agitation that lurked inside him. "There he is!" Will flashed her a dirty look.
"What did she say?" he asked. Cassandra smile grew wider, gripping Will's attention by the shoulders.
"She asked if you had a girlfriend and we said you didn't," Cassandra began. "Jenny acted like she was joking and asked Alyss if she liked you." The pace of Will's heartbeat was unparalleled; Cassandra had lulled him back into a sense of intense curiosity. Will stared at her hungrily, depraved of words.
"Well does she?" Will said, shaking as if he were going into some sort of drug withdrawal. Cassandra looked triumphant. Her expression was burdened with adoration, the adoration for which Will and Alyss concealed from one another.
"She didn't really come out and say it," Cassandra pointed out. "But the moment the last word left her mouth, Alyss froze. She started stuttering like a straight 'D' report card and was fidgeting uncontrollably. She retreated back to her friends I guess because the next time I saw her, she was with you." Will could have sung his heart's rejoice. Cassandra ginned and tossed him the chord to hook his IPod up to the speakers. He chose the song Comatose by Skillet and sat back in his seat, a grin afflicted with admiration.
I hate feeling like this
I'm so tired of trying to fight this
I'm asleep and all I dream of
Is waking to you!
They arrived at Alyss' house as the song drew to a close. As Will gathered his belongings, Cassandra's eyes fell upon the black velvet case.
"What's in there?" she asked, pointing at the box. Will smiled and opened the case. The gleam in Cassandra's eyes matched that of the necklace. "Oh, it's beautiful! She's really lucky!" Will closed the box, his heart blushing heavily from the compliment.
"Thanks," Will said, closing the case. Cassandra patted his shoulder and got out of the car. The jewelry box was clear in Will's grasp as he made his way up to Alyss' front door. Her house was two stories like his and Horace's. It had a slight hint of gray paint and several sections were stony bricks. Will rang the doorbell, listening to its cheerful voice announce their arrival. His shock never struck him until he saw who greeted him and Cassandra in the doorway.