by Nikki Landis
Life continued its normal pace around me. The next week passed pretty much the same except for a couple of things. The paranoia was getting to me. Wherever I went I had the feeling that someone was watching me. I would hear noises. Sometimes I thought I saw something. Once, I could swear that I heard someone on my front porch but when I opened the door no one was there.
The other thing bothering me was the nightmares. For the third time in the last five days, I had awakened screaming. They left me breathless and scared. It was always the same dream. The same evil presence. The same mystery. The nightmare was even more vivid now than it had been the first time I dreamed it.
The result of all of this was that I was on edge. I was practically scared of my own shadow. I even jumped a few times. Emily and Mariah noticed and thought it had something to do with Kellen even though I told them it didn’t. Gran noticed but thought it had to do with my upcoming birthday. I felt silly confiding in anyone so I just kept it to myself.
So; I was edgy, jumpy, scared, and not sleeping well. What was going on? Why was this happening? I asked myself these questions over and over but I had no answers.
Chapter Three
“So, did you want to do anything special for your birthday tomorrow?” Gran’s question caught me off guard. I had been thinking about the nightmare again, not paying attention. March ninth had crept up on me. I looked up at her smiling and innocent expression. Too innocent. Uh oh.
“Gran,” I warned. She looked at me, carefully hiding any mischief she was up to.
I sighed. “Gran, I told you I didn’t want a big party or anything.” I gave her the look, the one that says ‘please don’t torture me.’
“You only turn eighteen once.” She shrugged. Gran thought she was so sly. She would find a way to make a celebration tomorrow no matter what I said. Oh well. I got up and got ready for school.
The morning started off fairly uneventful. English passed quickly. Economics was more than a little boring. When the bell rang to leave, I got up as usual, heading for the door. I walked out into the hall, pausing to adjust my backpack.
Just then one of those big football player guys was running like a madman and smacked right into me. I started to fall backward when someone caught me. I looked up, dazed. It was Kellen.
His arms were wrapped around my waist like steel cables and his breath was warm on my face and neck. The interesting part was the way he held me, close to his chest, cradling me like I was the most important person in the world. Why would he do that?
The football guy mumbled sorry and took off. I barely noticed. Kellen turned me around and stood me up on my feet. He shot a glare in the direction of that football jock, a tick in his jaw made me pause and look at him uncertainly. Then his eyes met mine.
“Are you all right?” He asked anxiously.
Was I? I was completely aware of several things all at once. His hands still at my waist. The heat of his breath so close to mine. The concern that seemed to tinge his voice. The anger that seemed to vibrate under the surface.
Why was he still holding me? Maybe he was afraid I was going to fall. I was a little afraid of that myself. I took a deep breath and exhaled. “I think so. It just startled me,” I replied.
“That makes two of us. I’m glad I was standing behind you.” He smiled and released his hands from my waist. Reluctantly. I saw it in his eyes.
“Me too. Um, thanks,” I looked at him nervously.
My heart was hammering in my chest. My knees felt weak. I was sure it wasn’t from being knocked over. He looked at me for a minute. I think he was trying to figure out if I could walk.
“Well, see you in biology then.” He grinned at me and walked away.
Quickly, I made my way to trigonometry. Running through the door just as the bell rang, I took my seat. Class passed much quicker this time thanks to my overactive mind. My skin seemed to tingle slightly remembering his touch. The electricity had been there again. So obvious. Was that what I saw in his eyes? I blushed as I thought of his body so close to mine. His arms had been so strong...and muscular.
I remembered his expression as I looked up at him. It had been concerned and something else. I couldn’t quite place it. It looked like attraction. I could be wrong. I didn’t have a whole lot of experience with this sort of thing. Could I have affected him as he affected me? That didn’t seem possible. He seemed very in control of himself. Why was I worrying about it anyway?
