by Brinda Berry
“Just eating pizza, as you can see.” I tried to sound nonchalant, like I had guys Austin didn’t know in my house all the time. I caught myself shifting from foot to foot and about to chew on my thumbnail when I stopped my fidgeting.
Austin standing near Regulus formed a stark contrast of man and boy. Although Austin was in college, he still had the tall, lanky frame that said he was still making that physical transition into adulthood. Regulus had taken off his jacket at some point, and his T-shirt clung to every muscle on his chest. I didn’t think I was the only one who noticed his muscles.
This was not going to be easy to explain.
“I was worried about you not answering your cell and then I came to check and I heard guys talking inside your house. Since your dad isn’t home, I came in to see if you’re OK. The front door was even unlocked,” said Austin as if he’d completely explained why he had gotten into a fight with someone inside my home.
“Oh.” I glanced from Regulus to Arizona in a plea for help. What could I say about them that wouldn’t give them away? I had a feeling all of this was top secret, and I wouldn’t even know where to start with an explanation. “Hey Austin, these are the guys from my outdoor camera,” would probably end badly.
Arizona stuck out his hand to Austin. “Hey man, nice to meet you. My friends call me Arizona. I’m an old friend of Pete’s.” Arizona’s easy smile and outstretched hand forced Austin to play nice. How could anybody doubt that smile?
Nevertheless, Austin stared at Arizona’s hand for what seemed a full minute before shaking it. If I’d been his mother, I’d have swatted him. But I wasn’t and he had already been in jeopardy of appearing less manly while on the floor.
“Huh,” Austin grunted. I had never seen him be so unfriendly. “How did you know Pete?” Austin wasn’t buying it. He definitely had reason since Whispering Woods was so small.
“He was in our guild. On Quest of Zion. He wasn’t that active, but he was there.” Arizona was still smiling despite the frosty handshake and questions.
I stared at Arizona trying to read his face. How in the heck did he know about Quest of Zion? Either he was an excellent liar with great insider intelligence or he gamed online. The first choice seemed less strange. I couldn’t have fabricated a better explanation.
I could see Austin mentally measuring Arizona. Austin looked at me for answers. “These are the two from the pictures we looked at,” he said.
“Sure they are,” I said, processing the fact that he had recognized them. I gulped and tried to think of something to say. I knew that I looked nervous and guilty.
Arizona came to the rescue. “Regulus and I both started classes at the U this year, but we used to play Quest with Pete a few years ago. We thought we’d look him up since I had his home address.”
Austin grabbed the back of a chair, swung it around, and sat. His arms rested on the back of the chair and he looked completely at home in my kitchen. He’d sat in my kitchen hundreds of times and looked the same, but I could see that this time he meant to establish his belonging.
“So, when was the last time you talked to Pete?” Austin’s question held loads of suspicion.
“Really couldn’t say. It’s been a while. Couple of years I’d say.”
“I know everyone from our guild in Quest. What’s your username?”
“Blade Runner,” Arizona said.
Austin’s reception changed from one of wariness to extreme interest. Blade Runner was at the top of the high scores, mostly because he was the only character to ever solo the wandering boss, the black knight of the descent. He is also the only player who ever found the auto-life exploit, allowing him to keep control of his character even after hitting zero health.
If you can think about a businessman closing a deal on a statement, then that’s what Arizona did with Austin in that second. Austin was all ears.
“Cool,” said Austin nodding his head. “Why did you guys drive here in the middle of the night? And you’re on motorcycles, right?”
“Yeah, when we got here and saw how late it was, we didn’t think anyone was home. I called Mia and talked with her about knowing Pete, and she told us to come on out.”
“She should have called me to be here. Her dad would keel over if he knew she had let two strangers into the house.” Austin’s reproachful tone was clearly meant for me as opposed to Arizona.
“Yes, we didn’t know she was alone out here. It’s too dangerous for a girl her age to be left home alone,” Regulus said.
I was bristling as they talked about me as if I weren’t standing right there. “Hello guys, standing right here, ya know. I have been making it just fine, home alone. I am fully capable of taking care of myself.” I began picking up the drinking glasses lying on the table in small pools of orange soda. I grabbed a hand towel to wipe up the mess. How did this story that Arizona had somehow made up, spur of the moment, end up with me defending myself as a sane, responsible adult?
“Mia, we will be leaving now.” Regulus eased toward the door.
“Oh, you don’t have to leave just because Austin’s here.” I was afraid that they would disappear again and I would still be lacking all the answers I needed.
“I would like to take you out for dinner tomorrow night,” Regulus stated.
My mouth hung open. I could tell I was no more surprised than Arizona or Austin.
“I can’t go out on dates without my dad being here and without his permission.” I cleared my throat in embarrassment. I knew this was just pretend in order to set up a meeting, but I was shocked at the thought of a date. I had dated a couple of boys in the last year. But they were just that.
Boys.
Regulus was not a boy.
And he was from some other dimension.
And he didn’t even like me.
It made me stop breathing just to think about it.
“I meant that Arizona would be there also, of course. Are you allowed to meet friends for dinner on a weeknight?” Regulus asked.
