Sidetracked: Part 1

by S. K. Kelley

  I rub my arms, glancing up as Ice sprints from the far side of the cul-de-sac in feline form a third time. Morphing beside me, he runs a hand through his hair and once again turns to watch the fuse burn without speaking.

  “The cat thing must be convenient sometimes,” I say.

  Smiling, his eyes flick down to meet mine. “I suppose it’s more comfortable than jogging in denim.”

  Then he returns his attention to the firework in the distance. Whoosh. My eyes don’t leave his face. Ziiiiiip— Even as the ball shoots into the sky, and his chin lifts as he tracks its upward path, I don’t look away.

  An instant of silence. A flicker of focused anticipation in his eyes before the earsplitting blast drowns out my question:

  Do you really like me?

  The multicolored sparks in my periphery reflect in his eyes as he turns to face me, and he tips his head.

  “What’s that?” he asks.

  He didn’t hear.

  My face catches fire, but I laugh, shake my head, and wave my hands disarmingly.

  “Oh, no. It’s nothing.”

  He watches me with a touch of skepticism before ruffling my hair with his hand, which touches my shoulder for a moment as he looks back toward the empty lot.

  “We better collect the debris and get out of here,” he says.

  Maybe there is a risk of someone calling the police?

  I nod, grab the empty cardboard box, and follow at Ice’s side.

  “Was it everything you hoped it to be?” he asks. “Considering the circumstances?”

  “It was neat. And you were right. They were bright. And loud. Um...” My eyes glaze over his empty hand before darting up as I suppress my caught breath. “Well, thanks for taking the time to do this. And for offering to let me stay with you guys.”

  “Of course.”

  “It has been a long day, though.”

  Unbelievably long.

  “Yeah?” He stops to pick up half of a spent cardboard shell. “You can take my bed tonight if you want.”

  HAHAHA—

  “No, that’s fine. I’ll be okay in the den. Thanks, though!”

  He laughs. “Have it your way, Jayde.”

  IT’S LATE.

  Everyone already went to bed, and Smoke’s music is off, so it’s quiet. I’ve been lying in the dark with my phone screen dimmed for nearly an hour. After I finally manage to collect all fifteen daily bonuses in one of my idle games, I check FaceSpace.

  It’s almost midnight.

  This sucks, but Rose is still online. I could call her.

  I want to call her.

  With a glance at the curtain over the sliding glass door, I leave the couch. I find the light jacket in my duffel bag and slip it on as I cross the room. Then I pull the curtain aside just enough to unlock the door and step through. The well-lit neighborhood leaves the general details of the backyard clearly visible. Even so, I switch the patio light on, descend the steps, and creep far enough out to peer down the narrow side yard.

  It’s empty, and the chain-link gate at the end is shut.

  As it should be.

  Somewhat reassured, I sit on the edge of the nearest garden planter and make the call. The phone rings once.

  Twice.

  Three times.

  “Hello?” her voice asks.

  A rush of pure relief.

  “Hey, sorry for calling so late,” I say. “I can’t sleep.”

  “It’s all good. It’s not like I was just about to head to bed or anything.” But she laughs, so I laugh too. “Anyway, what’s up? You spent the Fourth with Ice, right? How’d that go?”

  “Ah—”

  “Not good?”

  “Well—”

  “Oh, boy.”

  “Shut up,” I say through stifled laughter that quickly fades. “Well, um, I drank. Alcohol. And it didn’t work out in my favor. I am never drinking again.”

  Silence. A gasp. “You didn’t throw up on him, did you?”

  “Thankfully not. But I did kiss him.”

  “And? Isn’t that good? Isn’t that what you wanted?”

  “It’s not good when he calls it nothing and pretends it never happened the next day.” With a glance at Ice’s bedroom window, I lower my voice. “I have no idea what to think, but he’s still being super nice. He even offered to let me stay for a few more days, and I agreed because I’ve been so bored at home. Is that messed up?”

  “Hold up. Slow down. What? Did he reject you?”

