About Last Summer

by Patricia B Tighe

  But what if she does hate you? Shut up, Gabby. Just do it.

  I headed for the back door, my steps echoing like drums in the quiet house. Where was everyone? A distant banging sounded from the general direction of the garage. Oh, still working on the set for the play. I steeled myself for what was to come and opened the door.

  There, halfway across the lawn, Molly sat, hunched forward over something. I flexed my fingers as I crossed the deck, then strolled down the stairs and walked toward her. Why was I so nervous? Yeah, Molly seemed scary, but that was because she didn’t talk much. And when she did, it was often random or confrontational. I shook my head briefly. Remember your accent.

  I stopped beside Molly, who didn’t look up. Holding a pencil, her hand moved swiftly across a huge sketch pad, adding detail to a drawing of the pine trees at the edge of the lawn.

  I waited in silence. I didn’t know what else to do. Molly was probably one of those artists who refused to communicate if they were completely focused. I’d give it a little longer, and if nothing happened, I’d go ahead and say something.

  But the wait came to an end quickly.

  “Yeah?” Molly asked, continuing with her sketch. The setting sun lit up the purple streaks that ran through her short, brown hair, making it seem alive. She had on a long, full skirt with a blue floral pattern, yet she still managed to sit cross-legged.

  “Um, hello,” I said.

  Molly squinted up at me. “Hi.”

  Okay, this was it. “Do you mind if I speak with you for a moment?” Good, good, the accent was fine.

  “Sure.” She lifted a hand against the glare of the sun. “But could you sit down?”

  “Of course,” I said, arranging myself on the grass to one side of Molly so that neither of us would have the sun in our eyes.

  Molly went back to her sketching. All of a sudden, I didn’t know how to begin. So, um, yesterday when I was coming on to your boyfriend, I really wasn’t. Isn’t that hilarious? I took a couple more deep breaths and focused on the area around us. A light breeze slid across my skin, lifting my hair. We didn’t speak. The only sounds were the rustling of the wind through the trees, the singing of birds, and the scratchy slide of Molly’s pencil across the page. A sense of quiet settled deep inside me. And then it broke.

  “Is this about the flirting?” Molly asked, keeping her gaze on her work.

  Heat raced up my neck. “I am—this is difficult—you see, I meant it to be a funny thing to happen, and then—”

  “You can stop.”

  What was that supposed to mean? I had no idea what to say, so I kept quiet. Letting Molly lead the conversation seemed the best way to handle things. I could hope, anyway.

  Molly let out a noisy breath, set her sketch pad aside, and stared at me. “You’re not from Spain, are you?”

  Gabby

  I tensed, feeling like I was wobbling on a tightrope. Of all the things Molly could’ve said, that one wasn’t even in the running as far as I was concerned. But it should’ve been. Because hiding my identity was what this week had turned into—thank you, Kenz—and Molly figuring it out meant it was all over. It was only day three, and I’d already failed to make everybody believe the character I’d created.

  Molly’s bright green eyes stared into mine as though she knew every thought in my head. A sudden urge to roll over in the grass and throw a temper tantrum hit me, but—not a pretty picture. Instead, I settled on a grumpy-sounding, “Are you a wizard?”

  Laughter erupted from Molly, making her finally seem like any other teenage girl. I couldn’t help smiling as the laughter dwindled into a grin.

  “How’d you know?” I asked, dropping the accent.

  Molly fingered her purple industrial ear bar with its heartbeat wave. “I notice stuff. I always have.”

  It made sense. She was an artist after all. “What exactly did you notice?”

  “That first day after lunch. I saw you talking to Noah in the living room. It looked like you two knew each other. And I had no idea how you met, but chances were that it wasn’t in Spain.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  Molly stared at me blankly. “Why should I?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe because this person you just met was lying to everybody?”

  Molly laced her fingers together and stretched her arms forward. “You know, it’s probably weird, but I always assume people see the same things I do. I mean, intellectually I know they don’t, but I assume they do, and I figure I don’t need to point out the obvious.” She rubbed at the dark pencil lead staining her fingertips. “Besides, it’s not really my business.”

