by Jenny Bloom
She glanced idly at Ray who seemed to be dozing where he sat. She giggled and covered her mouth immediately, feeling like the whole room heard her inappropriate outburst. When no one turned to look at her and the professor continued with his speech, she relaxed into her desk and felt the exhaustion of the weekend creeping in.
She ducked her head low and covered her head with her arms.
I haven't even bothered with makeup today. I didn't style my hair. My outfit doesn't match...What the hell is happening to me?
As the energy in the room shifted, she popped back up and noticed everyone was moving to gather their things.
Class was over—finally.
She patted Ray's arm. “Hey, gorgeous. We're due for lunch.”
He sniffled as he sat up from the desk, stretching his arms over his head. After a long yawn, he lazily blinked at her. “Did I miss something?”
“The whole class, basically.”
“Well, that goes to show how much I care about literature.”
“You should probably care more, considering this is your worst class.”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “What can I say? I'm more interested in psychology than lit.”
“Let's get to the cafeteria before the line gets too long.”
“Wow, I've never seen you in such a hurry,” he remarked sarcastically.
She shot him an angry glare and headed for the door, leaving him in the dust to struggle with catching up. As she marched through the hallway to the courtyard, she ignored the imposing Halloween decorations on every corner. It was like the whole school was under the same spell as the town of Salem—and she despised it.
She grumbled under her breath, “This place needs to get a grip.”
“What's that?”
She blinked at Ray. “If you don't pay attention, you might slip.”
“That's not what you said.”
“Well, it doesn't matter.”
“It does matter. I haven't seen you have an attitude like this since last term's finals.”
“Like I said, it doesn't matter.”
He gently placed a hand on her shoulder to make her stop. “Lynda, you look really torn up. Are you sure you don't want to grab lunch somewhere else? There's a truck that sits just outside campus that has the best tacos for miles. Let's go there.”
“So much for giving me the option.”
He ignored her retort and yanked her toward the other side of campus. He ordered their tacos, paid for them, and then led her over to a bench underneath a gazebo. There weren't too many students in the area. It felt like the perfect spot for Lynda to sag forward and ignore the delicious smell of tacos sitting in front of her.
She sighed, “Thanks.”
“Hey, when a friend is in need, I'm there.”
“I've just been a mess.”
“Over what?”
She shrugged. “Ruby.”
“Oh, is that the vampire chick from the blood drive?”
“Yeah.”
“What happened?”
She shrugged again, feeling her shoulders dragging her down to the table in front of her. As she rested her elbows on either side of her plate, she felt the corner of her mouth twitching. Something was wrong—she could feel it.
“Lynda, I don't think it's a good idea to hold all that in. You don't have to perform for me, remember? We've been friends since we both got here,” Ray reminded her. “You can tell me anything. I'll listen.”
She studied him for a second. Although the smell of tacos was enticing, she couldn't hide the fact that her lips were tugging down into the most mournful frown that she couldn't resist. It was a horrible way to look. She was sure she looked as dead as the ghastly posters hanging around the school hallways.
“I don't know,” she whispered. “I can't stop thinking.”
“About what?”
“My grandmother.”
He nodded slowly, setting his taco down on his plate. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“I really don't, but...” She bit her lower lip as she clamped down on a sob that threatened to escape. “I can't stop picturing her casket.”
“We've all lost someone.”
“We have. That's why I don't understand why I'm thinking about it right now.”
“When did it happen?”
She shrugged. “I couldn't have been more than eight. It was awful.”
“What happened to her?”
“I think she got really sick. I remember visiting her in the hospital and she looked so small. My dad was crying and I didn't understand why he was so upset. Nobody would tell me.” She clenched her fists at her sides. “I was so mad because nobody would tell me.”
“That sounds rough, Lynda.”
“It was too much for a child to handle. My mother was so cold and distant. She didn't say much at the funeral.”
“Sounds about right for your mother.”
Lynda shook her head, laughing even though she wanted to scream. “It was like she shut down and pushed everyone out. I felt like I had to be the strong one when it came to everyone crying.”
“That's a lot for a kid to carry.”
“It was too much. I had to comfort my dad and even that was more than I could handle. I remember the casket and her face...It was like she was frozen or something, frozen with paint on her face.”
Ray shuddered. “That brings back memories.”
“See? Everyone has gone through this and yet here I am acting like it was the worst thing in the world.”
“Because it is the worst thing in the world. Death is never easy for people to chew up and swallow. It's hardly an appetizing part of being a human.”
“But that's life.”
“Sure, that's life, but it doesn't mean that it hurts any less.”
She took a deep breath and sighed as she exhaled, leaning against her hand. “Now I've lost my appetite.”
“I'm sorry, Lyn. You should at least try to eat.”
“I don't know. I can't stop thinking about Nanny and how all that went.”
“Would therapy help?”
She laughed. “Yeah, it would help my mother think I'm a huge basket-case. That's about all it'll help.”
