Chapter 12
"You must be Will!" greeted a girl who looked to be fourteen. "Alyss talks of you all the time!" Will stared down at her blankly. Her features deeply resembled that of Alyss when she herself was a freshman. It was almost like looking at her reflection. He turned to Cassandra, hoping she would step in. She shrugged away Will's silent pleas. The girl's eyes fell onto the black velvet box that hung loosely in Will's grip. Her eyes glittered which invoked a sense of anarchy within his nerves. If this were Alyss' little sister, which Will assumed she was, then what secrets he kept were in peril. He himself had no siblings, but Jenny complained enough about her little brother that he had an idea of what they were like. The girl extended her hand with no regret. Will stared at it as if he expected it to snap at him. He forced his hand to meet her grasp, which was limp as they shook.
"I'm Moragn, Alyss' sister," she introduced, a bright grin reaching from ear to ear. Her expression looked disturbed, like the face of the band's mascot. Will stepped back cautiously. Cassandra regarded him and snorted.
"I'm Cassandra," she greeted, taking charge of conversation. "May we come in?" Morgan made no verbal answer; instead, she spread her arm, indicating permission of entry. Cassandra beckoned Will forward, who stuttered in his stride. He felt her palm graze the back of his neck. Will lurched forward in surprise. Morgan closed the door behind Cassandra. Will shifted uneasily as he gazed down at the spots of sunlight on the hardwood floor. Well, too late to run now. A middle aged blonde woman descended the staircase, rubbing her hands. She looked like an aged version of Alyss. Will was shocked by the amount of Alyss look-alikes; he began to wonder if there were more to reveal their presences before the real identity showed herself. She smiled brightly at Cassandra and Will, but didn't scare them in contrast to her youngest daughter.
"Oh you must be Will!" She greeted blithely. "I'm Alyss' mother!"
No kidding, Will thought. He scanned what he could see, hoping for the slightest sight of Alyss. Subtle giggles emanated behind him, but were pacified when Will turned his attention back to the three girls. All pairs of hands went up to portray false innocence.
"So where's Alyss?" he asked Cassandra smiled, amused; his question was too predictable. Mrs. Mainwaring's eyes drank in the image of the black velvet case that hung loosely in Will's palm. Morgan emitted an almost muted squeal of excitement, perhaps containing a slight hint of adoration.
"She's upstairs getting ready," Morgan answered. As if on cue, a door banged open followed by the sound of feet rushing. Will looked up the stairwell, watching her catch herself before she was lost in the eagerness to see him. She faltered as she laid her gaze down upon him. Will thought his heart skipped a few beats at first sight. Her blonde hair was neatly curled, as if she had just returned from a salon. She wore a purple sweater, blue jeans, pink and white striped socks, and fur slippers. Will watched her descend the staircase, a sense of grace clinging to her. The room felt airless in her presence. She stood between her mother and Cassandra, smiling deeply, but her nervous smile was directed at the floor. Will was no different. Shyness kept his gaze bound to the ground, unable to meet her eyes. His heart felt like lead, his legs turned to jell-o. His lips felt as if they had been glued together, handicapped of speech. A loud knock sedated Will's nerve to speak.
"I'll get it!" Morgan announced brightly. She flashed her sister and Will with admiring smiles and waltzed to the door. Will turned as he heard the creaking of a door opening. There stood Halt and Crowley, two individuals Will least needed to see. Morgan faltered as her stare fell onto Crowley. She brushed her hair back, reminiscent of Alyss' manner. Will snorted; Crowley had no particular interest in a relationship. A fling, if there was any word able to describe it, was more or less of what Crowley had. He never stayed with a girl longer than a month. During that time, their lips would be held together by spit. At rare times, Will wished he was like this. He watched Crowley remain totally oblivious. Morgan extended her hand nervously; Will thought he heard Alyss snort in the background.
"H-hi I'm M-Morgan," she introduced. Crowley shook her hand leisurely and stared silently, waiting for an invitation to come inside. Morgan made no effort to acknowledge Halt's presence. She gestured for him to come inside. Halt nudged Will, greeting him silently. Those watching stared, laughing silently as if this were a TV comedy. "Would you like a drink?" Will turned his gaze back onto Alyss, whose amusement had taken refuge in her mother's shoulder. Crowley thought for a few seconds and shrugged.
