Of course, it didn’t play out quite that easy once I got to Emelia’s house.
When I stepped into her living room, I barely registered that someone was beside me before my breath was caught by that someone leaning their full body weight into me. I staggered back, the wall behind me the only thing keeping me upright. Instinct made my arms rise up to defend myself, but that’s when my brain came off panic mode and began processing things normally again. Except, this was not normal.
“Emelia?”
She leaned the full force of her weight against me as her arms wrapped around my waist. All I could see was the top of her head as it lolled to the side.
“Whoa, are you okay?” I asked.
“Hiii Dani,” she slurred. Then she chuckled at a joke I wasn’t privy to. She brought an unsteady hand up to grip my arm. From there, she struggled to lift her head. I wavered, struggling to keep us upright.
“Hey, uh…” My heart took on a strong upbeat, cutting off the train of concerned thought. I stared as she looked up at me with a smile. “…Your eyes.”
Her eyes were blown wide with wonder and something that looked distinctly not Emelia. There was something bright shining through the dark brown in her eyes. I was finding it difficult to breathe and not just because of the extra person I was supporting.
Her smile grew. “Yes, yes, my momma’s eyes.”
Meanwhile, my mind was flying, staring in surprise as I tried to reconcile the subdued person I had seen yesterday with the animated person that I was seeing now. Had I walked into the wrong house? She was always so precise in every word, never using contractions or speaking quickly. Her movements were stilted as if she had to concentrate to move each muscle. However, this—Was like a completely different person.
At once, it clicked, and I almost shouted, “Have you been drinking?”
I almost laughed that she managed to return to a contrite tone as she lifted her hand. “A little.”
My eyes snapped up when I heard someone coming down the hall that led to the back rooms. I gripped Emelia. I was about to start shouting if this was Allison’s doing. But I was terrified in the event it was someone else.
The guy who emerged from the hall, however, did not look surprised to see me. In fact, he smiled. “Whoops. I was only gone a minute.”
I tightened my hold on Emelia. “Who the hell are you!”
He held up his hands and took a step forward. “Let me help—”
“Stay right there!”
My instincts wanted me to grab Emelia and run but I was barely standing as it was. I couldn’t carry us both. He was over six foot. If my intimidation didn’t work and he came closer, I’d have to act first, using surprise as a weapon.
He stopped. “Can you just chill?”
My heart was pounding loud in my ears. I used his halted advance to catch a couple ragged breaths. I watched him, waiting for the next move. He looked around our age, but the refined arrogance of his polo and quaffed blonde hair combo screamed that he would be out of place in our school.
“What did you do to her?” I demanded
He had spoken light until now, but his voice turned firm. “Emelia and I are friends. I would never hurt her.”
“She never mentioned you.”
“Look, I can prove it.” He dug a phone out of his (probably designer) jeans and tapped on it. It didn’t take him long to find what he was looking for and showed it to me.
It was Emelia—but from a different time. Her hair was only just past her shoulders, her cheeks with a slight childish roundness to them, smiling next to a younger version of the guy in front of me. They were both in shorts, in what I recognized as the backyard of this house.
My heart sank and my grip on Emelia loosened. On one hand, I was relieved that this wasn’t a stranger about to murder us, on the other—
When I looked back, he smirked. I lowered my gaze to return a glower. I don’t care how happy Emelia looked in that photo, I decided right then that I did not like him.
I glanced down at Emelia, who was currently drooling with her eyes closed and making quiet humming noises. You’re no help.
“She’s just a bit more of a lightweight than I expected.”
“How much did she have?” I asked, trying to remember that one summer night Allison called me to walk her home from a party.
“A couple? She’s probably just buzzed but doesn’t know how to handle it.” He shrugged. “I just wanted her to loosen up. She seemed so upset about something recently.”
“So you got her drunk? Great plan,” I accused. “She’s not that kind of person.”
