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September 11 - September 12, 2020
“This is everything?” he asked with an edge of disbelief. “A duffel bag of clothes and a box of stuff? That’s everything you own?”
“If you want a job, that's fine.” His voice grew firm. “But I want you to focus on researching the Sight, finding anything you can.” I met his eyes again; he was serious. “I’m sick of the women in our family dying from this,” he continued. “I want you to have control. Understand?”
“I like the way you shop, Lexie.” He handed Karen his credit card. "Fast and frugal.” “T-That is not frugal,” I stammered. Rory laughed. “You should see the pile Tara tries when she goes shopping. I give her a limit and make her stick to it.” He signed the receipt before continuing. “You’re under even her cheapest shopping trip.”
His name was George McFee. As I listened to the story of his life over the next couple of hours, I drew his portrait in my sketchbook. I drew his face, minus the gash in his throat. It took time; he began talking about his family. His daughter Rose, she was only six when he died. His wife Charlotte and how much he missed her. He’d lived in Brooklyn in the 1920’s and had made the mistake of working with the mafia. He told me all the horrible things he did while trying to support his family. Some of it was pretty gruesome. Eventually, he went on the run. They caught up with him here. His own
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“I have never seen anything like that.” I brought my head up so I could look at him. He was looking out on the lake. “All the other times I’ve seen were horrible,” he said. “Claire was always screaming, shaking, blood pouring.” He turned back to me, his eyes meeting mine. “Why was this different?”
“You keep a record of them?” he asked, surprise in his voice. I nodded, feeling my heartache. “Some of them haven’t been found. I figured someone should remember them.”
It was the first day at a new school. Again. I wasn’t too worried about other people. I usually ended up in the library looking for a good book. However, this year I would be here all year. I could actually make a friend, maybe actually keep one. That would be new. I hadn’t been able to keep a friend since I was twelve years old and Mom lost the house.
He was a head taller than me, my head just reached his shoulders. He was wearing a pair of old jeans, a blue shirt, and a neon green hoodie. When I met his eyes, chocolate was smiling down at me. Something about his smile was infectious. I had to stop myself from smiling back. I vaguely registered his square jaw, wide full lips, and a straight nose. His hair was buzzed down on the sides but left long on top of his head. It wasn’t too long, but long enough that I could tell he hadn’t bothered combing it this morning. But what struck me was the color--it was blue, a deep bright blue.
“Hey, I like that.” He snapped his fingers and pointed at me. “But I get to call you Red.
“Mr. Turner, we’ll take her.” The other boys at the table look up, surprised. “It seems Isaac is willing to accept you into their group.” Mr. Turner gestured for me to move along.
The boy sitting next to Cookie Monster had the same face, only his hair was black, straight, and reached his jawline. He was just as tall as Cookie Monster, and his long sleeved, black shirt was tight against the muscles in his arms and chest.
I hadn’t gotten a good look at him. He was cute--high cheekbones and angled jaw. His chestnut hair was short but had a wave to it that looked completely natural. He had emerald green eyes behind black-rimmed glasses. He was leaner than the other boys, but his shoulders were still broad with some muscle to them. His baggy shirt spelled out the word “nerdy” with elements from the periodic table. I instantly loved it.
“I can’t help that I’m the better looking one, brother,” he taunted, walking backward toward the door. “And he’s so humble, too,” I said with fake awe.
“Oh yeah? What have they come up with?” I asked, actually curious. He tucked his hair behind both of his ears as we walked, showing five silver hoops running up his right earlobe. “The usual, you were in juvenile hall, you were expelled, drugs.” Ethan shrugged. “Nothing original.” He raised an eyebrow at me before adding, “There is contemplation floating around about whether your hair color is real or not. And whether or not you have a soul.” I groaned and rolled my eyes. “Those aren’t new,” I told them as we went down a few cement steps.
A rich baritone voice came from behind Miles. I looked up. A rather tall boy was standing there, a backpack over his shoulder. He looked like your boy next door, but with model good looks. His high cheekbones and sharp chin belonged in a magazine. His sandy blonde hair was close to his head. His buttoned long-sleeved shirt was blue and untucked over gray pants. His clothes didn’t hide his muscles; the guy must have to work out pretty seriously for that body.
