Chasing Atlantis (3 page)

“Your kind isn’t welcome here.” My head spun. I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. How could he have so much power over me? I should feel angry. I should tell him that this is a
public
beach. I have a right to be here just like everyone else, but I wasn’t angry at all. I was overwhelmingly sad. All my insecure ideas that I wasn’t welcome anywhere suddenly came to a head.

“I’m sorry. Do you have me mistaken for someone else? I really don’t know what you mean by your statement.” It was my last thread of hope that this beautiful person didn’t hate me.

In a move so light it didn’t match his usual lethargic movements he ripped off his sunglasses. I gasped in surprise. Boring into my eyes were the most beautiful blue-green eyes I have ever seen. The ocean’s beauty was only mediocre compared to them. His eyes scorched my own with deep sadness, which was quickly replaced with an anger so intense I flinched like I had been burned. I couldn’t fathom what I had done to deserve either of those two looks.

“I know exactly who
you
are Amy.” He hissed at me. “And I’d appreciate it if you’d honor my wishes just this once.” The last part was so soft I couldn’t be sure that I heard it.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to yell terrible obscenities at him. Who was this arrogant boy to tell me what to do? I didn’t ever remember meeting him at all. All my pent up frustration wanted to explode on something, anything.

Just not him. I was too scared of what he would do or say to me to actually say anything. I put my head down in defeat.

Without warning his head snapped toward the ocean. The strange beautiful eyes filled with alarm. That’s when I heard the ear splitting scream.

“SOMEONE HELP MY LITTLE BOY! HE’S CAUGHT IN A CURRENT! OH GOD, HELP ME SOMEBODY!” I turned to look back at him, but he was gone. A streak darting toward the ocean. He launched himself into the water with a dive so graceful I half-expected the gawkers to give him a score.

He slipped fluidly in the waves, glided between them, and then drifted under them. His legs moved so quickly they blurred into one. He never came up for air once. The beauty of his swim was unnerving; it was like the waves parted for him. Within seconds he was only a speck in the enormous ocean moving to a place only he knew.

I looked around to see if anyone noticed what I had about him. No. Everyone else was gathered around the panic stricken mother, attempting to calm her shrieks, or shouting words of encouragement to her little boy. I was just happy they had stopped glaring at me. The only ones other than me not freaking out or trying to comfort the mother in some way were the other two lifeguards. Instead of getting things ready to help the little boy they stood there, their calm handsome faces turned towards me in what I could only guess was disgust.

I rose awkwardly to my feet. I was torn: on one hand I wanted to run home and throw myself on my bed and pretend this morning never happened, but on the other I was outraged by what he said and I wanted to stay and tell him how I really felt. The whooping and cheering of the crowd confirmed that the little boy was pulled from the depth of the ocean. Apparently he was still breathing. The crowd was so thick it was impossible to see anything.

The sunlight glinted off something dark at my feet. Hah! His sunglasses. I slipped them in my pocket when I was sure no one was looking. He’s going to have one miserable day in the Florida sun without these bad boys. I turned to look one last time at the other two lifeguards. They were gone. They disappeared without a sound. I smiled slightly to myself as I walked back to my car in a daze.

I was craving the comfort of my car, but not the drive home that was unavoidable. I didn’t want to have to deal with my family and this all in the same day. I turned the music up so loud that I couldn’t think, without actually listening to it.

“I hate this stupid city! I hate the people. I mean, what did I do to that guy?” I muttered angrily the whole way home. “‘Do you have me mistaken for someone else?’ Ugh! Could I have sounded any more like an idiot?” I went over the scenario in my head about ten different ways, each one enraging me more with every increasing second. I’m not at all sure how I arrived home in one piece, and there had been no wrecks on the road.

I sat in my car for a few minutes trying to calm myself. I reached in my pocket and pulled out the black sunglasses. It seemed childish now to take them, but now there was no way to give them back. There was absolutely no possibility that I could go near the kid now. I opened and closed the sunglasses repeatedly, trying to think of some way to give them back. They had a designer label, something Italian that I would never have been able to pronounce. I took a quick glance around to see if anyone was watching. Of course I know it is silly of me, though I just can’t shake this feeling of being watched, lately.

I put the sleek glasses on, which immediately hid my eyes from view. I couldn’t help but burst into laughter because they looked absolutely ridiculous one me. I couldn’t pull them off like he could. I don’t think anyone in the world could. I shoved them back into my pocket and slammed the door to my car.

As I stomped in Gaby was dusting the front room.

“Hey! You are never going to believe what happened to me toda—” She held her index finger up to silence me. She glanced around nervously and then nodded her head for me to follow. Puzzled and slightly annoyed I followed her into the far closet near the stairwell. She stepped in and motioned for me to follow. She softly shut the door, throwing us in a faint gray light.

