Spirited

by J. A. Hunter

  His dark tousled hair covered half his eyes-but I could still see the bright blue peeking through the strands. He had a medium build, not too thin, but not stocky. He looked healthy. His curved face made him seem younger than the build of his body showed him to be.

  He smiled as Katie continued her play. His skin seemed to almost glow and there was a sparkle in his eyes as he watched her. I could see the love for her and knew it had to be her brother. I could see the resemblance in his face- they almost had the same nose.

  "What are you looking at?" My mother asked as she walked in the kitchen.

  "Nothing- how was work?" I quickly turned around to greet her.

  "Busy as usual, we were understaffed again" The hospital had gone through cutbacks which left only a handful of nurses. My mother was one of the lucky ones.

  "Well hopefully it gets better soon. You always look exhausted when you get home" I worried about her overdoing it. She wasn't as young as she used to be.

  "Speaking of exhausted, why don't we order dinner tonight?" She sat at the table and started thumbing through the stack of take-out menus we collected from our mailbox.

  "Chinese?" I hoped.

  "Sure, you know what your father likes, you can order" She handed me the phone.

  I placed the order, set the phone down and looked out the window again. I just wanted one more look at him, but nobody was there. I laughed at myself as I imagined Katie inside smearing dirt all over the neighbor's couch with her dolly.

  I heard the door as my dad bellowed out his hello. His footsteps were louder than usual while he made his way to the kitchen.

  "Hi sweetie" he smiled as he kissed my cheek.

  "Hi dad"

  "Where is your mom?" He asked.

  "I think she's in the shower, we ordered Chinese for dinner"

  "That sounds good, how was school?"

  "It was ok. Heather got a car so I didn't have to take the bus"

  "Well that's nice; I hope she is a good driver if she is going to be delivering my precious cargo" He hinted concern.

  Since the accident my dad often got overly emotional when he talked about me. I always dismissed it as praise that I was still with him, but I could also feel the hurt in his voice, almost as though talking about me caused him to think about Nina.

  "She is" I lied. The truth is her driving scared the hell out of me.

  The doorbell rang and my dad leapt into action. Even though my mother left the money on the table for the food, he felt it was his duty to pay for it- another glitch of male pride.

  We spent the night talking over Chow Mein and egg rolls and watching reruns of 80's T.V. shows. It was the only sense of normalcy we had together. Even after 3 years we often caught ourselves sitting in silence lost in our own thoughts. We all knew what each other was thinking but none of us had the courage to say anything out loud.

  The next morning was redundant. I took a shower, got dressed, had coffee and waited for Heather to pull into the driveway. I sat on the porch swing enjoying the morning air.

  The grass was coated in a thin layer of dew from the moist night. Across the street two squirrels were running up a nearby oak tree playfully and I remembered Katie mentioning her like for them.

  As my eyes panned across the thick forest I was startled by the dark figure standing at the edge. His ink black hair disappeared into the shadows of the woods behind him- but his pale face seemed to shine brightly. He stood so still it was statuesque.

  I saw a small sparkle in his pupils as he stared back at me, emotionless. A chill ran up my spine, causing my eyes to shut as I shuddered. Once I opened them again, he was gone.

  I recognized him from yesterday, the young man watching Katie. I remembered her telling me how her brother liked to explore the forest by himself. It made me wonder why he didn't have to go to school like I did. He looked to be around my age.

  I didn't have a chance to see where he went before Heather came around the corner, much faster than she should have been.

  "Come on Ally- we are going to be late" Alex hollered as he jumped out of the car.

  My eyes stayed fixated on the empty spot of the woods as I walked to the car. I slid into the back seat, still looking around for him as Heather pulled away from my house.

  I couldn't stop thinking about him during the drive to school. What was it about him that had me so flustered?

  Heather and Alex carried on their own conversation. I nodded or laughed when I caught a comment being directed toward me.

  I spent the first few classes thinking about the boy and the look in his eyes. He didn't blink, didn't move, it was almost as if my mind made him up. It wasn't until 5th period gym class that Heather confronted me.

  "What is up with you?" She asked concerned.

  "Nothing, why?" I flashed the most innocent smile I could muster.

  "You've been so distant this morning"

  "Sorry, just a lot on my mind" I tried to be cryptic, hoping she would drop it.

  "Like what?" She didn't drop it.

  "I've been seeing this guy…"

  "Well it's about time- tell me all about him" Heather's voice when up 3 octaves to a gossip squeal.

  "No, it's not like that. It's weird; he was just watching me this morning. I think it's the neighbor's son"

  "Oh, sounds like you have a stalker. Is he at least cute?" Of course Heather could turn a stalking into a hookup.

  "Actually, he is extremely cute. He has these deep blue eyes and scruffy hair and…"

  "Ally! Do you have a crush?" Heather shouted louder than I wanted her to, drawing the attention of the rest of the gym class.

