“Dad, I am happy for you, really. You’re right. You need someone, and Dr. Morris is a nice person.”
Dad lightly touched her shoulder. “Thanks, sweetheart. I am happy. And you know no one will ever replace your mom. She was the light of my life. Always will be. But Hannah makes me laugh, and I enjoy being with her. So it would be great if the two of us could start doing more together. Do you mind?” He studied Aimee's face. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she tried to break a smile.
“No, Dad, that would be great, just as long as I still get some air time with you,” Aimee choked out while wiping her eyes. Dad smiled, then leaned in and kissed her forehead.
“Love you, Amos.”
Aimee sighed. “Ditto,” she replied.
Friday proved to be another endless day of waiting for the final bell. Except for the nervous smiles and awkward glances from Dr. Morris during first period, the entire day was uneventful. At the time of Dad’s great revelation Aimee was too shocked to pry about the particulars, so she wasn’t sure exactly how the two met, or when they started dating, or any other juicy details. But she figured Dad wouldn’t offer the information voluntarily. With Dr. Morris’s strange behavior, she guessed he had forewarned her that Aimee and Dylan knew about the two of them. Aimee imagined Dr. Morris was worried about the hot gossip a couple teenagers could spread about her personal life, but Aimee wasn’t any too ready to share this news…except with James. She couldn’t wait for him and Sacha to arrive for the weekend so she texted him after Dylan left. He called Aimee back immediately and they chatted about Dad and Dr. Morris for at least an hour. James was as surprised as Aimee, but he was excited for Dad. Aimee supposed it was a guy thing, or maybe she had a harder time letting go of Mom. James was glad Dad was ready to start a new life, now that both he and Aimee would be out of the house. He even joked that Dad might be too busy keeping Dr. Morris happy he wouldn’t have time to drop in on them during the fall quarter when Aimee came to live with him and Sacha. The thought of Dad’s intimacy didn’t amuse her, but Dylan and her’s did concern her. The feelings his touch stirred in her yesterday left her craving more. Aimee hoped they would cross that subject again as soon as she mended. She was fantasizing about that time in seventh period when Darby poked her from behind. She stared at Aimee blankly, then handed her a neon pink handout. It announced the upcoming Junior-Senior prom. Aimee groaned. Another friggin’ social event that Chels will insist I have to experience.
The bell rang and since it was Friday everyone raced out of the building hollering louder than usual. On her way out of the main building Aimee came up on Brandi, Nicole, and Randi Sims, the newest groupie in Brandi’s hate circle. All three stopped talking to glower at Aimee. As she walked by, Aimee heard Brandi mouth a nasty comment about her to Brandi's friends. Aimee ignored her and continued walking. As soon as she was out of the building Aimee spotted Dylan by his FJ. His beaming smile made her forget all about Brandi and her gang of losers.
“Let the weekend begin!” he yelled when Aimee approached.
“James texted me during sixth period. He and Sacha should be at the house already.”
Dylan opened her door and took her backpack, tossed it over the seat, then lifted Aimee effortlessly into the cab. He was in his seat cranking the key before she could buckle her belt. He hollered at a couple of friends walking by.
Aimee shook her head. “What’s with you?”
“Just psyched about tomorrow.” Suddenly he forged his eyebrows together and his tone changed completely. He studied her expression before asking, “You still feel up to going tomorrow, don’t you?”
“You bet. I wouldn’t miss it for anything. I might even feel well enough to take my board.”
Dylan smirked. “Yeah, right. Like I would let you do anything more than lift your little finger.”
“Let me?”
“Yep, let you. Someone has to watch out for you.” He reached over and squeezed her shoulder lightly. She should feel smothered by the extra attention, but his nurturing felt soothing, different from Dad’s hovering. Aimee figured that love caused a person to go a little crazy when who they cared about was hurt. She had already seen it in Dylan's face the few times Brandi had gotten to him. No way was she going to spoil his mood now with her latest encounter with his ex-girlfriend.