Later, when I walked into biology, I was more composed. I didn’t want it to be weird around him after what happened earlier. I made my way into class with Emily, sitting down at our table. He was already there so I looked over and smiled. He was smiling back at me with that adorable big grin of his.
I looked down at the table in front of me and noticed the silver pans covered with some kind of wet cloth. They stunk, like chemicals. The smell was making my nose burn. Oh, yuck. I had forgotten today was dissection day. Sheep brains, if I remembered correctly. I started to feel a little lightheaded. My composure flew right out the window. No way was I going to make it through class. I didn’t want to throw up, especially in front of him. It was time to take evasive action.
“Um, Mr. Koerner, I don’t feel so well,” I told him.
He looked over at me and frowned. Then his eyes took on a knowing expression and he nodded.
“Why don’t you go outside and get some fresh air? Will one of you please go with her? She may need the nurse,” Mr. K asked.
I did feel funny. My stomach was doing flip-flops. I felt nauseous. I was glad we hadn’t had lunch yet. That could have gotten ugly. I saw Emily start to get up out of her seat.
“I’ll take her Mr. K,” Kellen answered.
Mr. Koerner nodded. I looked up at Kellen in surprise. He looked back at me and smiled slightly. Helping me out of my seat, he held onto my elbow as we walked out the door.
“Do you want to go to the nurse?” He asked.
“No, can we walk out to the picnic benches? I think I just need some air.” No way was I going to the nurse. I was not a baby. I could handle this. He nodded.
We walked quietly to the open lawn and sat at one of the tables. He didn’t let go of my arm until I sat. I could feel him staring at me but I felt so bad that I just put my head in my arms and lowered it on the table. I tried to breathe normally. Now that I was out of the room and away from the smell I started feeling better. After a few minutes the nausea started to go away. I still felt a little cold and clammy, but better.
“How are you feeling now?” He asked.
“I think I’m ok,” I told him. I looked up. His expression was a mixture of concern and relief. “Thanks for coming with me.”
“Sure, no problem.” He sounded like he meant it. “Ready to go back?”
Absolutely not. I didn’t think I could handle the smell of those chemicals again. “Maybe we should wait until class is almost over. I think I would be right back out again,” I told him truthfully.
“Sounds good,” he said and smiled at me, like he hoped that would be my answer.
I couldn’t help but stare. This guy was too good looking. He was like the statue of David, chiseled out of stone, utter perfection. He reminded me of those perfect Greek statues you see in the museum. Except that he was real, made out of flesh and bone, and sitting right next to me. I thought about reaching my hand over and touching the muscle on his arm. What an idiot.
I forced myself to look away. He misunderstood.
“Are you feeling bad again?” He asked me anxiously.
“No, I’ll be ok.”
He looked at me skeptically when I said that. I had to agree, knowing how I must look to him right now. We sat in silence for a while longer. It wasn’t uncomfortable. It was nice. We both must have been deep in thought. I wondered what he was thinking.
“What are you thinking about?” He asked me.
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. It was just too ironic. “I was wondering what you were thinking,” I confessed.
He laughed too. We were both silent for a minute. He spoke first. “I was thinking that this has been a very interesting day.”
“Interesting in a good way?” I asked.
“Yes, in a very good way.” He looked at me very seriously when he said that. His deep green eyes held my gaze for a minute, transfixing me. I almost forgot how to breathe. I sucked in a huge breath of air and exhaled slowly. He surprised me when he leaned forward slightly and reached toward my hair, his hand pulled away with a small leaf in it and it dropped on the ground. His eyes stayed locked with mine the whole time. We just continued to stare.
“Rhiannon?” He asked.
“Yes?” I answered.
“I…think we should go back now.”
“Ok,” I told him. I can’t be sure but it seemed like that wasn’t what he wanted to say.
We both got up slowly and crossed the campus back to class. Mr. K looked up as we walked in. The class was cleaning up and getting ready to leave. Seconds later the bell rang.
