EMIT (THE EMIT SAGA)

by Barbara Cross

  In the living room, there was a door on the left that led to the kitchen and on the right was the den/library that also functioned as the guest room. At the end of the living room was the dining room that also had an entrance into the kitchen.

  Upstairs there were three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The third bedroom was changed to Dad’s office after Martin got his own place.

  Mom had dinner plans with a friend in the Village, so I was on my own. When Grace and Daphne called, I invited them over. I didn’t want them to think I’d turned into Eden and had ditched them for a guy. About five minutes after Mom left, the house phone started ringing, but since all my friends called on my cell, I ignored it. Then I thought it might be Dad, so I checked the caller ID, and saw it was a private number. When the answering machine picked up, the caller hung up, so it had to be a telemarketer. It must be hard being one these days since everyone screened their calls and didn’t pick up for strange or unknown numbers.

  After getting my laptop from upstairs, I put music on in the living room and chatted with friends on Facebook while I waited for the girls to arrive.

  Mom decorated our apartment in a French-style. Honeymooning in the South of France, she fell in love with Provence. She blended what she saw with some of her own ideas, so our apartment was both eclectic and very European. Aunt Cecile helped Mom pull her vision together. The look was rustic, old-world with a warm and casual feel.

  The living room couches were covered in pale yellow toile fabrics and the chairs and pillows were covered in red and green plaids, checks, and stripes. It was warm, cozy and casual.

  When Lily called, I told her that Daniel was coming with us to the block party.

  “I’ll stay home, so you can go with him alone,” she offered.

  “No way. You’re coming too.”

  Grace and Daphne finally arrived and although I wanted to watch a movie, they only wanted to talk about Daniel.

  “Do you like him?” Grace wouldn’t let up.

  “Yes, I told you I did,” I moaned, wishing I hadn’t invited them since I was now getting tired of the conversation. “The problem is I think he’ll be leaving soon, so I doubt anything will come of it.” I already felt insecure about Daniel and all their questions started making me feel worse. I asked them to watch the movie and to stop talking about Daniel.

  The house phone rang at least five times but no one ever left a message.

  

  Wednesday morning, I started reading a poetry book, but I needed some fresh air, so I went for a jog in Riverside Park.

  When I got out of the shower, the house phone started ringing. Caller ID showed it was an unknown number, but when the answering machine picked up, they hung up. It rang again and the same thing happened. When it rang again, I silenced the ringer and went up to my bedroom.

  I picked up the poetry book again and found a poem by Lord Byron.

  THEY SAY THAT HOPE IS HAPPINESS

  Félix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas. –Virgil

  They say that Hope is happiness—

  But genuine Love must prize the past;

  And Mem’ry wakes the thoughts that bless:

  They rose the first – they set the last.

  And all that mem’ry loves the most

  Was once our only hope to be:

  And all that hope adored and lost

  Hath melted into memory.

  Alas! It is delusion all—

  The future cheats us from afar:

  Nor can we be what we recall,

  Nor dare we think on what we are.

  First I needed to find out what the line by Virgil meant and who Virgil was. After Googling him, I found out that Virgil was a classical Roman poet and the sentence, translated from Latin, meant: ‘Happy is he who has been able to learn the causes of things.’

  There are things that happen in life that have no explanations. The last paragraph made me

  think about the future. As you get older, your opinions and beliefs change and the person you were in your youth becomes just a memory just like the poem alleges.

  After some nonstop reading, I felt I’d accomplished something.

  Just as Mom got home, Amber began whimpering at the door. Needing some fresh air myself, I took her out. It had been cloudy all day, but now the skies were clearing up. Hopefully, the block party would be a success. Daniel called and said he was stuck in a meeting on Wall Street. He asked for the address and said he’d meet me there.

  As I reached my building, I noticed a strange man across the street waving and motioning for me to come over. Having no idea who he was, I quickly went inside.

  When Lily and I got to the elevator to leave, I realized I forgot my cell so I ran back to get it. Mom was standing in front of the answering machine and looked confused.

  “The phone didn’t ring, but the machine answered and a message.

  “Sorry, I turned the ringer off. The phone kept ringing and I was trying to read.”

  “Who was it?”

  “No one ever left a message and caller ID said it was an unknown caller. It was probably some telemarketer. Bye Mom, love you.”

  We got to 85th Street and there were people everywhere. After wandering, we eventually spotted Daphne and Grace near the stage talking to Eden and Paul. The band was so loud that I could barely hear anybody.

  Eden yelled, “There are three bands. This is the first one. Chad’s band is next.”

  I noticed Billy, Eden’s older brother, standing nearby. He attended Boston University and would be a sophomore in the fall. In high school, he was known as a player. He was rarely home when I visited her and if he was, he ignored us. In school, whenever I said hello, he’d look at me like he had no idea who I was. It was so embarrassing that I stopped acknowledging him.

  I saw Billy approach and figured he’d dismiss me as usual. “Hi, Paige, how are you? Long time no see,” he said and gave me a hug.

