I looked at her and she gazed back evenly. I think this was the most weirdest situation I had been through in months. It left so many unsolved questions and most of all, so many unknown and mixed emotions.
“Okay, fine,” I grumbled.
It didn't look like she was going to break and tell me anytime soon, and it was just a ring, its not like it can hurt me.
“Good, now get some sleep,” she told me. “We have a big day tomorrow,” she said, excitement burning in her voice.
She smiled one last time and then left the room, shutting the door quietly behind her.
I looked around me, the guest room felt huge now that I was standing alone inside, it was unbelievable, but I was still suspicious. How did Elane and Jane find me? Maybe she saw me run down the street, but she wouldve had to be at least near the gates of her property to see the street. I'm glad she found me anyhow, this might be the start of something good.
I got dressed in the gray track pants and matching singlet, turned the light off, put the ring on and then dove into the bed.
It was really comfortable, like laying down on rose petals or a cloud, compared to where I just was anyway.
I started thinking about how the way the Archers speak is different sometimes, they say things such as I will, instead of Ill, but then theyll change it around sometimes. Strange, but I liked it.
And within moments of trying to think, I fell asleep, and thats when the strangest thing happened. I had a dream.
****
I was surrounded by thousands of trees and I couldnt see a thing. I turned around and there was a bright light. I could hear someone calling and they sounded distressed. I walked into the brightness and saw myself, lying on the ground next to the river. I looked half dead. I bent down and touched my own face and it was cold and blue. As I stroked my cheek I saw my hand, except it wasnt my hand. I turned and looked into the river and it was Sams face that looked back at me.
I was that frightened I woke with a start, my heart was pounding out of my chest. As I tried to slow it I heard someone walk past the closed door. I saw their shadow pause right out front, blocking out the dim light that came in from underneath the door. Then the shadow disappeared and the light shone through again.
I listened for a half a second and heard a door closing, and that was it. It was quiet after that.
I looked at the clock; 2:38am.
“Ugh,” I groaned, and laid back to try to sleep.
I tossed and turned until I finally fell back asleep from exhaustion, but luckily there were no dreams this time.
****
I suspected it was early in the morning when I heard a quiet tap on the door and bolted upright.
“Can I come in?” a soft voice asked.
“Sure,” I replied, my voice sounded horrible from sleeping and my head was spinning from sitting upright too fast.
Jane came walking in lightly with some clothes hanging off her arm, and then she sat on the end of the big bed. I saw her short black hair was brushed in her array wavy style and she was wearing fresh clothes.
“I brought you some clothes, just in case you didn't feel the need to go home and change,” she said with a shrug.
“Oh.” I cleared my throat, rubbing my eyes with the back of my hands. “Thanks, I really appreciate all this.”
She smiled kindly at me.
“So, do you know what were doing today?” I asked, remembering Elane said something about a big day.
“Mm, most likely staying around the house. Who knows though, Elane is always a little mystery.” She laughed a short laugh then sighed. “Well, join us downstairs for breakfast after you get dressed.”
“Sure.”
She left the clothes at the foot of the bed for me and exited quietly, leaving me alone with my jumbled thoughts.
I crawled my way over to the clothes, picked them up and walked into the small bathroom built-into the guestroom.
It was amazing, it looked so high tech and it was just a small bathroom. It was like everything was brand new.
The hot shower felt nice, I worked to relax my body and calm myself. Although I still couldn't help but dwindle on my dream last night. It was not like my usual ones, in fact I cant even remember my dreams before this. My mind wasnt even concerned with seeing myself dead, it was more of the fact that I saw Sam. He made my breathing quicken when I just thought about him. He seemed... dangerous to me, but I couldn't help but feel something else stirring deep down inside me, something I never felt before.
I got dressed in the bathroom, which was steam filled, then I wiped part of the fog off the mirror and looked back at myself. I looked presentable. Its ashame I couldnt brush my teeth though.
I made my way back into the guest room and made the queen-size bed, which was difficult by myself. I actually got tangled in the blanket once and was afraid I wasnt going to make it out, but I did.
I walked out into the small living room when I had finished making the bed, and I glanced around me. Everyone must have been downstairs because it was empty upstairs when I searched around before and even now. I took my time walking down the spiralling staircase, looking around me at the beautifully bright house and its exquisite and admirable antique paintings that were on the walls. Oddly enough they were in unreachable places I couldn't see last night. It looked as if the paintings were definitely antiques.
I stopped to look at one of them; it was a family portrait. I could tell this because all the Archers were in it. Peter and Summer were sitting on huge old-looking chairs, holding hands. Jane and Elane were sitting down on the floor at their feet, legs crossed, and James and Sam were standing strong and tall behind Summer and Peter. They weren't smiling, it was more of a formal portrait, but it was beautiful nether the less. I stared at Sams face... his eyes... they were unique, but as I looked closely they revealed something to me. Fierceness and misunderstood, but emptiness enclosed him.
“Beautiful,” I murmured to myself aloud without realizing it.
I looked around cautiously, hoping nobody heard me say that because I was mainly looking at Sam. He looked younger, all the teenagers did, at least 12 or 13 years old.
