I had no other choice, but to tell him. It was for the better.
“Exactly what did she tell you?” He creased his eyes. He started the car engine and set it in motion, but David didn’t steer the car to my house. Instead, he turned onto Ocean Boulevard and sped through town.
“Why aren’t you taking me home?” I asked as we drove past my mother’s place of work. Her car was parked in the rear, but still visible from the street. She’d be home in less than an hour.
“We are paying a visit to my mother. There are issues that must be cleared, and I will not allow anyone to intrude in my affairs any longer. I have made this subject very transparent to her.” He looked at the road ahead as he spoke.
Leave it to me to cause a family discord. Great. Now Nyx was going to think less of me for being a blabbermouth and telling David. My hands started to sweat.
“I really don’t think that’s a good idea, David. How long is this going to take?” Aside from facing Nyx, I was also worried I wouldn’t be home by the time my mom arrived.
One thing Claire was strict about was my being home by dinner, which was around an hour and a half after she finished her day at the courthouse. I hadn’t helped out with dinner or housework in two months; she let it pass because of the insomnia. But it was time to resume my responsibilities and start up with my usual routine of chores. I had counted on today being the first day to do this, but David had just changed my plans.
David kept his eye on the road. “Not long.”
I sent Claire a text message letting her know I’d be at David’s house, but that I would be home in time for dinner. I always let her know where I was if I wasn’t going straight home afterschool. She had this horrible habit of thinking the worst had happened to me if I didn’t. Usually I was with Andy or at the library doing a group project with other classmates. She replied with a wink emoticon: ;).
Nyx’s white Ferrari and the twin’s truck were parked in front of the house when we got there. The southern style antique house somehow reminded me of Scarlet O’hara and Rhett Butler from
Gone
with
the
Wind
with its tall white pillars and vintage charm. I tried to remember a quote from the movie to forget that I was about to enter into an uncomfortable situation, but David was hauling me out of the car before I could recall one.
“Hey, what’s the hurry?!” I complained, as he briskly walked me under the front porch gripping me firmly by the hand.
“Impatience is a trait of mine,” David stated.
Inside, I could hear music streaming down from the second floor. Nyx was in the den reading on a white chaise. Her soft black curls fell over the side of her shoulder, her lips slightly protruded as she read to herself. She looked like a work Michaelangelo, the artist, would have skillfully molded and kept for himself.
“Afternoon, Mother.” David led the way in to the open den. He kissed her on either side of the face.
Nyx rose to her feet. “Isis!” her huge blue eyes widened. She rushed to greet me. “I am so pleased you have come to visit.” Her lips arched in a sincere smile.
“Hi,” I said softly. “It’s very nice to see you too.” I was ashamed to be there. I had defied her confidence.
She turned to view David. “And you… a typical male. Why did you not tell me she would be visiting?” She playfully slapped his arm. “I would have prepared for afternoon tea.”
“’Tis not a social visit, Mother,” David answered.
“But a guest in my home is a rarity. It serves me well to be in good company and with a woman, such as myself. Why, you have no idea what labor it is to live under a roof with bickering boys.”
The sound of footsteps descending from the staircase drew our eyes in the direction of the foyer where the stairwell began.
“Hello, hello,” Galen said entering the room with Eryx a few steps behind.
“Hello, Isis.” Eryx took a seat on the couch. “Have you news of your ability to transport yourself from realm to realm?”
“No, sorry.” I pressed my lips together. “And I don’t really understand why I’m here right now.”
“Mmm,” Galen pursed his lips. “Treating you as his private rag doll, is he? Dragging you around in every which direction? Tisk, tisk, my brother. And here I thought you were more a man of gentle attributes.”
David, a man? I giggled inaudibly. He was a teenager. The rag doll metaphor, however, fit the bill perfectly at the moment.
“What is it that you would like me to tell her?” Nyx spoke as David was about to defend himself from Galen’s allegation.
I found it amazing that she already knew what David wanted from her without so much as breathing a word or dropping a hint.
“A private matter between Isis, you and me.” David made it clear to Eryx and Galen that he would like them to leave. Instead, they readjusted their position and got comfortable.
Seeing as how they had no intention of leaving us, David closed his eyes and exhaled loudly. He had no choice but to continue with the discussion.
“I would like you to enlighten Isis about my free will and how you will not intervene in my personal interests or decisions, and you know well what I speak of. Now proceed.” David took a reprimanding tone with his mother. It somewhat upset me.
