by A. G. Hobson
“Hey Eva. I was wondering if I could speak to you alone.”
“Oh you want to speak to me Scott?” She offers a condescending tone.
Everyone at the table starts to giggle. Scott is getting annoyed at her for toying with him.
“Don’t be petty Eva. Sienna didn’t know about you trying to get back with me.”
“So what. Some things should be off limits. So with that being said, can you please leave our table? My new boyfriend is a little jealous.” She looks to Devin who grabs her hand.
“Yea Scott, you like to snatch up girls that you know I am interested in.”
“Oh please Devin you were only into her because she is the only cute girl in this school you haven’t been with.”
“Not true. I haven’t been with Eva or Avery.” He smiles.
“Well…” Scott looks at Avery. “That’s only because Payton would claw your eyes out for moving in on her friend.”
“That is the same reason that I never dated Eva. I wanted Sienna but that is neither here nor there. I value friendship something you know nothing about.” He stands.
Scott jumps into his face. Devin quickly reacts and shoves him. Scott stumbles and I waste no time getting over there. I run and stand in the middle of them. Eva and Payton jump to their feet. My dream rushes back to me. I look between the two of them in panic. Payton speaks.
“Don’t you dare touch Devin you slut! Look Eva, she is trying to steal him away too.” I see no softness in her eyes. She is totally infuriated. It is the look she gave me in my dream. I raise my hands in surrender. I don’t want to fight her. She is like a sister to me.
“Eva please, let’s talk.” I plead.
“There is going to be no more talking honey. You stole my boyfriend and I will never forgive you! Ever!” she screams.
I look back and Devin punches Scott. I scream and cover my mouth. They start to fight and before I know it Eva slaps me. My hands flail. I swing in the air not knowing whom I’m hitting or missing. Suddenly I feel a sting and Payton yanks me to the floor by my hair. The whole lunchroom stands by while Scott and I defend ourselves to the very group he hangs with every weekend. I turn to check and Scott is pummeling Devin. No one has come to break it up. Eva is kicking and punching me. I swing and the blow lands on her leg. She falls down right beside me. I try to stand and I feel that clunk on my head from the dream. Before the blood begins to flow, I see Payton stuffing something shiny in her pocket. My vision is obscured and I fall back. Scott yells my name and everything goes black.
“Wake up Sienna. Honey wake up.”
I hear the faint voice call out to me several times. I can’t open my eyes. Was all of that real? Did I just get into a fight with my best friend in the entire world? I am really bummed that it has come to this. I should just break up with Scott. My friendship with Eva is much more important to me than a relationship with Scott. I hope I can still make up with her. But I fear things will never be the same.
I blink and my eyes are out of focus. The bright lights are a little hazy. All I see is white. Am I dead? Is this heaven?
“Sienna? Can you open your eyes?”
I hear a woman’s voice. I do not recognize the nasally tone. It doesn’t belong to anyone I know.
“Ms. Young, please try to open your eyes.” She asks once more.
“I’m trying” I whisper.
My voice is scratchy. How long has my mouth been closed. I finally manage to open them and I notice that I am in a hospital.
“Oh my god, what happened to me? Why am I in here?” I try to speak.
“Take it easy dear. You were struck in the head with a master lock, really hard. You have had a whole lot of people in and out of here to see you dear. By the way I am Lois your nurse.” She rambles.
“Hi Lois…” I cough.
“How long have I been in here?” my voice slowly returns.
“Oh honey you have been out for about two days.”
“What!” I try to sit up.
“Oh no, don’t do that!” she is alarmed. I see her hit a button and I lie back onto the scratchy pillow.
“Where is my family?”
“Well I think your mom went down to the cafeteria. She has a boat load of people with her.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“I am going to go and find your doctor. He wanted to be alerted the moment you opened your eyes. Is there anything I can get you?”
“Yes water.” She leaves the room and I search with my eyes. Two days? They really did a number on me. And to think all of this is because I got a boyfriend. I lie back and close my eyes. I hear someone enter but I don’t open them because it may just be my nurse.
