Chapter Twenty Two – To Act Differently

“Xander,” I call as I jog back into the scene. Just as I round the corner, he’s ripping his black Avenged Sevenfold tshirt off and exposes his muscled chest and back. There are still a few remnants of bruising from our clash with the demons and a few new ones from his kick-boxing classes but that only makes him look better. I lose my train of thought as I eye him up. This is so wrong.

“You know, I was thinking of getting a tattoo,” Xander says, talking to Michelle who uses her tosses her wet hair around like the kid she is. “Maybe a dragon on my shoulder.”

I gape at him like he’s grown a third head. “You? Your mom would flip! Plus, you’re not old enough to get it without a parent’s permission.”

“How’d you get all yours?”

Michelle laughed at Xander knowing he totally underestimates my sneakiness. I chuckle along with her. “I throw a ‘permission slip’ in front of a drunken foster parent. Easy.”

“But you got the ankle thing here when I knew you,” Xan tries again.

“Scott’s not sober all the time.” I laugh remembering how nervous I was to try getting Scott to sign the slip. I told him it was a fieldtrip and he, wanting me to leave him in peace, made it that much easier. “It was football season and he wanted the TV to himself.”

Xan laughs goofily and Michelle and I join in. But as soon as I remember who’s out front, I look dejectedly to my feet. Why does it feel like I’m a bad friend? I’m not flirting with Xander and he isn’t flirting with me. We’re hanging out as best friends like we did before everything happened.

“I, uh,” I try to form words. “Katie…”

Xan looks back at me but continues to play in the pool next to Michelle. “What about her?”

“She’s,” I say before clearing my throat to get my head to focus. “She’s here. Like, right now.”

Xander’s eyes go wide. He just dipped his head back in the water so now there’d be no way of convincing his girlfriend we weren’t swimming together. Again, knowing my sister is there wouldn’t help. Katie gets way too jealous for her own good.

“But I don’t want to get out,” he moans. Michelle splashes him with a bit of water and covers her face for retaliation.

“You whine as much as Gail does,” she giggles at him. As they play fight and Xan gets out, I think about what she said. He has been acting different lately. Instead of his cool, smooth self, he’s been awkward and confusing yet happier. I would never have guessed finding about the witchy world would make anyone feel cheery. I stop as I grab the towel for him and throw it over. It might also be the Pulemp. Trevor did say he would act different.

“Time to face the music,” Xan says regretfully.

“We’re not doing anything wrong,” I stand up for us, reiterating what I’ve been saying in my head. His eyebrows crinkle into his forehead. “Yeah I know. It’s Katie. ‘Try telling her that,’” I say in my generic man voice.

He snickers at my comment and we take the path to the side of my house. Each step makes me more anxious but as soon as I see Katie’s still smiling face, I relax a bit.

“Ruiseñor,” she says, not even differing in mood from seeing Xander walking with me. Her studded jean shorts ride up a little as she walks over. “I’m inviting you on an adventure. My cousin is having a party and I’m bringing you as an apology. Because I really am sorry.”

Normally, I would go all girly moment and run to my best friend with giggles and weird happy dancing. But there’s something I can’t place my finger on. I still walk over and give her a hug. Off or not, she’s got my forgiveness.

“It’s okay,” I say. I push back my dreads and fix my swimsuit top that’s riding up. “What kind of adventure?”

“Yay,” she says clapping her hands. “Okay, well like I said, my cousin is having a party and you’re invited. Come on.”

Katie strolls to the car with her keys jingling in her hands. I glance back at Xander, confused that she didn’t even acknowledge him.

“Hey babe,” he says, running up to her side. “What’s the rush, it’s only two. Why don’t we—”

“No,” she cut him off. She covers it up by taking her hands to his waist and pulling him closer. “It’s too far away anyway and I promised I’d be there early. It’ll be a great celebration. Like old times. Drinks and music and,—” she angles her head to stare around Xan and at me, “—cute boys for Gail.”

There it is. Katie isn’t acting weird, she’s just trying to bend this into something for all of our benefits. Not that it’s a bad thing but I could always look for my own guy. I nod my head and release the tension in my shoulders.

