by Shelly Crane
We walked to the hatch door and he started to lift it but stopped.
“Lillian.” He turned to me. “I’m really sorry about your husband.”
I was a little taken back by his sincerity. He looked straight at me. And I stared back into a sea of blue green.
“Thanks. I’m ok, really. We weren’t even married that long and didn’t know each other very long before that. I miss him, but in a way, I’m almost glad he’s not here to see all this.”
He knew exactly what I was talking about. This is everything. He nodded.
“Maybe you can come with me again this week and I can show you how we do things, plant some carrots with me. What do you say?”
“Sure, I’d love to help.”
“Ok. But, uh, Lillian.” He came to stand right in front of me and wrapped a strand of my hair around his fingers. “Your hair is pretty gorgeous. Why don’t you wear it up next time, huh?”
He chuckled as if to soften the flirting he was doing but I wasn’t buying it. And man did I like it. I swear my hair was tingling.
“I think that’s a good idea. Thanks for the quick thinking out there. Most guys would have just said I was being stupid and gotten the scissors...or worse, a pocketknife.”
He laughed and continued to rub and examine that same strand of hair.
“No problem. Let’s get you inside and see if Celeste can help you with...” He waved his hands in front of me. “..all this.”
“Hey now. Is it that bad?”
“Define that bad?”
I groaned and he laughed.
“I’m half joking,” he said and laughed again at my furious attempt to produce order to my locks, grabbing my hands and bringing them to out sides. “Come on. Celeste can help if anyone can. I guarantee it.”
I followed him down to the bottom of the stairs. He looked around and say Max sitting in his favorite chair.
“Hey, Max. You call Celeste for me?”
“Sure,” he said and went right back to reading his book.
Celeste bounded in within a few seconds.
“You know, Max. It’s one thing for my own Keeper to be in my head, I don’t need- Oh my- Lillian! What happened to you!”
“That’s why we called you,” Cain said. “We had a little debacle. Can you help?”
“Of course I can. Come with me, Lillian. It hurts to look at you.”
“Ok. Just a second.” I turned back to Cain. “Thanks again. I mean it.”
“No problem. I mean it,” he said smiling and winked at me.
“So, you’ll come let me know when you head out tomorrow?”
“Yep. If you still want to.”
“I do.”
“Then, I will. Me. You. Carrots. It’s a date.”
I laughed and saw Celeste raise her brow and quirk her lips. I bit my lip.
“Ok. Sounds great. Bye.”
“Bye, Lillian,” he said, almost crooned, and his deep voice just wrapped around my name perfectly.
As I walked away, following Celeste who was whispering that she knew just what to do for my hair, I looked over my shoulder once more and saw that Cain hadn’t moved yet. He was still smiling. And he was watching me go.
Pipe Down
Chapter 10 - Merrick
“Something is definitely up with Cain,” Sherry said Wednesday morning as we sat on the floor, leaning on the wall.
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. He’s just not acting right lately. He’s moping once second then smiling the next. He’s...fickle. Cain is never fickle.”
“He’s fine. He’s just upset about Lillian and Mitchell. He mentioned her on the run.”
“How do you know about them? I didn’t say anything to you,” she asked, looking at me mysteriously.
“Well, I may have caught a glimpse of Mitchell’s mind here and there, by accident.”
She gasp.
“Merrick!”
“Hey, I’m not perfect. It’s hard to break old habits sometimes. I only saw a glimpse. But it was enough,” I said and smiled, looking at her sideways.
“Merrick! I can’t believe you.” She smacked my arm playfully. “Shameful, after you’ve told them so many times to stay out of your head.” She paused and I waited, knowing what was coming. “So...what did you see?” she asked and bit her lip.
I laughed, hard. She’s so cute and predictable.
“Just a kiss,” I said through a yawn.
“Awww. Lillian. I’m so happy for her.”