"Eh, why not?" he accepted, following Morgan into the kitchen, who sprinted ahead of him. Those who remained in the foyer broke into silent fits of laughter.
"He doesn't even know!" Halt gasped. "How thick can you get?" Will clung to Halt's shoulder for support, howling for air. Alyss finally removed her face from her mother's shoulder. She pretended to wipe a tear from her eye.
"How about that?" she remarked. "She's got a crush." Will laughed again, but was hushed the moment his eyes locked into a sweet gaze with Alyss. Halt coughed, interrupting the silence.
"H-hi Alyss," Will stuttered, nervousness latched to his words. Alyss fidgeted, her heart pounding at the doors of her chest. Will's words hung in his throat, refusing to be vocal. Alyss brushed her hair away from her face, similar to Morgan. She smiled deeply at him. Her eyes darted the jewelry case, then to the stapled sheets of paper. Her heart gave a nervous lurch, her mind paralyzed, incapable of thought. She found it difficult to register that Will had gotten her jewelry, but what words that were scripted on the papers in Will's hands bit at the back of her mind. It was unread piece of literature sitting before her eyes, taunting her, begging for her eyes to pry over its contents. Perhaps it screamed louder considering its topic was the owner of the attention it captured.
"H-hi Will," she greeted back nervously. Both Will's and Alyss' breaths grew numerous and shorter in length. Will studied her, a complement held hostage in his throat.
"You l-look uh…." What strength he had abandoned him. Alyss smiled deeply at him, coaxing him to finish. Will breathed deeply, relaxing the tension of which weighed on his shoulders. "You look absolutely beautiful." Alyss felt her heart melt into a pool of admiration, her mother regarded the two teens, reliving her days in that era. Mr. Mainwaring was her high school sweet heart; she recalled all complements he had made of her appearance in her young beauty, remembering all moments she had rendered him speechless. Like mother, like daughter she assumed. Alyss twisted nonchalantly, searching for the appropriate words, words that would not involve addressing what was in Will's clutches.
"Aw thanks!" she thanked. She overheard Morgan and Crowley in the kitchen, two different personalities conversing. She heard her sister invite him into the living room. An idea struck her. "Hey, Will, I want to show you something." Her eyes looked pleading, hopeful of his acceptance. Will's feet were rooted to the floor, refusing to comply.
"Yes!" he said quickly, catching himself before he let his excitement overcome him. As Will stepped forward, he felt a hand grip his arm. He turned to see Halt staring at him expectantly. This even appeared odd to Cassandra. She regarded him strangely, wondering what bizarre idea he had in mind. Halt remained silent. Instead, he drew a circle with his finger, the tip pointing downwards. Will turned back around, confused. He felt the case and the sheets of paper slip out of his fingers. He faced Halt, protesting silently. Halt beckoned him forward, urging to follow Alyss. Shrugging, Will followed her up the staircase. Alyss led him to a room and stopped outside a plain white door. The smell of pencil lead, cold coffee, and paint filled his nostrils. Alyss opened her mouth, but a shy silence proved to be much too strong. She brushed her hair back, her precious smile daring not to fade from her face. Will couldn't help but smile himself. How could he not? He was with the girl who brought his heart to a pace of which only a cheetah would recognize, who wiped his mind clean of all thoughts so many times that he had grown used to this. She was the first to introduce Will to what became both his friend and enemy, rendering him shy for two long, agonizing years. Shyness was still at his side, increasing the speed and number of his breaths, stuttering his speech like a straight D report card. Alyss was no different. She had never had a boyfriend before in contrast to her friends Delia and Julia. She observed the two girls with their boyfriends in the previous years, absorbing knowledge of how the experience worked. But it was quite different when it was you in the spotlight. She knew all too well that Will has had numerous girlfriends; he knew how the game was supposed to be played. But he always seemed unhappy, as if the slightest detail was missing from the relationship. Nevertheless, the feelings when the two were in each other's presence were mutual.
