Solo
by
Sarah Schofield
Published by:
M.O.I. Publishing
"Mirrors of Imagination"
Copyright © 2011 by Sarah Schofield
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents
either are the product of the author's imagination or are used
fictitiously. And any resemblance to actual person, living, dead (or
in any other form), business establishments, events, or locales is
entirely coincidental.
Smashwords Edition License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Cover Artist: Jerrad Oakes and Sarah Schofield
For information contact:
Sarah@SarahSchofieldBooks.com
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Aaron, Mom, Dad, Jerrad, Tara, Kris S., and my family for your support from day one. It has been a long journey and I couldn't have done this without your constant encouragement. Mykaylynn, thanks for helping me decide on an important part of the book. Lastly, but definitely not least, to my editor and dear friend Verna Clay, you have helped sharpen this novel into something I’m extremely proud of. Oh, one more thing, thanks to all of you for sharing the giggles.
Author's Note
Myrtle Creek is a real town located near Medford, Oregon. I chose Myrtle Creek because of its small town charm and pristine beauty. What better place for a teenage girl to learn the value of friendship and experience young love. In writing Eliana's story, it was necessary to take certain liberties in describing the town and surrounding locations.
Prologue
My parents called a family meeting and I couldn't think of a good reason why. Maybe my coming home thirty minutes past curfew the night before had something to do with it, except I'd had a legitimate reason, which I'd already explained—one of my friends had taken forever changing a tire on my new car, and the donut was proof.
My parents sat in recliners opposite me. They didn't look mad; more like worried. Dad closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, I recognized the look—pity. My first thought was that someone had died.
"Honey, I'm deploying overseas in a few weeks and I'll be gone for a year."
My mouth dropped and pain shot through my heart. My eyes stung. I was sixteen and I couldn't remember my dad being away for more than a month for field training, or some other military obligation. We always moved as a family. I looked at my mom staring at the floor. The lump in my throat forced a choppy response. "It'll be okay, Mom. I'll be here with you." I looked at Dad and tried to focus on just one of the many questions racing through my mind. My thoughts wouldn't come together. Finally, I collected one. "How long have you known about this?"
"Only a week or so. We knew it was a possibility, but your mom and I decided not to tell you, just in case nothing came of it."
Mom looked up with tears, and muttered, "There's more news, honey."
I looked at her dumbfounded. What could possibly be worse than my dad leaving us for a year?
Mom glanced at Dad. He nodded, encouraging her to continue. My heart practically thumped out of my chest. Please don't say divorce or separation. My hands started to sweat and I clenched them between my knees, waiting for her to speak.
"Your dad and I have thought about this long and hard." She paused. "We both feel it would be best if you and I move in with my parents while he's gone. The plans are already in motion and we'll be leaving in a month."
I froze, going completely numb. Nothing had prepared me for this; her words echoed, hollow and lifeless. I stood and robotically walked to the bookshelf. Grabbing the 'M' volume of an encyclopedia, I whacked myself on the head. It only hurt and made me dizzy. I couldn't believe I wasn't waking up. Was this for real? Dad was leaving us for a year and my parents were making me move before the end of school. I rubbed my head and turned back to see their shocked expressions.
"Eliana, please, honey, say something," Dad pleaded.
Shaking my head, I croaked, "Why can't we just stay here for the year? Why are you ripping me out of school with only a few months to go? Did you even take my feelings into consideration when you made this decision?"
Mom sobbed, "Eliana, it's going to be a long year and I'd like the extra support I'll receive from my parents. I know it'll be hard at first, but I think you'll be happy in Oregon."
My blood started to boil. Before I knew it, I was yelling. "For sixteen years I've never once complained about being uprooted! I've never complained about not having a home of my own—about always living in housing provided by the military! This is the first place I've ever felt at home. I truly love California!"
I wasn't sure if it was a mild concussion, or if I'd just exhausted myself from anger and pain, but the room started to spin and I covered my face with my hands, weeping.
"Honey, it's only for a year. There's a chance your dad will get orders to come back here." Mom tried to give me a little slice of hope.
I shook my head before silently walking from the room.
Chapter One: Change
Mom flipped the turn signal of the moving van and veered toward the exit. Following in my Volkswagen bug, I caught a glimpse of a small sign welcoming us to Myrtle Creek. I couldn't help but wonder where the town was when we rolled through the main strip. Other than a few scattered houses, a general store, a gas station, a couple of restaurants, and a bowling alley, the town—and I use that term loosely—was scarce. Where was the mall, the movie theater, the miniature golf course, the amusement park, the water park, and, more importantly, the beach?
Mom pumped the brakes, interrupting my slight panic attack. We veered onto a road leading in the direction of mountains. About ten minutes later, we turned into a driveway meandering to a white farmhouse.
My gramps and grandmother were sitting on the porch in decades old wicker chairs. My grandmother walked to the top of the steps and waited. Gramps, on the other hand, hurried down to meet us.
"Hi, Dad," Mom beamed.
"How was your trip, young lady?"
"It was great. Eliana did superb for driving her first road trip."
Gramps turned and opened his arms to me. "Come here, Munchkin. I've missed you."
I grinned and gave him a big hug. "Hi, Gramps; I've missed you, too." I inhaled peppermint, the familiar scent that always followed him. Memories of piggyback rides, sneaking cookies before dinner, and funny jokes surfaced. Mom always told me I'd inherited Gramps' sense of humor.
I looked past Gramps and saw my grandmother with her arms firmly crossed. She wasn't your typical grandma. You know, the kind with fresh baked pies sitting on the windowsill. My grandmother was… Well, she was more like a warden.
I slowly approached her.
"Hello, Eliana." She awkwardly gave me a half-pat-on-the-back kind of hug.
"Hi, Grandma; thanks for taking us in." I tried to chisel through the ice.
