“Wait,” she called after me; I could hear the pleading in her voice, and I knew I would cave in to her command. Coming to a sudden halt in the doorway, I turned to face her completely, my arms crossed tight across my chest. “You have every right to be upset, Lia. I would be.”
This was a good start, I thought, though I would never say so out loud. I relaxed my stance slightly to indicate she should continue.
“I really did fall. And, my hip—well, it’s in poor form,” she started to explain. “I knew your mom would send you to stay with me, and I wanted to see you sooner than later. The way we left things the last time I saw you…it’s been eating me up inside. I hate that you’re so upset with me, Lia. We have always been so close, and now, I hardly ever talk to you. I had to do something.”
“And you thought ruining spring break of my senior year would be your first step to forgiveness?”
“Oh, Lia. I guess I never realized what you would be giving up. I’ve been selfish.”
“Yes. You have,” I replied, storming out of the room. From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the clock on the kitchen wall. I could practically hear it mocking me as it flashed the time—7:15 a.m. It would be nearly four more hours before Eli would rescue me from what seemed like my own personal purgatory.
For the rest of the morning, we managed to stay out of each other’s way. I sat on the edge of my fluffy bed—I preferred a firm mattress, so trying to sleep on it was, in my opinion, the equivalent of trying to swim in a pool of tapioca pudding. Nonetheless, I buried my head in the pages of my calculus textbook and began plugging away at mathematical equations. After about an hour, I had managed to complete the entire assignment, as well as all of the trig questions we had been told to attempt. At this rate, I would be done all of my schoolwork before lunch, and I would have nothing left to keep me busy the rest of the week.
Two-and-a-half hours. I contemplated ways to spend the time before Eli would appear—hopefully. After all, I had only known him for a few hours. Perhaps, he was completely unreliable and would decide to skip out on our engagement. Surely, someone who looked and dressed that good would have plenty of available girls pounding down his door. And, I bet the football team, or some equally appealing set of jocks, would want to monopolize his time. Why would he want to spend a perfectly lovely Saturday morning with me? The answer came to me quickly. His grandfather would likely have his head if he even considered playing hooky from our plans. I found the thought ruthlessly consoling. For the next two hours—until the time I would have to consider making myself presentable—I caught up on emails and listened to tunes on my iPod. The time passed quicker than I had expected it would.
As promised, Eli was standing on the doorstep promptly at 11 a.m. The doorbell took me by surprise.
“You ready,” he asked as I pulled open the creaky oak door, motioning for him to come inside. After looking down to see that I already my sneakers fastened to my feet, he ignored my invitation. Instead, he stepped backward off the step and—never taking his gaze from mine—began slowly walking toward the curb, where an enormous, blue vehicle of some kind was parked awkwardly in front of Hank’s house—which was, of course, practically on top of my grandma’s driveway. How could I have missed this eyesore the night before? Even under the cover of night, I was sure it would be impossible to conceal.
“We’re going in that,” I questioned as I pulled the door tight behind me. For half-of-a-second I had an internal debate about locking the door, and I finally settled on leaving it unlocked. I felt fairly certain that Mr. Bethsby would be over to check on my grandma before Eli and I had left tread marks from our departure. He could lecture me later about security concerns.
Eli laughed and disappeared behind the massive machine. As I struggled to climb into the passenger seat, the engine roared to life. Next to a jet engine, it was, possibly, the most deafening sound I had ever encountered.
“Where are we going,” I asked innocently, secretly hoping that the destination was nearby so that I would not be confined to this hideous wreck any longer than absolutely necessary.
“It’s a surprise,” he said smiling, his crystal blue eyes gleaming bright. Eli could be the poster boy for any leading toothpaste manufacturer. There was only one word to describe his impeccable appearance—stunning. In his shadow, I felt entirely inadequate. Despite Chaseyn’s equally remarkable aesthetics, I never felt that way in his presence. Perhaps it was the fact that Eli so perfectly fit into the All-American archetype, while Chaseyn exuded a sense of the eccentric. Beyond their categorically pleasing appearances, there were no similarities, really.
“So,” I said after a few awkward moments of silence. “Tell me about your wheels.”
“I don’t want to bore you,” Eli said politely. “We can talk about something else.”
Though he was right, I would likely find the conversation boring, I was still contemplating other acceptable conversation starters. In the meantime, this would just have to do.
“No. I want to know. What is it?”
Immediately after I said the words, I worried he might find my tone offensive. I had no idea what to call the old tin lizzie we were using to transport us around town, but I had not intended to sound so chiding. Especially when Eli was taking time out of his own life to cart me around town.
“It’s a 1981 Toyota half-ton. I rebuilt it with my grandpa,” he said proudly. “Took us six months to collect all the parts. Gramps had to search every junkyard from here to Fort Worth to find everything we needed. He was so excited to get under the hood.”
