“I’m right behind you.”
We walked to the kitchen together and I knew she hadn’t, but I asked, “Did you receive any calls from Julian this morning?”
“Not yet.” She stopped and turned to face me. She looked me straight in the eyes, with such sincerity, and said, “Thank you for being there last night. It’s incredibly scary to think of what he might have done if you had not been with me.”
She would never know how right she was and after thinking about Julian and his intentions, I decided she needed to better understand the severity of the situation without knowing all the details. “May I talk to you for a minute before we go inside?”
“Of course.”
“I’m glad I was there, but I’ve had a little time to think about Julian and I don’t think you can be too cautious where he is concerned. I think he could be really dangerous because it took a lot of guts to do what he did.”
“I know. He is becoming braver and bolder with every move he makes, and that’s why I have made the decision to give up my apartment at school. I can’t live next to him, so I’m driving over today to move the rest of my things home. I don’t know what that means for school this fall, but I don’t feel like I have a choice.”
I was glad she made that decision on her own, and whether she knew it or not, she didn’t have a choice. “I think that is a very wise move. I don’t have plans for the day, so would you like me to help you? We can use my truck.”
“Curry, you’re doing too much already. My roommate, Abby, said she would help me.”
“I don’t think you should go alone, even if your roommate will be in the apartment with you,” I argued.
“I’m leaving after breakfast and I’ll be gone most of the day. Are you sure you want to be tied up with me all day?” she warned.
It would frighten her to know the answer to that question. “I told you, I don’t have plans for today and I’m glad to help you.”
She stepped forward and embraced me briefly, as she said, “I really appreciate your help. Again.” I didn’t fear her nearness this time and I welcomed it.
“No problem.”
She ended our embrace first and turned to go to the kitchen. “Come on. Let’s eat. You’ll need your strength because you haven’t seen how much stuff I have to move.”
We joined Anna and Grady at the table. I drank coffee and pretended to eat, but there wasn’t a reason for anyone to pay attention to my eating habits, so it was easy to pull off the deception.
Chansey told her grandparents, “Curry is going with me to the apartment to pick up my things.”
“Oh, Curry, that is so kind of you to help.” I didn’t let Anna see I noticed the mischievous grin on her face, but I did wonder what it meant.
“I’m glad to help. I didn’t have plans today, so I’m grateful for something to do,” I admitted.
When we finished breakfast, Anna declined our offer to help clean the kitchen and insisted we get in the road. I was looking forward to the drive ahead of us because I was no longer scared of Chansey and I wanted to know everything about her.
I walked to the passenger side of my truck with her and opened her door. “By the way, where are we going?”
“My apartment is in Long Beach. It’s a little less than an hour from here.”
After we started on our way, I asked, “How did you end up in Long Beach?”
“I go to Southern at the Long Beach campus. It was too far to drive everyday, so I got an apartment close to campus. My job is in between school and home, although it’s a little further away when I’m at home, but it’s not a bad drive.”
“Well, I guess that made sense until you discovered you had a nut job living next door.”
She laughed at my crack about Julian. I loved hearing her laughter and seeing it as it reached her eyes, I realized wanted to be the reason behind it.
We approached the long bridge crossing the Singing River and she asked, “Do you know the legend of the Singing River?”
“I recall something about music coming from the waters, but I don’t remember all the details.”
“It is known for its mysterious music that sounds like a swarm of bees in flight. Many believe the sound is the death song of the Pascagoula Indian tribe that perished in the river,” she explained
I vaguely remembered parts of the legend, so I asked, “Wasn’t there a feud between two Indian tribes?”
“That’s right. There were two tribes of Indians in this area, the Pascagoula and the Biloxi. An Indian princess from the Biloxi tribe was betrothed to the chieftain of her own tribe, but she loved the Chief of the Pascagoula tribe, so she ran away with him. The Biloxi chieftain was so angry he led his braves to war against the outnumbered Pascagoula, and rather than become slaves to the Biloxi, they joined hands and began to chant a song of death while the women and children led the way into the river where they drowned themselves.”
“That’s a cool, but morbid story all in one. So, what makes the mysterious music?”
“Scientists have attempted to offer explanations for this phenomenon, but none have been proven, so I definitely believe it is the death song of the Pascagoula tribe.”
“Do you believe science can prove everything or do you think you have to trust the unknown sometimes?” I asked, curiously.
“I think science proves many interesting things, but no, I don’t think it has an answer for everything. I believe there are miracles and phenomenons we’ll never understand.”
The drive was a little shorter than I expected. I pulled into her apartment complex and backed into the spot in front of her door as Chansey scanned the parking lot and said, “I don’t see Julian’s car. I was worried he might be hanging around.”
It didn’t mean he wasn’t lurking around because she didn’t see his car around. The faster we got this done and got out of there, the better. She opened her apartment door and called for her roommate, “Abby, are you here?” but there was no answer. We entered the living room. “Hmm. She said she would be here. I hope nothing is wrong.”
She walked to the kitchen where she found a note on the table. After reading the note, she said, “Abby’s grandmother suddenly became ill, so she had to go home and won’t be here to help.”
