His shift over, he left the house through the garage. Pop walked over to the table just as Logan joined us in the kitchen. Pop was smiling, something I hadn't seen him do in a long time.
“Pop?” I asked, swallowing a spoonful of cereal.
“Hey, boys,” he said, joining us.
Logan, too, had noticed the change in Pop's mood. “What's going on, Pop?” he asked.
“Agent Paul just gave me some good news,” Pop replied.
“What?” I asked.
Pop looked back and forth between us. “It doesn't matter,” he finally said. “What does matter is that thanks to the police, we're a lot safer now than we were before.”
I looked at Logan, and both of us broke out into a smile. “That's great, Pop! Does that mean we're not … grounded anymore?”
Pop sat back in his chair, considering my request. “Tell you what, boys. I'll suspend your house arrest, and if you want to go over to the Murphy's place again, you may. But under no circumstances are you to separate, or you'll be right back here under lock and key. Do I make myself clear to both of you?”
After a week of nothing but school and safe-house, school and safe-house, we would've agreed to anything. “We promise, Pop,” I said, Logan nodding along vigorously.
“Then we're agreed,” Pop said.
“Cool!” said Logan. “I'll ask Sean if we can come over tonight, okay?”
I nodded. “And I'll ask Baz, I'm sure they're having another rehearsal.”
Pop nodded as well. “Remember …”
I held my hands up. “No shenanigans, we got it.”
Pop looked at his watch. “Finish up, boys, Gillian will be here any second.”
I picked up my bowl and put it in the kitchen sink. Just then, I had a sudden brainstorm. It was crazy, but why not? Ask him now, while he's in a good mood! “Pop, I was wondering …”
“Yes?”
“Would it be possible to invite someone over here?”
His eyebrows raised. “You're not serious.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I am. Just, like, for dinner or something?”
He thought for a moment, frowning. “When did you have in mind?”
“I don't know. We're off from school on Monday … how about then?” I shuffled my feet nervously.
“Whom were you thinking of inviting? Baz?”
A nervous smile crept over my face. “Actually … I'd like to have Kelsey over.”
He pursed his lips, then smiled. “I see.”
I waited for his next sentence, but nothing else came. “So?”
Finally, he exhaled. “Well, we'll have to have our security detail pull back to a safe distance, but since it's just for an hour or two …”
My face turned red as I realized he was about to say yes.
He sighed. “Okay. Just this once.”
I ran up and gave him a brief man-hug. “Thanks, Pop!”
Logan made a face. “Can I invite Sophie too?”
“Don't push it,” Pop said, frowning at him.
Just then, the front door opened and Gillian poked her head through. “You guys ready to go?”
“Go on, get out of here,” Pop said.
As I climbed into the back of the car, I said a silent thank you. Man Upstairs, you totally rock.
* * *
I was able to finish Mr. McCann's latest Algebra test with a few minutes to spare, so naturally, I spent those minutes looking at Kelsey.
Baz was more than happy to hear that my grounding had been lifted, and promised that today's practice session was going to be awesome. He also wished me luck when I told him that my relationship with Kelsey had just entered the “meet the parent” phase. “Best o' luck to ya, boss,” he said.
I waited for her on the bleachers, but she didn't show up today, which meant that my last chance to ask her over was between fifth and sixth periods. When the bell rang, I headed out the door, but turned around immediately, waiting for her to exit.
Kelsey's friends Bryanna and April left the classroom and went their separate ways without even looking at me. Jeez, that drama is still going on? Girls …
When Kelsey appeared in the doorway and saw me standing there, she smiled. I smiled back.
“Hey, Ethan,” she said, walking up to me.
“Hey, Kelsey. How's it going?”
She sighed, and the smile left her face. I knew immediately what that meant.
“Still going on, huh?” I asked, trying to keep my tone even.
“Yeah,” she said.
I reached out my hand, which she took. I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I'm sorry.”
She nodded. “Well, hopefully things'll turn around soon.”
“That's good. Um, Kelsey, I have some good news …”
Her eyes met mine. “What?”
“My Pop un-grounded me.” I grinned.
“Really?” she asked, a smile breaking out on her face.
“Yeah,” I replied. “And I was wondering … would you like to come over on Monday? For dinner?” Please say yes. Please!
Her jaw dropped, her smile widening. “I'd love to.”
“Hope you like Anzio's pepperoni and sausage,” I said with a wink.
“Sounds awesome,” she said. “When do you want me there?”
“Five-thirty is fine. And please … try not to show up too early.”
She looked at me for a moment, and then nodded. “Got it. What's your house number?”
“412 West Orange Blossom. You need me to write it down?”
She punched me playfully in the shoulder. “I'm a straight-A student, you big doof. I think I can remember one number.”
I laughed. “Okay, then, I'll see you there.” I squeezed her hand again, and she walked off toward her next class, giving me a slight wave goodbye.
My name is Ethan Zimmer, and life is good. For the moment.
* * *
“Ai! Oh! Let's go! Ai! Oh! Let's go!” Baz and I sang, just as Joey and Elijah played out the final notes of “Blitzkrieg Bop” for the fourth time this afternoon.