Everyone jumped up and headed out for lunch, cramming the doorway in a hurry to leave biology today. Lab days were always interesting in Mr. K’s class. He thought unusual dissections and lab experiments were growth and learning opportunities. Generally that meant extra work and gross body parts to view. Nobody lingered. Ever.
As soon as I walked in the door, Emily was beside me in an instant. “Are you ok?” She asked.
“I’m fine,” I told her. She looked satisfied.
Jarrod grabbed her hand and we walked out together toward the cafeteria. I was aware that Kellen was following next to me quietly.
“Kellen, dude, what’s up? You coming to the game Friday?”
Another one of those football and basketball jocks. They littered the school like flies. Too bad I couldn’t just swish them away with a flick of my hand. He ran up to Kellen, smacking him on the back in greeting. I had enough of them today.
“See you later Kellen,” I told him. He looked down at me and nodded.
“Bye Rhiannon.” His voice sounded soft when he said my name.
Emily was pulling on me so I left with her and Jarrod to get something to eat. I glanced back just once and noticed with satisfaction that he was still watching me walk away. The small lunch room was crowded like usual when we came in. Mariah was holding our table with Brittany, Brian, and some of the other kids who hung out around us. Kellen joined us later as was becoming his habit.
The rest of the day was pretty uneventful until study hall. As usual, we were in the back of the library lounging on the chairs. I closed my eyes and tilted my head against the back of the chair. I was feeling a little sleepy. My nightmare had gotten me up earlier than usual and I was starting to feel the fatigue. Today had also been a really long day for several reasons. I sighed softly.
“Ready for a nap?” Kellen asked.
My eyes snapped open. His face was only inches from mine. He smiled at me charmingly, completely unaware of his close proximity to my mouth. Or was he? “I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night,” I explained.
“Why not?” He asked.
“Well, I stayed up late reading and then I woke up too early,” I told him.
He seemed to be thinking that over. He opened his mouth to say something but Emily piped up first.
“So, Rhia, do you think Gran is cooking up something big for tomorrow?”
“Emily, I never put anything past Gran. Words like small and birthday do not go together in her vocabulary.”
Mariah snorted. “You know she asked us to keep you away from the house tomorrow until after six. I’m only telling you because you won’t listen to me unless we gang up on you.” She said it confidently. Mariah knew me well.
I snorted. “Ha, I knew it. Gran was acting funny this morning.”
“You know she loves to spoil you. You’re just going to have to let her. Don’t try to get out of it either. We promised her.” Mariah informed me. She was worse than Gran.
“Fine,” I pouted.
“How old are you going to be?” Kellen asked.
“She’s going to turn eighteen tomorrow,” Mariah replied.
I glared at her and stuck out my tongue. Folding my arms across my chest, I pretended to be annoyed. She laughed gleefully. “Is it time to go yet?” I grumbled.
Everyone laughed. Great, now I was the plucky comic relief.
Study hall ended just a few minutes later. I was glad to be on my way home. But home was not very relaxing…until my thoughts wandered. I kept thinking about both times with Kellen today. His arms around me had been strong and comforting, like they belonged there, and his breath at my neck had sent shivers down my spine.
He had rescued me twice today. My mind drifted into a day dream when I started thinking about him. It did succeed in making me feel less edgy and tense but my heartbeat was accelerating and my stomach had butterflies. I managed to forget about the whole ‘somebody is watching me’ thing. I went to bed that night feeling normal and happy and slept without any nightmares.
I was being kidnapped. There really wasn’t any other way to describe it. Emily and Mariah sat next to me talking and laughing as if they had no idea what was going on. I knew better. I sat there with my arms folded across my chest, frowning. If I had to be here, I was going to show my disapproval.
“Rhia, you have to choose a school. It’s getting late,” Mariah ordered.
I sighed. “Mariah, I am just going to enroll in Mason Community College.”
“Rhia, that’s not a good four year college, you know. How are you going to start a career?” Mariah’s voice was impatient again.
