by Wendi Wilson
“Hello.”
Ana and I both jerk our heads up at the word. As if I’d conjured him, Bryce is standing next to the table with a tray of food in his hands. He gestures with it, silently asking if he can sit. I nod at the same time as Ana, and Bryce slides onto the bench across from us.
“Hi, I’m Ana Fuentes,” she says, holding out a hand for him to shake. She nods in my direction. “This one’s best friend.”
“Bryce,” he says, taking her hand and pumping it once before releasing it. “But I’m sure Kai has told you all about me.”
I suck in a breath which carries a piece of food into my windpipe. I cough harshly, trying to hack it out so I can breathe. Ana pats my back as my eyes start watering. When the coughing subsides, I take a long gulp of water. I can feel my face burning with embarrassment. Again.
“You okay?” he asks me.
I look at him to see he is barely repressing a smile. “Fine, thanks.” I clear my throat again.
“Where did you move from?” Ana asks, changing the subject and saving me from further embarrassment.
“Southern California,” he says around a mouth full of chili mac.
“So not too far then, eh?”
“No. My dad still works in Los Angeles, so he takes the ferry to the mainland and back every day.”
“That’s cool,” Ana says.
“What does he do?” I ask, determined to get into the conversation.
“He’s a lawyer at a big firm in the city.”
I nod, unable to think of anything else to say. His dad is a big shot attorney; my mom is a house maid. We have so much in common. I make a scoffing noise, and it draws Bryce’s attention. He raises his eyebrows at me before his eyes dart away.
Ana asks a few more questions, keeping the conversation going. I silently listen but keep my mouth closed. I obviously can’t control my feelings around Bryce and nothing slips past his notice. It’s like he’s tuned in to my every emotion. I don’t like it.
I must be frowning because he gives me that high-brow look again. I shake my head and smile brightly, hoping it doesn’t look too fake. Then, I make the mistake of looking into his eyes. I stare as his eyebrows lower a centimeter at a time until they are drawn low over his eyes, giving them a hooded look.
He stands, his movements abrupt. “It was nice to meet you, Ana. Bye.” He nods at her and without looking back at me, he stalks away.
“Well, that was weird.”
“I told you he doesn’t like me.”
Ana stares thoughtfully at his retreating back. “I wouldn’t be so sure.”
Chapter Four
I skip down the steps to the beach and take off in a dead run as soon as my feet hit the sand. Throwing my towel to the ground as I near the water, I slosh into the foamy waves and dive headfirst without stopping. I swim out even farther than yesterday, needing space only the sea can give me.
I have been nothing but a mass of pent up energy since lunch. My conversation with Ana about Bryce and our stilted lunch encounter with him have had me tied in knots all day. I’m nervous and confused. I don’t know whether or not to believe Ana, that Bryce might like me, or if I even want him to.
I dive under, keeping my eyes open, and head toward the ocean floor. There aren’t many fish around but I do spot a blue crab scuttling along the sand. I turn and head back to the surface. I doggy paddle around for a while, enjoying the feeling of the crisp water against my hot skin. When I feel the muscles in my arms starting to strain, I head back toward shore.
I stumble tiredly from the water and fall backwards onto the soft, cold sand. I check the watch on my wrist, which is, thankfully, waterproof, and see that I was out in the water for over an hour. The cool evening air kisses my skin as the sun starts to set so I pull myself up and look around, searching for my towel.
“Here you go.”
I shriek in surprise and spin around to see Bryce standing a few feet away holding my towel. I stare at him with wide eyes for a few seconds, trying to figure out where he came from. I didn’t see him when I trudged from the water. I’m sure he wasn’t there.
He shakes the towel, urging me to take it from him. I step forward and snatch it from his hand, wrapping it quickly around my torso. I don’t speak until I’m sure everything is covered. I look at him and frown, making my displeasure obvious.
“Where did you come from? Are you spying on me?”
He shoots me that smile I hate so much and says, “I came from there,” he points to his house, “and no. I was not spying, per se.”