He held up his hands again, but not for defense. It struck me as condescending, as if he expected my anger. “I only offered. She could have said no. She’s not a pushover. Maybe you’re the one that doesn’t know what kind of person she is.”
He was challenging me, but I had nothing with which to counter him. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, he was right. I had only known Emelia a few months. I had no idea who this guy was or what kind of relationship they had. Then I realized.
“Are you the one that cut her hair?”
“My sister, actually. She’s gonna be a beautician. Bet she could help you out, too.”
I stared, unwilling to respond.
“Okay, maybe not.” He gestured his arms out. “Now, can I please? You’re clearly struggling.”
Emelia was sliding, especially since she started to go limp in my arms. I shifted my hold on her and nodded. I was hoping he would hold up her other side, but in one fluid motion, he swept her up into his arms and suddenly Emelia was a princess being carried by her knight and I—was not part of this scene.
He laid her on her side and turned. “I don’t think she’ll be sick, but if you want to be extra careful, make sure she sleeps like this.”
When he turned to stand, Emelia mumbled something and reached out. He took her hands and placed them back beside her with a gentle tap. I felt ridiculous at the surge of protectiveness I had to stomp down. Apparently, I was the outsider. I was so used to being the only one other than Allison to know about her situation, but he had known her for much longer than I had. Without warning, I was on the outside, looking in. Did this guy feel the same hostility toward me?
“So… You know about her?” I asked.
“You mean her mom leaving? Yeah.” He stood and held out his hand. “We started off all wrong. You’re Dani, right?”
I crossed my arms. "Danielle."
He shrugged and put his hands in his pockets. “I’m Logan Powell.”
Powell—I knew that name. Nate Powell. My mind flashed back to the horror story he told last Halloween. He said he heard it from his cousin, who lived on the next street over.
“You go to private school, don’t you?”
“Ah, is it my boyish charm and innocence?” His light voice struck me as mocking.
“I know Nate Powell. He was told a story by his private school cousin that involved this house.”
Finally, his theatrical air fell. “Oh, yeah. Emmy told me what happened.”
I pressed the first advantage I had. “So, you don’t care that you almost exposed her secret?”
“I was trying to protect her. When he stayed at my house, Nate noticed that I kept sneaking out here. He threatened to tell my parents if I didn’t tell him why. I panicked. That’s the only story I could think of right away. I thought it would discourage him, not make him want to break in.”
I always wondered how that story reflected reality. He paused for a dramatic sigh. “But what can you do? It all worked out in the end, right? She enjoyed her first Halloween party. I wish she could relax more. Something’s clearly bothering her lately. Is it because of you two?”
I shrugged. Was that his defense for his screw up, putting blame on me and Allison?
He grabbed a backpack and jacket I didn’t recognize off the floor and moved past me. “Can I trust you to take care of her tonight?”
“What?”
“Someone should stay with her and I can see that you’re not going to let that be me. So I assume you’re volunteering.”
“What should I do?” I hated to ask for his advice, but it was for Emelia.
“Strange. By the way Emelia describes you public schoolers, I would think you would have plenty of experience with the aftermath of partying.”
Yet you’re the one with alcohol. Wait, what does Emelia say about us?
“She’ll be fine,” he said. “Like I said, she didn’t have that much. Just keep an eye on her through the night and have her drink plenty of water. I’m mostly worried about how she’ll feel the next morning. Think you can handle that?”
I shrugged in confirmation, eager to get rid of him.
“Great. Well, I’m off.” He opened the backdoor and waved. “See ya around.”
“I eagerly await,” I muttered as he left. I dropped down next to the couch and half-heartedly poked Emelia’s arm. “The heck was that all about? Why is everyone around you out of their mind?” But what did that say about me? I was pretty much talking to myself right then, too.
After making sure she wasn’t going to die, I sent the parents a text telling them I was staying with a friend and hoped for no follow-up questions. This was not at all how I thought the night would go. But, really, ever since I first stepped into this house, nothing has gone as I expected.
Comments (3)
See all