"Correct."
"Good. Thanks for listening today. I'll see you next week." I waved and walked out into the waiting room.
Zach's mom was waiting in the waiting room. She glanced up at me and stiffened.
"Jennifer." She stood and walked toward me like a zombie might.
I accepted the awkward hug she pulled me into. "Mrs. Parker. How are you?"
"I'm hanging in there. Getting better every day." She pulled back as her green eyes moved across my face. I could see parts of Zach in her features.
"Good. Having Zach back home has to help too."
She smiled and glanced around my shoulder, nodding at Miss Baxter.
"It does. We've missed him a lot, but not as much as you have I'm sure."
I nodded and walked to the front door. "His birthday is Thursday. Has he told you what I've been trying to talk him into?"
His mom shook her head and chuckled. "Are you still trying to get my scaredy-cat to go to the haunted mansion?"
"I am." I laughed too, enjoying the moment. "I've got him this year."
"Good luck. Come see me soon?"
"Of course." I turned and walked into the late afternoon, the signs of autumn all around me. Now that Zach was back from his trip, I would start haunting the front door of his house again. Besides... after breaking up with my boyfriend and supposedly punching Kat in the face, I had no one else to hang out with.
"Fine by me."
Chapter Six
"Absolutely not, Jen." My mother tapped her hand on the paper in front of me and shook her head. "You've had enough to deal with lately. You're not going out to the Vandercamp Mansion. Besides, Zach would never have gone for that and even if he would have... he's no protection for you."
"He is too, and there is nothing to protect me from. You don't really believe in that crap do you?" I glanced toward my dad, trying to illicit a little bit of help. I should have known better to try and be honestly. Going to my brother for the signatures was a much more efficient way of doing things, but I hated lying to my folks. We were close, like good friend's close.
"It's not about us believing in this stuff, Jennifer. It's about you believing in it." My dad moved toward me and rubbed my shoulders.
"I don't believe in it. I just love it. I'm sorry that mom ate fried pickles and pigskins when she was pregnant with me, but I love spooky stories and horror movies."
My mother cracked a smile as my father chuckled and dropped down in the chair next to me. "When are you thinking of going?"
"Clay. You're not thinking of letting her go. It's not safe nor healthy." My mom lifted her eyebrow, challenging my dad.
"What if I went with you? Me, you and Zach one day next weekend?" He leaned in closer, ignoring my mom.
"Dad. I'm seventeen. I'm not taking you with me to do a project because you guys are freaked out. Just forget it. I'll just find something else." I shrugged and pushed my chair back.
"Now wait. We could have fun. I love spending time with you." He stood and blocked my exit path.
"It would be fine if it were just me and you, but Zach is going too. That's awkward." I rolled my eyes. He was my freaking crush. Having my father there making weird comments and fart jokes was embarrassing - even if Zach had heard them all and laughed at most of them.
"Zach hates scary stuff. Just let him sit this one out, Jenny. Besides, you need to start spending more time with us seeing that you're leaving for college next year. Don't you think?" He tilted his head and gave me a sad puppy-dog frown.
"I spend every waking minute with you guys." I ducked under his arm. "It's all good. Seriously. I don't want to argue over a history field trip. Save your energy for when I tell you that Carl took my V-card last weekend."
"Jennifer Ann Miller. Get back down here now!" My mother yelled and barreled toward the stairs as I jogged up.
"I'm going to kill that punk-ass kid. I knew I didn't like him." My dad growled.
"Kidding... I'm still completely innocent." I leaned down from the opening at the top of the stairs. "I love you guys. It's all good. No sex for Jenny... ever. Ew. Ugh. Gross."
They grumbled about my sick sense of humor as I jogged up the stairs and texted my brother to come over later and make it seem random. He would be there at nine... especially if money was involved.
"What's this for again?" Brent leaned over my desk, signing mom and dad's name to the form without reading anything on the page.
"It's a project I need to work on, but they're being overly protective."
