“Is this about Jenson? You two have gotten awfully close,” she pressed.
I took her hand, and she pushed mine away. “You always worry about what people think,” I said.
“I’m not worried.”
“If it is any consolation to you, I was only seeking a little comfort. You’re my friend, right?” I asked.
“Sorry, I just don’t want...”
“I’m not going to out you to Jenson, if that’s what worries you. I’ll also answer your question. I do have a tiny crush on him, but right now, is so not the time! I mean, why would you even ask that?”
“I care about you, alright?” said Molly. “I don’t expect you to care back, but I’m doing my best. I just want to see you happy. Things were going pretty good. The three of us hanging out, then everything gets all mysterious.”
“OK, if you don’t want to help just say so, if you’re freaked out, you can stay behind if whatever it is, goes any further.”
“I saw those papers. Jenson showed them to me. Have you seen them yet?”
“No, where is he anyway?”
“He had to go home, or so he said.”
“It’s almost four.” I pointed to the clock near the barista’s station. “Mom, will want Megan and me home for dinner. It’s the one night we’re forced to do family stuff.”
“You don’t sound too thrilled.”
“Lately, I’ve had a gut feeling Tri; Mom is going to throw something big at me. I don’t know what, a new responsibility or expectation. You might call it a hunch. I’d make plans, but you remember what happened yesterday evening.”
She gave me a sweet look that said yeppers. I pushed myself away from the table, stood and picked up my drink before turning to leave.
“Don’t forget your knapsack.” She handed it to me.
“Thanks, I’m... I’m sorry about earlier. I shouldn’t have said anything, knowing how sensitive you are about it.”
She brushed her hair behind her ear, and I leaned in for a hug. She returned it.
“Thanks, Starla.”
“Your secret’s safe with me, but when you’re ready to open up, I’ve got your back.”
Chapter 4
Having missed my math class, I curled up on my bed to deal with the last assignment. One that wasn’t as entertaining as Myth class. I laid my head against the pillows, staring out the window. Squirrels chased one another, bickering back and forth. They had it easy. All they had to worry about was gathering nuts for the winter, creating babies, raising them, and trying not to end up as road kill.
There take that, you evil arithmetic problem, I thought, finishing the last one. If I flunked out of college, this would be why. I placed my notebook on top of my pile of books and tossed them aside onto my nightstand. Should I open the folder Jenson had given me? No, he’d probably want me to wait until he and Molly were here.
Still, my hand reached for the binder. Why is this so difficult? I drew in a deep breath and let it out. My best friends, I was lucky to have them. Lately, though between work, the other night, and then today with Molly, I wasn’t sure where I fit. Sure, it would be easy to cozy up to Jenson. Molly was a sweet girl. I’d hoped she would find someone, or else, at least, be comfortable enough to be herself. I didn’t want her to have to hide. It just wasn’t fair to her. I picked the binder back up, looked at it and set it back down. Not recognizing why it was eating me up inside.
I had taken all the board games out of the closet. I’d begun to heap them on the kitchen table. Mom called it the dining area, but it was in the kitchen after all.
“Mom, Jenson and I are just friends. College is my main focus right now. There’s no time for that lovely dovey stuff, and yes, as far as I know, I prefer boys, so we don’t have to go over that!”
“What has gotten into you lately?” my mom asked, extracting some cookies out of the oven.
“It’s called independence.” I watched her set down the cookie trays to cool on the stove.
“You’re headstrong, just like your father,” she answered.
“Where is he by the way? It’s not like he’s called or sent postcards in the last few years.”
“You know your dad; he never was especially interested in you, girls.” I hated lying to her, but tonight she would find out just how invested her dad was.
“Mom, let’s not talk about it. Could Molly and Jenson come over? I’m tired of it just being us.” I went to reach for a cookie and thought better of it.
My mom gave me a smirk, fiddled a bit with the cookies she’d placed on a plate, and then finally answered me.
“Given that we’re just playing board games, okay,” my mom replied.
“Thank you, Mom! This is great. I’m going to go call them. We have some important business to take care of before some ‘serious Jenga’ tonight.” I gave my mother the quotation marks trying to be funny. She just rolled her eyes back at me. We had that kind of connection, love/hate that is. I loved my mother, but I was me after all.
An hour later I opened the door, inviting Molly and Jenson in.
“I can’t believe you talked your mom into having us over. She rarely lets you have friends over for family fun night!” Molly said.
“Yeah, something must be up for her to be allowing this,” I giggled like a kid. I’d been so serious this afternoon, now I felt giddy just to have my two best friends over--talk about mood swings. I hoped this excellent atmosphere would last.
“I think you two have been drinking either too much Mountain Dew or you’ve hit your limit on espressos,” said Jenson.
I laughed at him. “OK, you can hang your coats in the closet, and your boots can dry on the register if you want,” I said, pulling open the closet door.
Molly and Jenson handed me their jackets as they removed their boots. I hung them up and then turned back to them.
“Come on, our living room is right through here,” I pointed and they followed.
“So,” Jenson said.
“No, I haven’t peeked inside the folder yet. I assumed you’d rather be here when everything is exposed.”