“It sounds awesome,” I say contentedly. “Let me just ask Scott if I can leave.”

Xander and Katie wait there and talk amongst themselves. I run back into the house and search for my soon-to-be father. Hearing the TV on in the living room, I spot him leaning on his pillow with his jaw unhinged and drool dripping from the corner of his mouth. I grab the remote to turn the shouting from the angry characters on the TV crime show and move closer with intent to wake him. How I’m going to do it is the trick.

“Just go,” Michelle pipes up unenthusiastically. I turn to her who’s tightening her grip on the towel covering her wet swimsuit. Behind her I notice the pool is already half wrapped up and the water toys put away. My little sister softly closes the back door behind her and saves the cold air from going outside. “You know he’d let you go anyway. Call when you wake up tomorrow and all that jazz. You’ve had a lot going on the past weeks so you deserve a day out.”

“How are you younger than me,” I ask her. She holds her fist out to be bumped by mine and then waves me off.

“Who knows,” she replies. Michelle walks back to the kitchen and opens the fridge for something to drink. She’s really more mature than I am. I make a mental note to do another sister day for the two of us. She deserves all of it and then some.

“I love you, little sis,” I whisper as loudly as I can and grab my messenger bag. My eyes check my sleeveless star patterned top and my black cargo shorts. I’m in cute enough clothing so I don’t think I have to change. Besides, Katie was wearing shorts and a tank too. The party’s obviously casual or she would have gone full-on party dress mode.

“Love ya too,” I hear Michelle mumble.

I close the front door behind me after wave goodbye one last time. Turning my gaze, I’m greeted by the couple being gaggingly cute again. Katie’s tan arms are wrapped around Xander’s neck and pulling him down to her. Xan’s hands are also squeezing her closer, laying on the indent of her waist under her black and grey striped tank. A sting of jealousy hits my heart but I remain expressionless.

They are a couple, I remind myself. It doesn’t matter if I like him. He loves Katie.

I sigh. Things were much simpler before the summer started. I clear my throat to announce my presence and the two back from each other. I swear I see of glimmer of shame in Xander’s eyes but it doesn’t matter either way. My fake smile widens and I pretend things are perfect between us like it used to be.

“Shall we go?” I suggest. Katie nods and the three of us climb into the car for this big adventure. I just wish the bad feeling I have about today would go away.

~*~

‘Take the next right,’ the GPS’s automated voice tells us. Xan slows down and puts his turn signal on even though there’d be no one to yell at us if we haven’t. ‘Continue on Madison Road for 2.4 miles.’

“We’ve definitely gone this way before,” Xander says tentatively. Everything in me knows he’s right but I can’t remember how. A few signs look familiar but other than that I don’t know. “Where is your cousin’s house? In Bumblefuck, Nowhere?”

“It’s only half an hour longer,” Katie replies, hitting his arm lightly. “The best thing about an adventure is leaving part of it to a surprise. Trust me.”

My best friend looks out the window with her legs neatly in front of her and her hands folded onto her lap. I’m surprised her feet aren’t on the dash, her arm isn’t out the side window and neither is she leaning on Xander in an obnoxiously cute way. Katie rubs her eyes and yawns. Something strange is going on.

“Are you okay,” I ask her with genuine concern. “You seem out of it.”

“Just a bit tired. I didn’t get much sleep last night. Music?” Her avoiding answer makes me all the more suspicious. Then again, it’s completely her type of personality. I lean back and listen to her favorite pop-rock bands sing through the car speakers. There have been days that she’s done this before. She’s dragged me on ‘adventures’, some of them amazing while others… not so much.

This girl once made me believe we were going to the movies and then dragged me on a double date with her and Xan. I was set up with the one boy from our chemistry class where she said the class itself was a clue to why we should get together. Another time she talked me into going camping with her parents. It colder than I would have liked but I later realized that was just the excuse for Scott. In less than an hour, we were at the sold out concert for Ke$ha. Katie may be nuts but she has good intentions.