  “Huh. So you haven’t told anyone? Not even Geoff?”

  “Nope.”

  If Molly was the only other person who knew, well besides Kenzie and Noah, maybe I could continue being Gabriela. “And you’re not even curious about why?”

  “I didn’t say that.” Molly leaned a little closer. “So, why?”

  “It’s just a challenge Kenzie gave me. Supposed to help my acting skills for theater.”

  “Ah. So you go to school with her?”

  “Yeah.” The sun had dropped behind the trees and a zigzag pattern of shade covered the yard. Guess I’d better clear up the flirting thing before any more time passed. “So about yesterday …”

  “You were trying to make Noah jealous.” Molly gave me a hard look. “Weren’t you?”

  A nervous laugh squeaked out of me. “You are a wizard.”

  “Does that mean yes?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.” She grinned, but then the smile faded. “Be careful with Noah. He’s had a rough year.”

  Molly’s intense look was back. So Noah had had a rough year. Well, he wasn’t the only one. I mean, I knew I’d hurt him, and I probably should apologize, but it practically killed me when I dumped him. A ribbon of guilt threaded its way through my chest, and I slid my gaze from Molly. I needed to get away before she figured out my entire past. I rubbed my palms on my shorts. “I, uh—”

  “Molly!” Geoff’s voice rang out across the yard. “Almost time for dinner!”

  Thank goodness.

  With a swish of her flowery skirt, Molly jumped to her feet. “Be right there!”

  We started back toward the house, Geoff coming toward us.

  “What will you tell him?” I asked.

  “About what?” Molly asked.

  I wanted to laugh, but Geoff was getting closer. “Everything we just talked about.”

  “Oh. That you were just kidding around. And as for who you are,” she said, glancing at me, “I’ll leave that up to you. But if he ever asks me directly, I’ll tell him. I won’t lie.”

  “Thanks.” It would have to be okay. There wasn’t much else I could do about it, other than be really careful not to act too familiar with Noah. If Molly could figure it out, somebody else would eventually do the same.

  Geoff smiled as he got closer, but sent a wary look my way. “Everything okay?” he asked.

  “Yes,” Molly said, and then gave him a quick kiss. “Ready for food, though.”

  “Good,” he said. “I think we all are.”

  I smiled but said nothing. Just followed them back to the house. Accent, accent. I’d been doing so much talking in my normal voice, I needed to pay attention to what I was doing this evening.

  And at the same time, try to figure out how to apologize to Noah.

  Noah

  We were just finishing up dinner when Mr. Bryson raised his arms. “Okay, everyone. Since Kenzie tells me there hasn’t been much rehearsing, I’d like those of you in the play to come to the garage for a brief run-through on the set so I can see if anything needs to change.”

  “Thanks so much, dear Kenz,” Geoff said.

  She grinned in reply.

  I wiped my mouth with a napkin and handed my plate to Mrs. Bryson.

  “Are you ready for this, young man?” Gamma asked quietly.

  “Not hardly,” I
said, placing the napkin on the table.

  “You’ll do fine,” she said.

  I gave her a brief smile. “I hope so.”

  She patted my hand. “Just remember it’s supposed to be fun. So no matter how serious Kenzie and my grandson become, take it with a grain of salt.”

  “I will.” I stood and offered her a hand up, but she waved me on.

  “Go ahead. They’ll be waiting for you.”

  The others had already trailed after Mr. Bryson toward the garage, so I hurried after them. I hoped I could get through this next ordeal without losing my dinner. I hadn’t been able to eat much with Gabby sitting in the middle of the table on the other side. Why did it have to be so freaking hard just to look at her? Why couldn’t I just think of her as an old friend? Someone I used to hang out with, but time and other things had pulled us apart?

  I could try. If I could just avoid that dark place inside that kept pulling on me, trying to draw me back down into the pit. It had taken a long time to get out, and I was afraid this need to hurt Gabby would send me careening into its depths. So I had a choice—pretend she didn’t mean anything to me and get through the week or give in to the anger and maybe fall into the pit again. Neither option made me want to dance around the room.

