PANDORA

by Rebecca Hamilton

  “Did he come onto you?”

  “Did you have a good time?”

  “Why did he take you to that lake?”

  I fold my arms over my chest, tap my foot, and check out the polish on my nails. No sense in trying to get them to shut up, they don’t listen to me anyway. Leland finally manages to quiet the guys.

  “Thank you all so much for the very lovely welcome home,” I say sarcastically. “It would be nice to use the restroom, maybe even sit down for a minute.”

  I take three steps towards the bathroom when Tony blocks my path. “We have questions for you.”

  Oh, you have got to be kidding me! I never would’ve guessed that, without him pointing it out. I roll my eyes. “I’ll answer your questions, just as soon as I use the bathroom,” I snap. “Or would you rather I pretend to be a dog, like you, and pee on your foot?”

  With a second of hesitation, he moves, and I pass.

  I have a boyfriend, and I think I’m happy about that development, despite the strangeness. I’d at least like a few hours to enjoy reliving my first kiss.

  I take a deep breath, and enter the room again.

  “I’ll answer your questions, at least the ones I want to answer. I know two of you are only looking out for me and the other three, well, you need to back off.”

  I look to Leland, who’s playing with Alex on the floor. “What are your questions, Leland?” Tony rolls his eyes and forces a breath out his nose.

  “Did you have fun today? That’s my first question.”

  “There was some fun moments, yes, but mostly we talked, and some of that wasn’t really fun,” I answer honestly.

  “Barry said he interrupted Seth putting a move on you. Was it against your will, and has he tried it before?” As he says the words, the tension in the room increases to something tangible.

  I knew this would come up.

  “Yes, Barry did interrupt our goodbye kiss,” I swallow and find Henry’s eyes, trying to convey my apologies first. “It’s appropriate for a boyfriend to kiss his girlfriend goodbye.”

  The room explodes.

  Leland’s having a rough reaction. Henry looks like he’s about to punch something, and the other three . . . I’d like to know why it’s a big deal them. Technically, to them I’m nobody.

  After a few minutes of shouting, and some light shoving between Tony and Henry, Leland whistles and gets them to settle.

  Henry’s eyes fly back to mine. “When were you gonna tell me, Jaz,” he says, looking awfully pissed off, like I betrayed him. It hurts, but I expected this.

  “When did I have the chance to?” I counter. “I just got home, Henry. I’m not even sure what the big damn deal is anyway!” I growl and turn to leave. “Henry, I need my brother back,” I call over my shoulder.

  “Sorry,” he says flatly, as I climb the stairs.

  I wonder what exactly he’s apologizing for, but I’m not curious enough to turn around and ask.

  ***

  On Sunday, Skeeter and Seth come over as planned, and Henry decides to chill with us. He surprises me even more, by not acting like a jacknut.

  When Leland gets back from his teammate’s house, he asks them to stay for burgers on the grill. Leland does question Seth a little bit, just like I knew he would. You know, “what are your intentions,” and all that. I think Seth passed the test, because Leland tells him he’s welcome back anytime.

  After Seth and Skeeter leave, I put away the leftovers and begin loading the dishwasher. Leland comes in and watches me from his stool by the bar.

  “Are you going to stare, or help?” I ask with a wink.

  “I think I’ll just supervise. You look in control of the situation,” he laughs at himself, which makes me laugh.

  When I finish, I take the seat across from him. “How’s it goin’?” I ask.

  “I could always be better,” he tells me. “I’m not ready for this.” He shakes his head and looks me in the eye. “You’re growing up, and all I keep thinking is, “What happened to the girl who thought boys had cooties and I was her favorite person, other than her dad,” he smiles sadly. “Jazzy, I knew this would happen one day. You’re a beautiful girl, kind, caring, funny. I thought I’d be ready when it happened. But I’m really not, and this feels almost permanent. This doesn’t feel like it’s just some boy that caught your eye.”

  “Leland,” I sigh. “You’re still my favorite uncle.”

  “I’m your only uncle,” he deadpans, and I laugh.

  “I’m not goin’ anywhere, Leland. I just have a boyfriend now.”