Elijah held out his palm, which I gleefully slapped. “Dude, I think you've got it!”
“Yeah, man, you totally killed it that time,” Joey said from behind his drum set.
I was still out of breath. Yes. I can DO this! Wait'll Kelsey sees me! “Thanks, guys.”
Baz clapped me on the shoulder. “Told ya, bud, nothin' to it. Next Saturday, we're gonna rock the house! Or, in this case, the cafeteria.” He grinned wickedly.
“I heard it's going to be a tropical theme or something. Do we have to dress up for this dance?”
Baz shrugged. “Well, we're supposed to wear Hawaiian shirts, but I'll just wear me jacket over it. Don't wanna look like too much of a sellout.”
“I hear you,” I said, laughing.
Joey made a face. “I can't believe I'm going back to freakin' James Madison. I swore I'd never set foot in that place again after I graduated.”
“Don't worry, Joe,” said Elijah, “I'm sure Trevor McKenna won't be there to pants you in front of the girls' locker room this time.”
Joey picked up an empty soda can and threw it at Elijah, again missing by a mile. “I told you never to bring that up again, numb nuts!”
Elijah smiled evilly. “Well, at least it wasn't as bad as the time you told Missy Polanco you had a crush on her.”
Joey practically had steam coming out of his ears. “At least I didn't get caught playing tongue-hockey in the library with Megan Deakins! What was she, like, two hundred pounds?”
Baz took me by the arm and led me out of the garage. “Let's go, boss. This might take a while.”
We made our way to the Murphy's backyard, and the sound of Joey and Elijah's brotherly feud faded into the background. As we passed the family room, I caught sight of Sean and Logan, gaming their brains out.
I laughed to myself. Nothing like having a brother.
Chapter 32
~ DAY 36 (Mon., Columbus Day) ~
KELSEY
As I coasted my bike around the corner onto Clearview Lane, my sense of nervousness increased with every house I passed. After another minute of pedaling, I came to a stop outside Bree's house. I saw only one car in the driveway, which meant that her mother was home. I sighed with relief, thankful that I hadn't made the seven-block trip for nothing.
Bree was an only child. Her parents met in Germany, several years after Frank Rodgers left the Air Force to work for a company that made jet engines. On a business trip to Dusseldorf, he met and fell in love with Gretchen, a woman working at the hotel he was staying at. After a whirlwind courtship, they got married. They were both in their thirties at the time, and they found out after Bree was born that her mother couldn't have any more kids without risking severe complications.
I hoped Bree was being truthful when she told me she wasn't having problems at home, because her folks were two of the sweetest grown-ups I'd ever known. Gretchen always had a smile on her face, insisted that I call her by her first name, and had the most adorable accent ever.
I parked my bike near the side-gate and walked around to the front door, knocking on it gingerly. After a few seconds, the door opened to reveal Gretchen's smiling face. She was wearing an apron, and there were flecks of paint all over it, as well as her shirt, jeans, and cheeks.
“Kelsey!” she said, stepping forward and hugging me. “How are you, liebchen?”
“Hi, Gretchen, I'm fine,” I said, returning the hug. “Looks like you're busy!”
“Ja,” she said. She released me, stepping back so I could enter the house. “Painting the guest room. Can't seem to get the color just right, so Frank's gone down to Home Depot to get some more.”
I smiled. “Is Bree here?”
“Ja,” she said anxiously. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure, anything.”
A worried look came over her face. “Is everything okay with Bree at school? You know, is she having any problems?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I'm worried about her,” Gretchen said sadly. “She barely comes out of her room anymore. She hardly eats anything. I've tried talking to her, but you know teenage girls …” She looked down the hall toward Bree's room. “She insists she's fine, but I know something's wrong. And she won't tell me or Frank what it is.”
I nodded, hoping what Renee told me was true, but until I knew for sure, I didn't want to give Gretchen false hope. “She's been that way at school too,” I said. “That's why I'm here.”
Gretchen exhaled, visibly relieved. “Thank you, liebchen. Please let her know that … we love her very much, okay?”
I nodded again before making my way down the hallway. After a brief pause, I rapped softly on Bree's bedroom door.
“I don't want to come out, okay, Mom?” Bree's voice came from within.
I gulped. This was not going to be easy. “It's Kelsey.”
Like a flash, I heard her jump out of bed, cross her room and fling the door open. “Kelsey!” She leaned forward and hugged me. “What are you doing here?”
“Um …” I stuttered.
“Well, it's good to see you,” she said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me into her room. “Come on in!”
'It's good to see me?' I was half-expecting to get the door slammed in my face. But hey, if she's taken her happy pills today, I'm not gonna complain.
I looked around Bree's room, which was quite different from the last time I saw it. Gone were the pop-band posters, and in their place were some very picturesque images of mountains, lakes, and meadows. On her desk was a very expensive-looking camera, lying lens-up next to a couple of thick books on photography.
I whistled. “You've made some changes.”
She smiled. “Yeah … Dad bought me a camera for my birthday, and it's become my favorite thing now.”
I looked at her, surprised. “You never told me you were into photography!”
“I know … I still kind of suck at it,” she said, blushing.
