Unlikely hero, p.9
Unlikely Hero, page 9
I nodded my head.
My mother took me by the hand, leading me down the hall, into the downstairs bathroom where she kept her makeup essentials, and instructed me to sit. I closed the lid on the toilet and sat waiting for her to ‘fix’ me. She took out a tiny comb with a brush on the other end and told me to close my eyes. She quickly went to work…I felt the comb go through my lashes separating them, tugging gently as she tried to remove the thickened blobs. Next, she told me to open my eyes. Using her mascara, with just a few strokes of the wand, she evened out my mascara. When I glanced up at her, I noticed she was smiling that knowing smile. Then taking a soft brush, instructed me to smile, and lightly dusted a pale pink color onto my cheeks. Handing me a light baby pink gloss tube she showed me how to put a tiny bit on my finger and rub it lightly over my lips. When she was finished, she handed me the hand mirror, I sat staring at my reflection. I looked…good. Soft, sweet…somewhat pretty.
“You look lovely, baby. What brought this on anyway?” Her question brought me back to the here and now. She started putting her make-up back into the drawer and medicine cabinet. She took my face by the chin and held it up for her inspection and nonchalantly continued, “No matter. You look very pretty.”
She kissed my forehead and turned to walk out of the bathroom. When I stepped back into the kitchen, she quickly grabbed her coffee cup and finished her coffee. Tim stared at me, then her. I stood there on display feeling the heat rush to my cheeks.
“Yeah, um, I thought I’d give it a go.” I rushed to explain, “Big mistake, huh?” I continued, “I mean, I got up before the alarm and couldn’t go back to sleep.” I stammered. “I thought about what you told me about confidence and make-up and all and thought I’d try to do it myself, but as you saw applying makeup is not one of my strong talents. Ooops.” I said smirking… I paused. “Anyway, thanks mom.” I looked at her with total awe and admiration.
She smiled her usual pretty smile and seemed all-in-all rather pleased with herself. “It just takes a little bit of practice.”
I went over to the counter to get coffee for myself. Lifting the pot up, I noticed it was empty except for a tiny amount on the bottom. I walked over to the Keurig and popped in a French Vanilla pod, pushed the button and waited for the wakeup juice to come out. I grabbed a granola bar and stood there chomping on it.
I hate these awkward moments, when no one knows what to say. We all just stood around the kitchen table. Thankfully mom made the first move.
“Okay guys, I’ve got to get going. I don’t want to be late for work,” she turned to me, “Amber, have a good day…and smile.” She winked. Then she turned to Tim and with a wicked smile, said “I’ll see you later.” Tim had a big goofy smile on his face.
I hugged her and told her, “Go get ‘em mom.” Then looked at my reflection in the glass door of the microwave, “and thanks again.” She really was the best friend I ever had. I love her so much.
She and Tim walked out the door to her car; he opened her door for her, then leaned in and gave her a kiss. They looked at each other communicating without speaking. They always did this. It was uncomfortable always feeling like the third wheel.
Seriously?
He kissed her again, and she pulled away driving off towards Manhattan. The Big Apple, I just smiled. It’s so strange to think of my mom working in NYC. She seemed so out of her league here, like a suburban soccer mom who just happened to be a great accountant. I shoved the rest of the granola bar in my mouth and washed it down with the now cold coffee.
I placed my empty mug in the sink; sure I would probably be the one washing it later anyway. I jotted down a couple of things on the grocery list Tim left on the counter top. Making sure sour cream, chocolate milk and cereal were placed on the top so Tim would see it. Then scooped up my backpack and bag and started for the door. Tim was still standing there, looking at…well, nothing. He had a meeting today with the owner of the new company he worked for. Maybe he’s just nervous.
“See ya, I’ve got to get going.” I said, moving past him.
“Have a good one Amber, see ya later.” Tim replied. “I’ll be home early, so I’ll pick up the groceries from the supermarket.”
“Cool.” I replied.