"You're welcome," she replied stiffly.
My mom walked up beside me. "Hi, Mom."
"Hello, dear. I have your rooms ready. I put Eliana in your old bedroom. You're in the room across from hers, just in case."
I looked away and rolled my eyes. What did "just in case" mean? Was it "just in case" I got scared in the middle of the night like I was seven years old, or "just in case" I tried to sneak out like I was an unruly teenager? This was going to be a long year.
We each grabbed a bag and entered the house. I opened the door to my "so-called" bedroom and sucked in the aroma of rose potpourri and moth balls. My eyes rounded at the princess palace with its frilly pink walls bordered by purple castles and a dozen—that's right—twelve porcelain dolls staring at me from a wooden shelf. If anything could scare me, those beady eyes could. I stood there flabbergasted and Mom walked in.
"Honey, we'll fix it later. Just start unloading your car."
"You're sure lucky I love you," I whispered.
By the time we finished unloading, it was too late to return the van to the rental company, so we decided to wait until after I was enrolled in school the next morning. An uneasy feeling swirled in the pit of my stomach. I wasn't ready to start a new school. Mom must have sensed something because she told me she would give me another day to unpack.
After dinner, I started to organize my room, trying to make the princess palace feel more like me. First thing—turn all the dolls around so I wouldn't have to look at their creepy faces. Maybe my grandmother would get the hint and remove them. I tacked up a few of my favorite posters and hung the bulletin board my friends had made for me. It had tons of photos of us at school dances, trips to the beach, and other fun memories. Looking at the photos reminded me to text my friends later. I didn't feel like I had accomplished much unpacking when Mom came in.
"Honey, you should get some sleep."
"I will when I can see the bed."
I saw her glance at the dolls and do a double take, even though she pretended not to notice.
"Wh-at?" I asked.
"Nothing." She looked away and shook her head. An hour later, I crashed. The next thing I knew, Mom was nudging me. "Eliana, we've got to get the moving van back."
I stumbled into the hallway trying to remember where the bathroom was. I took a shower to wash off the previous day's funk and quickly dressed. I didn't want to mess with my untamed mane, so I pulled it through the back of my baseball cap, applied some lip gloss, and headed downstairs. I entered the kitchen. "I'm ready when you are."
"Okay, honey, we also need to stop at the market in Roseburg to get groceries."
"Sounds good; I could use some Pepto-Bismol. There are a few spots on my walls that need touch up."
My grandmother looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. She wasn't handling my sarcasm well.
"Where's Gramps?" I tried to change the subject.
"He reads the newspaper every morning in his favorite chair in the living room," replied my grandmother.
"Great! I'll run in to say good morning before we go."
Mom stepped in front of me. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. He reads the paper in his pajamas. And when I say pajamas, I mean boxers."
"Oh." My eyes widened. "Thanks for the warning."
Mental note: Don't talk to Gramps until after school.
Our first stop was South Umpqua High School so I could get registered. The school was smaller than I'd expected. I was relieved when the halls were clear. Other than a short stout woman behind the counter, the office was empty. The woman handed Mom a packet of papers and asked if I wanted a tour of the school. I started to decline, but Mom insisted. The secretary paged the library to get someone from study hall to give me a quick tour. A few minutes later a tall, brawny guy entered the office. He definitely looked like he played sports.
"Eliana, this is Samuel Alvarez. He'll show you around. Make it a quick tour, Sammy."
"Yes ma'am," he said, with a mischievous grin.
I glared at Mom while following my tour guide out the door.
"So, it's Eliana, right?" Sammy paused, waiting for me to catch up.
"Yeah."
"Eliana, hmm, that's different. Is it a family name?"
"No; it's the name of a hotel. Well, actually a villa in Italy."
"Oh, um, wow." He scratched the back of his head. I knew he hadn't seen that one coming. "Where did you move from?" he changed the subject.
"California."
"Well, welcome to South Umpqua, home of the Lancers." He said the words a little too enthusiastically as he led me down the hall. "What grade are you in?"
"I'm a sophomore."
He pointed, "Your locker will be somewhere down here. The areas are divided by grade." Next, Sammy showed me the library, cafeteria, courtyard, and gym. "Well, that about does it, do you have any questions?"
"Not really, I'm sure I can figure it out."
We headed back to the office. "Is today your first day?"
"No, I'll be starting tomorrow."
"Well, good luck. If you need any help, I'm usually hanging around here somewhere." He smiled and held the door for me.
"Well, I think I can handle this school. It's about half the size of my last one. Thanks for the tour."
"Sure, no problem; anything to get out of the library," he winked. "See you around."
I nodded and turned toward the secretary who told me I was all set and to stop by in the morning for my schedule.
After dropping the van off in Roseburg, Mom gave me a lecture about respecting old people. She knew I was trying to be funny with the whole Pepto-Bismol thing, but my grandmother had taken offense. She reminded me that my grandmother was old fashioned and set in her ways.
Mental Note: Keep my humor to myself around Grandmother.
We found the supermarket. It seemed like there was someone in every aisle who knew my mom or my grandparents. I think I met all the little old ladies from my grandmother's bridge club. I hadn't known there were gangs of grannies casing the supermarket looking for prey. My poor mom looked at hundreds of pictures of their children and grandchildren. I tried to blend in with the shelves. Eventually, Mom had to resort to lying. She told them we still needed to hurry to get me registered for school. I vigorously nodded in agreement.
When we reached the produce department, I headed straight for the peaches while mom gathered a variety of vegetables.
"Sophie Young, is that you?" A woman cornered my mom.
"Well, it's Davis now, but yes. Oh, my goodness, Carrie Carter."
"Well, it's Andrews now, but yes," she laughed. "I heard you might be moving back. Are you staying with your parents?"
"Yes, while Chris is overseas. He'll be home in a year."