  “No,” I say sharply before clearing my throat. “That’s what’s so weird. He said he likes me right before I kissed him. But I drank a lot. Maybe he thought I was so wasted I had no idea what I was doing, and that’s why he hasn’t mentioned it? But it was so embarrassing. I can’t look at him without thinking about it. I already apologized for drinking too much, but he obviously didn’t want to talk about it. Aah... What do I do?”

  “Uh... You guys need to talk about it. Sounds like you’re not on the same page at all. Even I’m confused now.”

  “I don’t know how to bring that up. I never would have kissed him if I didn’t drink so much.”

  She groans. “Your relationship is worse than my soap operas. Why are you even with this guy? If it’s not because he’s hot and rich, I don’t get it.”

  “No, you wouldn’t.” I sigh and rub my eyes. “Sorry. I feel like I’m just ranting now.”

  “Ranting is fine. This is something worth ranting about.”

  “I really like him. I just—”

  “Are you okay, Jayde? Do you need help?”

  I look up from my lap, but my eyes don’t focus on anything in particular in the dimly lit backyard.

  Am I okay?

  Do I need help?

  After yesterday... Forget kissing Ice, I was—

  But I sigh. “No. Everything’s fine. I’m just frustrated. I’m mad at myself for kissing him. And for messing up our plans. I’ve had a long day—I woke up early with a hangover. Ugh. And then we avoided each other half the day. But everything is fine now.”

  “Alright,” she says slowly. “You’d tell me if something wasn’t, right?”

  “Of course,” I lie.

  thirty-eight

  THIS MORNING, NIGHT asked if I wanted to get my hair cut. She’s taking advantage of Carmen’s offer to cut hers, and I— Well, I do not want to cut my hair, but it has been almost a year since I’ve done anything with it. I’m overdue for a trim.

  And I wouldn’t mind the distraction.

  Things are back to business as usual at the Monroe house, but maybe life shouldn’t feel normal so soon after...

  Aah...

  Every time I picture the fleeting anticipation in Ice’s eyes as the sparks from the final firework faded from the sky, another face flashes through my mind. Another emotion. Another place—dark and hot and dusty.

  I wish I could forget so easily.

  But it might help to get out for a couple hours.

  Night looks happy as she bids Ice farewell on her way out of the den. I go to follow, but he stops me. He stands from the couch and asks if I intend to cut my hair.

  Laughing, I shake my head. I’ve kept my hair long since middle school. It’s part of my identity at this point.

  “You don’t have to indulge Night this way, you know,” he says.

  “I don’t mind. It’s nice to get out sometimes.”

  “If getting out is all you want, you only need to ask.” For some reason, he seems confused. “I can take you anywhere you might want to go.”

  “Anywhere?”

  He smiles, the playful expression so mischievous it borders on dark—like a dare. Then he reminds me that Night is waiting.

  Oops.

  I excuse myself and meet her out front. As we walk to her car, she no longer looks happy. And my facade falters too.

  “Is everything okay?” I ask.

  She laughs, the sound more like a choked sigh. “I don’t know, Jayde. Is it?”

  “
Ah, well...”

  “Never mind. We do need to talk. About Ice, of course, but—” She forces a smile and opens the passenger door for me. “—it can wait until after we see Carmen.”

  She has ulterior motives in going out?

  It’s disappointing, but I agree and climb inside.

  She glances away. “I’m sure it goes without saying, but we shouldn’t mention what happened the other day while we’re there either.”

  “Right.”

  Night closes the door. I stare at my lap as she walks around the car, unable to look up even as she sits in the driver’s seat. The car rumbles to life.

  She sighs. “This trip isn’t off to a great start, is it? I’m sorry, I just... I want to be careful. The last thing you need is more rumors circulating about you.”

  “More rumors?”

  “Being human and all,” she says without taking her eyes off the road.

  What are people saying about me? Nothing too awful, I hope... Unless Ice had a point in suggesting I avoid other immortals? Did I misinterpret the entire conversation?

  “What did he have to say back there, anyway?” she asks.

