Chapter 15
“Reece called for you,” Anne announced as she buttered an English muffin.
“Oh?”
I massaged the back of my head where I felt a lingering soreness and picked up a glass of orange juice.
“I didn’t want to wake you. He said he would call back later today.”
Anne looked up at me as she placed the knife in the sink. “Did you have fun last night? I was so beat I went to bed early. I didn’t even hear you come in.”
“Fun?” I stated nervously. “Yes, we had fun.”
Seeing that I wasn’t going to expound on the matter she eyed me suspiciously and let it drop.
“Well, I have some news,” she said as her face lit up. “Jericho has invited us to spend Thanksgiving with him and Reece.”
Surprised, I reached for a box of cereal. “Really?”
“Would you like to go?” She asked as she searched my face for an answer.
Seeing her uncertainty I felt bad for my obvious lack of interest. “I think that sounds really nice, we should definitely go.”
Anne smiled in return. She looked happy, even hopeful.
The next few days were nothing if not monotonous. Reece and I had talked, but much was left unsaid, as if it all should have been forgotten. Because of that, and the things we kept locked inside of us, there was a barrier between us. I feared we were growing distant but I had a hand to play in that as well and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be close to him or I wanted to stay as we were, which was safe, even if it wasn’t satisfying. It was as though I didn’t have a place anywhere or with anyone.
Belonging.
That was it. I lacked a sense of belonging and if I could find something to anchor myself to, I might find the peace that seemed to elude me.
I put my pen down as I closed my diary. I pushed it to the side and grabbed a pillow. I folded it and placed one arm underneath it and rested my head on my other arm. It was only mid-day and the wind hissed through the window as it hinted of a drop in temperature. I looked over as Pandora entered the room by pushing on the door with her nose. She looked at me and went right to the window. She seemed to be looking at something but as usual I didn’t see anything.
At school the next day I sat down by myself and looked around the cafeteria while I unpacked my spread. I spotted Tavia who was eating lunch with Adam, her admirer from the dance. I could even see that they were holding hands under the table and I smiled when he fed her a cheeto. Just then Reece entered the cafeteria and Tavia called out to him. While they were talking I felt someone sit beside me. I looked over to see Amber push her tray away. She looked ill.
Feeling concerned I asked, “Are you okay?”
“I think I’m coming down with something,” she answered. “And I’m really cold.”
She pulled on her jacket and was hunched over.
“Let’s go to the nurse,” I said. “You should probably go home.”
Before she could answer I heard Reece ask, “What’s going on?”
He didn’t wait for an answer. He was at Amber’s side immediately and was helping her up. I grabbed her backpack and followed them to the office. Reece came out a few minutes later. He ran his hand through his straight hair and said, “Her mom is picking her up.”
We began walking and decided to talk in the library. Other than the student who was sitting behind the desk reading, it was noticeably empty. We found a small couch in the back, behind some bookshelves, and placed our things on the circular table in front of us.
Reece was still quiet, which was unusual for him. I tried to break the ice.
“I saw you chatting with Tavia. It’s been a while since I’ve spoken with her, how is she doing?”
Reece chuckled softly and looked at me for a minute before answering, “It kills you to sit in silence doesn’t it?”
“Who me?” I asked innocently before laughing a little. “I actually love silence, just not uncomfortable silence.”
“Ahh,” he said, still grinning.
“So Reece,” I ventured. “It’s been a while. I was hoping we could discuss what happened the night of the bonfire. We talked but we never really discussed it.”
“I knew this was coming,” he said. “There is no easy way to explain it.”
“What is there to explain? All I want are the facts. I was there, remember?”
“The fact is I’m not too keen on sounding like an ass. Reality is one thing, explaining it rationally is another.” He leaned in close to me and lowered his voice. “You were there Willow, you saw them. Do you think they were normal?”
“Normal?” I exclaimed. “I was attacked and no one did anything about it and they didn’t want me to either. All I want are answers. I think I deserve answers, don’t you?”
He nodded and leaned forward, clasping his hands together. “I’ve heard about them before,” he said. “But I’m having a hard time accepting it.”
He turned so that his torso was facing me. I could feel him looking. I could also feel the tension radiating from his body.
“You say you want to know the truth but I don’t know if you’re ready for the truth.”
“Try me,” I dared before softening my voice. “I really want to know.”
I knew that wanting answers and accepting them were two different things.
“You’re thoughts and opinions are important to me,” I assured him. “I want you to know that.”
I could see the corner of his lip turn up in a slight grin.
“Not nearly as important as you are to me,” he said as he leaned in closer.
I stiffened as I felt it coming, but it never did. Instead, he rested his head against mine before sitting up.
“They’re here.”
“Who are?” I whispered.
Reece closed his eyes. “You know who they are...They have lots of names.”
In the silence that followed he turned to look at me, anticipating my reaction.
“No Reece. I don’t know. I have no clue what you are talking about.”
Reece stared at me. All traces of humor were gone.
“Willow...”
He leaned in again and whispered in my ear. As he spoke my heart rate began to climb. I felt what he was saying was true.
“How can that be?” I whispered.
“It just is,” he told me. “I never would have believed it either if it weren’t for my dad and the things he has seen. He even has the scars to prove it.”
I got the feeling he was talking about more than just physical scars.
“And they aren’t all we have to worry about,” he added. “There are others.”
“Why me?” I asked.
He put his hand over mine.
“I don’t know but we will find out.”
We didn’t have time to discuss anything further as the bell rang. When we got up to leave it felt different between us, deeper, and in that depth, I felt lighter. It was as if sharing a secret had lifted a burden and brought us closer. As we were about to part ways, I whispered in his ear, “Thank you Reece.”
He paused and looked down at me and drew me in for a hug. In that moment, in the warmth and safety of one another, we felt what words couldn’t say.