The Price of a Gift (The Price of Secrets Series)

by Ashley Drake

  Chapter 6

  "Now this is the life. I knew being friends with you would pay off one day Han." Jaycee said as she laid on a float in the pool.

  "I feel the love." I dove off the diving board aiming her way. I heard her scream as I went under.

  When I emerged I heard Kayla, Jaycee and Phoebe talking about school. "I think we should wait until school starts back before we have a pool party. So we can see who got cuter over the summer, and we could adjust the guest list if needed. It could be a back to school bash."

  "Even though I don't agree with everything Phoebe just said, I do agree on waiting. That way I can get myself a new bikini because they will be on sale by then. I need something to give me curves." Kayla said as she got up from her chair to come join us in the water. Bless her heart, she was right. She was the shortest of the four of us and stick thin.

  "And just who do you want a new bathing suit for?" Jaycee said as she tilted her sunglasses down her nose so we could see her wiggle her eyebrows. I needed to change the subject because I could see Kayla's face turning red and it wasn't from the sun.

  "Oh good Lord Jaycee, why do you have sunglasses on in the pool? This is not 1920's Hollywood." I looked at Kayla then at Phoebe. They caught on and we slowly made our way toward Jaycee.

  "No! You three stay away from me. I'm having a good hair day! I mean...." And she was under. The three of us took off to the other side of the pool laughing. She came popping up out of the water gasping for air. "Bitches! Stop laughing!" Of course that just made us laugh more. We watched her try to be hard core with wet hair in her face. "I hate you all." She grabbed her nose to go under the water to get her hair to slick back, but we saw her smiling on the way down.

  "You love us." I said when she came back up.

  "Yes, unfortunately. You're my bitches. And while we are on the subject, I let Jake go. Sorry Phebs."

  "That's ok. I planned on dumping Dillon when school starts back anyways. He doesn't like to do anything fun or anything that involves spending money. Why did you end it?"

  "I just decided he's not for me." Jaycee said while examining her nails.

  "Oh my gosh!" I yelped. I didn't mean to see it, I wasn't trying. Jaycee shot me a fierce look. Mike, she likes Mike!

  "What's wrong?" Kayla asked.

  "Nothing," Jaycee said coldly, "it was just a big annoying bug."

  "I'm sorry. It was an accident." I whispered. I promised Jaycee when I first told her what I could do that I would never try to get inside her head.

  "Well, if you're not seeing Jake any more, I'm gonna go ahead and break up with Dillon tonight." Phebs said nonchalantly as she laid back in the water and started floating.

  "I don't understand how you can take a relationship so lightly. Did you ever ask Dillon why he didn't want to spend any money? Did he even have any to spend?" I couldn't believe it, Kayla was a little pissed. But I wasn't gonna look this time. She would tell us when she's ready.

  "Chill Kayla, it's only been a few weeks. It wasn't a relationship. We were just hanging out... exclusively." Phoebe all but mumbled that last word.

  "It's ok Kayla, we're just doing it to them before they do it to us." Jaycee shared her wisdom.

  "I just don't like seeing anyone get hurt." Kayla said as she got out of the pool and laid on a lounge chair to let the sun dry her off.

  "Trust me, he will have another girl by tomorrow." Phoebe said, still floating around the pool. Kayla can't see it, but Jaycee and Phoebe are just afraid of getting their heart stomped on. So they try not to get too close to a guy.

  "Ok so, we will have it the second weekend after school starts." I'm getting good at this whole changing the subject thing.

  "Listen up ladies," Jaycee said snapping her fingers. She had made her way back on her float, looking more like she should be on a throne, "that means we have four weeks to tone up and be in our best tip top bikini body shape."

  "Well I'm out of luck. It would take a year to have me looking good." Kayla said, looking down at herself. She laughed but I could tell she was a little serious.

