The Missing Piece

by Jessica Baxter

  Ian ducks his head. “I’ll be there. I just need to run back to the dorms and change.”

  “Don’t bother. They've already started judging and my dish is next. You’d never make it in time.”

  “I’m sorry, Sarah.” He clears his throat. “Calliope, Danielle, and Liam are dying to see you. Maybe we could all do something this—”

  “Stop it, just stop. Do you really think I want to drive two hours to hang out with a bunch of high-schoolers?”

  “Can’t you come down just this once?” Ian asks, looking at the ground.

  Sarah lets out an exasperated sigh. “No, we already agreed that you would come here on weekends.”

  Ian’s cheeks turn red. “Sarah please . . .”

  “Don’t you realize how lucky you are that I’m your girlfriend? I could date any guy I want, but you, well we can’t say that about you. Can we?”

  My face scrunches.

  What is she talking about?

  Ian is gorgeous and even if he weren’t, I bet half the girls at Baldwin Hill would still be flocking after him because he’s the type of guy you just want to be with. He’s caring and thoughtful and sweet.

  She laughs darkly. “If I don’t love you, who will?”

  Chapter Eight

  When we get back to my dorm there’s a note on my door. It’s from the resident assistant of the junior and senior dorms, Matthew, saying there’s a package for me in the office. Ian looks at me and asks, “Anything exciting?”

  “Oh, it’s probably just a package from home.”

  I’m praying and hoping it’s a package from Mason and not a lame pair of socks from my grandpa. I need it to be a package from Mason because that will mean everything is going to be alright. That Mason still loves me, and that, well these feelings for Wonder Boy mean absolutely nothing.

  My heart flutters and a smile spreads across my lips as the memory of the first time I went snowboarding with Mason stirs in my mind.

  The ride to the top of the mountain is breathtaking. Everything is covered in white like a soft linen blanket. Mason scoots closer to me and the seat swings angrily back and forth. My teeth clench and I grasp the pole.

  “You said you wouldn’t shake it.”

  “Whatever.” Mason crosses his arms and then slides to the other end of the bench. “If I knew you were going to act like this I wouldn't have asked you to come.”

  I sigh.

  “I’m sorry. Will you come back over here?”

  “It’s okay,” Mason mumbles, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “Look,” he says.

  The sun is shining brightly over the mountain. The sky is a golden yellow with little puffy clouds outlined in pink; it looks perfect.

  Mason glances at me. “If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go and why?”

  “That’s easy. I’d go to Ireland.”

  “Really? Why so far away?”

  “Well . . . I have two reasons, but you have to promise not to laugh.”

  “Pinky promise.” Mason grabs my hand and squeezes. He doesn’t let go and little sparks shoot through my body. Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, I start chanting Disney princesses trying to get a grip and calm down.

  “Well, I am sort of Irish.” I pick up a strand of my red hair as if that is all the evidence I need to prove my heritage. “I really want to backpack through Ireland. I've heard it's stunning and that castles are scattered everywhere and the fields seem to go on forever.”

  Mason brushes his hair out of his face. “That’s only one reason.”

  I bit my bottom lip. “You’ll laugh.”

  “I won’t laugh.” He squeezes my hand again. “Please tell me.”

  I don’t say anything. I’m not sure if I believe him.

  He nudges me and gives me a breathtaking smile that makes my insides melt, and my heart softens. I take a deep breath, exhale and look at the skiers and snowboarders making their way down the mountain.

  “Okay. Second because rumor has it if you kiss the Blarney Stone you’ll have a good love life.” I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. “I know it sounds silly, but I want to find a love that lasts . . . something like Aladdin and Jasmine.”

  “Are you serious?” He roars, his body shaking with laughter. “That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard.”

  The wind stings my eyes and I look away. “You said you wouldn’t laugh.”

  “Sorry,” Mason says as he wipes under his eyes. “I just thought you’d want something a bit more realistic.”

  “What isn’t realistic about their relationship?”

  “Come on, Em,” Mason says, rolling his eyes. “He was a street rat and she was royalty. He’d never have a shot with her in real life.”