"I still can't believe you came back home. It's been so long. Now you have a daughter, right?"
"Yes, she's the one digging in the peaches." Mom pointed at me.
I smiled and gave an awkward little wave.
"Oh, she's so cute. She looks just like you. Can you believe we're old enough to have teenagers? I've got two, a seventeen year old son and a thirteen year old daughter."
I put the peaches in the cart while listening to reminisces about their younger years. They acted like giddy teenagers, laughing about inside jokes that only took one word to describe.
"Eliana, Carrie and I went to high school together," Mom explained.
"We sure had some good times," Carrie beamed.
"So, which Andrews' boy did you marry?" asked Mom.
Carrie hesitated. "I married Michael."
Mom's facial expression changed. "Wow, that's great."
I knew Mom was lying. Liar, liar pants on fire. Obviously, Mom didn't like the fact that Carrie had married Michael. I wondered why.
The atmosphere changed. Carrie got quiet. Finally, she broke the silence. "Well, I'm the veterinarian in Myrtle Creek. My schedule is flexible. I'd love to get together for lunch."
"Yeah, that sounds great. Eliana starts school tomorrow. I do freelance photography and my schedule is open." Mom reached and gave Carrie a hug. "It's so good to see you again. You know where I'm staying, so don't be a stranger."
"The same to you. We live on the Andrews farm down the road from your parents. Here's my number." Carrie shuffled through her purse for a business card.
"Great, I'll call you."
Carrie smiled and pushed her cart out of the produce department. Mom started thumping cantaloupes. I waited, hoping she would spill the beans.
"Do you want any cantaloupes?" Mom asked.
"Um, yeah, sure. So, Mom, that conversation got a little awkward. Who's Michael Andrews?"
"Oh, just a guy from high school."
"That's all you're going to tell me?"
"Yeah, it's not a big deal."
"Not a big deal? Were you in the same conversation back there? You didn't seem too thrilled when you heard his name."
"It was a long time ago. It just threw me off when she mentioned him. He was your dad's best friend. They had a falling out and that's pretty much it. Like I said, 'not a big deal'."
I didn't believe her, but I figured I should drop the subject. Obviously, she wanted to avoid talking about Michael Andrews.
* * *
I finished unpacking the few remaining boxes in my room. Other than the Pepto-Bismol walls and the dolls, the room was starting to look more like me. I set my clothes out and packed my backpack for school, making sure I had my iPod. I didn't go anywhere without it. My emotions got jumbled with thoughts of starting school with no friends. I couldn't help but wonder how long it had been since this school had had a new student—maybe years. It was depressing to realize I only knew a total of three people in the entire town, my grandparents and Mom.
I put on my PJs, yelled goodnight, and climbed between the sheets. I looked at the bulletin board with all my friends' pictures, wishing they were here. It would sure make my first day easier. I reminded myself that I only had to make it a few months until summer.
I was almost snoring when my phone jingled. Instantly, I jumped to my feet and ran for it, excited to see a text from my best friend, Kelly. It read, 'GOOD LUCK TOMORROW. I'LL BE THINKING ABOUT YOU. LUV KEL XOXO.'
That made my night. I sent her a quick text before crawling back into bed. With all the stress I was feeling, Kelly's text eased everything for the time being.
Chapter Two: First Day
I turned off the annoying alarm clock and rolled out of bed. In the bathroom mirror, I stared at my face looking for any signs of a breakout. With the stress I'd been under the past few weeks, I figured there would be dozens of little blemishes. So far so good, but I knew they'd strike when I least expected it. Today of all days, I didn't want an attack. The dreary weather didn't help matters.
Although it was probably all in my head, my California tan seemed to have faded. My light emerald eyes that usually had a faint bluish cast now looked dull grey-green.
As I slipped on my favorite jeans, I noticed a rippling row of clouds out the window—perfect weather for a bad hair day. I pulled my sun-streaked brown wavy locks into a headband.
"Eliana, are you up?" Mom yelled.
"Yeah, I'm up." I hurried down the stairs. The last thing I wanted was to be tardy on my first day of school.
"Breakfast is ready!" She sounded enthusiastic.
"I'm not really hungry. Can't I just eat a breakfast bar on my way?"
"I would prefer that you sit and eat a real meal. It's your first day at a new school; you need your energy."
Sighing heavily, I sat down and inhaled my toast and scrambled eggs. My mind wandered and I thought about my friends. If I were back in California, Kelly would be outside honking so we could get an early start for a day of sun and fun at the beach. It was Spring Break in California.
Now I was stuck in Myrtle Creek with a disgusting overcast day and flying solo to school. I tried to keep my composure. Since I was already running late, reapplying my make-up wasn't an option at this point. My tears would have to wait, too. I planned to call Kelly after school and find out all the details about the beach.
The drive to school took forever. I got lost a few times and had to back track. Every once in a while I drove past the rancid odor of a cow or pig farm. Who needs coffee when you have the smell of fresh cow pies in the morning to wake you up?
When I drove into the school parking lot, it was like I'd entered a used car lot that specialized in pickup trucks. Butterflies swarmed in my stomach when I pulled my little pastel blue Volkswagen bug between two Monster Trucks. Here goes nothing.
I felt a strong wave of nausea and took a controlled deep breath to calm my nerves. Fortifying myself, I walked toward the building. I had no idea what to expect from the kids here. Most of them had grown up together. I was the outsider.
The bell rang as I entered the office. "Great, I knew I would be late," I muttered.
A secretary, different from the one the day before, stood behind the counter. The petite older lady pushed up the rim of her glasses as she gave me a welcoming, almost sympathetic, smile. "You must be Eliana Davis. Welcome to South Umpqua High School."
I couldn't help but notice the line of bright magenta lipstick across her two front teeth. It was so distracting I couldn't remember what I was going to say. "Thanks. Sorry I'm late. I had a few issues with the directions."