  "Crap! I think I do" I laughed as my cheeks flushed apple red.

  "Maybe you should say hi next time" She advised.

  Heather should have known I wasn't confident enough to put myself out that way. I was often the girl in the back of the group and never the one leading.

  "NO WAY! If he wants to meet me, he can make the first move"

  I remembered Katie telling me he was shy. If I really left it up to him, would we ever really meet?

  "Get over it and get flirting" Heather demanded. I knew then the conversation wasn't going to change.

  I breathed a sigh of relief when the coach commanded us into a line and started calling out the names for the dodge ball teams. When Heather got called to a team I hoped I was on the other team. Maybe a dodge ball to her head would spark better advice.

  The hour went by quickly and I was taken out of the game as soon as it started. Sports were never my strong point. I was just happy the ball hit my leg. The last time I played dodge ball there was so much blood. My nose was swollen for two weeks.

  I sat quietly, listening to my geometry teacher ramble on about angle bisectors and planes. Alex spent the glass chewing on his pen when he wasn't doodling on his notebook. He looked even more bored than I was.

  Halfway through the class the door opened and I sighed annoyed. Cory walked in gripping a white slip in his large hand. I knew what it was before he reached Mr. Charlone and was directed to the only empty seat left in the class, the one beside me.

  "Hey Ally." Cory smiled as his eyes stared through me.

  "Hi."

  "It's a nice surprise that you're in this class." He lied- I frowned. I wasn't convinced that the class change had nothing to do with me.

  Throughout my junior year Cory tried getting my attention. Even when he dated half the cheerleading squad and the random Barbie doll, he still went after me. On the days when my self-esteem was especially low I found myself enjoying the pursuit and attention. But in the end, he was just an annoyance.

  As soon as the bell rang I dodged Cory and sprinted for the door. I don't even remember why I signed up for the class. I wasn't sure what I was going to study in college, but I knew it wouldn't have anything to do with geometry.

  Heather sped off as soon as I stepped out of the car. From the conversation she and Alex were having on the way home I could tell they needed ti
me alone.

  Before I went inside I looked toward the woods, hoping to see the boy again- but he was nowhere to be seen. I went to the kitchen and looked out the window and didn't see him or Katie in the backyard either.

  My parents came home and we had dinner while we watched T.V. in silence. I knew what they were thinking about, but I was still thinking about him. The more I pictured him the cuter he seemed. Even his intense stare started to seem charming.

  As the clock changed to 10, I kissed my parents goodnight and went upstairs. I brushed my hair in the mirror, untangling the day. I slipped on my nightgown and crawled under my blankets.

  I could hear the breeze outside my window pushing the branches of the large oak tree in the yard. The cracking of the branches seemed louder than usual and I closed the window.

  I shut the light off and shut my eyes. I was able to drift to sleep quickly.

  The light was bright and the birds chirped a sonnet of bliss. I felt warm all over as the sun beat down on my bare arms. I walked slowly off the porch, enjoying the beautiful day that surrounded me.

  Even as warm as the rays were, a sudden chill came over me. I felt as though I was being watched, the same feeling I had when I saw his piercing blue eyes penetrating me.

  I hesitated at the end of my yard and searched for him. It wasn't hard to find him- standing in the middle of the road. His stare was fixated on me as his body stayed as still as death. It took a moment for my brain to command my feet to move.

  As I inched my way closer, he remained- emotionless, cold, unnerving. I continued- swallowing hard every breath I took.

  As I reached him, only his eyes moved, following me. They connected with mine. The deep blue I had admired from afar had swirling waves of grey in them.

  "Hello?" I stuttered as my hands shook under my skin. He didn't reply.

  "Who are you?" His silence continued.

  Before I could ask another question his body radiated a blinding light. The tears in my eyes forced them closed and he was gone.

  I woke in a cold sweat-my skin still warm from the sun.

  My heart beat under my chest as I tried to calm my breathing. I laughed at my overt interest in someone I had never even met.

  Two

  Each morning I waited for Heather to pick me up, I couldn't stop myself from constantly looking around, trying to catch even a glimpse of the new stranger in my life. He was never there. He may have never been there at all.

  With each passing day, I had gotten closer to believing that I made him up. That he was simply a figment of my lonely imagination. The perfect man molded in my mind and brought to life by my wishes.

  That was until I saw him again, in the backyard- playing with Katie. It was time to meet him. I ran from my kitchen and out the back door. But as quickly as I saw him, he was gone again, as was Katie. I was beginning to feel discouraged before I heard the faint sound of the doorbell. I hurried inside as it rang again. Peering through the peephole I couldn't see anyone, but it rang again.

  "Hi Ally" Katie's little voice greeted me. At only 4 feet tall it was no wonder why I didn't see her in the peephole.

  "Hi Katie" I mumbled as my eyes were drawn to her brother standing behind her.

  "Umm Hi" I greeted him nervously. Just like my dream his eyes were speckled with swirls of light gray.

