First off, I would like to say thank you guys for all the wonderful comments :) The reason that I haven't uploaded in forever is because I've been gone on vacation, and I've also had summer English projects and new school stress to deal with :/ I wanted to get this chapter perfect! :)
Chapter 4
It wasn't anything like she'd expected.
But then again, Clover hadn't known what to expect when it came to Cassie's new home.
It felt surreal, dreamlike almost, when she stepped out of the taxi and slowly lifted her eyes to the huge, looming building in front of her. She had gasped audibly, her hand flying to her mouth before she even knew what she was doing. She was so transfixed by the house in front of her that only a distant part of her mind noted that the taxi driver had sped away. She didn't even blink.
It wasn't that the house was strangely designed, or painted a strange color, or anything like that. It wasn't even painted at all. The exterior of the house was all wood; a very dark wood that looked like it was made of ancient trees. It was also huge. It wasn't quite the size of a mansion but it was very close. There was a wraparound front porch with a creaky porch swing, and a cellar door peeked out from the side of the house.
Against the dull, gray, cloudy skyline, Number 12 looked almost sinister. The absence of any light or warmth sent a chill up Clover's spine.
How could anyone want to live here? Clover thought with a shiver. I'm half expecting Dracula to appear in the doorway or something.
Just as she took a deep breath for courage, a curtain shifted in one of the square windows. Clover gulped and hesitantly walked to the porch.
She couldn't imagine Cassie living here. The whole property was like something out of one of Clover's vampire fantasy novels. Something about it was just off. And it certainly wasn't helping her fears.
But even though the house creepy, there was almost a strange charm to it. The rough wood handrails and dreary window panels were unfriendly at first glance, but as Clover looked at it more and more, she the wrenching in her gut started to loosen just a little bit.
Okay, so maybe it's not that bad. She bit her lip. But that doesn't mean I'm about to camp out on the porch for two weeks. Go on, you wuss, just ring the doorbell!
A fierce wave of courage overtook her like a strong fist, and she trotted up the creaky steps. She stared directly at the rusty door knocker as she lightly tapped on the door three times. There you go, you're doing great.
But she wasn't.
All around her was this sense of something wrong. That brief bit of courage disappeared instantly as Clover breathed heavily with panic. Suddenly it seemed like the chilly April air was choking her. She shivered, the words No, no, no no no no no beating senselessly in her head. Her eyes flashed to the creaking porch swing and she wildly wondered if she could hide behind it.
No, no, no no no no no-
I've got to go I need to get out NOW, her mind was screaming at her. She turned around to dash behind the swing, somewhere, anywhere but here-
Her heart stopped.
Tap tap tap tap.
Without turning to face the door, Clover closed her eyes. Her mind went blank, everything vanished except for the soft footsteps approaching the door.
What. Was. I. Thinking.
Suddenly, like a rubber band snapping, everything came back in a rush.
Disbelief. Did, I, Clover Rhodes, really fly across the country by myself? I can't believe this it's too much what was I thinking I'm going to die this is crazy! I'm not brave enough, this is just a dream-
Her previous feeling of anxiousity was now a shrieking siren in her chest.
Tap tap tap tap. Footsteps getting louder as they reached the door. Creeeeak. The heavy door slowly opening behind her.
"Um hey...can I help you with something?"
Clover whipped around and came face to face with a short, lanky boy with a nervous expression on his face.
He chuckled awkwardly. "Cat got your tongue?" He said in a squeaky voice. He didn't look directly at her face, and his beady black eyes nervously flicked around.
Heat rose in her cheeks and she gulped, looking at the floor. When she looked back up, he was licking his lips and slowly eyeing her up and down. His lips curled up in a bried flash of a grin, liking what he saw.
Astonishment flared through Clover as she reddened even more. With his eyes on her, she felt like a piece of meat. Awkward discomfort blossomed in her chest.
She stared at his flashy belt buckle that had the name Sean on it. "Uh-uh um-" she lightly cleared her throat, "is uh, is Cassie here?" she mumbled. She half hoped that he would say no.
