Authors: Rachael Brownell
“Hey, Grandma. I hope you can hear me. I have a lot of things that I want to tell you about. I’m sure you’ve been watching and already know, but I came down to tell you anyway, in case you missed anything.” I shake my head at the thought. Grandma, if she really is watching, would never miss a moment of anything, given the choice. “I’m leaving in the morning to check out a few of the colleges that you and I were going to go see. I’m going alone, but it should still be fun. If I get my choice, I’m still leaning toward NC State by the way.
“In other news, Dad and I are fighting again. Earth shattering, I know. He’s been weird since you, ya know…” I stutter over my words, but quickly regain my composure. She’s not standing in front of me. I’m not sure why I’m nervous. “I just want you to know that I won’t sell the house. I love that house and you left it to me for that reason. You knew I would never let Dad sell it, right? I plan to live there when I graduate from college, assuming that Dad’s still not there.”
I catch movement out of the corner of my eye and snap my mouth closed before someone hears me and thinks I’m talking to myself. Scanning the area, I don’t see anyone around. It looks as if I’m alone. I’m not sure what caught my attention, but there’s nothing going on now.
“I miss you, Grams. I wish you were here to go with me tomorrow. I’d feel better if I had a travel companion, someone to talk to and help me make a decision. I know you wish you were here, too. It won’t be the same without you. I’m gonna get going. I have more boxes to unpack which really means that I have boxes to ignore. I love you.”
As I stand to leave, I blow a kiss toward the water, toward Grandma’s favorite place to visit. Turning around, I find that I’m not alone. My face heats instantly from embarrassment. Even if he didn’t hear me talking to Grandma, he definitely saw me blow a kiss toward the water.
“Grant. How long have you been standing there?” I ask, not hiding my surprise.
“Which answer do you want? The truth or the one that makes you feel better?”
“Always the truth. I hate lies. They have a tendency to hurt, no matter how small.”
He tilts his head to the side slightly, studying me. “I saw you sitting up here so I came over to say hello when I heard you talking to someone. I noticed no one was around, so I backed off and waited until you finished.”
“Thank you for giving me my privacy. That means a lot.”
“No problem. So, can I ask who you were talking to?”
Before I have a chance to think about it, I blurt out the truth. “My grandmother.” Grant nods his head, accepting my response without asking any further questions. “What are you doing down here?”
“I like it down here. It’s where I come to think.”
“Me too. What are you thinking about tonight?”
Grant takes my question as an invitation to join me inside the gazebo. He takes a seat on the bench I was on and stretches his long legs out in front of him. “Honesty, right?” I nod my head at him as I take a seat on the bench across from him, my back to the water. I’ve never sat on this side of the gazebo before. The view wouldn’t be as nice if Grant wasn’t here. “I was thinking about you. You keep popping up every time I think about you. Here, at the bookstore, downtown. It’s weird.”
“Downtown?”
“Yesterday. You were in the coffee shop.”
“You were there? I didn’t see you,” I confess, thinking back and trying to remember the faces that I saw outside the coffee shop. I would have recognized Grant, there’s no doubt in my mind.
“You walked out as I was walking up.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” I ask, wondering why he’s comfortable talking to me here and at the bookstore but not in front of his friends.
“I was meeting friends. They have a special way of embarrassing me in front of people they don’t know. It’s a game to them, I think. Plus, you looked like a woman on a mission.”
“I did?”
“Yeah. What were you doing?”
“Shopping. Checking out the town. It’s been a few years since I’d been down there. It’s cute. I love the thrift store. I found these boots,” I say as I lift my right foot toward him, accidentally kicking him in the knee. “Sorry.” I grimace as I apologize.
“No big deal. I like them.”
“Thanks.” I don’t know what else to say so I let the conversation drift away and the uncomfortable silence set in. Grant seems to be enjoying the silence as he stares at me, waiting for me to continue.
“You bounce your knee when you’re uncomfortable. Did you know that?”
My leg goes still when I realize he’s right. “I’m not uncomfortable. I just don’t know what else to say.”