"I uh, wanted to show you this," she said nervously, the volume of her voice dropping with every word. She indicated the door, invoking a sense of confusion in the back of Will's mind. The smells, perhaps emanating from the room granted Will an assumption, but he'd rather give her the opportunity to show it off. "Mom and Dad were uh, really nice in turning the spare room into like an art room." She turned the doorknob, revealing a rather large room. The walls were dark purple, but little bits of paint and glitter had been splattered all over the wall. There was an easel with an unfinished drawing situated next to a large window, which acted almost as an entire wall, a canvas sat nearby on a stand surrounded by various bottles of paint and a container of glitter. On the other side of the room was a black desk with multi-colored pens, mechanical pencils, erasers, notebook paper, and binders. A lamp sat on its corner, accumulating dust. Next to the papers was a closed Apple laptop. On the other side of the desk was an IPod stereo, playing tracks softly. Alyss retrieved the remote and shut it off. Will drank in the image; finally there was someone else like him, someone shared his love for arts.
"Wow! You are so lucky!" Will complemented, his gaze darting back and forth between the easel and the desk. Alyss smiled deeply at him, cherishing his envy. As society grew more concerned with the latest advances in phones, television, and music, the number that still loved art was shrinking. Will shared her passion, her desires that she wished tirelessly to fulfill. A sheet of paper on the floor, perhaps forgotten, caught the glint in his eye. Will picked it up, his eyes pouring of the title. "'You and Me.'" Before the first word escaped his lips, Alyss snatched it from his gaze, the skin of the paper scraping against his fingers. Will stared at her, wondering what provoked the change of her manner. Alyss' heart was pounding, but relieved that Will read no word of her poem.
"It's not finished," Alyss lied. It was one of her first composures; in fact, it had been completed for a couple years. But its topic was not to be revealed to its subject or those associated with it. Will opened his mouth to say something, but the chiming of the doorbell drowned his voice out. He stared out the window, playing a guessing game with his thoughts as to who had just now arrived. A familiar black corvette sat in the driveway behind Cassandra's Mazda. George and Ashley stood on Alyss' porch, laughing, smiling while hand in hand. Will could see the purple strings of Ashley's bikini tied around her neck. Will turned away, uninterested in the arrival of flirtatious guests. He and Alyss stood in silence for what felt like several minutes, an awkward silence filled the space between them.
"Can I read one of your poems?" Will asked her. Alyss' heart stopped; never before had any boy, especially one of Will's nature, ever requested to read her works. Her mind was blank, her speech was rendered useless.
"Sure!" she accepted brightly, picking up a binder from her desk and handing it to Will. "Take your pick." Will flipped through, scanning the contents of a poem that drew his attention and refused to let go. He found one on what he believed was the 56th page. A Fragile Dream, the title written beautifully and the words painted a vivid picture in his mind.
"Should I read it out loud?" Will asked her. Alyss peered through Will's fingers for a glimpse of the poem he picked. Her eyes widened at the title, but resisted the impulse to pull the binder away as well. She nodded, hoping Will's mind would be unable to register the message the words were screaming.
"'Everything to me seems
Just like false dreams
They explain so little
They're fragile and brittle
I don't know if they speak true
Of my thoughts for you
But the message is the same
That had once upon came
Who is the voice inside my head?
Is it the desire that I deemed dead?
That speaks the wish I dread
Just like a book I've already read
What do I see wherever I go?
Is it adoration that faded long ago?
But not completely although
The answer I'll never come to know
As time goes by
This feeling won't die
All my silence
Becomes my grievance
Shyness is my pain
My heart it has slain
I stand in agonizing rain
It's an emotion vain
Whose smile haunts me inside my mind?
Is it a wish that I'll never find?
Eluding me as I stare behind
To another, I have gone blind
Why did this now come to me?
Is it fate that I cannot see?
Such beauty brought me to a knee
But it will not set me free
A prison of my own design
The bars so divine
In this confinement I had sown
A feeling I had never known
I wish shyness was a broken dream
That would die like a moonbeam
But it just seems
Like no one can hear my screams
I wish this was just an illusion
So I breathe without confusion
Such ravishing, lustrous eyes
A joyous smile that never dies
A silent, haunting face
With angelic grace
Such beauty I had never seen
Shyness, such a troublesome glean
Eyes that still now gaze
But our hearts they raze
I will never come to know
Why this timidity will not go
Your gorgeous gaze I see
That won't allow me to flee
A desire that should be dead
Dead from an emotion I dread
But this fragile dream will not vanish
Yet I feel no anguish
Only I can make it true
If I surpass shyness of you.'"
