The Brown House

by Christy Sloat

  He rounded the corner and at first I couldn’t make him out. Lyn was blocking my view of him. As soon as she moved he came into focus. He was tall, like me, with a head full of caramel colored hair. His eyes were as blue as the California ocean. He smiled at me and gave a short wave. I waved back. I was in a fog. I had never seen a guy this hot. He looked like a movie star. He was wearing a flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a pair of dark denim jeans. He knew how to dress, that I could tell. Then I checked the body, yep, it was nice. So nice in fact that I stared at the muscles in his forearms. I noticed a little dimple right under his lips. Oh my, his lips, I wanted to grab him and kiss them. I didn’t know what had gotten into me. I had just been thinking about Ethan not too long ago, yet I was ready to kiss Lyn’s brother.

  “Hey, you’re the girl that lives in the Brown house, huh?” I struggled for an answer. I had to compose myself or I would look like a complete dork.

  “Brylee… my name is Brylee.” He smiled at me again and his teeth were perfect.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Brylee. I have to go inside, I have tons of homework. Enjoy your cocoa.”

  I giggled. OMG I totally acted like a complete and utter moron. The first hot guy I meet in New Jersey and I just blew it.

  Chapter Five

  Lyn sat back down and drank the rest of her cocoa. I just sat and stared into space. I was now embarrassed by my foolishness and I didn’t really know what to say. I looked behind me and stared into the kitchen window at Ephraim. He was, in fact, doing homework like he said he was going to do. He looked even cuter as he focused on his work.

  “What are you looking at?” Lyn asked as she turned and looked at her brother. “Oh my God, are you looking at Ephraim?”

  “Um… no,” I stammered. “I was looking at something else.” There was no way to save myself now. I was caught red handed ogling my new friend’s hot brother.

  “It’s okay, he’s a total catch. He is super nice and he would treat you like gold. He takes after my dad. He is chivalrous, but there is one bad thing about him,” she said, leaning toward me. “He isn’t over his stupid ex, Amber. They went out for two years and suddenly she dumped him, no explanation. She is a total cow!” I can tell Lyn doesn’t like her.

  “When did they break up?” Now I was just being plain nosy.

  “Over the summer, he was heartbroken. All summer he sat in his room while we went to the beach. I tried to get him to come out, but he wouldn’t. Not until school started, then he just came out and started acting like the old Ephraim. She is dating a new guy already!”

  It’s sad in a way and I felt sorry for him, even though I don’t know him. Anybody that gets dumped that way has my pity. I wouldn’t want to be the one having those feelings. I would probably have done the same, sit in my room and do nothing. At least until you’re over them, but apparently he still wasn’t over her.

  “So does he drive you to school?” I asked, changing the subject.

  “Yeah, he’s eighteen. He was held back when our dad died. He just missed too much school. He is one of the only kids in the senior class that can drive. All the other kids are seventeen almost eighteen. He hates being so much older, but I like the fact he can drive me around.”

  “In California you get your license at sixteen, but now I have to wait two more years.” That was another thing I don’t like about New Jersey.

  “You know, I won’t mind if you and my brother date,” she admitted. “But he has a thing for blondes.” I suddenly looked at my brown hair. Now I regretted the decision of changing the color.

  “It’s not permanent. In a few more weeks my natural blonde will come back.”

  She smiled at me with a devious look in her eyes.

  “So you are a perfect. Blonde, tall, green eyes, and a perfect body. Ugh I am even more jealous now.” We laughed and she grabbed my hands, pulling me up to stand. “My mom is a hairdresser. I know she has something upstairs that can strip the color. But, you have to show me how to do my hair today.” My face lit up in excitement. I loved makeovers.

  “So your mom does hair and you don’t know how? How is that even possible?” I asked, baffled.

  “Well, she doesn’t have time to blow my hair straight anymore. At night she bartends at the Irish Pub and she doesn’t get in until about 3:00 a.m.” I suddenly felt even worse for Lyn. I couldn’t imagine not having my mom around to help me out.