  He smirks, “Call me a tyrant or overprotective brute, but he’s not good enough for you. No boy will ever be good enough for you.” He gives me a look that says his word is final, I can’t change his mind.

  “In your eyes, no one will ever be good enough,” he smiles at me. “Can you accept him though?” I ask shyly, secretly wanting and needing his approval. I don’t have anyone else’s approval and it kind of hurts.

  “I won’t tell you that you can’t see him,” he shakes his head. “The heart wants what the heart wants. I can’t stop you from growing up and falling in love. And believe me, I’ll take care of him if he hurts you.” I laugh. “I will never be ready for you to grow up, but I can’t stop it. So my compromise is to tell you that I’ll never truly like whoever you end up with, but I won’t purposefully chase them away. Any boy has his hands full with just your brother,” he laughs, and I join him. “I promised your parents that I’d always have your back and take care of you. I’m trying. This isn’t something I expected to have to handle so soon.”

  I get up and hug him. “I love you Unky, you’re doin’ great.” Tears come to my eyes as I squeeze him, and he squeezes back just as hard. “I’m goin’ to bed, this day has been exhausting.”

  We say goodnights, and I head up to my room. I’m so done with emotional conversations. I just want to sleep. When I open my door, Henry is sitting on my bed.

  “What’s up?” I ask cautiously.

  His eyes plead with me before he even opens his mouth. “I know you’re upset with me, and I can’t stand it. Anyway that you can forgive me?”

  “You’re forgiven,” I say immediately. “Can you forgive me for breaking my promise?”

  He nods and laughs. “Yea.”

  “Can you also try to give Seth a real chance? He’s pretty cool, once you look past the weirdness.” The weirdness I’m referring to, he won’t know about for a long, long time.

  He smirks. “Hey, I didn’t hit him today, did I? I am trying.”

  I laugh at his response. Honestly, there were a few moments today when I thought he was going to do just that.

  “Okay I need some sleep. We’ll finish this tomorrow.” I hug him and shoo him out my door.

  I can already hear my pillow singing me a lullaby as I put my pajamas on.

  ***

  Colors flash, heat radiates against my face, and giggling crackles in my eardrums. My eyelids flutter and the bright light causes me to squint. I’m in the backyard, Henry is chasing Alex. I smile, and chase after the two of them. Henry stops in front of me, hiding himself from Alex behind a tree. I notice he looks different. I wonder if he finally got a haircut.

  Henry darts out from behind the tree and around the swing set. I run to the right to form a trap for Alex, but the backyard abruptly becomes shadowed. A spike of terror runs through me, as sweet little Alex sputters and falls to the ground. I turn to Henry for help, but his face is frozen, and I watch helplessly as the life slowly leaves his eyes.

  I scream at the top of my lungs, yelling for Henry to get up, for Leland, Seth, Miss Jaynie, anyone.

  Someone has to help me.

  Something grabs hold of my face. It feels like someone’s placed a plastic bag over my head. Breathing becomes impossible. I’m being suffocated by an invisible attacker. Panic fills me causing me to gasp for non-existent air.

  My eyes lock on the bodies of my baby cousin and my brother. Tears strea
m down my face and I’m quickly becoming hysterical.

  This is how I die.

  Five huge wolves with enormous teeth and claws come charging from around the house. The sight of them sends another surge of terror through me. But their arrival chases the shadow, and suffocating feeling, away. My fear is quickly replaced with relief as my lungs receive the air it desperately needs.

  As I choke and gasp, I crawl over to Henry and Alex, and beg for them to wake up and come back to me, I pray for it. I’m shaking violently. Arms come around me, and someone shouts my name.

  I realize that I’m not shaking; someone is shaking me.

  I open my eyes to see my uncle’s face. Henry is holding my legs, and I’m still choking and crying. I must’ve really been screaming.

  When my sobs slow, Leland tells me he loves me and leaves me with Henry.

  Henry crawls up next to me on the bed and hugs me to his chest.

  “It was . . . horrible, Henry. I couldn’t warn you . . . or save you or . . . Alex. You wouldn’t wake back up . . . They were so huge, but they saved me. It was horrible.”