Nyx set a hand on her hip, arching her brow. Her penetrating stare on David was indicative of the rage she felt.
“Don’t talk to her like that,” I objected. “She’s your mother. Respect her.”
“It’s okay, dear. I’ll deal with him later,” she sounded intimidating. “You and I shall speak in private, Isis.” She took my hand and led me up the stairs to her bedroom where she locked the door.
“Sit, my dear.” She patted the bed. “I shall tell you of my son’s ‘interest’ as he has proclaimed it to be.”
“Okay,” I said ambiguously.
“First, I must ask: do you feel for David, as he does for you?” She was as blunt as her sons.
My face immediately flared in awkwardness.
“I…” My mouth fell open not knowing how to react.
“You don’t have to answer, dear.” Nyx was quick to note my reaction. “But, I
can
sense in you that you are aware of his feelings.
“These boys you see downstairs have no preconceived notion of what it is to be enamored. They have only experienced temporary and mute infatuations with human girls here and there, but never to a degree that I would become ill at ease, for they know their limitations. It is not to say that they have not had relationships of the sort with their own kind, but that is a different circumstance—one that does not come to light in this conversation.
“In my experience, I have found that these male deities are far too spoiled—David is not excluded. They think they can always attain their aspirations with a snap of two fingers. They all grow quite the ego. I’m actually quite grateful that you haven’t given in to David’s charm.
“He needs to learn to fight a battle without weapons. The struggle will teach him to value and respect you. That is a lesson that must be learned on one’s own.”
She took several steps toward the window and gazed at the bright blue sky for a moment.
“Isis, I have sensed within you something, but what it is, I am not certain,” she said softly in almost a whisper.
Nyx quickly turned to look at me. “Forgive my imprudence. I was thinking aloud. I shouldn’t have pried opened your curiosity.
My pulse accelerated and I blocked out the rest of her words.
“Anyhow, I suppose I need to let my sons take responsibility for their actions. That is why I hold no opposition for David’s determination to pursue his desire of winning you over. You are free to decide whether or not you shall have him as a suitor. I will not judge you either way.”
In somewhat of a daze, I stood from the bed and walked to her.
“What did you sense in me?”
“Patience, my dear girl. In good time, you and I shall both know.” She stroked my hair and smiled.
“Oh, and Isis, the words we have exchanged in this room, behind this closed door shall remain here. You’ve seen the way my sons react under the most trivial of circumstances. I could use without the dramatics.”
“I won’t tell anyone,” I promised, and this time, I was sure to keep my big mouth shut.
Chapter 6
After having a glass of strawberry lemonade, David took me home.
“How did your chat with my mother go?” He was curious.
“It went well.” I lifted my shoulders and let them drop quickly.
“Did she tell you I was free to make my own decisions and she held no opposition to them?”
“Yes, she did mention that.”
David smiled. “She has taken a liking to you. I am very pleased.”
Claire’s car was parked in the driveway when we reached my house. David walked me to the door where I could bet anything my mom was peeking through the peephole. She probably wanted the scoop on what was happening between David and me and knew I was more reserved than she when it came to these things.
Though she was my mother and we were the best of friends, it annoyed me a bit that she got overly excited about every little detail of my life, but I also understood her young life had been transformed into that of an adult overnight when she had me.
She once told me she was living vicariously through my experiences, because she wanted to feel young again. I had to keep reminding her that she wasn’t old.
“You look disturbed.” David noted the expression on my face. I was thinking about the last part of the conversation I had with Nyx.
“Not really.” I took my tote from him. “I forgot I have to help my mom with dinner.”
“Then I shall leave you to your chores.” He locked his fingers with mine and gently pursed his lips against the back of my hand. I didn’t pull it away this time. He smiled and then went on his way.
On purpose, I turned the doorknob quickly and flung it open hoping to find Claire running away. However, I think I might have opened it too quick and instead of the door swinging right open it bounced back and I heard a loud thump followed by an “Ouch!”.
“Mom?!” I raised my hand over my mouth opening the door carefully this time.
My mom was holding her head sitting on the floor.
“Jesus Christ, Isis! What the hell is wrong with you?! Are you trying to kill me?”
I gasped and knelt next to her examining her head. There was a bump forming. “I’m so sorry, Mom. I didn’t think you’d still be behind the door.”
I felt so bad. “Should I drive you to the hospital?” I asked worried.
“No.” My mother groaned. “I’m fine. Just get me some ice.”