  I cross my arms. “You don't know that. It might not happen all the time, but true love and fairy-tale endings do exist.”

  He shakes his head. “You can be so naive sometimes.”

  I glare at him.

  This is turning out to be a wretched first date. The Mason sitting next to me on the ski lift is completely different from the Mason I met a week ago in the hospital cafeteria; then he was caring and sweet as I told him about my fears for my mom. Now he’s making fun of me as I share my dreams with him.

  I squeeze my eyes shut and ignore him for the rest of the ride. When the ski lift jerks to a stop I push myself off the lift and heads towards the bunny slope.

  Mason calls after me.“Emily, where are you going?“

  I shake my head, ignoring him. Mason bellows after me, “I’m leaving in an hour, be back at the car or I’m leaving you behind.”

  An hour later, I walk towards Mason’s pickup truck. The sun is falling behind the trees as we take off our gear and load it into the truck bed in silence. I climb into the truck as Mason returns our skis at the rental cabin. I stare out the window until I hear the door click open, and then I glance at Mason hesitantly.

  He’s staring at me, apologetically. In his hands, he’s holding a smooth black stone. “Emily, I’m sorry about earlier. I was an ass. Please forgive me?”

  I nod.

  “This is your Blarney Stone. Kiss it and you’ll have good luck.”

  Heat rises to my cheeks and I feel ridiculously happy. It touches me that he went out of his way to find a stone, instead of just giving me a lame half-assed apology.

  “Do you really think that will work?”

  “Pinky Promise.”

  He holds the stone out for me to kiss. I close my eyes, pucker my lips, and lean in to kiss my Blarney Stone. As I do Mason tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear, moves the stone and kisses my lips.

  “Please let me be your Blarney Stone. I’m always going to be here for you. Always.” He whispers in my ear and then kisses me again.

  I scrunch my face, running over my first date with Mason one more time. Is that really the way things happened?

  “What is it?” Ian asks pulling me from my thoughts.

  “I don’t know.”

  We reach the office and I knock. A very groggy Matthew opens the door. “Hello?”

  He squints as he glances out at us, his eyes adjusting to the light. Matthew is in his twenties, short and has a giant Afro. He keeps to himself and is laid back, but has a strict don’t-screw-me-over attitude. He is wearing plaid pajama bottoms and a faded Simpsons t-shirt. “Oh. Hey Emily. Ian. What’s up?”

  “Uh.” I pinch my hoodie sleeve. “I had a note on my door saying I have a package.”

  Matthew’s mouth forms an ‘O’ and he holds up his finger. He starts shuffling through the mail on his wooden desk until he finds a small rectangular package. He turns around and hands it to me. “Here you go.”

  I wait until I’m back in my room to see who it’s from. It has a weird green international stamp in the top right corner and a customs form on the back. A smile spreads across my face, so it is from Mason. I want to open it right now, but Ian is lying on my bed tossing his rugby ball up in the air. “So?” He asks.

&n
bsp; “Oh. It’s just a package from Mason,” I say lightly, pretending I hardly even notice.

  Ian flinches at the mention of Mason’s name. He sits up, puts the rugby ball back in his bag, and then stands. “Crap. I just remembered I forgot to get Sarah an anniversary gift.”

  “Ian, wait.” I reach for his arm. “Is everything alright?”

  “Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?”

  I open my mouth to offer him company, but he’s already out the door.

  Chapter Nine

  Mason's name flashes across the screen of my phone just as I’m reaching the courtyard. My fingers slide across the smooth surface of the Blarney stone necklace Mason sent me. It’s been one week since I received his package and I can’t stop analyzing our first date. Mason is going to be furious, but I press the volume button on the side of my iPhone, silencing the call anyway. It’s not like he was jumping up and down to talk to me this past week when I called.

  Today is the first Tuesday in September and our first mandatory field trip for geology. This trip counts for ⅓ of our grade. I scan the crowd, looking for a familiar face and my eyes rest on Ian. He lifts his hand up and offers a shy wave.