“You could tell me about yourself. How you ended up here or what other classes you’re taking this semester.” He sounds genuinely interested in learning more about me. I’ve never met someone as sincere as Grant and I’m not sure why, but I trust him. I want to tell him more about me, and I want to learn more about him.
He’s nice. He’s easy on the eyes. He’s well spoken. He’s also older than me, in college and probably not interested in high school girls. I don’t want to give him the wrong impression but I don’t want to lie to him.
“Maybe another time. I’ll see you in class in a few weeks, right? I’m saving you a seat apparently.”
“I sure hope so.” I stand, waving as I make my way down the steps. “It was nice seeing you again, Madison.”
I smile the entire walk home. Grant’s smile, his outstretched legs, and laid back demeanor are all I can think about. His voice, the way he says my name, echoes in my mind over and over again. This boy, this man, he’s going to get me in trouble. I just need to play it cool until my birthday, then it won’t seem like a big deal if I’m still in high school. At least I hope not.
I want to fit in, more than anything. Making sure to stop at the mall in Raleigh on my way home from my college visits, I picked up clothes that made more sense, that I thought might help me blend. You can’t tell I’m from California by looking at me. Maybe it’s because I’m not. I wasn’t born there, anyway.
When most people think of girls from California, they think long blonde hair, blue eyes, smooth tan skin, short shorts, and a very small bikini top that leaves little to the imagination. At least, that’s what I though the first time we moved to California. I was wrong. Of course, there are some stereotypical California girls. There are also a ton of other types of girls that live there, with all different body types, hair colors, and sense of style when it comes to clothing.
I look nothing like a California girl. My long, thick black hair that’s always pulled high on my head in a messy bun is in complete contrast to my naturally fair toned skin. I can’t catch a tan to save my life, and if by chance I do, it’s gone in days. My eyes are almost the color of night, a deep shade of brown that they often appear black in the right lighting. Most of the time they’re hidden behind my glasses.
Not today, though. Today I forced myself to take the time to put in my contacts, straighten my hair, and apply a small amount of makeup, something I barely ever wear. I want to make a good first impression. If I’m going to be here the entire year, then I plan on making friends. It’ll be nice to have at least one person that I can talk to and rely on for a change.
The parking lot is packed. Students are gathered in small groups, sitting on open truck tailgates, laughing and having fun. You would never know it’s the first day of school. Me? I’m planning on sitting in my car until the very last moment. I know where my classroom is. I figure I can head straight there and stop at my locker between first and second period.
A knock on my window scares the crap out of me and I jump, screaming bloody murder. I hear a loud, booming laugh coming from my left and look over to find the girl from the thrift store doubled over outside my door. I shake my head, knowing that she’s taking pleasure watching me struggle. Again.
I open my door and step out as she stands up and thrusts her hand toward me, still giggling to herself. She’s wearing a shirt similar to one that I picked up in Raleigh last week. It looks like I’m on the right track as far as fashion goes.
“Libby,” she announces rather loudly.
“Madison,” I reply, taking her hand in mine and shaking it softly.
“Why don’t we get you over your fears, Madison?” She nods her head toward the entrance to the school. How she knew I was scared of what lies ahead is beyond me.
“I’m ready whenever you are,” I say as I hear a bell ring in the distance.
“They’re playing our tune. Let’s head in.” Libby starts toward the school, not waiting for me to object. I hit the lock button on my car after grabbing my bag out of the passenger seat and jog to catch up with her. She’s quick. “So, where are you from?”
This is what I wanted. Someone to talk to. A friend. It’s going to be a long story, but one that I’m willing to share at this point. “A little bit of everywhere, but most recently California.”
Libby stops dead in her tracks and I almost run into the back of her. She looks me up and down, studying my appearance in detail. I know what she’s going to say before she even opens her mouth.
“You don’t look like a California girl.”
“I get that a lot. My mother was from southern Georgia and my father is from here.” I start walking again and Libby falls in step with me. “We move around a lot because my father is a Marine.”