I helped her up and sat her at the kitchen table. “You need to stop spying on me.” My mouth tugged to one side. I took a sandwich bag and filled it with ice and handed it to her.
“I wasn’t spying… I was
observing
,” she said closing her eyes as she placed the homemade icepack above her right eye.
“Gimme a break. I’m not twelve, Mom. I know the difference.”
I walked over to the fridge and started pulling out ingredients for dinner, which she hadn’t yet started then walked over to her again.
“How do you feel?” I said, lifting the icepack off her brow to inspect it.
“Like I was hit on the head with a door,” Claire said, touching her brow. “It feels a little swollen.”
“Mom…” I bit my lip. “I think you should look in the mirror. But I have to warn you… you look a little like the elephant man,” I grimaced.
“What?” She raced to the mirror in the living room. I stayed in the kitchen afraid to see her reaction. I bit my thumbnail as I waited.
“OH… MY… GOD!” Claire’s voice pierced the house.
“Crap.” I cringed.
“I can’t go to work looking like this!” Claire pointed at the huge bump on her head and I ran to the phone.
Dr. Jameson was nice enough to make a house call. I didn’t know whom else to call, and he was, after all, a doctor. It was the least I could do even though Claire refused medical attention—she was so stubborn.
Thankfully, Claire didn’t have a concussion, but the bump distorted the proportion of her head. Dr. Jameson prescribed an anti-inflammatory and told her to keep it on ice.
Neither of us was in the mood to cook after that scare. We ended up ordering pizza and spaghetti. I sent Claire upstairs to take a load off. I washed the dishes and tidied up a bit before I went upstairs to finish the homework I wasn’t able to finish in study hall.
Journal Entry 6, 10:43 P.M.
Your sight on me and mine on yours is no longer forbidden. But to what extent, I was not told. I am confused and afraid and curious about you, about me, about us. Confused for the change of heart, afraid for falling and curious for what is to come.
* * *
I was very relieved when, in the morning, Claire’s bump was down to a minimal size, but still noticeable. My mom decided to go to work even though she was complaining about how she looked like she was growing a horn. I helped her cover the bruising with make-up, and we managed to hide the bump with her hair.
As I locked the front door with my back to the street, I heard a car coming to a halt in front of my house. I had only one guess of who that could be. My mouth couldn’t resist but to curl up. I kept my back turned, trying to get rid of my silly southern girly grin. I heard footsteps coming up the walkway. I rotated my body—my grin under control.
David walked up the porch steps to me and kissed my cheeks in his usual manner. One of his hands was behind his back. “Good morning, my lovely.” He handed me a single long-stemmed red rose. There was a note attached to it with a silky satin bow.
My silly grin was back. I giggled a bit and thanked him. I was acting like my mother on the day she told me she had a date with The Judge.
I opened the note and read it to myself.
“My Lovely,
Your guise is unparalleled,
Your touch entices my thirst,
Your presence thaws my soul,
My torso threatens to burst.
Awaiting your requited love,
Forevermore I shall remain.
Never exhausting of time,
But enduring its tribunal pain.
Ceaselessly Yours,
David Chios”
My jaw dropped. “Did you write this?” I was wide-eyed.
“I did.” He looked pleased with my reaction. “Is it to your liking?”
“David, I… I love it,” I whispered, rereading the words on the paper.
I was silent. I felt awkward not knowing how to react or what else to say. Any other girl would have fallen into his arms and melted. Too bad I wasn’t any other girl.
I wished I were less of an emotional coward with him. I wished, just for a mere second, I were a little more like Jean when it came to David—confident and unyielding. I still didn’t understand how one person could intimidate me so much.
“Shall we?” David snapped me out of my silent rambling. I nodded and started walking.
“Thank you for accepting a ride from me this morning. I doubted you would be willing since you were so set on your answer yesterday.” He reached for the car door.
“How am I supposed to refuse after a stunt like this?” I smiled holding up the rose to inhale its perfume. “You’re cheating.” I accused him quietly and lowered my head to avoid him seeing the stupid prune face I was making in an attempt to refrain my nervous giggle.
“‘All’s fair in love and war’.” I could hear the vain grin on his lip as he recited the idiom.
I held my sight on the ground entering the car, trying my hardest not to let him see how enthused I was over the gift. I wasn’t about to give in so lightly even though my stomach was in a knot and flutters of nervous spasms raced through me. My eyes deceived me now and then stealing glances of him and wondering of what other romantic gestures he was capable. Some would call it corny… incredibly corny. I would agree, holding on to my silly southern girlie smile. I was a lost cause for corny.
