“Why?” I never usually question Sean’s judgment, but I found myself irritated that he didn’t approve of Liam Alexander. If there was something wrong, why wouldn’t I have already discovered it?
“Just trust me, Emma. He’s not a good match for you.”
I was worried with the furious expression that had returned into Sean’s face.
“Can’t you give me more than not a good match?”
I was trying to joke as I put the air quotes around my words. He was not biting as he almost glared at me.
“I’m serious, Emma. He’s just . . . weird. I’ve heard rumors.” His eyes shifted with a small grimace of his lips.
“Since when have you believed rumors?”
“Since the rumor began having interest in my sister.”
I knew Sean was being protective and trying his best to scare me away from whatever reason he held an aversion toward Liam. Nevertheless, his effort had made an opposite effect. There is just something in the girl DNA that makes the words stay away more inviting. I was now curious to what was so weird about Liam. He seemed sweet, polite, and charmingly beautiful this afternoon. Maybe he had some weird past before he moved to Washington.
I found myself in an awkward silence as I began drinking my tea. Sean sat back and gazed to his left at a colorful canvas painting of what looked like Venice. It was as if the painting carried a familiarity to him.
I couldn’t help myself as I spoke the words just as they came. “Well, what kind of rumors?” Sean turned his gaze back on me with his usual grin. As if the painting had elevated his mood. He was going to give me a headache with these emotional 180s. I caught sight of the waiter approaching with a tray that had me grateful because I was starving. But I was also annoyed since I wanted an answer.
“Here’s your chicken parmesan. And you’re lasagna.” He looked up to me after reaching back to grab his cheese grater. “Parmesan cheese?”
“Yes, please.” I gestured with my hand, stopping him after a few seconds.
“No cheese for me, thank you.” Sean had spoken firmly before the waiter had time to move. He left once again, eager to be away from the tension.
“Everything looks good,” Sean said. His eyebrows rose as he dove into his lasagna. As we ate the rest of our meal in silence, I could not get the Alexanders out of my mind. Nothing alarmed me to conclude they were what Sean was making them out to be.
When Sean finally asked, “Ready to go,” I found that I was still curious.
“Sure, but you never answered my question.”
I smiled up at the waiter who seemed concerned about my dinner companion as he took the check back. “No change,” Sean said before pushing his seat back and catching my impatient gaze. I seemed to have a lot of those tonight.
“Didn’t you even notice the strange things about him on your first day?” he asked while leading me through the restaurant.
“Like what?” I said walking out the door he held open for me.
Maybe I had noticed some things, but my mind wasn’t letting me recall anything that sent a red flag.
“How about the fact that he never comes to lunch?” Sean said with narrowed eyes.
Yes that was strange, and I had never gotten the reason. Okay, so one point for Sean. But I hated that he had that smiling gloat on his lips as he drove out of the parking lot.
“That’s only one thing and for all we know it’s for a good reason,” I said.
“How about how he doesn’t even look like a junior? He looks like he should be going to the university by now, and yet he’s still here,” Sean said.
I sighed as it was something I had myself been thinking about. For both him and his older sister. “That could just be his genetics.”
“What about—”
“That’s enough,” I said annoyingly, cutting him off this time.
As we turned onto my street, I knew Sean would see my clenched jaw and slow exhale. I wasn’t in the mood to hear him list off reasons why Liam was weird.
“I’ll drive tomorrow,” he said.
I looked back to him with widened eyes. “Aren’t you coming in?”
“I think I just need some sleep. I’m exhausted.”
You’re exhausted? What about me?
“Well, should we take one last photo of my birthday? Or are you too tired for that?”
“Oh no, for that, I think I have time to spare.”
I grabbed my camera from inside my purse, and then Sean grabbed it from my hand, knowing that his arms extended further than mine did for a better picture range.
“Say cheese,” he said. He snapped the picture with ease before giving me back the camera. I turned it over to get a quick look at the picture. We had identical grins, but our eyes were nowhere close to the same. I had been right from the moment I had seen him. His were an incredible bright golden honey drip of hazel that had mine looking utterly plain. Maybe mine had just dulled over the past three years though. Finally, I faced the inevitable by placing it back in my purse and opening my door.
“Thanks for dinner,” I said. I leaned back to give him a kiss on the cheek before jumping out with the disappointment.
“Did Sean leave?” My mom asked from the moment I had walked in the door.
“Yeah, he was really tired.”
I wasn’t sure whose disappointment was bigger between the two of us.
Once I entered my room, I wasted time I thought I would be spending with Sean by slowly changing into my purple pajama bottoms and pink tank top before beginning to read The Scarlet Letter. I had barely started the fourth chapter when my thoughts focused on Liam Alexander. I was apprehensive to find the reason why Sean was so disapproving of the Alexanders. Maybe it was because he was so adamant to keep a distance between me and the youngest one. But why Liam?
When I realized I was reading the same sentence repeatedly, I laid the book on my nightstand. The day’s exhaustion had finally surfaced. I reached for my lamp and laid my head down onto my pillow. Upon closing my eyes, I found myself in the school cafeteria.
