by Holly Hood
Maven looked away. She was beginning to wish she stayed back home with their Grandfather watching the pets and taking it easy as he put it. Anything would be better than staring at her ex-boyfriend with his trampy girlfriend.
At one time she did have strong feelings for Jake. Well not anymore, now she thought they were just stupid feelings. She learned quickly that boys had a way of breaking your heart. And soon she was refusing to believe that love existed. To her love was cruel.
Jake touched Tatiana’s cheek with his fingertips as they waited for their yogurt. She giggled a little too overdramatic for Maven’s taste. She wondered what he saw in her as they flirted openly. What made him choose to forgo their relationship for the likes of Tatiana? How was she any better than her? She almost wanted to ask him.
“Here you go.” The guy behind the counter said, he stuck his hand through the window offering Maven her yogurt. But she was too busy watching Jake and Tatiana fondle each other in public, trying to figure out why.
“Maven heads up,” Maggie said elbowing her sister.
But Maven was too besieged with all the pda going on to know what was happening. She grabbed for the yogurt totally missing. She gasped; losing her footing, the last face she saw was the brown eyed boys as she plummeted to the concrete. She swatted her brother away as he tried to help her up, her pride refusing to allow anyone to lend a hand, her hand shot above her head and blindly located the counter, she gave the counter a tug breaking the latch and falling back down on the ground in horror. She dusted her knees and tried one more time at standing, silently begging herself to hold it together and take the orange yogurt so she could sit down.
Jake and Tatiana laughed behind her enjoying her ham-fisted behavior.
“Thanks.” She gave him a smile, taking the cone and hurrying to the picnic tables, he watched with a small nearly nonexistent grin on his face feeling horrible about what just happened, but he thought she was doing a fairly remarkable job at hiding her humiliation.
Maggie and Nick took the picnic table closest to the yogurt hut. Maven sat down beside Nick, her taste for orange yogurt nonexistent at this point.
“Who's the guy in the hut?” Maggie asked no one in particular. This brought Maven’s attention back to the window. She took a long look at the guy with brown hair and equally brown eyes to match. He offered her a sympathetic smile.
“No clue. Never seen him before,” she offered. And she hadn’t.
Nick shrugged. “Me either. Maybe it’s just a summer job for the guy. They have to have someone run the yogurt hut.”
Maggie licked her fingers free of yogurt. “Sandra’s parents own the place. They make their kids run it. That girl is Sandra’s older sister.”
Nick smirked. He had been eyeing her since they got there. “Do you know her name?”
Maggie groaned. “Gross. I’m not doing your dirty work, creeper.”
Jake plopped down across from them at the picnic table. Tatiana sat on top of the table, her back facing Maven. From Maven’s position she could see the slutty tramp stamp on her bronze skin.
“So how’s it going guys?” Jake asked, taking a bite of his vanilla yogurt, his eyes darting between the three of them.
Nick shifted in his seat. “It was going great until you showed up.”
Maggie smirked.
Jake made a sad face. “So hostile.”
Nick stiffened. “Why don’t you just get lost? Nobody wants you here. This place is big enough for you to steer clear of my sister.”
Maven got up from the picnic table. “That’s fine he can stay. I’m leaving.”
She tossed her yogurt in the trash on the way to back of the yogurt hut. Finally out of view she pressed herself against the cool concrete. She wondered if it ever got easier. Or if Jake would forever want to make her life miserable.
“Don’t cry,” she said aloud. But it wasn’t enough to stop the tears from escaping. She quickly wiped at them, but it didn’t matter she was in a full on cry fest.
The back door of the yogurt hut opened. The brown eyed guy came out. He tossed empty yogurt tubs into the trash cans at the side of the building, wiping his hands on the front of his black apron, looking Maven over. She was crying.
He debated on ignoring what he just witnessed. It wasn’t his place to ask a girl hiding beside the trash cans of the yogurt hut why she was crying. But he did it anyways. “Are you okay?”