Instantly, my heart hurt. Eli, who had lived with his grandfather most of his life, still found it comforting to spend quality time with the old man, and I couldn’t find it within me to spare my grandma a bit of forgiveness when she had only been trying to help. I hardly saw her anymore, and she was only getting older. What if I ran out of time? Right then, I decided that I would put the past behind us the minute Eli dropped me off at her house.
“That sounds like fun. You must really love spending time with him,” I said sincerely. “He seems pretty great.”
“Yeah. He’s not so bad, I guess,” he said, clearly downplaying his admiration for the older man. “Your grandma’s pretty cool, too. They spend a lot of time together—her and grandpa.”
“I figured so much. He must really care about her,” I said.
Eli nodded.
“We’re here,” he said pulling to a stop in what seemed to be a concrete jungle.
“Where’s here,” I asked, glancing around for clues that would indicate any form of information about the site.
“The zoo. Your grandma said you like animals, so I thought we could spend the day here. We can go someplace else if you would prefer.”
“No. This is great—I just couldn’t tell where we were—literally,” I explained, noting the disappointment in his voice at the suggestion that I might be unsatisfied with his plan. “I have a cat.”
I have a cat. The words circled inside my head. Did they sound as foolish to him as they did to me? I hoped not, but then, why should I care. Though Eli seemed nice, I doubted I would see him again after this week.
Eli and I spent hours strolling through the exhibits staring at the animals. From watching the Bengal tigers rest in the African exhibit to performing our own goofy gorilla acts during our search for the disappointingly nonexistent monkey display, we had a blast, and I barely thought about all that I had left behind—namely, Chaseyn.
For lunch, we dined on foot-long hotdogs and super-sized slushies. Later, we plucked fluffy chunks of spun sugar from bags packed tight with pink cotton candy. At the end of the day, we took the long way home—meandering through side streets so Eli could point out local attractions and landmarks. We laughed and talked the entire way. Just one day earlier, I could barely fathom how I would survive the week away from home, but now, I was having such a good time that I barely wanted it to end. Part of me felt guilty for feeling this way.
/> As expected, Mr. Bethsby was keeping my grandma company, so Eli and I offered to get take out from the Chinese restaurant up the street. Approaching the counter, I was taken aback by the vision of a hauntingly beautiful girl—about my age—placing an order just ahead of us.
“Hi,” the raven-haired beauty said shyly when she saw Eli.
Eli was clearly oblivious to the fact that this stunning creature was carrying a torch for him.
“Hey,” he said, turning back to me for clues to my favorite dishes.
“I’m Frost,” she said, holding out her delicate hand. “Who are you?”
Suddenly, she seemed much less shy.
“Frost, this is my friend Lia,” he said. “She’s visiting from Evergreen for the week.”
“Well, I’m sure I’ll see you again,” she said, taking her order and dashing for the door.
Before Eli had even finished the last part of his sentence, Frost had taken out her cell phone and was frantically dialing a number. She was talking at such a rapid pace when she left the restaurant that it was impossible to make out anything she was saying.
“She seems…”
“Eccentric,” Eli finished for me.
“I was going to say quirky, but eccentric certainly fits the bill,” I said laughing. “I have this eerie feeling that I’ve met her before. Does she live nearby?”
“Not likely,” Eli said. “She just moved here a few months ago.”
“Well, she’s most certainly set her sights on you.”
“Aw, shucks, Lia. You’re embarrassing me,” he said sarcastically. “She’s always nice enough to me, but I can’t shake the feeling that there is something she’s hiding—some sort of secret.”
“What do you mean,” I asked curiously.
“It’s hard to pinpoint exactly,” he said. “She’s so elusive and mature. She holds herself with a grace that is uncommon to other girls. At first, I found her enchanting, but now, she just gives me chills. Besides, she’s hardly my type.”
It happened so quickly that I nearly missed it, but as Eli said those last four words, he stared me straight in the eyes—a look of intrigue and allure clear across his sweet face. Sensing he was about to reach for my hand, I shifted my weight slightly, hoping to buy enough time to formulate an appropriate escape.
“Next,” the pimple-faced tween behind the counter called in an effort to capture our attention.
“Hello,” he said in a second attempt to break our entrancement. Uncertain how to react, I stepped toward the till and glanced up at the menu hanging overhead. “Look, if you’re not ready, step aside so someone else can order.”
“Do you know what you want,” I forced out despite the awkward events that had just unfolded.
“Yeah, I’ve got it,” Eli said casually, suddenly alert to the scene we were making and the line forming behind us. “I’ll have the usual.”
We placed our order—lemon chicken, ginger beef, mushroom fried rice, chicken chow mein, and sweet and sour ribs—which was ready in next to no time, thankfully. Our once warm conversation had quickly turned cold, and I was anxious to rejoin the others. Within minutes, we were back at the house, spreading the array of tins filled with savory sensations across the kitchen counter.
“Dig in,” Eli said, passing out plates and placing a large silver spoon in each container. He winked once in my general direction as he handed me a large dish. I pretended not to notice and instead took one of the stack he had placed next to the food.