I walked out the door and down the street. The butterflies were starting to flutter a bit more than earlier. I was getting that uneasy feeling.
When I was young, I felt this feeling one other time. I stupidly fell totally head over heels for one of my camp counselors. I was crushing on him, but that was an exercise in futility to say the least. He was 23 and I was 14.
Romeo and Juliet had a better chance at a happy ending.
I turned the corner onto High Street and saw a beehive of activity in the near distance as the early morning rush descended on the campus. I was dreading going in and excited at the same time. Well, this time I’ll be ready and better prepared. I walked up the path to Building 6, Room B. I sat in the back of the classroom, as was my pattern since starting here. The butterflies were now playing volleyball with the granola.
For all I knew, my teachers could have been reciting the Pledge of Allegiance during the fifty minutes of class for all of the attention I paid to them. With the exception of Mr. Krome, who was delving deeper into Sophie’s Choice, and Mr. Thomas, whose class was the only class I actually looked forward to going to.
Mr. Thomas is a super nice guy who just happens to be a bit quirky, and likes sneaking up behind you, to look at your work. I guess that is normal for an art teacher, I wouldn’t know, not ever having taken art before. I was glad I chose the station in the back near the window, where he can only sneak up on me from the side, and I see him coming every time. He wore the same thing everyday, black pants, white shirt and red plaid tie, so unpredictable, yet predictable.
At first, I thought art would be a total waste of my time when I saw that the counselor had added the class to my schedule. But, now I feel different. I like it. It’s fun, even liberating at times.
As I walked from class to class, I noticed I was getting more attention than normal, especially from the boys. I assumed it was the makeup. Mom was right as usual, big surprise there. I did feel different, I don’t know if confidence is the word I’d use. Typically, I don’t do anything that would cause me to stand out in anyway. But strangely, I liked how it felt. I found it all funny because I was always invisible to boys. They never noticed me, and that never bothered me.
I walked from building three to the cafeteria for lunch and sat at the same table I sat at every day, the one in the corner behind the salad bar, which incidentally, is what I typically eat for lunch. Opening my backpack, I took out my notebooks to do my homework for Trig & Social Studies. I tried getting it out of the way during lunch so I would have less to do later when I got home. I also took out the pack of pop tarts Tim just bought at the supermarket, and my water bottle. I opened it, took a sip and put the top back on.
I started with Trig since it was just a review for tomorrow’s quiz and it wouldn’t take me long. I was reading over my notes from today’s class when I saw out of the corner of my eye the girl who always sits alone, I believe her name is Jen, walking towards where I was sitting. She had a strange look on her face.
I turned around to see if there was someone other than me that she may be walking toward, but I was the only one at, or near my table. I put my pop tart down, swallowed what was in my mouth, took a long draw on my water bottle, and turned to watch as she approached.
“Hey.” she said.
“Hey.” I replied. I’m sure the surprise was evident on my face.
“I’m really sorry to bother you. I don’t mean to interrupt you while you’re at lunch. I know you’d rather be left alone.”
I nodded.
So, you are talking to me why?
“It’s ok.” I said unconvincingly.
“I usually don’t, um,” she stammered, “Well, hi, my name is Jen and I’m not really sure how to say this, so I’m just gonna say what I have to say and then I’ll be out of your hair.”
I had to admit I was intrigued.
“Okay if I sit?” She wanted permission.
I nodded.
I leaned back in the chair giving her my full attention. It’s not that I dislike her or anyone else for that matter, it is just my preference is to be left alone. I’m just not good at the friend thing, I didn’t have any. Besides I wouldn’t be a good friend to anyone and I certainly wasn’t going to open up and share. It was just a lot easier to keep to myself. I’ve got too much baggage of my own.
She shrugged her shoulders and reached to pull out the chair next to me, the metal legs made a horrible screeching sound as she dragged it. A few heads turned in our direction when they heard the scraping sound from the chair. She looked at me and I could see by the look on her face, that she was obviously uncomfortable and somewhat embarrassed. This was definitely not easy for her. She slowly sat down.