“Me too. Now. Enough about other Keeper’s love lives. I’m so tired from working the garden I can barely think. Tell me about your day. What did you and Lily bug do?” I asked with my eyes closed as I put my arm around her and pulled her into my side.
“Well, not much to tell if I can’t talk about that. Lillian and I chatted endlessly about it the past few days. She feels like she’s betraying Michael.”
“I’m sure Michael would want her to move on and be happy.”
“That’s what I said.”
“Well, aren’t you smart,” I said and touched the end of her nose with my finger.
“Yeah.” She grinned.
“And Lily?”
“Lily took her nap and did her school work with Marissa. She’s really loving it and doing so good. Then she did her lessons with Miguel and Kay later on. She ate two huge bowls of macaroni and cheese. I had to pull her from the trough, like somebody else I know,” she said grinning and poked my ribs.
Marissa and Lana had taken teacher roles and schooled Lily, Calvin and Franklin for a few hours during the day.
“Hey. It’s hard work taking care of you girls. I need my strength. It wouldn’t be a problem if you weren’t such a good cook.”
“Hmmm...you know, it-”
I didn’t get to find out what ‘it’ was because I heard a crash. A very large crash and breaking glass clinking on the tile floor. Then a scream.
“Stay put,” I told Sherry firmly as I got up.
I and many other Keepers blurred into the hallway where the commotion was coming from.
Polly was standing in the bathroom, her arm still extended towards Susan. The vanity mirror above the sink was shattered. Shards of dingy reflective glass all over the tile floor around Susan’s feet and the sink bowl. A hard plastic black case laid on the floor as well. It was, I suspect, the culprit of being the thrown object.
Piper was standing in the hall as well, observing, nothing more. Susan was yelling and now that all was quiet, we could her what she was saying.
“You’re crazy! Crazy! Get out of here!” Susan screeched and backed away from Polly until her back hit the wall by the sink.
“You’re crazy!” Polly shouted. “You think you can just use my razor without asking?”
“Polly, why would I take your razor? I have my own. You’re crazy! That’s just a little too unsanitary for my taste anyway. Now if you’ll excuse me young lady, I’m trying to shower. Leave.”
“I’m not going anyway until you give me my razor, hag.”
“I will do no such thing. This is mine. Now get out!”
“Ladies,” Jeff broke in harshly. “What in the worlds is going on here?”
They both started yelling at the same time.
“She stole my-”
“She threw it at me-”
“Why would I lie-”
“It’s so gross-”
“She just barged in-”
“Ok! Ok! Ok! Enough!” Jeff yelled and threw up his hands to draw attention. “I think we can-”
“Now hold on,” someone interrupted Jeff.
Piper.
“We can’t have people just taking things and it being alright to do so,” she continued.
“I never said it was Piper,” Jeff retorted and motioned for them to follow him. “Let’s get away from all this glass.”
Piper, Polly, Susan, him and I went to the kitchen.
“Now. It’s not ok to take things that aren’t yours but it’s also not ok to
throw things at other people, let alone break things,” Jeff explained, looking between the two.
Everyone still looked to Jeff to be whatever form of mediator/leader/instigator/level-headed one that we needed him for at the time being. Right now, it seemed to be all four.
“If she hadn’t stolen the razor, I wouldn’t have throw the makeup case,” Polly insisted.
“Even if I had stolen it, it still doesn’t warrant breaking a mirror just by my head, let alone throwing things at me,” Susan claimed.
“That sounds like an admission to me,” Polly said crossing her arms in triumphant to which Susan gasped but Jeff cut them both off before they could continue.
“Alright! No more. Ladies. We haven’t had any trouble or drama between the members of the group until you two and I’m not about to have it now.”
“That’s not true,” Piper chimed almost happily. “From what I hear, Sherry had caused her own set of problems.”
“Piper. I’m gonna stop you right there,” Jeff said holding up his hand. “Don’t. Sherry has been through plenty and none of it was her fault.”
