I slipped on my shoes, grabbed my bag, and bounded out of my room and down the stairs; I even skipped the bottom step with a little hop onto the hardwood floor to save some time, and to also release a small sliver of pent up energy that was a result of last night’s dream.
I entered the kitchen and my mom looked up from her coffee mug with wide, unexpecting eyes, obviously surprised by my early arrival for breakfast. Without a word, she slipped her heaping plate of scrambled eggs across the kitchen table toward my regular seat, continuing to stare at me with her unbelieving eyes.
She finally spoke, “There’s plenty left. Are you hungry?”
“A little,” I replied, even though I was too amped up and preoccupied by my own thoughts and daily agenda to eat a single bite. “Sit down and eat a few bites. What’s the rush?” She continued to sip her coffee.
“Oh, nothing. I just woke up early this morning, so I thought that I’d go ahead and get ready for school.” I gave in and sat down in my regular chair at our kitchen table across from my mom, taking a few delicious bites of the still steaming eggs. I added, “I wanted to go over my work and double check a couple of Trig answers before I left.” I hoped this would give my mom a believable excuse for my unusual behavior of being prepared for school on time, instead of the usual daily occurrence of running late.
She nodded, and I took another bite of eggs, gulping down my barely chewed bite when I thought realized she had actually believed this substitute for the truth.
My mom stood up from her chair, coffee still in hand and asked, “Do you want some juice?”
I simply gave her a nod since my mouth remained full of scrambled eggs, and she headed over to the refrigerator. She took out the carton, poured the juice into a glass, then sat it in front of my plate which now only held a few final bites. She grabbed one with her bare hand and popped it into her mouth, while I quickly scarfed down the rest, obviously more hungry than I had originally realized.
“Dad already leave for work?”
“Yeah, about an hour ago. You know how busy this time of year is for him.”
“Yeah, I know.”
My mom rinsed her coffee mug and dropped it in the sink. The clanking noise made me jump a little, fueling the adrenaline already rushing through my body.
“You ready to go, hon? I’d like to get down to the shop a little earlier today,” she said, as she tossed a couple items into her purse and pulled out her car keys.
Apparently, my early start to the day was a welcome change to my mom.
“Besides,” she continued, “I think someone’s already waiting for you outside,” she smirked.
“Yeah, yeah,” I rolled my eyes, and walked over to grab my school bag from the floor where I had dropped it when I first entered the kitchen.
We walked outside together, and my mom locked up behind me. She gave me one last wave as she hopped in her car and backed out of the driveway. I stood for a moment, sending her a return wave, before I climbed up to the passenger seat.
I had actually forgotten that Leo was picking me up this morning till my mom reminded me. I presumed he wasn’t going to get us to school as quickly as I wanted to get there, though.
My anticipation of getting to finally speak with Zoey was getting the best of me, and I just prayed that Homeroom would pass at the speed of lightening. I needed to see her to figure out this mysterious linkage we seemed to share, or at least the link I felt with her.
We pulled into Leo’s usual parking spot, just a few places down from mine, about ten minutes later. I glanced over and could see my Bug shining in the morning light, covered in melted droplets from the early morning frost.
I jumped out of Leo’s truck, slammed the heavy door, and headed straight for the front hall of the school. Leo followed closely behind.
I could hear him calling my name, trailing me by just a few feet. I couldn’t force myself to stop. I was too tangled with thoughts of doing whatever I needed in order to impel this morning on and make my way to first period Trig class; the one I shared with Zoey.
“Becca!” Leo called again with such a pleading sound in his voice that it made me feel terrible for the way I had been ignoring him, and I immediately was overcome with sympathy for the grief I caused and could clearly see in his eyes. I finally stopped and turned around to face him.
“Where are you going?” He caught up with me and stopped so close that I could smell his delicious cologne and sense his overwhelming confusion. He continued, “You didn’t wait for me?” It sounded as if it were more of a statement full of hurt than an actual question.
