Cadence Untouched: A Dahlia Project Novel

by Dakota Willink

  “Considering that you’ve only have four weeks to work on this, the performance was exceptional. However, the sunlight on the stage seemed to wash them out. Maybe a darker wardrobe for them would help or have the tech crew shift the stage lighting,” I said hurriedly. “Also, I think the orchestra should raise their tempo a bit so the choreography is seamless and less awkward.”

  She watched me curiously for a moment before nodding her head.

  “Yes, I agree. I was thinking similar things,” she paused and looked behind me. I didn’t dare turn, knowing that she was looking in the direction of where Fitz had been standing. “Thanks, dear. I’ll let you get back to your work at The Flourish.”

  “Okay, Momma. I’ll see you at dinner.”

  Leaning toward her, I placed a quick kiss on her cheek, before heading back in the direction of the camp store. When I was halfway there, I remembered that I’d forgotten the hand truck backstage.

  “Damn!” I said aloud to myself. We had a supply delivery showing up in the morning. Unloading without the hand truck would be a bear. Turning around, I began to walk back. Up ahead, I spotted Fitz on the path. He was headed in my direction, carrying a large toolbox.

  “Hey, sweetheart,” he said as he approached. “Are you going back to the stage?”

  “I forgot the hand truck that belongs over in the camp store. I need to go back for it.”

  “I can grab it later for you,” he offered.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah. No sweat. I was just headed over to the barn to swap out the toolbox. Your dad said we needed a different one for the stage pulleys. Apparently, we need to hang a curtain of some kind. Once we’re through, I’ll drop the hand truck off at The Flourish.”

  “Okay, thanks.”

  Since we both had to go in the same direction, we began to walk down the long winding gravel path that passed the camp store and ended at the barn.

  “I forgot to mention it to you last night, but I have a favor to ask,” Fitz said.

  “Sure, just as long as it doesn’t include winking at me in front of my mother.”

  I tossed him a sideways glance and he had the decency to look shamefaced.

  “Yeah, sorry about that. I didn’t think she’d notice, but the look she gave told me it was pretty obvious that she did.”

  “Well, I suppose she’d find out eventually,” I said, feeling an odd mix of trepidation and excitement. A part of me wanted to tell my mother about Fitz and me. I confided in her about most things, and I wanted to share my happiness. However, I worried that she’d frown upon me getting involved with someone at camp. “Anyway, what’s the favor?”

  “Is there a phone over at The Flourish?”

  “Of course. We might not have internet, but we aren’t that archaic. There are phones all over this place.”

  “Not in the barn.”

  “Except for there,” I laughed, still feeling guilty for making him sleep in the loft. If I had another option, I would have moved him and Devon. But the truth was, we really were completely booked this year.

  “After work I was going to pop into the store. I need to call home. There are a few things I need and want to see if I can get my dad’s housekeeper to ship them to me.”

  I quirked up an eyebrow with interest. Despite the many nights Fitz and I had spent together, never once had he mentioned having a housekeeper. For that matter, he barely ever spoke about his family either. I wondered why that was and, for the first time, I began to think about how vastly different our lives must be outside of Camp Riley.

  “What do you need?”

  “It’s a secret,” he said with a devilish grin.

  “If that’s how it’s going to be, then maybe I won’t let you use the phone.”

  He poked my ribs. It tickled, causing me to squeal and jerk away. Fitz laughed, a bellowing sound that came from deep within.

  “Seriously,” he said, adopting a more earnest tone. “I want it to be a surprise.”

  Curiosity got the best of me, so I agreed.

  “Alright, I’ll bite. But only because I like you,” I teased. “What time do you finish today?”

  “I’m hoping before five, assuming your dad doesn’t hand out any last-minute jobs for me and Devon.”

  “I’ll stick around the store until you get there. Are we meeting at the lake again tonight?”

  “Do you even need to ask?”