“Your mom is furious that you left without clearing it with her.” I was shocked to see an almost haggard look on her face. “Please don’t tell me where you went. It’s not for me to know.” She looked into my face to test my reaction. I composed my surprise and nodded for her to continue. She only sighed. “Your mom has really high hopes about you being reunited with the Greys today. Please let her enjoy it.” With that she wrapped her arms around me, burying her face in my shoulder. Then she released me, without another word. She quickly opened the door and stalked out never bothering to look back.

I tried to compose the staggered look on my face. What a weird day. Between ocean-eyes with his arrogance and Gaby acting strange just further proves my theory about the people of Vero Beach.

With a defeated sigh I turned to face my inevitable demise with the Greys. I walked forward into the living room to meet my mother.

3.

The Greys

Shoulders back, head held high, I marched into the living room. All the curtains were still drawn, so that this one room was almost black even though all the other rooms were alive with light. I didn’t even see her until I nearly stumbled into her. There waiting for me on the red couch, like the snake that has finally learned its prey’s hiding place and is now waiting for it to return from its venture, was my mother. Her wispy blond hair was piled on top of her head, decorated with pearls and diamonds in every twist. She wore a simple white dress, designer no doubt, with cutouts neatly filled-in with lace, complete with white stiletto high heels.

She took one look at my shaggy unbrushed hair shoved into a messy ponytail complete with casual lounging clothes, and winced.

“Mmmm. Well as it seems you definitely didn’t have a good appearance in mind for today, but you could have at least called to let me know that you were going out.” Neither one of us blinked. I didn’t feel like arguing today, but it was evident that something was out to get me.

“I didn’t think it would bother you if I stepped out for a little bit. I’m back in plenty of time to get ready for the Greys.” I couldn’t help but make a face when I said that name.

“Well doll, next time you will know better now. Won’t you?” It wasn’t really a question so I didn’t feel the need to answer it. She paused, curious now, and seemed to formulate another question based on my appearance. “Where exactly did you go anyways, darling?”

“I just went down to the public beach—”

Her eyes opened wide in horror and her arms immediately fluttered to her face. “Amy Jane, I don’t ever want you to go there again! All sorts of bad things can happen to you while you are at the beach alone. You are not to go there again. Do you understand me?” I folded my arms across my chest in subtle rebellion. I’d heard
that
too many times today. “It’s for your safety. You understand of course. Besides we have such a lovely little beach all to ourselves. Why would you want to go down there with all the other people?”

I stuck my hands in my pockets so she couldn’t see that my fingers were working constantly from anger. It really pissed me off that Mom had to be so cruel about people who weren’t as fortunate as us. I nodded once, and the discussion was over. Of course I had no intention of keeping that bargain at all.

I turned to walk up the stairs. “Oh and Amy, while I was out I picked up something for you that I would like you to wear at the Grey’s house. I left it on your bed.” It wasn’t a request, it was an order. The cold feeling of dread started to creep up on me, giving me goose bumps and making the lump in my already uneasy stomach increase in size.

I ran up the stairs, and threw the door open to my room. There it was. Across my hideous pink bed spread was a floor length, neon pink dress. The bright monstrosity was complete with a low neckline and rhinestones. Damn! She was good. Round one goes to mom.

I slammed the door to my room to let her know I was not happy, although she would have already figured that out. I could just picture her smiling smugly to herself while laughing at my expense. I closed my eyes and tried to let the day not make me too irritable, I still had a while to go.

I walked over to my cell phone and finally acknowledged all the messages that I put off from the previous day. Apparently my friends had already heard the news about Greg, and were trying to cheer me up. I wasn’t really in the mood for a complete boy bashing party, so I just sent them back messages of thanks and that I would call them later. Actually the only person that I really wanted to hear from was my best friend, but she hadn’t replied to me, and I was starting to get worried.

I also decided to call my dad. I had messaged him that I was safe, but it might be nice to actually call him. I contemplated it for a while and finally pushed send.

“Rick Jackson speaking.”

“Hey Dad.”

“Oh Amy, are you okay?” He actually seemed worried about me.

“Yeah Dad I’m fine. I just wanted to let you know that I made it in okay.”

“Well that’s good. I’m actually in a very important meeting right now, so I have to go if that’s all you needed to say.”

“Yeah okay. Bye Dad.”

Silence. I tossed my phone across my bed. I realized that my left hand was clasped very tightly on
his
sunglasses. I put them on my dresser and decided that it was finally time for me to get ready.

After I scrubbed and polished myself until I gleamed, I tackled the horrible excuse for a dress. I thought about doing something hideous with my makeup to get back at Mom for making me wear this stupid dress, but I decided against it. I might as well try to show her that I’m going to behave in order to get her off my case. I found a nice hair clip and low-heeled shoes because I didn’t want to take any chances of falling down the stairs to ruin my evening. Mom would probably drag me to the Greys by my hair if I broke an ankle.

I rounded the bend of the stairs and stopped dead. There stood Steve in a several layered tuxedo, black with a white shirt and blue tie that matched Mom. Mom was in a floor length turquoise gown, with a silver tie around the waist. Instead of looking pasty, their pale skin actually glowed. It wasn’t fair. Both of them were so eloquently dressed I wanted to run upstairs and change immediately.