  The group gathered around Mr. Bryson in the garage. The fluorescent light over the shop table lit up the set with a harsh glare. “For the beginning, we need Beauty, Beast, and Grandma to take their positions,” he said.

  Crap. I had been basically hiding behind Geoff as we waited. Then, suddenly I was out in the open. Amanda shifted toward me. I bit back a sigh. Maybe when she started school in the fall, she’d find someone new to crush on.

  “This is so stupid,” she whispered. “I wish my dad wasn’t like this.”

  Her father was placing Kenzie and Geoff beside a rocking chair and end table on the set. Molly had been busy. There was a window painted on the wall that looked out onto a forest and lines that made the room look three dimensional. “You and Geoff are lucky to have parents who like to do stuff with you,” I said. “Mine are busy all the time.”

  She wrinkled up her face. “I think I’d rather have yours.”

  About five steps away, Gabby stood next to Molly, chatting quietly. That was weird. When had they gotten so friendly? Molly said something that made Gabby laugh and look over her shoulder at me. What the hell? Were they laughing at me? A burning sensation started up in my throat. Either the sweet and sour pork was giving me indigestion or the anger was bubbling back up.

  And just like that, I wanted to let it loose. I wanted to go all Incredible Hulk on the set we’d spent the entire afternoon building. A tremor shook my hands, so I shoved them in my pockets.

  “All right,” Mr. Bryson said. “Now we need the maid and the butler.”

  “That’s us,” Amanda said, heading forward.

  I strolled toward Gabby. I had one shot at this. I’d better make sure she could hear me. When I reached her, I paused and leaned close to her ear. Who the hell cared if everyone saw and wondered?

  “Your assignment,” I whispered against her hair. “Micro-manage this whole thing.”

  She gave me a startled look, and then glanced at Mr. Bryson. “I can’t,” she whispered.

  “Then everyone will know,” I whispered back.

  “Noah?” Mr. Bryson called out.

  “Oh, sorry,” I said as if I just realized I was supposed to be up there. I stepped onto the platform and went to stand beside Amanda. “Here?”

  Mr. Bryson twisted his mouth as though he were considering it. “No, a little farther apart.” He guided Amanda two steps away. “Yes, just like that. Now, Amanda, remember to hold yourself stiff and upright. You’re the butler.”

  Amanda made some weird grunting noise in her throat.

  “And, Noah, you can look a little more relaxed. Will you have a feather duster or something like that with your costume?”

  “Um, sure,” I said.

  “Pardon me,” Gabby said.

  Mr. Bryson looked over his shoulder. “Yes?”

  “Would it not be more appropriate for the maid to also stand stiffly? If the maid is under the authority of the butler … she, uh, he might be too worried to relax.” She looked a little perplexed.

  Mr. Bryson nodded. “A good thought. Thank you, Gabriela.”

  Once again, Gabby was obeying me. I should’ve felt happy. But I didn’t. Part of me wished she’d just tell me to shove it so I could out her. We could be through with all the pretending.

  “All right, Noah,” Mr. Bryson said. “Stand more stiffly. Okay, good. Now, let’s see.” He walked over to Haley, who waited beside Kenzie. “Sorry, dear, I forgot. You were thrown out of the house before Beauty comes to the door. So you can leave the set.”

  “Okay,” Haley said and hopped down.

  “Now, remember,” Mr. Bryson said. “Don’t keep your back to the audience. Especially if you have lines.”

  “But my back is my best feature,” Geoff said and then frowned. “Wait.”

  I laughed but cut it off when Mr. Bryson looked at me. “Sorry.”

  The man shook his head like he was thinking about something else.

  “Come on, Dad,” Amanda said. “We haven’t even had dessert.”

  He lifted a hand in apology. “Right, right. So, Kenzie, as the Beast you’ll be pacing like you’re angry when you’re talking to Beauty, so we probably need to get rid of this table.”