“Girl, he is in love with you.” Andy’s golden eyes flickered back and forth between the parchment paper and me.
Through one of the bathroom mirrors, I watched her read the poem over again like I had done as I covered my hands in scented sanitizer—I hated public restrooms.
“I’m jealous,” she sighed. “I want Bill to write me poetry too.” She pouted and handed me the note back. “Does he tutor boyfriends in need of romantic inspiration?”
“I wouldn’t doubt it,” I said, sticking the note in my pocket. “That’s probably his hobby.”
Andy and I giggled as we exited the lavatory.
When we returned to the cafeteria the first bell rang. That indicated that class would be starting in seven minutes. I was surprised Jean wasn’t prancing around Eryx or David. As a matter of fact, she wasn’t anywhere in sight.
“What were you guys doing in there?” Bill sounded perturbed. “We’ve been waiting for you forever.”
“William,” David hung his arm over Bill’s shoulder, “A man always waits patiently for his ladylove.”
“Are you for real?” Bill’s eyes narrowed. “What black and white movie did you pop out of?”
David laughed.
Andy and Bill strolled off to the side to say their good-byes before they headed off in different directions.
“So much for trying to educate a boy,” Eryx said under his breath to Galen as they passed by me.
“I wouldn’t have waited,” Galen muttered.
“Yes, but, then again, you’re no gentleman, brother,” Eryx laughed.
Galen pushed his brother in a playful manner as they walked into the crowded hall.
Andy, David and I walked to first period together, elbowing our way through.
When we got to class, Andy reached in to my tote and set the rose on my desk. I didn’t understand why she had pulled it out. I had been very careful in making sure it wouldn’t get crushed. It wasn’t until I saw Jean tighten her brows when Andy said in a really loud voice, “David, that rose you gave Isis is beautiful,” that I understood Andy’s reason for putting the flower on display.
“And yet it somehow manages to pale in her presence,” David added.
“I read the poem you wrote her,” Andy blurted out.
“Andrea.” I frowned. I didn’t want David to think I was divulging personal information. Besides that, Andy’s comment embarrassed me because now David knew I gave it enough importance to share it, and Andy had just shared it with the entire senior class.
“Really?” David was surprised. “What did you think of it?”
“It’s sweet. Passionate. Appealing to the senses.” Andy sounded serious, like a true critic. “Have you thought of majoring in literature? You’d make an excellent writer.”
“Perhaps.” David and I exchanged a quick smirk, knowing full well his scholastic level was beyond a simple degree in literature.
Shortly after, class began and Mrs. Lopez, our teacher, started the day’s lecture. When the teacher had handed out our assignments, toward the end of class, David started to whisper through my hair. The sweet scent of his breath made me tense.
“I shall tell you a truth… your lips taste of sweet ripened berries. I should be so forward as to take them in degust. And if it cannot be so, then I shall kneel until that day in purgatory.”
“Degust?” I asked. David didn’t answer. He tittered and sat back in his desk. I assumed he wanted me to find out what it meant for myself. I pulled out my cell phone and hid it under the desk—thank goodness for technology.
I searched on a free dictionary site for the word. The definition read, “to savor”. I peered at him over my shoulder, wondering how he could be so confident. What was it that drove this boy to be so self-assured and poignant?
David walked me to second period being as how his class was right across the hall. He leered at Simon, my lab partner, from the door. David took me by surprise when he leaned in to kiss my cheek as I reached under the table for the lab stool.
“What’s up with you and that new guy anyway?” Simon watched David leaving the room with contempt on his face.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing or none of my business?”
“Both.” I placed my hand on my chin over the table and pretended he wasn’t talking to me.
“So you’re going out with him?”
I swerved my eyes in Simon’s direction with my head following. “Could we drop this already?”
“It’s just a question, Isis.”
“Well, for future reference, I do not share my personal life with just anyone.”
“So that’s a ‘yes’?”
“Simon…” I tipped my head to the side as I said his name.
“Gimme a little hope, Isis. I’ve been waiting to ask you out since freshman year.”
“That’s… flattering.” I sounded unconcerned.
“So will you go out with me?” He stood his ground.
“Sorry, Simon. I told you, I’m not dating.”
“C’mon, Isis.” He reached for my hand. I moved it quickly to my lap before he had a chance to grip it.