When Darkness Falls, page 5
"Hi, Mrs. Walters. Is Jacob home?" I asked his mother, as the door swung open, and her smiling face met my eyes.
"He's in his room, Ephraim. Come on in. I just finished baking a sweet potato pie."
"May I pack a few slices up for me to go?" I inquired, as she stepped to the side, moving her long, blonde hair over to the left side of her face, exhaling.
Jeanette's smile widened. "You know this is your other home."
Not for long, I thought, smiling back, before she squeezed my shoulder and I walked up the stairs to the left of the front door, up to Jacob's room.
"Hey, Ephraim," Jacob said, as soon as my knuckles hit the white door to his bedroom.
He didn't look up, didn't even acknowledge my presence.
"Can you acknowledge that I'm in the room?"
"I spoke to you didn't I?" he scoffed, and I wanted to grab the nearest thing I could and throw it at him. But my phone wouldn't overgo the potential damage it would inflict on my already (in my mind) ex-best friend.
"You're a douche bag, you know that, right?" I asked, stepping deeper into the room.
"And you're a crap friend," he told me.
"I'm a-" I looked at him, hunched over at the far, right end of his room, staring at his computer screen. Whatever was playing was worth more time than I was, apparently, because he still didn't look up at me.
"I'm a crap friend, Jacob? Really? What planet are you living on?"
"Earth," came his one-word response, and that did it.
I threw the mug on the table next to my right, aiming straight for his head.
I watched him shudder, as the glass crashed into the back of his skull.
"FUCK, man!" he groaned, as the blood began to pour from the base of his head. His hands felt around, becoming covered in his blood. "What the hell?!"
"You deserve whatever comes next, Jacob. Remember that," was the last thing I said, before his mother came rushing up the stairs behind me, her gray eyes wide with shock.
"Oh, my god! Jerry, call 9-1-1!!" she screamed, as I slipped past her.
I grabbed half of the pieces before I left his home for good.
I doubt they would even notice.
Home was better, brighter. I could breathe there. I felt welcomed in my own home, which gave me comfort. Because I knew of so many kids who went to my school that endured living in dysfunctional family situations.
As I walked into the house, the aroma of warm, spiced apples hit my nose, filled my nostrils. I made my way into the kitchen, and there everyone was. Dad was sitting in a large, black chair, with a stirring spoon in one hand, and the bowl in the other; Mom's red hair whipped around her face as she sang out some song in French. My sister Heaven was there, watching them both with a smile on her face.
"Just in time," my Dad said, as I walked over and accepted his open embrace.
"Hi, dear. How was your day?"
I playfully messed up Heaven's hair, as I sat down in the empty chair next to Dad's.
"Freeing."
SINCLAIR
"What's got you smiling so much, or should I say who?" Katherine smiled, as she flopped down on my bed, running a hand through her hair.
I turned away from her, running my hand across my face, attempting to hide my smile from her.
"Oh, c'mon, now. Don't be shy. How was your day with Ephraim?"
I couldn't stop the smile from showing, and with all, all thirty-two of my bright, white teeth.
"Perfect," I sighed, flopping down on the bed next to her. "How's Brandon?"
She had a twinkle in her, and even though she didn't need to say a word, she did anyway.
"Perfect. So, tell me about you and Eph, and I'll tell you about me and B. We can stay up all night like we used to do..."
I nodded, placing my right hand beneath the pillow behind my head, remembering yesterday with Ephraim.
His car was a red, old Mustang, and I found it comforting that he wasn't one of those rich boys who flaunted his wealth around. I didn't know if he was wealthy or if his parents were, but that didn't matter to me. What mattered most was that he chose me to go to the bonfire with him tonight. He liked me, too, and that was important. It allowed the butterflies in my chest to flow freely. Freer than I had ever imagined. They never had flow, fluttering so smoothly, so softly as they did with Ephraim, and even though he and I had known and seen each other in passing for three years, no guy that had shared any amount of space with me, got me. Made me feel the way he did when he was doing simple things; like holding my hand or smiling at me.
