CHAPTER ELEVEN
A few days had passed since Oliver's party and the Tulugaq family had made me feel like I was part of their clan. I truly felt like I was one of them, even though I often thought about my parents. I had also started school. And although it was excruciatingly embarrassing having to stand in front of my new classmates as I was introduced, strangely enough I was welcomed with open arms by everybody.
I did have a feeling that being Jo's cousin had a lot to do with it. That, and the fact that I have 'such a cute English accent,' they said.
The most surprising part about my going back to school was that I discovered that my love of reading had stood me in good stead and I was more advanced than everybody else in my year so I had managed to skip a year... which had taken me by complete surprise.
During a few lunchtimes with Jo I noticed she was the focus of many admiring glances, from boys and girls alike. She was one of the most popular girls in school and it wasn't just because she was beautiful or because she had an aura about her. It was because she was caring and friendly and was just really well liked by all... teachers and students alike.
As we sat and ate our sandwiches, Jo introduced me to some of her friends but none of them stayed to eat with us. She said she had something important to discuss with me alone and so her many friends happily went and sat elsewhere.
“Gabriel called me this morning Lilly, and told me you had a strange dream the other night. Do you want to talk about it?”
She wanted to talk about a dream? I was surprised that such a big deal would be made from a bunch of way-out thoughts that were going through my head in my sleep.
“Dreams are our unconscious mind trying to tell us something. It could be something important. It could be a memory from childhood that you're blocking, maybe...?”
I laughed, “I don't think so, somehow, Jo. I dreamed I was flying. If I was ever able to fly, I'm sure I'd remember.”
She laughed too and we continued to eat in silence for a moment, but I could sense there was something she wasn't saying.
“How come Gabriel is asking you about this, anyway?”
“I guess he thinks I'm the best person to speak to you about anything... and everything. He can see we're becoming close and I guess he wants to take advantage,” she laughed again.
“So you're like his spy or something?” I laughed.
“Yeah, I guess you could say that. But don't worry, I won't tell him anything you don't want me to tell him.”
Why was it such an issue? They were just dreams. Dreams weren't important. Not to me anyway.
“Well, if you really need to know – and I don't mind you telling him – in that dream, I turned into a raven. I doubt that's an early repressed childhood memory though,” I said smiling, as I suddenly recalled another dream I'd had. “Remember when I went into the woods alone and fell asleep by the river? Well I dreamed of a woman and a raven then too. There's something about these ravens here, isn't there?” I laughed.
Jo looked at me in a way she hadn't looked at me before. Almost as if she was looking at someone else. “Jo?” I whispered.
Her expression softened and she smiled and then the bell went, signalling the end of lunch break. “Saved by the bell, eh Jo?” I joked as she told me she'd see me later before I headed in the opposite direction to my next class.
All afternoon I couldn't shake the feeling that something strange was about to happen. It was Jo's expression that had started it all off. That feeling that she was looking at someone else even though she was looking right at me.
When I got back from school that afternoon, Meredith greeted me.
“Hi sweetie! How was your day?” she asked, giving me a quick hug as I dropped my bag on the kitchen floor and flopped down onto one of Gabriel's handmade wooden chairs.
“It was okay, thanks. Where's Gabriel?” I asked, eager to sit down with him and have a proper chat to find out, finally, just what was going on.
“I'm afraid he's had to leave town for a day or two... which is why I'm here. I'll be staying with you until he gets back.”
I tried to hide my disappointment. I loved being with Meredith but I had been hoping to finally get some answers. And why hadn't he told me he was going away? Why was everything so secretive? Life seemed even weirder all of a sudden. Instead of getting the answers I craved, the questions were just piling up and I was becoming increasingly frustrated.
Early that evening, however, something happened to take my mind off things. Oliver came round to see me. Yes... to see me!
Meredith and I had just finished eating dinner, followed by a dessert totally new to me: pumpkin pie. I'd only ever read that pumpkins were for Halloween, after seeing pictures of them carved out to make creepy lanterns. I'd no idea something so delicious could be made from them. So there I was, totally stuffed with the top button of my new black jeans undone, the jeans that Jo had given me when she'd seen my wardrobe – or lack of it. So I was lazing on the sofa when the doorbell rang. I assumed it would be for Meredith so I stayed put, eagerly reading the first Harry Potter book which I had found on the bookshelf, when in walked Oliver. Blood rushed to my cheeks as I saw him standing there.
