Watched (The Watched Series)

by Cindy M. Hogan

  “We’re going to have to hurry,” Summer said, her eyes piercing mine.

  “Ready?” Alex asked.

  “Ready,” I said, even though I wasn’t. I didn’t want him to let me go.

  My legs gave a little when I tried to stand, so Alex put his arm around me and helped me walk. I wouldn’t have to let him go just yet. We met up with our group right before going through the metal detectors. We were herded into a room where we separated to meet the pages we’d be working with in the Capitol building.

  Mine was Jackson Knight. His angular face and body emphasized his small frame and the short tuft of black hair on his head made him look cartoonish. Although nice, he talked a mile a minute and ran around just as fast. Time flashed by. We ran from here to there, made copies, got signatures, and even picked up lunch for some people. Between the meds and his speed, it was all a blur.

  Happy to get to the cafeteria at one o’clock for lunch, I looked for anyone in our group. Men in suits filled most tables and I could only see a few kids from our larger group of fifty sprinkled about. Jackson talked on his cell even while he ate. When I finished, he still talked, so I didn’t feel bad resting my head on the table for a quick nap.

  When I woke up, only a few people sat scattered here and there. I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again, trying to get my bearings. Where was I anyway? As it all came back to me, I looked for a clock. Four o’clock? No way. Why didn’t Jackson wake me up? I rubbed my eyes and then found a note on the table in front of me.

  It read,

  Call me at 345-375-7869 when you wake up. I’ll come and get you. You can’t leave the cafeteria without me.

  Call him? How? I didn’t have a phone. Two men sat together at a table not far from me. Did I dare ask them? At least with them, I would get twice the chance to use a phone. I took a deep breath and walked toward them, praying they would be nice and help me.

  “Excuse me,” I said. “Do either of you have a cell phone I could borrow? I seem to have lost my page.”

  The guy on the right with the big red nose and glasses, grinned at me, while the guy on the left openly laughed.

  They both reached for their phones and held them out for me to use. I took the phone from the guy on the left. I didn’t want to get sick. I dialed the number, but he didn’t answer. I left a message.

  “Hey Jackson, it’s Christy. Sorry I fell asleep on you. I’m awake now. Could you come and get me?” Then I hung up, handed the phone back, and walked to my table.

  While walking back, I noticed a man by a far wall hurry behind a pillar. I could have sworn it was that mean FBI guy that scowled at me while I was in the FBI building. I felt a chill go down my neck, but then the thought occurred to me that he was probably there to protect me.

  I waited and I waited. Jackson didn’t come and get me until five. I had read every piece of literature in the place, which included the ingredients on all the packaged items in the cafeteria. I had time to think about Alex and how unbelievable it was that I kept my cool being so close to him for so long. People filed in for dinner or a snack or something and the room got noisy again, nothing like lunch, but still crazy.

  “Man, you must’ve been pretty tired,” he said, when he arrived.

  “Guess so,” I said. “I’m really sorry.”

  “No big deal. You’ll never be a page anyway. I can tell just by looking at you.”

  “Really? What gave me away?”

  “Maybe it was how hard of a time you had keeping up with me today.”

  I laughed. “You’re just too fast. It was quite amazing watching you work. It was like you could be in two places at once.” I didn’t mention being on drugs.

  Now he laughed. “I’ve got to get you over to the question and answer session. We’re a bit late. By the way, what happened today, didn’t happen. I could get in a lot of trouble, and I’m sure it wouldn’t look very good for you either.”

  “I won’t say anything.”

  “Good.”

  The question and answer session was held in the room where we met our pages. Boring. Squished in the back, I could hardly hear. Other groups, not staying in our hotel, were in the room too, and I couldn’t see anyone from my mini group. I just leaned on the back wall and waited.

  After it ended, I stood in the lobby area by the metal detectors waiting for people from our group to come out of the session. I saw Kira first. She had attached herself to Rick. I moved back a bit further, hoping they wouldn’t see me. I wanted to find Alex and avoid getting trapped by anyone else. I couldn’t see him in the mass of people. I sort of hid behind a pillar and peeked out. Then I heard Rick’s voice on the other side of the pillar.