Maven’s head shot up, she was shocked to be caught in yet another embarrassing position. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
He nodded, waiting for her to look him in on the eye so he could be certain. But when she didn’t this made him feel worse not better about leaving her there alone, he nervously bit at his lip, trying to come up with something to say to her. “Rough day?”
Maven finally looked at him, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “Unfortunately.”
“Does it have to do with that guy with the wallet chain over there?” He grinned, trying to inject a little humor into such a sad moment.
Maven didn’t grin, but she nodded.
“I think your boyfriend scared him away.” He nodded, taking hold of the handle.
Maven shook her head. “No. That’s my brother. And the girl, that’s my sister.”
He noted this. “So does that mean Mr. Wallet chain is your old boyfriend?”
Maven nodded, afraid to admit it. She didn’t want anyone to judge her based off Jake’s bad attitude that exuded from him nowadays.
What ails you?
Maven sat on the porch of her parent’s summer home. She had a horrible dream the night before. One where she was completely and totally helpless, her parents stood by laughing with the crowd of family and friends, all laughing as Jake made out with Tatiana for the world to see. Everyone pointing fingers at her, taunting her, but she couldn’t run. It was as if her feet were cemented in place and she was being forced to watch the one guy she ever had real feelings for cram his tongue down someone else’s throat—it was torture.
She rocked a little faster on the old rocking chair she was sitting in. The arms of the willow trees melodiously fluttering as if they too were trying to get away from something just like her. Maven wrestled her hair behind her ear ignoring the more than light breeze. She chewed on her bottom lip, staring straight ahead lost in the dark unbearable dream. How could Jake do what he did to her?
Some would call it betrayal.
Just then a newspaper dropped at her feet echoing against the wooden porch. She came back to life. Bending forward and picking up the paper. She rested it in her lap.
“Have a good day.” The brown-eyed boy said—the same one from the yogurt hut. She felt a bit embarrassed seeing him again after nearly breaking her neck—and to make matters worse crying about her ex boyfriend behind the yogurt hut.
“You too,” She called out, watching him hitch the newspaper sack up on his shoulder and head to the next house. He looked back shooting her a smile.
She stood, all the shame melting away unexpectedly. “You’re the boy from the yogurt hut.”
He shook his head, recovering another paper from his sack. His dark eyes were dazzling when he smiled. “You’re the girl I found behind the yogurt hut.” He left out the part about her crying.
Maven’s cheeks flushed. But she didn’t bother denying it. He looked nice enough not to make her feel even worse. And judging from the way his mouth curled into a crooked grin she knew he meant no harm.
“I’m Maven.” She told him, coming all the way down the extensive staircase. Now they were eye level. She nervously looked at the lush grass beneath her feet. Now that she was only feet away from him she was tenser than she expected.
He tucked the newspaper under his arm, coming toward her. “I’m Henri.” He offered his hand. This caught her off guard, it wasn’t the old days, it had been a long time since she saw a boy with manners.
“Nice to meet you, Henri.” Maven smiled. “How many jobs do you have?”
Henri
dropped his head to one side, a big smile pinned to his face. This only made her smile even bigger at his sheepish ways. “Just a couple, anything to keep me busy.”
She could only wish she was as smart as Henri. Instead she spent her afternoon sitting on the porch reliving her nightmares.
“There not really jobs. I just help out when I can.” He tugged the hat down he was wearing. His eyes looking troubled all of a sudden. “I got to go. Nice meeting you, Maven.”
And with a quick wave he started across the lawn to the neighbor’s house. She watched him toss the paper on the porch, wondering who Henri was exactly. She had never seen him before.
Henri worked quickly. Putting his mind back into the zone and away from the blonde haired blue-eyed girl that always seemed sad, he had enough sad for the both of him. He knew deep down she was a happy person. But something was bothering her. And even he could see it was sucking the life out of her.