"Yes, it can be a little tricky with some of these roads. Just don't make a habit of it. That excuse only works on your first day." The secretary laughed and rifled through a pile of papers, still oblivious to her pink teeth. "Oh, well, here's your schedule. Your first class is Geometry in room 116. It's down the hall on the left."
I took my schedule and started down the hall. My new dilemma was whether I wanted to sit in front and look smart, or in the back to look like I really didn't care. When I walked in the classroom, it didn't matter, because all the desks except one in the back were taken. The teacher stopped in the middle of his lecture to hand me a textbook.
"Welcome to Geometry. I'm Mr. Donaldson. Here's your textbook. Please take your seat." He motioned toward the one empty desk.
"Thank you." I walked to the back of the room and everyone gawked at me. I felt like a new attraction at the zoo. I noticed the bubbly, blonde, blue-eyed girl sitting next to my desk.
"Hi, I'm Casey Douglas. If you need any help, just let me know?" she whispered.
I grinned shyly and opened my textbook. "Thanks."
"So do you know anyone here at school?" Casey asked.
I shook my head. "Not really. Sammy Alvarez gave me a tour yesterday, but I don't really know him."
"Sammy, oh he's a nice guy." She smiled, helping herself to my schedule on the corner of my desk. She scanned it from top to bottom. "Oh, I see we have four classes together."
I just nodded and sat through Geometry, half listening to Casey's ramblings, and half listening to Mr. Donaldson. When the bell rang, I followed Casey into the hall. She said, "I'll see you in third period. Your next class is Chemistry in room 153. If you want, I can meet you there after class and show you to U.S. History?"
"Really? That would be helpful." It was a relief to know someone was willing to help me.
I hurried to my next class so I could get a seat before the classroom filled. I was flipping through my textbook trying to look busy, when a commotion at the door captured my attention. A group of four students strutted their way into class laughing loudly. This had to be the 'in-crowd'.
A thin and tall brunette beauty, with artificial highlights and an over-baked tan, caught my attention. She had to be 'Miss Popular' because she tried too hard. Then there was the guy with his arm draped across her shoulders. His letterman's jacket said it all. He had to be one of the top jocks.
I pretended to read the chapter posted on the board while ignoring stares, whispers, and snickers from across the room. This was the very thing that made me nervous about coming to a new school. I focused my attention on the rain pellets hitting the window. The ticking of the clock seemed too slow. Five minutes to go. Second period hadn't gone as smooth as the first.
The bell rang. I took my time leaving the classroom, hoping the group of students would make their way down the hall. I reached the door and heard Casey's bubbly voice asking about me.
"Oh, there you are," she said, as I stepped out of the classroom.
"Here I am," I replied with a smile.
"How was Chemistry?"
"Oh, it was Chemistry."
"Well, on to the next class." She grabbed my arm and towed me down the hall. "We don't want to be late."
There happened to be a substitute teacher for our next class. The substitute found an extra textbook and told me to find a seat. She informed the class that the teacher had left two chapters on the board for us to read and then handed out worksheets.
I was pleased to know that it would be an easy class. Reading was easy. Trying to pay attention when you're counting the remaining minutes of the school day is harder. I quickly realized that I wouldn't get much reading done during class because Casey liked to chitchat.
"So, you're a sophomore?"
"Yeah, I took extra classes in eighth and ninth grade. I was in some honor classes." I paused. "Why? You sound surprised."
"It's nothing bad; it's just that you have a lot of classes with the juniors."
"Every school is different, but I'm in the same classes that I took back home."
"Wow, you must be pretty smart."
I smiled, slightly embarrassed from the compliment. "Thanks. So, you're a junior?"
"Yeah, I know I don't look like a junior. I'm five-one on a good day. My seventh grade sister is taller than me," Casey chuckled.
I tried to act as if my 5'8" frame didn't tower over her. "You're not that short."
She laughed. "You know, you're pretty funny."
"Thanks, I guess."
I wasn't sure if Casey was always this bubbly or if she was trying extra hard to make me feel welcome. Either way, I enjoyed her company. She reminded me of Kelly.
"Wow, we've talked so long, it's almost lunch time. I can't wait for you to meet my friends."
After class, we headed to the lunchroom.
"Usually, we'd eat outside, but it's raining." Casey's face lit when we entered the cafeteria. "Oh good, they're already here." She pulled on my arm. "Come on, Eliana, I have some people I want you to meet."
I was excited to meet Casey's friends. To my shock, we walked to the table with 'Miss Popular' and 'Mr. Jock'.
"Eliana, these are my friends, Sasha, Evan, Emily and Jack." Casey pointed out everybody in the in-crowd. "Everyone, this is Eliana. She's new to Myrtle Creek."
Suddenly, I had a flashback of their whispers and snickers from second period. I took a seat. "Hello."
Emily made an effort to say hello. Sasha, Miss Popular herself, acted as if she had a much better conversation going with Evan. Evan had no problem staring at me as I sat down.
Jack put in a little more effort. "So, what brings you to Myrtle Creek?"
"Well, my dad is in the military and he was deployed overseas. This is where my grandparents live, so my parents decided my mom and I should stay here while he's gone."
While Sasha looked bored by my story, Evan listened with curiosity. He chimed in, "Where did you move from?"
"We lived in southern California last. We've moved around a lot." I took a sip from my water bottle.
"Do you surf? You look like a surfer chick." Jack seemed interested.
I choked on my water. "Surfing? Me? —No. But, I love to boogie board."
Casey laughed. "Oh, so you have a real California tan?"
I glanced at Sasha, then back at Casey. "Yeah, it's real."
Sasha glared at me. At that point, I knew we weren't going to be best buds. I sat quietly eating my lunch when someone caught my attention. I only got a glimpse of him as he left the cafeteria, but even at a distance, he definitely left an impression.