“Still, you could've mentioned something! That's awesome!”
“Yeah, it is.” She grinned. “I finally found something I can … just do, you know?”
I giggled. “Well, at least it's safer than gymnastics.”
She winced, clearly reliving a painful memory. “No kidding. I still have that bruise on my butt to remind me.” She smiled.
She looks so happy now, but this has to be a front she's putting up. She was upset only a moment ago when she thought I was her mother. She's barely spoken to me in the last few weeks, and when she has, it's been with anger or disappointment.
I took a deep breath. This has to stop. Now.
I sat down on the edge of her bed, looking at her. “Bree, we have to talk.”
As her gaze met mine, her smile faded. “About what?” she said, trying to act nonchalant.
I stared into her eyes determinedly. “I know, Bree.”
“Know what?” A look of terror crept over her face.
“I … know.” If she calls my bluff, things could get ugly. God, please let me be right …
She just stared at me. The seconds that passed felt like hours. Eventually, the look of fear disappeared, only to be replaced by one of extreme sadness, almost despair. She began to sniffle, her breath becoming rapid, as everything she'd been holding inside threatened to explode from her body all at once. Her hands shot up to cover her mouth, and the quietest whisper escaped her lips. “Oh, my God …” Her knees started to buckle, and for a split-second, I thought she was going to faint.
In an instant, I leapt to my feet, wrapping my arms around her and holding her close. She tightened her arms around me, sobbing into my shoulder.
We stood there for several minutes. “Shhh, it's okay,” I whispered into her ear several times. Finally, the tears subsided, and we both sat down on her bed.
She pulled a Kleenex from a box on her bedside table, blowing her nose with it and wiping her tears away. Tossing it into a wastebasket, she turned to face me. “How long have you known?”
“I didn't,” I said. “Know, that is. Only recently, I suspected you might be …” I paused, trying to decide which politically-correct term to use.
“Into girls?” she said, choosing for me.
I nodded. “When did you know?”
She stood up, walking over to the other side of the room and sitting down in the chair by her desk. “I don't know when I knew. But I realized I was … different … a long time ago. Back in fifth grade, actually.”
I gave a quiet gasp. “Really?”
She nodded. “I'm sure you remember our first day of middle school.”
“Like it was yesterday.” God, has it really been three years since then?
“So there I am, talking to April at recess, when Tonya Sykes just picks right up where she left off. I mean, it's been three months since we've seen each other, and we're at a brand new school, and she just tears into us like it's only been a few days.” She chuckled. “And then this girl I've never seen before comes out of nowhere and takes her out with one punch.”
I smiled uncomfortably. “Yeah, I really know how to make an entrance, don't I?”
“You were so … incredible, Kelsey. You were fearless and awesome and amazing and …” She sighed. “You were totally my hero. I think I fell in love with you immediately. I mean, the way a ten-year-old falls in love. All I knew for sure was that I wanted to be your friend. To be close to you.”
She scooted her chair a few feet closer to the bed. “I don't think I realized just what it was that I was feeling until last year. April had gone and gotten herself all tall and beautiful, and just like that, she went totally boy-happy. It's all she talked about. Every day, boys, boys, boys. The rest of us had to run to catch up.”
“I remember,” I said, smiling.
“But when she, and I guess you, started planning dream dates with cute guys inside your heads, I began to realize … I had no interest in boys. Like, at all.” Her cheeks flushed. “
And that's when I started looking at you … well, differently.”
My face flushed. “Oh.”
“Yeah. I knew you weren't into girls, but I always held out some small hope that … you know, you might be. Hundreds of times, at lunch or whatever, I hoped you would turn to me and say that you … felt the same way about me that I do about you. But it never happened.”
Wow. And I never had a clue. For someone trained to be observant, I sure turned out to be dense in this case. “Why didn't you just … tell me, Bree?”
She stood up, walking to her window. “How do you tell your best friend in the whole world that you're in love with her?”
I thought for a moment. “Yeah, I can see how that might be … difficult.”
She turned to face me. “It was on the tip of my tongue. Every single time. But I didn't know how you'd react. I was so scared that you'd feel … you know, creeped out by me. That you wouldn't want to be around me anymore. I couldn't take that chance.” She walked over and sat back down on the bed next to me. “Your friendship means too much to me. Even if it meant that I could never … have you, I had to keep my feelings a secret.”
I closed my eyes and lowered my head, feeling almost ashamed. “You sent out so many signals, and I never picked up on them. I'm so sorry, Bree.”
She touched my shoulder. I was happy when I realized that it didn't make me the slightest bit uncomfortable. “I'm the one who should be sorry, Kelse. When I realized that you had a thing for Ethan, I got angry. At you. I felt like I was losing you … or rather, I was losing my chance to, you know, 'be' with you. And then I got pissed at myself for never having the guts to tell you in the first place. It just kept going around and around in my brain, in a never-ending circle. I felt like I was going crazy, and I took it out on you.”
“Why didn't you tell your parents, Bree?” I asked. “Your Mom's cool, I know she'll understand. She loves you so much. So does your Dad.”
Ethan's Secret (James Madison Series Book 2) Page 19
