by Amber Garza
Surprisingly, the store wasn’t too busy. A few older couples shopped and a few moms with screaming children hurried through the aisles frantically throwing food in their baskets. Isaac pushed the cart while I tossed items in the back and checked them off the list. At times I had to squint to decipher Mom’s chicken scratch but other than that I was doing pretty well. The pile grew and I wondered what Mom and I would do with all this food when Drake didn’t show. Then an awful thought crossed my mind. What if he did show up? A shiver shot down my spine.
“You cold?” Isaac draped an arm over my shoulder. I gratefully nestled in.
“Not now.” I winked.
We rounded the corner and I froze. Isaac stopped, too, squeezing my shoulders. I found it hard to draw breath. Standing just a few feet away was Tanner, grabbing a box of cereal off the shelf. His back was to us. We could’ve escaped without him even noticing if we had walked away right at that moment. But that’s when I noticed that he wasn’t alone. An attractive blonde girl wearing skinny jeans, a tight top and tall black boots stood next to him. Irrational jealousy coursed through me. Who was she anyway? I didn’t think I’d ever seen her before.
Isaac tried to steer me away, but it was like my feet were glued to the floor. Tanner turned, his eyes grazing over me and then they widened in recognition. The pain at seeing me was evident in his face. At that moment, I realized things would never be the same between us again.
He didn’t even say hi. Just threw the cereal in the cart and turned to the strange girl. I should have just let him go. In fact, I’m certain that would have been the smart thing to do. However, I rarely do the smart thing. Before I could stop myself I shouted out, “Tanner.”
He stopped and turned around, a resigned look on his face.
I walked toward him, forcing a smile. Isaac stayed by the cart. What was I doing?
“I just wanted say hi.”
His lips hardened in a straight line. I wished he’d flashed me one of his famous dimpled grins, but he didn’t. “Well, you said it. Is that all?”
“Tanner?” I whispered. “Is this how it’s going to be between us now?”
He shrugged.
“Please, Tanner, don’t be like that.”
He shook his head. “I’ll see ya around, Kenzie.” He gave a slight nod to Isaac. “You two have fun now.”
His bitter tone cut to my heart.
He returned to the girl who eyed me with suspicion. “Let’s go, Rosie.”
Ah, Rosie. It was his sister. Relief flooded me .
As I watched them walk off, Isaac pushed the cart up beside me. Tears burned my eyes. I blinked them back. Glancing over at Isaac, I saw that his face held a pensive look. Without saying a word, we continued shopping. Luckily, we didn’t see Tanner again in the store. Once we’d gotten everything on Mom’s list, we loaded it all into the trunk of my car.
Isaac and I had hardly said two words to each other after seeing Tanner. I hated how awkward things were between us now. I knew I shouldn’t have gone after Tanner like that. It made me look like I hadn’t let go of him. I’m sure that was what Isaac was thinking. But it wasn’t like that. Tanner was my friend. However, I knew Isaac wouldn’t understand. I couldn’t expect him to. It was my fault he doubted in the first place.
I pulled out of the parking space and headed to the lot’s exit. Just as I turned the corner, a man jumped in front of my car. I screamed and slammed on the brakes. The tires screeched, and the scent of burning asphalt filled my senses. I closed my eyes, praying I didn’t hit the man. When I opened them back up, he was gone. My heart stopped. Had I imagined him the same way I had with the little boy?
I looked over at Isaac whose face had gone white as a sheet.
“Y-y-you saw him too, didn’t you?”
He let out a shaky breath and nodded his head. “Why did he run out in front of us like that?”
“I don’t know. People are crazy.” I exhaled deeply to slow my heart rate down. “I’m just glad I didn’t hit him. Where do you think he went?”
“He ran that way.” Isaac pointed to the right. I squinted, but didn’t see the man. Of course there were a lot of people in the parking lot, and I didn’t get a very good look at him. From what I did see he appeared to be homeless or something. His clothes were pretty ratty and dirty. I vaguely remembered a beard. Something else about him nagged at the back of my mind but I couldn’t place what it was.