On our way to Spanish, I turned to Casey. "I hope I didn't say anything wrong at lunch, everyone got quiet."
"Don't worry about it. They'll warm up to you. It's just that we've always been a small group. It takes time for them to welcome new people."
Even though Casey tried to ease my mind, I still felt weird about Sasha's vibe.
We entered Spanish class. Casey introduced me to our teacher, Mrs. Hernandez. I thought I was in the clear as I started down one of the aisles, but I was wrong. Mrs. Hernandez said, "Eliana, agradable, apenas usted sabe tan que hablamos solamente español en clase."
Great, they only speak Spanish in this class. This should be fun.
"Introdúzcase por favor a la clase en español."
I couldn't believe she really wanted me to introduce myself in Spanish. "Okay, Soy Eliana y me moví aquí desde California meridional."
I could tell that no one in the class really cared that I'd moved from Southern California. I just wanted to take my seat, but the teacher insisted on asking more questions.
"Eliana, qué le trae Myrtle Creek?"
What brings me to Myrtle Creek? I guess the real question should be what can I say to get her to stop asking me questions?
"Bien, mis padres limitan, amordazado, y forzado me para moverse aquí contra mi voluntad." I shrugged with a smirk.
There was a delayed reaction, but one by one, the students slowly realized what I had said. "My parents bound, gagged, and forced me to move here against my will." The roaring laughter caught the teacher off guard.
"Okay, Eliana, please take a seat. Your Spanish is remarkable." The teacher handed me my textbook.
I walked to a seat at the back of the class, impressed that I'd shocked Mrs. Hernandez into speaking English in her "Spanish-only" class. I sat next to Casey. Some of the students were still laughing as Mrs. Hernandez tried to get everyone focused on the day's lesson. Across the room, a familiar face smiled at me. It was Sammy Alvarez, the guy who'd given me a tour. I threw him a courtesy smile and looked back at the dry erase board.
I reminded myself I was only in Myrtle Creek for a year. I could handle this place if I found some kind of activity to keep me busy. The sound of the bell interrupted my thoughts. I couldn't believe I'd zoned out for the entire period. The homework assignment on the board saved me. At least I could read what they'd gone over in class. Casey walked to my desk while I was writing the assignment in my notebook.
"I'll wait for you after next period," she said.
Casey really was my lifesaver today. She made a great makeshift GPS system. I didn't have to ask a hundred people where my next classroom was. I thanked her as she dropped me off at my English class.
English flew by. We started reading a new book, Jane Austen's, Pride and Prejudice. The teacher spent the hour assigning books and passing out chapter summary worksheets and questions she'd compiled. She informed us that we would have to do an oral report when we finished the book.
I beat Casey into the hall and leaned against a locker, scouring the area searching for her. I spotted the guy from the lunchroom at the same time I noticed Casey coming out of a class two doors down. I headed toward Casey and lost sight of the guy in the crowd.
"Hey," I said, showing the same enthusiasm she did whenever she greeted me.
"Are you ready for gym?" Casey sighed.
"Gym isn't so bad. I actually enjoy it."
"Wow, most girls at our school hate gym."
"I'm not most girls. I love to run. Give me my iPod and a track or trail, and I'm in heaven."
Casey sounded surprised. "I guess you're not like most girls."
We entered the locker room to find Sasha mocking me from my lunch conversation. "I've traveled all over the place. I've lived in California. Who does that bitch think she is?"
Casey and I rounded the corner as Sasha finished her rant. I just stared at her. There was no way she was going to get a reaction from me. She just made me want to get this day over a little faster. I changed into my assigned gym clothes. I only had two classes to go.
"Nothing like short-shorts and a T-shirt at the beginning of April." I tried to lighten the mood.
Casey laughed, "Yeah, they are short, but you can wear black sweatpants if you buy them yourself. Besides, we do P.E. in the gym when it's cold."
"Really, you don't go outside in these shorts in the winter?" I cracked up laughing. This made Casey chuckle.
Sasha yelled as Casey and I headed toward the gym. "Casey, I won't be able to give you a ride home this afternoon; something's come up. Guess you'll have to catch the bus."
Casey turned and looked at Sasha. "Oh, um, that's ok. No problem."
It was obvious Sasha wanted to punish Casey for befriending me. I saw the displeasure on Casey's face. "Casey, if you need a ride, I can take you home. I don't have any plans after school other than to go to the store for a pair of black sweatpants." I pulled at the waistband of my shorts. With my long legs, the shorts looked extra short.
"Thanks, Eliana," Casey sighed.
"No worries."
The rain delayed a lesson in softball so class turned out to be a free period. One end of the gym had a basketball game going on. The other end was mostly girls with no interest in any kind of activity. I took it upon myself to jog around the gym so I wasn't lumped in with the unproductive group. Casey leaned against the wall chatting with a group of girls.
The jogging cleared my head so I thought less about the awful day. Instead, I focused on the fact that I had less than two hours before school was over. Sasha caught my attention with some kind of dance number she was doing with other girls. Their dance attempt amused me.
I wanted to go over to show them how a true dancer really moves. Thirteen years of dance and gymnastics had to count for something. I sighed, quickly deciding to keep my abilities a secret. If Sasha was already threatened by me, I could only imagine how things would go if I showed my true talent.
The coach's whistle startled me. "Ten minutes before next class; hit the locker rooms."
I entered the locker room smiling; only one more class and my first day would be over. I walked to my dressing area. "Um, didn't I leave my clothes here?" I looked around baffled, trying to retrace my steps.
"What's wrong?" Casey asked.
"My clothes, they're gone."