“This is all my fault. My baby is in here because of us Casey.”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“No… she is in here because of me. I should have told her about Eva. I feel so horrible.”
“Well, we can sit here and blame any and every one that is here or we can put the blame on the little skank that actually hit her.”
“Aunt Trixie?” I open my eyes to see her standing there.
They all yell in unison. “Sienna!”
All at once I am bombarded with love. They fuss over me for I don’t know how long. Mom, dad, and Scott yell apologies at me. It is all overwhelming. I grab my head to halt the pounding.
“Guys, I am getting a major brain bane.”
“Oh baby. We are so sorry. I never should have sprung this on you. It is all my fault.”
“No mom. This is my fault. I never should have dated Scott.”
“What? Scotty is your boyfriend?” she looks over across the bed to Scott.
“Eva still wants him and I didn’t know it.”
“That is not a reason to try and kill your best friend. Sienna.” She scolds.
“No one tried to kill me mom.” She can be very dramatic at times. But I don’t blame her. We are all she has in this world beside my aunt, and I guess being the way he is clinging to her now, my dad, again. “Eva didn’t hit me mom. Payton did.”
“I know darn well who hit you. But they will all pay.” My mom threatens.
I roll my eyes shut for a break from her antics and clear bright scenes flood my mind. I see Eva in her bedroom crying and I quickly open them back up. “Whoa!”
“What’s wrong Sienna? Should I call your nurse?”
“No mom. Give it a rest.”
“Oh my baby is most certainly herself.”
I look to my Aunt who isn’t really speaking. “Hi aunt Trixie. How are you?”
“I’m fine Sienna.” She looks around the room and I am wondering why she is so quiet.
“Scott?” His face is so sad. I believe he is feeling the worst.
“Yes…”
“Could you guys leave us? I know you have been here all night and probably all of yesterday, but we need to talk.”
His expression is glum. I think he is speculating my next sentence.
“Well, I am going to be staying at your house Sienna, we need to talk also.” My aunt adds.
“Sure thing. It has been so long. I can’t wait to catch up.”
My mom and dad kiss me, covering my entire face, before they all leave.
“So…” he pauses. “If you are going to break up with me, please let me down easy.” He blurts before I can speak.
“Well Scott, I am not breaking up with you. The damage is done now. Everything that has happened cannot be erased. I just hate that Eva and I may never be friends again. I wanted to know if this affects us…” I close my eyes and I see her clear as day again. She is in her bedroom with her fuchsia, satin, pajamas on. She is sitting on the end of her ridiculously cute four post bed. She is holding her fluffy white pillow weeping. I keep my eyes closed to see the scene play out. Her mom enters and she speaks.
“Call her honey. You girls are friends that won’t change.”
“Mom! She is in the hospital. I took it too far. I gave Payton the lock. She is too sadity to c
arry something like that, let alone use it. Instead of being happy for her, I lost control because he didn’t want me. I was jealous because of the way he looks at her. He was supposed to be with me and I didn’t want him with her, of all people.”
“It’s okay. Sienna loves you. Call her and apologize. Even if she doesn’t accept it today she will appreciate the call.” Her mom caresses her beautiful silky straight brown hair. Her hazel eyes are filled with tears and I feel for her.
I open my eyes and snap out of the trance.
“You were saying?” Scott inquires with a puzzled look on his face.
“Well I…” Before I can speak the hospital phone rings. It scares the bejesus out of me. I quickly grab it and I hear her timid voice.
“Sienna?”
“Yes…”
“Oh god. I am so glad that you’re awake. Are you alright?”
“I’m… fine I think.”
“I am so, so, so very sorry.” Eva grovels before she bursts into tears. “This has gone way too far. Please don’t hate me. I never thought she would actually use the lock. Sienna will you forgive me?” She pleads.
I am too stunned to speak. I swear I can’t believe I am not only dreaming ahead. Now I can see things that are happening, while my eyes are closed.
“Sienna? Please?”