  I laughed. Our secret meetings at the lake had become part of my routine. Work, food, homework, and then sneaking off to meet Fitz. So far, this summer had been my favorite of all spent at Camp Riley. We were only one month in, but already I didn’t want it to end.

  “I’ll be there by eight,” I told him.

  We walked a little further, up over the hill, until the camp store came into view. I glanced around us to make sure nobody else was nearby. Seeing that we were alone, I turned to face Fitz. Raising up to my tiptoes, I pressed a quick kiss to his lips.

  “Somebody is going to see you do that one of these days,” he joked after I pulled away. His hand lingered on my arm, and his eyes were intense. I was now familiar with the heat that would creep into his gaze and knew he was fighting the urge to pull me into his arms for a much longer kiss. Instead, he said, “I’ll see you in a few hours.”

  As promised, Fitz came to the store at five to make his phone call. I let him have his privacy by straightening the shelves on the sales floor while he spoke on the phone in the stockroom. After he finished, he didn’t say anything, but simply flashed me a mischievous grin before slipping out the front door of the store.

  Joy watched the entire event with a suspicious look on her face. As soon as the door closed behind Fitz, she rounded on me.

  “What’s going on with you two?”

  I looked at her in feigned surprise.

  “Nothing,” I lied. She gave me a skeptical look.

  “Bullshit. That boy stops in here almost every day. Whenever he does, you get all flushed and start acting weird. Spill it.”

  I glanced around. Thankfully, Joy and I were the only ones in the store at that moment.

  “Okay, so maybe I’ve been meeting up with him sometimes after work.”

  “Maybe? Sometimes?”

  “Okay, so it’s been a lot of times. So what?”

  “Are you two like, going out or something?”

  “It’s not like that. We’re just friends,” I fibbed again, just hoping she wouldn’t see through the lie. Joy was my friend, but still. It wasn’t just that I didn’t want to start gossip mills among the staff. A part of me wanted to keep Fitz my little secret although I couldn’t explain why.

  “If you’re just friends, then he obviously wants more than that. I’ve seen the way he watches you. Honey, that boy wants you something fierce!” she exclaimed, clearly unconvinced.

  I just shrugged but didn’t say anything. Instead, I went into the stockroom to grab the keys for the camp store. Coming back out, I handed them to Joy.

  “It’s your turn to lock up tonight. I’m going to head over to Creator Hall, grab dinner, and then head home. I want to put a bigger dent in my course load tonight. I’m a little behind on assignments.”

  She eyed me suspiciously as she took the keys. When I turned to walk away, she grabbed my arm.

  “Cadence. Be careful.”

  She didn’t have to say what or who she was referring to with her warning. Nodding, I pulled my arm free of her grasp and walked out.

  Anxious to meet up with Fitz, I grabbed a sandwich of apple butter and ham for dinner and hurried home to work on my assignments. My parents weren’t there. More than likely, they were still over at the stage set working and wouldn’t be back for hours. For that, I was grateful. It meant I wouldn’t have to see my mother’s inquisitive gaze.

  After working on a sociology essay for more than an hour, I was satisfied with what I had accomplished. I glanced out the window. There was another breathtaking sunset tonight, and I was grateful to be able to catch
the end of it with Fitz. Still, Joy’s words had hung over me the entire time I was writing my paper.

  “Are you two like, going out or something?”

  I didn’t know the answer to that question and it bothered me.

  What was this thing between us?

  Shaking my head, I gathered the papers and textbooks that were spread out all over the kitchen table. I stuffed them into my backpack and brought it to my room. Dahlia, who was now familiar with my routine, stood waiting for me at the kitchen door. Grabbing her leash, the two of us set out to the lake. And to Fitz.

  11

  CADENCE

  I lay upon an oversized beach blanket next to Fitz. A half-eaten bag of Bugle’s was tossed haphazardly on the dock above our heads. Duran Duran’s Ordinary World flowed from the speakers of the Boombox, filling the silence of the warm night. Dahlia lay snoring softly at our feet while Fitz and I stared up at the kaleidoscope of colors sprawling across the evening sky.