I sigh again and fix my legs to bend under me. It’s making me itch to not know. I’m tempted to rip off my bracelet and ask aloud but I leave it be. Katie and I haven’t been on the best of terms I’m probably feeling the tension in the air.

We drive another long while further and the streets finally click in my mind. Last time it was dark enough to only trust my phone’s map app to direct me. Now, it’s sunny and bright enough to read the signs from a distance. Arrows point the way to the shore and sure enough, the GPS is telling us to go there. I guess she’s taking us to a beach party. That’s pretty awesome.

“I know this place,” Xander mumbles as we pull up to the familiar parking lot. “Didn’t we have the Bonfire near here?”

Among other things, I think sarcastically to myself. If this is where I think we are, then I was burned alive here, healed here and I’ve set a girl’s hair on fire accidentally in this same spot. Oh, and I also owe a mermaid who lives around here a favor. I bet she’d just love to feel my energy on this beach.

“Oh,” Katie says like she only now recognizes this place. “Indeed we did.”

“Since when did you say, ‘indeed’?” My skepticism of her continues to grow but she just laughs it off.

“In there,” Katie replies while ignoring my question again. Xander parks the car in the almost empty lot and the three of us get out of the car. I follow Katie’s pointing finger and see the ugly origami beach house. This is exactly where we had the party.

I gaze out a little and see The Ledge barely hidden by ocean mist in the distance. The rocks below it on the sandy shore are where the bonfire was held. Goosebumps start to crawl on my arm. I can tell it has the same affect on Xan when hovers near me in reassurance. My memories know this place meaning he does as well. His blue-green eyes scan the empty beach. What is so damn special about The Ledge that I have to keep returning to it?

“So where is everyone?” Xander asks.

“Inside of course,” Katie voice shrilly answers, pointing to the house. For a fraction of second I can see a confused frown on her lips but with a shake of her head, it’s gone. “The party hasn’t started quite yet.”

“Katie,” I mutter to her. Even though it’s sunny and hot out, my hands rub my sleeveless arms to keep me warm. There is something wrong. “What are we really doing here? What’s going on?”

“There’s a celebration,” Katie keeps repeating. “Seriously, my cousin is having a party. Don’t be such a wuss.”

“Babe,” Xander confronts her. “No need for names. It’s just a little odd.”

“Since when did we care about odd? Come on, it’s family!” Xan and I glance at each other. Katie has a good point. We catch up with her and walk down the path. I interlink our arms and lean my head on her shoulder. She’s still my best friend. Xander walks behind us, still not sure he’s okay with this. I don’t think I am either.

Our feet tap on the wooden porch as we approach the door. Katie swings the knocker four times on the door and waits. I strain to hear party music but there is none. Xander taps my shoulder, taking my attention. But before he can say anything, the door opens and a face I know steps into the sun.

“What the—?” The boy starts. He shakes his head as Xan and I drop our jaws. “Gail?”

“Ryan?” His shoulder length hair is tied into a ponytail and his chin has been left to stubble. He looks good but this still is bizarre. He’s Katie’s cousin. Since when?

Xander and I turn to the girl in question which makes Ryan stare at her as well. I ask her again what’s going on but I get no answer. She stares blankly into the house like she’s been shut off. I grab her arms and face her towards me but her eyes aren’t focusing.

“Katie, what’s wrong?” My hands cup her cheeks but she doesn’t respond. My heart sinks at my best friend not being able to talk. She never stops talking. “Katie please!”

“So you’re what happened to Emily,” a different sly voice says. My blood turns to ice as I gasp in the salty sea air. Xander knows it too. I back away from the door to take shelter in his arms. Ryan, completely unaware of why we’re scared, turns around and shouts to the woman walking into the living room.

“Did you invite them, Mama Ivy?”

“Of course, dear,” she says with the edges of her mouth turning up wickedly. The rope burns around her neck and her piercing blue eyes may be hidden from the others but her façade can’t fool me. And the face of her youth can’t fool Xan. My bottom lip quivers as I stare into my sister’s menacing face. “I’ve been expecting this one for a long while.”