Atlantis (5 page)

“
Whatever Harlet. But can I eat something first?” I yawned. “I just got up.”

“
You actually slept?”

“
Uh huh.”

“
That’s great! We should celebrate with some eye candy,” Charlotte winked.

I rolled my eyes again, and grabbed my hoodie and headed downstairs to the kitchen. Charlotte followed.

“
So, what should we eat for breakfast? What sounds good to you?” I asked.

“
I’ve already eaten breakfast, and lunch too. It’s three o’clock Lil.”

I looked to the clock on the wall. “So it is.” I forgot how time flies when you’re unconscious.

“
Just eat something quick so we can go.”

“
Kay.” I stuffed a blueberry Pop-Tart into the toaster and changed the setting to “burnt.”

I waited for my Pop-Tart to burn in silence while Charlotte babbled on about her lunch with Nicholas yesterday. I sat nibbling while I got a play-by-play on the whole trivial event.

Charlotte had developed a crush on Nicholas last year for some reason unbeknownst to me. I had known him as long as Charlotte had, and I was closer to him than she was, yet I didn’t see the boyfriend potential in him that she constantly gushed about. I was sure I would have spotted it by now, since we had all grown up together in the neighborhood. Nicholas, however, was a bit thick-headed and didn’t catch the overly obvious hints Charlotte was constantly throwing his way. I didn’t try to help her cause. It seemed to me that if my two best friends started dating, I would end up in the middle. And I didn’t want that.

Not before I had finished chewing the last piece of my burnt blueberry breakfast, Charlotte was pulling me out the door.

“
What’s your hurry?” I grumbled at being rushed. Charlotte had pulled me all the way into my front yard before I could get my hand free. Then the opal caught her eye.

“
Where did you get that?” she said, pointing at my hand.

“
I found it last night on one of my walks.”

“
I thought you said you had actually gotten some sleep.”

“
I did,” I said. “But, I woke up once, at two. And since I usually don’t sleep I didn’t try, and went for a walk.” I shrugged.

“
Where did you find it?” she said examining the ring on my hand more closely, an envious look in her eyes.

“
The park.”

She rolled her eyes at me. “You mean, the cemetery.”

“
Call it what you want.”

“
Well, its beautiful. Can I try it on?”

“
Sure,” I said as I tugged at the ring, but it wouldn’t come off. I tugged again. I started to feel panicky. “It won’t come off,” my voice cracked.

“
Calm down, Lil. If you got it on, it can come off.”

Charlotte took my left hand examining the ring. “Relax,” she instructed as she tried gently, to slide the ring off my finger.

It didn’t budge.

Charlotte looked closer. “It doesn’t look tight. Is it?”

“
No. Why? Can’t you get it off?” I panicked at the idea of it being stuck.

“
I’m sure it will come off if you could relax,” Charlotte said scolding me.

“
I can’t.” Tears started to well in my eyes.

“
Chill okay. It’s just a ring. Worst case scenario a jeweler can cut it off. It’s not hurting you. I’m sure you can get it off with some soap and water.”

“
Good idea,” I said turning to go back inside.

Charlotte grabbed me by the hoodie, and I was lucky not to fall flat on my back. “Not now. Later. I still want to meet the mystery man.”

“
But...”

“
Nope. The ring can wait.”

“
So can introductions.”

“
Perhaps, but you know I’m way too impatient. I can’t wait,” Charlotte said as she tugged me towards Elliott’s house. We were on his front porch before I could get away from her. Too bad she was a foot taller than me, or I probably could have escaped. I quickly righted myself as Charlotte rang the doorbell.

Two minutes passed. Nothing happened.

Charlotte rang it again. And again, nothing.

“
I guess nobody’s home.” I smiled at Charlotte’s plans being thwarted.

She smiled as she threw back, “Guess we will just have to try again later.”

We walked back towards my house. The blaring midday sun seemed to wash out the colors of the street. It all looked yellow. I looked over at Charlotte strolling along beside me. Even her walk was happy. But in the cruel colors of the day, she faded. All I could think about was Elliott.

“
I’m starting to think you made this Elliott up.” Charlotte could never go long without breaking the silence.

“
I don’t think you can imagine physical contact,” I countered.

“
What!”

“
No. Not like
that
.” I backpedaled. “We held hands.”

“
Why? You just met.”

“
Yeah, I know. But there is something so familiar about him. Like I’ve known him for a really long time.” My mind started to wander.

Charlotte had more than enough information in her gossip arsenal to talk for days. I zoned her out as we walked. It seemed that I was distracted so easily lately. I hadn’t realized that we had passed my house and were already halfway down Boulder Lane until Charlotte paused her loquacious ways to concentrate and primp. I looked at her, confused by the uncharacteristic silence. Then I realized where we were, Nicholas’s. Charlotte knocked on the door.

“
Are you serious?” I said tilting my head.

“
What?”

“
I don’t feel like watching you flirt.” I turned to leave before Nicholas could see me. I liked him fine, but things had seemed to get awkward lately with Charlotte’s ever increasing infatuation with him. I heard the door open behind me and Nicholas bounded out.

“
Hey Lil.” Nicholas said as he clobbered me from behind.

Damn.
“Hey Nicholas,” my voice came out muffled as I freed myself from his grasp. “What you up to today?”

“
Hanging out with you hoes, of course.”

I smiled. Nic had started calling us hoe’s, himself included, after some movie he saw last month. He loved movies.

“
Hi Nic.” Charlotte said, trying to include herself in the conversation. “What are
we
doing?” she asked him.

I couldn’t help but notice, that the way she said
we
made me think she would rather I weren’t here, also. Though I knew why she dragged me along. Even though Charlotte was a chatterbox twenty-four seven, she couldn’t seem to construct sentences around Nicholas. And I saved her from the terrifying silence.

“
I dunno,” he answered. “We could all go to the park.” He winked at me. We both knew of Charlotte’s dislike of my meadow.

I smiled as Charlotte struggled for words. “Can we do something a little less... Addams Family... please?”

Nicholas and I exchanged a loaded glance. He was going to make her suffer.

“
Come on. Last time we were there I’m sure I saw your name on one of the headstones. Don’t you want to go check it out?” He managed to turn and wink at me.

“
Nic,” Charlotte whimpered.

My park freaked her out. For some reason, she didn’t find it to be the peaceful haven I did. Death freaked her out even more, and the thought of her name on a rock was putting her on edge.

Nicholas just smiled. That did it. Charlotte ran off pouting.

“
I guess I should go apologize.” Nicholas said reluctantly, rolling his eyes.

“
You’d better,” I chuckled. “Why do you have to push her buttons?”

“
Because it’s sooo easy.”

“
Yeah, but you should give her a break, on occasion.”