“Per se?”
“Well, to be completely honest, I was sitting on my deck when you went out. I watched you swimming, then came down here when you came out of the water. I only just got here.”
“You were watching me?” My voice is softer now.
He nods. “Well, I saw you streaking toward the water like your life depended on it. I thought something was wrong, and I was going to go after you but...”
“But?” Somehow my traitorous feet bring me closer to him.
“You dove into the water and shot out like a rocket. It was amazing how far you got, so fast. Where’d you learn to swim like that?”
I smile. Swimming, I can talk about. “I don’t know. It’s always been that way for me, I guess. I grew up swimming here, and I go out every day if I can. It’s my happy place.”
“Isn’t it cold?”
My smile grows bigger as I nod. “The water is freezing but I don’t know.” I shrug, my mouth still stretched wide. “It doesn’t bother me. I’m just used to it, I guess. I’ve been doing this all my life.”
My joy must be infectious, because his mouth lifts into a wide smile. I almost choke again when I see it. This smile...it’s a real one. The first I’ve seen on him. My belly churns, and I silently thank God it’s dusk because I’m sure my face is bright red again. I swallow thickly and look down at my feet.
“Okay, well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then?”
I take this as a dismissal and nod before quickly turning and shuffling through the sand toward the staircase that leads up to Ms. Coraline’s house. I hear what sounds like a sigh behind me. The sound probably came from the surf, so I keep moving forward.
I pick my way up the wooden steps, and when I reach the top I turn my head and peek over my shoulder. He’s still in the same spot. I can’t see his expression in the darkening light but I can tell he’s watching me. I jerk my head back and blush at being caught but I can’t suppress the smile that comes.
My thoughts of Bryce carry me into the house, the smile still plastered on my face, making me clumsy. As soon as I close the door behind me, I realize my mistake. I hear the tap, tap, tap of a shoe and turn quickly to see Ms. Coraline standing there, a nasty frown marring her face.
“Go to the kitchen, and get the pot of tea from your mother. Bring it to my parlor, now. There are some things you and I need to discuss.”
I nod mutely, knowing that any comment, regardless of what it is, will be interpreted as back-talk and whatever she has in store for me will be ten times worse. I wish I could ask to go change out of my wet bathing suit but I know better. I rush to the kitchen, gripping the edges of my towel around my waist.
“Tea,” I say urgently to my mother, who’s already pouring boiling water into the porcelain teapot.
“What did you do?”
I frown at my mom. “What makes you think I did anything?”
“She’s making you bring her tea. Kailani, just tell me.”
“I don’t know,” I grit out through clenched teeth. “I just went for a swim, and she caught me coming back into the house. I didn’t do anything. I swear, Mom.”
“Just go,” she says, pushing the tea service tray into my hands. “Come see me when she’s done talking to you.”
I walk as quickly as I can without dropping the tray, knowing that things will only be worse for me if Ms. Coraline feels like she’s been kept waiting. The parlor doors are open, so I step throu
gh and head straight for the coffee table to set the tray down. I stand back as Ms. Coraline leaves her station by the window, walking past me to sit in one of the chairs.
“I see you remembered the cream this time,” she says, the disdain obvious in her voice.
I keep my silence, biting back the scathing remark on the tip of my tongue. I watch as her pudgy fingers spoon sugar and pour cream into her tea. My eyes travel over her. It looks like she’s put on a few extra pounds recently. Her chunky butt barely fits in the chair. One side of my mouth lifts at the thought.
“And just what is so funny?”
My mouth drops immediately, and my gaze falls to the floor. I curse myself internally for the mistake. “Nothing, ma’am,” I mumble.
She grunts but decides to let the issue of my impertinence pass...at least for the moment. “I want to talk to you about what I saw through this very window a little while ago.”
My eyes shoot back to her face, confusion screwing up my eyebrows. “What you saw, ma’am? I only went for a swim.”
