As she struggled to flip the page with her middle finger, she heard a door open. Oliver appeared, making a beeline right for the living room.
He shoved a game into the game player before flopping next to Samantha on the couch, letting his arms and legs fall all over the place in a way only a man would. "It's game time!" Picking up a wireless controller and leaning forward, he glanced her way. "Wanna play too?"
"No... Studying..."
"Oh. Well, I'll keep the volume down."
She doubted this but said nothing.
Instead she continued to gaze down at all the rambling about moles, molarity, molality, solutes, and solvents. How was she supposed to figure out the molarity of .5 grams of sodium chloride in three liters of water? She was starting to get a headache...
Wait, I need to convert the .5 grams first, Samantha thought to herself. But how to get it into moles...?
"Three...two...one...GO!"
She looked up to see a car shoot off on-screen. "Oliver!"
"Oh! Sorry! Thought I had it low..." He jammed the volume down.
Sighing, she looked back down at her book. Converting to moles, converting to moles... She scanned the text, trying to find the section. She felt shaky, as if she was about to lose her train of thought any second... Was this even right?
Then a door slammed. "Hey, Oliver!" Evan came over. "Can I play too, man?"
"Yeah, sure! Was trying to beat the lap record. Three minutes and twenty-seven seconds, I think?"
Growling, Samantha pounded on her book. "I am trying to study!"
"Can't do it in your room?" Evan asked.
"Not with Noodles!" She stared back down at the sample problem. Point five grams of sodium chloride... She'd lost it.
"You study too much," Evan said.
"Well, that's because I actually have to think! I'm not parroting or regurgitating facts like you psych majors do!"
Evan and Oliver stared at her, looked at each other, each raised an eyebrow, then stared at her again.
"Gah. Never mind. I'll go somewhere else." Getting up, she closed her book.
"Are you really going to let one F ruin your mood for the rest of the semester?" Evan asked.
"It was not just one F! I could fail this class and have to retake it! And what if I have to stay another year, just because I failed this one stupid class?"
"Chill." Oliver waved a hand. "I doubt you'll fail because you failed one tiny little pop quiz."
"But that quiz was practice for the test this week! If I only got one thing right on that quiz, how do you think I'll do on that test?"
Oliver shrugged with his palms up. "You'll be fine."
Samantha turned to Evan.
He also shrugged. "You worry too much."
Samantha headed towards the door. "I'll lose my scholarships and have to take out more loans and then I'll ―"
"Hey, mad scientist," Oliver said. "You forgot your book."
Coming back, she snatched the foul king from his throne before turning back around. Her finger throbbed on her way out the door.
Crestview was right next door to Fayville, Samantha's hometown. It was a short car drive, but she enjoyed the time to think and get away from everyone. Even with the gray clouds above, she found it almost comforting. The sun would've been mocking with its bright cheeriness. Instead everything was still and quiet.
Just outside Fayville, down a winding road in the woods, was an old abandoned house Joby had first shown her years ago. It was subject to many local haunting tales, but to her, it was "the hideout". She and Joby always used to hang out here, before she'd gotten so involved with college work.
It was an old, two-story house with busted windows and overgrown grass. Even the front door wouldn't shut right, as the hinges seemed damaged. While once appearing creepy to her, she now knew only a stray cat came here. No murderers living here, or at least, none that she and Joby had bumped into over the years.
Here, she would be left alone.
Getting out of her car, she lugged her book bag around back, cutting through the dense grass. She could smell the musty wet wood of the house as she rounded it. What year had it been built? It sort of saddened her to see it this way now. Neglected. Beaten down. Alone. At one time, someone could've done things a little differently. The house could've been magnificent, historic, and inviting. It could've been great, if only someone had cared.
In the backyard was mostly old junk: tires, strips of wood, aged plant pots. But right next to the house was a discolored cement bench. At one point, it must've been the centerpiece of the backyard. Samantha was sure there'd been vines and bushes surrounding it at some point, maybe even a bird bath nearby. There was nothing now, but it was just a feeling she had.