  “Look, Kira,” Rick said, “I do think you’re fun and all, but I’m not interested. I thought we agreed we’d just be friends. Why do you keep pushing this? Besides, isn’t it Alex you really like? You’re all over him every chance you get.”

  “I like you, too,” she said. “And I guess I still hoped we could be more.”

  “We won’t be.”

  My heart thudded. I shouldn’t eavesdrop, but for some reason I did. I couldn’t believe what I heard. Kira was so forward. I would never be that way. She was begging him to like her.

  “What about friends with benefits while we’re here?”

  “I’m not into that, Kira. . .Hey Eugene.”

  “Hey,” Eugene said. He must have joined them. “Amazing! They are so organized and efficient. Fascinating, really.”

  I spotted Alex coming out of the room with the last of the group. He, Summer and Josh were talking to a big group of kids and were very excited about something, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying. They high-fived each other and headed for the exit doors. I waited a few minutes and then looked around the pillar, Kira and Rick were gone. Last to climb on the bus, I had to sit in the only seat left, next to Eugene. Kira sat next to Rick and talked away. Wow. Persistent. I would’ve been hiding in shame if I’d been her, which I never would have been in the first place.

  Eugene told me all about his “interesting” day and I listened. He was so easy to please. I decided I should be easier to please. I would be a better person if I were. We headed to Georgetown for dinner.

  Cafés, restaurants, and bars lined M-Street and Georgetown teemed with young college kids getting a bite to eat or escaping school work. The air was filled with excitement and happiness, and I decided I’d run with the spark in the air and let it consume me. I would be happy tonight. Alex had carried me. It would be a good day.

  Long tables lined the restaurant for our large group. Mrs. J. motioned for us to sit at the far table. Rick sat on one side of me and Marybeth sat on the other. I looked around for Alex, and I saw him see me look at him, but didn’t stop looking. He walked around the table and was going to sit right across from me, but Mrs. J. sat down first, so he had to sit next to her, making him kiddy-corner from me. I looked down at the table and laughed to myself.

  No one could wait to tell about their hilarious experiences with their pages. I didn’t think my sleeping experience qualified. Eugene was the only one who found being a page a “fascinating job”. Everyone else talked about how relieved they were that they would never have to be a page. Their parents had influence and they would start their careers at a considerably higher level. They did, however, like having first-hand knowledge of what exactly a page did. Maybe so they’d know how to work ‘em to death.

  The restaurant became very crowded and loud by the time our food arrived. I inhaled my chicken parmesan, my own breadsticks and everyone else’s breadsticks. I was amazed at Kira’s ability to monopolize Rick at dinner, even after hearing what Rick had to say to her. I hardly spoke to him at all. Marybeth leaned into me at one point and whispered, “Guess what?”

  “What?”

  “Are you ready to die?”

  “Huh?”

  “When we walked out of the elevator at the hotel, dragging you along—”

  “Yeah.”
r />   “Alex was waiting, just inside the lobby. When he saw us supporting you, he hurried over and insisted on carrying you. Insisted, Christy.” Her eyes bugged out of her head.

  I glanced at Alex. He talked to Josh, who sat next to him. I had crazy butterflies in my stomach. Could he really like me, or was he just being nice when he carried me to the bus? Thinking about it tied my stomach in knots. No one ever liked me, especially not someone like Alex, beautiful Alex. My history had taught me that thoughts like these only led me to pain.

  The waitress brought around a dessert platter for all of us to check out. I told Marybeth I’d take ten crème brulees, and we laughed.

  “Just remember,” Mrs. J. said so all could hear, “dessert is extra. You pay for it yourself.”