“Hmm.” I started heading down the stairs again, so confused to why I felt so obsessed with Sam, he already told me to stay away from him, meaning he probably hates me for no reason, the moron.
I made it down the stairs and I saw James in the living room. He was sitting on one of the big white couches, remote in hand, watching the plasma screen TV. It sounded like the Rugby was on.
He saw me coming down the stairs and he boomed; “Hey, what took you so long?”
He had muted the TV and was grinning beautifully.
“I'm slow okay,” I said to him, smiling a little impish.
I walked past him and into the kitchen where Elane and Jane were sitting on the left side, and Peter and Sam were sitting on the right side of the huge oval metal table.
Summer was standing over the oven cooking, then she turned around towards me with a smile on her friendly face.
“Here you go Layla,” she said, handing me a plate of food.
Summer was wearing very formal clothes today; a white blouse and black slacks, and her long light brown hair was tied in a bun. She was looking very professional today.
“Oh, Summer you didn't have to do that,” I said, walking over and taking it while feeling a little spoilt and embarrassed.
The last person to make me breakfast was... Adam, he made me breakfast every morning, and when I was sick or if it was a special occasion like my birthday he would make me breakfast in bed.
I sighed in my head, giving her an awkward smile.
“No, don't worry about it lovely,” she said, waving it off.
“Lays,” Elane called, standing up and moving over to the chair next to her. “Come and sit next to me.”
I went over to her obediently and sat down in the chair she gestured to, nervous about being so close to Sam. I was now seated between Jane and Elane, directly across
from Sam as they were both talking about what we could do today.
I started eating and I saw Summer sit down with a plate of food between Sam and Peter, and as I peeked over at Sam I saw he sat glaring at his food. I couldn't help but feel just the teeniest bit uncomfortable. So, to distract myself from looking at him, I immersed myself in todays plans as well, but after a couple of minutes Sam shoved away from the table abruptly, scraped the remainders of his food in the bin and put his plate in the dishwasher. Then he strode off out of the room without a word.
I realised I wasn't the only one watching after the weird boy as he stormed away. After he was out of sight I could feel that everyone around me felt disappointment towards him for some reason. Everyone started talking again, but they seemed more animated in their conversations than they did before. Something strange was happening here, but I could only think that because I was getting strange feelings surge through me at different times, some felt like my skin was tingling all over and others wanted to make me throw up. Maybe it was just me though, maybe something was wrong in my head and thats why I felt like I confusingly liked this guy who seems to hate my guts.
Peter left around 10:00am, he had to meet with a patient, I think he is a psychologist. Summer also left when he did, she had to meet with a family to plan someones wedding because of the whole florist and party planner thing, explaining her attire. So, it was just us teens at the cheery Archer house for today. Yay, I thought sarcastically to myself.
After breakfast Jane decided we should watch movies until lunch and then we would go for a swim. I asked them wouldn't the pool be freezing, but they said that it was heated, so that was a good thing, it would be like a big spa; nice and relaxing.
It was around 11:30am, we were sitting in the upstairs living room watching a movie when I heard a loud reeve come from the garage downstairs. It was grouse, sounding like it came from a very powerful car.
Jane and Elane both looked at me and then at each other, by the looks on their faces this couldnt be good.
I looked at Elane and I could see her jaw was set but she didnt make a move. Jane got off the couch instead and walked down the hallway, silently cussing to herself, then I heard her run down the stairs and I didn't know what in the hell was going on.
“Elane, what's wrong?” I stared at her suspiciously until she met my gaze.
She sighed. “It's nothing... really, it's just…”
“Just what?” I prompted her.
“Well I am sure you've seen Sams rude behaviour.” She frowned.
“Should I leave?” I asked, getting up.
“No!” Elane shouted, grabbing my arm and pulling me back down onto the couch. “It's just he feels a bit… uncomfortable with you here.”
“Oh, I'm… confused. Did I do something wrong?”
I was trying to figure out why he would be uncomfortable, it didn't make any sense. Though he did tell me to stay away from him, I couldn't forget that.
“No of course not, you did nothing of the sort, he is just being an idiotic ignoramus.” Elane sighed again while shaking her head.
I think I heard her mumble something along the lines of; He will thank me for this someday.
“Alright,” I said, unsure. “What should we do now then?”
“Let us finish watching this movie, everything should be fine,” Elane tried to reassure me, but it sounded like she was talking to herself.
So just Elane and I finished watching the movie, Jane never came back upstairs. But James however did. He wondered over to us and asked me to scoot over, he said he liked this movie. I had looked at him in disbelief but made the non-existent space for him which I regret doing. He was annoying, he laughed at everything, even though it was suppose to be a romantic drama movie. He treated it like it was a comedy. In the movie when Haley was dying in Brians arms at the end, he started howling with laughter, the tears were practically rolling down his cheeks, he was laughing that hard, making it really hard to watch.
The movie finally ended soon after that and so did the laughter, thank god!
“Well, what are we going to do now?” James asked, his pearl smile spreading across his fair face.