He rang the doorbell, and I jerked, smoothing my hands down the edge of my red halter top, and my black jeans, before glancing at myself in the mirror once more. I quickly applied some peach gloss to my lips, grabbed my purse, yelled to my Kat and her folks that I would be back, and I was out the door.
I'm sure Kat and her father watched me all the way from the doorstep to Ephraim's car. I was so focused on not making a fool of myself that I didn't think about looking back in their direction.
It would seem too awkward and make me even more nervous. I knew Kat was smiling; her dad probably was too, I bet.
Her mom was out of town for the weekend, doing some research. She was an anthropologist, and I was itching to hear what stories she would bring back from the Alps, especially with all the crazy weather happening in recent months.
"Hi," he whispered, smiling at me, lowering his eyes.
"Hi, yourself," I responded, as he gently pulled me into a hug and kissed the top of my forehead.
"You smell nice," he exhaled, before handing me a single sunflower.
My heart did a little flip. How did he know that sunflowers were my favorite flower?
"I'm going to-"
Just like that, the door swung open, and a hand grasped the flower out of my own.
"Hey, Ephraim!" Kat spoke, before closing the door.
"Ready?" he chuckled, placing his hand on the small of my back.
"She's going to get ready soon, I'm sure. Brandon's picking her up, too."
Ephraim nodded, and for the first time in a while, I looked at him. Really looked at him. He was dressed down, in a simple black t-shirt and some cargo pants, with black canvas shoes. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail away from his face, and the t-shirt he had on really added to his muscular, lean physique. A physique I had heard several girls countless times around school.
I was hating that this break was over soon, but I knew with Ephraim around, I would enjoy the next semester even more.
"They never start on time anyway. Ready?" he asked, nodding toward his car.
"Of course," I smiled, as his fingers found my hand, and the spaces between our fingers interlaced.
I almost squealed, I bet I did inwardly, because our hands felt so good together. Warmth coursed through my body with just that fluid touch as we strolled to his car. He opened the door for more, and I slid along the beige, leather interior, watching him walk around to his side of the car.
"I hope you're ready to have the time of your life tonight."
"After the year I've had, Ephraim, I'm ready for anything."
He brought my hand to his lips before starting the car.
My phone chimed, signaling a text. I was sure that was Kat. I would respond to her later. Right now, my focus was on enjoying the time I had been granted with Ephraim.
Once we arrived at the beach some twenty minutes later, Ephraim pulled out a blanket from the trunk of his car, pulling me into his side with his right arm.
We made our way over the sand dunes. I smelled the burning fire first, then saw it, and the people surrounding it. I wondered what they would think of me. Wondered if they would be cool or start drama just because I was there with Ephraim. Brandon, truth be told was more popular than Ephraim, but he didn't seem to mind that.
He grinned down at me.
"Just relax, babe. You're going to be just fine. They're cool. I promise, and if they start some crap, I'll handle them."
His eyes held so much promise, and he licked his lips. That, I had come to realize, was the universal sign that most guys used when they were about to kiss you.
My heart did a little pause, a stutter, and my stomach flipped. Was he about to kiss me? My eyes closed for the briefest moment, and as I felt his breath mingle with mine, everything froze.
"EPHRAIM! GET OVER HERE WITH THAT BEAUTIFUL GIRL," a voice I didn't recognize yelled from eyesight, and my eyes shot open.
He jerked, stunned and taken aback, too.
He shrugged his right shoulder, taking my hand in his. "People," he muttered, releasing a chuckle, as I leaned against his shoulder for a moment.
"Yeah," I agreed.
"When I kiss you, it's going to be perfect. No prying eyes. No distractions. Just us," he whispered in my ear, squeezing my hand.
"What took you so long, dude? We've been waiting for over an hour for you and her to show up!"
So they knew of me. I smiled, feeling better that he had told his friends about me and wasn't afraid to bring me around them.