“Hi Lilly,” he said as I struggled to get up from the sofa and do up my button at the same time.
“Er... Hi! What are you doing here?” I asked, hoping that I could make a better impression this time.
“Well... I was kind of in the area and thought I'd pop by and say hello... so hello,” he laughed as he fidgeted with a pair of gloves in his hands.
“He..llo.” God I felt stupid. Why couldn't I utter more than a few syllables to this boy?
He stood and looked around awkwardly.
“Er... why don't you sit down.” He sat.
And then silence again.
“Can I get you a drink?” I asked.
“Sure. A Coke would be great. Thanks.”
I rushed into the kitchen, via my bedroom where I brushed my hair and put on a little lip gloss (another gift donated by Jo), picked up two cans of coke and walked back into the living room. He stood as I entered the room and sat when I sat.
“So... Lilly. How are you settling in?”
“Okay I guess. Pretty well under the circumstances,” I said without even thinking.
“I'm so sorry about your parents.”
“I'm sorry about yours too.”
“Kindred spirits,” he said.
“Sorry?”
“I guess we're like kindred spirits. You and me,” he said with a sad smile.
I warmed to him even more than before and all I could think was that I just wanted to know everything about him.
“I'm sorry about the other day at your party. I didn't mean to be rude.”
“I didn't think you were rude at all. I thought you were... kind of cute, actually. Okay maybe a bit weird too,” he laughed.
He thought I was cute!
“I was disappointed that you left so abruptly though. It would have been a great party... if you'd stayed.”
“Sorry,” I managed to mumble.
“That's okay. I understand that being thrown into a party after everything you've been through was probably a little tough. All those people and stuff. I was very tempted to come after you but I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable.”
“Are you always this quiet?” he asked as he turned to look me in the eyes.
I looked at him and shook my head, “No... not really. It must just be you.”
“Oh.” He looked disappointed.
“No... I don't mean that in a bad sense. I mean, it's like at the party. I just couldn't talk. I wanted to say so many things. I just couldn't. And now, I don't know where to start.”
“So it's not because you don't like me, then,” he asked, smiling.
“Oh no! Absolutely not. You're great. I guess I just get a little shy around you.”
He laughed.
“Why don't we start like this: I'll ask you some questions about yourself and y
ou answer?”
I agreed. “So, do you miss England?”
“That's a difficult one because if I say no, that's almost like saying I don't miss my parents. But I honestly really don't miss England. I never felt particularly alive there, if you know what I mean. Here it's so different. I feel like I belong here. I never felt that over there.”
“I don't think it means you don't miss your parents. Of course you miss them. I still miss mine and they died a long time ago.”
I smiled sadly, “Ask me another.”
After a few moments he asked, “What do you think of the Canadian hospitality?”
I laughed, “That's a funny question! But now that you ask, I never realised people could be so nice. I haven't met a single person here who has been unfriendly or rude. Everyone I've met – even just briefly – has been wonderful. That's probably another reason why I'm falling for Canada.”
He smiled again and was silent for a few moments while he came up with another question.
“How are you enjoying school here?”
“Honestly? I love it. I always liked school because it was so good to get out of our flat... I mean apartment. I didn't feel as restricted there, and here... well it's a whole new ball game. For the first time in my life, I have more than one friend at school. Respect from everybody, if you know what I mean,” I said as I looked at Oliver's confused expression.
“You don't really understand what I'm talking about, do you?” He shook his head.
“Let's just say I lived a very lonely life in England. I was naïve. I didn't know anything about life. Yes I learned a lot in school, but school doesn't necessarily teach you about life, it just teaches you facts about life. I'm sorry, I'm rambling now.”
“Don't be sorry, Lilly. I think I understand what you mean. I'm just sorry that you had such a lonely upbringing. If you had grown up here, it wouldn't have been like that at all. I would have made sure of that,” he added shyly, “I would have liked to have known you before now,” he said, colour creeping up to his cheeks.
“I'd better go,” he said suddenly as he stood up. “Thanks for the Coke. Maybe we can see each other again soon?”
I nodded and smiled and before I knew it, he was gone.
As I went to sleep that night, I still had butterflies. Oliver liked me. And he thought I was cute!