  “I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. You can hear my heart beating, can’t you?” I nod against his chest. It sounds heavenly after that nightmare. “Alex is fine, and surprisingly, he slept through the screaming. I love you. Now go to sleep. You won’t be alone.”

  I fall asleep quickly in Henry’s arms. I must admit, I have the best brother in the world.

  ***

  In the morning, Seth meets me in the student lot. Because of the dream from last night, I stick close to Henry until he allows himself to be swallowed up by the fan club and the giants. When I finally make it to Seth, he puts his arms around me. I sigh and feel the tension leave me.

  He bends down to whisper in my ear, “Are you okay?” I can hear the concern in his voice.

  Tears fill my eyes as I look into his. I bite the inside of my cheek and nod.

  Before he can say anything else, Barry comes over and shoves him away, as their posse of catty girls follow him over.

  “Enough of the PDA,” he sneers. “Some of us would like to keep our breakfast down.” A few girls giggle.

  “Barry, why don’t you take the “ass” hat off and put on a “nice guy” hat for once?” I shoot back.

  “It’s too early for nice, too late for sleepy, and I just don’t have the energy for charming at the moment. So unless you find me another monster,” he says, looking pointedly at Seth, “You’re stuck with plain old me. Take it or leave it.”

  “Leave it.” I grab Seth’s hand and head for the doors.

  “Bye, Jazzy!” Barry, Tony and Flynn yell in girly voices. I’m not sure which I find more annoying, them being confrontational to Seth or them when they thought Seth being near me meant they had to mark their territory.

  Seth snorts. I guess he caught my thought. We part ways to head to our classes.

  By the time Acrylics starts, I’m ready for a nap. That nightmare last night really took a toll on me.

  “You look like you could use an energy drink.” Skeeter smiles at me as we take the last few steps into the class.

  I nod. “I didn’t sleep very well last night.”

  “I’m sorry,” she tells me. “Can I ride with you and Henry this afternoon?”

  “Yea, I don’t see why not.” I nod.

  “Awesome, thanks. My grandma wants me to meet her at your place,” she groans.

  It’s so weird hearing her call Miss Jaynie “grandma.”

  “Speaking of, I have some questions for her,” I tell her.

  “Like what?” she asks me.

  “Like . . . ” I lean close to her to whisper. “This mind talking stuff.”

  Skeeter giggles. “I’m sure she’d be able to answer that. Ask her when we get there.”

  We walk over to our seats, and my lake painting is lying on my desk. I snatch it up and flip it to check my grade. 100%.

  Excellently done, Miss Williams, if I hadn’t watched your progress with your beautiful scenery, I would’ve thought you bought it somewhere. I want to grab a blanket and a book, and step into the canvas. Keep up the good work!

  I smile, and show Skeeter. She’s just about to say something when Mr. Becker comes over.

  “Jasmine, close to the end of every year I invite the students who have impressed me, along with artists, college scouts, and designers, to attend an event here at the school. Some of the students in the past have been offered scholarships, and even career opportunities, sometimes critiques. I was wondering if you’d be willing to attend. You just need to put together a portfolio. I’ll give you until Friday to decide. The event is in five weeks,” he smiles and heads back to his desk.

  I’m stunned and just stare at my canvas.

  “Is something going to jump out of the lake or did you fail?” Derik smirks as he waltzes over.

  “Perfect marks,” I grin. I’m not telling him about the offer for the show, he wouldn’t appreciate it for what it is. It would just give him another reason to throw his annoying attitude at me.

  Skeeter comes back over and pushes Derik out of the way. She starts squealing. “This is wonderful!” Thankfully, Derik walks away.

  After class, I walk over to Mr. Becker’s desk. “I have my answer,” I tell him when he looks at me. “I want to do the event, but will I be able to keep this piece?”

  “Certainly, you may want to include it in your portfolio one day.” He smiles at me. “Do you have other paintings or drawings you’d like my opinion on, for the event?”

  “Yes, I can bring some in tomorrow. I have one in particular I’d like your opinion on, but I’ll bring a few.” I give him a nervous glance.