  “Oh.” I laugh nervously. “He asked if I was going to cut my hair. He might have been a little relieved when I said no.”

  Her expression softens, and the awkward atmosphere lifts. As she drives, she tells me more about the salon Carmen interns at. It’s downtown, and the clientele consists mostly of immortals.

  I’m not familiar with the salon, but it still blows my mind that there’s essentially a separate, parallel society most humans don’t notice. Anyone could see it if they knew what to look for. It’s hidden in plain sight, nestled between a kitschy yarn shop and a Greek restaurant.

  Walking inside, the salon is like any other I might have visited in the past, but I’m the only human in the building. The River Sapphire’s passive weight on my skin does little to calm my nerves.

  I am human, other, and everyone here knows it. Two younger girls seated in the lobby sneak curious glances as I approach the reception counter with Night.

  She ignores them, so I try to do the same.

  Carmen spots us from across the building. Her station is empty, and she basically sprints to meet us at the counter before another stylist has a chance.

  “Wow! You managed to drag Jayde here too?” Her lavender eyes flick to me, the excitement within them tangible. “We gonna chop your hair off, or what?”

  Night laughs, and I let Carmen down as gently as possible, but she shrugs in return. She knew perfectly well I have no intention of losing more than a couple inches.

  “April can do your trim,” she says. “She’ll be done in a few minutes. Night, you can come back with me.”

  Night follows Carmen. I return to the waiting area.

  Fortunately, there are plenty of chairs, so I can take one and leave two empty seats between me and anyone else. With my nose in my phone to avoid catching a stranger’s eye, I scroll down an article about long hairstyles.

  I haven’t decided what to do with my hair. Should I get bangs? Layers? Right now, my hair is all the same length, so bangs might be nice. If anything, bangs will keep my hair out of my face and make it easier to wear down more often.

  When I look up, one of the girls who snuck a glance earlier tears her eyes away. She holds her hand over her mouth and whispers to the girl beside her. I pocket my phone and mess with the River Sapphire, worrying my fingers over the cool stone. But I’m not mad about it.

  After all, I don’t belong here.

  “Jayde,” a voice calls.

  One of the stylists stands by the reception counter, watching me. A smaller woman with brown hair in a neat bun on top of her head. She smiles as our eyes meet. Blue.

  I stand to join her, and she leads me to the station beside Night and Carmen. The chair is incredibly comfortable for a salon chair.

  “Do you know what you want?” she asks, her voice kind.

  “Just a trim. And bangs, I guess.”

  “We can do that.”

  Carmen chuckles off to the side. “Playing it safe, huh?”

  “I don’t think I can handle more change right now,” I mutter, pulling my hair out from underneath the salon cape.

  “Anyway, April, this is the chick I was talking about,” Carmen says. “The one who knows about immortals and got one of those necklaces.”

  “Oh, right.” Her casual tone comes across as only passively interested. “You said Ice Monroe told her?”

  “Mm-hm... Seems to me like they’re dating.”

  “Oh? You’re dating Ice? Is that true?”

  Why does she sound so surprised?

  I force a smile. “I don’t know if we’re dating, exactly, but he did sponsor me, and we have gone out a few times, so...”

  I glance to Night’s reflection in the mirror. She doesn’t look uncomfortable, but her eyes are averted as Carmen works on her damp hair. It’s already significantly shorter.

  “How’s that going for you?” April asks.

  “It’s alright. I guess I’ve been worried—that I won’t fit in, you know? Everyone I’ve met is fun and cool, and no one’s been mean to me because I’m human or anything, but I’m...”

  “Girl, shut up,” Carmen says with a laugh. “You’re cool too. If anyone is ever mean to you for being human, I’ll beat them up. Night will help, I’m sure.”

  Finally, she laughs a little. “I’m not sure how much help I’d be in a fight.”

  “I’m still pissed at Taylor for blowing us off last week. Did you know he blocked me after I told him he was a dick for ignoring our messages?”

  “Taylor?” April asks. “You mean—? Oh. Right.”