"Oh yeah? What's new?" He finished and handed me the page. "Ta-da."
It was a perfect replica of both of their signatures. "Impressive."
"Yeah, yeah. Give me my thirty bucks or I'll tell them what you're up to."
"You don't know what I'm up to, and its twenty bucks, you idiot." I pulled a twenty from my pocket and extended it toward him as I studied his handy work.
"Well, its thirty now for calling me an idiot."
"No. It's twenty. I only call you one because you are one." I shrugged.
"Alright. I'm telling them that Zach used to sneak in here all the time when we were kids."
"To watch movies and snuggle. Get a life." I picked up a pillow from my bed and threw it at him.
"I was a junior high boy once too, Jen. I know what "snuggle" means in boy speak." He rolled his eyes and extended his hand. "Cough up the other ten."
"You're a man-whore. Zach's a wimp. Snuggle means snuggle in my world. You're not getting the money and if you keep it up, I'll take back my twenty and explain to mom why you kept consuming apples at break-neck speed in high-school."
"No you wouldn't..." He glared at me.
"Oh yes I would. I can't tell you how many times I ran across your apple bongs and lamented over not getting to eat the apples. Drug addict." I rolled my eyes and pointed to the door. "Get out. I love you."
"Alright. Twenty will work then. You're welcome, twit."
"Out."
"Hey..." His voice softened and I turned, needing to see what crap he was about to pull out now. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't know... I just thought maybe... you know."
"No. I don't. What?" I stood up and took a step toward him. Why was he being so damn weird? So I was being a little spazzy with my dreams and drawing some scary stuff in my sleep. It wasn't that bad... I wasn't turning into an axe murderer, at least I didn't think I was. Everyone was walking around acting like they knew something I didn't.
"Nothing. It's nothing. I'm here if you need me."
"Well, I don't. So get out." I smirked at him.
He chuckled. "Love you too. Be safe okay?"
"Ouuuuuut." I turned and sat back down at my desk, folding up the paper and picking up my phone.
Me: Meet me at the docks at eleven. We need to plan your birthday.
Zach: Can I bring Sadie with me?
Me: Keep it up, funny boy and you'll not have another year to add to your age.
Zach: Promises. Promises. See you soon.
A smile lifted my lips as I thought about him sitting beside me on the bench earlier. I couldn't really fault him for not getting involved with Carl. The meat-head was twice as big as Zach, and had far more muscle per square inch.
If something had happened to Zach because of me dating the stupid jock, I never would have forgiven myself. It was a good thing that things went down the way they did. Any other way would have led to a disaster that I wouldn't have been able to handle. Some part of me felt that moment was heading toward me any minute.
I just couldn't put my finger on why.
Seeing that I didn't want Zach asking questions, I threw on by best pair of sweats and a jacket over my tank top. My hair would have to stay in a messy ponytail, and my house shoes would have to do. I'd tell him soon that I had feelings for him, but now wasn't the time. I hadn't worked up that much courage yet. Him being gone all summer left me imagining a million ways I might could spring the new
s on him, but all of them seemed rather stupid now that he was back.
I closed my journal and paused beside it, running my fingers over the taped pages, which were only a few pages before my current entry. I remembered tapping them because I didn't want to feel the pain of reading what was in them. My grandmother had passed recently, near the beginning of the summer, and she was everything to me. Where my mom and I were close, my grandmother and I were inseparable.
That pain pushed me into the bad dreams and the various drawings or meanderings in my sleep that had my parents freaked out. If going to a counselor would make them feel better, and it was only an hour a week... I was down with it. I closed the book and promised myself that I would open the pages soon and just face the sadness. My grandma wouldn't want the memories of her to be locked away from me. It wasn't right and I was braver than that.
"Or am I? Throw any scary movie my way and I'm good. Kill off someone I love and I turn into a demon possessed zombie." I snuck downstairs, pausing to hop over that third step. "That's actually cool as hell."