Scott witnesses my horror and grabs the phone.
“Who is this?”
“Scott… oh goodness it’s me Eva.”
“Eva? What the hell do you want?” He yells. The old phone is so loud, I can hear the whole conversation.
“I want to express how sorry I am. Please allow me that.”
“She just woke up today. Give her a few.”
“I know her mom called. She gave it to me. I am really ashamed of myself.”
“She will call you when she is better!” and he hangs up the huge white phone.
“Wow. Thanks.”
“No. I just want you to be well before you address all of this.”
“I see.”
“I want to…”
“Please no more. Let’s just try to forget about the drama at Fremont and enjoy this alone time with one another.” I urge.
Scott sits on the edge of my bed and lays his head on my leg. I smile thinking, of how great my best friend/boyfriend is.
CHAPTER 8
My three days at the hospital were very comfortable. I pack up on Thursday ready to leave this whole ordeal behind. My mom is fusing over me, which is totally annoying. My room is super crowded with loved ones. My mom, dad, aunt, brother, Scott, even my grandparents has flown in from Boston. I never knew all I had to do was get hurt and I would get a heap of attention. I finally spoke with Eva the other day. She has expressed her deepest apologies over and over through texts and messages. Her parents sent me a ridiculous bouquet of the most expensive roses I have ever seen. They fill the room with a delightful fragrance. I guess we will move past it all one day but for now it is just too awkward.
“Let’s get you home baby.” My mom eagerly states
I stand slowly and grab my bag. The bandage on my head hinders me from putting my hair up. They shaved a small area for the stitches and I can feel the pain of them rubbing against it. We pile into my mom’s four door Volvo. My grandparents along with my aunt follow her, and Scott trails behind us in the Range. I arrive home and head straight for my bedroom. My entourage sets up shop down in the living room. Scott follows me. I toss my things onto the bed and sit beside them. I sigh. My mind has been spinning since I took that blow.
“Are you alright?” Scott asks.
I want to answer but I can’t, life is already rough without everyone knowing that I’m some sort of gypsy clairvoyant.
“I’m as good as I can be right now.” I return. I want answers but where do I go to get them. My life is always complicated. Things never comes easy for me, first the dreams and now when I close my eyes I am haunted by visions of the present and future. In some instances for the last couple of days I knew certain things I should not know. I am terrified of someone finding out. Scott plops beside me on the bed. He very gently caresses and slides his hand through my hair. He lightly pats the side that is bandaged.
“I am so sorry this happened to you. It’s all my fault, the whole thing.”
“Stop it Scotty. I knew what I was doing. I just didn’t think it would happen.” I lean my head towards him and rest it on his shoulder. He wraps his arm around me and we sit in silence. I am afraid to close my eyes. I don’t want to see any more future events, near or far. I stare at my feet trying to keep my eyes from closing for any period of time, except to blink. I see my door slowly creep open. I see one white pointy shoe step in and then the other. I follow the stylish pair up to a flowing striped skirt, black tank and jacket. I rest my eyes on my aunt’s youthful face. She looks a lot like my mom except she has bronze colored hair with highlights. She has green eyes unlike my mom. I wonder why she never settled down and let some lucky man have her heart.
“Sienna, I was hoping for some alone time with you before I go back to Rochester.” She looks to Scott who has set upright.
“Oh yea, of course.” I say patting his leg.
“Well, I will go home. I haven’t slept in my bed since Monday morning. I will call you later okay?” He kisses my forehead and waves before disappearing out of my bedroom door. Trixie doesn’t sit. She paces back and forth periodically catching my glare. She finally attempts communication.
“Umm, I don’t know how to really ask this but… Uh… have you had anything strange happening lately?” She stops and turns to me.
“What do you mean aunt Trixie?”
“Just has anything unusual been occurring with you?”
My heart begins to race I’m not sure if she is asking me what I believe she is asking me.
“Like…”
“Sienna please cut the crap. Have you been having strange dreams that manifest? Is that blunt enough for you?”