Casey started looking around for my stack of clothes. We checked every open locker and under every bench. I quickly realized that someone had taken my clothes. One person instantly came to mind, Sasha. I looked at Sasha, barely restraining myself from leaping over the benches and ripping her artificially colored highlights out of her perky head. "That's a real mature move," I muttered calmly, even though I was livid that my favorite jeans were gone. I felt a knot forming in my throat and my eyes started burning when I realized I'd have to go to study hall in my new gym ensemble. I will not cry. Sasha will not make me crack.
"I'm so sorry. I wish I had something for you to wear," said Casey.
"That's ok; I'm not shy. Besides, I've worn less." On a beach.
Sasha didn't murmur a word. She just looked outraged that she hadn't gotten a bigger reaction from me.
"Well, here goes nothing," I sighed. Casey and I left the locker room. "I'll meet you by the office as soon as next period is over."
Casey looked sorry for me. "Sure, I'll be waiting. Study hall is in the library; that's four doors down this hall."
"Thanks—see you after class." I walked toward study hall, trying not to think about the fact that I wearing the closest possible thing to a Hooters' outfit. I stared blankly at my schedule pretending to figure out where I was going. The four doors felt like four miles. The door came into view. Tunnel vision took over so I wouldn't see all the awkward stares, even though I knew I would still hear the snickers. I kept telling myself to just grin like it didn't matter.
I pulled the door open quickly, stepped in, and let out a long sigh. The library was quiet and practically empty. Oh, this won't be so bad. I walked to the counter. The librarian casually lifted her head. I felt my cheeks flush.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"Um, I'm here for study hall." I tried not to make eye contact.
"Well, feel free to sit anywhere you want. You can leave when the bell rings."
"Am I allowed to listen to my iPod?" I asked with a hint of desperation. I really wanted to get lost in something other than school.
"I'm sure it will be okay. This is your study hour. Just make sure you keep quiet. There are six other students in here. As long as you don't interrupt them, it shouldn't be a problem."
"Thank you." I walked to the table farthest from the door, figuring it would keep my appearance hidden. The students trickled in while I shuffled through my bag for my iPod and books that I needed to read. I kept my head down, putting in my ear buds. I had just opened my U.S. History book when I spotted the guy from the lunch room.
You've got to be kidding! Is this really happening to me? Completely mortified, I sunk as low in my chair as possible. He sat two tables away with his back to me. I tried not to stare, but he had a unique style that stood out from the rest of the guys. He didn't seem to fit any of the stereotypes here. There were no signs that he'd just walked off a farm, and he wasn't parading around with his accomplishments on his jacket. I couldn't figure him out. Surprising myself, I actually got butterflies just looking at him. His light brown hair was just long enough for him to run his fingers through. I couldn't get a good look at his face, but from the side, I could tell he was a little older. His face was clean cut and clear. I wanted to get a good look at his features, but that meant we'd have to make eye contact. Here was a guy that I didn't know, had never spoken to, and yet he'd piqued my curiosity.
When he moved from his seat, I quickly glanced down at my book. He walked into one of the aisles. I grabbed my iPod and fiddled with the buttons, trying to look busy. He returned with two books. I lifted my head and our eyes met for a split second.
This topped the charts for the worst day of my life. I'd made my first enemy ever, seen the guy of my dreams while practically in my underwear, and my favorite jeans had been stolen. My eyes burned. The knot in my throat returned and I couldn't fight the tears anymore. One by one they landed on the pages of my U.S. History book, blurring Martha Washington. What had I done to deserve this? And what would I tell Mom about my clothes? The other stuff I could keep to myself, but my clothes disappearing was a different story. The last thing Mom needed was more stress. She had enough with Dad gone. She didn't need to worry about nonsense issues from her teenage daughter's ridiculous high school drama.
So much was running through my head, I didn't realize I was silently sobbing. My tears got so thick I didn't see who put a tissue on my book. When I looked around, the cute guy was gone. Great, so much for first impressions.
The bell rang. I couldn't get out of the library fast enough. I rushed to the office. At this point, I didn't care about my clothes. I just wanted to get away. Casey was waiting for me. No words were spoken as she followed me to the exit.
Chapter Three: Nothing's Broke
I shivered when Casey and I walked to my car. The afternoon air was brisk with a subtle hint of moisture. "I sure hope I have a jacket in my back seat." I looked across the parking lot and saw the guy from study hall standing by a truck. "So, what's his story?"
Casey looked around the parking lot. "Who?"
Trying not to look obvious, I nudged my head toward mystery guy. "The guy over there by the dark blue F-150."
"Oh, that's Lucas Andrews. He's a junior." Casey hesitated and leaned against the fender of my bug while I dug through the pile in my back seat. "He used to be part of our group. Lucas and Evan were best friends at one time. All that changed after an eighth grade fight over a girl." She rolled her eyes. "Of course, the girl was Sasha. Personally, I think she regrets choosing Evan. She has a hard time trusting him." She rolled her eyes again. "He has wandering eyes."
I casually listened, still digging for my hoodie. Even though I was curious, I didn't want to look like I cared about the details.
Casey rambled on, "After the fight, Lucas stopped hanging out with us. He isn't rude toward us—he just keeps his distance. I think he mostly just hates Evan."
"Wow, all that over a little fight."
"Well, they bickered back and forth with each other for a few months. The final blow came at the eighth grade end-of-school dance. Lucas showed up solo. He caught Evan kissing a girl in the hall—it wasn't Sasha. Evan worried about Lucas saying something to Sasha, even though it was obvious Lucas didn't have feelings for her anymore." Casey stopped to catch her breath. "So, Evan and two of his friends took Lucas outside and beat him pretty bad; all because Evan was a little threatened." Casey shook her head. "Lucas never said anything to Sasha, but the other girl did, hoping she'd get together with Evan."
I looked a little puzzled. "No offense to Sasha, but what kind of girl stays with a guy who cheats on her?"