“Sorry, I was just anxious to get in and get some things taken care of from what I missed out on yesterday. I really didn’t mean to brush you off,” I apologized sincerely.
“That’s okay,” Leo squinted somewhat, as if he was trying to get in to my head to see if I was telling the truth. Then his expression lightened, and he seemed to have forgotten the whole matter as we walked together to my locker.
Leo and I talked for a couple minutes about random things, like his football practice last night. Thankfully, forgetting my haste, I remembered to mention that he should push Will to ask Emmy to Homecoming --- sooner rather than later --- so that Emmy and I could both be spared a multitude of anguish. Leo nodded in agreement.
“So, what about you? Are you looking forward to the dance…and being there with me?” he asked, as he caught my glance with those deep seas of blue that were his eyes.
Those eyes, that if he wanted them to, could draw in every girl at this school, but he always seemed to save that special flirty look just for me. There was nothing to do now but give in when he looked at me that way.
I think I was actually beginning to admit to myself that the idea of Leo and I going to the dance together had me gushing. At least the body heat that radiated between the two of us agreed with me, sending a good tingle up my arms and back. I could feel my cheeks flush with the same tingle of heat. This was the exact moment I felt that Leo and I becoming a couple was a possibility, then the even more
surprising realization came that this was actually something I wanted. The hairs on my arms stood at full attention as a pleasant chill ran up the length of my spine, full of titillation.
I dropped my head, looking down at the sleeves of my shirt, attempting to hide the blood that had recently rushing to my cheeks. I fidgeted with the edges of my sweater for a moment, then pulled them over my hands all the way down to my fingertips. My head stayed low, and only my eyes made their way all the way back up to meet his.
I replied with a slightly flirty grin, “Yeah, Leo. I’m looking forward to being there with you.”
“Good,” he said smugly, as a smile widened across his gorgeous face. Then he abruptly turned to walk away, his mission completed. Leo always loved to tease me.
He walked off so suddenly that I was left standing there in the middle of the hallway all alone, still wanting more from him. I reluctantly closed my locker, then made my way down the hall toward Homeroom. I had taken only a few steps when I heard Leo shout from the opposite end of the hallway.
“Hey, Becca,” he called, and I turned. “Me too!”
I smiled shyly in return, feeling the blood rush to my face again; the unwanted tingle spread across my cheeks notifying me that I was certainly turning the color of ripened strawberries. How could something that made you feel so ecstatic on the inside still embarrass you on the outside?
I walked the rest of the way to Homeroom with a grin that I just couldn’t erase. It was almost enough to make me forget about seeing Zoey in first period --- almost.
I sat down next to Emmy just as the tardy bell had rung, and Mr. Stanley appeared in the doorway of the classroom. He took attendance while we listened to the morning announcements. The same old things: sports scores, lunch menu, tickets on sale for the dance in the cafeteria during lunch hour and also after school.
While I was half listening to the announcements, Emmy turned toward me with her
wide, gladsome eyes when she heard the word ‘dance’.
Emmy grabbed my hands, and we bounced ridiculously in a celebratory fashion as she squealed and giggled. I laughed at her excitement, and together we stood arm in arm until the bell finally rang, forcing us into our own seats.
I guessed it. Will had asked her to Homecoming this morning before school started. Leo didn’t even have time to say a word to him, so he must have mustered up the confidence on his own --- thank goodness. No more stressing over whether this boy was, or wasn’t, going to ask Emmy to the dance. This felt as much of a relief to me as I’m sure it was for Emmy. Smooth sailing from here on out, I thought to myself. Then reconsidered when I remembered that I would be finally meeting Zoey in my next class.
Homeroom thankfully passed quickly, and soon enough Emmy and I were at our lockers exchanging books and folders for our first period classes. I tried to do the swap of textbooks as quickly as possible, all the while taking short glances down the hall in the same direction that Zoey had appeared the previous day. I attempted to hide wondering so that I could avert any attention I may draw toward myself.