Alyss' heart felt like lead, hoping, pleading silently that Will paid little attention to the purpose of the words, deaf to what they spoke. Will attempted to decipher the code, combing the poem for the key words. Alyss held her breath, hoping for complication, perhaps an object to halt Will's progress. Another drone of the doorbell rang throughout the pipes of the house. Will closed the binder and turned his attention back out the window. Horace was now in the porch, his eyes directed up at the sky. Morgan opened the door, permitting his entry. Alyss regarded Will curiously.
"Who is it?" she asked, hopeful that Will would not return to interpret the message.
"Horace," Will said unenthusiastically. This struck Alyss rather odd. Will would walk the halls of school with what seemed like a vanguard; Horace was always a member. She knew that he and Will were best friends, deeming it strange that Will had not seized the opportunity to join his side. There was another factor, one that was unknown to the pair. Will found himself entranced by her beauty, her soft, silky, curly blonde hair, her dazzling, lustrous smile, and her joyous, angelic personality, one that would never be discouraged. She radiated an aura that only a goddess would be able to do. As religious as Will was, he had to believe that perfection did exist somewhere. Maybe that somewhere was in Alyss' heart. It just had to be; she after all, was God's gift to the world. Alyss was soon locked in a hypnotic trance, his deep brown eyes, his charming smile, and his kindness was the prized feature of them all. Silence was their only company, soundless adoration of one another. Alyss dared not take her eyes away from Will, who mimicked her. They could have remained that way for the rest of the party, but the sound of knocking jarred them back to reality. Alyss cleared her throat, acting as though nothing happened; Will's tongue protruded through his cheek. It looked as if Alyss had forced herself to twist the doorknob, swinging the door open to reveal her younger sister. Morgan peered over her shoulder suspiciously, as if believing Will was hiding something. A smile broke on her face as she returned her gaze onto Alyss. Alyss whipped around, studied Will for a few seconds and then turned back to her sister, asking silently for whatever burdened her mind. Morgan's mouth seemed glued shut, refusing to make a sound. Alyss put her hand against the wall, her lower lip curling with impatience. It looked as if Morgan was piecing together fragments of her statement, the tell-tale signs of a lie visible on her face.
"Mom wants you downstairs," she informed her, beckoning Alyss to leave. Suspicion took hold of her, wondering just what twisted thought possessed her baby sibling. She turned to Will, a pained expression as if it the feeling of deserting his presence was antagonizing. She strode away. Will's heart pulled at her, but was caught on its chain, restricted from the breathless moments that it so deeply cherished. He was frozen, unable to move his limbs. Morgan turned her attention back onto him, waiting for the sound of footsteps pounding on the stairs to die away. An adoring smile crossed her face, the urge to run was almost screaming in the back of his mind.
"I read your poem," she announced, lowering her volume so as not to arouse a distraction from her sister. "Alyss is really lucky to have a guy like you!" Words were unavailable; there were none to come by. Will's heart was pounding, tension boiling to the point where it invoked a sense of anguish. He wondered where his poem had been taken and whose hands it had last been held. A wave of worry engulfed him; perhaps Alyss' eyes were pouring over his soul, reading a secret of which alienated him for two years, begging, pleading to brought to her knowledge. It was his intention for her to read the poem, but now was not the right time. Morgan gestured for him to follow, who trailed after her reluctantly. She slapped a hand into his chest, halting him before he entered the kitchen. He grunted in surprise and stared at her, asking silently the reasoning behind her actions. Morgan said nothing, placing her finger over her mouth, indicating silence. She peered around the corner as though she were a spy hungering for visual information. Though it was a subtle act, should she be caught, suspicion would surely arouse. Will needed not sneak a glance for the exchange of words between Alyss and her mother were painted a vivid scene.
"What do I tell him?" she asked, a sense of urgency clinging to her voice. Instantly, Will's mind was obscured in thoughtless fog, his heartbeat ceased and his supply of air disconnected. Seconds of silence ticked away, probably of her mother thinking and shrugging. "I can hardly talk to him."
"Sweetheart, some moments we can abstain from their control, but then there are those with impulses that no one, no matter the strength of their spirit, are able to resist," her mother replied. "Alyss, sweetheart, at your age, these are common."