Instead he stepped closer to her on the porch. "What did you say? I couldn't hear you..."
Quickly she met his eyes directly and in a brief flash she noticed that he was the same height as her. Odd, for a teenage boy. "I said, 'Is Cassie here?'" Her voice carried louder than she had expected, and her cheeks flamed. Gosh, I can't catch a break.
"Sean, what are you doing? Are you harrassing this girl or something? What the hell is wrong with you? I swear kid..." Suddenly, appearing from nowhere, a girl with long, wild, curlyhair walked up from behind Sean. His predatorial stance faltered and he suddenly looked nervous, if not frightened. His beady eyes flicked down to the floor and he quickly backed into the house with his head down. Kind of like a guilty puppy, Clover thought with a nervous, hysterical giggle.
"God, you are such an idiot sometimes! And why the hell are you keeping us waiting in here for?" the girl continued, annoyed. Her dark hair contrasted with her pale skin, tumbling down her shoulders and almost to her waist. Her hands were on her small hips in annoyance and she scowled darkly.
She was one of the most striking girls Clover had ever seen.
Sean whimpered under her cold gaze. He was totally scared of her- his predator front didn't frighten Clover in the least anymore. She felt a burst of appreciation towards the beautiful girl, and she stood a little bit taller.
"I wasn't doing anything, Deb! I swear! She-she said she was looking for Cassie, that's all!" Sean sputtered. He stared at the ground, scratched his black, cropped hair, and quickly turned to escape.
"Whatever, dick. You've kept us waiting and now I'm in a bad mood, so just beat it-"
I wonder how long this house has been here, Clover wondered as she brushed her fingers along the wooden edge of the door. Forgetting about the argument just inside, she thought more about the interesting architecture of the house. The ancient wood gave it an air of ageless scruture.
She lightly felt along the wood paneling of the wall. A sharp sting took her by surprise and she let in a quick intake of breath. Ugh, she thought glumly, holding her finger. Splinter.
As she inspected the little bead of blood on her wound, she realized that it was strangely quiet.
She slowly turned around to see the girl looking at her coldly, with Sean in her shadow. Clover's mind went blank with shocked surprise.
Talk, idiot! Say something!
"Uh, hi.. uh, um, uh-uh" she choked out, cheeks flaming. The girl narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips in annoyance. Now that she had a good look at her face, Clover started to feel afraid of her too. The girl's grim scowl made Clover squirm and realize that she wasn't looking for any appreciation.
The girl had striking features, with fierce cheekbones and a stubborn chin. Her lips were twisted in a permanent scowl, and her dark eyes were hard. Even under the girl's beaten up motorcycle jacket, Clover noticed that she had a very fit physique. Suddenly Clover felt very, very small and very,very weak. Still, the girl was one of the gorgeous teenagers she had ever seen.
"Who are you?" the girl asked coldly. She folded her arms under her chest. Clover got the brief feeling that she didn't like her very much. She bit her lip and shrunk under the cold scruntiny of the girl.
"Um, well, I'm- I'm a friend of Cassie's," Clover practically whispered. Her face was white with fear.
"Humph," the girl looked her up and down quickly with narrowed eyes and said gruffly, "Follow me."
Clover felt reluctant to leave her safe little haven on the porch, but she scrambled inside to follow the girl's quick pace. She couldn't help looking around at all the various dark rooms as her unease intesified. The door shut behind her with a solid bang.
There was no going back.
The house was clearly historical. There were antique pieces of furniture everywhere: grandfather clocks, Victorian style couches, and thick plush carpet. The furntiture also had some kind of unique design on it, one that Clover had never seen before. With her grandfather owning an antique store, she had quite a knowledge of old furniture and it was rare that she didn't recognize it. Must be an old Massachusetts style, she thought absently. In the front lobby, an huge, ancient spiraling staircase stood proudly. The dark wood of the grand stairs was the same as most of the furniture.
Wow, Clover thought in awe. This is absolutely beautiful.