“Well, I’d say leading men on and then complaining when they act on it is causing plenty-”
I snapped.
“Don’t say another word about Sherry!” I yelled and Jeff gabbed my arm.
I realized I had taken a step towards her though I’m not sure what I had planned to do.
“Merrick. My goodness. So defensive,” she said and even smiled smugly.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I growled.
“Don’t I? She flirted with that poor man, then he kissed her and she cries rape? What is more to know? Like I said, she’s causing problems that weren’t necessary.”
“Enough, Piper!” Jeff yelled.
“It’s still true, Merrick. Nothing has changed. She’ll never be good for you. Humans and our kind don’t mix that way. You deserve better than this mundane life that’s been chosen for you by that little-.”
“Get over it, Piper. There will never be anything different for me. I chose my own fate and am plenty happy with the results. It’s none of your business. End of discussion,” I said with as much conviction I could throw out.
I didn’t want to embarrass her. Even after all she’s said I still didn’t want to call her out for her interest in me in front of everyone but that was what was next on my tongue if she didn’t shut up. Plus, she has to know that she’s referring to Jeff now as well. Marissa is still human even though she’s a Muse.
“I dare say this is far from the end, Merrick, if I have anything to say about it,” Piper said flipping her hair sideways as she cocked her head in flippancy.
Before I could retaliate I saw something beyond Piper’s shoulder in the doorway to the kitchen.
Sherry.
She heard everything and stood there, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed looking pensive. Pensive and hurt.
“We are done here,” I said enunciating each word and pulling my arm free from Jeff.
“We’ll see,” Piper countered and I heard Jeff start in on her behind me.
“Piper, you have no idea what you’re talking about. Just be quiet. I won’t have all this hostility. Polly. You broke the mirror, I suggest you go clean the mess,” he continued but I blocked him out.
“Sherry-”
“It’s ok, Merrick. There’s no law that says everyone has to like me, right?” Sherry said and smiled weakly but I could see how much she hated it.
“Come on.” I grabbed her hand and began to pull her with me. “Don’t worry about her. She’s just...”
“Jealous? I can tell. I have to say, I’ve never seen such a, uh...unlikable Keeper before.”
“Me either. I remember thinking that about her before. She’s definitely one of a kind. And not in a good way.”
“How can she act like that? I thought ya’ll were all made to be civil and easy going.”
“Free will, honey. We can choose, just like you can. She would never have had to deal with rejection or adversity had we not come here. This is where we are...tested, so to speak. This is where we’ll see how we choose to react to situations. For whatever reason, even from the beginning, she chose to act...” I trailed off searching for a word that wouldn’t be offensive to Sherry’s ears.
“Crazy?” she suggested and smiled up at me.
“That’s a good word for it.”
“I feel sorry for her,” she said softly and I rolled me eyes at her but couldn’t help smiling too.
Sherry always reacts this way. Always forgiving, always worrisome, faithful and understanding. It wouldn’t be so bad if it didn’t always make it that Sherry was the one that has to be so self sacrificing.
“Let’s go take a nap. Then I’ll make you forget all about it,” I suggested in a low voice and pulled her to me, nipping her chin which she loves.
“I already have,” she said laughing. “You are really good at that, you know. Making me feel better, no matter what.”
“Well, good then. In that case, wanna see what Danny and Celeste are up to? I need to speak with him about some things anyway.”
“Sure. Marissa already came and got Lily for her classes so, we’re free.”
Danny?
“In the second room!” Danny called out his location in response to me asking him in his mind. Cain and Lillian who were sitting facing each other on the couch looked up curiously at the sudden burst of information but returned to their conversation and inched closer as Lillian smiled and laughed at whatever Cain was saying.
Before we went further I turned back to Piper and saw that yes, she was watching with a decided determination in her set jaw, so I decided she needed a little convincing. I will protect Sherry from anyone, even another Keeper, even from the petty thoughts of a Keeper trapped in a body she can’t control the chemical emotions for.