  "Oh please. You're gorgeous. All four of us are." Jaycee added, "Do you think I would be friends with you guys if you weren't?" Jaycee is a strong person and never wants you to forget it, but she is also loving, caring, and loyal. She puts on the act, but she has a huge heart. And she would pull off my arm and beat me with it if I told anyone that. "We will get you a push up bikini top and make sure the top and bottom are horizontal stripes. And there you go, instant curves. I think you should go classic blue and white AND get white sunglasses, no red. With red flip flops." Did I mention Jaycee loves fashion?

  Kayla looked a little overwhelmed. "That sounds pricey."

  Jaycee was way ahead of her. "I have red sunglasses and flip flops you can borrow. The shoes might be a little big but they will work."

  "If you're sure you don't mind, that would be great." Kayla smiled and looked a little relieved. If she doesn't hurry up and spill what's going on with her, I'm going to burst.

  "I thought you girls might be thirsty so I brought you some drinks." Mom said as she laid a tray holding four plastic cups along with a small bowl of fruit. She loves it when my friends come over to hang out. She thinks it helps me feel normal. Of course, she doesn't say that out loud.

  "Hey Marie, how many people does Hannah get to invite to the pool party?" Jaycee asked. My friends’ call my mom by her first name cause Mom feels weird being called Mrs. Price. She thinks it's too formal sounding.

  "Well, I would say 20. And invite 5 or so extra just in case some can't make it. When do you want to have it?"

  I started to answer but Jaycee did it for me. "In four weeks."

  "That's fine with me, but keep it to 20. And no Jaycee, it cannot be the four of you and 16 guys." She knows my best friend very well. "I'm going to run some errands. Have fun but make sure you all use sun screen."

  After mom went back inside Jaycee said, "Ok so we need to make sure the other six girls invited are dogs."

  Kayla, Phoebe and I yelled at the same time, "Jaycee!" Even though the thought had already crossed each of our minds.

  "What's up with Kayla?" Jaycee asked, walking out of my bathroom after changing out of her bathing suit.

  "I don't know but I was wondering the same thing." I plopped down on my bed. My arms and legs were sore from swimming.

  "You mean you didn't look?" Uh oh, she's still upset about the Mike thing.

  "I said I was sorry. You know I didn't mean it. He just popped in my head wearing just his basketball shorts so I knew it was coming from you." That got a smile out of her. "Jaycee, why didn't you just tell me you liked him? Hello, I tell you everything."

  She sat down beside me and pulled my hair. Her way of saying I was forgiven. She gave a sigh. "Because I didn't want you to think he was just another guy to add to my collection. I've liked him for awhile, so I know you didn't want to look or you would have known before now. He's like one of my best guy friends. He's different." I couldn't believe it, she was nervous, over a boy!

  "Why don't you let him know you like him? Jaycee you know any guy would line up to have you interested in them."

  She grabbed my hand and I instantly felt her hesitation. "What would I do if he didn't feel the same way? How would I ever face him again? Hannah, would you do your best friend, who loves you like a sister, a favor?"

  I knew where this was going without even having to cheat, but I asked anyway. "What is it?"

  With her best puppy dog face she asked, "Will you look for me? Just a little, itty, bitty, tiny look? Please, for me? I have never asked you to use your gift thing for me before." And she hasn't, ever. She has always been there for me. Treated me the same as she always had after I told her my secret.

  I can give her this one thing. "Ok, I will look. As soon as school starts, I promise."

  She hugged me so tight I thought she was gonna break a rib. "Thank you thank you thank you!"

  Pulling away so I could breath
e I added, "It's the least I can do. You help me more than you know. Like tonight for instances, you being here keeps my 'visitors' away so I can just enjoy my best friend and talk about girl stuff. I don't know why, but the living impaired doesn't come around much when you're here. You help me forget my weirdness so I can feel normal."

  "Well you have to admit, it has its perks." Jaycee smiled.

  "Like what?" I asked, having no clue.

  "Oh it can't be all bad Miss I made an A in math." She poked her finger at me.