  “You know, I’ve been thinking,” I announced.

  “Uh-oh. Don’t hurt yourself,” Fitz responded with a chuckle.

  I turned my head to look pointedly at him.

  “I’m serious.”

  “So am I,” he said with a wink. He rolled over onto his right side and lazily draped an arm across my stomach. I smiled at the way he did it, appreciating the level of comfort we’d established in just a short month. We’d become familiar like he was someone I’d known all my life. However, the truth was that I really didn’t know him that well at all.

  “I was thinking we’ve spent nearly every night of the last four weeks together, but I don’t know much about you. For example, what’s your favorite color?”

  “I’m not sure if my favorite color has anything to do with getting to know me. I don’t know your favorite color, and I’m okay with that.”

  “Well, I’m not,” I stated firmly, trying not to sound pouty. I turned on my side to face him and propped my head up with my elbow. “I want to know more about you. I think that’s only normal, especially since I don’t even know how to describe us. I mean, we haven’t told anyone about us. Once we do, what do we say? Are we, you know, together? Do we tell them that we’re boyfriend and girlfriend? If we are, how can I say that if I don’t even know your favorite color?”

  He pursed his lips and darted his eyes away from mine. I had a nagging suspicion that my questions were making him uncomfortable.

  Maybe he doesn’t want me to be his girlfriend.

  That thought made me nervous. I knew that I was four years younger than him. I worried that our age difference might bother him. I was sure that he was used to more sophisticated women, but I also knew that I didn’t want to be just a friend that he sometimes kissed. Well, maybe it was more than just sometimes. It had been almost every night, not that I was keeping track or anything.

  Either way, I knew that I really wanted to be Fitz’s girlfriend. It was crazy in a way. At the beginning of the summer, I told myself that I didn’t have time for boys. Yet here I was spending every available free minute with Fitz.

  “I think Devon has a suspicion. I haven’t confirmed it, but he’s not stupid,” Fitz pointed out.

  “Same here. I think Joy might know too. Still, Joy and Devon don’t count. They’re our best friends.”

  “To be fair, you’re the one who didn’t want to tell anyone about us. You wanted to keep the lake spot a secret, and you were worried about what the staff might think, remember?”

  “True,” I mused. I flipped back over onto my back and stared up at the sky. I still wasn’t sure what he thought about our relationship. He was avoiding my questions–again. That’s what happened whenever anything personal about him or the status of us was brought up.

  He sat up and reached down to take my chin between his thumb and forefinger.

  “Sweetheart, what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?”

  “It’s nothing,” I said with a small smile, refusing to be that clingy girl who put demands on their boyfriend–assuming that’s what he actually was.

  “I have an idea,” Fitz suddenly announced. His eyes smoldered when they looked down at me, the edges brimming with something brilliant and beautiful, yet held a hint of mischief. “How about I ask you ten questions tonight? You can ask me ten tomorrow night. Then we’ll switch off again the next night. Sort of like twenty questions, just more drawn out. This way, when we do tell people about us, all the basics should be covered.”

  “Hmmm…” was my initial response. I pondered his proposal for a few moments. While Fitz waited for my answer, he reached up and popped a Bugle into his mouth. Grabbing another, he brought one to my lips. After I chewed and swallowed, he fed me one more.

  “So, what’s it going to be?” he finally asked.

  “It’s a deal. But you don’t get to back out when it’s your turn. Promise?”

  “I promise.” He tossed me a lopsided grin that made my heart flutter just a little too fast.

  “Alright then. Ask away.”

  Fitz lay back down next to me and reached up to play with the ends of my hair.

  “Well, since favorite colors seem to be the thing to know, what’s yours?”

  “All of them,” I responded automatically.

  He laughed.

  “That’s not fair. All of them can’t be your favorite.”

