by Celeste Buie
“So far, around thirty. I’ll pick you up early. We’re leaving at 4 P.M.”
“I can’t wait.”
“Me either. See you tomorrow.”
• • •
Elyse came over around 3 P.M. Because she was the main organizer, she wanted us to be the first ones there. I made sure to text the address to one passenger in each car so they could GPS it in case we separated.
The rest of the gang arrived early, but we still didn’t leave on time. Elyse seemed to stall. Finally, she hesitantly announced it was time to leave.
I knew the ride out would be entertaining with her and Zach. We talked about teachers, ideas for Homecoming Week, and sang along to the radio. Elyse and Zach were the gossip twins. It was amazing how they knew so much about everything going on at school. Apparently, the pranks on teachers were in full swing. I didn’t know what genius thought of setting the clocks ten minutes ahead, because teachers only released us when the bell rang.
“Landon has a tattoo,” Zach announced during a conversation lull.
“A tattoo? Are you sure?” Elyse challenged. Behind her doubt was interest.
“Of course. I walked past him as he changed his shirt after gym. It’s a good-sized one between his shoulder blades.”
“What is it?” Elyse asked.
Elyse seemed astonished, but I cut her some slack. I would have been too if I hadn’t suspected Trevor also had a tattoo. What a bizarre coincidence they both had tattoos. This convinced me even more that Trevor really did want to hide the tattoo. This was yet another link connecting them, but this was one I didn’t need. I already knew they knew each other.
“Wasn’t close enough to see specifics and wasn’t going to ask him to let me look at it. It looked tribal, though.”
“How hot is that?” Elyse responded. I knew she was scheming a way to find out what it was.
I wondered how Trevor and Landon could decide what to have on their bodies forever. I wasn’t opposed to tattoos, but there were so many options to choose from and locations to place them. I didn’t feel strongly enough about anything to have it permanently drawn on my body. I had lots of interests, sure, and there were some really cool designs, but nothing I was truly passionate about. Perhaps if I had experienced something life-changing I’d feel different.
“Do you want to organize a pool party, Elyse?” I teased.
“That’s a great idea. Maybe we can rent out the community center?”
I rolled my eyes.
“I wonder what his parents do. Did you see his car?” Zach asked.
“Of course. He dresses really nice, too. Understated even. I think he likes Brynn,” Elyse said.
I cleared my throat and shot them a look, hoping they took the hint and shut up.
“Just sayin’. He’s intriguing. He’s cute. He’s new,” Elyse added.
“She doesn’t date boys in her grade,” Zach mocked.
“Okay, seriously, if you don’t stop I’m going to turn the radio so loud there will be no way to gossip about anyone.”
“Look who doesn’t want to talk about this,” Elyse teased.
They laughed and changed the subject.
• • •
Elyse turned into the Blake’s parking lot and drove to the far corner where there were plenty of open spots for the rest of our group. We waited in the car until they parked.
As soon as I opened my door, the familiar fragrance of fall hit me. I breathed in the crisp air, noting the cinnamon and sugar permeating the entire area. Gusts of wind pushed fallen leaves along the ground, and gravel crunched beneath our feet as we walked to the front entrance. Puffy white clouds intermittently covered the sun, temporarily dropping the temperature.
I spotted Landon standing by the ticket counter as we approached. It dawned on me that I’d found the reason Elyse stalled earlier.
“Did you invite him?” I asked her under my breath.
“Of course. Wouldn’t it be nice for him to make some friends? You agreed that he’s a normal guy, and he gets along great with the guys. It’s his last year of high school too, and he just moved here, so the more he socializes, the better.”
I gave her a warning look, not buying her innocent act. She quickly shook it off and gave him a welcoming smile. “Hey, Landon, glad you made it.”
“Thanks. Sorry I didn’t drive out with you. I had some errands to do out this way, and I wouldn’t have made it back in time. I should have thought to give you my number.”
“No problem. I figured you changed your mind.”
“Nah, you said I couldn’t miss this experience.”
“Hey, what’s up, man?” Zach greeted him.
“Good to see you, Zach.”
Now it was my turn. It wasn’t Landon’s fault Elyse was so pushy, but he was pretty pushy himself. “Hey,” I said, imagining sitting in close proximity to him the entire way out here.
“Hi, Brynn.”
We walked into a small red and white barn to purchase our tickets. They gave us orange wristbands that allowed access to the maze, petting farm, haunted house, and the haunted hayride at dusk.
The others caught up with us while we took turns posing for pictures to commemorate the last cider mill trip of high school. We walked through the small petting farm, feeding the goats and sheep. They had regular and floppy-eared rabbits in a large pen that came to the fence in search of handouts. We raced through the sprawling corn maze; the first person out didn’t have to chip in for donuts and cider. It had rained earlier that week, and the ground was still muddy. I would rather help pay than fall and be muddy the rest of the night. A few guys threw a football around to pass the time until the rest of our group found their way out.
We stood around a few picnic tables eating donuts and caramel apples, and drinking cider. We had to wait until the evening for the haunted hayride. Zach circulated, taking candid pictures for the yearbook as the sun set.