"This is Sinclair everyone. My soon-to-be girl," he proudly confessed, and I melted inside a little bit. Or my heart did.
Either way, I totally was swooning.
Hard.
I blushed, I bet. I felt my cheeks grow warm, as the three guys and girls all smiled and waved at me.
They were a good looking crew, and they were all coupled up. Oddly enough, the three couples complement each other.
"I'm Kyle," one of the guys spoke, taking a joint from between his lips, before extending his left arm to shake my hand. He had brown eyes, a five o' clock shadow, a baby face, and caramel skin. I watched him pass the joint effortlessly to the girl with her right arm slung over his shoulders.
"Mia," she spoke, smiling at me, her eyes glossy. With her bright, platinum blonde hair, moss green eyes, and butterscotch skin, she was too pretty for words.
"Blaise," another guy said next to them. He was redhead, with blue eyes, and olive skin. "And this is my girl Paris," he added, gently stroking the arm of the brunette next to his right.
Her skin turned bright red, as she waved timidly at me. She must have been a newbie to their group. Her pixie cut framed her small face, giving her that 'I'm just a freshman' look. I hoped he wasn't out to ruin her.
"Conner," the last guy spoke, reminding me a little bit of Ephraim- with his dark features. The black, rimmed glasses he wore seemed so out of place for his face yet once I looked a bit deeper for a moment, they suited him.
"And I'm Ty," a dark skinned mixed girl with thick, black curly hair spoke, shaking my hand roughly.
"Nice to meet you all," I said, as Ephraim pulled me down close to the fire, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind.
We soon settled into a slow rhythm. The guys passed another blunt around, while us girls watched them get lit. Ephraim didn't take a puff, which I found shocking.
"I like my lungs healthy like the rest of me," he whispered slowly so that only I could hear it.
I nodded, lifting his left arm to my lips.
"Ya'll are too cute," a voice I recognized as Brandon's broke into the mellow vibe of the group, and I noticed he and Katherine standing near us.
"Hey, B,” Ephraim spoke, not making any sudden moves to get up from his position, laying back into the sand, holding me close.
"What's up, ya'll? Sorry we're late," he spoke, glancing at all of us. "Some crazy ass winds picked up and almost smashed us into a tree," he added, and everyone glanced at each other.
"What the hell are you talkin' about man?" Kyle chuckled, running his fingers through his girl's hair.
"Ya'll didn't... Tell em' Kat..." he shook his head, as his face softened.
"Out of nowhere," was all she said, and my heart sped up a little bit.
It was happening again...
Great.
"Yeah," Katherine spoke, breaking into my thoughts, "I remember all that. I was there, remember? I want to know what happened after you guys left. Did he kiss you? Did you kiss him back? How was it?"
"Did Brandon kiss you?" I countered, grinning.
"Yes."
"Oh, yeah."
I smiled at her, choosing my next words carefully.
"Did you guys.... Is that why you were late?"
Kat chuckled, shaking her head and sitting up, grabbing a bottle of water from her side of the bed. She took a swing before looking me in the eyes again.
"And if I told you we did? What would you say?"
"With that guy? He's hot! I would give you a high-five and tell you to wrap it up. You're grown. We're grown. Have fun. Live life. All that stuff your dad probably doesn't say, and your mom wants to say but isn't around to say."
She grinned, then, squeezing my right shoulder.
"Thanks, girl..." she sighed, laying back against the pillows. "You always make me feel like I'm doing the right thing."
"You are, Kat. You're doing the right thing for you. Doing what makes you happy. Living for life for you and not for anyone else. You know how many people today don't do that? You know how many kids at our school just walk around, trying to fit in, and it kills them every day because they aren';t living their truth?"
She bit her lip, eyeing me in silence.
"Hadn't thought about it that way, Sin..." she muttered, chewing on her bottom lip.
I took her right hand in my left and smiled at her.
"Look, babe. I want you to know I'm proud of you. If I die tomorrow or the next day... Or if we die together, God forbid that will happen-"
She cut me off, pulling me into the tightest hug ever.