I gasp. How could she know? I haven’t spoken out loud about my insanity. “Actually… Friday or Thursday rather…” I am terrified to say it aloud to someone. “I dreamt of my whole day. It played out to the letter.” I look to the floor. I am truly embarrassed.
“I knew it!” she walks over to the door and shuts it.
I peer up at her through my lengthy lashes and she is biting her fist.
“Okay…” She looks as if she is thinking very hard.
“Wait you knew?” I sigh. “Thank god. I thought I was losing it. Why is this happening to me Trixie?” She sits down beside me and touches my knee.
“I am going try and explain some things to you.” she pauses as if she is trying to find a way to put things in a way to make them sane. If there is a sane way to explain this madness I am dying to hear. “Ummm… do you know how a caterpillar goes through an ummm, metamorphosis?”
I shake my head. She has lost me already.
“It wraps itself inside of a cocoon while it is in the... Well, you know that it turns into a butterfly right?”
“Yes?” I shrug.
“That is what is happening to you Sienna. You have hatched into a butterfly. Few people in this family know. Very few, we are talking literally.” She moves her hands about as if she is trying to silently calm the anxiousness in me. “There were actually only three until you. You make four.”
I straighten my back to prepare for what she is about to say. “I’m listening.” I whisper.
“At the age of twelve, I went to sleep one night. I spent an entire day in my dreams. When I woke I believed it was a day later. I didn’t tell anyone at first. But I kept having them and some were coming true down to the smells. Then when I was 17 I was in an accident with my boyfriend Kole. I was injured pretty badly. I had a concussion and was unconscious for about two days. When I finally awoke, I began having open visions when I closed my eyes. Trauma is our cocoon. It triggers and magnifies your ability. You have the power to see the future, near and far. It is up to you.
Beautiful butterfly”
My mouth drops. I know I could probably catch flies in it. First of all she is causing my head to spend with the butterfly analogies. But everything my aunt is telling me is number one on the freaky scale. I am totally convinced that I am the weirdest person in Elyria. This city just doesn’t need any more awkwardness when it comes to Sienna Young.
“Why me?” I ask with tears building on my bottom lids.
“Don’t be upset Sienna. It is a gift. I can teach you how to control it and use it to see what you want and what you don’t.” She grabs my hands and closes them tightly together. “I hoped it would be you. Your mother is just not tough enough to handle a treasure of this magnitude.”
“Where did it come from Aunt Trixie? Who or what is the origin of this curse?”
She blinks. I wait for her to respond but she just stares. I don’t want to shake her but if she isn’t forthcoming in about two seconds, she about to become a human milkshake.
“Aunt Trixie! Dish!” I yell.
“Lower your voice Sienna.” She commands. “I will tell you. But I don’t want to creep you out.”
“Too freaking late.” I roll my eyes.
“Okay…” She pauses and then continues. “Dad’s grandmother, Christina, is from an Island near Haiti. She was the one who was there to explain things to me.”
“Alright?” I say urging her to keep going.
“I was afraid of her exotic look. Her eyes were so gray they were scary to look into. They almost appeared to be white like her pupils.” I nod as she explains. “Mom use to make me spend time with her because she said she was so fond of me. I cringe as I remember her dusty old house. She would have weirdoes running in and out all hours of the night. She was a little crazy and I was angry with my mother for making me spend the summer there, at grandmother’s request.” I lie back on my bed and flip onto my belly to get comfortable. She turns to me and keeps going.
“At the beginning of the summer, a few months after my accident, I went to stay with her. At first, she would have me clean her dusty old house. When guest would come by she would send me into a room that she had prepared for me. I would sit in there for hours and just read. I would cry some days because the visions would overwhelm me. She heard me one night after one of her meetings. The old guy she was meeting with had just left. She opened my door and I quickly jumped to me feet. She came over and hugged me. She said she knew why I was upset and asked me to come into the mysterious room that her guests were always escorted to. When I entered she began to speak. She told me why she left the island.” I wait for her to go on but she doesn’t.