James, Sacha, and Dylan hit it off immediately, like they were old friends. Of course, James and Dylan had a lot in common - extremely sociable, popular, smart, and athletic. Perfect traits. James and Dylan talked until the wee hours of the morning telling stories about friends from East Medford, sports at UC, and an assortment of other rather boring guy topics. Finally, about two in the morning Dylan woke Aimee up from her slumber on his lap and kissed her goodnight. She begged him to stay since he was coming back around nine for their short road trip. She offered her bed and she would take the couch, but her bribe didn’t change his mind. He still had to get his gear together, but he promised he would be back on time. Aimee sleepily walked him out onto the porch. He leaned in and kissed her tenderly.
His voice softened. “I really like your family, Aimee. James’s cool, and Sacha, too. I’m glad you’ll be living with them in the fall. I’m sure I’ll be spending a lot of time at your apartment so it’s easier if your brother likes me.”
Aimee stifled her snicker. “Like you would stay away if James didn’t like you?”
“Hell no, but it’s better when we’re all okay with each other, you know? Even if he didn’t like me it wouldn’t matter. Nothing will keep me away from you. Well, I guess I better get home. I love you, babe.” He kissed Aimee one more time before leaving.
She watched him get into his FJ and drive down the street before she reached in and turned off the porch light. Before stepping back into the house, Aimee noticed the same black Lexus from earlier in the week. It was parked in front of the Nguyen’s house. It was too dark to notice the license plate, but Aimee could tell even with the dim light from the street lamp it wasn’t a dealer’s plate. After a few seconds, the car’s rear lights lit up and it jerked away from the curb racing off into the desolate street. She stepped back inside and locked the door, then peeked back out through the little window one more time. The street was empty.
The house was peaceful. Dad’s snoring filtered through his closed door. The TV in James’s room was muted, but Aimee could see the soft light from it pouring out from under his door. He always fell asleep as a kid with the television on. Aimee called Zonker to join her, and she headed off to her room. She flipped on the overhead light, and Z Boy immediately jumped up on the bed and settled down. Aimee hurried to the dresser to get out a nightshirt, and tugged off her clothes. Her image in the mirror caught her attention, and Aimee stopped for a few seconds to survey the dark purple blotches on her right side. While she studied her bruised body, her phone suddenly started vibrating on the nightstand.
“Dylan must be checking in,” she muttered. Before answering, Aimee looked and her jaw instantly tightened.
Number Withheld.
“HELLOOO!” tersely spit out of her mouth as soon as Aimee raised the receiver to her ear. Nothing could be heard from the other end as usual. “Okay, if this is Brandi, you are really starting to piss me off! How did you get this number? You better stop harassing me or you’ll regret it!”
Silence, then Call Ended.
Aimee stood in front of the mirror. Her body shook from anger as much as fear. She wasn’t positive it was Brandi calling, but her keen sixth sense told her it probably was Brandi. She needed to find out definitely and put an end to this bitch’s tricks. Aimee changed her number when she got her new phone. Only a selected few had the new number. She dropped into her desk chair gripping the phone menacingly.
“How the hell did she get my new number?” she hissed. Aimee felt sure none of her friends would have leaked it, at least not intentionally. The little bitch apparently managed to get it somehow. By nature she was a pacifist, a hater of conflict, but Aimee had been pushed bey
ond her limits of civility, and she started fantasizing about ways to get revenge. Turnabout’s fair play, she thought. Well, even if I’m too chicken to do anything I need to know who’s pestering me with these friggin’ incessant calls. Suddenly the thought struck her it might not be Brandi. Chills rippled down her spine. What if it is a stalker? Hadn’t someone been in our house? At least Brandi’s remotely harmless.