  Night sighs. “We invited him to meet Jayde, but perhaps it’s for the best that he didn’t show. I’m not sure they’d get along.”

  “He’s a dick,” Carmen insists.

  April walks around to the front of the chair to work on my bangs. “From what I remember, he was never accepted in high school. He never fit in. Everyone ignored him.”

  “That was high school,” Night says mildly. “But Taylor didn’t care to be accepted by immortals—not even by other social rejects. He didn’t even try to reach out. Plenty of kids would have been his friend if he weren’t so impossible to get along with.”

  Because he hates immortals and went to a school full of them?

  “Anyway,” she continues before Carmen can call Taylor a dick a third time. “I meant to ask earlier—how did Matthew’s Fourth of July party turn out?”

  Carmen laughs. “Oh, it was a blast. But, to be honest, I only remember the first few hours.”

  IT WAS GOOD TO SEE Carmen, and April was nice, but it sounds like there are some rumors—about me and Ice and my new status as a human immortal. They didn’t say anything negative, but, now that we’re alone in the car, I feel weird about the whole thing.

  Night, with her new airy pixie cut, seems a little bothered too. She didn’t show it when we were inside, though. Her smile and laughter came easily, even when discussing the Fourth of July.

  Are all immortals like this?

  “So... Where’s that café you were talking about? Because I think you drove us in a circle.”

  She grimaces. “I did. The café is right down the block, but I was thinking we could go to a teahouse instead. If that’s okay with you.”

  “That’s fine. Are you okay?”

  “Me? Oh.” She laughs. “I wanted to ask Carmen if she’d heard anything about James recently, but I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable, and I was worried she’d ask questions I couldn’t answer if I brought him up out of nowhere. I don’t want to add fuel to the fire, you know?”

  “Do you think she knows anything—about what happened, I mean?”

  “Oh, no. If Carmen heard anything, she would have messaged me immediately. Still, I thought she might know something that could help explain why... But she didn’t mention him at all.”

  I frown.
<
br />   Night holds herself rather apprehensively, her hands tight on the steering wheel. But what can I say? She hasn’t explained anything about her history with James—let alone how Ice ties into it.

  “I want to understand,” she says. “Even if James thought your necklace would help him, he isn’t the type to— Ah...but I suppose it’s been years since we last spoke. I have no idea what he’s been up to. He may have changed. I don’t know. It’s all very...”

  “Confusing?” I ask. Her answering smile is forced, and my frown deepens. “Were you friends with James in high school?”

  She shakes her head. “It wasn’t like that, exactly. It’s more...complicated. But I don’t want to talk about James. We need to talk about Ice.”

  “Okay... What about Ice?”

  “Let’s get a table first.”

  She falls quiet as she finds a parking spot.

  While she fixes her short hair and situates an oversized bow on top of her head with the help of the rear-view mirror, I unbuckle my seatbelt and check myself out in the side mirror through the window. The side-swept bangs are nice. My hair feels lighter, and I don’t think I resemble a fifteen-year-old anymore.

  I can get used to this.

  Once we’re done preening, we meet in front of the car. Night offers me a more collected smile than any of the ones she made during the drive.

  “Sorry if I worried you,” she says. “I’m just frustrated.”

  I grin. “Oh, me too.”

  With that, I follow her into The House of Tea. The interior is decorated in pastels and white. Greenery and chandeliers made from glass jars hang from the ceiling. The air is cool and smells of tea and spices. A hostess wearing a dress and frilly apron meets us inside. She has large amber eyes, is all smiles, and carries several small menus in one arm.

  “Welcome! How can I help you ladies today?” she asks, her voice bright and refreshing.

  “A patio table for two, please,” Night says.

  The hostess leads us through the sparsely populated tea room, out a door on the far wall, and onto a screened-in patio. We’re the only customers outside, seated at a round table overlooking a small garden with a koi pond.

  I accept a menu and skim the selection of daily hot teas, iced drinks, snacks, and desserts. I don’t know much about tea, so I leave the decision-making up to Night—she orders a pot of milk oolong and a snack sampler.