“Sure,” I managed to answer. I scribbled on a scrap of paper. “Here’s my cell number. Just give me a call after school tomorrow, OK? You have a cell, right?”
Austin looked surly while Regulus said, “I will call you tomorrow.”
I nodded and watched Regulus go to the front door with Arizona following.
Walking at a leisurely pace, they let themselves out and headed toward a motorcycle that Regulus must have ridden to the house earlier. Arizona sat behind Regulus, and they roared away down the drive.
Austin turned to me, glaring. “I don’t like the thought of you having those dudes here alone. You should have called me. You know I could be here in minutes.”
I rolled my eyes as I went into the den. Austin followed. I sat on the sofa and picked up the TV remote, trying to find something to distract from the current conversation.
“For that matter, you shouldn’t be going anywhere with them tomorrow night unless I’m there, too.” He still sounded as though he was scolding me.
“Austin, you’re not my father, and I can go out with friends for dinner any time I like.”
He sat beside me with his leg touching mine. I scooted over an inch.
“I think I need to see if I can find them online. See if their story checks out.”
“Not necessary,” I said with an edge in my voice.
“And that guy Regulus wanted to take you out alone. He just included Arizona when you said you couldn’t go on a date.” He reached for my chin and forced me to make eye contact.
I hated it when he did that. “He did not. I just misunderstood him, that’s all.” I was reliving my embarrassment all over again.
“He’s too old for you.”
The phone rang again. I ran to answer it.
“Where are you? I have called your cell a zillion times and it goes straight to voicemail.” Emily’s voice sounded extremely loud and demanding over the phone.
I turned down the volume. “Yeah, yeah. My cell
is dead, and I need to charge it. We are way too connected. It does not mean I’m dead when I don’t answer my cell.”
“Oh,” she said in a small, tight voice.
I heard a little of the pink leave her voice and I immediately regretted my words. “Talk to Em while I find my cell.” I handed the phone to Austin and searched for my cell phone and charger. They were in my car where I must have left it. I took a minute to look again at my dented bumper—the one that had hit the tree—and decided that my dad might not even notice the dent.
When I returned, Austin handed the phone back to me.
“So, you have a date or dinner or something with the hunky guys from the pictures.” Emily was back to her normal voice and talking so fast I could barely understand her. “How do you get a date with both of them? Which one do you have the hots for, the blond or the dark-headed one? What are their names? Spill!”
I glared at Austin. He had pulled out a small pocketknife and was doing something to his fingernails. He was completely ignoring me. I gave up on the glaring and tried to concentrate on Em. I was not a good liar, and now I had to come up with some details that Emily would surely be asking. One lie just seemed to lead to another. I felt like a snowball gaining speed, rolling down Mount Everest. There was no stopping it.
Chapter 9
Date
After school on Wednesday, I set my cell phone ringer on the loudest ring tone, a Lady Gaga song that Austin had downloaded without my permission. Charged fully the night before, the phone display revealed at least half a battery charge. It would have been a full charge if not for Em’s insane persistence. She had not restrained herself from sending approximately thirty text messages during the day, between second and last period. Every time the phone had vibrated, I cringed at the thought that my phone would be confiscated and held in the principal’s office.
I was exhausted from her endless questions. We only had two classes together this year, but she had utilized her time with me to the fullest extent by quizzing me nonstop. My lack of answers just seemed to make her more persistent.
Of course, the questions she had were far from anything Austin had asked when he had the full attention of Regulus and Arizona the previous night. Emily’s questions were more of the descriptive variety rather than stuff that really mattered. What did Regulus have on? How tall are both of them? Don’t you think Arizona looks like a young Brad Pitt? Her questions annoyed me. The questions were ridiculous, and I could barely answer without sounding irritated. I swear she was a breath away from asking to come see for herself.
At school, I thought a lot about how easily Arizona had lied to Austin. The lies had slipped off his tongue like a worn tennis shoe on a wet, mossy rock. If he could lie that easily, how was I to believe the things he had told me?
So, here I was, finally making my escape by exiting the parking lot, forced to stop and go, stop and go, behind a truck sporting oversize tires. I could see Em rushing toward the parking lot trying to stop me. I knew she wanted to talk some more, but I pretended not to see her. Emily had been a great friend through thick and thin, but this wasn’t something I could easily share with her. I didn’t like the lies, but how do you tell your best friend that you were having a close encounter of the third kind?
The drive from school to my house was the longest twenty minutes in history. I stopped in my regular spot outside of the garage. This part of our house tended to be more of a storage area than one meant to shelter cars. Biscuit greeted me with his usual abandon, tail erect and twirling in tight circles.
While I did my chores, I wondered where Regulus and Arizona might take me to dinner.
I stared into my closet as if seeing it for the first time. Normally, I would reach in, grab a pair of my favorite jeans and a cute shirt. Yes, I would forego a T-shirt since Regulus had sounded so formal when he talked about dinner. It didn’t sound like he was talking about a corn dog and fries. But in looking at my choices for something to wear, I groaned at the limited display of what normally passed for acceptable school grubs. It’s not as though this was a date…
Not a date. Really not a date. Nothing resembling a date because three people don’t go on dates.
