by C. M. Boers
I tried to think of something to say to change the subject, but nothing came to me. The silence was as loud as bongo drums in my ears. I kept my eyes off of Eli for as long as I could. I looked at my watch, 2 p.m. I had to be to work in two hours. I looked at the sky, watching a bluebird pass by. I wondered what he was thinking, so I snuck a peek at him only to find him staring right back at me. I almost jumped.
“How are you Abby? I know the past week must have been hard to for you to take in,” he questioned.
I was beginning to feel better about everything even though there were still mysteries that would only take time to uncover. With Eli by my side I knew I shouldn’t have to worry about it. He would know the right moment to reveal everything to me.
“Really Eli, I am doing a lot better than I thought I would be. Once I got past the lying factor—which I still am a little upset about by the way—I realized that you wouldn’t intentionally hide things from me if you didn’t have a choice. I wasn’t fair before when I wouldn’t speak to you. I’m sorry.”
He took my chin and lifted it to face him for the second time. “Don’t be sorry, these issues are not things that most people have to face. You are doing just fine. Okay?”
I nodded.
He released my chin and stood up. “Well, it’s getting late, and we should head back so we can get you to work on time.”
He stuck out his hand and helped me to my feet before we walked to his car. His arm brushed mine occasionally as we walked, and it sent a shiver up through my body each and every time. What was happening? I had never even thought of him like that and now my own body was betraying me. I couldn’t stop thinking about him that way. He was so amazing. I always knew that, so what had changed?
At the car, I shrugged out of my jacket and handed it to Eli to put back in the trunk for the ride home. He grabbed two water bottles out of the backpack as I took one last look around the lake. I sighed and climbed in, wishing I didn’t have to be back for work. The trip to the lake had been exactly what I needed. I couldn’t wait to come back, and hoped to make it a regular occurrence.
We rode home with the top down, enjoying the sights without anything blocking our view. Convertibles were definitely my kind of car. I would love to have one for myself, but I didn’t know if I would have enough money for one of those cars. Maybe when I got older.
“What kind of car do you want to buy?” he asked, almost as if he knew what I had been thinking.
“I was just thinking about that! It would be nice to have a convertible,” I grinned at him. “But I don’t think that will be quite in my price range.”
“You never know!” he said encouragingly.
Eli was kind enough to bring me home, wait for me to change, and then drive me to work. He was off today, but that didn’t stop him from coming in and enjoying some pizza while I worked and waited on him.
“Hey Abby, you want me to come back and drive you home?” he asked as he headed out the door.
“Nah, that’s okay, I’ll just walk, thanks Eli!” I said graciously.
“Okay, call me if you need anything…anything at all, okay?”
I could tell he was trying to push the point. “I will. Promise.”
It was 6:45 and I was going to be off work at 9:30, but for some reason time moved as slow as a snail and there weren’t many customers to help it speed by. I was given the job of deep cleaning the booths and chairs around the restaurant, and I finished the last red booth in the dining area just before it was time to leave. Since there were still no customers my boss told me to go home 10 minutes early. I walked home at a quick pace, passing other pedestrians, and made it in record time.
My mom was sitting in the living room eating popcorn and reading a book.
“Hi mom,” I said as I plopped down on the couch next to her, digging my whole hand into the popcorn.
“Hey honey, how was work?” she asked with a mouthful of popcorn.
“It was long. I had to deep clean the booths because we were slow. I’m beat. I’m going to go to bed. See ya tomorrow,” I called over my shoulder as I walked out of the room.
“Alright, sleep tight,” she responded.
After a full day of being at the lake and working, I was relieved that the day was over. I had enjoyed myself, but I was glad to be able to go home and go to bed. I took a long, steamy shower, and my muscles relaxed as the hot water cascaded down from my shoulders to the tile shower floor. My worries melted away. I spent longer in the shower than I had planned.
I curled up in bed, content with the world around me for at least that moment in time, hopeful for what tomorrow would bring.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Sunday morning came bright and sunny through my window. The smell of maple and fresh oranges made its way to my bedroom. My phone said it was almost 9:15 in the morning, and there was a text already waiting for me. It was from Eli.
I hope you don't have plans, we aren't working today!
I smiled at the text. I didn’t have any plans, other than studying for the two tests I had the following week.
I texted him back right away. No plans, have to study tonight. What did you have in mind?
I chose to be lazy and went downstairs to eat breakfast in my pajamas. I padded down the stairs in my fuzzy red pajama pants, plain black spaghetti strap tank top, and cheetah slippers.
Mom was sitting at the kitchen counter reading the newspaper, sipping her coffee. She had a piping hot bowl of maple oatmeal in front of her.
“Morning,” I said.
“Morning,” she mumbled.
There was already a bowl of oatmeal cooling on the counter next to my mom for me, as well as a tall glass of fresh squeezed orange juice. Mom was not in a talkative mood and seemed very interested in her Sunday newspaper, so breakfast was quiet. I ate and headed back upstairs to change for the day.