I noticed boxes stacked along the walls labeled with Chansey’s name. “Looks like she started before she left. Is she eager to get rid of you?”
“That’s just Abby. She would have finished if she didn’t have to leave.”
We were half a dozen boxes shy of being finished when there was a knock at the door. Chansey opened the door and I recognized the putrid odor flowing from the open door before I heard Julian’s voice or the rapid acceleration of Chansey’s heart.
“Hello, Chansey, it’s good to see you again. I heard you were moving out, so I wanted to see if I could be of any assistance.”
“How did you know I was moving out? I know Abby didn’t tell you,” she questioned, anxiously.
“Let’s just say a little birdie told me,” he taunted.
When I appeared at Chansey’s side, Julian was clearly not expecting my presence, as displayed by the expression on his face. I placed a reassuring hand against Chansey’s back. “There’s only a few boxes left. Why don’t you wait for me in the truck and I’ll only be a minute?”
I waited until Chansey was in the truck to say, “Did you not understand my warning?”
He broke into a malicious grin and with his sneering voice, said, “I didn’t do a thing to her. I was only being a friendly neighbor. You can ask that group of people standing right over there if you don’t believe me. They’re my witnesses.” I knew what he really meant by referring to the witnesses.
I looked toward the truck and saw Chansey watching through the back glass of my truck. Instead of giving into my desire to end him, I stepped forward and placed a stern finger against his chest. “I know your kind well and you don’t fool me for a second, so don’t dare think that you’re going to get to her, bec
ause you’re not.”
He winked his eye at me and said, “I think you would be surprised at what I am capable of, friend. It was good to see you again. Until next time...” He tipped his pub cap, then turned and walked toward his apartment while he whistled a disturbing tune.
I walked to the truck and Chansey rolled down the window. “Stay in the truck and keep the doors locked. It will only take a minute to grab those last boxes.”
I grabbed the boxes, returned to the truck and startled her when I tapped on the window to have her unlock the door. “I think I got everything. Do you want to take another look around before we go?”
“I don’t care if I left anything. I just want to get out of here.”
“Okay. I’ll lock up.”
Chansey’s mood was different on the ride home because she was clearly shaken by Julian’s visit and I needed to take her mind off of him.
“It won’t be too late when we get back. After we get your things in the house, would you like to do something?”
“I have plans with friends tonight,” she stated.
I was disappointed, but tried to not let her hear it in my voice. “Maybe another time then.”
“My friends are getting together on the beach. Why don’t you join us and you can meet them?”
“I don’t think so. I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“Please come. It will be fun and you can leave if you’re not having a good time.” Her mood improved and she seemed to have Julian off of her mind, temporarily at least.
“Okay. I’ll go with you.”
* * *
“Granna, we’re back,” Chansey announced, as we entered the backdoor.
Anna emerged from the back of the house, surprised to see us back so quickly. “Well, that didn’t take very long. I didn’t expect you back until later this afternoon.”
Not wanting to worry her grandmother, Chansey didn’t mention the reason for our rushed return. “Well, I didn’t have a lot left at the apartment and Abby had packed a lot of my things already.”
“She is such a sweet girl.”
“Yeah. I’m going to miss living with her. Maybe she and I can find another apartment together in the fall.”
I knew it, but the thought hadn’t really crossed my mind. She would leave here and return to school at the end of the summer. I held the first of the boxes and asked, “Do you want me to put the boxes in your room?”
Before Chansey could answer, Anna suggested, “Why don’t you put everything in my studio? You don’t need any of it until you get another apartment.”
Chansey replied, “That’ll work. It’s just going to be a mess in my way if we put it in my room.”
“Do you want me to put everything against the wall, so it will be out of your way?” I asked.
“That will be perfect, Curry. I don’t know what we did around here without you,” Anna replied, with that familiar grin on her face.
Chapter 10
We finished moving Chansey’s things inside and she needed a few minutes to get ready before we met her friends at the beach. I arrived at seven, as directed by Chansey, and she met me at the door before I had the opportunity to knock. She was wearing a hot pink sundress with a thin, white sweater and each side of her hair was twisted away from her face. The twists of hair met in a decorative barrette, just below her crown, while loose tendrils framed her angelic face. I wanted to tell her how lovely she looked, and hard as I tried, I couldn’t muster up the courage.
We crossed the street to where a small crowd was gathered on the beach and Chansey introduced me to her group of friends as they all shook my hand and voiced how glad they were to meet me. Eventually, Chansey migrated off with some of the girls and I was forced to talk to the guys without her. I found I shared many common interests with a guy named Drew. He was an art major and was very interested in the work I did. While we discussed the future of graphics, I saw a familiar face, Chansey’s friend from the nursery where we bought Grady’s flowers.
I watched him as he moved toward Chansey and the group of friends she stood beside, although I was careful to not allow him to see my interest in him or his actions toward the girl I arrived with. My eyes remained turned away from them, but I watched every movement with my peripheral vision. Their interaction was similar to the previous one they shared, with one exception. He initiated all physical contact, as they spoke, and Chansey didn’t reciprocate any of his gestures. After a few minutes, I heard her tell him, “Come meet my friend, Curry.” I didn’t turn to look at them until I felt her hand on my arm.