I finally decided that I might try the casual dress that I had bought last year with Em. Actually, Em’s mom bought it for me. A dress. Like I would ever wear it. But here I was standing in my room looking at a closetful of T-shirts. I frowned as I gave in and peeled off my jeans to change. I stepped into the dress, stuck my arms in the matching cardigan, and twirled in front of the long mirror attached to the back of my bedroom door. I grabbed the only shoes I had that weren’t tennis shoes or boots. I never wore the flat, ballerina shoes anywhere, but I had to admit that they were kind of cute. Ugh. I looked like one of those preppy girls at school.
My phone buzzed to indicate a text message, and I wondered what Em could be asking me about now. I looked at the message, expecting to see another of Em’s questions about tonight. I read the words. “Waiting outside. Regulus.”
I gripped my phone and shook it in frustration. Why, oh why, would he do this? I was a second away from changing out of the dress. After my thirty second meltdown I realized that he had just sent me a text as opposed to calling. I had never imagined that he would know how to text. It just seemed disconcerting that the guy from another dimension blended so well in my teenage world.
I looked in the mirror again. OK, I didn’t look like a total dork. And while my hands were definitely sweaty and tingly, I even looked normal.
I needed to get a life that involved more than hanging out with Austin and Emily online.
I could see two figures through the sheer curtain in the front oval glass of the door. Quit being nervous. It’s just a meal.
I yanked open the door and shrank back when Regulus’s eyes widened. He squinted a lot in his suspicious study of a person, but now he was definitely not squinting. His eyes started at my head and traveled down to stop at the dusky pink flats. He didn’t smile or nod approvingly, or say, “Hey, you look nice.” He just stared.
It took Arizona a minute to open his mouth to utter, “N-ice, Mia.” He drew out the first word so it came out in two syllables.
Heat crept up my neck to my face and ears. I saw that both Regulus and Arizona looked as they always did. I was so overdressed.
“You appear to be ready,” said Regulus, clearing his throat at the end of the statement.
“Yes, I am.” I played it cool. “I had to dress up for something at school today and didn’t have time to change or anything. I hope this is all right.”
“Not a problem,” Arizona said in his usual cheerful tone. He glided around Regulus to offer his arm to me, “Off we go, then.”
I shoved my hand in the crook of his arm. Um…awkward. This wasn't the homecoming court walk down the football field. Arizona grinned at me and then turned to smile fully at Regulus. I felt a little better in my dress after he did that.
We walked down the front porch steps and I noticed their parked motorcycles. I must have been so wrapped up in what I was going to wear that I hadn’t heard the sound of them riding up.
I pictured myself straddling a motorcycle in my dress. The full skirt would allow me to swing my leg across the seat, but I would feel extremely unladylike. “Umm, I can drive my car.” At both their blank faces, I waved my hand down the front of my dress to remind them of the problem.
“Your car won’t work for this.” Regulus swung a leg over to seat himself on the first motorcycle.
Em would be so into this. She would think she had died and gone to cool heaven. I shook my head at the thought and glared at him. Could he not give me a break? I already felt ridiculous.
“I’ll ride with Arizona."
Regulus was so cranky and unfriendly. A person would think I had held him at gunpoint to get him here.
He shook his head. “No, you won’t. I have a seat to accommodate a second rider and Arizona doesn’t.” He motioned to the section of seat cushion behin
d him that sat a little higher. “This is where you sit.”
I chewed my thumbnail nervously and looked at Arizona, begging him with my eyes to rescue me from my fate.
“Up you go,” Arizona said as he proceeded to move me physically toward the back of Regulus. At least my skirt was long enough to cover the essentials, I thought while grimacing.
“I’m going, I’m going,” I muttered in protest. “My dad will kill me for getting onto a motorcycle.”
Once I was seated behind Regulus, I adjusted my skirt. He turned and handed me a helmet. Great. I had tried to look better on this outing, and now I was definitely going to have helmet hair.
Before I could argue some more and question where we might be going, Regulus jumped and started his bike. The loud rumbling sound and the vibration of the bike startled me. Arizona hopped on the second bike and started it, nodding at Regulus to lead.
I rested my hands on each side of his body, barely touching him at his belt line on both sides. He grabbed one of my hands to pull it firmly around his waist. I squirmed uncomfortably. Then he captured my left hand and did the same with it. His stomach was solid beneath the shirt. Holy cow, did he do a thousand sit-ups a day?
We rode slowly, crunching gravel and giving me time to adjust to the proximity of his body. He left the driveway and traveled the few feet toward the spot across from my waiting booth.
“Hold on!” He turned his head to yell as he revved the motor with a twist of his hand. I caught my breath and tightened both arms around him, realizing too late that we were going to enter the portal.
As we zipped into the portal, I felt dizzy. The buzzing in my head was immediate but fleeting. My stomach fell like a brick thrown over a cliff in a sensation of free-falling. Just when I thought I could catch my breath, the bottom dropped out in a climatic roller coaster drop. The blackness surrounded us.
* * *
This must be how death feels. Just a lot of nothing.