  Like an optical illusion the swirls seemed in constant movement even though he stood completely still.

  "Hi" His voice was soft and shallow.

  There was a small hint of adolescence peeking through the deeper tone. I watched his lips part as he spoke-the first movement I had ever seen from him.

  "Do you want to come hiking with us? Reed said it's ok" Katie invited excitedly.

  Finally, a name to the face, Reed- it didn't suit him at all. He looked more like a Josh, or a David. But I liked it.

  "Sure." I shyly replied, still caught in Reed's glare.

  Katie skipped between me and Reed as we crossed the street to the woods.

  I did my best not to stare, but his stride was long and flowing. He wasn't tall enough for such a long stride. I stood at 5'2" and he only had a few inches on me- perhaps 5'8" or 5'9". His shortness with his stocky build made him seem bigger than he really was.

  "There is this pond I want to show you" Katie smiled.

  "Sounds pretty" I replied. Reed didn't say much, didn't look in my direction, just continued alongside Katie.

  We entered through a break in the forest line. Small gaps in the tree tops allowed beams of light in. There was a clearly beaten path for us to follow. The woods were often used by teenagers looking for privacy and I was expecting to run across young couples at any moment.

  It was quiet though. There were no animals or birds chirping and barely the sound of leaves crunching beneath our feet. It offered a bit of solace- it was the kind of place I could see myself visiting often.

  As we continued deeper into the woods, I let myself fall back further from them, giving me the chance to admire Reed without being caught.

  He was so light on his feet, the complete opposite of my hard steps. His tight t-shirt clung to his body, letting me see his form beneath it. He wore a pair of tattered jeans and black and white sneakers. He wasn't flashy in the way he dressed and you can see he wore what was comfortable.

  While I stared I felt a tug on my ankle as I tripped on a vine. I reached out to catch myself on Reed but must have missed because I found myself on the ground. The sharp sting and small trickles of blood on my knee showed the hard rocks I landed on. Of course it had to happen on a day I was wearing shorts.

  Flush red in embarrassment I quickly picked myself up and dusted off, hoping he didn't see my clumsiness. I was always so sure footed, but I learned my lesson about paying attention.

  "Are you ok?" He turned concerned.

  "Yeah, I'm fine." I lied, I was devastated.

  "Are you sure? You're bleeding" He continued to interrogate.

  "Yeah it's nothing." I hissed through my teeth as I flashed a fake smile. Katie giggled at me.

  He turned back and we continued on- I limped through the pain. As we approached the pond the throbbing in my leg stopped. Katie ran to the edge and looked into the clear water.

  The pond couldn't have been much larger than a swimming pool. There were overgrown shrubs surrounding the other side and large rocks offered a place for me to sit.

  I stopped at the edge of the pond next to Katie, waiting to see where Reed would go. I waited for him to take a seat on the large boulders along the edge of the water. I lingered beside Katie a little longer-not to seem desperate to get closer to him.

  Once Katie started playing in the water I slowly made my way to the rocks and climbed up-sitting next to him.

  "So your Katie's brother" I looked away ashamed that it was the best line I could think of to start a conversation.

  "Yep, for 6 years now" he laughed. His hollow chuckle was soothing.

  "How do you like your new house?"

  "It seems nice. I haven't spent enough time there yet to know for sure."

  Of course he hasn't, he only moved in last week.

  "How old are you?" I felt the need to ask. His face made him seem young but his body added maturity- it was hard to guess his age.

  "18 and you?" He finally turned to look at me, catching my eyes with his.

  I paused. The swirls grabbed me and pulled me in.

  "Umm...17, almost 18" I quickly corrected. I didn't want him looking at me like a child.

  "Do you go to school?" I didn’t want him to stop talking. There was a small hint of south in his voice that appealed to me.

  "No, not anymore. But you do, right?" He turned back to me.

  "Yes, it’s my last year though" I perked up proudly, doing my best not to slouch.

  "What else do you do?" He asked.

  "You mean for fun?"

  "Yeah"

  "Hang out with friends, read, and watch TV." I sounded so boring. I bet he was used to older girl
s who took road trips and snuck into clubs.

  "I miss watching TV" He frowned.

  "Miss it?" I was confused. Did they not own a TV?

  "Umm, the cable isn't hooked up yet" He explained quickly,

  I ran out of nerves to ask anything else and we sat quietly for what felt like an eternity.

  I occasionally stole a glance, piecing together each part of him in my mind. He sat so still, so calmly. I on the other hand couldn't stop fidgeting. I would sit with my legs tucked under me, then bring my knees to my chest, then sit Indian style, then stand for a moment, then sit again. But none of my movements caught his attention.

  The sun began to set and the shadows of the woods started to grow.

  "Time to go home Katie" Reed commanded.

  "Ok…coming!" she yelled from the far corner of the pond.

  We both stood and I followed as Reed effortlessly climbed down the rocks- I was more careful.