“Did he get transferred here?”
I hear a warning bell ring as we walk through the open doors to the school. “Something like that,” I mutter, knowing that the conversation is far from over, but our time together is up for now. The stairs are in clear sight and I need to get to class. The last thing I need is to walk in late my first day. “It was nice seeing you again, Libby.”
“I’ll find you later and we’ll finish our conversation,” Libby hollers after me, loud enough that a few people stop and stare at me as I start to climb the stairs. I turn to wave and find Libby already immersed in conversation with a few other girls already.
***
Three classes down. I just need to get through lunch and three more and then I’m free for the day. I’m excited for my Creative Writing class at the college tomorrow morning. That’s not true. I’m excited to see Grant again. I’m hoping that I’m able to actually save him a seat, somewhere in the back of the class so we can talk. I want to get to know him better. The fact that I know nothing about him intrigues me.
Where’s he from? What’s his major? Does he have a weakness for French fries like I do?
“Madison,” I hear Libby yell. I turn away from my locker and scan the hall, but don’t see her. I hear her call my name again and that’s when I spot her. She’s standing on her tip toes, waving at me over the crowd that’s gathered in the hall. The same crowd that’s looking from her to me and back again.
I wave and hold up a finger to let her know that I’ll be right there when she starts waving me over to where she is. I stash my books in my locker and grab my cell. I unlock my screen to see that I have no missed calls. I wasn’t expecting anyone, but I’ve always had a call or text on the first day of school, a reminder Grandma’s not here to make the call anymore.
Lunch with Libby is interesting. She rarely ever stops talking. The girl that I met weeks ago at the thrift store is not the same person sitting next to me, talking my ear off. She’s nodding her head toward people, telling me their life stories. I listen intently, wondering if she’s going to expect me to remember any of what she’s telling me. I hope not because I’m horrible with names.
“So, what’s your story?”
The shift in conversation happens so suddenly I’m unprepared. The girls impatiently wait for me to finish chewing, staring at me the entire time. Two of Libby’s friends joined us a few minutes ago. Neither of them have even said hello to me yet. They were having a conversation of their own until Libby changed the subject.
“I don’t really have a story, I don’t think. My father is a Marine so we’ve always moved around a lot. I’ve lived all over the United States and in Germany for a little while. We spent the last six months in California, and now we’re here to stay, hopefully, at least until graduation.”
“Why here?” one of the girls asks. I look over to see that she’s completely engaged in our conversation now. I expected as much. I’ve been through this before. I’m the new girl. They know everything there is to know about each other, and now they want to know everything there is to know about me. I’m interesting. Until they find out that I’m really not that interesting and that’s when then I fade into the background usually. I’ve always been okay with that.
“Well, my father is from here and there’s a base not that far from where we live.”
“Why would he want a transfer here? It’s such a boring town, and if he grew up here, he knows that.” Libby’s confusion is cute. She really doesn’t get it.
“Well, my grandma was sick so we came to visit a little over a month ago, and when she passed, I asked if we could stay. I like the small town vibe here. It’s nicer than California or any other place I’ve ever lived. He was able to get a transfer, so we’re here for a while.”
Let the inquisition begin. The one thing I’ve learned about small towns … everyone knows everyone.
Libby sits up a little straighter in her chair. She tilts her head to the right and squints her eyes at me as if she’s concentrating really hard. “Thompson.” I nod. She nailed it on the first try. I guess not many people die in this sleepy little town.
“You’re a Thompson,” one of the girls yells. Heads start to turn. People are interested in who she’s talking about, and since I’m the only unfamiliar face, it’s not hard to put the pieces together.
Being known for my last name doesn’t bother me, but the attention it’s warranting right now does. “I’m going to step outside and make a call before class starts. I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Wait. I’ll come with you,” Libby hollers and jumps out of her chair. I don’t have a choice in the matter, apparently.
I can feel eyes on me as I make my way across the cafeteria. I understand they’re curious about who I am. I would be curious too if I were in their shoes. No one here has ever heard of me. It’s as if I’ve appeared out of thin air. The granddaughter of Celia Thompson, town hero in many ways. Even if they had never met my grandma, they’ve all heard of her. I guarantee it.