“You okay to drive?” Isaac’s face was filled with concern.
I nodded and pulled out of the parking lot, still trying to figure out the significance of what just occurred.
When we got back to my house, Isaac and I put away the groceries. The tension from earlier dissipated and we bantered with ease. We still hadn’t talked about seeing Tanner at the store and I wanted to keep it that way. We had already had enough awkwardness this trip to last a lifetime. My goal was to enjoy every minute I had with Isaac until he had to go back home.
A knock at the door startled me. I set the block of cheese down that I held in my hand and went to answer it. I noticed Isaac’s sweatshirt strewn over the back of the couch and his shoes tossed on the floor. It gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. I would miss seeing that when he left.
I flung open the door. Haley stood there. She flashed me a relieved smile. “I’m so glad you’re alright. I was worried.”
I chuckled. “What are you talking about? Of course I’m alright.”
She held up her cell. “I’ve been blowing up your phone. You haven’t answered any of my texts.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I glanced over at my purse where my phone had been tucked away since Isaac got here. I hadn’t had much use for it since the main person who called me was with me. “I’ve been busy.”
Haley’s gaze swept over the family room and landed on the sweatshirt and shoes. Understanding washed over her features. “Ah, I get it. So, Tanner’s over. You and lover-boy have been pretty busy, huh?” She laughed and threw me a wink.
My face flamed. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Isaac standing in the doorway of the kitchen, and my heart squeezed. Haley noticed him, too, and her eyes widened.
I cleared my throat. “Haley, this is Isaac.”
Haley bit her lip and gave me an apologetic look. Isaac stepped forward, his face giving away nothing. My stomach was in knots as they shook hands.
“It’s so great to finally meet you. Kenzie has told me so much about you. She just can’t stop talking about you. It’s always Isaac this and Isaac that. Every day, all of the time. It’s enough to make me sick.”
From behind Isaac’s back I ran my finger along my throat to signal her to stop talking. She was laying it on too thick, and that would make Isaac suspicious. Anyway, it wasn’t like she could take back what she had said. The damage was already done. It seemed like it was one thing after another. I wondered how our relationship would survive.
Haley didn’t stay long. I’m sure she could tell that I wanted some alone time with Isaac. Also, I think she still felt uncomfortable about her outburst when she first arrived. Isaac hadn’t seemed bothered by it though. He laughed and chatted with Haley as if she hadn’t said anything wrong at all. When she left she threw me a thumbs up sign and I knew that she liked him. Of course I wasn’t surprised. What was not to like about Isaac? He was amazing.
After Haley left, I popped a bag of microwave popcorn and put a cheesy romantic movie in the DVD player. Isaac and I snuggled on the couch and munched on the salty kernels. I felt content and safe with his arm around me. Still, I couldn’t quiet the voice that nagged at the back of my mind. The whisper that told me this would be the last time Isaac and I would be together like this. I threaded his fingers in mine and held them tight, praying that I would have many more opportunities to hold his hand. However, I knew this trip hadn’t gone as planned. It started out so badly, and then every time we turned around we bumped into reminders of Tanner. I wasn’t sure what would happen when he left the next morning. I only hoped our
relationship was strong enough to survive more time apart.
The movie was almost over. Darkness had blanketed the sky and blue light from the TV flickered over Isaac’s cheek. Our fingers were sweaty from holding hands so long. I stretched my legs out over Isaac’s, and he rested his hand on my thigh. I yawned, tiredness setting in. However, I had no desire to go to bed. I wanted to stay up all night and capitalize on every last second of Isaac’s visit.
“I can’t believe you have to leave tomorrow,” I whined.
He reached up and stroked my cheek with the back of his hand. “I know.”
“Couldn’t you just stay a little longer?” I raised an eyebrow.
He chuckled. “My mom would kill me.”
“Well, we can’t have that.”
“No, we can’t.”