Casey whispered, "To be honest, I think, Sasha believes Evan will be her ticket out of this small town. That's why she puts up with it. Seriously, her dream job is to be a Trophy Wife."
"That's pathetic!" My eyes widened and I quickly threw my hand over my mouth. I couldn't believe I'd just blurted that out. "Sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out like that."
Casey laughed. "That's ok, it doesn't bother me. Sasha and I have been friends since kindergarten, and it shocks me that she's turned out this way. I know she doesn't really like the fact that I befriend just about everyone. She jokes that I have a tendency to pick up strays. I'm just naturally a friendly person. Don't worry, Eliana; I've learned what to say to Sasha and what not to say."
I gave her a half-smile. Deep down, I wondered if I could truly trust Casey since she'd been friends with Sasha for so long. I decided I should keep some things to myself.
"This is such a cute little car," Casey said.
I felt a wave of relief with the subject change. "Thanks. It was a birthday gift from my parents. I think they gave it to me to ease the news that I would be moving."
"We don't have many cars like this, mostly just trucks, vans, and SUVs."
"I've noticed." I laughed, and glanced up and down the parking lot. "Perfect. I have a hoodie." Too bad I hadn't remembered that an hour ago when I was entering study hall in my Hooters' outfit.
We climbed into my VW and headed to the general store. After we'd made a quick stop for the infamous black sweatpants, I followed Casey's step-by-step directions to her house. We pulled into the driveway of a large blue farmhouse surrounded by rows and rows of trees.
"Are those Christmas trees?"
Casey chuckled. "Yeah, my family owns a tree farm. My dad took over the family farm after my grandfather had a stroke about six years ago. I'm not really the farmer type, but I wouldn't trade my life for anything. I plan to go away to college, but I'll probably come back here to raise my family. This is a very family-friendly place. Did you know that my parents grew up with everyone else's parents? They were all friends. My mom actually dated Lucas' dad during their freshmen year in high school."
"That's kind of weird." I wondered if my parents knew Casey's parents as well.
"Small town life is all we know; so it's normal to us."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. I've moved around my whole life, and that's what I know as normal." I stared at all the Christmas trees.
"Thanks for the ride, Eliana."
"No problem, do you need a ride to school tomorrow?"
Casey grinned. "No, but thanks anyway. I have a car. I just usually take turns riding with Sasha and Emily."
"Oh, I didn't mean to butt-in."
"Its all right, I know what you meant." Casey smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow. Don't worry about Sasha, she'll come around."
"I'm not worried. I'll just keep my distance."
As Casey stepped onto her porch, I turned around in the driveway. I couldn't believe all the farms. How had my parents lived here their whole childhood and survived?
While on the way to my grandparents' house, I got nervous about how I'd explain the disappearance of my clothes. My saving grace was my hoodie and the black sweatpants. I took a deep breath before entering the side kitchen door. Since it was closer to the stairs, maybe I could escape to my room. No such luck. Mom and my grandmother sat at the kitchen table drinking tea.
"Hi honey, how was school?" Mom looked me up and down, analyzing my outfit.
"Oh, it was great, I met some great people. I took one of them home after school, that's why I'm a little late."
My grandmother butted in, "Is that what you wore for your first day of school?"
"This? Oh no! I had gym last period and I didn't get a chance to change. I figured I would go for a jog after school anyway." I hoped they believed the lie. My mom looked curious, but she didn't question me further. "I'm going to take my stuff upstairs and call Kelly before my jog. I've got to tell her about all the cute guys she's missing out on."
"Ok, just be back by six-thirty for dinner," said Mom.
"No problem." Relieved to escape, I darted up the stairs. I was so anxious to vent my fingers were already dialing Kelly's number. If anyone understood what I was going through, it would be her. The phone rang. Then Kelly's sweet voice answered, "Hello."
"Hey, I hate it here!" I skipped the intros and went straight to venting. I made sure to clue her in on every horrific detail. Kelly listened quietly to my rant, only replying with the occasional 'gosh' or 'seriously'?
After a forty-five minute phone therapy session, she slipped in the words, "At least there's a really cute guy."
I laughed, "You always know what to say. Thanks for letting me rant."
"What you need now is a good run."
"Yeah, I planned on it. It's been raining on and off all day, and its cold, but I think the fresh air will do me good."
"Eliana, promise you'll call me whenever you need to talk."
"Oh, don't worry. You're at the top of my list. Mom doesn't need my stress on top of hers. I'll call you soon. Love you."
"Love you, too. Bye for now," said Kelly.
I jogged downstairs adjusting my iPod armband so I could reach the buttons. "I'll be back in an hour or so," I called from the front room. "I have my cell, if you need me."
"Ok, don't be too late," Mom reminded me from the kitchen.
I heard my grandmother say, "She needs a little more structure and chores. If you let her run around all over the place she'll end up a teenage mom or she'll get into trouble with the law."
Outraged by her comments, I started to return to the kitchen to defend myself, but stopped when I heard Mom say, "Eliana is a fantastic young lady. She's never given us any reason not to trust her. She's sixteen not six. Chris and I have raised her to be a strong, morally correct young woman with values. She has great ambitions. I truly think she wouldn't ruin her dreams by getting into trouble. Beside we're in Myrtle Creek, how much trouble could she possibly get into?"
Shock kept me rooted to the spot. I knew Mom trusted me, but I'd never known she had that much confidence in me. I quietly stepped outside.
"I wish I was back home," I muttered.
"Oh Munchkin, don't you know that home is where you hang your hat?" said Gramps.
I quickly turned, not realizing that Gramps was on the porch. "That's great advice, Gramps. I'll keep it in mind." Gramps always had little tidbits of advice. Sometimes it made sense and other times—well, it didn't.