  "You know I couldn’t have cheated unless Mrs. Adams was actually thinking of the answer key while we took our tests. I have never done that because I'm afraid I will be punished. Like karma will get me or something. And you could have made an A too if you opened a book every once in a while." I poked her back.

  She laughed. "Now where's the fun in that? But it would be nice to be special and be able to do some of the things you can do. I feel like you’re Batman and I'm that butler guy keeping your secret."

  I tried to keep from smiling. "A butler you're not. Now a French maid, maybe."

  "Hey if everything works out, maybe we can double date. Me and Mike and you and the guy who bought your house!"

  I knew she was just trying to get a reaction from me so I brushed it off with. “Yeah right, that ain’t gonna happen." I couldn't ignore the fact that my pulse jumped just thinking of Daniel. I tried telling myself that I had a really embarrassing moment when meeting him and that was the only reason I kept replaying it in my head over and over again.

  "Hannah Banana supper is ready." Dad yelled from the kitchen and I rolled my eyes.

  "Hannah banana is cute. My dad's nickname for me is hemorrhoid, cause he says I'm a pain in his ass."

  Laughing I said "You're lying. He does not." We got up to go eat. “I'm gonna get a swear jar and you are gonna have to put a quarter in it every time you curse. Then I'm gonna use it to fund my senior beach trip."

  "Well hell, I better get my wallet." We giggled as we headed for the dining room.

  After planning what seemed like our entire sophomore year, we finally fell asleep. At 4 o'clock in the morning I woke up and grabbed my diary. I wanted to write down the dream I just had before I forgot it.

  Dear Diary, I know it's 4 in the morning but I wanted to share my dream. I'm sure it wasn't a premonition of things to come. It was just a really good dream. It felt like I was with the same guy that was in my other dream. And again I couldn't see his face, at first. We were walking hand in hand again but this time instead of the beach we were hiking at Grandfather Mountain. Which is weird cause I have never been hiking. The walking track at the park is the closest I've came. Anyways, I was enjoying being with him. He had packed a picnic basket for us and had surprised me with it. He had just laid down a blanket and I was getting the sandwiches out of the basket when he reached for my hand and he kissed it! I felt the electricity down to my toes. It was right then my dream self realized my mystery guy was Daniel! He had to be the one from my last dream too. Which is really crazy cause I hadn't even met Daniel yet when I had the last dream. Maybe my mind is just making me think it's the same person. I was looking in those dark chocolate yummy eyes of his and he said, "You know you can be yourself with me. We all have secretes Hannah." Then the dream changed and we were walking again. It was beautiful. The leaves were a lush green and all the bushes had flowers that were at perfect bloom. Then we saw Jaycee and Mike just sitting on the ground, which Jaycee would never do in real life. My dream self was like; this is why I'm dreaming this, because Jaycee had made the comment about double dating. And the whole time I kept hearing something following us. It kept getting closer and closer. I was starting to get scared that this wonderful dream was gonna switch to a nightmare. Or worse, the black shadow. Then Daniel squeezed my hand and said, "Don't be afraid. This is mine." He stopped walking and pulled me closer to him. He was about to kiss me, I know he was, but then I woke up. What sucks about that is I know it will never happen, even though I felt more emotion in that dream than the entire 9th grade year with Josh. And what the heck does 'this is mine' mean? Was he saying I was his? Crap, I can't even have a dream that doesn't have riddles in it! It was the best dream and I wanted it in writing so I wouldn't forget how wonderful I felt in it. Or how sad I was when I woke up finding out it wasn't real. Ok so I'm going back to sleep now hoping there is a part two. Wish me luck!

  "I meant to tell you I emailed Charles Carver and he responded back." My dad said as we pulled into the mall parking lot.

  “And?" I asked while unbuckling my seat belt.

  "I just asked him to call me as soon as he gets back into town, and that I really need to go over something important with him. He said he would call me on his way back and I can meet up with him."

  I was relieved. "Thanks Dad. I mean it, that makes me feel much better."