She was fidgeting with the edge of her jacket.
“You’re probably going to end up thinking I’m totally nuts, not that I would blame you.” She said looking down, “everyone else here thinks I am anyway. Not that I really care what they think.” she rambled on, “but I, um, I think what I saw is something I just have to tell you.”
I looked at her just like she thought I would, like she was nuts. I’m sure she was ready for my reaction and I acted just as she predicted I would.
“I sort of have this gift,” she started. “My grandmother had it, my mom has it too, to a much smaller degree, but for some reason I seem to have it just like my grandmother did.” She went on. “Well, anyway, I kinda see things.”
Hmm. This was getting interesting to say the least. She had my attention.
“Things? What kind of things?” I asked encouragingly.
“I see things all the time, so it is not unusual for me. With some people, um… most people, I just see colors. The colors are an aura like thing. A feeling. Usually it means someone close, who, um, passed, um, is looking over them, or trying to communicate with them,” she paused, “but with you it is different. There is so much going on around you. It’s like a festival of lights.” She stopped then continued, smiling at her own comment, “Um, so to speak.” She looked totally embarrassed and squirmed in her seat.
She looked down at the floor, I saw her shoulders stiffening trying to fortify herself for the rest of what she had to say and then she just blurted it out.
“I see someone-something around you, a male I would guess by the vivid color. It’s a strong force, a really bright color. Typically when it’s bright like yours it’s male.” She rattled, “He, I mean this color, follows you everywhere. I see it around you when you’re in class. It follows you everywhere. It’s always with you.” She blurted out. She was obviously trying to tell me something I had no idea how to interpret.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before. It’s like it’s watching you, hovering over you. Trying to, um, like protect you,” she paused, “even now.” She looked up and over my head and to both sides.
She had my attention. I felt the small hairs on the back of my neck start to rise and I have to admit this was really starting to creep me out. I just stared at her, waiting to hear if there was more. She lifted her eyes to meet mine and continued.
“I don’t want to scare you or anything. I just wanted you to know. I keep getting little pieces, like a puzzle trying to come together, and right now it is hard for me to understand what it means, and even harder to try to explain it to you. I was never good at this, communicating this ability…”
“You mean you see a ‘color’, like a vision, near me?” I interrupted. “You mean like a, um… like a spirit or something?”
“Yeah, sort of.” She said quickly. “To tell you the truth, I’m not really sure what it is. I just found it really strange that this presence seemed to be getting brighter and stronger every time I see you.” She went on “I’ve never experienced this before, not like this. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to scare you. I don’t mean to. I just thought you should know.”
“Um, well, I really don’t understand what you are saying or what it means, or what I’m supposed to do.” I explained as I pushed the memories down, further down. Could she see inside me? I looked at her, “and you are scaring me.”
Push it further down, down, down.
She lowered her head. She seemed somewhat unsettled and sad.
“Like I said, I’m not totally sure myself what it is I see. I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
She got up, looked at me apologetically and walked away slowly.
Now I know why she sits alone. She’s crazy.
Can someone please explain to me what I just heard? I mean what the heck was that? I feel like I’m in the twilight zone.
I looked around the cafeteria and noticed just about everyone in the room was looking at me. Did they know she was a lunatic? Did they know about her “seeing things”?
I obviously can’t concentrate enough to finish studying for my Trig quiz now. So I finished my pop tart, most of my water and sat there waiting for the bell to ring. I went to my Earth Science class and instead of hearing the lesson, I played that strange conversation over and over again in my head. Trying to figure out exactly what she meant?
I got to my art class and after dumping my backpack and bag by my hold up, my station; I went to gather my supplies. It seemed even here, the kids were all looking at me.