I checked my phone as soon as I got upstairs and there was a message waiting. I expected it to be Eli, but it was Bailey.
Hey, do you have plans this weekend? Want to have a sleepover? I'm off Friday!
The prospect of girl time sounded amazing. I responded immediately.
Absolutely, just so happens I'm off too!
I didn’t even bother checking with my mom. Normally she wouldn’t have a problem with it anyway, but lately she had seemed pretty uninterested in things that were happening with me. It was different for her to be so distracted, but I figured it was her trying to give me a little freedom. I had been so busy that I didn’t even have a chance to miss her. Thinking about it gave me pangs of sadness. Our once-close relationship seemed to be dissolving before our eyes. I knew that it was something that would eventually happen as I ventured out into my own life, but I hadn’t realized it would be so soon. Maybe she had been busying herself so that I wouldn’t feel badly. Either way, I was glad that she seemed to understand exactly what I needed, even before I did. I was enjoying my freedom more than ever before.
My phone buzzed from across the room. It was Eli.
Downstairs…
He was here? Yikes, I wasn’t even dressed yet. I threw on the first outfit I had been contemplating, and hustled downstairs just as the doorbell rang.
“Hey Abby, I brought over some movies, how about a movie day?” Eli asked.
“Sure,” I said, ushering him into the living room.
He handed me the stack of movies, and all of them were ones I liked. I put in a comedy first. We lounged together on the couch. It was a satisfying feeling being able to just put my feet up without a care on my mind until I noticed Eli was being unusually quiet.
“Is something wrong?” I asked, suddenly concerned.
“No nothing,” he answered, but he wouldn’t look at me.
“Seriously, what’s wrong?” I persisted knowing full well he had something on his mind.
“I might have to go away for a few days,” he admitted.
“For what?” I squeaked.
“Pete is… is causing some problems,�
�� he paused. “I didn’t want to tell you before because you were already so overwhelmed. I didn’t tell you everything about Pete. The truth is Pete and my family go back a long time. He used to be a Protector. He is one of the rebels I was talking about. They are always causing problems for those of us that have chosen to uphold our end of the deal. Like for example, when he realized that messing with you would mess with me,” he stopped and looked at me.
I couldn’t be sure what my face portrayed, but I had a really bad feeling that I wasn’t going to like where the conversation was leading. “Go on,” I said.
“The original story I told you about Pete was a lie. I’m sorry to have lied. In order for a person to be shunned you have to blatantly ignore your assignment and not protect them when they need you, therefore allowing them to be hurt or possibly be killed.”
“And in Pete’s case?” I asked, already regretting the words the minute they were out of my mouth. Why did I want to know that? Well, the truth was, I didn’t want to. I needed to.
“He let his assignment be killed,” he said slowly.
“Oh my gosh!” I felt like I was going to be sick. I kissed that disgusting person.
“I’m sorry—you shouldn’t be a part of any of this. I made up the other story about the fight and the disappearance. I hoped that maybe you’d stay away if you thought he was bad news. Then, the last confrontation with him I hoped that he would leave town and move on with his life, but it turns out he only went away to return with help.”
“Help? Help with what?” I asked.
“I’m not exactly sure what he’s planning, but I know that he’s devising something to get even. He's angry.”
“So where do you have to go?”
“I have to go talk to the elders. I need help. I can’t protect you and go up against Pete and whoever he has gotten to help him,” he answered mournfully.
“Eli, I’m fine!” My protests came out louder than I had anticipated. I hoped my mom wasn’t paying attention. I was frustrated that I was feeling like the damsel in distress all over again. It made me feel so uncomfortable and helpless.
“I have been taking care of myself for longer than I have known you!” I didn’t mean to appear so angry towards him, but I couldn’t help how I was feeling.
“Abby, calm down. I’m sorry this is a problem at all. I am handling it. I won’t let anything happen to you. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yes, but that’s not what I want. I don’t want you risking you’re life for mine…” My voice trailed off unintentionally.
“I’m not risking my life.”
“Of course you are. Every time you come to my rescue,” I said sincerely.
“Abby, I didn’t tell you this earlier either, I’m not sure how you will handle it. But I can't die.” He waited, letting it sink in. “Do you understand?” he asked finally.
He couldn’t die? What does that even mean? Everyone dies; that was life. Thinking that I knew enough about this unique situation had been so completely wrong. I should have been asking so many more questions. Maybe if I had there wouldn’t continue to be surprises.
“You can’t die? What does that make you? Like immortal?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said carefully.
It was a good thing I was already sitting down, because I might have gone weak in the knees. My best friend would live for thousands of years. He would watch me grow old and die, just as everyone else he became close to. Forever. It wasn’t the way things were supposed to work.
“I’m sure that you are going through a list of all the things that you think you know about immortals, but I bet that there are a few things that aren’t really true when it comes to Protectors. Our lives are extended because we serve to protect. It is a gift that is given in order to help us to serve without failing. If we should choose to stop serving, our lives still continue to be extended, but you can no longer consider yourself immortal. We live longer, but we can die just as anyone else. Depending on your history, the elders will determine how much of the gifts you will continue to receive or if you will be stripped of them immediately, but ultimately you will no longer be immortal.