A soft chuckle left me and I realized why everyone thought I was weird. I was. What head cheerleader liked zombie movies and haunted houses more than pedicures and hair appointments? I reached down and rubbed Kitty's head as he growled softly.
"You wanna go tonight?" She barked and I hushed him before picking up his collar. "Okay, but you have to be quiet. No being loud out there. Got it, mister?"
The dog ran around in a tight circle, which was our sign for 'got it'. I opened the door and walked out into the chilly night's air, locked the door, and walked with Kitty down to the docks. The faint light of a lantern sat ahead and Kitty barked softly before pulling me toward it.
"Hey, you. I said no barking." I tugged a little on the leash.
The dog gave out a snort and I laughed, loving how animated the little guy was. The wind blew and the large leafless trees swayed above us like something out of a scary movie.
Kitty whimpered and moved closer to my leg. I bent down and picked him up, snuggling him against my chest. "It's okay. Just the wind."
"Oh maybe it's a ghost." Zach's voice reached me before I could see him. The deep timbre of it ran over my skin and caused me to shiver.
God, I love you.
"I wish. Seeing a ghost would rock!" I walked up to the doc as he turned and smiled at me. He already had a fishing pole in his hand.
"Where's mine?" I glanced around, not seeing another pole.
"I didn't think we were staying long. It's a school night and I know how you are about your sleep." He turned and reached for Kitty as the dog whimpered in my arms.
"You, silly boy. It's just Zach."
Zach smiled and moved back.
"It's alright. My mother just got a new dog. It's a pit-bull. Damn thing is vicious. I'm sure Kitty just smells her on me." Zach bent down a little but kept his distance. "Don't you boy? That's what it is."
Kitty barked and tried to get out of my arms to get to Zach. "Good grief. One minute you love him, the next you don't."
I put him down and held onto his leash as he moved toward Zach tentatively.
"Hey." I stopped as he glanced up at me. He had to be the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.
His strong shoulders lifted as he smirked, the expression one he'd given me a million times over our lifetime. "Hay’s for horses, you cow."
"That was cute when we were kids. Not so much now. Kitty... sic him." I lifted an eyebrow as Zach laughed.
"You're beautiful and you know it." He glanced back down at the dog, reaching out and rubbing his hand over Kitty's head. The dog whimpered again.
"Anyway. Seeing that you left me to deal with Carl today, you owe me."
"He's your problem, Jen. I don't want to come home in a body bag. He would quickly put me in one, but he'd never hit you." Zach stood and took a step toward me.
"Beside the point. You owe me."
"You wanna kiss?"
"No, but if I did, I'd ask Sadie before you." I stuck out my tongue.
He laughed and pressed his hand to his chest. "Oh. That was painful. The thought of watching you kiss another girl is honestly so ho... hot."
I rolled my eyes. "I thought you were going to say horrible."
"That too." He cleared his throat. "What do you want me to do to make it up to you? Anything for my best friend to clear the slate for me."
"Come with me on Thursday to the Vandercamp Mansion." I picked up the pace of my request, knowing I had very little chance of hooking him. "It would just be for the night. Only me and you. We'll see if anything shows up, roast marshmallows and then I'll never ask again."
"Do you know the story of that place? All these years of me saying no. Do you not know why?"
He wasn't going to do it. I hated to pull out the final card, but we were seniors. We would be leaving soon and I needed him to go with me. I couldn't go with anyone else. I was too weird and would be excited if something ate us alive, but he knew me. He knew how jacked up I could be and that the scariest and goriest stuff was what lit me on fire.
Yes. Seeing a counselor is good. Very, very good.
"Look. I know you're scared. I mean seeing that you left me to fend for my own with that big bully today proved it. I'm going on Thursday with or without you." I shrugged and bent down, focusing on the dog and hating myself.
Firstly, I hit his pride. I hated to do that. Secondly, going by myself left me in real danger. He wouldn't be okay with that. I was assured of it.