“Who cares what your mother thinks? You're an adult now. You're in school and you're pursuing a career that you're going to excel at because you excel at everything.”
“So?”
“So, that means you'll excel at therapy, too.”
Lynda grimaced. “But...feelings.”
“They're not ideal, but that's another unfortunate side effect of the human experience. You're going to feel things whether you like it or not, especially from traumatizing experiences.”
“I'm not traumatized. I'm just angry. This town is wild when it comes to Halloween.”
“And I think that's misdirected anger.”
She glared at Ray. “That's a pretty bold statement.”
“Well, I think you need to hear it.” He rummaged through his pocket until he procured a bent business card. He held it across the table. “This guy, Dr. Pollard, is the best therapist I've ever seen in my life.”
“Are you still seeing him?”
“Once every month. I used to do weekly sessions until I started feeling more confident.”
“And why did you go to therapy?”
He shrugged. “Personal reasons that I won't divulge. But I'm telling you, Lyn, it's really worth a shot if you want to work that anger out in a productive way.”
“If Salem would just stop doing the Halloween thing--”
“There it is again.”
She growled. “You just don't get it.”
He sighed while he played with his half-eaten taco. After a few minutes of silence, he met her gaze and offered a warm smile. “Do you remember when my dog Bentley died?”
“Yeah. You were pretty sad.”
“I was so sad that I felt like hurting myself. So, I went to a therapist.”
Her eyes widened. “You never told me that!”
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“I was too embarrassed. You're all logic, right? And I was just this huge pile of emotions that I couldn't sort out. Well, the doc helped me sort them and now I'm a functioning human. Sort of.”
He winked and she giggled, lowering her gaze to her plate. She nodded her head slowly while considering the card in her hand. “Okay, I'll give this a shot. But if I don't like it, I'm not going back.”
“That's entirely up to you. I just wanted to help a friend.”
She let a small smile form over her lips. “Thanks, Ray. That means a lot.”
“See what happens when you open up?”
“Yeah, it hurts. I don't like it.”
“Do you want to talk about Ruby now?”
She squinted at him and he laughed, raising his hands up.
“Fine,” he conceded. “But I'm always open to listening.”
“Do you think she would understand about my Nanny?”
“It's a possibility.”
“She lost her parents when she was a kid.”
Ray raised his eyebrows. “Well, geesh, I'm more than certain she would understand about your Nanny.”
“But how do I do that? I'm not used to talking.”
“God, how do you manage to date anyone?”
Lynda laughed. “I just don't date.”
“Well, if you really like her, then open up to her. I'm sure that would deepen your bond. There's more to intimacy than sex, you know.”
“Yeah, I'm starting to gather as much.”
He smiled and pointed to her plate. “So, are you going to eat that? I mean, it's cost a whole three bucks to get it.”
“Wow, if you're going to guilt me, I might as well,” she joked.
As she lifted a taco, the soggy shell fell apart and she burst into giggles, unable to control her laughter. She grabbed one of the plastic spoons that Ray had gathered from the truck and started spooning bits of taco into her mouth.
She hummed as she chewed.
“Wow,” she whispered after swallowing. “That is a damn good taco.”
“Isn't it?”
“And this truck is here every day?”
He nodded. “Every day.”
“I'll have to visit it more. It's way better than the cafeteria grub.”
“We should absolutely break up the monotony with something outside of your usual norm.”
“Oh, I don't like that.”
“What?”
She shivered. “Changes.”
He laughed. “You'll have to get used to it in the business world. That career would literally be full of changes all the time.”
“I don't like it.”
“Lynda, you're such a brat.”
She laughed. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
“And if Ruby can put up with that, then she's your match.”
“God, I was so rude to her. I shouldn't have said anything. I should have just kept walking.”
“Ah, here it comes.”
She shot him a sharp look. “What?”
“The truth. You're starting to open up to me. It's really nice to feel like you trust me, Lyn.”
“I trust you,” she repeated with surprise. Her gaze softened. “Yeah, I guess I do.”
“That didn't sound entirely confident, but I'll take it.”
“I didn't realize I was so closed off from people. Have I been like this the whole time?”
He grinned playfully. “Do you really want me to answer that?”
“No!” She fell into a giggle fit and covered her mouth. “You're supposed to tell me that I'm the best friend you've ever had!”
“And so it is!”
Her laughter rang up to the ceiling of the gazebo and back down, joining his laughter and surrounding them with joy. A sense of relief washed through her again as she pushed bits of her broken taco around her paper plate. When she took another bite, she felt her hunger double and she followed the feeling, unsure whether it would stick around long enough for her to finish her food.
After she cleared her plate, she sat back and smiled with satisfaction.
“Hey,” she whispered. “Thanks.”
“I'm sure you would do the same for me in your own special way.”
“I would sure try. I don't like failing.”
He laughed. “Well then, what are you waiting for? I'm sure Ruby is waiting for you to call.”
