Chapter Fifty Three
It was highly annoying, but I couldn’t get Tray to reveal whether he had more than friend-type feelings for Willow. I had hinted and subtly questioned him for days – still nothing. Although we spent every day over at Sunridge during our holiday break, I couldn’t get Willow to cooperate with my potential relationship investigation either. The more I saw them interact, the more I wanted to see them together. I just had no idea how to make that happen.
That’s not very shocking considering I have never been interested in dating any boy. So I was clueless about relationships in general. Krista however, was a relationship expert and had an ability to read people. We had been quietly plotting our initial strategy because I needed her assistance.
I placed Matchmaker on my “Careers to Have Before I Die” list…
That particular profession was one I wanted to successfully check off, soon. It was very difficult for my best friend to help me, because she still hadn’t met Willow yet. When we stopped by Sunridge to pick her up for school on January 2nd, I was no closer to having an answer or meeting my career goal either. I was extremely worried because Eli Weston could mess up my Tray-Willow-relationship plan. I couldn’t do anything about that particular relationship wrecking problem though because I had already introduced him to Willow.
Curses!
Tray spent the ride to school explaining all the joys of taking Shop Class to Willow. She obviously knew that my brother was going to use his gift of obliteration so they could take the same classes. She threatened him with an unsharpened pencil if he even tried to register her for that ‘testosterone fueled’ course. I wondered if his gift would work on her. Their Shop Class joys vs. certain death with the first broken fingernail debate continued as she walked into the administrative offices with him. She ended up with Creative Writing during his Shop Class. I guess either his obliterations don’t work on her or Tray relented.
Sadly, my celebrity status hadn’t vanished. So I spent most of the morning complimenting everyone’s new clothes, shoes and jewelry in between classroom changes. When the lunch bell finally rang, I ran to the cafeteria. I had been waiting all day for Krista to be able to scope out Tray and Willow. I desperately needed her take on the situation. We had spent the last few days plotting a scheme. I would get them both talking and she would watch them closely for signs of romantic potential.
Somehow, I had managed to forget that everything in my life has been falling to pieces lately…
Willow and Tray were waiting for me outside the lunchroom, so we could walk in together. My brother was still on high alert anytime I get near the cafeteria. Everyone we walked by wanted to be introduced to Willow – well, except the dark clique. I was relieved when I realized they wouldn’t be welcoming her, because she was walking with the hulk. Willow was polite and smiled at everyone, but she looked overwhelmed by the prospect of remembering the several hundred names and faces. Tray looked around cautiously, like he was ready to react if necessary. I wondered as we worked our way across the lunchroom if my brother would ever relax again in this cafeteria.
Five minutes later, we finally reached our table. Then, fate would strike a blow against my matchmaking career goal. I stepped up to my chair and was surprised to see Eli Weston sitting beside Greg. I didn’t know whether to throw up or run away screaming.
Now, I will never get Krista’s take on their relationship potential and Eli would likely cash in his ridiculous rain check too – double curses.
“Hi, Eli you remember my brother, Tray and Willow, right?” I asked and hoped I hid my disappointment well enough.
“Sure, hi again, please sit down,” Eli replied.
He motioned to the available chairs and stood up until Willow and I were seated. I wanted to scratch his dark brown eyeballs out. From the look Krista gave me, she would be happy to assist me with that task.
How dare he act like this is his table and we are his chosen guests…
I knew it was petty and juvenile to think such a silly thought. It’s not like we owned these chairs or something. I had just worked hard to get things back to at least a semblance of normal around our lunch table, and Eli Weston wasn’t even close to that. If I had expected any assistance from any of my other friends besides Krista, I would be disappointed yet again.
All the unattached girls at the table were drooling over Eli like they were a pack of starving wolves and he was fresh meat. I suppose the guys were worried about me having another meltdown because they talked to Eli like he had always been a part of our group.
Will anything ever go right??
Willow chatted with everyone in her quiet and fun loving way. Eli asked her questions and she responded with more than one-word answers. Tray had his arm draped across the back of her chair, but he didn’t touch her in anyway. He just sat there eating his fries and being ridiculously perplexing to me.
I had this brief, but compelling urge to stand on the tabletop, beat my chest like an untamed gorilla and scream at the top of my lungs. Maybe that would make Eli exit my world because that little scene couldn’t possibly be good for his next political campaign. I quickly decided against doing it because knowing my luck, he would use it to earn a Golden Globe or whatever that newspaper award was. The headline would read Ember, the Real Psychotic Deal…
I’m learning that bizarre headlines and outlandish stories make people do the craziest things. The crowd tends to imitate the madness. I started laughing out loud at the thought of the dark clique pounding on their chests and screaming at the top of their lungs. I figured Cat Girl would most likely hiss and spit because acting like a gorilla would offend her super delicate nature or pop her over-inflated push-up bra.
I was laughing so hard at that loony thought that my other friends joined in my tiny mental breakdown – unaware. They didn’t know what I found so incredibly funny, but my laughter was contagious.
Only one good thing happened during that entire lunch period. Eli didn’t try to claim his rain check. I had waited all morning long for Krista’s insight and we had spent hours detailing our plans. Sadly, all I had received for my patience and time was handsome, popular, perfect Eli Weston drooling over Willow. Well, I also had a head full of pure madness, but that doesn’t really count.
I suppose there’s always tomorrow…I thought to myself in disappointment.
I should have remembered that tomorrow never comes…
Ember Rising Light (Book One) Page 57