"Don't say that! You aren’t going anywhere, and neither am I! Okay?"
"Okay, Kat. But seriously..."
"I love you, too, Sinclair Nicole James."
"And I love you, Katherine Amanda Robertson."
She yawned, and a few seconds later, I yawned, too. One of the greatest unsolved mysteries of life.
"Night, Sin. See you in the morning," she muttered, rolling over on her right side.
She was snoring the next second.
"Night, Kat," I answered, before staring at her ceiling fan above us, as it whirled, the chain hitting the light.
I closed my eyes for a brief moment, thinking of Ephraim, before pain swelled in my heart. Pain clutched my chest, and the next second, I was whisked away from Katherine's bed and into a room of bright, white light.
"I've been waiting for you, Sinclair," a voice said.
A massive, booming voice that filled me with fear and comfort all at once. I didn't see anything but the bright light, as I felt my last breath leave me, and my eyes fluttered closed.
"Stay with me, Sinclair. I need you to stay with me."
The voice....
"Where am I?" my voice cracked, as tears began to stream down my face.
"You know where you are, My Darling Child."
I knew that voice. I forced my eyes open, as I glanced around the room, finding no one else but myself and this bright, white room.
"I had to take you away... for a moment, but you shall return. I promise. I need you to see how much he loves you."
"Why can't I do that on Earth?" How in the world I knew I had died and gone beyond Earth puzzled me.
Heaven. I was in Heaven.
"Because you would lose sight of his love there and fall into temptation. I can't have that happen. You need to be protected. There's someone out to harm you, and I can't have you die by their hand... Not again."
Had... It just said 'not again'? And who was this him It was talking about?
EPHRAIM
I didn't know what was going on or why I couldn't find her. It settled into my bones like a cancer, or an exceptionally large mass that I couldn't shake. It wouldn't go away, and that bugged me. It did more than that to my brain. It made me nervous; so nervous that my hands shook uncomfortably, and my voice cracked once my lips parted to ask any and everyone I came in contact with just where Sinclair was. But each and every time I ran across someone, I came up empty. I had even considered making posters of her and printed them up. Posting them around the local parks and even the school seemed like a clever idea.
It had been almost three weeks, and I was going insane. I needed to find her and figure out why she wasn't responding to any of my texts or calls.
Was she okay?
She wasn't dead... was she?
Then, one gloomy Sunday afternoon, my parent's doorbell rang. I dashed from the kitchen table, and my sister gave me the dirtiest look, as I made my way to the front door. It didn't matter, I just prayed whoever was on the other side of that door knew where Sinclair was. I needed to know where she was. Needed to see her. Feel her. Smell her. Taste her lips... It hit me so strongly, the feel of her lips on mine I almost fell flat on my ass.
I shook off the thought that someone was watching me, content with the fact that Heaven's eyes were probably still on the back of my frame. I opened the door, finding Katherine with red, puffy eyes.
That was when I knew something was wrong.
That was when I knew Sinclair was missing- and I was praying that we would find her. Even if Katherine and I had to search for Sinclair ourselves. I knew that we would do it; no problem. Because, even though it had been only a month, she had me. Sinclair had me and I needed her to know that. I needed to know how she felt about me. But first, I needed to know that she was okay and alive, well and breathing. From the look on Katherine's face, it wasn't good.
She sobbed, as I stepped outside with her, closing the door behind me.
"What's going on, Kat? Is she okay?"
She just shook her head over and over before grabbing on to the front of my shirt, bawling into the white cotton. I let her remain there momentarily before lifting her forehead from my stomach.
"What happened, Katherine?" I tried again, my brown knitted together.
"She- Sh- She's DEAD!" Katherine screamed so loud, I knew my eardrums had popped. In both ears. I cringed, as the high-pitched wail coursed up and down my body, filling every cell with the intensity of her pain. I knew she was hurting, and as I stood there, holding her in my arms, I felt... numb. I felt numb and frustrated.