  “Look at the sunset. I can’t possibly choose just one color! They’re all so beautiful.”

  Fitz looked out over the lake, taking in the vibrant pinks, purples, and oranges.

  “Okay. I’ll give you that. What about your favorite movie?”

  I pursed my lips and contemplated.

  “That’s a tough one. I’m a sucker for oldies, so I’m going to have to go with Roman Holiday.”

  “Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. Good choice,” he appreciated. I looked at him, surprised that he knew of the movie. While I answered his questions, perhaps I’d indirectly get a bit of insight into who he was as well. “Favorite food?”

  “Strawberries, especially with a dollop of whipped cream.”

  “Favorite time of the year?”

  I smiled.

  “It used to be Fall, but I’ve recently changed my mind. Now my favorite is summertime.”

  “Favorite sport?”

  “Hockey.”

  “Hockey? You’re killing me here,” he laughed again and shook his head. “Okay, next. U2 or Pearl Jam?”

  “That’s a wasted question. You already know that half of my mixed tapes are filled with U2 songs. What do you think?”

  “Is that a question? I thought I was the one who was supposed to be asking tonight,” he said with a wink. “We’re going to have to subtract that from your allotted ten tomorrow night.”

  I sat up straight and gave him an incredulous look.

  “Hey, now that’s not fair! You knew that the answer would be U2.”

  “You’re right. I did. I just wanted to see if I could trip you up,” he teased.

  I scowled but eventually laid back down into the crook of his arm.

  “Next question please,” I requested with a sigh.

  “Alright, since we’re on the topic of U2. What’s the best U2 song ever?”

  “One. Hands down.”

  “That’s a damn powerful tune. It’s one of my favorites too,” he confessed.

  “What’s not to like about it? There’s love, separation, and reunification. It’s complicated and painful but can mean so many things depending on the listener.”

  “Hmm. Interesting. I have a part B to that question then. What–”

  “Whoa, wait a minute. Part B? Is that even allowed?”

  “My game. My rules, sweetheart.”

  I raised my eyebrows.

  “If that’s how it’s going to be, I’ll be sure to remember that when it’s my turn.”

  “Alright, you win. No part B. So where were we then?” he asked and began ticking the questions off on his fingers. “Question numbe
r eight. You said that One can have different meanings. I’m curious. What does it mean to you?”

  I shrugged.

  “Honestly, I think it’s about the divisions in humanity, and about how we should remember that we’re really all the same despite our differences.”

  He eyed me curiously as if trying to pick apart my thoughts about the song.

  “I never thought of it that way. I just assumed it was about a bad breakup.” He paused and scratched his head. “You think deeper than most people, if you know what I mean.”

  “Um, I guess so. I’ve kind of always been that way–searching for the deeper meaning that is.”

  “I admire you for that. You seem to have everything all figured out. Which, I suppose, could bring me to my next question. Where do you see yourself in ten years?”

  I pursed my lips as I thought about his question.

  “I have an idea, but it depends on a lot of things,” I told him. “I never really thought about marriage or kids. I’d have my master’s degree of course. I haven’t decided if I want to go beyond grad school though. I’d definitely be working for a non-profit organization that helps those who are less fortunate. Families would be my preference. If I can make a positive change in someone’s life, even if it’s a small one, that change could have a rippling effect. That’s why I’m in such a hurry to graduate. I have this itch to get out there, you know?”

  He stared at me for a long while, his eyes searching my face, but I couldn’t read his thoughts. When he finally spoke, his words were low and throaty.

  “Every time I think I’ve got you pegged, you say something mind-blowing. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. You’re different from everyone else. I’ve never met anyone like you,” he admitted. “You’re smart. Beautiful. Driven, yet completely selfless.”

  His tone was reverent, and it was kind of embarrassing.

  “Oh, um…” I trailed off, not knowing what to say as heat flooded my cheeks. The way he was looking at me made me feel self-conscious, like he could see parts of my soul that I didn’t even know existed.