Now I was stalling. I shut my locker door, listened to Emmy rave with excitement over the perfect dress for the dance that she had scoped out at the mall days before. I had actually seen photos of the dress already, as she had texted them to me the minute she found it hanging in the store. I had to admit that the dress would look amazing on her, bringing out her uncommonly violet-blue eyes.
Then finally, just moments later, there she was.
Her hair was as flaming red as I’d recalled from yesterday. Zoey glided easily through all of the other students who appeared to be almost as captivated by her as I felt. She turned, her effortless stride floating her down the hall and directly into our shared Trig class.
“Gotta go, Em,” I said, feeling absolutely spellbound by the sight of her. I stealthily walked toward the classroom doorway.
Please stay in control. Please stay in control. Please stay in control, I repeated to myself time and time again. I made my way through the classroom’s threshold and found my seat.
So far, so good. I actually made it without the visions, or collapse, like the day before. I found my seat in the back row of the classroom, and simultaneously glanced two rows over to where Zoey had seated herself at an empty desk. She turned my direction, and sent me a half grin when we made eye contact with each other.
The class started soon after, and the teacher began with her daily lesson. Periodically throughout the hour, I shifted my eyes toward Zoey to see if she noticed me at all; to see if she possibly felt the same connection and pull that I felt, but to my disbelief she didn’t seem to be aware of anything out of the ordinary. Zoey only looked up from her textbook and work to acknowledge the teacher when she spoke, then she’d refocus herself back on her work.
I couldn’t figure it out. How in the world had that connection to Zoey --- that same connection that I felt today and yesterday which sparked such a reaction in me to conjure visions --- left her feeling nothing. I didn’t understand it. I was baffled.
I thought with such certainty that when I saw Zoey today, something amazing was going to happen that would explain all of the strangeness and visions from the day before. Could I have been wrong? Did the visions really have nothing to do with her, and were possibly just a coincidence? I didn’t know, but now more than ever, I needed to speak to her to make certain.
The class continued as usual, and after another twenty minutes the bell had finally rung to dismiss us. I sat for a moment at my desk to see if Zoey was going to hang out for a minute after class, or if she’d immediately take off out the door. Luckily, she stayed seated while she packed up her books, and I took full advantage of this opportunity.
I walked over to her desk and hesitantly introduced myself. I was especially nervous and attempted to stay within complete control over my actions in case the visions came bounding back.
“Um, hi. I’m Becca.”
“Yeah, I actually know that already,” she said with a voice that sounded about ten years older than she could have possibly been.
“How…?” I started to ask, when I realized that my so-called fainting spell yesterday must have caused quite a stir around school. I’m sure that all of the other students had talked about my little incident endlessly. I was certain they had all thrown my name around more than I’d care to know. “Oh yeah, small towns, huh?” I laughed off with a chuckle.
“Exactly,” she replied matter-of-factly, then lifted her bag over her shoulder and rose from the desk. “Well, it was nice to meet you, Becca,” she spoke, then headed straight for the door.
I noticed a slight shift of her eyes back toward me as she floated gracefully across the hard linoleum floor. I took this as an invitation to continue our introduction further.
I followed her, hoping for an opening that would allow me to turn this introduction in to a conversation. I’d do just about anything to acquire more information about Zoey; anything that would hopefully lead to a tiny insight. Something that may tie up the loose ends of the strange events from yesterday.
“Um, you know that there’s a dance this Friday after the football game, right?” I asked, simply pulling the first thought off the top of my head in order to keep the conversation moving.
“Yeah, I do. I actually heard it on the announcements the past two mornings.”
“Of course,” I said, feeling totally embarrassed. I shook my head at my ridiculous attempt at chitchat. If I was ever going to get this girl talking, then I was going to have to do a much better job than that.
