by Bryna Butler
Chapter 8: Christmas Break
The last day of school before Christmas break seemed to last an eternity. The whole gang ate lunch together in the commons and finalized their plans for some Christmas shopping at the mall after school. William could only fit five in his extended cab pickup, so Brooke said she would just meet them there. Those that were riding with William decided to meet at the fountain right after the last bell. The mall was an hour’s drive each way, so timing was important.
Classes were simple since no new lessons could be started. The holidays were on everyone’s minds. Keira sat in her last class, with her arms folded on her desk as she stared at the clock’s hands. Jumper and Ann held hands between their desks as the elderly Mrs. Cannon hummed Silent Night and handed out graded economics term papers. William started an impromptu three-on-three basketball game in the final minutes of gym class. Brooke was in the bathroom, refreshing her hair and touching up her lips with candy cane lip gloss. Colby finished writing his Christmas break reading list.
Finally the bell rang. A simultaneous “Yes!” rang out from the entire student body and faculty. The classrooms emptied into the hall. The crowd moved quickly outside and spread like lava leaking from an active volcano. In the student parking lot, car radios blared and horns honked marking the mass exodus to freedom.
Ann, William, and Colby were the first to arrive at the fountain. Ann pulled on her gloves as William buttoned up his letterman jacket. Colby, outfitted in a parka appropriate for an Alaskan expedition, paced back and forth in front of the group. Jumper arrived shortly after William fastened his last button. He met Ann with a quick kiss. Lastly, as always, Keira arrived. She twirled and leisurely bounced down the school steps toward her friends. Her face was glowing with the freedom of Christmas break.
Without so much as a glance at Keira, William ordered, “Let’s head out.” Being the only one with a driver’s license, William took the leadership role when it came to activities outside school. Today, he seemed more annoyed than usual by Keira’s inability to stick to the schedule. They would now be at the back of the pack fleeing from the student parking lot.
Still, they made good time and arrived in just under an hour. Once inside the mall’s food court, they met up with Brooke, completed their game plan and split up. Brooke and Colby headed to the anchor department store to look for a sweater and purse for Colby’s grandmother and a toy for his nephew. Ann and Jumper rode the escalator down to the jewelry store to get something flashy for her mother. Keira and William decided to head to the two-story music store for some browsing and holiday sales. The group decided to meet back in the food court at eight.
Brooke and Colby were two very determined people. Hand in hand, they quickly made their way out of sight. Ann and Jumper strode off, giggling, teasing each other about getting their feet caught in the escalator. That left Keira and William alone. They strolled slowly past the glittering storefronts, occasionally taking a moment to stop and gaze at a display.
Keira was particularly amazed by the display at a store called The Wheel, a wine and cheese shop. The window was dressed as the interior of an Old World vineyard main house on Christmas Eve. Dozens of tiny, mechanically-animated mice, outfitted in red and green scarves, hats, and mittens were cavorting among the wine barrels and cheese wheels. She spotted one skipping atop a wheel of cheddar cheese. Another was swinging on a garland of pine and holly. Six were ice skating on a frozen puddle of chardonnay from a knocked over bottle. There was even a little girl and boy mouse under the mistletoe. She could have stared at it for hours, but for some reason the display only seemed to make William more irritated. Before she knew it, he had wandered away. Keira ran a few steps to catch up. As she reached his side, they found themselves at the entrance to the music store.
“Is this where you wanted to go?” William asked looking at his watch impatiently.
“We don’t have to…I just thought…”
“Whatever.”
This mood was not acceptable to Keira. She resolved to cheer him up fast. Keira grabbed his collar with both hands and pulled him close enough that their noses touched. “What would you like for Christmas, little boy?” she asked suggestively.
“Stop it,” he said as he broke her grip and stepped back. “You know, I have other things that I could be doing right now.”
“Don’t let me keep you.”
“I didn’t mean…I just…You make me so…” he broke off. He did that shy thing where he shakes his head and looks at the ground.
“Don’t do that. Out with it.”
“Fine,” he said. “I’m done.”
“Okay, let’s go in the store then.”
“No,” William stopped. “I didn’t want it to be like this, but I’m done. I can’t do this anymore. I’m done with us.”
“Did I do something?”
“There are just too many secrets.”
“My secrets? I’ve never even been to your house.”
“What are you always training for? You’re getting stronger and faster, that’s not due to piano lessons. I’ve never even seen a piano in your house. And what’s with the whole Cinderella routine every night at midnight?”
“That’s nothing.”
“Oh yeah, and why did you tell the police that Colby was with us after the Halloween party.”
She shook her head. “I thought you were over that.”
“It’s just that you’re a…a…,” he couldn’t seem to get the words out. He wouldn’t let himself say it, so he dug deep in search of something that would hurt. “You’re just a freshman. You’re still a child.”
That was the last straw. Now, she was angry. “Why? Because I don’t care about the consequences when it comes to protecting my friends?”
“I just can’t believe that I didn’t really know you. I’ve been so blind and stupid.”
“That’s just an excuse. William, you know me. You know that what’s between us is real. I can’t believe you’re acting like this.”
“No, I thought I knew you, but I didn’t. Not really. And now the only thing that I’m sure of is that we can’t be together.”
“You have got to be kidding. Are you breaking up with me?”
“I think that I have to.”
Keira’s chin lowered for a fraction of a moment; then she held her head up high. “No strings. You want out, you’re out.” She turned on her heel and started into the store. She could hear William calling after, but he didn’t follow. She hurried to the back of the store until she could no longer hear him.
As she rounded the last row of racks, she almost fell over a particularly perky-looking, pony-tailed store employee who had knelt down to restock some low shelves. Keira stopped within inches of the focused worker and pretended to thumb through some CDs.
The girl popped to her feet. Her extra-large “Suzie” name tag shown like a smiley billboard on her chest. “Can I help you find anything? I love this band too. They are so delicious, am I right? Did you see the new posters we have for them up front; they’re buy one, get one,” she sang.
Keira didn’t even turn to look at her. She couldn’t. She wouldn’t. She was on the verge of tears and even something as slight as facing a human being would open the floodgates. She simply continued flipping through the CD jackets in silence.
After a few moments, Suzie shrugged and bounced to the next section where she spotted a confused-looking grandmother with a Christmas shopping list in hand. With the absence of Suzie’s super-perky aura, Keira was able to compose herself. She pulled out her phone and dialed Colby’s number.
Colby looked to see who it was before answering.
“No, Keira, I don’t want a Sweet Kick poster for Christmas,” he started without even a greeting.
Keira was startled. Did he see what happened? Was he in the store? As she debated this in her head, her silence lingered.
“Oh, didn’t you go to the music store? I saw a bogo ad for the posters on the store windo
w when we passed. I was sure that you were calling to tease me about it,” he admitted.
“Guess I missed that one. That would have been hilarious. Anyway, listen, William is really sick. It just came on suddenly. I’m thinking that it may have been something from the Food Court,” she lied. She told Colby that she was going to make sure William got home okay. Colby agreed and said that it would be no problem for the rest of them to find rides home later. Her voice was not its usual casual and teasing tone, but she was still convincing. She would not need to face her friends, at least not that evening. She ended the call and texted Nana for a ride home.