"But how shall I know which it is?" Alyss asked, sounding as though she were pleading for answers. Will imagined Mrs. Mainwaring placing her hand on Alyss' cheek, peering deeply into her dazzling gray eyes. Will lost himself in a trance at the thought, at the memories of the times he and Alyss shared sweet gazes with one another. Morgan glanced behind her and aimed a kick at him. Will bit his tongue to keep silent.
"No one can truly know," she answered. "No one but you, for every person, the effect is unique." The air around them went silent. He tapped Morgan lightly on the heel, who nearly threw herself forward in surprise. She glared at Will for the idiotic blunder, but by then the damage had already been done. Alyss regarded her, dumbfounded at her behavior. Morgan straightened up and strode through the kitchen as though nothing had happened.
"Where's Will?" Alyss asked, her tone suggesting that Morgan may have some influence in his absence. Will held his breath, praying desperately that Morgan would dare not befall him just as he had with her. Fortunately, she chose the path of falsehood.
"He should be coming," Morgan lied. Will assumed this as a faint cue. He collected himself and rounded the corner, appearing as though he knew nothing. Alyss rose from the table, her gaze fixed upon the ground. Her mouth coiled into her 'platinum worthy' smile, her hand brushed her soft, silky hair away from her face. Her gray eyes glittered like stars in a midnight sky. She resisted impulses to leap at him, to throw herself into his arms and in doing so, never releasing. These desires tore at her heart, driving her to the point where tears bit at the corner of her eyes, impatient for the moment of which no mortal could resist. Will avoided her gaze so as to keep his mind clear and make decisions out of his own accord instead of whatever mental dictator of which seized control whenever he was hypnotized. He looked around, hoping for a familiar presence to keep his composure, but found none nearby.
"Where is everyone?" he asked. Alyss had no hint as to where the guests hid. She glanced outside her sliding glass doors, checking so as to be sure that nobody was already in the pool.
"I think they're in the living room," her mother answered. Alyss felt thankful for her mother's interference. Will stood rooted to the spot, ignoring the confused stares of Morgan and Mrs. Mainwaring. Against her will, Alyss held out her hand, beckoning Will's touch. Tingling sparks greeted both as their fingers met. Will felt his cheeks burning, reddening like the feathers of a cardinal. There was no contrast, both teens shared the same timid expression, felt the same blazing sensation in the sides of their faces. Alyss gripped his fingers and led Will into the living room, masking her adoring smile. Sure enough, there sat their audience, situated comfortably on her furniture, staring at the twosome as if this were a romance movie. A seat gripped both their attentions in the corner on a black leather couch, positioned next to the amorous couple. Ashley and George paid little attention to the two presences that were now inches away from them. Ashley was curled up in George's lap; her blue eyes staring admiringly back into his green eyes. Her smile was meant for no one else; her heart belonged to none other. George looked happier than Will had ever seen him, even more joyous than when they defeated Miller. A mutual infatuation of which was born during their days in middle school had finally been fulfilled. Knots formed in Will's stomach, nauseating him. He wondered how George seemed so relaxed around her. In George's perception, Ashley played the role that Alyss enacted for Will, the girl gifted with such beauty that shyness would overcome him, render his confidence useless. George and Ashley in contrast to Alyss and Will, seemed amenable around one another, fearing nothing that may drive the other away. They were meant for one another, just as those around believed Alyss and Will were destined to be together. Will felt the burning of multiple stares on the back of his head as Alyss dared not release his fingers. He felt himself sinking into the seat, bringing Alyss down next to him. There was no space between them. Will ignored Cassandra's admiring stares as Alyss settled her head on his shoulder. His face felt hot as if he had been standing exposed to the sun for an extended period. Alyss felt no impulse to move. She felt safe whilst being so close to his presence, close enough to breathe the air that he exhaled. Against his judgment, Will felt his arm drape itself over Alyss' shoulders, holding her close; Alyss removed her head from his shoulder. He wondered if this were a dream for this fantasy was all too common whenever he slumbered. He shifted his gaze onto the T.V. so as for Alyss not to notice his blush. A blush powdered his cheeks, deeming it impossible to keep from smiling. Morgan emerged in the doorway, her eyes first registering the image of Alyss cuddling against Will. She beckoned her mother to her side, pointing the twosome out. Mrs. Mainwaring's heart melted upon first glimpse. One of her few desires was for Alyss to be happy and this was certainly the most blithe she had ever seen her daughter. A memory conserved in the back of her mind would surely decompose slowly; she