***
That afternoon in the woods, I couldn’t stop buzzing with what had happened today by the lockers.
Ethan touched me. He said he cared. He answered me. Talking none stop to Spirit as he sat on his haunches by the garden edge, had me smile with complete amusement.
He’d come back, his pack were nowhere to be seen, and since he couldn’t talk to me; I couldn’t actually ask him anything. I was far to excited to ask him anything about yesterday. After the incident in the hall; Ethan had remained quiet, sitting beside me; I was too numb, bombarding him with my thoughts, though I remember him nodding to a question about walking home. Yet, he didn’t. I frowned at the thought of leaving school. Walking here. Yes. I walked here and Spirit showed up looking shy and a little unsure. I smiled regardless.
I know he can hear me. Like you. I know he can answer my words. In my thoughts … I rambled on for over an hour as I sat in the garden with Spirit.
He yawned for the sixth time with another wag of his tale when an owl fluttered above us. It distracted me from my thoughts and Spirit also. It hooted, which made him rise to his feet.
What’s its problem? I asked.
The owl swivelled its head around to take me in. I stared as Spirit whined and grizzled with annoyance at the stupid bird. I shrugged when a howl echoed far off.
So, I guess that’s it for today then. I rose and slung my bag on my shoulder. Tomorrow I want to draw you, so you better not get mud on your fur. I teased as the owl hooted and Spirit bounded away.
I grinned all the way home, unable to hide my smile from Elizabeth. She asked several times why I was so happy. I couldn’t tell her about Spirit and I couldn’t tell her about Ethan. Boys were a whole different story, add my not so talkative voice to the mix, and that would just be a bad mood rising.
When I arrived at school the following morning, I was a annoyed Ethan wasn’t there. At first, I thought he was late, but when I stopped off at the lockers to gather books for the next class, that was when I spotted her. She was fumbling with a handful of books, binders, and keys to lock her locker, when she dumped them into my arms.
“Here … Hold them for a sec. Thanks.” She managed without looking up at me.
I was shocked that she’d load them onto me, though she was fast and before the full weight of books became too much, she’d locked the locker and turned to pull hers from the pile.
“Thanks so much … Er …” She waited.
Was this the part where I say my name? I couldn’t. I awkwardly smiled, pressing my lips together as she tilted her head waiting.
“I’m Erika.” She handed her hand to me. “You … were here yesterday … weren’t you?”
I nodded.
I wanted more information and to glare at her with anger. But why was I angry with her? She’d stop Ethan from fighting Brant … sort of. Brant had a mystery wound on his face and no one saw who did it.
“Er … can you help me find D block.” She wanted an answer. I was on the verge of mouthing it when Valerie’s voice thrilled with laughter.
“You won’t get a word from Mute Kera.”
“Sorry.” Erika looked hurt. “I’m sure I’d get a pleasant conversation.” She rolled her eyes.
Valerie wasn’t taking offence to it.
“Oh, I’m sure you will. If you like the sound of your own voice. Come on, I’ll show you where D block is. It’s my next class anyway.”
“Kera?” Erika risked a peek at me.
I shook my head and headed in the other direction.
I’ve got Lab not English. I wanted to say, desperately wanting to ask; where was Ethan.
When I turned around, I spotted him—not Ethan, but the other boy, standing there by the side. His brow was creased with a puzzling look. There was something familiar in that look. He walked towards me, and for a fleeing second I thought he was going to ask me a question. The lights were flickering. He stepped around me and headed to Erika.
“There you are,” she beamed. “Where’s your next class?”
“D block,” he said. “And these are the ladies helping you.”
“And you are …?” Valerie was eyeing him over and I’d already lingered too long.
“Marcus …” Was the last thing I caught before I dropped my gaze and headed out of sight.
Ethan didn’t show up late in class and he didn’t show up at lunch time either. He wasn’t there. Was he sick? Did he leave town? But his siblings were here, why would he leave and they stay? He was absent beside me as was Melody, and now I was conflicted with what I missed most.