  “Okay, if you make me blonde today I will do your hair and your make-up. But you have to let me cut it.” These were my terms and I would not back down. She had such stringy hair that it had to be cut.

  “How do you know how to cut hair?” She put her hands on her hips.

  “I took Cosmetology last year.”

  An hour or so later I was standing in Lyn’s shower washing out the chemicals she put in my hair. I assumed Ephraim used the same shower, since I was looking at a boy’s razor and was forced to stare at my reflection in his shaving mirror. At least I was a blonde again. Then I thought that I just did all this to please a guy I don’t know. I don’t even know if he will like me.

  I had called my mom before I got in the shower to tell her I met new friends. She was happy for me but told me to be home by six. She said she couldn’t wait to show me the samples for the new cabinets.

  I lathered, rinsed, and repeated with Lyn’s salon shampoo. It smelled so good I didn’t want to leave the shower. But with Lyn pounding on the door for me to get out, I sort of had no choice.

  “I put fresh towels on the counter,” Lyn said when I shut off the water. I stepped out and wrapped a towel around myself. I was warm now, the chill I had earlier had worn off. I looked into the mirror at my buttery blonde hair and I liked it again. I reached for Lyn’s hairbrush and it fell off the counter. As I leaned over to pick it up my towel slid down. At that same moment the door opened and Ephraim walked in on me as I was leaning over to get the brush, naked!

  “Get out!” I screamed.

  “Oh God, I am so sorry,” he said, but he still stood staring at me. I fumbled for the towel and tried to cover myself. It was too late he had already seen me.

  He finally shut the door and I could feel my face turn beet red. I could have just died right there in that bathroom. I hurried and got dressed as fast as I possibly could. I could hear Ephraim outside the door telling Lyn that she should have told him I was in the shower.

  “Well, I didn’t think you were going to walk in on her!” she shouted.

  “Next time one of your friends takes a shower you need to tell me!” He stomped down the stairs and I came out fully dressed.

  “Oh girl I am so sorry. Are you okay?”

  “Yeah I am a little mortified but other than that I guess I am okay.”

  She laughed and led me into her room where she had a whole set-up of makeup and hair products. Her room was warm and inviting. The walls were a friendly tan color and her furniture was all oak. I sat on the bed and stared at her pictures. There were several of her and her dad, and suddenly my embarrassment subsided as I thought of her dad. He looked a lot like Ephraim; he was very handsome. I was again forced to think of losing my dad. I didn’t know if I could be as strong as Lyn.

  “Okay, I have the scissors here, you ready?” she asked. I got up, nodded, and followed her to her vanity. I brushed my wet hair first and blew it dry to show her how she should do it. She watched intently and even took notes, which made me laugh incessantly.

  Eventually, I started wetting her hair with the spray bottle. It wet easily and I combed it out. I took a piece and bent it just under her chin, to show her how short I wanted to cut it.

  “Oh no way!”

  “Come on Lyn, new school year, new hair,” I pressed.

  “New friend who is totally crazy. I won’t look good with short hair.”

  “Lyn, you have the perfect face for short hair. What is the worst that will happen? You’re already unpopular. I don’t mean to be harsh, but really?” She thought about it
for a moment. I was truly trying to help her though. With a new haircut I really thought it would give her a better look and more confidence. Sure enough she smiled and agreed.

  “So, did you have a boyfriend back home?” She was now asking me the questions I wanted to avoid. I started to cut her hair and I didn’t really know how to answer.

  “Not really. He wasn’t my boyfriend, we were on our way there though. We really liked each other,” I said, my eyes stinging from tears. She didn’t seem to notice my tears.

  “Really? I knew it! Tell me everything.” She got more comfortable and the words flowed from me like water.