  Before he let me out of the car he pulled out his wallet and handed me fifty dollars and said. "I know your mom and I gave you the credit card and set a limit for how much money you can spend on school clothes today, but this is a little extra. Buy some lunch or shoes or something with it. Just don't tell your mom." He said and winked at me.

  I smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "I promise I won’t say a word." Just like I promised I wouldn't tell Dad about the fifty Mom slipped me on my way out the door. This means I can afford to accessorize every outfit I buy. Or should I say that's what Jaycee will talk me into spending the extra money on.

  "I love you and remember, I will be picking you up at 3 o'clock. That will give you girls plenty of time to shop. If you need me to get you earlier just call me."

  "Got it. Bye. I love you too." With that, I was out the door and heading toward the mall entrance. I knew Dad wouldn't leave until he saw at least one of my friends there, so Jaycee had told me she would wait on me. I was actually shocked to see that she beat me here. We waved at my dad and went to meet up with Phoebe and Kayla. Ever since the summer of 6th grade the four of us have had this tradition. The week before school starts back we go clothes shopping together and help pick stuff out for each other.

  "Where to first?" Phoebe asked when we caught up with them.

  Without any hesitation I answered, "Cappuccino."

  "What the hell is wrong with Kayla?" Phoebe whispered. She had pulled me into a dressing room with her.

  "I don't have a clue. She hasn't bought anything. Every time Jaycee points something out to her, Kayla just shrugs her shoulders like she doesn't like it. You know thats gotta just kill Jaycee."

  Phoebe was listening to me as she admired her reflection in the mirror. "How bout we go upstairs to eat and force her to talk. Right after I buy these jeans, cause they make my butt look good."

  "Sounds like a plain. I'll go get Jaycee and Kayla while you change." I step out of the dressing room and popped my head back in. "And yes they do make your butt look great."

  After deciding what we wanted to eat, we finally sat down our trays at a table in the food court. I got a chicken sandwich and waffle fries and it looks like Jaycee got sweet and sour chicken. We sat on one side of the table. Kayla, who also got a chicken sandwich combo, was across from me. And Phoebe, who got pork fried rice and an egg roll, was across from Jaycee. So, who was supposed to be the first to speak up?

  "Ok Kayla what's wrong? You have not been acting yourself for a couple weeks now. Spill it." Well I guess that meant Phebs was gonna be first. Kayla sat in silence just looking down at her chicken.

  Well then, let me try. "Whatever it is you know we will be on your side. We love you." Still nothing.

  Even Jaycee gave it a shot. "I bet it's not a bad as you think it is. Tell us, we might be able to help."

  Kayla was just sitting there taking her straw and stirring her ice around and around in her cup. I was beginning to wonder if she even heard us at all, when she finally spoke. "I'm afraid if I tell you, you guys won't treat me the same."

  Jaycee tried to break the ice. "Are you trying to tell us yo
u're gay? Because if you are that's cool, just don't start crushing on me cause I don't swing that way. But if I did you would so be my type."

  Kayla gave a small laugh, exactly what Jaycee was hoping for. "No, I'm not gay. And sorry Jaycee but if I was, Hannah would be more my type." We all laughed, relieving some of the tension that had built up since we sat down. After we quieted down, Kayla told us why she had been so upset lately. "My house is going into foreclosure and my family and I will have to move out. We have to find a place to rent. So I’m feeling guilty that I'm here spending, what little bit of money my mom could spare, on clothes." She started crying. Of course my heart was breaking right along with hers, so I started to cry. Jaycee looked away until she could compose herself.

  Phoebe put her arm around Kayla and started to tear up too. "What happened? I knew things were tight for you but not this bad?"

  "Last year my Dad's work gave him a choice. They could let him go and he could sign up for unemployment or he could stay on but would have to take a pay cut. A ten thousand dollar a year pay cut. That was almost the same as a years’ worth of house payments. I know I'm being selfish to think this, but everyone at school is going to find out. I will be the butt end of jokes. Or worse, pitied."