  Little tingles dance across my back as I reach him. This reaction should make me feel ashamed, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to spending the day outside of school with Ian.

  And, I’m not a big fan of lying.

  My phone rings again.

  Ian glances at me. "Do you need to answer that?"

  My smile falters as I imagine the accusations Mason will throw at me like darts. Guilt and shame course through my body, trying to coerce me into answering the phone call. My teeth grind together, painfully, my mom’s words at the airport echoing loudly in my head.

  Emily, it’s okay if things don’t work out with Mason. Sometimes distance lets you see things the way they really are. Don’t miss out on trying something new because Mason is holding you back.

  I sigh.

  Do I even want things to work out with Mason?

  Part of me is ready to completely write Mason off, but there’s that small sliver that reminds me how kind and thoughtful he can be . . . when he wants too. Mason may lose his temper and fly off the handle at times, but those rare moments of sweetness like him making the Blarney stone into a necklace and sending it to me, make me fall for him all over again.

  Isn’t that worth fighting for?

  I glance at the screen of my phone, doubt almost consuming me, but I shake it off. Today is supposed to be a fun day and I’m not going to let one of Mason’s sour moods ruin that.

  I turn to Ian, pressing my finger to the side of my phone again. "It can wait."

  Mr. Miller clears his throat to get everyone’s attention. He glances at his clipboard and starts calling the roll. “Elizabeth Adkins, Nate Blair, Suzette Ellis . . .”

  Each student mumbles a sleepy ‘here’ as his or her name is called. Eventually, Mr. Miller calls my name finishing up the roll. We board the bus. I take a seat by the window. As I’m opening Who was Walt Disney? Ian collapses next to me.

  Mr. Miller stands at the front of the bus, as the driver takes off, holding a microphone. He raises his voice, “Alright, alright. Quiet down.”

  The bus falls silent and Mr. Miller starts handing out itineraries. “Today we’ll be visiting two of Los Angeles’ landmarks: Bronson Caves and Runyon Canyon. I won’t be able to keep an eye on each of you during this trip so you will need to find a safety buddy.”

  Ian pokes me in the ribs. “Looks like I’ve found mine.”

  Bronson Cave is located inside Griffith Park. The bus driver parks the bus next to a huge rock, with a man-made tunnel carved right in the center. A few small trees and bushes surround Bronson Cave.

  “Okay,” Mr. Miller says. “We’ll spend approximately two hours at Bronson Cave. The hike through the cave will only take about 10 minutes, and then we’ll meet up on the other side. After we finish exploring the cave we’ll meet back at the bus and drive to Runyon Canyon for lunch before exploring the canyon. Do not attempt the hike up to the Hollywood sign. If you do this will result in an automatic failure of the class. Any questions?”

  When no one raises their hands, Mr. Miller tells us to find our safety buddy and then begins to lead us through the cave. The cave isn’t long; as soon as we step into the entrance I can see three exits on the other side. The cave smells damp and earthy, the way it smells right after a good thunderstorm.

  Mr. Miller starts droning on about the history of Bronson Cave, something about the Union Rock Company and how the cave was constructed during the first quarter of the twenty-first century.

  Ian leans towards me and whispers in my ear. “Didn’t you say Sammy is kind of obsessed with Batman?”

  His breath is warm against my cheek. My face feels hot and I’m certain I’m blushing.

  “That’s an understatement.”

  He laughs.

  “Well, how would he feel if he knew his sister is currently walking through the Batcave?”

  “What? You mean to tell me that this,” I say, stretching my arms out the way my mom used to when she would say I love you this much. “Is the Batcave?”

  “Yeah. It was introduced in the 1960’s Batman TV series, starring Adam West, as the entrance to the Batcave. That’s actually one of the reasons the Union Rock Company carved the cave. They wanted to make a cave big enough for the Batmobile to drive through.”

  “Sammy will freak out when I tell him.”

  The sun is blinding as we exit the cave. Even though the cave wasn’t that dark, it still takes a few seconds for my eyes to adjust. On the right side of the cave, there is a black and gold placard with a Bat Symbol. Under the symbol, it reads ‘Home of the Batcave,’ in big, comic book letters.