Her or him.
That afternoon, fresh tears fell, considering yesterday I was so happy that Ethan acknowledged me, and my thoughts, but today wasn’t as I hoped. He wasn’t there. The other two: Erika and Marcus sat in the garden at lunch and watched me. That was it. No one spoke to me since this morning. It wasn’t them I wanted to talk too. It was Ethan. I knew he could hear me. I just had to see him. Spirit showed up with a sadder look, and kept himself low to the ground, shamed. But when he spotted my tears, he crept closer, a nose breath from touching me.
I’m just being silly. I breathed, wiping my eyes. It’s nothing. I don’t want to be sad anymore. I dried my eyes, and took a deep breath. I’m supposed to draw you today. Ethan made me join the stupid art competition and well, I am drawing you as a lazy dog. Now … don’t move. I pulled my art book from my bag, and settled into a comfortable position, as too did Spirit.
He dropped his head to his paws and winked. With fast lines and ease of sketching, I shaped his body within moments, taking in the detail of his eyes, the flecks of gold and green with a hint of silver. I blinked. It was a silver halo around the rim of his iris. But when I paused to take it in, it was gone. That was strange. I had to fight the argument in my head. I’d never seen a wolf’s eyes up close before, and while part of me wanted to believe it was just a trick of the light; another part of me knew there was more to it. Finishing off the drawing, I held the image for Spirit to see; his eyes stared with depth. Was it possible that this animal knew what it was looking at?
Clearly it did.
He jutted his jaw enough, to show his teeth, in a smile as his tail wagged.
I shoved my book and art tools into my bag, and stood, Spirit held his gaze on me cautiously. I narrowed my eyes. Was he trying to say something to me? If he was trying to say anything at all. I hadn’t touched him since Monday when he took me to the cliff top and well, he licked me on Tuesday afternoon when I spotted him with his pack. Here, I stupidly reached towards him; the gap closed by inches. His breath lingered on my hand, warm and fresh. As my gesture would suggest, I knew it was a long shot, and in that moment, he was willing. He bowed his head when a flutter of wings had me jump. I glanced to see a brown owl, its head turned with sideward-bob; its eyes stared into mine.
The wolf growled, exposing his teeth and a surge of fear flared inside of me. With a sudden yelp, he turned and ran from the clearing.
I glanced at the owl; its head turned to the woods as though it didn’t care it had interrupted us.
Stupid bird. Its head swivelled around with wider eyes locked on me. Well that’s what you are. It hooted and took flight.
Sitting in maths B, I was buzzing with anticipation.
Ethan was sitting beside me.
He hadn’t said a word since entering; though why would he? It was maths. And secondly, I didn’t speak. I couldn’t hide my smile from under my veil of hair, but now I was a jitter of nerves. Are you going to talk to me? I asked for the tenth time in ten minutes. He showed no emotion. Working away on his sums as was the rest of the class. Hello. Ethan. Are you going to answer me?
Nothing.
That was strange. I wasn’t being silly the other day when he did answer my thoughts, because I knew he could hear them right now. Couldn’t he?
As first class ended, I pushed a note towards him. He scribbled on the other side and slid it towards me.
“Sorry Kera.
I’m a little busy today to talk with you.”
Huh. I frowned. Why would he say that? What did I do to deserve this? Why now? My thoughts darkened; the lights in the room flickered, and I pulled for fog, but it was no use.
Ethan wasn’t like before. Before the strangers showed up, he looked at me, smiled to my thoughts, even slipped in answering me. Not now that they were here. They were his adopted siblings—Erika and Marcus Smithery. Odd they took on Caleb’s name, but Ethan didn’t. It didn’t matter. He’d suddenly stopped talking to me, he also stopped sitting with me at lunch or even acknowledging me in class. I was depleted, sad, and miserable; and the rest of the day didn’t improve.