Mr. Thomas wanted us, in honor of the start of Spring, to pick a creature in nature to draw, only using colored pencils. I thought to myself I would just do a bird, a yellow bird. Even I can handle that. I got my box of colored pencils, went back to my station and was flipping the page of the drawing pad over to a clean page and noticed on the ledge of the easel there was a note. I picked it up and looked around the room to see if anyone was watching, hoping to get an indication of who put it there. Everyone was self-absorbed in getting their drawings started. I turned slightly to the window and held the note down lower than the easel, so no one noticed I was reading it.
‘Amber, please meet me at the picnic tables outside the cafeteria at 2:40 after school’
The muscles in my stomach tightened. The heat of a fire was rising to my face. My ears were ringing and I felt dizzy. The butterflies have nothing on this. I mean, I feel like my insides can jump out of my body.
Who sent this? Was it Jen? The thought of that spooked me, although I was curious to know more about the colors, even though it scared the heck out of me. Was my dad trying to communicate through her? The thought of that caused a tightening feeling in my gut. It could be she is just looking for a friend, or maybe attention? Or was it the boy with the green eyes? What was his name? Who was he? What could he possibly want with me? Surely he was not attracted to me. I’m bland, boring, skinny and plain. Why would he pick me to pay attention to? Was it all a joke? Have I met him before? I’m so confused, scared, excited, thrilled, terrified…I have so many questions.
Back to the note…there was no signature, no name.
Are all the crazies out today?
I scanned the room again and then out the window, I saw nothing, heard nothing, no whispering. My only guess was it was Jen. Maybe, she has some more crazy to spread.
The dreams about the accident were slowly fading away, and I felt relieved. I also felt guilty. Could it be my dad trying to tell me he didn’t want me to forget him? Or could it be the boy with the green eyes, the mysterious stranger? Was he dangerous? Was she trying to warn me? I was totally freaked out. In any case, I needed to find out more, I needed to know, and I was curious.
After Art, I gathered my things together and packed myself up slowly, really slowly. I was waiting for all of the other kids to leave, run out to catch their buses, go to their cars. This way I can run to the girls’ bathroom and touch my face up, just in case it was him.
I pulled out the blush and the lip-gloss. I didn’t know where all these strange emotions were coming from. I was nervous. I took a long time viewing the reflection in the mirror, not recognizing the girl staring back at me. Had I changed so much that I didn’t recognize myself?
It was ten minutes later before I got my courage together, grabbed my bags, and headed out the door. As I walked around the back of the school where the cafeteria was I realized I was trembling. My nerves were gliding precariously across a real sharp edge.
I called home and the answering machine picked up, I left a message saying I was going to hit the library after school and would be a little bit later than normal. Then thought better of it wanting to make sure someone knew where I’d be, just in case. So I texted Tim and told him I had to go to the library to do research for my Earth Science Final. He answered right back, saying ‘I’ll let your mom know. If you stay longer than planned I’ll pick you up. Should we put your dinner in the microwave?’
I replied ‘No, don’t sweat it. I’ll get something when I get home. Thanks.’
When I rounded the corner and saw the picnic tables, I was relieved to see they were empty; I was the only one here. I had time to sit and gather my thoughts. I hit the rewind button in my brain and ran the events of this afternoon over and over again in my head.
Could be no one was meeting me at all and I would be made the fool sitting here alone. I had to admit to myself, if Jen showed up I’d be somewhat disappointed.
I looked at my watch, 2:30 and decided if no one showed up in fifteen minutes, I would leave and go home. My butterflies turned to mocking birds. Singing “you’re a fool” over and over in my mind.
The sun went behind thick clouds. Wouldn’t rain, but it would be overcast. The wind was starting to pick up a bit. There was a slight breeze starting in the air and it felt somewhat comforting.
I stared at my watch, the tension building inside me. My stomach tightened. I had four more minutes left until I leave. I looked up just in time to see a tall guy in a leather jacket walking towards me. To say my heart started beating fast was an understatement. I think I forgot to breathe. I sucked in air so quickly I was dizzy.