  We gather around Mr. Miller and wait for the rest of our classmates to join us. I pull my camera out of my backpack, take a few pictures of the scenery and then turn to Ian. “How did you know that about the Batcave and Adam West?”

  He glances down at his shoes, then looks back at me. His cheeks are flushed. “Well, like your man Sammy, I’m a little obsessed with the Bats myself.”

  “Really?”

  “I know. I’m a dork.”

  I shake my head and before I can stop myself the words tumble out of my mouth. “No, it’s cute.”

  Ian gives me a sloppy, one-sided grin. “Yeah?”

  My palms feel sweaty, so I rub my hands over my shirt. Then I do the one thing I promised I’d never do outside of my house. Curse Sammy and his insisting we role-play each Batman fight scene. I ball my hand into a fist and slowly pretend to jab Ian in the cheek with a left hook punch. “KAPOW!”

  Ian’s smile broadens as he pretends to sucker punch me in the gut. “BOFF!”

  I swing my left leg in front of me towards his legs and pretend I’m going to kick his legs out from under him. I doubt I really could if I tried. “BAM!”

  Ian sneaks behind me, dodging my next punch. He pins my arms to my side and lifts me off the ground as if I weigh no more than 10 pounds, not 120. His cheek brushes against mine, his breath hot on my neck.

  “I win.”

  Ian won’t stop looking at me as we make our way back to the bus. Each time I glance at him he has the same dopey grin, plastered to his face. His sudden happiness wears me down like a penny stuck at the bottom of a wishing well. As I climb onto the bus I realize I’m only slightly mortified that I just flirted with him. He sits down next to me. His leg rests against mine, burning a hole through my jeans.

  I can’t look at him.

  Instead, I stare out the window as we drive back down the Canyon. All last week Ian’s mood was somber and indifferent, especially whenever Sarah’s name was mentioned, now he can’t stop grinning. I haven’t admitted to Ian that I overheard the way Sarah belittled him on the phone. And, although I’m getting along with my new group of friends great, I’ve only known them for three weeks. Is it really my place to question his r
elationship with Sarah? Am I even qualified to question his relationship?

  It’s not like Mason and I are a match made in heaven.

  I slouch in my chair. Maybe I should try talking to Calliope or Danielle. They’re friends with Sarah too, so maybe they’ll know if something is wrong.

  The bus jerks to a stop at the base of Runyon Canyon and we all pile out with our brown-paper bag lunches. After we finish eating the Subway sandwiches, chips and bottled water the school provided, we gather around Mr. Miller.

  Runyon Canyon is East of the Santa Monica Mountains. It’s made up of different trails that seem to wind up forever. The canyon is engulfed by all kinds of wildlife, flowers, trees, and bushes. Leafy green plants scatter the walkways with bright Red Maids and Bush Sunflowers poking through here and there.

  Mr. Miller calls out to the class. “There are three different trails you can choose to hike depending on the effort you want to put in. Find your partner from Bronson Cave, pick a trail and keep an eye out for signs of erosion and past landslides. We’ll meet back here at 7 P.M.”

  My phone buzzes again in my pocket. I pull it out and Mason’s image fills the screen. A knot twists in the pit of my stomach.

  Mason is my boyfriend and he deserves my full attention. I should be better.

  Instead of silencing his call and ignoring it completely, I send him a message saying I’m at a school function, but will call him as soon as I get home. Almost instantly, I see the three little dots at the bottom of my screen indicating he’s typing a reply. I bit my lip and wait for his response, but the dots disappear and I know he’s not going to say anything.

  I slide my phone back into my pocket. Ian is busy talking to a group of students. Before he can make his way to me, I walk over to Mr. Miller.

  “Is there any way I could switch partners?” I ask.

  Today has been the most fun-filled day I’ve had in a while, but should I really be enjoying Ian’s company so much? I glance at Ian, he meets my gaze and waves. Ashamed of hurting his feelings, I quickly look away.