“Curry, this is my friend, Crosby Hendrix,” she introduced. I removed my hand from the pocket of my khaki shorts and extended it to him, while he sized me up. Yes, he definitely liked her, which meant he didn’t like me being here with her. I waited for him to take my hand, and was close to withdrawing it, when he finally reached and took it in a shake a little too firm to be considered friendly.
Chansey appeared bewildered by her friend’s display of unfriendliness. “I’m gonna grab a cold one. Anybody else in need?” he asked, then turned to me and added, “What about you? You seem a little tense.” He was trying to make me look a fool in front of Chansey and their friends. It was a juvenile attempt, so I declined his challenge.
“Thanks, but I’ll pass.”
He walked to the keg and Chansey whispered, “I’m sorry. I don’t know why Crosby is acting so weird. He’s not normally like that.”
“It’s okay. I think I know what’s going on and I can’t say I blame him.”
She didn’t have time to ask for my explanation before Crosby returned and handed a foamy, cold beer in my direction. “Here, have a drink on me. It might help you loosen up some.”
“Crosby, he said he didn’t want it,” she said, obviously annoyed at her friend’s aggressive behavior.
“I think I changed my mind. Thanks,” I said, as I reached and took the red plastic cup from his hand. I knew his intentions and if he wanted to challenge me to a drinking contest, that keg couldn’t hold enough alcohol to get me drunk.
He held his cup out for a toast. “To a good time.” I lightly tapped my glass against his and began the challenge he initiated, the one he would regret.
The beach became more populated with Chansey’s friends over the next couple of hours and Crosby didn’t refill his glass without making certain I did too. The beer he pushed on me helped relax me and it contributed to the great time I was having, but Crosby wasn’t having quite the same experience. He was drunk and became rather belligerent when his friends suggested he slow down. I hoped he would pass out before he started a fight with me because I could feel it coming.
Another hour passed and I regretted my acceptance of Crosby’s childish challenge as his belligerence intensified and he began to ruin the good time for everyone, especially Chansey. I felt partly responsible for his poor behavior because he had no idea he had challenged someone incapable of losing.
He returned with another beer for me and slurred, “You ready for another one because I’m one upping ya.”
“I think I’ll pass this time, but thanks anyway.”
“Wuss!” he shouted.
“Crosby, what are you trying to do?” Chansey asked.
“I’m showing you he’s a wuss and you shouldn’t be here with him,” he clamored as he stumbled backwards. His vehemence earned him everyone’s attention and sympathetic eyes fell upon us.
He stumbled around, using anyone in close contact to hold himself up. I should have been more responsible, but I liked the prospect of making Crosby look like an ass in front of Chansey. Mission accomplished. The mature 187 year-old in me felt pity for the young stallion, so I asked Chansey, “Do you want me to speak to him?”
“No, I don’t think your words would be well received right now, considering you just drank him under the table. Let me see if I can persuade him to stop drinking and go home.”
She walked over to Crosby and pleaded with him to stop drinking, th
en asked him to allow someone to drive him home.
“I’ll let you take me home,” he slurred as he reached out and grabbed Chansey around the waist a little too roughly.
She looked at me and saw the anger on my face, but her eyes begged me to wait, to give her another try at talking sense into her friend. She pushed away from him and made a second attempt at talking him down. “Crosby, you’re not acting like yourself because you’re drunk. Please, let someone take you home.”
“I thought you said he wasn’t your boyfriend,” he accused.
“He isn’t my boyfriend,” she replied.
“Then, I guess that means you’re available,” he said, as he reached out and pulled her forcibly against himself. He planted a brutal kiss on her mouth while she struggled to be free of him. Enough was enough and it was past time for me to intercede. As I stepped toward Crosby and Chansey, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was my new friend, Drew, and he said, “Let me. He’s my brother and I should not have let it get to this point.”
Drew approached Crosby and said, “Okay, little brother. I think you’ve had enough to drink.”
“I’ll decide when I’ve had enough,” he slurred.
Drew loosened Crosby’s hold on Chansey and said, “I don’t think so. It’s time for you to go.” He grabbed him forcefully and began to steer him toward the spot where everyone parked their vehicles.
As Drew marched him past me, he slurred, “What are you looking at, punk?”
I didn’t dignify his question with an answer, which angered him further. As I was walking toward Chansey, I heard the rustling of Crosby breaking free of his brother’s hold and knew he was coming for me. I could have turned and had him to the ground before his brain told his hand to make a fist, but I couldn’t display that kind of speed. I turned, just in time, for his first punch to catch the edge of my jaw and when I didn’t retaliate, he got a second punch to my mouth before Drew wrestled him to the ground.
Of course it didn’t hurt, but I placed my hand to my mouth, a natural human reaction. I drew my hand away from my mouth and inspected it for blood, seeing a smear of bright red blood that didn’t belong to me. Crosby had busted his knuckles with his first punch, then smeared his blood across my mouth when his bloody knuckles made contact during his second punch.