  “Oh, hi,” I stammered, while glancing over at Lily with a confused expression. Daphne and Grace, emboldened by the fact that Billy was friendly for once, pounced on him. No wonder he had a lot of girlfriends, they were completely mesmerized by him. I turned my attention to watching the first band and wondered when Daniel would get there.

  Chad walked over to Billy smiling. “Hey, Billy thanks for coming.” Chad noticed Lily, so I introduced them and they started talking. I couldn’t hear what they were saying. When they turned to look at the band, their hair was almost the same length, falling just to their shoulders. They really had a lot in common since they both loved music and played guitar,

  When Chad left, Lily nudged me smiling. Daphne, Grace and Lily moved closer to the stage, but I wanted to stay where Daniel could find me. As I watched the first band, I saw Evan and Josie walking together near the stage. Daphne saw them too because she started whispering to Grace and nodded in their direction. I was still hoping that Reed would like Josie.

  Billy started telling me about school and his summer job and it seemed like he was flirting with me, which was strange because I thought he had a girlfriend.

  “So what’s going on with you?” he asked. Before I could answer, a hand touched my back and I twirled around to find Daniel smiling at me. My back tingled and looking into his eyes, I wondered if he knew the effect he had on me. As I moved to make room for Daniel, I stumbled and he grabbed my arm.

  “Are you okay?” Daniel whispered in my ear. I could only manage a nod.

  At that moment, Evan and Josie walked by and they glared at me. Evan I understood, but what was Josie’s problem? She should’ve been happy that I was with somebody else. She must have seen the Facebook post that Reed and I were dating and now she hated me.

  I introduced Billy and Daniel, but Billy quickly left.

  Daniel joked, “I think you have an admirer.” When I said no way, Daniel just shook his head and smiled. The idea of Billy liking me seemed absurd.

  Chad’s band began playing and they were quite good. I recogniz
ed Nick Logan, but had no idea who the other three guys were.

  When they finished, Daphne and Grace came back and were excited to meet Daniel.

  Daphne whispered that she was upset that Evan came with Josie. I told her not to worry because they probably were just friends. Personally, I thought that he was too immature especially after his stupid stunt with Reed’s Facebook page.

  Chad returned to where we were and resumed talking to Lily. He glanced over at Daniel and I wondered if he knew that his brother liked me.

  As soon as the third band, a screamo band, started all conversations stopped because the noise was deafening. I expected the police to come and shut them down. We were standing too close to the speakers and when my ears started to ring, I asked Daniel to move further away. I leaned on a fire hydrant and I noticed a man staring at me from the other side of the street. He looked like the man who had motioned to me near my building. Instead of watching the band, he was watching me and he looked really angry.

  I got freaked out so I shuffled behind Daniel. When I looked again, I saw the man walking away. He must have confused me with someone else.

  Daniel glanced over and mouthed, “You okay?” I smiled and nodded. When the band stopped playing, I waved to Lily and pointed that we should leave. Chad took out his cell and it looked like Lily was giving him her number.

  As the three of us squeezed through the crowd, I saw Daphne talking to Evan and Josie.

  Daniel wanted to walk us all the way to 69th Street, but I wouldn’t let him. He’d have to walk back up to 72nd Street and that made no sense. When we got to his street, Daniel left us and insisted that I called when we got home.

  Lily immediately started talking about Chad and I got a weird feeling that we were being followed. I kept turning around, but had no idea where to look. There were people everywhere.

  When we got inside, I called Daniel. “Okay, we made it home alive.”

  “Great. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  I walked in the kitchen to get a glass of water and Mom said she was taking Amber for a walk. As soon as she left the house phone rang. I reached to get the phone, but it was missing from the base. I heard the answering machine pick up and it was another hang up.

  6. PHOTOGRAPH

  “Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” Einstein

  Lily and I walked to work and hoped it wouldn’t rain since we both forgot our umbrellas.

  I spend most of the day filing, which was a little better than marathon photocopying.

  At the end of the day, I walked home through the park. It had only been three weeks since I first saw Daniel, but now it seemed like he’d always been a part of my life.

  Suddenly, I felt somebody grab me. “Oh my God!” I screamed and turned sideways.

  Daphne was standing there laughing, thrilled by her ambush. “You were in a trance.”

  “You scared me to death.”

  “Thinking about anybody I know?” she asked.

  “Daphne, please stop,” I begged. “So what happened with Evan last night?”

  Daphne got excited and said, “You were right. Nothing’s going on between them. Josie called Evan and asked him to go with her."

  "I figured as much."

  "As we stood there talking, Nick Logan walked over, and Josie started flirting like crazy. They ended up leaving together and Evan walked me home.”

  “Good, I’m glad. They were really weird last night. When they passed me, they both gave me the dirtiest looks.”

  “Evan I get, but why would Josie?”

  “I have no idea. She obviously has an issue with me.”

  When we reached my street, we said goodbye and made plans to talk later.

  I entered the apartment and put the file on the table. Dad was talking on the phone in the den and waved at me as I passed.

  I sat on the couch and waited for him. My head started spinning, so I closed my eyes.

  “Hi Buttercup.”