  This drawing I have never shown to anyone. I worked on it while I locked myself in my room after we lost Dad and Sophie. I haven’t even shown Henry, yet.

  I focus on the laugh lines around Mr. Becker’s brown eyes to stay in the present.

  “I’m looking forward to it. Have a good day,” he says with a smile.

  When the bell rings I stand outside the door and wait for Seth. I’m bouncing on the balls of my feet. I’m excited to do the exhibit Mr. Becker holds at the end of the year.

  I watch Seth walk towards me with a smile on his face. My heart is doing that crazy flutter and butterflies seem to be making a home in my belly.

  Will this feeling ever stop?

  “You’re making a habit of being late for fourth,” he chuckles and leans on the wall next to me.

  “Yea, Coach Jaymes will probably write me up,” I smirk.

  “Not that I’m not glad you wanted to see me, but why are you making yourself late again?” he asks and leans closer to me.

  “Mr. Becker offered me a spot in his exhibit at the end of the year.” My smile is so large that my cheeks already hurt.

  “That’s great!” His grin is nearly as wide as mine.

  “I know! I just had to tell someone, other than Skeeter.” I dance a little. “Okay, I should probably get going before Coach Jaymes makes me do laps or something.”

  Instantly I’m nervous, I’ve never had a boyfriend. Are you supposed to kiss them, or something, in the halls? My cheeks heat as I remember this boyfriend can hear my thoughts.

  He leans down and kisses my pinked cheeks. “Get to class,” he whispers. I giggle a little and walk away from him.

  With every step that brings me closer to the locker room, the colder I feel. I’ve got that same feeling again, someone is following me. I hear the thunking of footsteps behind me, gooseflesh covers my arms, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I try to block it out best I can, but I can hear the steps behind me picking up speed. I run, flat out, the last few feet to the locker room.

  I press my back to the wall behind the door and work on slowing my breathing.

  “Jaz, are you okay?” Hanna, one of the girls in my gym class, asks.

  “Yea, I just ran here, that’s all.” I smile. I hope it’s as reassuring as I want it
to be.

  I walk over to an empty locker and begin to change for class. As I’m pulling my blue shirt with “LHS Trojans” logo on it over my head, a locker slams behind me, I scream and jump.

  I hear a giggle. “You screamed like a little girl!” Heidi says.

  I fix my shirt and shrug to her. “It startled me.” I finish getting dressed and walk out to the gymnasium to begin stretching. A tap on my back startles me, again.

  “Jeez! You’re jumpy today. You okay?” Ashleigh asks.

  “I’m fine, Ashleigh,” I smile, and we start jogging up the bleacher steps together.

  Coach Jaymes blows her whistle, and I startle again and trip on my way back down.

  “Williams, you okay?” Coach asks. I nod and blush, as everyone stares at me. “Do you need a pass to the guidance counselor or nurse?” she whispers.

  My eyes go wide. “No, I’m okay, thanks Coach,” I assure her.

  I may have accepted the pass, if I didn’t have to be alone in that hallway again. It’s strange to be in a school filled with hundreds people, and feel stalked.

  If I talk to Henry about it, he’ll worry that I have gone off the deep end, if he doesn’t die of laughter first. I guess I can ask Miss Jaynie what to do about it, maybe she knows if ghosts are real.

  When the bell rings, I make sure to leave with a large group of girls to avoid being alone. I spot Henry on the opposite side of the hall outside the cafeteria, and take off running. When I’m close enough, I jump onto his back and cover his eyes.

  “Guess what?!” I say into my brother’s ear.

  He teeters slightly. “I thought this usually starts off with guess who?” he chuckles.

  I laugh. “I have good news!” I shout as I climb off his back.

  “Ok, I’ll bite,” he says through his laugh.

  “My art teacher was very impressed with my painting and wants to put it in his event in five weeks, for professionals and colleges to look at. I have to put a portfolio together, but I could get career placement, or a scholarship, or something, if they like my stuff.” We have another year until graduation, but I honestly have no clue what I want to do after high school. I wouldn’t complain if it had something to do with art.