Then she had another troublesome thought - the black Lexus. It was weird how it suddenly appeared in front of our house earlier in the week, and again a few minutes ago, then sped away. Aimee noticed a frightened image in the mirror staring back at her. Traveling to all corners of the earth, at any moment in time, didn’t really bother her as much as the harassing phone calls, and now this black car.
After a few deep breaths, which was a tiny bit easier than it had been the day before, Aimee retired to bed and wrapped the feathery softness of her favorite quilt around her. She pulled it up tight over her chin. The reminiscence of Dylan’s scent lingered on the edge and floated up and nabbed her attention. It was hypnotic. Her mood shifted immediately, and she felt strangely at peace. Zonker curled up next to her leg. Aimee sighed and drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 11 First Time
Everything now seemed to move faster than the speed of light. Graduation was less than three months away, and Aimee and Dylan spent almost every spare moment together since he insisted on being her chauffeur. Aimee and her dad narrowed the car search down to a couple choices. Dad wanted something bigger since she would be running the interstate between Eugene and Medford, and Aimee already had one totaled car on her record. Aimee wanted something really cool, and roomy enough for all of her junk, and of course Dylan. Either way, she knew nothing could replace her beloved ’71 Bug that Benny had fatally maimed.
Except for one other sighting of the mysterious black Lexus, things were fairly calm. Jack Reynolds hadn’t revisited her, nor had she traveled on any subsequent journeys since her visit with him. She was grossly overdue for one. It had been three weeks since her accident with Benny, the product of a botched return from her journey. Aimee felt remarkably better, actually good enough to try a morning run, despite Dad and Dylan’s disapproval.
Dad had been out with Dr. Morris the night before so she was surprised to find him already up watching the local morning news and sipping a steamy cup of coffee when she came out of her room with her running shoes in hand. Aimee plopped down in the recliner and carefully slid on a shoe. Her dad peered over his glasses and immediately put his cup down on the coffee table.
“So, you’re not going to listen to me, are you? Figures. You have always been my difficult child,” Dad said. He scooted over on the couch next to her chair. “Here, give me your foot.” He pointed to her untied shoe while he patted the side of his leg. She braced her foot against his thigh and he tied her laces.
“Dad, I’m not helpless. I’ve been tying my own shoes since I was four.”
“Yeah, well, it makes me feel useful to help you once in a while.” Aimee held out the other foot for him to assist. “You know the doctor didn’t want you running for at least a month,” he said while he looped her laces into mommy’s knots.
“Well, I feel fine. And besides, if I don’t start running again, my rib won’t be the only thing wrong. I’m going nuts not running.”
“Like you weren’t already,” he muttered under his breath.
“What did you say?” Aimee popped him over the head with the paper sitting on the table. She grabbed the rest of her running gear, then hollered back to him, “I’ll take it easy. If I start hurting or get too winded, I’ll call you on your cell phone.”
She didn’t wait for another lecture before escaping out the back and stepping quickly to the front. The street was barren except for a couple cars parked along the curbside. Aimee took off on her usual route at a leisurely speed. Her muscles felt tight, and the pain in her chest throbbed only dully now when her breathing picked up, but it felt good to finally be using her legs again. Aimee decided to take it easy and not push herself the first morning out. Besides, the clouds were building rapidly, and it looked like rain was on its way.