She sat down on the bench and took out her fat chemistry book.
If this was what it took to be a paleontologist, then she'd figure out a way through it. Evan and Oliver didn't understand. To them, it was just a degree. But this would be her ticket to chasing her dreams. It was nothing to just wing.
She half-wondered if she should ask her professor for help. But Dr. Rehls wasn't the nicest guy. He'd probably think she was stupid. He already seemed to have a grudge against the biology majors in his class. At Crest University, it was a constant war between the biology and chemistry majors, and sometimes professors took sides.
Time seemed to drag by, with Samantha getting more and more exasperated. It was like math, except with the vocabulary of a high-level English class. It was frustrating, boring, and so confusing.
Just as she was about to finish a sample problem, Samantha heard grass rustling. Dr-drrr, dr-drrr... A person walking? Her heart woke up from its nap.
Who would be out here? Nobody ever came here.
She got to her feet, holding her book as a weapon. She wished she'd brought her wind stone.
And then, from around the corner came Joby. "Samantha?"
She should've known. "How'd you get here?"
"Oh, I, uh borrowed Oliver's car."
"He was okay with this?"
"Well, ya see, I didn't really ask..." Laughing, Joby scratched his nose.
"I came out here to study. Since I can't at the apartment, apparently."
"Can we talk for a sec?"
Samantha sighed. "What do I have to do ― take a portal to the other side of Areth? Can't I be alone for just one hour?"
Joby cringed as he came closer. "I know you're still mad about yesterday. That's...sorta what I want to talk about."
"I need to study. Please, just...go away." She turned around.
"Oh, c'mon." Joby came over, peeking his head around her shoulder. "Are ya really gonna let one joke make us stop being friends? Are ya, Samanthers?"
"No. I said nothing about that. I need to study for a test."
"But you been avoiding me. Ya didn't say a word to me all day yesterday."
"Because you're annoying sometimes, alright? You think you're so cool when you pull these jokes but then you come crawling back when no one else is here to see you."
His brows lowered at her words. "Well...you're not much better."
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"Because in that prison, when you didn't have your fancy books or cat or Evan, you needed me."
She stiffened. "That was just...a moment of weakness." She knew he'd eventually dangle this over her head.
"Not just that one time. I know ya slept next to me then too."
She didn't say anything.
"But now that ya got everything back, you don't need me anymore. Back to the books and stuff. Can't even listen to me say sorry. For my moment of weakness and stupidness." He turned around and started back through the grass.
She felt a sharp stab in her chest. "Joby, no, wait!" As he paused, she said, "That's not true at all. I..." She took a step after him. "You're my friend. Of course I need you. Even if... Even if I'm too busy to tell you."
Joby started to speak, then stopped. He turned around to look at he
r. "I...know that. I dunno. I guess I just..." He shrugged. "Sometimes I don't feel that important to you."
"Of course you're important to me, Joby." She glanced down at the book in her arms. "We can talk, if you still want to."
They both sat on the bench, staring straight ahead and avoiding each other.
"I'm sorry about yesterday," Joby said. "And I'm sorry for bothering ya now."
"It's okay, but I have to ask. Why do you always pick on me with your jokes?"
"Whadda ya mean?"
"You once taped hotdogs in my pants. You drew smiley faces on my bra. You left that 'A dollar an hour' note on my door..." She trailed off as he started laughing.
"Ah, I'm sorry! I just forgot about that one." He chuckled.
"Your jokes are... They're always sexual. I wish you'd stop it."
"Aw, but those are the funniest ones!"
"They're just awkward."
"Oh, come on." He leaned back. "I bet you like it."
She twisted her head in his direction. "What?"
"Being the only girl and all. Must make ya feel super womanly!"
She gave him a look. "Uh, no. Not really."
Looking back at her, he grinned. "Aw, c'mon. Ya can be honest."
"I am being honest. I don't like that kind of attention."