“Wow, it’s gotten really cold since the sun went down,” Elyse said, zipping her jacket all the way up and pulling her hood over her head.
I shivered. “Yeah, it has, and it’s windier too.” I hadn’t chosen my layers well enough.
Landon shrugged off his dark mocha suede coat and held it out for me. “Here, take mine.”
“Oh, no. You don’t have to do that.”
“I’ll get an extra one. Don’t be stubborn.”
I heard muffled giggles from my friends. I gritted my teeth and accepted his jacket. I slipped it on, grateful for the thick fleece lining. I adjusted the ends of the sleeves to better fit my wrists. It was still warm and smelled good. Really good. But I refused to focus on that.
He turned toward the parking lot and faded into the darkness.
In what seemed like a few seconds, he reappeared wearing a dark green jacket.
“That was fast,” I said. I was already warm. “Did you run or something? You’re not even out of breath.”
He gave me a smug half-smile and replied, “I ran or something.”
“You should try out for track. So, you’ve never really been to a cider mill?” I had overheard him mention that to Adrienne earlier.
He regarded me with interest and answered, “No. Places in New Mexico grow apples, but we didn’t have a cider mill like this. Same with where we lived in Texas.”
“Is it difficult to move around as much as you have?”
“It’s something you get used to. Has your family ever moved?”
“I’ve lived in Michigan all my life. My dad’s side has lived generations in Michigan, too, although we don’t talk about them much. I love to travel, though. My favorite place to go in the summer is—”
Elyse clapped her hands to capture everyone’s attention and yelled, “Hey, you guys! The hay ride is loading up!”
I gave him a tight smile. “I have to go claim a middle spot so no one can sneak up and grab me.”
He looked amused. “A little old to be afraid of the dark, don’t you think?”
“Just of what it can hide.”
“Understandable,” he muttered.
I couldn’t tell if he was mocking me or not. “It’s different if you can see what’s coming at you. At least that way, you’re prepared. It’s another thing when you’re blindsided.”
“So where is your favorite place to go in the summer?” he asked.
“The beach in Tawas.”
“A Michigan beach? Really?”
“Michigan has a lot of nice beaches.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“They’re beautiful. I even found this there.” I uncovered my wrist to show him the bracelet.
He stared at it a beat before saying, “It looks really special.”
“Are you going on the hay ride or not?”
“Right. Let’s go.”
Luckily for me, Elyse had already saved me a space next to her. There was enough space for Landon, too.
The hayride through the black orchard was one of the scariest I’d ever been on. Zombies stalked around the trailer and reached for us. A chainsaw started up in the distance, and blood-curdling screams filled the air. People ran through the darkness holding flashlights, randomly illuminating sections of trees. The crunching leaves betrayed their locations before they shined blinding lights on us. The driver pretended the tractor engine stalled while monsters hidden in the dark advanced on us. A few of them tried to pull themselves onto the trailer, while others tried to pull some of us off. Landon found too much amusement in my distress, and I scowled at him. I knew this was all staged, but it was hard not to get caught up in the moment.
At some point, the loose hay started flying around, and soon we had strands in our hair and covering our clothes.
“A few of us were thinking of going to the local diner for something to eat. Who’s in?” Lauren asked after it was over.
Elyse, Zach, and I looked at each other. “We are,” we said in unison, not wanting the fun to end.
“Us too!”
“And us!”
Our crowd began to dissipate. Landon finished up a conversation and walked past our group. We made eye contact as he slowed. “Are you going to the diner?” I asked.
“Can’t. Unfinished business.”
“Oh.” The disappointment in my voice startled me. “Let me give this back to you.” My hand flew up to unzip his fleece, but his hand touched my elbow and stopped me. The nearness of him froze me in place. I didn’t realize how close he was.
“No, stay warm. Return it Monday.”
I got lost in his eyes for a moment. “Thanks again.”
We piled into the car and drove the short distance to the center of town.
“Look who’s jacket Brynn’s wearing,” Zach taunted.
“It was so nice of him to give it to her,” Elyse agreed.
I didn’t say anything, but I agreed with Elyse.
“That was the best apple orchard trip we’ve had,” Zach said.
“Definitely. I can’t believe it’s our last one as high school students,” Elyse said.
I sighed. “It’s so sad. Can we plan to meet up every year and do this? It’s a tradition.”
“As long as one of us doesn’t pick a university across the country.”
“And even then, we can still share pictures. It’ll be the closest thing to being there.”
We pledged to stay in touch regardless of the distance between us, but part of me wondered if we would honor the promises after graduation. Once we left the confines of school and didn’t see each other daily, would the promises matter? When we settled into a new routine, would we value our old agreements?
I thought of Trevor and his lack of wanting to talk to me, how that had transformed into only talking when he wanted to. He only shared what he wanted to; it was all on his terms. I reflected on how much he’d changed this year, and how little remained of the old Trevor. How could he have become a shadow of someone I once knew so well? I refused to accept the new Trevor was permanent. I couldn’t accept it. It would be like saying it was okay. Maybe I was in denial of the truth in front of me.