“Probably the boyfriend,” He muttered to himself. Just then his phone chirped. The song free bird sailing through the air, he listened for a moment before answering.
“I swear I am on my way.” He smirked, staring up at the old house in front of him, running a hand down the back of his neck. “Yes, I know it’s important.” He rolled his eyes, ending the call, even when he was being scolded like a child he still held the same unchanged smirk.
Henri was nineteen. And he couldn’t remember the last time he enjoyed anything. He never would admit that though. That’s the way he liked to keep it.
He pulled into the old doctor’s office on the outskirts of Portwood. A small place. The staff including one local doctor that was older than dirt, and the usual summer staff, various doctors who lended a hand while on their vacation. Dr. Moore wasn’t in the best health so it was always much needed.
Henri killed the engine of his beat-up pickup. He let out a long sigh, staring at the old sign on the side of the office. His fingers twitching—nerves. He hated going, usually found something to make him miss his appointments altogether. Unless his aunt had anything to do with it, then he had no other choice but to go.
And there she was. Aunt Janet. She jogged to his truck, holding her hair in place against the wind. “Henri. Out of this car now, you’re almost late.” She wrapped on the window.
Henri kissed her cheek and slammed his door shut. “Nice scrubs.”
She ignored his compliment, looking him over with deep concern. “They have a new doctor in today. She wanted to go over your charts.”
Henri ran a hand along his face. “Great. More people to tell me the same thing.”
His aunt opened the door for him, acting as if he was even incapable of doing that for himself. “Where were you this morning? Uncle Ray made French toast.”
Henri allowed her to open the next door. “I paid John five dollars to let me deliver the newspapers.” He smiled at her shocked sigh.
“Sign in I have to get back to my sandwich before my break is over.” She kissed his cheek, giving his arm an extra squeeze before she took off.
Henri did as she asked. He gave each of the old men waiting their turn to be seen a smile, snagged a magazine and took a seat nearest the door.
The first old man in the cotton shorts and blue polo let out a dry cough. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and looked Henri over. “Nice day.”
Henri looked up from his magazine. “Yeah. Love the sun.” He dropped his gaze.
The old man cleared his throat again. “I see you in here damn near every week.”
He nodded. It had been awhile since he had to explain. Silently he counted to ten. Hoping this would be enough to end the conversation.
“Henri Levitt,” The nurse said from the doorway. She smiled sweetly at the sight of Henri. And Henri silently thanked her for getting him out of an uncomfortable situation.
“How you feeling, Henri?”
“Great.”
She smiled again. It seemed anymore that’s all anyone did when they were around him. He missed the days he pissed people off and they let him have it. Because anymore there was nothing he could do to evoke any emotion in anyone. They all were walking zombies.
“There is a new doctor today. I’m sure your aunt told you this already. Dr. Wilder.”
Henri nodded, and took his place on the scale. He closed his eyes, concentrating on the rattling. When it ended he listened to the familiar scratching of her pen.
“You gained five pounds. What’s your secret?” She pushed the marker back to the beginning.
“My aunt and uncle’s cooking.” Down the hall they went. Room four. She let him in first. He took a seat on the crinkly paper.
“Anything new to report?” she asked, strapping the blood pressure cuff to his arm.
“Nope. Feel fine.” He stared past her auburn hair to the tacky wallpaper at the top of the ceiling.
“The doctor will be with you shortly, Henri.” She closed the door ever so gently, leaving him to a welcomed silence, the only sound coming from the black wall clock.
There were two shorts knocks before Vanessa Wilder entered the room. Dressed in a white blouse and gray slacks, she was young looking, with shoulder length strawberry blonde hair.
“Hi, you must be Henri.” She shook his hand, staring down at his chart. “I hope you don’t mind I am doing your checkup today. Dr. Moore has been down ill.” She smiled, taking out a pair of reading glasses to get a better look at his chart.