"Peh, you're no fun." He folded his arms behind his head. "Wish I lived with a bunch 'a girls. That'd be gnarly."
She sighed. "I thought you felt so sad and ignored. Pervert."
"Hey, you were the one who asked. So, your turn! Tell me how important I am to you." He leaned back, smirking at her.
She swatted at him with her left hand. "Jerk."
"Okay, alright! How about this? I make it up to ya for all the tricks I've done by giving ya a massage?"
"A massage? You know how to do it?"
"Not really. But! I can learn!" He popped up from the bench, going around behind it and her. "You go ahead and study. I'll help ya relax and focus."
"Well, okay then. Thanks." She still didn't entirely trust him, but a massage sounded good right about now.
As she flipped through the book trying to locate the chapter, she felt Joby do a few test rubs and kneads on her shoulders. She doubted this was how massages went, but just the feel of his hands calmed her.
Finding the practice problems, she found herself staring down blankly at them, reading them again and again, yet not really following them.
Instead she noticed the building gusts of wind, that chill in the air that storms often brought.
And she also noticed the feel of Joby's hands. These were the same hands that created those beautiful drawings and paintings, when they weren't busy with graffiti. His hands were rather slender for a man's. And still, they worked her shoulders as if molding clay, with a sense of gentle confidence.
As she sighed over the problem, Joby asked, "I ain't hurting ya, am I?"
"Oh no. You're fine." She gazed down at the book. "I just can't get this..." She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled. "Best part of today."
He chuckled. "Ah, I don't even know what I'm doing. Probably tearing your muscles out and stuff. Oho ho ho."
"Heh heh. Still feels nice, whatever you're doing."
Suddenly rain pelted down from the gray heavens.
The two of them made a run for the house, Samantha trying to shield her book and book bag from harm.
With the storm clouds billowing outside, the inside of the house was covered in darkness. Only the faint outer glow of the furniture betrayed their location.
"Well, that was sudden." Samantha dropped her possessions on the couch. "Guess those clouds were waiting all day for this."
"Yeah."
They both stood in the window, looking out the grass whipping around in the wind and rain. Samantha felt a chill run down her back. It was nice to be inside.
"Reminds me of that storm," Joby said. "Remember that storm we had back at the hotel? When I was sick?"
"Oh yeah." She smiled. "That was kinda cozy, wasn't it? Sandwiches for dinner, no Evan and Oliver around to yap about movies and whine about classes..."
Joby chuckled. "Yeah. Just the sound of you reading. ...I...really liked that."
"Really? Well, we can do that again sometime."
"Hm hm." Stepping back, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, resting his head on top of hers.
She closed her eyes, feeling his warmth and listening to the rain. For the first time in awhile, she felt relaxed.
Chapter 19
"Why does Professor Lemmings want to see us again?" Oliver continued to dig through their towering stack of DVDs. "The semester is over now."
"Don't ask me." Evan shrugged. "He just said to stop by his office when we have the chance."
Noodles nosed around near Oliver, stopping to stare at her reflection in the TV screen. When she swatted at it and the orange cat swatted back, Noodles tore off, sending DVDs crashing everywhere.
"Noodles!" Oliver screamed. "Damn it, cat! I'm trying to organize these!"
"Hey!" Samantha poked her head out from her bedroom. "Don't yell at her."
The pesky feline retreated to her fur-mama, looking thoroughly sad.
"Geh." Oliver went back to stacking DVDs. "I only have two boxes for all these..."
"Hey." Joby walked into the living room, his arms full of art supplies. "What should I do with these? Got some paint, a few brushes, a lotta paper..."
"Donate them to the art building," Oliver said.
"Or just throw them out," Evan added.
Joby made a face. "Throw out art stuff? Never!" Walking by, he tripped over his own feet, stumbling into the DVDs.
"Damn it!" Oliver shot him a glare.
"Whoops! Sorry! Didn't see that..." Joby inched out the front door.