“Maybe I could just stow away in your trunk? I’m sure my mom wouldn’t even notice I was gone,” I teased.
“Sounds like a plan.” He winked at me.
A giggle escaped through my lips, then got stuck in my throat as something caught my eye. I gasped. A man stood in my front yard, staring at us through the window. Even though it was dark outside the streetlight shone on him like a spotlight.
Chapter Four
“What’s wrong?” Isaac turned in the direction of my stare. The minute he did, the man took off running. That’s when I recognized him. The beard. The ratty clothes. It was the man I had almost hit earlier.
Isaac shot off the couch. My legs slid off of his and I almost fell onto the ground. He reached out and grabbed my hand, helping me up.
“That’s the same guy I almost hit earlier.”
“Do you think he followed us here?” Fear etched Isaac’s face. I was sure that it mirrored my own.
“I don’t know.” I felt sick. “That was a while ago. Was he just hanging out here the whole afternoon and evening?”
“We’d better call the police.”
I nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll do it.” I fetched the phone out of my purse. After calling 911 and giving a description of the man and all my information, I hung up.
Isaac watched me, hands on his hips, legs spread apart like he was ready for a fight. “What did they say?”
I tossed my phone onto the couch. “They’re gonna send a police car over and patrol the area.” I didn’t have the heart to tell him that the man actually didn’t sound too worried about it. In fact, I wasn’t sure he would really send someone at all. He probably just assumed I was some paranoid kid.
“Good,” Isaac said.
I yawned. My shoulders drooped.
“You look tired,” Isaac said.
Panic struck me. The thought of going to my room alone while Isaac stayed out in the family room terrified me. I pictured the man watching me sleep through the window, or worse yet, standing over my bed the way Wesley and Drake had. I shivered when I thought about Wesley, the demon who had tormented me the entire summer I’d spent with my grandma. The terror was furthered when I remembered him possessing my mom and trying to kill me a second time. “I can’t go to bed. I’m scared to be alone right now.”
Isaac circled his arms around my waist. “It’s okay. You can stay right here with me. Everything will be fine.” For a moment, as I rested my head against his chest, I believed him.
I did finally fall asleep somewhere around midnight. When I awoke in the morning, I found myself on the couch while Isaac was curled up on the loveseat. His long legs squished up against his body and his arms were bent oddly under his head. I felt bad about him having to sleep on the smaller space. For a few minutes I just stared at him. He looked so peaceful as he slept. I memorized all his features; from his dark skin and hair to his chiseled chin. When he began to stir, an ache filled my heart. Pretty soon he’d have to leave. I already missed him.
His eyelids fluttered open and then a broad smile swept his face.
“I’ll miss waking up to that face tomorrow.”
His words were meant to invoke happiness, but instead moved me to tears. My lips quivered.
He sat up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“It’s okay. I just wish you didn’t have to leave today.”
He frowned. “Me either. But I don’t have a choice.”
A pressing on my bladder called me into the bathroom. I excused myself and made my way down the hallway. While in the restroom, I ran a comb through my hair a couple of times and brushed my teeth. Just as I turned off the faucet, I heard the frenetic music of my ring tone. It was probably Haley. I left the bathroom and hurried into the family room. Isaac held my phone between his fingers, and his face was grim. The phone was silent now. Puzzled, I reached for it. The minute I looked at it I knew what had him so upset.
“Where was that picture taken?” He asked.
I mentally slapped my forehead. Why, oh, why had I let Tanner talk me into making that photo my background picture on my phone?
Staring down at the shot of Tanner’s face pressed against mine, I knew I couldn’t lie to Isaac about where it was taken. Our relationship couldn’t withstand anymore deception.
“At Multnomah Falls.” The words burned as I spit them from my mouth, leaving behind a bitter taste.
“You said you didn’t take any pictures that day.” Hurt flashed in his eyes. “You lied to me.”
I wanted to disappear, to crawl into a hole and never come out. Why was this so hard?