The peeling wallpaper was rust-colored, and various samplers, paintings, and pictures adorned the walls. There was a particular painting of a young woman that caught her attention. She peered at it closely. It was a young and beautiful woman of the twenties or thirties, and she was doing something with a hammer type thing and plants on a table. Hmm... Something about this woman...reminds me of somebody..
A hand closed around her arm tightly and Clover looked up, astonished. The girl scowled angrily.
"Come on."
With one last look at the lobby, Clover hastily followed her. But she couldn't help but feel like the whole house was...enchanted or something.
They call me a dreamer for a reason, she thought with a shake of her head.
They climbed up the stairs, the girl pulling Clover's arm and Sean slowly sauntering behind them both. Clover glanced at the girl's dark hair and biker wardrobe and felt a pang of jealousy. She was petite like her, but somehow, the other girl seemed to look like she could kick ass whenever she felt like it. With her free hand, Clover twirled a piece of hair nervously.
The house was beautiful in a dusty, ancient sort of way, but she still felt entirely out of place. While it was strangely enchanting and creepy, the whole place felt hostile, and so far, the people inside did too.
Now that she was inside, a little bit of anxiosity was gone. But there was still one question that hadn't been answered.
How did Cassie fit into all of this?
The Cassie that Clover had once knew would have never lived in a place like this, much less thrive here. And the people that answered the door? They were a strange choice of friends for her former best friend. In lots of ways the girl and Sean were entirely different, and yet...
They were both the same.
A new chill went up her spine as she was mercilessly pulled along.
They were upstairs now, in a narrow hallway with no wallpaper, just cold dark wood. The hallway seemed endless: they had at least past a dozen rooms by now.
All the doors looked exactly the same, and Clover had the intimadating feeling of being in one of those haunted houses at a carnival. Not that she had ever been to a carnvial- but she imagined that this was what one must be like. Getting lost in the house would be extremely easy.
Suddenly, a door shut softly behind them.
"Clover? Is that you?"
She turned around, wondering who would recognize her besides Cassie in the strange place. A flash of panic burst inside her and she held her breath as she faced the person who called her name.
A petite, dark-haired woman stood down the hall, wearing a puzzled expression. She slowly walked forward, cocking her head to the side in confusion.
Warm recollection made Clover smile. She broke free of the girl's grip and walked forward to embrace Mrs. Blake.
"Hi, how are you, Mrs. Blake?" she asked softly, smiling. She embraced her petite figure, feeling smooth chestnut hair against her cheek.
Delicate hands gripped her shoulders. "Clover! My goodness! It's been too long, sweetheart," Mrs. Blake exclaimed in a melodic voice. She broke into a warm smile.
Memory overcame Clover as she looked at Cassie's mother. Suddenly, she two years flew backward and it was like she was standing in Cassie's small kitchen, having dinner with the family. Mrs. Blake looked exactly the same, with her long chestnut hair and warm, crinkling eyes. With her delicate frame, people had often asked if she was Cassie's older sister rather than mom.
They stood there in the hallway for a small second, smiling at eachother. Suddenly, they both seemed to remember where they were as Mrs. Blake cocked her head in confusion again. Her smile lost a bit of it's kind warmth and she released her grip on Clover's shoulders.
The fond memories slowly faded away with Mrs. Blake's smile. Suddenly, she seemed almost like a stranger.
Clover slowly took a step backward.
"Mom, who's there? What's going on-"
Clover looked to the right of Mrs. Blake as a beautiful girl stepped out of a room.
It was late May, and they were sprawled in Cassie's tiny backyard, watching the clouds.
The bright blue sky was filled with puffy, cottonball shapes of all kinds. With Cassie and Clover's imaginations, just about anything and everything could be found up there. Dogs, birds, mermaids, flowers, you name it, they would spot it.
The sweet summer air was simply perfect for cloud-watching. It was cool enough for comfort, but just hot enough to make laying around sound like a dream. And even though the little plot of grass was a bit small, the pretty wildflowers blooming up here and there made it a wonderful spot for cloud-watching.
It just so happened that that was one of Clover and Cassie's favorite hobbies.