"Gerr!" Oliver snatched up a DVD. "Now, for the eight millionth time...!"
Evan glanced at his watch. With all the packing, it was hard finding a time when all four were free and could drop by to see Professor Lemmings. Evan was sure it was important. The professor never asked this of them before.
"Can you finish up so we can go?" Evan asked Oliver.
His friend's face whipped up. "I'm trying, I'm trying!"
Evan next stood in his sister's doorway. "Sam? Get to a stopping point. ...Sam?" Scanning the room, he didn't see her anywhere. But hadn't she just poked her head out from here...?
Then her head poked out again...this time, from under the bed. "Huh?"
"What the hell are you... What are you doing under there?"
"Noodles was very interested in something under here, and I couldn't see anything. I think it's a roach but..."
"Professor Lemmings is waiting."
Now Noodles poked her head out, with a roach wing sticking out from the corner of her mouth.
"Auh! Yuck!" Evan retreated from the room.
Finally, after much harassing and herding from Evan, the four found themselves outside Roger Lemmings' office. Outside his door was a cutout from a rather recent newspaper. The story was on the sighting of a cryptid being Evan had never heard of before. He couldn't be bothered reading it though. He was sure most of these "sightings" were misidentifications, anyway.
He knocked on the door as Samantha moved closer to scan the article.
"Come in."
Evan opened the door and he and the others filed inside.
Somewhere behind stacks and stacks of books he could hear movement. "Thanks for coming! ...Evan, that is you, right?" The professor's face suddenly appeared. "Oh, thought so! Just had to be sure. Can't see the doorway from here!"
"You packing up too?" Samantha asked.
"Unfortunately for my wife, yes! Can't bear the thought of books sitting here for two months. Might be stolen or damaged, you see."
Oliver and Joby goggled at all of the books, as if surprised so many had been printed.
Samantha tilted her head sideways, reading aloud, "'The Myths and Tales of Pythesia.' Oh, I've heard of that place!
They believe in all kinds of spiritual energy and powers!"
As Evan, Joby, and Oliver all groaned and rolled their eyes, Professor Lemmings beamed. "Glad to see someone else who's familiar with Pythesia! You're free to borrow the book for the summer, if you want."
"Oh wow! Great! Thank you!" Samantha couldn't hoard her prize fast enough.
"So...Professor," Evan started. "You wanted to talk to us?"
"Oh yeah! That's right!" Roger Lemmings shuffled his way past his overflowing desk. "First, have you heard about the beauty contest winner? She was found dead just a few days ago."
Samantha's eyes widened. "Really? That's terrible."
"Yeah, thought you'd be interested. Someone did it for her wish stone, most likely. So sometimes it's best not to put yourself out like that. A shame though. She was so young..." He adjusted a book on his desk. "I was wondering if you four wanted to help me with research this break. It shouldn't take long, maybe a week at the most."
"Just research?" Joby looked as if he smelt a rotten corpse.
"We'll be do some traveling, to a special town located in the mountains. And also the best place to find moonstones." The professor winked.
"Oh. Hm." Joby's eyebrows lifted as he tilted his head some.
"Are we going to find Evan's?" Samantha asked.
Evan sighed. "I'm tired of hearing about moonstones by now..."
"Oh, come on, my boy." Professor Lemmings came over and laid a hand on Evan's shoulder. "Once you find your stone, you'll change your mind on all this. Of that, I'm sure."
"But these stones have caused nothing but problems."
"But they're gnarly!" Joby said.
Somewhere outside, the splitting crackle of thunder echoed.
"Will you stop that before you kill somebody?" Evan said.
"Really!" Oliver added. "You can't see where you're aiming!"
Joby seemed to shrink. "Oh, right... Whoopsy!"
Samantha laughed.
The professor snickered some himself. "Besides, Isis will be coming with us. Just as a safety precaution. I'm sure this will be a fun experience for all of us!"
He still doesn't know Isis isn't a real cop, Evan realized. Should I say something?
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