“So kids, tell us about your day,” my grandma said, putting one arm around each of our shoulders and forcing us closer together than I thought comfortable. I knew it was no accident.
Politely twisting away from her grip by feigning an unnatural amount of enthusiasm for a packet of plum sauce on the other side of the room, I began regaling her and Hank with tales of black-footed ferrets and hissing cockroaches.
“Sounds like you had fun. So, would it be safe to assume you already have plans for tomorrow,” my grandma asked a little bit too enthusiastically, and it suddenly dawned on me that she hadn’t invited me here to make amends—she was trying to divert my attention from Chaseyn and hook me up with a partner that she deemed acceptable, safe.
“Oh. Eli probably has better things to do than hang around with me all day. I’m sure there are tons of people hoping to get even five minutes of his attention this week,” I said sheepishly, gazing in his direction.
“Actually Lia, a couple of my friends were thinking about going to Wonderland tomorrow, and I was hoping you would join us,” Eli said shyly. Until now, he had seemed so strong, confident, but I could see the fear of rejection in his eyes as he put his emotions on the line by posing the question.
“That’s very thoughtful, Eli, but I don’t like rides very much. I wouldn’t be much fun. Besides grandma, I’m here to spend time with you. I would feel terrible leaving you alone again all day.”
“Don’t be silly, Lia,” my grandma retorted. “Hank will be here. Go. Have fun. I’m sure they won’t mind if you just watch.”
“She’s right,” Eli said happily. “No one will mind. I swear.”
Times like these, I was glad my inside voice was sheltered from prying ears because it was screaming profanities that I had never actually uttered out loud in all of my life. There was no escape from this game my grandma was playing. Unfortunately, Eli was an innocent, unwitting participant, and I feared his heart would become a casualty of the unspoken war that was taking place between my grandma and I. Realizing there was no point in battling any more tonight, I simply shrugged as a sign of surrender.
“Great,” Eli said enthusiastically. “It’s settled then. We’re leaving at 2 p.m. Meet me out front.”
“Great,” I said, trying to mimic his enthusiasm but falling miles short. “I can’t wait.”
After the dishes were cleared and our guests had retired to their own home for the evening, I decided to confront my grandma about her twisted plot.
“Seriously, grandma, this isn’t going to work,” I said as I kicked back the recliner and settled in to watch my favorite sitcom on TV.
“Whatever are you going on about,” she asked coyly.
“Come on, grandma. I know what you’re doing, and it’s not fair to Eli.”
“Isn’t he lovely, dear,” she changed the subject.
“He’s very sweet,” I said.
“And handsome. Isn’t he handsome,” she asked eagerly.
“Yes, grandma. I’m sure he will make some girl very happy, just not me,” I fiddled with my bracelet as I spoke the words, hoping the gesture wasn’t lost on her. “You know how I feel about Chaseyn.”
“I know, sweetheart, but he’s your first boyfriend, and I just want to be sure that you are aware of all of your options. You’re a very pretty girl, and you have a good head on your shoulders. There are so many nice young men—men who aren’t cursed.”
“Please grandma, just drop it. I don’t really want to talk about all of that ridiculousness,” I begged sincerely.
“I promise I won’t mention it again so long as you promise to give Eli half a chance,” she added.
I thought about it for a moment before realizing it seemed like a fair deal. With any luck, I could avoid what seemed like the inevitable—a series of unpleasant questions about Chaseyn’s origins and intentions—in exchange for spending a few days in the company of a seemingly pleasant and unsuspecting teenage boy.
“Deal,” I said, holding out my hand to seal the agreement. She extended her hand return, and we settled in for an evening of enjoyable conversation that centered around anything and everything, except Chaseyn.
Chapter 25 - Promises
“Chaseyn,” I said with extreme elation at hearing his voice on the other end of the line. “I miss you so much. Why haven’t you called before?”
“I miss you, too,” he said softly, smoothly. He was always collected; his demeanor screamed sophistication. Of course, he had nearly half a century before my
birth to perfect his patience. “I wanted to give you some time to settle in. Besides, you could have called, too.”
“No, actually, I couldn’t,” I told him truthfully. “Despite the fact that she said I could call any time, I know my mom is monitoring my outgoing calls. She wants to be sure I don’t rack up too many minutes and that I spend the majority time taking care of my grandma’s every need. Ugh…there’s so much to tell you.”
“I have a pretty good idea,” he said laughing.
“You could have warned me,” I sneered.
“What? And, ruin the surprise. Never,” he chided. “How’s neighbor boy?”
“His name is Eli, and he’s very nice. You should be jealous, you know.”
“Believe me, I know,” he responded sinister. “Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that I can hardly wait to see you again. Evergreen is entirely empty without you here. And, I need you to promise that you will be wary of any strangers you meet in Amarillo. Save Eli, of course.”
Breathless Page 20