I was squished between Elane and James on the small couch so James had to look around me to see what Elane would say.
“Well it is nearly 1:00pm, so swimming it is,” Elane answered.
Elane left me to get changed in the guest room bathroom.
Shed given me a pair of board shorts and a swim top that looked too expensive and brand new. I was sort of scared to wear them.
While I got dressed I kept thinking over what Elane said about Sam being uncomfortable. It didnt make any sense to me, what did I do to make him feel the way he does? I kept thinking over and over again, but nothing worked. How could he be feeling uncomfortable? He was the one making me uncomfortable.
I realised I was still wearing the ring Elane had given me last night. Id have to give that back to her soon, I thought to myself.
I looked at myself in the mirror, the blue went really well with my skin colour, and embarrassing enough it made my eyes stand out I noticed way too quickly.
“You're so big headed,” I said to myself in the mirror depressingly.
I left the guest room and walked into the small living room. Elane was waiting in one of the recliners, already changed into board shorts and a bikini top. I noticed that my swim top was half a swim top and half a bikini, I think it was called a tankini.
“Elane, I forgot to give you back the ring you gave me last night.”
I had the ring in my hand and was walking over to give it back to her.
“No, you keep it,” she said, her lips twitching up in the corners as I looked down on her.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“Whose is it anyway, just out of curiosities sake?”
I looked at her and saw something in her eyes, she looked wary.
“Well?” I prompted.
“If I tell you, do you promise to keep wearing the ring?” she looked at me in question, and I looked back a little confused.
I nodded in answer, it couldnt hurt right?
“Okay,” she exhaled noisily. “Try not to panic, but… it's Sams.”
She watched my face carefully.
I nodded expressionless for a few seconds before reality hit me. “What!” I blurted out in panic.
No wonder hes angry with me, he must have saw it at breakfast.
“How do they say it... chill Layla,” Elane said coolly.
“No wonder he hates me even more, he probably thinks I stole it from him.”
I started having a panic attack, my eyes were wide and I was trembling. Elane got up and she shook my shoulders lightly.
“Lays, snap out of it. He doesn't even know I nicked it from him.”
“You stole it!” I nearly yelled.
“Technically I found it, sort of. I found it in his desk, but still, you promised to keep wearing it,” she reminded.
“Yeah, but-”
“But nothing, all I am asking is for you to wear it when you are sleeping, thats all.” She shrugged. “Just a little experiment.”
I looked at her highly suspicious now, narrowing my eyes. I remembered she didn't explain how she found me last night and now I was kind of worrying about it.
“Elane, really, how did you find me last night?”
“That is not important,” she said steadily.
“Well, why do you want me to wear this ring when I sleep so much? What and why is this experiment so important?”
She filled her cheeks with air, then blew it out noisily.
“Come sit and I will explain.”
I followed her to the small couch and sat down.
“Okay, supposedly, um… how to explain just right,” she said, nearly talking to herself. “Alright, what did you dream about last night?”
I looked at her and went rigid, not sure whether to tell her or not. Would she think I was ob
sessed with her brother if I did tell her? Shell probably think I have a typical school girl crush on him just because he is very, very good looking, but very weird I suppose.
“Exactly,” she said. “I was right after all,” she whispered, looking down at the ground.
I was feeling uncomfortable so I looked away, at that moment James walked into the room from the hallway.
“Are you two coming?” he asked.
I turned to look at him and was stunned momentarily. He was only wearing board shorts, no shirt. Oh wow he was ripped... His muscles were HUGE! I thought that he would probably be able to pick me up with just one arm, he appeared very strong. Now that he had no shirt on to hide his muscles I saw just how big and toned they were. His fair skin just added finely to the glorious mix of himself. They made his chest which had fine blonde hair, and big arms look… bigger. He had it all: the face, the biceps, the washboard abbs and the personality. How could he be nearly 16yrs old, he looked as if he had been working out for at least 20yrs solid. Nobody is born that buff.
He started snickering, and I noticed my mouth was open, so I quickly closed it, embarrassed.
“Come on,” Elane said, pulling me up off the couch with her. “We will discuss this later,” she whispered to me as we watched James walk back down the hallway, his broad back turned to us.
“Promise,” I asked, my mind still distracted with James.
“Promise.”
“Oh, by the way; nice clothes, they make your eyes stand out,” Elane said approvingly, making my cheeks turn red.
“Thanks,” I said, smiling flattered.
Oh wow, James was admittedly really hot.
We opened the door to the enclosed heated pool, and the pool was a lot bigger than I thought. It would have to be one of the biggest pools I had ever seen, made from a clever rock design so it was to look natural.
James dove straight in like a pro and started swimming around, while Elane went and tampered with the controls for the pool.
“Layla,” James sang slowly from the middle of the pool, swimming backwards in circles.
I smiled and flushed a little as I sat down on the edge, testing the water temperature with my legs. It was nice and warm.
James ducked under the water and started swimming towards me. I watched him come up and shoot out of the water and shake his head, getting me wet on purpose. Even though he had short hair I somehow still got wet with a fair amount of water.
The Hidden Revelations: First Light Page 6