  His voice woke me up and I said groggily, “Hi Dad. I can’t believe I fell asleep. How was your trip?”

  “Good, but I might have to go back next week.” Dad began explaining something about some corporations, but I had no idea what he was talking about.

  “Are we still going to Grammy’s this weekend?” I asked when he was done.

  “Yes, I’m taking tomorrow off, so we’ll leave late morning and miss the traffic.”

  “Sounds great to me,” I said happily. “I left a file that Sonia said you needed in the foyer.”

  I went in the kitchen and asked Mom if she needed any help.

  “Just set the table,” she said and handed me the plates.

  Mom had made a caprese salad and some shrimp kabobs over rice. It all looked delicious, but I started feeling queasy and just played with my food.

  “Are you okay?” Mom asked when I put my hands to my temples.

  “I have a headache.” I started feeling dizzy. “Maybe, it’s the heat.”

  “Go lie down. I’ll bring you some medicine.”

  The medication worked and feeling better, I wrote a song called ‘I Want to Tell You.’

  I want to tell you all my feelings

  I want to tell you everything

  But I’m worried that my honesty might make you run away.

  What if you can’t handle what I’m saying

  And you can’t stand to be around me

  If it creeps you out will you stay around or will you leave me

  Be great if you felt the same way but what if you don’t

  Will I just end up with more pain

  I’m scared that I love you

  I’m scared of wrecking our friendship

  I’m scared of sabotaging everything we have

  I’m scared that I love you and that I’m afraid to tell you

  I’m scared you’ll disappear once again.

  I’m sure you’re the one I’m meant to be with

  I can’t stop how I feel for you

  Are you capable of loving me or is this just crazy?

  I’m sure you love me as a friend.

  Is it something more to you too?

  I’m hoping you love me too and that you’re not afraid.

  Be great if you felt the same way but what if you don’t

  Will I just end up with more pain?

  I’m scared that I love you

  I’m scared of wrecking our friendship

  I’m scared of sabotaging everything we have

  I’m scared that I love you and that I’m afraid to tell you

  I’m scared you’ll disappear once again.

  After I finished the song, I stared at the ceiling wondering how Daniel felt about me. I heard a buzzing noise and realized it was my cell. I forgot to turn it on when I left work.

  “Are you sitting down?” Lily asked excitedly.

  “Yeah, what’s up?” I said and got back on the bed.

  “You won’t believe this, but Daniel was in Paris last summer. I have a picture of all three of us on the Eiffel Tower,” she shrieked.

  For a minute, it didn’t register. “What are you talking about?” I said stunned.

  “I was working on my scrapbook and found a photo of him standing behind us. I emailed it to you.”

  I went to my computer and sure enough it was him. He was standing sideways talking to a girl. I could only see her back. She had long brown hair and had on wooden bangle bracelets.

  “I can’t believe it.”

  “All this time, I thought you were stalking him, but he’s been stalking you.” She laughed and said, “I’m obviously kidding.”

  “I know. I’m going to look through my photos. I’ll call you back.”

  I grabbed my photo box under my bed and started searching. Sadly, my pictures had no Daniel in them. At least, we had one. Daniel and I had another thing in common, Paris. I couldn’t wait to tell him.

  When Mom came in to say goodnight, I showed her the photo. “What a small world,” she muttered,
as she walked out.

  I wanted to call Daniel, but felt funny. All of a sudden, as if on cue, my cell rang and it was him. “I was just thinking of calling you,” I confessed.

  “You can call me anytime.”

  “You were in Paris last August, right?” I began.

  “Yes, how did you know?” he asked.

  “We were there for Lily’s birthday and she found a photo of you standing behind us on the Eiffel Tower. We were destined to meet,” I said and quickly got embarrassed by my comment.

  “Yes, I guess we were. I was vacationing with some friends,” he said. “I’d love to see the picture. Can you email it to me at DanielHaydin@mail.com?”

  “Sure. I’ll do it right now.” I had his email!

  He opened it and said, “It’s definitely me.”

  We talked about France for a bit and then Daniel asked, “Are you around this weekend?”

  “No, we’re going to my grandmother’s on Long Island.” I loved going to Long Island, but now with Daniel in the city I wanted to be in both places at once.

  “Have fun. I’ll call you next week. Maybe we can do something.”

  “I’d like that,” I admitted. I printed the photo and put it in my bag. That way, I would have him with me at all times. I took out my journal and wrote about the block party and the photo.

  

  A crazy dream woke me at six o’clock. I couldn’t remember it, except that I was scared. My headache was back, so I grabbed the medicine and reached for my water bottle, but it was empty. I went downstairs and found my parents talking at the kitchen table.

  A call from France woke them around five o’clock and they weren’t able to fall back asleep.

  Thank goodness, I had put my house phone in my bedroom on silent mode.

  A new secretary had called, having forgotten about the time difference. Dad called her a flibbertigibbet, his favorite word for incompetent people. The secretary told Dad that she found some files he left behind. Dad asked her to overnight the files to the New York office and said he wasn’t missing anything. He had no idea what she was talking about.