Michael Cooper and I stayed on the phone for over three hours that first night. We laughed a lot and discovered that we had the same weird sense of humor. I managed to clean up the cereal while talking to him and completely forgot that I had ever been hungry or hurt. We finished talking right before I fell asleep, as I lay all warm and cozy in my bed.
I learned quite a lot about Michael that evening; how his family used to live full-time on the island, but for some reason had to relocate in order to be closer to Portland. They still owned their house on Pike’s Island and used it mainly on the weekends during the summer.
Michael’s father was some hotshot attorney in the city and his mom stayed home and took care of him and his brother.
He loved his BMX bike and skateboarding and his golden retriever, Scooby, which he named after his favorite childhood show, Scooby Doo. He admitted he’d still watch an episode from time to time if he was laid up and completely bored.
I wanted to ask him why he’d be laid up, but I couldn’t bring myself. There were so many other questions I wanted answered: why did he miss so much school and why had he been in the hospital and almost died like Shawna had reported? He obviously was ill, but with what?
Instead, I told him all about myself, how my dad died when I was young and how my mom lost her job and we ended up living at my uncle’s. I told him that I really missed Massachusetts and all my friends back there, but that I was slowly getting used to living on the island with my mom and brother and glad to have a roof over our heads, even if it was covered in hundred-year-old moss.
At one point I brought up the note that he flew my way that first day and asked him what it meant.
“To be honest,” he chuckled, “I don’t remember what it said.”
I reminded him as best I could, but wasn’t one hundred percent sure either since I had been so quick to throw it away.
“I’ll have to think about it and get back to you.” I could tell he was smiling on the other end.
“So, are you gonna be there tomorrow?”
“Be where?”
“In school.” I couldn’t help but ask.
“For sure,” he said and proceeded to have a coughing fit.
I was concerned. “Are you all right?”
He caught his breath. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
Michael continued to cough, but in between managed a, “See ya’ tomorrow.”
“Kay,” I said and we hung up.
I felt so badly for him. I wondered if his coughing attack had something to do with his illness or if he just had a cold. It seemed like everybody was walking around sneezing and coughing. I guessed it was that time of year. Either way, I was content and easily fell asleep knowing that I would definitely be seeing Michael the very next day.
• • •
When the clock ticked and the minute hand landed on the fifty-nine, it sounded, to me, as if someone beat loudly on a steel drum. One more move and homeroom would be over. And still no sign of Michael Cooper.
Maybe he’d be coming in late, I thought. I felt so stupid because I had gotten up extra early that morning to accessorize a cute, new outfit I had bought at the outlets on the mainland earlier in the month; a pair of skinny jeans and a girly, floral top. I also straightened my hair and even put on blue eyeliner and mascara. I looked pretty, but was beginning to think that I had gone to all that trouble for no reason.
The minute hand moved and the bell rang more deafening than ever before. Homeroom was over. I grabbed my books and headed out the door. Just as I entered the hallway, Tessa Anderson sidled up beside me.
“What’s the special occasion?”
I turned toward her. “What do you mean?”
“I mean why are you all dolled up?”
“’Cause I want to be,” I answered meanly.
“Well, you look nice,” she answered and scooted away.
I stopped in the middle of the hall and shrugged. “Thanks,” I said out loud, to no one in particular, while the others ambled all around me.
• • •
The rest of the day dragged on and I didn’t pay attention during one single class. Instead, I stared out the little glass windows that were built into the middle of all the classroom doors, hoping to catch a glimpse of Michael walking by. But I never did. If he wasn’t going to be in school, why didn’t he call or text me? And why did he even say he was coming in at all?
Lunch wasn’t much better either. Almost immediately Erica and Taylor could tell that I was preoccupied. Erica got right to the point.
“What the hell is wrong with you today?”
I was so deep in thought, I didn’t even hear her question. She waved her hand in front of my face.
“Hello? Earth to Willow.”
I snapped out of it. “What?” I felt like I was in a daze.
“What’s up with you? You’re acting so bizarre today.”
“I don’t know. I’m just not feeling well,” I lied. I didn’t have to consider it really lying, I reasoned, if my heart was aching.
Erica and Taylor ignored me, ate their lunch and gossiped as usual. My ears didn’t perk up like they normally would have. As I sat there and picked at my salad, I wondered if Michael was okay and angry with myself for even caring.
CHAPTER
EIGHT
In the Middle of Nowhere (Willow's Journey #1) Page 7