“Don’t lie to me, girl. I saw you talking to that Howell boy down on the beach.”
I shake my head, wondering how she even knows who he is. “I-”
“Save your excuses. I know what I saw. You are, from this point on, to avoid that boy at all costs. Don’t speak to him. Don’t even look at him. Do you understand me?”
“But...” I trail off, seeing the look of impending rage crossing her face. I know not to question her. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. Now get out of here and change before you drip any more water on my carpet.”
I rush from the room and run up the stairs. I know my mother is waiting for me in the kitchen but I have to get to my sanctuary. Besides, the old hag ordered me to change. I dart into my bedroom and close the door gently behind me.
“Don’t look at him?” I ask the room. “What on earth?”
Shaking my head, I strip out of my bathing suit and bundle up in my robe. I gather some clothes and crack open my door. Peeking out, I look first right, then left. The hall is empty, so I dash across to the bathroom.
After showering and dressing, I head back to my room. My mom is sitting on the bed, waiting for me. She motions for me to close the door. I push it closed and turn back to my mother. She waves me toward her, the motion quick and erratic.
“What did Ms. Coraline say?”
I shrug, confusion crossing my face. “She said she saw me talking to the neighbor after my swim. You know, the new boy next door? She forbade me from ever talking to him again. Can you believe that?”
Mom’s face tightens. “Well, make sure you don’t.”
“What? Mom! This is ridiculous!”
“Shh. Lower your voice.”
I lean in close and whisper harshly. “She. Is. Your. Boss. She can order us around in this house but she can’t tell me who I can and can’t be friends with. Why are you taking her side?”
Mom’s face doesn’t even twitch. “We live here, and you know we can’t leave. Please, Kai, just follow her rules, okay?”
My anger rises even higher. “Why can’t we leave?” I demand. “You can find a new job, mom. We could move, and we wouldn’t have to deal with her shi...crap ever again.”
Just as she does every time I suggest this, mom shakes her head, a sad expression etched across her features. “I’m sorry, Baby, but we can’t.”
Without further explanation, my mom rises and kisses the top of my head. She walks, her steps slow and measured, to the door. Pulling it open, she pauses and turns back before leaving. She gives me another sad smile and says, “Please, Kailani. Don’t cross her. We can’t afford it,” then walks out, closing the door gently behind her.
I lay across my bed with a groan. I tell myself I’m more upset about the old witch ordering me around, not about the actual order. She has no right to tell me who I can or can’t talk to. I roll over and scream into my pillow to muffle the sound. I pound my fist into it a few times for good measure.
“I don’t even like him,” I whisper. “He’s a jerk with a superiority complex.”
Once I have myself convinced that never talking to him again is actually a blessing, I roll out of bed and set about drying my hair. I take special care to dry it slowly while pulling a brush through it, making the red strands perfectly straight and crackling with fire. I tie a large bandana around it in the hopes that it will protect my hard work, keeping it from turning into a tangled rat’s nest while I sleep.
I dress in sweats and a t-shirt, then head down to the kitchen, hoping my mother kept a plate warm for me. As I pass the parlor, I hear my mother’s voice, the palpable deference almost making me lose my appetite. I stop just beside the doors, which are pulled closed but not quite touching. A small crack between them allows the sound to travel out into the hall.
“Well, she better take heed,” Ms. Coraline says with finality. “If I see her talking to that...boy again, I will follow through. Don’t doubt it, Merryn.”
“She won’t, ma’am. I talked to her. She assured me that she will obey you.”
“I certainly hope you’re right. I’d hate for her to have to face the consequences.”
I skip away, hearing my mother’s light footsteps heading toward the doors. I run to the kitchen, where I try to regain my breath before my mom appears. I wonder what Ms. Coraline meant by consequences. She said she’d hate for me to face them but her voice sounded positively gleeful. I can’t help but scowl.
“Oh, hey Kai.”
Mom’s voice startles me from my brooding thoughts. I wipe my face clear of emotion before turning to face her. “Hey, mom. Can I get some food?”