“Well, where is it?” they said in unison.
“In my room, but mom will want to serve us cookies, and to play Jenga with us. I did tell her we had some stuff to take care of before, so I might be able to sneak it past her.”
“It’s better to start the night out on a light note, and end on a da da da dum!” said Molly.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
We were about to sit down when mom popped her head in the doorway.
“Hey guys, let’s go into the kitchen. Then we can start the games and have snacks.” She turned, leaving us to follow.
I got up and led them to our dining area. On the table sat popcorn, pretzels, chocolate cookies, and some cola. Wow, Mom really went all out. Now where was my sister? I turned around and bumped right into her.
“Hey, why don’t you guys sit down, so we can actually, kick off a game already?” she whined.
Mom smiled at us. It had been ages since I’d had friends over. Megan had met them, on one of our few trips to the mall. Another one of mom’s pet peeves, she believed our society spent too much. Money should be saved for college funds.
We all took our seats. My guests surveyed the pile of board games, sitting to the right of my mom.
“So, who gets to choose the game tonight?” I asked.
“Jenson and Molly are our company. Instead of playing Jenga, as usual, let them decide.”
I glared at my mom like I want to kick your butt; sis stayed silent. No, nothing, no rebuttal from mother. Molly pointed to the Game of Life while Jenson shook his head.
“Monopoly?” asked Jenson. He pulled it off of the bottom of the stack.
I put a hand to my head. Jeez, Jenson, really, we’ll be playing all night. Molly said nothing, even though she knew we had pressing matters.
“Alright, but I get to be the little dog,” I said.
Jenson opened the box. He h
anded me the game piece, allowing his hand to linger on mine briefly.
“Let me set up the board and be in charge of handing out the houses,” declared Molly.
“Banker,” Megan chimed in.
Mom gathered up the fake bills and placed them in front of each of us. We’d begun to munch on the array of goodies.
“Hey Molly, why don’t you go first.” suggested Megan.
She picked up the dice and tossed them on the table top. She rolled six and began moving her piece when the door bell rang.
“Mom, we’re not expecting anyone. Are we?” I asked.
“Honey, give me a minute. I’m going to go get the door. Maybe it’s Fern. She was over yesterday in need of eggs to bake a cake.”
I looked over at Molly, “It’s the old couple who locked themselves out the other night. She’s pretty stylish; he’s kind of cranky.”
We’d only met a handful of neighbors in the few weeks we’d been here. Yes, it was not an unfriendly place, but it wasn’t Green Acres either. I heard my mother at the door, she let someone in, then I saw him.
Dad?
He waltzed into our dining room. He looked good, official, like he was on business, wearing dress pants, a white shirt, and a green tie. His hair was graying now, a sandy pepper color instead of ash blonde. Megan’s jaw dropped a mile. Dad hadn’t come to visit since she was a baby. He claimed that he hadn’t a clue how mom had gotten pregnant, seeing as he’d been supposedly absent for months on end. Mom swore up and down she was his, and father accepted it.
“Sorry to interrupt this gathering you have going on,” he said, sitting down in the empty chair next to mine. “Are these your friends?”
Well, duh said my brain.
“This is Jenson, and my friend Molly. Maybe you know, since here you are. Mom moved us from L.A. because, well, I got into too much trouble.”
He mussed my hair and grinned. Mom stood there watching us with her arms crossed. She wasn’t happy he was here. I wondered if her actions were real, fake, or...
“I’m not going to say this is a standard dad call,” he spoke. Jenson glowered up at him, brave Jenson.
“Sir, are you here about the crazy stuff. The rumors of bizarre occurrences in Hunters Park? I’ve been doing research on that and err...”
“Actually, I am. A group I work with is investigating a death in the area. We’re sure it’s an outside source.”
I knew Jenson wouldn’t out me to my family about my, err, fox problem. How could we keep it a secret? Was I the secret, did I belong to someone else?
“What do you mean by ‘outside source’?” I asked
“I cannot believe you’re involving children in this, Dan!” My mother’s hands rested on the table as she intently stared him in the eyes. It was mom’s death look. He ignored her for the moment.
“I’m going to be in and out of this area for a while. Maybe you guys could keep an eye out? Your mother is against this, of course. I’m unable to divulge specifics, but as soon as I am we’ll be in touch. Jenson, here are some newspaper clippings I’d like you to look over. In fact, in the next few days, you’ll be given clues to decipher. They might not necessarily be directly from me, but you’ll receive them. Tri confirmed you have mad skills with that computer of yours. Starla, mom said you took some defense classes last year at the gym before you moved, good girl. Now then, Molly you might want to look into that. It could be useful even outside of this case,” said Dan.
“Dad, you make it sound as if we are going into battle. You show up here after years of abandonment. Now you want our help, more importantly, my attention? I know I’ve solved a few mysteries. Who put hair in my best friend’s sandwich, missing students, and then there was that one time...”
“Starla, I know of those adventures.”
“Who told you?” I blurted, looking squarely at my mother. Was she the culprit who revealed my secrets?
“Never mind that for now,” he said.
I stood up from my seat, anger swelled inside of me.