After approaching the intersection, Aimee tapped the pedestrian signal and jogged in place while she waited. The light turned green and she broke out slowly across the pavement. She heard a car approaching from behind, and twisted back to see if they were turning in front of her. Aimee stopped dead in her tracks. The black Lexus pushed past her speeding through the intersection. She wasn’t able to tell who was driving, but she was sure it was the same car. She had a strange feeling about this. Something didn’t feel right, so instead of going the same direction as the Lexus, Aimee veered off her regular route and headed east. The main drag didn’t have a lot of traffic this early so she stayed in the lane. About fifteen minutes into the run she hit her ceiling and decided to turn back. As she came across the intersection to cut back west towards their subdivision, Aimee spotted it again. The black Lexus was parked in front of a convenience store. But instead of being frightened, she was irked. Really pissed! She was beginning to feel like a victim; the black Lexus versus Aimee Schmidt. Well, I’m in public, and there’re others hanging out here, so now is a friggin’ good time to pay my stalker a visit. I’ve gotta find out who’s in that car. Shifting into a speedy walk, she started towards the Lexus. From behind Aimee could make out a silhouette through the darkly tinted rear window, but she still couldn’t tell if the person was male or female. Just as she got about ten yards away from the car, it tore out into the street cutting off another car, then fishtailed and burned rubber as it peeled away. A customer walking out of the store stopped after witnessing the near mishap. He shook his head in disbelief. Aimee frowned at him, then turned and bolted back into action. The adrenaline dumped into her body, and she didn’t feel the ache in her chest any longer while she raced home. Aimee had her answer. Whoever was in that mysterious black car was spying on her. But who was it…and why?
By the time she made it home, her lungs were exploding from the lack of oxygen. Aimee gasped for air. Dad heard her hit the porch and yanked open the doors. He took one look at Aimee, grabbed her arm, and helped her to the couch. He sat down next to Aimee and touched her clammy forehead. “Are you okay?”
She put up her finger to signal a pause, and sucked in a few deep breaths before she could speak. Her words came in spurts between more breaths. “I…think…someone is…following me...”
Dad’s mouth dropped, and then his eyes narrowed. “Who? What makes you think someone is following you?”
“Don’t know who...that same black Lexus with dark windows…has been cruising by here…a lot…really slow…and, uh…parking down by the Nguyen’s…I…uh…I spotted it today down at the… minimart,” she spilled out, then drew one more deep breath, “…and when I started up towards it…it sped away. Almost hit a car…when it…when it left the parking lot.”
“Aimee, first you think someone broke into the house and stole your phone, and now this. Are you in trouble at school, or with someone at work?”
“No, Dad.” Aimee adamantly denied anything. How could he jump to that conclusion? She was a model student. A perfect employee. A super friend. The chameleon. “I have no idea who this is.” But the truth was she did suspect who it was, she just had no way of proving it, at this point. Aimee didn’t want to pull Dad into her juvenile high school drama with Brandi Peters.
“Well, dammit, I don’t like this, Aimee. Did you get a license plate?”
“Dad, I sorta thought it was a random thing, until today. When I got close enough I was trying to make out who was behind the wheel, then the car tore out of the lot, but I know it’s an Oregon plate.”
Dad sat staring at the window without saying a word. Aimee could tell he was processing her newest, little problem. Finally, he got up, looked at her with a frown and shook his head, then went to fetch her a glass of water. When he returned, he stopped at the end of the couch. “Well, if you see
this car again, I want to know. Try to get the plate, but be careful.” His tone seemed a tiny bit more settled. He sighed heavily, handed Aimee the glass of water, rubbed his hand across the back of his neck, then walked over to the front window. He picked up a slat in the blind and peeked out.
“Dad, I doubt they're gonna show up here after being spotted.” Something stuffed in her dad's back pocket caught her attention. She asked, “Hey, what's that in your back pocket?”
He dropped the slat, then reached around his backside and pulled something from his jeans’ pocket. “Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I have a little something for you.” He handed it to Aimee. It was a slightly bent, official looking envelope. Her mind immediately shifted gears.
Aimee put the glass on the table and studied the envelope. “When did it come?” she asked.
A slight smile perked up Dad’s lips. “I picked it up from my box late last night after I dropped off Hannah. You were sound asleep.”
She looked at the sender and address on the envelope. The University of the Cascades, Office of Admissions. Aimee peered up at Dad. No evidence of worry remained on his face. He had a broad smile.
“Open it,” he said.
She stalled. “But what if it's not good news, Dad?”
Again he ordered, “Amos, just open it.”
The Weird Travels of Aimee Schmidt: The Curse of the Gifted Page 16
