Ties To The Blood Moon

by Robin P. Waldrop

  Chapter 5

  Friday was the longest day of my life, but as soon as that annoying buzzer signaled the end of the school week, a smile stretched across my face. I couldn’t wait to go to the bonfire. Luna told me how much fun we were sure to have. Finally, some time away from home with a bunch of kids my own age. I only had one obstacle standing between me and freedom…Aunt Bev.

  When I pushed through the double metal doors of the school, spring brought the sweet smell of fir trees into the air. The brisk wind blew my hoodie back, but I didn’t care. I was on a mission. Somehow, during the ride home, I had to figure out a how I was going to convince Aunt Bev into letting me go to the bonfire.

  Luna was standing next to my Jeep with a large group of kids. I wrinkled my brow and slowed my pace, not sure of what was going on. I heard Luna announce my presence, and everyone promptly stopped talking and turned to face me. I searched their faces for a sign of what they wanted from me.

  All at once, everyone started cheering. There were people I swear I had never seen before patting me on the back. They were all congratulating me on putting Elise in her place. I couldn’t help but smile, even though I knew I had handled the situation wrong. They actually made me feel pretty good.

  My heart started fluttering when out of nowhere William stepped up next to Luna. I thought I was going to pass out when he spoke to me.

  “How come you haven’t called me?” He asked. The corners of his mouth curved up revealing his sexy smile.

  My face suddenly felt hot, and I smiled sheepishly. “I, uh, wasn’t sure you really wanted me to call. I thought maybe my aunt had gotten you to pity me.” I quickly looked down at the ground, too embarrassed to look at him.

  “Pity you?”

  “Yeah. You know…after I passed out at your feet in my kitchen.”

  “Nah. I’m used to it. Girls fall at my feet all the time.” He laughed, and I giggled, slapping him across the arm.

  Luna walked up and looped her arm through mine. “So…William, are you coming to the bonfire tonight? Gen is coming.” She asked him, and nudged me at the same time.

  He smiled and I knew his answer. Now all I had to do was convince Aunt Bev to let me go. I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be an easy task.

  During the drive home, I went over in my mind all the different reasons I would use if my aunt said no, and I was ninety-nine point nine percent sure her answer was definitely going to be no.

  My pulse rate continued to rise with each step I took toward the garage door. I stopped, took a deep breath and sighed before entering the house. When I went inside, I didn’t see Aunt Bev and was just about to call out to her when I heard her speaking to someone.

  As I eased into the den her voice grew clearer, and I could tell she was on the phone. Evidently she hadn’t heard me come in. I knew this because I heard mention of my name and something about it not being time yet. Tell me what? I continued listening. My aunt became increasingly angry. I heard her say, “I won’t let you have it your way.” Even though it was wrong to eavesdrop I was compelled to listen.

  “You’ll have to kill me first,” Aunt Bev said angrily in a hushed tone, and it frightened me.

  I took a step and kicked an umbrella leaned against the wall. My heart all but jumped out of my chest when it slid down the wall making a scraping noise. Aunt Bev got quiet, and I hurried back through the kitchen, opening and shutting the door leading in from the garage as if I had just come home.

  “Aunt Bev?” I called out, trying unsuccessfully to hide the nervous tone in my voice.

  “Hi sweetheart.” She forced a smile through a pained expression when I walked into the room.

  I tried not to stare at her. It looked as if it had been washed of all color. She looked as though she had seen a ghost. “Is something wrong? You don’t look so good.” I asked trying to sound innocent, even though I knew it had something to do with whoever she’d been arguing with on the phone.

  “I have a nagging headache.” She rubbed her forehead. “But I’ll be fine.”

  I was making a roast beef sandwich and didn’t even realize how high I’d piled it with meat until she said something.

  “Hungry?”

  “Not really. I just have this sudden taste for roast beef.” I put some of the meat back into the package, then when she wasn’t looking, grabbed half of it back out, rolled it up and after two big bites it was gone. “Maybe I was a little hungrier than I thought.” We laughed simultaneously.

  She leaned against the counter with her arms crossed loosely over her chest and watched me practically inhale the sandwich. The whole time I was eating I kept going over in my mind all the different arguments I would use if she said no to the bonfire.

  Finally, I just blurted it out. “There’s a bonfire tonight up at Wolf’s Point by the caves. Luna, her three brothers, and all the kids I’ve met at school are going. Can I please-please-please go?”

  “All right.” She said, smiling.

  I was so sure she’d say no I didn’t hear her say yes. “Why not? I really want to go. You’re not being—”

  “Gen! I said yes.”

  A warm feeling washed over me. “Really?”

  “Yes really. I’ve got some errands to run later anyway. I don’t want you out late though.”

  I jumped up from my chair, and wrapped her in a hug, squeezing her tightly.

  “Gen,” she stammered. “I can’t breathe.”

  I quickly let her go and saw her face was blood red. “Sorry, Aunt Bev.” I uttered. “I didn’t think I was squeezing that hard.”

  After I showered, I went into my room and my cell phone was chiming like crazy. It was text messages from Luna. There were two within three minutes of each other.

  Are you coming tonight? Was the first message she sent.

  Gen. Why aren’t you answering? She texted, like fifteen seconds later.

  Chill Luna. I was in the shower. Yeah. I’m coming. I’ll text message you when I leave. Are you still wanting to ride with me?

  She must have been staring at her phone, because as soon as I pressed send, one came right back. Yeah. Hurry. We need to leave in an hour. You won’t want to miss a thing.

  I laid my phone down and looked in the mirror, panic immediately set in. I hadn’t even begun to get ready yet. I was going to have to hurry if I expected to leave in an hour. I rushed to my closet and grabbed a pair of black ski pants, matching white and black top, and my new Ugg sheepskin boots.

  Forty-five minutes later I dabbed on a little perfume, scooped up my jacket, and hurried down the stairs, taking two steps at a time. I’d almost made it to the door when I heard my aunt.

  “Gen,” she called out for the gazillion-and-one time.

  I rolled my eyes. “Yeah,” I moaned, stopping just inside the kitchen door.

  “I just wanted to tell you to treat that Jeep like it was yours…because it is.” When she hugged me I think I detected a tear in her eye. I smiled, thanking her and slipped out the door.