"What do you think that one is?" Cassie pointed up at a large white cloud off to the side in the sky.
"Hmm..." It could've been an endless possibility of things. "A fat guy walking his dog?" Clover grinned and looked sideways at her friend.
A burst of melodic laughter erupted from the other girl. Her tanned body shook with each giggle and she rolled on her stomach with a wide grin. She rested her chin on her hands and blinked her sky-blue eyes.
"Do you believe in destiny?" she asked dreamily.
Clover sat up and looked at the sky thoughtfully. "I'm not sure," she said after some time. "Maybe."
Cassie smiled. "Well you know what I think?" Clover shook her head. "I think that everyone has a beautiful destiny beyond their control. That everyone belongs in a certain place, at a certain time." She grinned at Clover with sparkling eyes. "It's fate."
Clover thought about that for a while. Destiny. Was it real?
Silently, she tilted her head to the sky and wished it was.
She turned to her best friend, giggled, and said, "Well I think that's totally cliche, even for you."
They laughed together, friends by blood, sisters by heart.
"Clover?"
Suddenly, she was back in the hallway, staring at the girl she was knew.
Cassie stepped forward, her blue eyes wide with astonishment. They were the exact same shade of sky-blue Clover remembered, just as beautiful and striking as they had been a year before. A memory of a dream flashed in her head, one where she had seen those eyes. Yes, she would remember them anywhere.
But the girl in front of Clover was otherwise a stranger.
Her hair was the same silky chestnut shade as her mother's...at least, Clover thought it was. But as Cassie walked down the hallway, her hair seemed to change colors in the light.
Her features were flawless. Perfect cheekbones, delicate heart-shaped face, and her eyes. Huge, doe-shaped eyes, the exact color of the sky.
The girl standing in front of her was unearthly beautiful.
"Clover? What...what are you doing here?"
Even her voice was beautiful. It was like tinkling bells, a wonderful melody.
"Clover? Clover!"
She snapped to attention. She focused directly on those blue eyes that she knew, and yet she did not recognize her former best friend, as hard as she tried.
The girl who had let Clover in let out an impatient sound. She sighed and said, "She came to the door looking for you. You know her?"
Cassie nodded. "Thanks, Deborah. Can you give a second, please? I'll be back in a moment."
Deborah huffed and dragged Sean through another door without a second glance.
Suddenly Clover realized that her mouth had been hanging open. Embarrassed, she shut it quickly as her cheeks reddened and she stared at the floor. Who was this girl?
The Cassie that Clover had known was too shy to be giving orders like that, especially to a girl like Deborah. The Cassie that Clover had known had certainly not been that unearthly beautiful. The Cassie that Clover had known-
Well...I guess I don't know Cassie anymore.
Cassie sighed. "Look...I think we need to talk. Why don't you join me in here?" She promptly disappeared through a door, with graceful movements.
Once inside, Cassie sat down on a huge Victorian style bed. It was rose colored, with heavy drapery on the four posters and several different blankets. The rest of the room was filled with antique bedroom furniture.
But Clover couldn't even focus on the furniture. She couldn't take her eyes off of the beautiful stranger in the room. She couldn't look at the girl and tell herself that she was Cassie.
"Clover, what are you doing here?"
Clover cleared her sandpapery throat. She opened her mouth to speak, and found that nothing came out. She ran her hands through her hair, embarrassed by her lack of speech. Come on girl! Speak!
Cassie folded her hands in her lap. She picked some lint off her jeans, avoiding eye contact. "I'm so happy to see you. I know I haven't communicated in a while, and I'm sorry for that." She looked up with a small smile.
"You haven't communicated at all!" Clover burst out. Her hands flew to her throat in surprise.
Cassie blinked. "Yes, well, I've been pretty busy-"
"You could have at least called!" Clover cried out. She went to stand in front of Cassie angrily. In a startling wave of emotion, all of the hurt feelings she had buried were being unearthed.