  “Will I?” Kenzie asked, her lips curving into a small smile.

  Mr. Bryson picked up a wooden end table that came from somewhere in the house and placed it by his work counter.

  “Pardon,” Gabby said, accenting the second syllable of the word.

  I snapped to attention.

  Mr. Bryson faced her, his brows raised. “Yes?”

  “As the beast is, um … pacing, perhaps the butler is afraid of the mess she will … create. So the butler send … sends the maid to clean behind the beast. At the same time.”

  Geoff grinned. “I don’t know what you just said, but I like it.”

  Mr. Bryson frowned. “I don’t quite follow.”

  Gabby gave him a polite smile. “May I show?”

  “Of course,” he said, gesturing toward the stage.

  Gabby sprang up onto the set, a light pink color filling her cheeks. I swallowed. I was the maid. She was getting me involved in her micro-managing, which was my own damn fault. I wanted to shake my head at her, but stood absolutely still. I needed to not react.

  She walked first to Kenzie. “How will you be pacing?”

  Kenzie strode back and forth along a short area of about five feet.

  “Then the maid.” Gabby motioned for me to come.

  Yes, oh queen. No matter what I do, you’re always in control, aren’t you? I walked over to Kenzie.

  “Now,” Gabby said. “You follow behind with your … ah, cleaning tool—”

  Geoff snorted.

  “The feather duster,” Kenzie said.

  “Or a broom tool,” Geoff said. “Or maybe even just a regular tool.”

  “Geoff,” his father warned.

  I gave Gabby a fake smile and then turned to Kenzie. “After you.”

  Kenzie’s lips pressed together like she was trying not to laugh. “Okay.”

  She started pacing, and I fell into step behind, pretending to dust off her back, then down by her feet, then back up again.

  Geoff started laughing.

  “Perhaps you are able to go faster or slower,” Gabby said.

  Kenzie paused. “Right.”

  She sped up, and I had to practically leap forward to keep up. Right as she turned the other direction, she slowed abruptly, and, of course, I ran right into her. Laughter rang out across the room.

  “Back off, Maid,” Kenzie said through a growl, then kept pacing.

  “This is the best thing ever,” Geoff said.

  Gabby made some motion—I couldn’t tell what since I was still
following Kenzie—and suddenly Amanda was there, pulling me away from Kenzie.

  “You scold him,” Gabby said.

  I let Amanda drag me by the arm all the way back to where we were before. “This is crazy,” she said in a low voice.

  “I agree,” I said.

  She grinned at me, her whole face lighting up.

  Dammit. I didn’t mean to make her think we were bonding over this.

  Mr. Bryson clapped twice, and everyone turned to him. “All right,” he said smiling. “I think we’re finished for now.”

  “Thank goodness,” Amanda said.

  People moved toward the door. Geoff had his hands on Molly’s shoulders as he walked behind her, talking about something. But I wasn’t listening. I hung back a little, waiting to see if Gabby would try to talk to me. Why, I couldn’t say. I just had this feeling.

  The group fell into single file with Gabby at the end of the line. She turned around, lifted her arms out to the side, and curtsied. Then she twisted back so fast it was almost like it had never happened. I ground my teeth together. Why couldn’t I ever get the best of her?

  Gabby

  I followed Kenzie into the living room. The others still stood around in the kitchen fixing bowls of ice cream. I didn’t want any. My stomach hadn’t gone back to its normal spot yet. It was still floating somewhere around my chest. I plopped down on the loveseat beside Kenzie.

  “That was an amazing acting job back there,” Kenzie said in a low voice.

  “You think?” I hated that my voice sounded so shaky. “I thought for sure I was gonna make your uncle mad.”

  Kenzie spoke through the ice cream in her mouth. “Not a chance,” she said, which came out sounding like, “Navah shanz.” She swallowed. “He’s too relaxed for that.”

  I let out a huge exhale. “Let’s hope I don’t have to do it again. There’s such a thing as a little goes a long way.”