I looked back down at Sherry and smiled at her, then tipped her head back bringing my mouth to hers, wrapping my arms around her. I closed my eyes but could feel Piper’s hateful gaze on us.
With every passing second Sherry was getting more breathless. Clinging, with my shirt bunched in her fist like she always does. I heard her whimper so I decided I best end it. I released her with another soft kiss and she gazed at me and bit her lip in cute glazed-over confusion and passion. But then she smiled up at me and I couldn’t help but feel loved and wanted. The best thing in the universe. It’s still a little crazy that all this is mine.
I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and pulled her to me to kiss her forehead as we walked towards Danny. Her petite cool arm around my waist the only thing keeping me on the ground.
This Life Is More Than Just A Read Through
Chapter 11 - Sherry
We found Danny and Celeste in the second room, where Danny said they were. The second room, as we called it, was the old bedroom of Phillip. The man who originally let us stay here and kept this huge room all to himself though we were all packed in the rest of them like sardines. Not to mention, he’s the one who almost raped me, had Jeff not come to my rescue.
“Hey sis. What’s up? You ok? You look a little, I don’t know, red?”
Merrick and I looked at each other and laughed a little, smiling knowingly.
“It’s nothing. What are you guys doing in here?”
They were both sitting on the little hideous pink loveseat on the wall. Celeste’s legs were in Danny’s lap. Normally they sit in the commons room in the corner on the floor.
“Oh, nothing,” Celeste answered, looking at the ends of a few strands of hair and grimacing. “It’s just getting so crowded in there. Dang it! Look at my hair! Split ends everywhere.”
“Well, it’s a good thing that it’s so crowded, Celeste,” Danny said, trying to hide a smile at Celeste’s obvious misfortune.
“I know. I know,” she said letting the hair go and looking back up to him. “It’s just crowded that’s all. I’m glad they’re here, though. Do
n’t get me wrong.”
We weren’t the only ones in the second room but we were spread out enough to not be on top of each other. We had taken down most of Phillips decorations, if you want to call them that. His posters of questionable taste were burned or buried along with the other trash. The lamps, stereo and fan, ect., stayed.
The stereo was playing a c.d. right now and I could hear some song quietly. Red Hot Chili Peppers. Yeah. That’s sounds about right for Phillip’s collection. There was a stack of no less than two hundred c.d.’s on display on the wall shelf. It was here the whole time and we never knew.
I saw Danny mouthing the words to “Can’t Stop”. ‘Knocked out but boy you better come to. Don’t die you know the truth as some do. Go write your message on the pavement, burn so bright I wonder what the wave meant. White heat is screaming in the jungle.’
“Well, I wanted to come see you. Ask you how the lessons are going. Kay’s not working you too much is she?” Merrick asked.
We both sat down on the floor in front of them. Kay had been one of the Keepers giving lessons or classes on how to control the new Specials gifts. They practiced their gifts on each other, sometimes for hours at a time, trying to learn to control them at will and in complete focus.
“Nah. She’s great. It’s Miguel that’s the freaking Nazi!” Danny said and laughed. “He’s a slave driver, for sure. Him and Kay have been showing us how to use our gifts while training with the Karate and self defense lessons. At the same time. It makes me feel all Chuck Norris inside.”
“Yeah. It’s awesome,” chimed Celeste, just as animated as Danny had been, talking with her hands. “Like Danny will tell someone to duck in their mind at the same time that he knees them in the face or...like, Calvin can torch someone while Danny tells them to freeze or, Cain can blast them with his sonic boom hand thingy and then while they’re down, we all run over and stomp them. It’s awesome. The old stock room is totally trashed now.”
The old stock room. The room behind Paul and Katie and Sky’s room, which used to be Trudy’s old room, but further down the hall. I’d never even been back there until a couple weeks ago.