consulted her phone from her pocket, angling its view as to where it only depicted Will and Alyss. Her actions drew Halt and Horace's attention, but they discarded it. Typical parents, always desiring pictures to cherish the precious moments of their child's life. Morgan made a silent request, her eyes resembling those of a Labrador puppy, whining for attention. She studied the image, a smile slowly spreading across her face. Morgan thought this happiness existed only in the minds of romance novels and movies. But Alyss acted as though she were the protagonist of one. The sweet song of the doorbell rang through the walls of the house, announcing the arrival of perhaps another guest. Alyss shifted subtly into a more comfortable position, her head now resting on his chest. The strength of Will's blush intensified to the point where his cheeks stung from embarrassment. His heart was like a hammer, pounding hard against his chest. The chimes harmonized once more. No one dared relinquish their seat for none possessed a desire to see who had now arrived. Will paid no mind the hymn of the doorbell or the sitcom blaring on the T.V. His mind was fully occupied in battling the shyness that filled his chest. The top of Alyss' head was inches below his nose, a fragrant aroma filling his nostrils. It smelled of coconut, as if she had bathed in coconut milk. Alyss felt the corners of her smile graze the bottom of her ears. The world around her died for the only thing that existed was her caressed in Will's assuaging arms. Her heart screamed for him since their very first day in high school as Will did for her. She was unique in his eyes; he believed other girls, no matter how popular, should aspire to be like her. The doorbell chimed once again, interrupting both teens from their thoughts. This drew even George and Ashley's attentions away from one another. Everyone in the room sat in silence for what felt like five minutes before Morgan rose reluctantly from her seat, miffed that she be the one to answer the door. She stormed from the room, grumbling words Will didn't know nor cared for. He returned his attention back to Alyss. Feminine voices erupting from the foyer, echoing into the living room. Ashley looked at George, hopeful for any clue that he may have; Halt and Horace exchanged glances and directed stares at Alyss. Footsteps reverberated through the kitchen and there materialized three girls in the doorway. Two girls that Will recognized from the previous night. He considered himself blessed that they weren't enveloped in fits of giggles. When his eyes fell upon the third girl, he thought his heart relinquished its beat. Air seemed much more difficult to come by. It was the girl that approached him while searched for Alyss. He shifted uneasily in his seat, averting his gaze to the side, as if the lamp on the table seemed much more appealing. Alyss sprang from her seat and sprinted across the room. She acted as though they were long lost friends despite the fact she saw them the previous night. Excited shrieks drowned the volume of the T.V.; Mrs. Mainwaring turned it off and strode into the kitchen. Halt named this moment appropriate for a joke. He replaced Alyss' empty seat, much closer than what Will was comfortable with. Halt placed his head on Will's shoulder reminiscent of Alyss' manner. Will turned his head and dove from the couch, startled from Halt's behavior. Laughter filled the air around them, but Alyss and her friends dared not take their attentions off of each other. Each one had bikinis in their hands, all three of them sharing bright expressions. The familiar girl looked away and her eyes locked onto Will. Will caught her stare and immediately dropped it to the floor. He prayed silently that she wouldn't choose this moment to come up to him. Will heard Alyss ask: "Do you want to go ahead into the pool?" which was followed by fervid acceptances from the girls. They rushed upstairs as if they were determined to be the first to change. Will turned his attention to Horace who was staring blankly at Will.
"Who's the third girl?" he asked him. "I remember the other two girls sitting with her at the game." Will racked his brains, searching for a name that spoke familiarity.
"I think she said her name was Dalia," Will guessed. A broad grin spread across Horace's face, but Halt had beaten him to the point.
"What do you mean 'she said'?" Halt interrogated. Will looked nervously at the staircase, hopeful that Alyss was nowhere nearby.
"She came onto me," Will retold. "Dalia walked up to me, says hi, introduces herself, and then hands me her phone number."
"Did you ever call her?"
"Why would I?" Horace snorted. Cassandra scooted closer to Horace, hoping to draw his attention, but to no avail. George and Ashley still sat in the corner, flirting silently. They gave no hint of any intention of wishing to join the conversation. They sat in silence, compelling Will to move into the kitchen to escape his boredom. Mrs. Mainwaring stood at the sink, staring out at the pool. She regarded Will and her smile appeared on her face. It resembled that of Alyss' greatly, only a mere aged version. An air of awkwardness was their only company. Words Will intended to say escaped his mind as quickly as they were born. Mrs. Mainwaring cleared her throat, breaking the silence.