There I saw Grace Alexander, with the same electric sapphire eyes, waving to me invitingly from her table like a pageant queen. To her right, Liam stood near her shoulder with a stunning and seductive smile. His hand extended forward as he welcomed me to come join him and his beautifully alluring sister. I began to walk toward them with a thrill I couldn’t resist when a force from behind suddenly grabbed my arm. My head turned and my smile vanished when I found the same furious gaze in Sean’s eyes that he held this afternoon.
5. Promise
My eyes opened at annoyance to the sound of my alarm this morning. As I pulled on my jeans and maroon sweater with a tired effort, my mind surfaced with a realization. I trusted my brother wholeheartedly. And if he held enough reason to warn me to stay away from Liam Alexander, then I would.
When I got to school, luckily I had no need for his assistance at my locker. However, at lunch even though I knew I shouldn’t, I couldn’t help the need for looking toward his siblings’ table. I noticed it was Grace and Lillian sitting by themselves. But where was—crap!
Not paying attention as I turned away from the lunch line, I collided the front of my tray into someone else. My burger was fine but I watched as my Coke fell toward the ground until a hand swooped down to catch it within mid-air, placing it back onto my tray. “I’m sorry,” I said apologetic. I hoped the person was understanding. I looked up even more embarrassed when I saw it was the other Alexander twin. William, I thought with remembrance. I hadn’t really noticed much about him yesterday. Maybe because I had become distracted by learning about his sister and his girlfriend. But being so close I could see enough resemblance to his regal twin sister.
Just like Grace and Liam, he carried a unique genetic quality that made him look a few years older than eighteen—a trait they would all hate later in life. He was shorter than his younger brother but looked to be eye level with Lillian. He had the same straight dark brown hair as Grace that
was parted down the middle and pushed back to reveal his forehead, very old fashionably. Oddly enough, I found the way the sides covered the top half of his ears appealing along with his slightly present sideburns. But now that I was focused on his hesitant gaze, I could see the small subtle difference in his electric blue eyes. They were a shade lighter than Grace and yet still powerfully alluring.
“Thanks,” I said.
He merely nodded with a polite charming grin before walking around me. I sighed to the interaction before finally making my way safely to my table.
My eyes traveled across the many eyes of my friends as I sat. “Do you guys know anything about William Alexander?” It was a question more directed at whoever knew the answer.
“The twin?” Becca asked.
“Yeah. I know about the other two Alexanders, but I hadn’t heard much about him.”
Why I was curious of Liam’s brother, I didn’t know. It even felt borderline masochistic to dive into Liam Alexander’s family life. What good would that do?
“He’s kind of quiet but really smart. I have him in my history class, and he’s always inquisitive.” Becca leaned forward. “Sometimes it’s like he’s asking a question just test Coach Wallace. He’s even corrected him a few times.”
“I know. I had him in my class last semester,” Pamela started. “He had this old rebel suit that he brought when we were on the Civil War. I thought Mrs. Kimbal was going to faint when she saw it.”
“That seems rare to have something like that out of a museum.” I could feel the narrowed squint of my eyes. “If it was real, I mean.”
Pamela was nodding. “It was. He said it had been passed down for generations. He even brought a picture of his relative who wore it during the war.” Her eyes widened as if she were reliving the moment of seeing the picture. “They looked almost identical.” She paused with a shrug from her shoulders. “Well, except for the glasses.”
“I’m sure they could make some good money selling that thing,” Becca said.
“It has too much sentimental value now,” Lauren commented. Becca rolled her eyes and shrugged as if to say if you say so. “Why do you ask?”
I found my own shrug toward Lauren’s question. “Just curious, I guess.”
“Emma, you’re going on Friday, right?”
I shook my head and turned toward the voice. I hadn’t even realized Erika had sat down. The last I had noticed was her talking with Mark Lewis across the room.
“To what?” I asked.
She resisted the grin as she playfully rolled her eyes. “Pamela’s swim meet.”
Suddenly the memory of the very event surfaced. Pamela had told me about it in Spanish this afternoon. The Washington Pam Pack swim team was hosting the Northside Panthers at the Moore Aquatic Center on Friday.
“Oh, right. Yeah I’ll be there.”
Though the season had started back in October it was the first time I would get to see Pamela swim for the Varsity team. A swarm of memories had flashed into my mind of the many summers when she would challenge me to a race or two. I never came close to winning.
“Promise?” Erika asked.
“Promise,” I said.
Just saying the word made me picture Liam Alexander. Not because talking to him was exactly breaking a promise. It was just something Sean didn’t approve of and that was basically the same in my mind.
“Good,” she said. “Don’t forget it starts at six-thirty.”
“I won’t.”
Being in English was the longest hour of my life. It felt like three hours of constant attention on the overhead notes. I even looked down to periodically add my own opinions of the classic novel just to avoid my eyes from wondering to Liam beside me. It was easier that way. Especially after remembering the moment I saw him walk into the classroom. I had gone all day without seeing him, and in that moment, I felt a shock of excitement. Immediately I had to look away.