He bent down and touched my chin, his finger barely brushing by me. "I'll go. Meet me there on Thursday at eight and bring the books you have on this place. I want you to see why I'm scared of it, J."
I felt like crap. "I'm sorry. You don't have to go. Really."
"No. You're right. You've been asking since we were old enough to walk." He stood and glanced around. "After everything that happened this summer... I guess I'd be an idiot not to live a little."
Happened this summer? Oh. His mother getting sick and my grandmother passing.
Chapter Seven
Thursday, October 31st
The rest of the week was a blur. Kat wasn't talking to me at all and I had somehow come to the conclusion that I had blacked out and hit her, but the reason for doing it still alluded me. I would ask Dr. Baxter to dig into my head the next week and help me figure out if I did it and if so... why?
"Time for dinner, baby!" My mother called from the kitchen.
"Coming." I tucked my journal in my bag, next to the two history books on the Vandercamp Mansion that Zach had requested. We hadn't spoken much over the last few days, but his mother’s condition had worsened. He'd told me that they put her in the hospital on Wednesday. I tried to cancel our plans, but he seemed to need the time with me more now than ever. With her blood pressure dropping, they were scared about her chances of making it.
I jogged down the stairs and cringed as I stomped on the freaking third stare. My mom chuckled and called out.
"I always know when you're coming. Thank you, crappy builders." She smiled at me and let out a soft gasp as I pulled her into a tight hug. "Oh. What's this for?"
"I just love you. I'm worried about Zach's mom, and had one of those moments where I realized that I haven't told you how much you mean to me."
She pulled back a little and brushed my hair from my face as my eyes filled with tears.
"It's okay, sweet girl. I know you love me. I love you so crazy much more though."
"Not as much as I love both of you." My father walked in and wrapped me in a hug from the back.
"That's right, not as much. Less. I win." I laughed as they squeezed me tighter. "Do you think Mrs. Parker is going to die?"
"No, baby." My mom pressed her forehead to mine. "She's just going through a lot."
My dad moved to the stove and started to dish up large bowls of spaghetti.
"Like what? I still don't get it. Zach's back and if it's not a virus or cancer... what's she depressed about? Ha
s his dad been cheating on her? Did something happen to Sophia?" Zach only had one sister. If something happened to her, it would make more sense as to why Mrs. Parker was dwindling away.
"Have you asked Zach?" My dad handed me a bowl and I moved away from my mom.
"Clay. The boy might not be up to talking about their family drama."
I turned and searched my mom's face. "I haven't asked him, but I will."
"That's a good idea." My dad gave my mom a knowing look and moved to the kitchen table.
I dumped two-thirds of the pasta from my bowl back into the dish. I had stopped by the store after school and picked up a bunch of fun snacks for me and Zach to share on our camp-out. Eating a huge bowl of pasta would ruin my appetite for the night and that wasn't happening. I planned on getting sick on fruit roll-ups and popcorn balls. They were only available at Halloween and Zach and I had a tradition. Eat them until we got sick and then we'd have a popcorn ball fight.
I smiled at the memories of all the years we'd spent doing the same things. He was like family, but in a twisted unrelated way, because I would totally be good with forgoing the popcorn and just making out all night.
"Get in here and let's bless the food." My father popped his head into the kitchen. "Bring me another piece of bread too."
I loaded up an empty plate with bread, and walked into the dining room, taking my seat. My mother prayed over the food and I picked at my pasta, not feeling so great all of a sudden. Maybe forcing Zach to come with me was a horrible idea. If we got there and he didn't have feelings for me the way I did for him... I would die.
If he did have feelings for me and we made out half the night and something happened to his mom... he would die.
No. We could have fun and everything would be fine. No one had to die. Even if it was All Hallows' Eve.
I washed the dishes faster than I had ever done so before. I ran up and grabbed my backpack, jogging back down. "I'm off to Kat's for the Halloween party."
Darkness Echoes: A Spooky YA Short Story Collection Page 4