  “His name was Ethan. He was a senior, but we had known each other since junior high. We had always been friends. I watched him get girlfriends and then break-up and then do it all over again. I always watched from the sidelines while this all happened.” I took a breath and cut another piece of her hair. “He surfed right by my house so every morning, no matter how early, I went down and watched. I wasn’t the only one, he drew crowds that’s how good he is. He competes and everything! None of that mattered to me though, he has a good heart. He always stood up for the little guy. Whenever his friends made fun of kids who were not so cool, he stuck up for them.”

  “Wow! He sounds like a super nice guy. Did you go on a date with him?”

  “Well, we talked more last year alone. There were times when I was just reading on the beach and he would end up standing over me dripping wet. Ruining my book and everything. Then he would sit and we would talk forever.” I took a deep breath. Trying to compose myself and stop the tears. “And we had tons in common. Finally, in the summer he asked me out on a date. We had been texting for months when one day he called me. I freaked out before I answered it. Once I did, we talked for so long I don’t know why I was so shy to answer. Then he just asked me out on a date.” Lyn squealed in excitement like it was her going on the date. I brushed out her hair and cut the last strand. It looked beautiful, just as I thought it would.

  She turned her head from side to side and gave me the look of approval. It looked so pretty with her face it also made her look a lot older. I blew it dry and she asked, “So where did you go?”

  I had to yell over the sound of the dryer as I continued.

  “He picked me up at my house in the morning. My parents were totally nervous to let me go with him, but they gave in. He worked his charm on my mom. We went to Sea World for the day. I remember it was so hot out that we wanted to jump in and swim with the dolphins. We ended up leaving and going to the beach where he usually surfed.” I remembered the day so well. I felt like I could close my eyes and be there with him. “He laid out a blanket and we ate on the beach. Afterwards, he pulled out his board and gave me a quick surfing lesson.”

  I stopped there. I remembered what happened next and I didn’t want to relive it right now. So I changed the subject. “Look how great your hair looks, Lyn. You look so hot no one will know what hit them tomorrow.”

  She leaned into the mirror and gazed at herself. I could tell that with her new hair she felt more confident.

  I pulled out the make-up and she turned to face me. I went through the basic run down on applying powder and blush. Which eye-shadow goes best with her hair and skin-tone. I applied a shimmery turquoise over her lids and some mascara. Her blue eyes popped and she looked gorgeous.

  “Done,” I said and she turned around and looked at her reflection once more.

  “Wow, I think I know what your career choice should be.” She got up and hugged me tightly. It’s nice to have made a friend so soon; I didn’t think I would like anyone here. I glanced at the clock and it was ten minutes until six, time for me to go.

  “I have to go, Lyn. But I will see you in school the day after tomorrow. Thanks for doing my hair.” I pulled away and grabbed my stuff.

  “Yeah thanks for mine. Sorry about my brother and all, I should have told him you were showering. Hopefully you will come back tomorrow after school lets out and I can tell you all about what everyone says.” She made it more a statement than a question as to whether I would come back or not. I wanted to come back even though I was mortified beyond reason.

  “Come by my place after you get home and we can hang out,” I suggested. She nodded but I could see the fear on her face. She really did not want to come to my house. It made me wonder if she would ever come hang at my place. I walked downstairs and Ephraim was on the couch watching a movie. I didn’t even look at him.

  “Hey…” he said. I stopped and turned shyly.

  “Yeah?” was all I could come up with. Again with the dorkiness.

  “I am so sorry for walking in on you. I really had no idea…”

  “It’s okay, really,” I stopped him mid-sentence to spare him his guilt. “I know you’re like all freaked out and everything cause you saw your sisters little friend naked. I promise it’s no big deal, I just feel bad you had to see all this.” I waved my hand over my body as if it was a mess.

  “No… please don’t think that you’re not attractive… uh… I mean,” he stuttered. “What I am trying to say is that I think you’re beautiful so don’t think that it was gross or anything. But it was an accident.”

  He just called me beautiful, I was jumping up and down inside. Then I understood, he was eighteen and he could get in trouble if I said he was peeping in on me naked. I was only a minor after all.