“I’m sorry.”
Isaac hung his head, sighing deeply. He ran a hand over his hair the way he did when he was agitated. I scarcely breathed waiting for him to respond.
“I think maybe we should take a break.”
My insides burned like the time I ate that jalapeno. “What are you saying? That we’re breaking up?”
“Just for now. Until you figure out what you want.”
“I want you. I chose you. Remember?”
“Of course I do. But what happens when I leave today and he’s the one there for you again?”
My eyes brimmed with tears. “He won’t. He’s so angry with me. Don’t you see? I made my choice. He knows that.”
“Yes, for now he’s angry. But you go to school and church with him. Eventually he’ll come around. And I see the way you look at him.” He groaned. “It kills me, but I see it.”
I bit my lip. Shame burned through me.
“You’re not completely over him, Kenz.”
I opened my mouth to protest but then clamped it shut. No more lies.
“When you are, I’ll be waiting.”
“Isaac, please don’t leave like this. We had such a good time together this weekend.”
He bridged the gap between us, took my hands in his. “I love you, Kenz.”
My lips trembled, my voice shook. “I love you, too.” Our foreheads touched.
“And you know where to find me when you’re ready, okay?”
I nodded, unable to speak. Tears streamed down my face. He lowered his lips to mine in one last kiss.
After Isaac left I spent all day in my pajamas, holed up in my house, crying. Thankfully, Mom was at work. She had left before Isaac and I even woke up that morning. It was a good thing she wasn’t home. She’d never put up with me whining over a boy like that. Haley called a couple of times, but I couldn’t bring myself to answer. Fingering the chain of the cross necklace Isaac had given me over the summer, another sob tore from my throat. I felt raw and empty. I felt like I’d lost my one true love forever. Not that I didn’t totally deserve it. I’d lied and betrayed him.
The door swung open and Mom flew in, slamming the door behind her. Her eyes were wide like saucers, and her corkscrew curls stuck out all over her head, even more wild than normal.
Oh, please don’t tell me she’s possessed again. I just couldn’t handle it.
She tossed her purse on the ground and scanned the room. “Where’s Isaac?”
I wiped my wet eyes with a tissue. “He’s gone.”
“What?” She slapped her thigh
. “I was hoping you could go back to California with him.”
This perked my interest. She had done everything in her power the last few months to keep me from ever going back to California. “Why?”
She blew out a breath and ran a trembling hand through her tangled hair. “No reason. Just thought you could use a vacation.”
A rustling sound outside caused her to visibly flinch. When it was clear it was just a branch hitting the window, she relaxed.
Clapping her hands, she said, “I’ll tell you what? Why don’t we go together and visit Grandma? We can leave right now. Go pack!”
“Mom? Are you okay?”
“Fine.” She tried to smile but it came out looking freaky.
“Really? Cause you’re acting very strange.” Even more than normal, which was saying something.
Someone rapped loudly on the door. Mom jumped so high in the air I thought maybe she should try out for a basketball team.
“Kenzie! Go pack, now!”
Her no nonsense voice caused me to get up and take action. Clearly something bad was happening. My heart thumped rapidly in my chest as I made my way back to my room. Could Drake be back? Or maybe it was Wesley? Or maybe it had something to do with the weird kid I saw next door. All I knew was that Mom was clearly scared and we needed to get out of here.
When I got to my room, I heard Mom open the front door. Hushed voices traveled down the hallway. I knew I should stay put but curiosity got the better of me. Peeking out into the hallway, I caught a glimpse of Mom standing in the doorway. Her body mostly blocked my view of the person standing outside. Then she moved slightly to one side and I got a good glimpse of the mysterious stranger who had gotten Mom so freaked.
Fear laced around my heart at the realization that it was the man I’d almost hit yesterday. Why did he keep coming back here? My chest tightened. What did he want with me? And what did Mom know about it? Just as I was about to hide back in my room, I caught sight of his dark eyes and recognition slammed into me.