"I called you dozens of times! I emailed you! I missed you! What happened to us being best friends?" Angry tears rolled down her cheeks as she went on. "Beth and Miriam gave up on you, but I never did! Even when you vanished off the face of the earth I still considered you my best friend!" Burning anger made her heart pound, and she wiped hot tears away.
Cassie looked up at her sadly, running a hand through her perfect hair. She opened her mouth to speak, trying to figure out what to say.
Suddenly, Clover realized her outburst and her hands flew to her mouth in shock. She quietly sat down and and ran her hands along the soft comforter. "I-I'm sorry," she stammered. She couldn't believe she had blown up like that, in front of girl she didn't really know, even.
"Look, it wasn't like picking up and leaving was easy!" Cassie looked up, her blue eyes sad. "I wanted to say goodbye, I really did! It's just..." she trailed off.
Clover looked up at her expectantly.
"I had some family issues," she said, choosing each word carefully. "My grandmother died recently," she added quietly. Her face was mournful, but no tears came.
Clover was filled with sympathy and she embraced her. She couldn't even imagine what it would be like to lose Gram. That must have been awful.
"I'm sorry, Cassie," she said softly.
Cassie smiled sadly. "Thanks."
They broke their embrace, sitting in a mournful silence. Clover was sorry about Cassie's grandma, but why didn't she tell her? I bet she was just upset, Clover told herself. I'm sure she had good reasons to not communicate. Although she wasn't so sure.
"Now tell me why you're here, Clover."
Cassie's face was intense. Clover sensed that something was wrong in those blue eyes. She wasn't sure what it was, but it sounded like Cassie was almost...angry.
"Uh-well, it was kind of my parents' idea..." Clover sputtered. Under Cassie's hard gaze she felt strangely frightened.
Cassie looked at her coldly. A hint of anger burned behind her clear eyes and fear gripped Clover.
"Why-why...what's wrong, Cassie? she whispered.
Cassie's face hardened. "What was your parent's idea?"
Clover swallowed. "They wanted me to surprise you by coming and staying in New Salem for your Spring Break," she said softly. "...Is that okay...?"
Cassie pursed her lips and sighed. "Look, it's a sweet idea, Clover-"
"I have nowhere else to go, Cassie..." she said quietly.
She looked at her coldly, with burning eyes. Clover couldn't figure out why Cassie was looking at her like that, so coldly. She hadn't done anything wrong.
The more Cassie hesitated, the more frightened Clover became.
It was almost like...Clover was intruding in Cassie's home.
Well I suppose I am, she thought worriedly. What was my mother thinking? I knew this wasn't a good idea...
"Fine. It's a great idea. You can stay here," Cassie said with a small smile. Clover thought she heard a hint of reluctance in here voice.
"I don't want to be a burden..."
"No!" Cassie said quickly. "It's fine, really! We have many spare rooms, so you can take your pick." Cassie stood up suddenly, a forced smile on her face.
Clover bit her lip. "Okay..." She agreed quietly.
Cassie faced her with a small smile. She looked...stressed. "I'll be back in a second, okay? I just need to handle something really quick, but I'll come back for you." Her smile tightened. "Hey, you know what? My room is actually right next to this one so why don't you take this room?" She patted the bed absently, then quickly shut the door behind her.
Clover sat down on the huge bed, staring at the ornate rug covering the hardwood floor. It was obvious that Cassie didn't want her to stay. But why? Did she do something to offend her?
Or did she just not want to even try to still be friends?
She folded her hands in her lap, playing with one of her rings. It was only two weeks. Two weeks in New Salem, and then she was out of here. It would be over before she knew it.
Suddenly she remembered Sean's hungry eyes. Maybe it wouldn't be as quick as she hoped.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway, coming closer to the door. Cassie. Everything about her was different then Clover had remembered. And now, in this strange town, in this strange house, being friends with these strange people, something was certainly odd about Cassie. It wasn't something simple like her fashion sense. No, it was something much, much bigger.
Something so big, it was frightening.
The door opened and Cassie poked her head in. "Hey, follow me!"
"Where are we going?"
Cassie smiled a real smile.
"I think you should meet my friends."