"Alyss talks of you all the time!" she announces brightly. Will felt a slight smile cross his expression. His name had been mentioned in the household on numerous occasions and judging from Mrs. Mainwaring's tone, what Alyss says has all been positive. She Will Be Loved was playing the back of his mind in a filtered tone. He dropped his gaze to the floor, his confidence dropping. She studied Will's expression. "You look troubled, what's wrong?" Will shrugged, but dared not lift his eyes from the tile.
"I'm just nervous," Will admitted.
"Well, aren't we all nervous for parties?" Mrs. Mainwaring suggested. Will considered her words, but shook his head.
"Yeah, but it's what your daughter does to me," Will retorted. Mrs. Mainwaring straightened, hooked by the sound of Alyss. "I don't know what it is about her, it's just…she's…"
"She haunts you inside your head," Mrs. Mainwaring finished. Will froze, shocked. There was only one place where that line existed. "I read your poem." Will's heart sank. Mrs. Mainwaring's view would certainly be different from her daughter's. The interpretation of the poem would certainly differ based on what eyes pried over its content. He hung his head, ashamed of what he assumed Mrs. Mainwaring might say.
"Ever since we were freshman, the desire to be with her has plagued me," Will admitted, staring at the ground as if there were a bug he'd like to crush. "There's just something about her, for two years, she was the only girl I could ever love." Will wanted to kick himself as soon as the final word escaped his lips. He hoped that Mrs. Mainwaring hadn't caught on, but to no avail. Her eyes widened, but carried a larger sense of cheer than one of surprise.
"Oh!" she swooned. "How sweet! Alyss will die once she hears that!" She started towards the stairs, presenting the impression that she was going to tell her daughter. The strength of his nerves was too much to overcome. Will succumbed to their demands and lunged at Mrs. Mainwaring, catching her shoulder. His request remained unspoken, but his eyes were pleading. She turned to him and felt her mouth twist into a jocular grin.
"Honey, have you ever considered the way she looks at you?" she asked him. Will's grip on her shoulder relaxed, his heart faltering in its beat. This was the third person who utilized this, but the words screamed much louder than those of Cassandra and Jenny. "She's been the slave of shyness since she was little; it's always been difficult for her to verbally express her feelings, even with me." Will stood rooted to the spot, desperate for an answer to the questions running chaotic through his mind. Perhaps she was about to tell him that she drowned in love for him as he did for her. He felt like Romeo from Shakespeare's play, his heart overflowing with love to give, crying out for aheart to share it with. Will hoped that he and Alyss wouldn't end up like the tragic couple. He thought her heard footsteps descending the stairs, but discarded them, deducing them as mere creaks for the sound was too soft.
"I want her to spill her emotions out to me!" Will announced softly, but emphatically. "I want to be her shoulder to cry on, her source of warmth and comfort! I want to be the embrace that holds her when she's scared, ensuring her that I won't let anything hurt her!" He could feel tears stinging in the corner of his eyes, frustrated that it had taken him this long to spew it loud enough for the entire world to hear. He turned away so that Mrs. Mainwaring would not be granted the opportunity to see the tears dropping from his eyelashes. "I just want her to know that despite all the moments that had passed us by that I had loved her all this time!" The random creaks from the stairwell and the foyer died away. Will's cheeks were burning with agony as he strained to keep from crying. Mrs. Mainwaring grasped his wrist lightly, turning him to face her. Instinctively, she pushed his face into her shoulder, patting his neck while he fought the tears desperate to release his eyelashes. Two pairs of footsteps echoed behind him, but Will dared not make his expression visible.
"What's wrong with him?" he heard Horace ask.
"His emotions are finally in the air," Halt deciphered. Horace and Mrs. Mainwaring regarded him strangely, as if Halt were psychic. Will did too, but was too caught up in wiping his eyes.
"How do you know that?" Horace asked, awestruck. Halt stared at him as if the answer should have already been clear. He waved his hand up and down beneath Will's nose, implicating his face.
"Did you not hear what was going on?" Halt quizzed. "Do you not see the tears streaking his face?" Will and Mrs. Mainwaring were more interested in Halt's first question.