“What about aging?” I wondered out loud.
“I age, but at a much slower rate. I spent my childhood progressing normally. That doesn’t change until the first assignment. You, I guess. I think the elders typically wait until the person is 18 years old before giving the first assignment. So from now on I probably won’t seem like I’m aging,” he shrugged. “Aging is so subtle as it is, but when you are like me, a person may not look like they have aged more than a year in your whole lifetime,” he said sadly.
“Oh,” I said with an apprehensive tone.
“Abby, please tell me what you are thinking,” he said.
“My best friend is going to watch me get old and die. I don’t really know what to think at this point!” I felt exasperated and tired.
“It’s not fair is it?” he said softly.
“No it’s not,” I said.
He leaned over and put his arm around me. It felt good to be under his arm. There was nowhere else in the world I would rather be than safely in his arms. I didn’t know if that close of a relationship was even allowed by his ‘guidelines’ from the elders, but in that moment it didn’t matter.
When my senses came to me, I pulled away. I couldn’t let myself get wrapped up in him. Ever since our awkward moment at the lake, I had been thinking about Eli in a whole new way. Just having those thoughts swirl around my brain was a risk to our friendship. I had to get past it, and quick. I was not willing to put what we had in jeopardy. Heck, I didn’t even know if he felt that way about me. In fact, I doubted it. He was only as close as he was to me because he had to be.
He was looking at me with an almost pained expression.
“I’m fine,” I said. “It's just a lot to take in, kind of surreal.”
“I know,” was all he responded. He sat back against the couch with his shoulders slumped in a defeated position.
“Hey, let’s go out for lunch,” I suggested.
It wasn’t until then that we noticed the movie had ended and the credits were streaming across the screen.
“Yikes! We missed the last half of the movie!” he said laughing. “Where do you want to go?”
I laughed along with him.
“Know any good places? I haven’t been to many new ones.”
“I know a good burger place. How do burgers sound?” he asked.
It had been a while since I had a burger, especially a good one. “Sure, that actually sounds really good.”
After checking with my mom to make sure it was okay, we took off.
The restaurant was less than 10 minutes away, set back from the road. If I passed it driving down the road, I probably would have never seen it. At first glance, it wasn’t much to look at, but on the inside it was very cute and full of 50’s theme decorations. Red cushioned booths lined the restaurant walls, as well as cushioned seats at tables in the middle. There was a bar that you could sit at just like they had back in the 50’s. People around us were deep in conversations, while sipping chocolate shakes and devouring huge bites of giant cheeseburgers.
We sat ourselves in a corner booth that wasn’t relatively close to any other people. We quickly browsed through the short menu. I decided to have a single cheeseburger with an order of cheese fries and a chocolate shake. As I waited, I browsed the menu further. There were definitely other dishes I wanted to come back and try.
When the waitress came over, she seemed extra interested in pleasing Eli. She had long straight blonde hair, with alluring blue eyes. She would be a catch to any guy. You could tell she was active by her super thin, toned body. She pretty much ignored that I was even there other than to take my order. I tried to push away my irritation that she was practically hanging all over him. Eli ordered a double cheeseburger with onion rings and a soda. After the waitress took our orders she flirtatiously bounced away, casting a look
back at Eli. Honestly, could she make it any more obvious?
“Well, she was sure interested in you, wasn’t she?” I teased once she was out of earshot.
“What? I didn’t even notice,” he said, looking after her with a surprised expression.
Typical guy! Completely clueless, unless you smacked them on the forehead with a note saying ‘I like you.’ I certainly didn’t understand how oblivious guys could be; I think her interest in him had been obvious to everyone in the restaurant.
I thought for a moment, trying to change the subject. I thought about our conversation at my house. I couldn’t believe I had actually gone a whole 10 minutes without thinking about the big mess I called my life. I became even more curious about it after everything I had just learned. He said he would tell me what I wanted to know if I asked, right?
“So can I ask you another question?” I asked cautiously.
“You don’t even have to ask me, you know? I’m an open book. Just ask! Besides, I’m guessing you have more than one question,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Okay,” I blushed. What was wrong with me? Why was I blushing? “How long do you plan on doing this?”
“Doing what exactly?” he asked confused.
“You know,” I answered shyly. “Being a Protector. You said you could choose when to stop, I was just wondering if you ever thought about it, you know? I mean stopping.” The word ‘Protector’ still felt foreign in my mouth.
“Oh, I don’t know. I guess it just depends on how things go. I guess I haven’t given it much thought. It’s still all pretty new to me too.”
It seemed so simple coming from his mouth, but it couldn’t be that simple, could it?
“What do you think Pete is going to do?” I asked, knowing I had already asked him that very same question. But my mind was struggling to grasp everything that was so not normal. That was normal, right? It seemed to me that normal had gone out the window a long time ago.