  “It’s not like I will tell anyone about this, I’m totally mortified. So your conscience is clear.” I walked away from him and practically ran out the door. Now I felt even worse. I thought he was telling me he thought I was pretty, but he was just trying to cover his own ass. I tore through the woods and realized it was getting a bit dark. The sun was setting and yet again I could not see it. I only saw a blaze in the tree line. My house came in to view finally and I saw Dad’s car in the horseshoe driveway. When I walked in, my mom and dad were in heated discussion about the kitchen cabinets. So I took my exit and walked up the stairs to my room. They did not even notice I walked in, nor did they see my new blonde hair.

  Once I was in the fireplace room, my new room for the night, I changed into a fresh pair of pajama bottoms and thermal shirt. I was camping out here with my sleeping bag. I started a fire in the fireplace with no trouble. I settled in my bed for the night and started to draw. The first face that popped in my head was Ephraim’s. I sketched as flawlessly as possible, trying to catch all the features that made him beautiful. I even got the little dimple under his lips.

  I moved the pencil lightly over the page, capturing all his qualities, and when I was done I had one good picture of Ephraim. I closed my book and tucked myself into my sleeping bag. I could not believe he had walked in on me naked. Tonight was definitely one crazy night for sure. Luckily, I had made a good friend in Lyn, she was a keeper. A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.

  “Come in,” I said as Mom peeked her head in the door.

  “Hey Bry, I am so sorry for that just now. You know marriage isn’t perfect and when you throw stress into the mix, well things get even more complicated.” She chewed her lip nervously. I couldn’t imagine how it would feel to have to talk to your daughter about your relationship.

  “Mom you don’t need to explain to me why you and Dad argue. Really, it’s not a big deal; I just want you to be able to get your dream kitchen.” She sat down on the floor next to me. She looked so tired and I knew she wasn’t sleeping well yet. Stress had taken a toll on my mom and I wanted us to just settle in here and start being a normal family. We hadn’t been that in so long and it was sort of sad.

  I think Mom took it the hardest; she was always the one who wanted us to do things as a family. When we lost the house there was no money to do anything, let alone do anything together. The arguing eventually got worse. I hoped that this move would bring my parents closer and on the drive out here I saw the bond they had come back.

  “I like your hair by the way. Did your new friend do it for you?” She reached forward a
nd touched a stray strand.

  “Yeah, she is so nice, Mom. I didn’t think that I would meet anyone here that I would like, but she is totally cool. Her mom is a hairdresser and she found this stuff that strips color from your hair.” I felt a strange urge to tell my mom about Ephraim. Of course, leaving out the fact that he saw me naked. I wanted to tell her about how cute he was and how I crushed on him hard.

  “Well I am so happy to see your color back, please don’t dye it again. Please!”

  “Sure Mom, for now.” I laughed and she kissed my forehead. “Goodnight Brylee. Don’t worry about my dream kitchen; Dad is going to let me add the things I want piece by piece. But tomorrow I want you and I to go to the mall.” I did want to go to the mall, I was eager to see what it was like. I missed the days of shopping trips with my so-called friends. Even if they weren’t my real close friends, shopping with them was fun.

  “Alright, goodnight.” She got up and walked out, smiling one last time before she closed the door. I snuggled back into my sleeping bag and watched the fire dance. I felt my eyes get heavy and was drifting off to sleep, when the door to my room opened again. I looked up expecting to see Mom or Dad, but no one was there.

  Instead of getting up to close the door I just hid under my blankets.

  Chapter Six

  The room was freezing cold, that is what woke me up first, but then I heard my door slam. If I wasn’t already awake from the freezing room, the door closing had really woken me up now. I sat up, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might leap from my chest. The fire had gone out and the room was pitch black. There was no light in this room we hadn’t installed lamps yet. I guess when you live in an old house there are no lights installed in any of the rooms. Stupid old house! Now here I am freezing and confused. I pulled the blankets off myself and stood up. My legs shook I was so scared.