“When have I ever asked anything of you? And when, father, have you done anything for me?” I screamed. “Something is and has been going on for years. I’ve known it since my tattoo glowed-- and mother, you denied it. All of you have been hiding things from me. Jenson and Molly, let’s jet, Megan if you want to come with us, then let’s go!”
“Starla, we should hear your father out,” stuttered Molly.
I was angry, angry enough to out my friend right there, but something pulled me back from doing so.
“I need to take a walk before I say, or do something I regret. Don’t follow me! I’ll be safe.” I grabbed my cell phone and got out of there fast. The last thing, I needed, was to change into a fox in front of them, but they probably already knew about that too. It made me wonder, what else they were hiding from me.
The Sunshine Cafe had a dark yet pleasant atmosphere. You’d probably call it a spectrum of the in-between. The booth chosen by the waitress was faded at the corners. After ordering fries, I stared out at the setting sun until my food arrived.
“Here ya go, and your cola. Let me know if you need anything else,” she said.
“Thanks.” I picked up the ketchup, pouring it on the side of my plate, and proceeded to swirl my fries around in it. When was the last time dad showed up? My mind could not form an answer. I tried to conjure up a reason this was happening as I sipped my Coke, then played with my food some more. Was I fooling myself? Should I have accepted my dad wanted to be a part of my life? That he’d been spying on me for years or maintained contact with mom concerning me? Then there was Jenson, so eager to help my father with whatever task he gave us. I still wondered what was in those files from years ago, ones my father hid from me. I picked up several fries, stuffing them into my mouth. That was more like it, salty fried goodness.
“Are you doing alright, hun? You’ve been sitting here messing with your food for a while. It’s good to finally see you eating,” said the waitress.
“Tough night, it could be worse, though. I’ll just finish up my fries and let you clean up.”
“Take your time, hun, take your time,” she replied.
She trotted away and I did a double take, was that a wolf’s tail under her skirt? Shaking it off, I thought it couldn’t be, probably just nerves. I took a deep breath in, exhaled out as I’d been taught to still myself. Oh, I’d forgotten that. I’d been little, so small. Mom and dad talked to me about getting worked up, not to panic, that I must stay calm at all times.
“Ring, ring,” the diner door opened. I glanced up to see a straggly fellow, dark hair, lanky, wearing a shabby gray overcoat. He strutted to the counter, sat down and ordered a cup of coffee. I continued eating my fries. False alarm, I thought perhaps my friends would have come after me. In retro-spect, they could be collaborating with my parental units back at the apartment while I sat here sulking.
It was better I had left. There is no telling what would have materialized if I’d stayed.
(Tri)
The newspaper clippings were spread out on the table among the games we’d meant to play. I looked around at the three of them. It was just like Starla to exit when things were about to heat up, we were in the kitchen after all. I tried to contain my anger. This was not the time to go Mommy Dearest on my daughter’s friends. She was mad at her father. I understood that, being angry with him also, but couldn’t see how to keep him away from her much longer. The cat would eventually have to be let out of the bag, so to speak. She’d only left to keep from losing her temper in front of her friends.
“Dan, explain to Jenson and Molly how you want them to help out. Then they should go look for Starla,” I said.
He then began instructing us, “Concentrate on any odd suspects you might find lingering around campus, or in the park. I don’t want you to enter Hunters Park after dark. It’s bad enough that I’m asking you to do this. Now, Starla is going to be exceedingly useful in this investigation. She’s done this before. We had
some problems a while back with a few children who’d gone missing from their homes. They were recovered before...”
“Before what,” said Molly?
“Starla stopped them from being taken. She sensed something bad was going to occur, so she walked them home from school. Once there she told them not to leave their homes, making sure they locked their doors behind them. She was very young, five years old. The last year, hmm hmm hmm,” he cleared his throat. “The last year we were together,” he spoke, eyeing Tri, “We didn’t realize she’d had any abilities at her birth. After this incident, I started calling her my little medium.”
Dan smiled at me. I guess he wasn’t going to reveal her secret yet. Maybe he didn’t sense it was safe for her friends. No, he couldn’t assume they would reject her, could he? He’d also left out the part where she’d come home and told us the name of the suspect along with a description. We’d called a hotline, anonymously, leaving his name. Soon after he’d been apprehended outside of a local store, she’d described in her vision. We’d told her they were just bad dreams, waking dreams from a lack of sleep, but following that she sorted out how to use them. They’d come and go. It was how she’d solved a few of the mysteries in high school, but not all of them.
“Do you know who’s behind this?” asked Jenson.
“No, son, right now I only know what I’ve read in the papers. I have an idea of who it might be. A group I’m familiar with. They’re pretty rowdy actually, not to be trusted. I am unable to point blame until physical descriptions of the suspects are released, or revealed. If the authorities find any physical proof, it might connect them to the location. If there was any evidence discovered at the scene, it has not been released to the park ranger.”
“Yes, but who are they?” asked Molly.
“Once we have certain particulars, I’ll let you kids in on the full picture. Until then you’re on a need to know basis. It’s for your own safety, including my daughter’s. Do you understand?”
Myth (Book 1) Page 3