  Crap. Money. I didn’t have any. No one had brought my wallet. I’d have to sit this one out. I quietly told the waitress I would pass. I wasn’t going to let it get me down. I had told myself I would enjoy the evening, so I would; Alex was nearby; there wouldn’t be a Whopper box, icy-blue eyes or girls from school to bully me. Not tonight. There would only be laughing and fun the rest of the evening. I could be in control of myself— rested, well fed and without any fears. For some reason, I felt a confidence I’d never felt before.

  I watched as everyone else got amazing desserts: chocolate molten lava cakes, cheesecakes, tortes and soufflés. I saw Alex get his, a crème brulee with blueberries. Heavenly. I watched him take the first bite out of the corner of my eye and imagined I had the brulee in front of me. Alex peeked sideways at me, too. My heart stopped, and there was no question of me looking away.

  Eugene talked incessantly to Mrs. J. and Marybeth, keeping their attention away from Alex and me. Josh and Summer picked at each other’s desserts. It almost felt like Alex and I were alone.

  He took a spoonful of his dessert and brought it slowly up to his mouth. I watched his every movement out of the corner of my eye. Then he stopped and moved the spoon toward me. I pretended not to be aware of it. He moved it around in circles and up and down until I let a laugh slip and looked at him full on.

  His too-perfect face pulled me in and made me weak all over. He pushed the spoon further in my direction, and I couldn’t help but move toward it. He had to partially stand to get it to reach me. I didn’t watch the spoon, I just watched him and he watched me. Somehow that spoon hit its mark and the creamy sweetness slid into my mouth.

  He smiled a fun smile, and I wished I knew what he was thinking. He pushed the dish in front of me and held out the spoon for me to take.

  I shook my head, but he nodded his. I couldn’t help it. I gave in. It wasn’t difficult. I took a few bites, enjoying each burst of flavor; and then I really went crazy and scooped some up and held it out for him to take.

  I didn’t do things like this—especially with boys. Would I be able to live with myself tomorrow? Was I being too forward? It felt great, though, and I’d promised myself not to listen to the little voice of self-doubt that kept me from really enjoying life. At least for tonight. Could something really happen between us?

  “It’s seven-thirty,” Mrs. J. said, “You have until eight-thirty to be back on the bus. Don’t be late.”

  I looked around and saw that we were only one of two groups from our tour that were still there. The other chaperones must have let their kids go already.

  “Stay in your group of eight,” Mrs. J. added.

  I looked back at Alex, but he was already walking out of the restaurant. Shoot. I finally get some real time with Alex and Mrs. J. puts a quick end to it. Outside, the guys started chasing each other down the sidewalk toward Georgetown University. I walked with Marybeth and Kira, taking in all the different smells and sounds around me while they chatted. The sidewalks were alive with all kinds of people and it was fun to weave through them, not caring what anyone thought.

  We caught up with the guys at an entrance to

  Georgetown University. I looked around. Not wanting to give into my fear, I started humming songs from my children’s classes at church; looking at all the stars, trying to wipe Iceman’s stare from my mind, when suddenly I realized I stood alone. Clouds moved in and hid the stars. It got dark.

  Hundreds of newly leafing trees cast eerie shadows in all directions. I felt a drop of cold sweat creep down my spine. Standing alone made it hard to ignore the cold. I took a deep breath and tried not to become frantic. Where had everyone gone so quickly? My legs felt like rubber, so I just stayed still. I didn’t want to worry, but I couldn’t help it. I wasn’t in control after all. Things controlled me. Had the terrorists taken my friends and were about to take me? My insides felt like jelly.

  To my left, I thought I saw movement and took a sharp breath in. I wanted to call out, but my throat was too dry. I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone watched me. Then, over my shoulder, I saw Josh and Summer. They sat together, partially hidden behind a big tree making out. From where I stood, I could just tell who it was. I had to chuckle softly after taking a deep breath. I hated that I’d become so paranoid, afraid to be alone, and raised my head to look at the stars again.

  A breeze flitted past as a hand grabbed mine. I screamed out, blood pumping through my veins. Rick bent over laughing and said, “Strung a little tight?”