She bit her lower lip and chewed on it. “I don't know. I said some mean things. What if I can't come back from that?”
“Every mistake can be fixed by offering to make it right.”
“Where did you learn all this from?”
He smiled warmly. “My dog.”
Lynda nodded. “I don't fully understand that, but I believe it's true for you. I respect that.”
“Thanks, Lyn. Are you done eating?”
“Surprisingly, yeah. I think I want more.”
“Well, let's go get some more. This round is on you.”
She laughed as she rose from the table, slinging her bag over her shoulder. As she bussed her plate to the nearest trash can, she felt lighter. There was something different about the way the clouds floated in the sky and the way the sun shone on the winding sidewalks.
It was something hopeful.
Chapter Eleven
Ruby
Ruby tapped her foot as she stood in front of her desk. Her eyes fell from the black Halloween tree covered in light-up pumpkins to the large neon bat illuminating the desk. She followed the light to the tiny dragons decorating the wall above that led to the framed paintings of famous witches—one of them being a distant aunt.
She bowed her head reverently. “Let me be grateful no matter what that paper says.”
After a deep breath, she raised her head and focused for what felt like the first time on the packet sitting on the center of her desk.
It was postmarked Ireland. It had been stamped several times. It probably smelled like all of the places it had been. It was an ominous object that would determine the course of her future.
And that made her freeze in place.
Another deep breath inspired her to shift her hand through the air, reaching out slowly as if she were moving through a surreal dream. Every inch accomplished seemed slower than the last until she held the packet in her hands.
She felt a shiver run down her spine.
“Let me be grateful,” she repeated. “No matter what.”
She tore the top of the envelope and dumped the packet of papers out into her hand. The bundle felt heavy.
“It's like college—they don't send a whole bunch to say no.”
Her heartbeat quickened in her chest. As her blood rushed up to her ears, she held the paper up to her face, unable to set it down, to sit down, or to do much else other than gape at the words on the first page.
“Accepted,” she whimpered. “I've been accepted.”
Her blood hummed in her veins as a blissful smile crossed her lips. Her ears were pulsing with excitement and her eyes were burning with tears. As the emotional wave crashed over her, she collapsed into her desk chair and wept while holding the pages to her chest.
It was like her heart was singing. Her entire body was thrumming with a happiness that vibrated her soul. She swore she could hear a chorus of angels singing in the background as an ethereal light shimmered down from above.
“Mother, I made it,” she whispered through her sobs. “I finally made something of myself that you could be proud of.”
The branches of the tree outside scraped against the window, acting as a response to her words. She celebrated the way the energy in the room detonated, how it vibrated into her skin, and how her heart swelled with each new sentence she absorbed.
While she skimmed through the rest of the packet, her thoughts spun wildly:
Who do I tell first? What do I do about the tours? Do I train my replacement? What about the Halloween store and Helga and Ernest? Mr. Cloher?
She blinked.
What about Lynda?
>
She set the packet down. A hushed silence fell over the room as her heart rate calmed and her blood settled back to its usual rhythm. She called into her the calming energy of the earth to clear her rattled brain.
All these questions will be answered in time as long as I calm herself.
Within a few minutes, she was back to being the same peaceful Ruby she had always been. She touched the edges of the bundle reverently, giving it the same respect she would the hanging tree. She traced the edge of the page down to the bottom and back up again with her painted black nail.
Another smile took her lips.
“I'll call Ernest.”
She plucked her phone from the desk and clicked on his name, listening to the monotonous trill of the line. When it clicked, she squealed.
“Ernest! I got it! I'm going to Ireland! Can you believe it? Me—I'm going to one of the world's haunted castles to be a tour guide! I'm going to get paid so much more than I ever dreamed! Can you believe that?!”
Silence filled the line. She bit her lower lip as she took a few cleansing breaths and remained quiet while waiting for him to reply.
So much for being calm.
When he didn't answer, she whispered, “Is this a bad time?”
“No, it's not, dear. That was just a lot to hear after a nap,” he replied groggily.
She giggled and lowered her voice. “Sorry—I'm really excited.”
“I would be, too! I'm so glad you got your dream job. When are you leaving?”
“Well, it says I can go by the end of the month.”
“On Halloween, eh?”
She nodded. “It's like a gift from the gods.”
“Your parents would be so proud, Ruby.”
She stifled a sob and bit into her knuckle. “I know they are right now. I can feel it in the room.”
“I always knew you were destined for great things, but now I'm sad.”
“Why are you sad?”
“Because you're leaving.”
“Well...it was going to happen eventually, buddy.”
He sighed, filling the line with static. “I just didn't anticipate that it would be so soon.”
“I'm sorry, buddy.”
“No, don't be sorry, Miss Vamp! You're chasing after your goals and you're really getting them. That's something to be proud of.”
“I'm doing my best.”
“Stop being so modest and take some credit for the work you've done to get here, Ruby.”