The Awakener

by Amanda Strong

  Micah couldn’t sleep that night and the morning hours dragged. He tried to keep his mind busy with last-minute preparations for the trip the following week, but all he could think of was Eden calling Andrew and what that meant.

  I should be happy. Now, maybe I’ll live through all this. But he felt miserable, even feeling bad for his friend, Andrew. We’re playing him. This can’t be right.

  As the hours ticked by, he realized there had been a plan C to all this after all. He should have told Andrew everything. He was pretty sure his friend would have suffered the trip to save his life.

  Trent assured Micah it was the right thing, that now it’d all be fine. After dinner, Micah escaped to his bedroom and paced the floor. The sound of his phone chiming had him flying across the room to grab it off his nightstand.

  He had a text from Eden.

  I called him, left a VM. Waited all day, but he didn’t call me back. Sorry.

  Micah texted back. Not your fault, you tried. He’ll call you tomorrow.

  I guess we’ll wait and see.

  But Friday came and went and Eden texted Micah. Still nothing.

  It both relieved and terrified him. By Sunday night, Trent wasn’t feeling too confident anymore either. Monday, Micah began another fast. When his phone buzzed around lunchtime, he dreaded reading the message. It was from Eden.

  So I know why Andrew hasn’t called. He’s in Florida visiting his cousins. His phone died over the weekend since he lost his charger. He bought a new one today. I told him I want to talk and he said he’d be back Saturday night.

  Micah stared at his phone. They were leaving Thursday for their trip. Andrew wouldn’t be back in time.

  The letters on his phone blurred. He typed back.

  Thank you for trying, Eden. There’s nothing we can do now.

  There has to be something we can do!

  I think we just need to have faith. It’ll all be fine. Don’t worry.

  Micah!

  I’m sorry. I better get some stuff done. Talk later?

  Ok.

  He set his phone down wondering if he should tell his parents. No, they won’t let me leave if I do, he decided.

  “Gabriel, you’ve got to fix this! I know you can!” she whispered to her empty bedroom after Micah stopped texting her.

  She felt nothing, saw nothing. She blinked back the tears. “This is all my fault. I ruined everything.”

  “No you didn’t; you’ll see.”

  Eden whirled around but saw nothing, but she had heard him. She’d heard Gabriel.

  “I didn’t ruin it?” she asked, tears bursting from her eyes, streaking down her cheeks.

  She didn’t hear anything else. She waited and then wiped her eyes. Maybe Andrew will come home early. Or maybe this means Micah won’t get hurt at all. She liked that idea.

  Not sure if she’d mess things up more, she avoided going over to Micah’s the next few days. On Wednesday, she shot a text off to Andrew.

  Still coming back Saturday?

  He replied. Yep.

  Ok, well, I’ll be in Illinois then. I wish you were coming too.

  Sorry.

  Micah wants you to go still. I could stay home if that’s why you aren’t coming.

  No, don’t do that. That’s not why.

  You sure?

  Yes. I’m in Florida, remember?

  Oh yeah, guess you’re right.

  Her phone went silent. He seems mad. He’s not going to take me back. Now that he’s not coming back in time, I don’t want to do this anymore anyway.

  She glanced at her clock. It was three o’clock. They were leaving tomorrow morning. She hesitated and then selected a different contact in her cell phone.

  On the fourth ring, Jessie answered. “Hi Eden.”

  “Hey, Jessie. How’s it going?”

  “Good, want to go shopping or something? I’m totally bored.”

  “Um, yeah. Hey Jessie, I have a favor to ask.”

  “Yes?”

  Eden hesitated. Maybe I should’ve done this in person. She dove in, “Do you want to call Trent to see if he wants to go out tonight?”

  There was a gasp in the receiver and then, “What? No way! Why on earth would I want to call him?”

  This isn’t going to work. “Because he’s dying to go out with you.”

  There was silence and then, “Then why are you calling me and not him?”

  “He’s wanted to,” she soothed. “But he and Micah have been preoccupied lately.”

  “Humph,” Jessie grunted. “How do you know?”

  “Trust me, I know when Trent’s into someone. He really likes you.”

  It was quiet, a good sign with Jessie. “Has he actually said he likes me?”

  Eden was happy she’d eavesdropped because she could honestly say to her friend, “Yes, he told Micah. He thinks you’re hot, Jessie. And he wants to take you out once we’re back from Chicago. I think they’re sort of stressed about going, or something.”

  “Who stresses about a dumb vacation?” Jessie muttered, but her tone had definitely changed. There was a long sigh. “Oh, all right. I want you to know I’m only doing this for you, because you’re my best friend. And maybe part of me wants to tell him off too. What’s his number?”