One of my dad’s favorite quotes was “Facts speak truths,” and he would then follow up it with a life lesson he had learned the hard way. I usually half-heartedly listened because none of it applied to me. Or so I thought. Apparently some of it stuck. “We resist change if we hold onto things that no longer fit us, Brynn. Sometimes it’s due to not wanting to recognize it’s time to let go and move on, and sometimes it’s due to—”
The energetic chill I felt interrupted his phantom voice. I didn’t let it start again.
CHAPTER 14
I had my backpack slung over both shoulders and Landon’s jacket draped over my arm as I waited by his locker Monday morning.
Emilee slowed as she passed me, clearly irritated and debating with herself not to cause a scene.
Landon arrived a moment later, and I held it out for him. “Thanks again. You didn’t have to go out of your way like that.”
“What kind of guy would I be if I could help you, but chose not to?”
I nodded. “So, what did you think of the orchard?”
“It was fun. I see why so many people go each year.”
“It’s the ultimate fall activity. I go with my family each year too.”
He put the jacket in his locker, switched his books, and we headed off to class together.
“You mean go with your parents or your extended family?” he asked.
“With my parents and aunts and uncles and cousins on my mom’s side. We either meet for breakfast or go to lunch afterward. My family started the tradition, and I carried it over to my friends. What did you do with the rest of your weekend?”
“Spent it doing assignments. I helped my parents around the house too, patching and painting, that type of stuff.”
“It’s so much work,” I said. “Projects always take so much longer than we estimate. Stuff always goes wrong.”
“Yeah, it does. But we’re used to it now. We have a good routine.”
The day passed fast for a Monday, actually, which I welcomed because there weren’t too many things planned. Next week would be busier. Our first float-building party was next Tuesday after school, then another on Thursday evening. With any luck, we’d finish early and wouldn’t have to rush around Homecoming Week. There were fun activities scheduled during Spirit Week that I didn’t want to miss—specifically hall decorating and the powder puff game.
• • •
I felt the same presence as I had felt in the park on and off all weekend. It even came during the weeknights.
I decided to tell Elyse that I’d been feeling…something different lately. I had to tell someone, and she was the best person to confide in.
But it didn’t mean I wasn’t nervous about it.
My parents were both out of town on business, and while I was old enough to spend the night by myself, I still preferred Elyse to stay over. My parents did too.
We cleaned up the dishes from dinner, completed our homework, and settled in for some girl talk while our favorite movie, Pitch Perfect, played. We could barely hear it over the thunder rolling across the night sky and rain hitting the roof. The sporadic lightning lit the darkness. It was like a horror movie, except instead of cowering from a lunatic, I burrowed under my favorite blanket and waited for her reaction.
She studied me for a moment. “What are you saying? That you see ghosts?”
“I don’t actually see anyone. The best way I can describe it is it feels like there’s someone around…or watching me…every so often. It’s not a constant thing. Sometimes it’s only for a minute, sometimes I feel that I have an invisible shadow.”
“You’re my best friend in the world,” Elyse said. “It’s not that I don’t believe you. I just think you have so much going on right now that you’re a little stressed. Stress does weird things to people. You just may be hyper aware of your surroundings.”
I was quiet while I thought that over
. She had a way of looking at things from a few angles. “I don’t feel any more stressed than normal. What if that’s not it? What if I have this for the rest of my life and never know what it is?”
“You need to talk to a psychic or something. Let’s get some books on the famous ones. Don’t they always write about how it was for them growing up? You know, you could read their stories and see if what’s happening to you is similar to what they went through. And you could try to make contact or something.”
“You mean ask what it wants?”
“What are your other options?”
“Hope it goes away? Too bad I don’t have that feeling now, or I’d make you do it with me.” We both shivered at the thought of people being around us who we couldn’t see.
“Look on the bright side, if you really have this talent or gift or whatever, eventually I’ll be able to do a special on you. It will be all sentimental about how we’ve known each other forever and you confided in me and I supported you and all that wonderful stuff.”
“Glad to see you have the right perspective. Although I don’t know for sure that I’ll give you an exclusive.”
“Are you kidding me?! You had better give me an exclusive!”
“It has to be a pretty good offer.”
“Something you couldn’t turn down.”
“Exactly,” I said.
“Speaking of someone you can’t turn down, you and Landon are getting down-right chatty.”
I didn’t feel like talking about it, but there was no way to avoid it. Refusing to talk about him would only reinforce her opinion that I was into him. I couldn’t tell her the reason we were together so much, probably because what started off solely as an info-gathering mission had turned into something close to friendship, or at least that’s what it felt like. What happened was that it turned complicated, that’s what happened. I didn’t trust him, yet I liked him. There was a reason he was here, and I knew Trevor and him were into the same…whatever it was. And he had a purpose for being around me. Despite my reservations, I was drawn to him. “He’s…not what I expected.”
She gave me a knowing smile. “He seems like a really great guy.”