The deep, gravelly voice came from behind me, making me jump. I turned on the bench and looked up and up. He was giant, and not just his height. A black motorcycle jacket encased his broad shoulders. I could see a black thermal underneath that was tight against the muscles on his chest. When I finally saw his face, I had to stop my mouth from dropping. Oh, shit. He had a striking face only much rougher and way scarier. His black hair wasn’t very long, but it was rumpled like he ran his hands through it often. His wide cheekbones and strong jaw made his face attractive, but a much rougher and
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“Great, Isaac has corrupted her,” Asher observed, his voice laughing. “Nope, sorry, hon, I came prepackaged this way.” I gave him my smartass smile.
“So, is this like the hot guy table at this school or what?” I asked when there was a lull, eyeing each of them in turn again. I suddenly had all five pairs of eyes on me. “No, seriously, you’re all ripped. Even Miles over there, though he’s trying to hide it with a shirt that’s too big.”
“Guys!” he all but shouted across the table. Everyone stopped talking and looked at him. “Lunch break is almost over. I make a motion to keep Red,” Isaac announced to everyone. A motion to keep me? “Seconded,” Ethan spoke up. I raised my eyebrows, they were actually voting. “Third,” Miles added quietly. “Motion carried,” Asher announced, pulling his cell phone out of his pocket. “You’re stuck with us now, sweetie. Phone numbers.”
“Hell, maybe she’ll back off if I’m walking with you.” I nodded as if I’d been listening. “No problem, chick deterrent mode activated,”
“Did you just give yourself a bloody nose to get us away from her?” He let go of my arm as we continued down another hallway. “I’m not that good,” I said in a nasally voice.
“You put a linebacker in an arm lock, with everyone in school watching, without a problem. But someone says you drew something pretty, and you blush.” I lifted my left hand and flipped him off. Asher just chuckled.
“If someone doesn’t tell me why she had blood on her I’m going to stuff someone in a locker,” Zeke growled loudly, his eyes heating up, his hands clenching into fists.
I was just climbing in when a car went by with Isaac half hanging out the window, waving. I shook my head and waved back. Isaac was nuts.
Miles finally looked at me. “About what I said in Chemistry, I wasn’t trying to say you weren’t smart,” he said, his cheeks and ears turning pink. “Things don’t always come out right when I talk to girls. Or people in general.” His fingers started tapping against his leg. “Ethan and Isaac say that I have terminal foot in mouth disease.”
It was easy hanging out with the guys. They were fun and nice. I don’t know how else to describe it; we all seemed to fit like puzzle pieces. At least I hoped I fit.
“Look, boys, I know I probably seem a bit overprotective of Lexie,” he began, the tension seeming to run out of his shoulders. “But she’s my only niece. And I’ll be damned if I’ll allow anything else to happen to her.” I felt eyes on me, thanks, Rory. That’s not going to cause any questions. No, not a one.
“That’s a good bunch of boys.” “I like ’em." I shrugged, looking back to the TV. Reality set back in. “It’d be nice if they stick around.” “What do you mean?” he asked, his head resting on his hand, his elbow on the arm of the chair. “You know what’s going to happen,” I told him my voice resigned. “They’ll be my friends until I can’t hide the Sight anymore. Then poof, they’ll be gone.”
“You can’t go through life thinking everyone is going to leave you, Lexie.” I shrugged at him. “Haven’t been wrong yet,” I pointed out. Rory sighed deeply. “Those boys might surprise you,” he said.
“Dad!” Tara scoffed. Rory looked up at her blankly. “I’m not going to punish her for defending herself,” he told her plainly. “She told him to let go, he didn’t. So, she made him. Perfectly justified.”
“Your friend?” She huffed. “You’re just the new girl, Alexis. Soon enough they won’t even be talking to you.” That hurt, I admit it, it really hurt. Because she was probably right. Even if they did want to be my friends, when they found out about the Sight, they’d be gone anyway.
Zeke: Are you okay? I bit my lip; his simple question shook my control. I took a deep breath to stop the tears from falling. I didn’t want to deal with it, not yet. So again, I was honest but vague. Alexis: I’m alive. Zeke: Some days alive is the best you get. But, there’s always tomorrow.
I turned the corner and there they were, all five of them, waiting for me. Ethan in all black again, Asher looking classic in another button-down shirt and wool coat, Zeke wearing his black clothes, wallet chain and his motorcycle jacket, Isaac in his blue hoodie, gray jeans, and white shirt. I spotted Miles. Sweet, wonderful Miles in a grey hoodie and a t-shirt with a chemical compound written across his chest, and who also had my coffee in his hand.
