Chapter Thirty
Tray and I decided on the way home that I should use my nurse’s excuse for the remainder of the week. That would give us until Monday to hopefully straighten out this mess. We would just face the fallout when we returned to school – if there was any fallout, that is.
Celeste insisted that I take the book home and finish reading it. She said it would help her, help me. I had no clue what she meant by those words, but I promised to take excellent care of it.
She had given me a hug when I walked out the door. I reluctantly returned her embrace. It seems that somehow she had become close to me in the few hours we had known each other. Sadly, except for Elizabeth, I had never been hugged by a female adult. I assume that this females hugging females’ situation is a southern thing. Krista’s grandmother had hugged me the first time we had met too. I only hoped that I could get used to this southern female custom because it appeared that my brother and I would probably be living here for a while. We would have to stay until I could retrieve the missing part of my spirit.
My brother and I made the strange, unspoken decision to avoid talking about the day’s events. I guess he believed I was just all talked out. I took a long shower when we arrived home. After a quick dinner, Tray crashed out on the sofa in front of the television and I called Krista.
I had just enough time to apologize for not calling her last night like I promised before she interrupted me. I couldn’t get a word in edgewise. The office had my backpack and the receptionist released it to Krista. I asked her to please check through it. The only things missing were my CD’s and the portable player. We both guessed that they had been stolen because the office would have informed her if they had been confiscated. I felt the pain of that loss since our other stereo had been destroyed as a result of my terrified panic.
I tried to shrug off the theft, but Tray was right – I couldn’t imagine living very long without some type of music. Since I was the one that paid our bills, I knew how much we had in our monthly budget. We didn’t have the extra money to replace either the stereo or my portable CD player right then.
Krista continued to talk to me for hours about Greg – every detail of every single move he had made and every word he had spoken. I have never heard anyone get so excited about someone else’s love of pizza without sauce. I thought I would have a difficult time concentrating on what she was talking about, but her happiness made it much easier to listen.
It took my mind off the insanity for a while too…
She didn’t say anything about the dark clique boys pulling a prank on Greg or that the school was in an uproar over some bizarre incident before assembly. I couldn’t decide if it was better to ask her if she had heard anything strange or just let it go. I eventually decided that Krista would have definitely said something if the whole school was in upheaval after witnessing some loony floozy chick tripping out in the breezeway. She would certainly mention if the dark clique kids did something crazy.
I would have given her my new cell phone number, but I still couldn’t manage to get a word in edgewise. I finally interrupted her because it was so late. I told her I would have to talk to her tomorrow. I turned off the kitchen light and headed toward the bathroom to get ready for bed. I walked by my bedroom and then whirled around when I realized something was different.
I flipped on the light and realized in surprise that it was empty except for the bed and a different dresser. It looked just like the day we moved in. I walked further down the hallway and discovered that my personal items were in the master bedroom. I stood there in shock.
“I didn’t go through any of your stuff – just so you know. I moved your dresser without opening a single drawer. I decided that you need a change of scenery. I hope you don’t mind,” Tray suddenly whispered from behind me.
When he spoke to me, I was startled. I didn’t realize he was awake.
“That was very nice of you, but I think you should have the master bedroom,” I replied and felt the adrenaline rushing through my veins from his silent approach.
“Nah, I’m content where I’m at. Besides, you have at least double the amount of stuff that I have. By the way, I never realized that fact until I moved your things from room to room. All that flippin’ girl stuff must take up a lot of space, huh?” he joked and then he ran into the bathroom so he could have the first turn.
“Bah…” I replied and I tried to grab his arm to prevent his escape.
He is very fast – especially when he is motivated. He easily slipped into the bathroom ahead of me without a problem.
I surveyed my new bedroom and realized that he must have been up all night long moving my things. Every item had been meticulously placed just like I had them in the other room. Tray wanted me to sleep somewhere that didn’t hold any bad memories, but was still familiar to me. His gesture made my heart swell – I love my brother. I sprawled out across my new bed and waited for my turn in the bathroom.
When Tray finally came out, I jumped up and gave him a hug and thanked him for everything. I took another shower – this was becoming obsessive, but I couldn’t seem to help myself.
He was asleep by the time I came out of the bathroom. So I turned on my bedside light, slid under the covers and opened the leather bound book.
I was spellbound as I read all night long…
Ember Rising Light (Book One) Page 34