“You going?” I asked, hoping that her answer would be “yes”. Then, I could invite her to go with all of us as a group thing in order to spend a little more time in her presence, exploring this connection that had such a strong and captivating hold on me.
“I’m not sure yet. Are you going?” she asked me in return.
“Yeah, I am. I’m sort of going with my best friend, Leo. We kind of grew up together and hang out a lot. We’re probably going with my friend, Emmy, and her date, Will. Have you met any of them yet?” I asked, still trying to keep the conversation active.
“No, I don’t think I have.”
At this point in the conversation, we were walking out into the hall and she was about to turn the opposite way from where I was headed. I couldn’t let her escape down the hallway and out of sight just yet; so before we split ways, I wanted to leave her with an opening that would give me a reason to talk to her at another point in time.
“You’re more than welcome to come with all of us, if you’d like.” I threw the invitation out there not knowing how she’d respond. But there it was, nevertheless. “I’m sure they’d all be really happy to meet you,” I added with a hesitant grin. My invitation sounded so fake, contrived, as the sound of my own voice which I didn’t recognize rang through my ears. Who was I right now?
“I might just take you up on that,” she smiled, and I was pleasantly surprised by her answer.
“You have a brother too, right? Luke?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“He can come too, if he’d like.” I added, “And dates, of course, if either of you have a date to bring along. We’ll make it a whole group thing.”
“I’ll have to talk to Luke and see what his plans are, but thanks for the invite. That’s really, um, nice of you.”
Her hesitation seemed strange, and it confused me. I thought the conversation had been going rather well now that I’d relaxed a bit. “Oh, sure. Just let me know what you guys decide.”
“Sure, Becca. Thanks again.” With those final words, she walked off down the hall.
Every single boy in sight stared, even though they all tried to play it cool and pretend they didn’t notice her stunning beauty at all. She glided through the junior hall with her wispy fire-red layers blowing in the breeze that was created by the simple act of her walking down a hallway.
I stopped at my
locker where Emmy was already waiting for me. I also observed that Leo had been watching from a distance, and he was rapidly making his way through the busy hallway in my direction.
Emmy’s knees bounced with anticipation and excitement. She looked as if she were going to pounce on me the second I was within arm’s length.
“So, like, what’s she like?” Emmy implored.
“She’s strange,” Leo interjected rudely, as he approached the two of us. He shook his head with disapproval as he lowered his eyebrows and looked off in Zoey’s direction.
“What are you talking about? She was perfectly nice just now,” I defended. I was baffled by Leo’s immediate dislike of Zoey. He’d never written someone off so quickly like that before. It just wasn’t his personality to actually dislike somebody, at least not anyone that I’d ever known about.
“She didn’t speak to a single person yesterday while you were gone, Becca. There’s something not right about her, or her brother for that matter. I think you’d be better off keeping your distance,” Leo continued with his new-found, disapproving manner.
“Yeah, none of us have gotten the chance to talk to, like, either one of them yet. They kinda kept to themselves yesterday, and we still don’t know anything about them. Well, other than what we’ve heard from everyone in town.” Emmy and I both laughed at her last remark. “So, what’d you find out?” Emmy asked, her anticipation unchanging. “I didn’t find out anything. I just thought it would be nice if they could start meeting people around here, so I invited Zoey and Luke to come with all of us to Homecoming.”
“Like hell,” Leo mumbled, still glancing back and forth from me to where Zoey had just turned at the end of the hall. He still wore the same disapproving scowl across his handsome face.
I frowned with disapproval. “What’s wrong with you?” I snapped at Leo, losing my patience with this new attitude of his.
“Nothing,” he claimed apologetically. “I just didn’t get a good vibe from her or her brother. They’re different,” he responded, obviously trying to be a bit more sympathetic toward my feelings now. He was attempting to cover his dislike and agitation, but as well as I know my best friend, I could see that his feelings still lingered and would remain.
Beautiful Souls Page 5