But now from the tone in Mrs. Anderson’s voice, it sounded as if the sheet she put on the overhead was the last for the class to copy. Once I had written the paragraph into my notes, I placed my pen down in order to pump my cramped hand a few times.
“Any big plans this weekend?” Liam said.
It was more of a whisper. I sighed, but for the life of me, I couldn’t be rude, no matter how much I wanted to avoid him.
“It’s not big but one of my friends has a swim meet on Friday,” I said.
Unintentionally, I turned my head with my words, finding a smile that seemed to have been glad to catch a glimpse of my face. It was as if he knew I was trying to avoid him. What was worse was that I was finished copying the notes, along with most of the class. I didn’t know where to look anymore.
“And I suppose you wouldn’t want me to go?”
I found my eyes on him, to see if there was an amusement in his narrowed gaze. “Well, I would feel rude inviting you to something that isn’t even for me.” I lightly shrugged with the lift of my eyebrows. “But it’s a school sport, so I can’t tell you not to go.”
“That would be disrespectful for the very name of Washington High,” he said.
I could see the bright gleam of emerald in his eyes with his resisted smirk.
“So you’re going?”
I wasn’t sure if I sounded disappointed or excited.
“Most likely, I won’t attend.”
“Then why ask me?”
I felt like this whole conversation had been pointless to my cause. But something about the way he looked at me made me believe that was his whole agenda.
He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
The bell rang and I was out of my seat. I couldn’t risk him asking me more questions or walking me to my locker again. But without much thought, I turned back with a glance, unable to help myself as I walked toward the door. Suddenly my body was halted when I saw Liam again. He held his face in his hands with self-deprecation. Instinctively, I felt a twinge from the absence of his beauty.
I wasn’t sure why, but I found I couldn’t resist my feet from moving back toward him. I deliberated for several seconds with a break in my movement. But in the middle of my indecision, Liam finally sighed and gathered his things to stand. He seemed ready to flee until the sight of me froze him.
It was clear he hadn’t been counting on me watching him as I did not understand myself. I longed to go to him as we continued to lock gazes. The seconds that passed no longer had meaning with time. It was like time didn’t exist. He walked closer to me, creating only inches of gap between our bodies. We said nothing, and yet in the silence, the world slowed and my heart beat fast. At least until Mrs. Anderson broke the silence with her own question.
“Emma, how was your first day yesterday?”
I was annoyed and yet relieved to break away from this terrifyingly close connection from Liam.
“It was good,” I said.
“Good,” she said
I smiled politely and took the break to slip out the door. I closed my eyes and sighed as I passed into the hall. Sean was already waiting at my locker with his arms folded. He was staring at the floor across from him. He turned as I approached and followed Liam’s gaze. It was only then I had even realized that Liam had been standing behind me, following silently. As I slowed to my locker, Liam sped up and around me. He kept walking, without a backward glance at either Sean or me.
I looked to Sean with an awkward glance. Just enough vision to let me see the small grin on his lips. Can’t say I liked that, but it was nice to see him cheerful. I’d take that over the fury any day.
“So you’re going to Pamela’s swim meet on Friday?” Sean asked as we walked into the parking lot.
“Yeah. How’d you know?”
“I overheard Becca and Erika talking about it in the hallway.”
Of course he did. He was observant after all. I rolled my eyes as I hopped into his Jeep. “Are you going?”
He swiftly pulled out of the parking lot without glancing behind us. The same at
tempt from me would have only resulted in a guaranteed accident.
“No. I have to work that night.”
I nodded with just a hint of disappointment that I knew he could see because I forgot to lift my lips into a grin on time.
“We can go to the river tomorrow.”
Immediately I felt a surge of excitement. One for getting to be with Sean and two for going to my old favorite spot. Even as a kid I couldn’t resist that familiar comfort that Dallas never had.
“Works for me,” I said.
As he parked on the driveway of the house I watched his neck turn, letting his eyes focus on me. He winked. “Don’t forget your camera.”
I opened the door of the Jeep, swinging out my legs to meet the pavement.
“Okay,” I said with a farewell grin.
As I shut the passenger door, I thought about my camera. Of course, I would bring it. I was actually quite looking forward to snapping some photos of the river after school. I could put them in my new scrapbook to finish. I could still hear the waiting engine of Sean’s Jeep as I walked inside the house with a new excitement.
Around 2:00 AM I woke from the heat flash that was suffocating my body. I sat up instantly throwing off my comforter, feeling the flush warmth of my face and the sweat beads that had already formed on my chest. Five minutes later I was running to the bathroom to throw up everything from the night before.
I must have fallen asleep there because the next thing I remembered was being woken by my mom. I now sat against the bathroom wall as she dabbed a cool washcloth around my face and neck. Each second the rag touched a new section of skin was a cool release from the heat. Every few dabs I would moan appreciatively.
“I’m going to go call the school and let them know you won’t be coming in today, baby.”
I nodded weakly before she stood and walked out of the bathroom and into the hallway. It had only been a few seconds when the doorbell rang. Sean, I thought. I forgot to tell my mom to also let him know that I was sick. My eyes closed involuntarily as I waited for my mom to return.
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