“Look, I don’t even know what I want to do yet. It doesn’t make sense to get into a huge amount of debt to take the same classes there that I would be taking at a community college. It’s all the same stuff the first two years anyway,” I told her matter-of-factly.
“Huh, I guess you have thought this through, haven’t you?” Mariah sounded surprised.
“Yes,” I told her smugly, “and I can’t go far from Gran. It would break her heart.”
“I told you she would do something like that.” Emily said to Mariah.
I suddenly remembered that I was supposed to be unhappy about being here. I frowned at them, just so they remembered too.
“Come on, Rhia. It’s your birthday. Can’t you be happy?” Emily pleaded.
I sighed. “I’m not unhappy. I just don’t like being forced to do anything.”
Kind of funny really. I wasn’t all that rebellious in nature.
“You’re going to get us in trouble,” Mariah told me, “Gran made us promise that you would have fun.” She was always good for a guilt trip when needed.
“Fine,” I said giving in. It felt like I was doing that a lot lately.
“You should be happy. We invited Kellen.” Mariah smiled, obviously satisfied with herself.
“You did? Why?” I asked.
“Duh, because you guys totally like each other. It’s so obvious.” Mariah was staring at me, daring me to deny it.
“Ok, I do like him but I have no idea what he thinks of me,” I admitted.
“Jarrod told me he has asked about you a couple of times.” Emily admitted. “He even told Jarrod he thought you were pretty.”
My jaw dropped open. “Really? Hey, why didn’t you tell me that before?” I asked her.
“Well, Jarrod only told me last night. Anyway, you know now, before the party,” she told me, smiling.
I looked down at my clothes. I was not ready for a party. I needed to change. “I need to go shopping. I have nothing to wear. He already saw me in this in school today,” I told them in a panic.
“You’re right. We need to grab his attention tonight. Let’s go,” Mariah said as she pulled me along.
It was a good thing we were already at the mall. We were on a mission. The three of us expertly went through the racks of several department stores finding the perfect dress in less than two hours. It was impressiv
e. Emily and Mariah had to get new outfits too, of course. We were giggling as we left the mall, climbed in the Volt, and drove to Mariah’s house to get ready.
I let my friends give me a make-over since arguing was pointless. Mariah did my make-up while Emily worked on my hair. I have to admit I looked good when they were done. I put on the dress and looked in the mirror.
The dress was red, short, and swirled around my body. It had thin spaghetti straps and an empire waist with rhinestones around the bust. I added a few thin silver bangle bracelets with rhinestones in them and a pair of thin, silver strappy heels. Mariah had done my make-up very light and natural looking, playing up my eyes. Emily curled my hair and pulled the top part away from my face, clipping it back except for a few strands that fell softly around my eyes. I looked perfect for the party and hopefully for someone else.
“Wow, thanks. This is perfect you guys.” I choked up slightly. It occurred to me then how different it was going to be after we graduated and didn’t see each other every day anymore. I was going to miss them.
“I’m going to miss you guys after graduation. Promise we won’t lose touch, ok?”
They both looked at me sadly and we hugged. They were my best girlfriends. I could see we were all thinking the same thing. I changed the subject before the waterworks started.
“Get ready you two. We have to be there at six.”
Later, as we pulled up in front of the house, I got a case of stage fright. I saw Kellen’s Hummer in the street along with the other cars that belonged to my friends. It made me feel kind of panicky. I tried to pull myself together as I let Emily and Mariah drag me up the stairs and through the front door.
“Surprise!” A huge crowd of people all yelled at once. I knew it was coming but I still jumped anyway. Gran was hugging me before I had a chance to recover from the shock. People were patting me on the back and wishing me happy birthday. I looked around for Kellen.
“Happy Birthday Rhiannon,” he told me cheerfully.
I turned to my right and saw him standing there smiling. I noticed his grin get bigger as he looked me over. He winked as I smiled at him too. I was getting the impression that he liked all of our effort.