“Of course, baby,” she says, bending to pull a plate from the oven.
I take the plate and set it on the counter, opting to stand while I eat. I watch my mother as she putters around the kitchen, silently willing her to bring up her conversation with Ms. Coraline. I want to know what the old hag meant but not enough to out myself for eavesdropping. I’ve been in trouble too many times for that already.
“Wash your plate when you’re done, okay?”
I nod as she finally meets my eyes. I see a quick flash of worry in hers before she blinks it away. She kisses my forehead and leaves the room, taking my appetite with her. I scrape the leftover food into the trash, scrub my plate and fork in the sink, and grab a bottle of water from the fridge before turning off the light and heading back up to my room.
Chapter Five
I watch my feet as I walk up the road. I’ve been kicking the same rock for the last dozen yards, trying to keep my mind off Bryce and the fact that his driveway is getting closer and closer with each step I take. Why is it that I’ve never wanted to see him quite as badly as I do this morning, after I’ve been warned to never even look at him again?
I know the answer to that. It’s Ms. Coraline, and that she’s the one doing the ordering. I hate her. And not the classic teenager version of hate where everything is blown out of proportion. This is real, true hate. I do the opposite of what she wants as often as possible. As long as I won’t get caught, I savor the rebellious victories whenever I can.
I haven’t always hated her. She’s always been haughty and stand-offish but as a child, I just assumed this was a normal way for adults to behave. It wasn’t until I was seven that her true evil nature made itself known to me. That day has been etched into my brain forever. I’ll never forget. I’ll never forgive. Never.
It was a sunny summer day, and mom and I had spent the afternoon in town. Mom bought me an ice cream cone, and as we walked home, the vanilla goodness started melting and dripping down my hand. I stopped to wipe my hand on my shirt while mom walked ahead. I heard a sound coming from the bushes and, forgetting the sticky mess on my hands and face, crept closer to investigate.
I caught sight of a tiny pair of eyes before a high-pitched mewling sound met my ears. I dropped to my knees and coaxed the small, black kitten forward. I picked her up, smoothing her jet-black f
ur and whispering in soothing tones. As I cuddled her, she licked the smeared ice cream from my face. Laughing, I held my cone up, letting her sniff it before she started licking it in earnest.
Hearing my mom’s voice calling me from the driveway, I shoved the kitten beneath my shirt and ran all the way to the house, passing mom quickly before she could figure out what I was up to. I ran toward the front door, imagining where I could hide her in my room and how I was going to sneak milk and food to feed her.
As my free hand reached for the doorknob, it turned and the door swung open, revealing Ms. Coraline. I took a quick step back, lowering my head in greeting as my mother had taught me. I waited with eyes downcast for her to move aside so I could pass, praying the kitten would keep quiet.
I was naive. Of course, the old witch’s eagle eyes had spotted the lump under my shirt. She cleared her throat, bringing my gaze up to her narrowed eyes. I held my breath, a silent litany rolling on repeat through my head. Please let me keep her. Please let me keep her.
“Well, what do we have here?”
Her voice sounded pleasant, so I pulled the furry, black bundle from beneath my shirt and held it up for her inspection. I smiled proudly, as Ms. Coraline took the struggling kitten from my chubby hand.
I heard my mother’s footsteps coming to a halt behind me, followed by a short gasp. I turned to smile at her but the grin dropped from my face as I saw her expression. I didn’t understand it at the time but I know now what it was. Horror.
I turned back to Ms. Coraline. “May I please keep her, ma’am?” I asked, using my most polite voice, as my mother had taught me.
“May you keep her?” she asked, her pleasant expression dropping from her face in an instant. “May you keep her, you ask?”
“Ma’am,” my mother started.
“No, Merryn. This is between me and this child.” She grabbed the scruff of the kitten’s neck and let its body dangle, then shook it violently, looking back at me. “You want to bring this,” she said, shaking the kitten roughly again, “dirty fleabag into my house?”