  Without a thought, I drew my eyebrows together and said, “Rick! You scared the crap out of me.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.” He frowned. My heart still thundered. “I just wanted to show you something.” He beamed now, unable to hide his excitement. He put on a pouty face, and reached for my other hand and said, “Will you come with me? I really didn’t mean to scare you.” He breathed hard, smiling again.

  I snorted, flicked my head to the side and said, “Okay.” His warm hands clasped mine tight, sending a thrill through me. We walked away from Josh and Summer, and my heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t the only one nervous. Rick’s hand was sweaty, and I wanted to wipe my own.

  “Close your eyes,” he said, letting go of one of my hands.

  “Why? It’s dark,” I said.

  “I know, but you can still see. Just close ‘em.”

  I did and wondered if I’d done the right thing. He pulled me forward, and I could hear a rushing sound in front of us that got louder and louder, drowning out the sound of my shuffling feet. I wanted to peek, but closed my eyes tighter to avoid the temptation.

  “Almost there,” he said into my ear.

  We hadn’t gone very far when I felt a light mist hit my face and arms.

  “Okay, open your eyes,” he whispered.

  We stood right next to a large fountain, the water tumbling with such force that it created a halo of mist illuminated by the lights shining up from under the water.

  “Wow,” I said. “This is breathtaking.”

  “I thought so too, and I wanted to show it to you.”

  He stood close behind me. I could feel his breath on the back of my neck as he gently grabbed my hands in his and drew them up in front of me, wrapping his arms around me into a warm and solid hug. He brought his head down so that his chin rested on my shoulder and his cheek pressed against mine. Something fluttered low in my belly. We watched the water rush in silence, the flutter turning to a warmth that spread through my body. I’d never been hugged like that before.

  My heart not only pounded, it crashed, over and over into my ribcage. One part of me wanted to push him away, but it felt so good to have someone hold me. Even at home, I was almost never hugged. People just didn’t notice me because I always did what I was supposed to and was so quiet. I felt safe and secure with his arms wrapped around me. All the stiffness in my body disappeared and I let my back press snuggly against his chest. The smell of his cologne mixed with the mist in the air settled lightly over me. It felt so right to have him hold me.

  “Moments like this are rare,” he said.

  “They are,” I said, not realizing how he might take it.

  After a long time, he brought my arms to my sides in a
slow, even movement and let go of them for a few seconds as he moved around to face me. Then, he took my hands back into his and drew me close.

  It seemed my heart would soon crack my ribs, and I almost looked away from his intense gaze when he spoke.

  “I really like you, Christy. I was hoping we could maybe hang out the rest of this trip and see where things go.” He waited, his eyes intent on mine.

  My mind raced, and I couldn’t think of anything to say. I hadn’t expected this. Especially after over-hearing his conversation with Kira. The pause was a bit uncomfortable, but his eyes never left mine.

  “You knew I liked you, didn’t you?”

  “No,” I said in a small whisper. I scrunched up my face in embarrassment, not knowing whether to be happy or sad.

  He laughed and stepped back to look up to the darkened sky.

  “What about Kira?” I asked, grasping for straws.

  “What about her?” he asked.

  “She really likes you.”

  “She only likes me when there isn’t a better offer on the table. She smothers me.”

  I was shocked. I hadn’t heard him say anything bad about anyone and he never showed any dislike when around everyone else. He must have seen the surprise on my face because he added, “She’s a nice girl, don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t want her to think I didn’t like her as a friend, I do. I’m just not interested in her romantically.”

  There, he had said it. Romantically. He thought of me romantically. No way. I tingled all over. Someone, no not just someone: A truly hot boy liked me. ME! My chest burst into flames. Suddenly, I wanted to like him. Did I? I didn’t think so, but what was I feeling? It felt great. Less than an hour ago, he was nothing more than a great friend. I’d been attracted to Alex all along. Why was I feeling this way about Rick now? He was such a good guy, always doing the right things at the right time and saying the right things, too. Could I like him? Should I like him? I looked into the spray of the fountain, and he moved his head in front of mine and smiled sheepishly.