"You were eavesdropping this whole time?" Will demanded. "Were standing up against the doorway just out of sight?" Halt shook his head.
"Your voices echoed, Cassandra, George, and Ashley heard it too," Halt answered. "Horace is the only one thickheaded enough not to have noticed." Horace widened his eyes in protest.
"I did too notice!" he argued. "I just felt it unnecessary to pay attention." Halt snorted.
"That explains your English grade," Halt remarked, but his voice put out a much louder volume. Horace scowled.
"Shut up." The creaking in the floorboards reverted, but seemed much closer. Alyss, Delia, Julia, and Dalia rounded the corner, thin shirts over top their bikinis. Will felt his lips cemented together. Alyss' expression fell to an intense blush, her cheeks flushing a bright crimson. Her lustrous smile reappeared on her face, but was directed at the tile floor. Will thought he heard her emit a couple feeble squeaks, but discarded it. He could see Dalia gazing at him, hoping he would notice her. Will looked up as did Alyss and like a moment in a romance movie, locked eyes, refusing to look at anything or anyone else. Will thought he saw a twinkle in her gorgeous gray eyes, her soul trying to pour her emotions through her pupils. Delia and Julia erupted in fits of silent giggles and began whispering to one another. Mrs. Mainwaring cleared her throat, breaking the silence and the intimate stare between the two teens. Horace and Halt were snickering in the background, but ceased their antics when Will turned to glare at them. Mrs. Mainwaring turned Alyss then back to Will, Horace, and Halt.
"So are you going to get into the pool?" she asked them. It felt as if all of Will's limbs had developed minds of their own. Horace nodded and Mrs. Mainwaring gestured to the hall silently, urging them to change into their swimming trunks. Will, who handed his belongings to Halt upon his arrival, stood rooted to the spot, unknowing of what action to take. Horace nudged him in the small of the back, startling him. Halt led them into the foyer where he left Will's poem, IPod, and swimming trunks as well as his own. Will picked them up, studying them as if there was some odd detail, a tampering of some sort. His nerves were tingling; his heart was pounding, drawing all strength in his body. Halt prodded Will, stealing his attention.
"Are you nervous?" he asked Will with the faintest trace of a smile. The lack of answer bemused him, fear that Alyss may overhear. However, Horace with no sense for the feelings of others, blurted out.
"Of course he is!" he announced. Will put his face in his palm; Halt regarded him and glanced nervously into the hallway. "He's in Alyss' house with a poem about his…" Will slapped his hand over Horace's mouth, pacifying his voice.
"Has that skull of yours a few screws loose?" Will demanded in a whisper. "Your voice is echoing and as loud as you're talking, it sounds like a cannon blast!" Horace spoke, his words muffled, perhaps a request for Will to remove his hand. Will did as he assumed.
"Lighten up!" Horace retorted. "I'll bet anything that Alyss is just as nervous, if not, more. She can barely talk around you!"
"And when she does, it's hard to hear," Halt added.
"Don't help him!" Will ordered. He thought of Dalia, how desperate for attention she was seeming. "Besides, it's not about Alyss; well it's mostly her…but…" His words died away as Will's strength left his body. He felt his knee trembling and nearly collapsed, but Horace caught him.
"Steady Will," he encouraged. "What is it then?" Will sighed.
"You know Dalia right?" Will began. Halt and Horace nodded, urging Will to continue with his tale. "What if she tries to come onto me? What if she ruins everything I have with Alyss?" Horace said nothing; instead he looked at Halt as if the answer was lingering on his face.
"We could take her attention off of you," he suggested. His gaze locked onto Halt, watching him as if he were a prized deer he was about to shoot. Halt shook his head.
"Wishful thinking, Horace," he remarked. Horace rolled his eyes, leading Will and Halt up the stairs. He took to the bathroom before they could stop him and locked the door. Will slumped down onto the floor, wondering just what Dalia could do to ruin his life, to transform into a meaningless existence. Halt put his hand on his shoulder.
"Keep your head up," he consoled. "There will be something that will deter her." Will looked up at him, unsure of his statement. His insecurity was brought to life when a girl bolted up the stairwell to face Halt and Will. Will looked up at her and felt his heart stop. Halt felt a nervous chill run down his spine as he stared into Dalia's admiring face peering into Will's eyes.