“If the girls here are so spineless that they can’t think for themselves, I don’t want them as friends,” I told them bluntly. I gestured at them again. “Besides, I’ve got you guys. I’m good.” All the guys smiled; Zeke smirked. “See? This is why we kept you. You think like a guy,” Ethan declared, wrapping his arm around my back jarring me.
“You don’t know a damn thing about me, Jessica.” My voice was flat and honest as I kept eye contact with her. I pushed it; I had to make her understand something very simple. “You don’t intimidate me, and you sure as hell don’t scare me.” Her eyes flashed at me, I continued, “So, knock yourself out. It’s not going to make a bit of difference to me.”
I straightened up and sighed. Zeke was leaning against the wall with Asher standing next to him. Both were watching me. I felt awkward walking up to them- after all, I did just tell Asher’s sister to pretty much fuck off. Though Asher had the biggest smile I’d ever seen. “That was beautiful,” Asher told me happily. “I’ve wanted to see Jessica taken down a peg for a long time.” “Happy to help.” Surprised, I didn’t know what else to say.
I’m pretty sure my eyebrows disappeared into my hairline. I reassessed. Jessica wasn’t a drama queen; she was a fucking bully who used drama as an excuse.
“When we broke a vase at Asher’s, his mom made voting a rule for us.” Zeke shrugged. “We’ve been doing it ever since.” “Aw, I need to see kid photos of you guys. I bet you all were adorable,” I said, unable to help smiling at them. To my astonishment, every one of them blushed a bit. Oh, this was going to be fun. “No, never, not in a million years.” Zeke denied me immediately. I was so going to find those photos. I snickered. “Oh, I so am.”
“What are you doing here?” I had never been more surprised in my life. Ethan was banging some pots and pans in the kitchen. “Beautiful is sick, we make Beautiful better,” he told me, his smooth voice calling from the kitchen.
I looked around at them all, completely and utterly dumbfounded. They came because I was sick, and they wanted to make me feel better? It was that simple for them. I felt a whole section of that wall around my heart crumble. Emotions tore through me as I looked at Rory speechless, tears filling my eyes. Rory just smiled understandingly at me.
“What is everyone doing here?” Tara asked, her voice suddenly becoming friendly. “Beautiful is sick, so we’re here to smother her back to health,” Ethan declared before turning and sitting on the floor between Miles and me.
“You guys are pretty amazing, you know,” I told them honestly. I’m glad I kept my voice from cracking. Most of them shrugged, a couple waved a hand dismissively as they watched the start of the movie. “We’re family, it’s what we do,” Miles told me absently. They really didn’t know just how incredible that was to me.
Ethan: Beautiful wins, because she’s pantless. Asher: Yeah, pantless girls always win. Zeke: Agreed. Isaac: You cheat, Red. Miles: Ignore us and get dressed, please.
“You fucking bitch-” “No, honey, you’re the fucking bitch in this scenario,” I snapped, my voice hard. “You had her cornered in a bathroom telling her to kill herself.” I spelled it out clearly for her so there would be no way she couldn’t understand. “I don’t know what your fucking damage is but you need to fucking deal with it and stop taking it out on other people.”
“Alexis blushes when someone compliments her about something she’s done,” Miles observed, his head tilting. “Oh, a new game.” Isaac’s voice was entirely too happy about this.
“Somehow Bitch Ghost got a whole lot of fucking juice.” I spotted my Blazer as I passed the library. “I can’t get past her to get to art class without her jumping me.” “Get your ass home now,” Rory ordered. I reached my truck and opened the door. “Already headed there.” I climbed in, my hands still shaking, my stomach in a knot of fear. I didn’t want to get jumped; I didn’t want to die. “I don’t know how to deal with her, Rory,” I admitted, shutting my door. I sat in my truck and was terrified for my life. “Go home, do some research. Look for a way to...deal with the problem.” The way he
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Ethan finally looked over to me. His body tense again. “You could sing the worst song ever written,” I said, “and they will line up around the block to hear you sing it.” I met those warm eyes and told him the truth. “Ethan, your voice is fucking toe-curling. You’re going to make it in music, with a band or without. It doesn’t matter.”