“Sorry about that. Megan tends to be a loud mouth at the most inappropriate times,” Libby apologizes.
“It’s no big deal. People would have figured it out eventually.”
“Yeah, but I’m sure it’s not the one thing you wanted to be known for. Your grandma was a big deal in this town. People respected her. They’ll look at you differently, partially because they know you have money.”
I never thought of that. I’ve always been tagged as a military brat. Once people found out that my father was a Marine, they had a preconceived notion of who I might be. Either they were accepting of that or they wrote me off instantly. Even the other kids with parents in the Marine Corps would have an opinion of me. They were judging me, and they were in the same boat I was in.
Moving as often as we did, it’s hard to fit in. It’s not something I was able to do easily. Libby, on the other hand, is a blessing in disguise. She’s making me feel at home, even though I don’t really think she’s even trying. I like her. She’s nice and doesn’t seem to care that I’m a military brat or from a well-known family who happens to have money.
“What about you. What’s your story? All we’ve done is talk about me today,” I say as we reach my locker and I attempt to open it.
“Born and raised here in New Bern. You already know that I work at the thrift store. My parents own the place. We live down the road from you if you’re living at your grandma’s.” I wait for her to continue but she doesn’t.
“That’s it. That’s your whole story?”
“Not really much to tell. Megan and Angie are my two best friends. We’ve been friends since elementary school. No boyfriend right now. The boys in this school are pretty pathetic. Money is all that’s important to them. My family has money but not as much as some.”
“Why is money so important to them?”
“They come from money. Everyone in this school does for the most part. They redrew the lines for the districts a few years ago. Where they put the line separates the nicer parts of town from downtown and the more rural areas. Most of the ‘prominent’ families are in our school district.” Libby’s use of finger quotations and the roll of her eyes tells me that money doesn’t matter to her at all.
“Well, I don’t have money, my family does. I can’t access anything until I’m eighteen, and I’m not sure I even want to then. There would have to be a really good reason for me to touch that money.”
“Aside from buying the car I wanted, I’m saving all my money for college. I want to do something fun with whatever is left, like travel for a year or something after I graduate.”
I close my locker as the bell rings, signaling the end of lunch. “I’m gonna head to class. I’ll catch you later.”
“Sounds good. I have a class over at the community college this afternoon, so I’ll meet you in the parking lot and drag your ass in again tomorrow morning.” She smirks at me, attempting not to laugh at her own joke.
“That’s not how I remember it happening,” I say as I let out a little giggle. It feels good to laugh. “I won’t be here in the morning. Class at the college. I’ll meet you for lunch, though.”
Libby nods in acceptance and walks away. I make my way to class with a smile on my face. I’m going to like it here I think. People are going to stare at me for a while, but I’ll get used to it. Libby is like a shining star on the darkest of nights. I’m not sure I would have survived today if it hadn’t been for her this morning.
The college parking lot is packed when I arrive. By the time I find a spot, I have to run to make it to class on time. Grant’s smiling face is the first thing I see as I cross the threshold of the classroom. Then I notice the desk next to him. It’s occupied by a backpack that’s quickly removed so that I can take a seat.
“Good morning,” he says as I plop down in the chair. “I thought you were going to save a seat for me, not the other way around.”
“That was the plan, but the parking lot was a little crazy.” I grab my book and set it on the desk before looking over at him. He’s still smiling at me. “Thanks for saving a seat for me. It looks like this class is going to be packed.” I gesture to the people filing in the door, followed closely by a man who heads to the front of the room, places a stack of papers on the podium, and drops his bag in the corner.
The professor starts by handing out a syllabus and two assignments. I’m definitely not in high school anymore if I’m getting homework on the first day of class. He keeps everyone’s attention the entire hour and then dismisses us, walking out of the classroom before anyone else.
“Well, that was intense,” I say to Grant as I pack up my untouched book.