I put in my ear buds and took off down the long driveway. My favorite song came on; it made me smile and I ran faster. I decided to run alongside the mountain road. It was cold, but the fresh air made me feel free. What if I didn't stop? What if I kept going? I imagined myself running back to California. Kelly would take me in. It was a nice fantasy.
My thoughts traveled back to the events of my first day. My biggest issue—Sasha. She was pure evil. She was testing my breaking point. I decided to ignore her mean comments and kill her with kindness. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing me upset. One year—that's it. As bad as today had been, things could only get better. After the clothes incident, nothing could embarrass me now.
I made my way around the curve of the road, staying close to the shoulder. The further I ran up the mountain, the prettier the scenery became.
I continued thinking about school and my plan of attack. I decided to focus on my studies. As far as a relationship, I wasn't looking for anything serious. I didn't want to get involved with a guy, especially since I would be leaving in a year. I could survive this place for one year. I decided to look on my stay here as a challenge. Taking it a day at a time, I would have victory in the end.
The hip-hop music in my ears pumped up my running. I synched in time to the bass guitar. Running was just what I'd needed.
Mom's words "strong young woman" kept echoing through my head. Mom had faith in me and I would strive to prove her right.
Wow, how far have I run? Thick pines hid the sky making the air seem darker. I grabbed my cell phone to check the time. It was six-fifteen. Oh crap, I've been running for over an hour. I dialed Mom's cell, hoping it would go through. To my relief, she answered.
"Mom, I'm so sorry, I got side-tracked running."
"That's okay, honey. Do you want me to come and get you?"
"No. I'm on my way back. I should be there no later than seven-thirty."
"Are you sure?" I could hear a tinge of stress in her voice.
"Mom, I'm fine. I have my phone. I'll call if I get tired or lost; I promise."
"Okay, if you aren't here by seven-thirty, I'm sending a search party."
"Deal. I'll be there soon." I hung up and started down the mountain, turning up the music.
The temperature changed and fog started rolling in. It made me jog at a faster pace. I knew Mom would truly have a search party out if I wasn't back on time. I didn't need any more embarrassments in my life. The more I thought about it, the faster I ran.
The fog thickened. At least it wasn't completely dark yet. A faint pair of headlights came around the curve. Within a split second, I knew the driver wouldn't see me. Before I could react, the headlights brightened and the brakes squealed. I jumped backward, hoping the truck would miss me.
My heart stopped when I slipped on some water-soaked leaves that sent me sliding down a hill and hitting every possible branch and stick along the way. All I could think to do was tuck and roll. I thundered to a stop at the bottom of the muddy hill. After a dazed moment, I patted my hands over my body searching for damage. "I'm alive," I whispered in disbelief. "I'm alive," I repeated to convince myself.
A door slammed and a frantic voice yelled, "Holy crap! Are you all right down there?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." I looked up at the dark silhouette of a person. "I just slipped."
The guy slowly made his way down the slippery slope. "I'm so sorry; I didn't see you."
"It's really all right." I reassured him as I wiped mud and leaves off my sweatshirt. "Nothing's broke."
When he reached me, I recognized the guy from study hall, Lucas Andrews. Of all the people in this town, it had to be him.
"Here, let me help you up." He reached for my hand.
"Um, thanks." I hoped he wouldn't notice my hand was trembling.
He placed my arm around his neck and then put his arm around my waist. "Are you sure nothing's broken?"
"Yeah, I'm sure." I willed my body to stop trembling from being so close to him.
"Are you cold?"
"No, I guess I'm still just a little shaken from the fall," I lied.
Carefully, we made our way up the steep incline. It was like walking up a water slide, almost impossible.
"I'll take you to the town clinic if you want to get checked out," he suggested.
"Really, I'm fine. I think I'd know if something was wrong. Thank you for your help. I really need to go."
"Please, let me give you a ride," he insisted.
"That's okay. I don't take rides from strangers." I tried to ease my nerves by concentrating on picking the leaves out of my hair.
"Well, I'm Lucas Andrews, and you are?"
I looked at him blankly for a second. "I'm Eliana—Eliana Davis."
"Well, Eliana Davis, I practically killed you a few minutes ago. The least I owe you is a ride."
I looked at him, and then looked at the time on my phone. It was seven o'clock. I only had thirty minutes to get back to my grandparents' house. "I guess it'll be okay." I wiped some wet leaves off my sweatpants before he helped me into the truck.
The silent ride felt uncomfortable, so I said, "Thanks for giving me a ride."
"It's not a problem; it's the least I can do." He looked at me with a half smile. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm sure." There was no denying he was still nervous about the almost fatal accident. "You look familiar. Are you in any of my classes?"
Lucas grinned. "I think you might be in my study hall."
I was mortified. I had hoped he wouldn't recognize me. "Oh, okay." I stared out the passenger window trying to hide my blushing face. Other than my occasional directions, the awkward silence returned.
When we pulled into the driveway, I said, "Thanks again for the ride. Maybe I'll see you around." I tried not to make eye contact.
"Yeah, I'm sure we'll see each other at school. Have a good night." I could tell he was still grinning by the sound of his voice.
I walked to the house and Mom met me at the door. "Who's that?"
"Oh, just a friend from school, he saw me walking and offered a ride." I didn't want to worry her with the details of my fall down the side of the mountain. I knew that would put a stop to my evening runs.
"Why do you look like you went swimming in a mud puddle?" Mom asked.
"Oh, I slipped on some wet leaves." I couldn't believe how many little white lies I'd been telling.
"Must have been some slip."
When I turned and saw my reflection in the hallway mirror, I gasped in horror. My face was hidden behind thick smudges of mud, and tons of leaves tangled in my ratty hair. No wonder Lucas Andrews had smirked. How had he held his laughter in? I was staring at "Swamp Thing" in the mirror.
"Sorry, I'm so late for dinner," I muttered.