“No, I don’t mind.” Henri sanded his hands together. He hated every detail about his health documented for the world to see. “I’m sure you’re a lot less cranky than Dr. Moore.”
Her head shot up. She studied him closely before she smiled and let out a laugh.
“It says here you’re nineteen.” She took a seat at her desk. Henri noticed a photograph. As he looked closer he recognized the girl in the photo.
“Is that your daughter?” Henri asked, staring at the image of Maven on her desk.
She turned the frame. “Yeah, this is my oldest daughter. She’s miserable anymore. But this has always been my favorite picture of her. Back before her boyfriend dumped her.” She jumped, suddenly realizing she was rambling. “I’m sorry. You’re not here to discuss my teenage daughter’s issues.”
Henri shook his head. “It is a nice picture. She’s beautiful.”
She smiled at his compliment. “Her name is Maven. And I agree she is beautiful.”
“So let’s get a look at Dr. Moore’s recent work.” She quickly washed her hands. Henri pulled his shirt over his head, revealing a pinkish scar. He touched his chest, his fingers tracing his battle wound. To him that was what it was.
Sparks
Maven followed Nick onto the beach. Doing her best to lug the giant cooler with both hands, she thought he would have offered to help, but no, there she was doing most of the work herself. She finally dropped it in the sand.
“Nick could you?” she asked, letting out a sigh. Nick was too busy talking to the girl from the yogurt hut.
He ignored Maven’s plea. Instead he started an introduction. “Maven this is April, Sandra’s sister.” He gave her a hard glare.
Maven pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head. She extended a hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Same to you, you go to school with my sister Sandra right?” April kept a smile pinned to her lips. She had probably heard a lot about her just like everyone else in town Maven thought. But Maven tried to forget about that and be polite for her brother’s sake.
“I think we are in the same history class.”
April nodded, shooting Nick a secret glance. She wasn’t interested in socializing with Nick’s kid sister as much as she wanted to spend time with Nick. Maven got the hint.
“Well, I think I’ll get to sunbathing.” She started unbuttoning her sundress.
April gave her one more look, a bit sad for the girl with the horrible social life. She bit her lip, wondering if it were worth it. “My cousin is down by the lifeg
uard stand, maybe you could convince him to relax rather than work in this heat.” She suggested.
Nick looked at Maven wondering if she would take the bait. He wasn’t even sure who April’s cousin was.
Maven dropped her dress on the towel. She swiped some sand from her hands. “I don’t even know who he is. That’s nice of you though.”
“Henri,” she said offering a cheap introduction. “He was at the yogurt hut when you guys stopped by the other day. He doesn’t know many people around here. My mom is forever trying to get him to meet people.”
Nick scratched his head. “Yeah, what’s up with that guy? Why haven’t we seen him before?”
Maven was busy searching for Henri along the sandy shore, the high temperature pelting her from overhead.
“Oh, well, Henri hasn’t been with us long. He’s a good guy.” April took Nick’s hand. “Let’s take a swim, that’s what we’re here for isn’t it?” She giggled, taking off for the water, Nick in tow.
Maven slid her glasses back down. She started walking toward the first lifeguard station. Her feet slipping through the dry sand, as she got closer to the water it became more dense and gritty. Her eyes secretly darted back and forth searching out Henri. April had sounded so desperate to help Henri out.
She wondered if she and Henri were more alike than she knew. He wasn’t a bad looking guy. So why would he have a hard time socializing?
Finally she found him. There he was trying to persuade the blonde boy up atop the chair to let him stand watch. This made Maven smile. It seemed he was forever trying to keep busy.
“I told you, Henri, Jack would kill me if I left my post. Besides, you’re not even certified.” The kid spit, doing his best to shoo Henri away.
“I’m a strong swimmer. I swim better than you, Liam.” He ran a hand across his hair. “Twenty bucks.” He waved the money in his hand.
Liam shook his head in a hurry, scanning the waters to make sure no one had drowned while he was being bought.