“Come on dear, were going to be late.” Mom held out her hand for me, I looked at it for a minute deciding what I wanted to do, and then I took it.

The Grey’s driveway literally stretched on for miles. The lawn was neatly manicured with huge trees that didn’t look native to the area. I know people like seclusion, but this is a little ridiculous. The driveway constantly twisted and turned sharply, before finally coming to a stop at a mansion that looked more like a hotel. Once I carefully made sure I was securely on the ground I looked at the house, I had to crane my neck back to get the full view. It was definitely a gorgeous house; the dark red brick mirrored the many flowers along the length of the lawn. The house was covered with large windows, and I finally noticed the unusual architecture of it: the house actually looked like it was designed after a nineteen fifties club. Oh no. Maybe Mom wasn’t the only one with a new accent.

Mom gracefully floated to the door in her pointy stiletto shoes accompanied by Steve who was every bit as dashing as her. I trudged behind them trying not to stomp in the uncomfortable heels. The door opened before we even knocked.

“Oh my goodness! Is that our little Amy Jane?” Before I could answer a very slender, honey haired woman had locked me in a rough embrace. I had to stifle a gasp. She was every bit as youthful looking and beautiful as my mom.

“Amy Jane, don’t be rude. Give a proper greeting to Janice.” Mom’s rebuke caught me off guard.

“It’s very nice to see you again, Mrs. Janice.”

“Just call me Janice. Don’t act like you’ve never seen me before.” She laughed just a bit too loud and tilted her head so that her boyishly short hair ruffled slightly. I smiled nervously in response. I did remember her, just not like this. She looked incredibly young, and gorgeous! The last time I remembered her she resembled an old leather wallet from too many days tanning in the sun. Something had definitely changed about her appearance. She looked too perfect. Three pairs of hands wisped me into mansion and the door shut without a sound.

The inside of the house was filled with antiques and old furniture. I was afraid to get close to something for the fear of breaking it. I didn’t remember or recognize any of the furniture; they must have remodeled the whole house.

I was dragged into what must have been the family room where Janice’s husband waited, and is that Adam? Both stood to greet us.

“Honey, don’t drag her. She’ll come at her own pace.”

“I’m sorry Mathew you know how i get with guests. Especially those who mean the world to me.” Everyone exchanged a grin at that, except me. I was too busy gaping at Mathew and especially at Adam.

Wow. Adam had always been tall, but far too lanky for my taste. Not any more. He filled out so that his very broad chest was elaborated even more by a very tight fitting black suit, complete with a pink tie that matched my dress. Damn, our moms must have been planning this. He scooped me up in his enormous arms and buried me in his chest.

“Hey Ad-am, wow, it’s a-good to see you-too-I can’t breathe.” I gasped out the last part. He chuckled and pulled me up so I was eye level with me. I could only stare slack-jawed in response.

Where the huge beak of a nose should have obscured his eyes there was none. His eyes gleamed spectacularly back at me, but with a rough edge. His handsome face was all smiles. At least someone in this city seemed happy to see me, and obviously di
dn’t want me to leave.

He set me on the ground with too much force, combined with the heels I was sent backwards, he caught me before I could hit the ground. “Amy Jane, you look more beautiful every time I see you. It’s always a privilege to see you.” He winked at me.

I turned red, it didn’t help that four pairs of eyes were watching my every move. “You as well… Your house has always been very nice, but I don’t remember it quite like this, did you get it remodeled?” At that everyone exchanged a glance, I felt like I was missing some private joke not meant for me to know.

“We had to. We just couldn’t leave it as it was.” It was Adam’s dad, Mathew, that answered. Everyone snickered to each other, I was definitely missing something. I was starting to get annoyed, I don’t like feeling left out. I glanced around to everyone’s face and then I realized that
all
the Greys looked different physically. It took me a few seconds before I could put the mental pieces into place: it must be Steve. Wow. He really was a miracle worker to fix them. That explains why they are always so nice to us.

After more small talk and pleasantries were exchanged a butler came in with news that dinner was ready. I’d only seen that in old movies. I didn’t even know people still had butlers.

Adam pulled out my chair and when he went to push me back up to the table he almost pushed my face into it. Apparently he still didn’t know the full extent of his strength. “Sorry.” He mumbled sheepishly, though somehow not quite embarrassed, kind of proud of his strength. I looked in horror at the table, the moment I had been dreading surfaced. There were too many forks and knives for me to even count, let alone know how to use. I started to sweat; the hot bitter taste of fear was fresh in my mouth.

Mom shot me a sharp look across the table; clearly she knew etiquette was not my forté. Adam smiled next to me. He must have understood my look, because for the rest of the five course meal he carefully and obviously chose his utensils so that I could see them. I mouthed thanks when I was sure no one was watching. I was really starting to like him. He was the nicest one to me in days. Throughout the dinner the Greys continued to stare intensely at me, carefully watching my every move, hanging on my every word for some reason I didn’t understand.

After dinner all of the parents conveniently went to view some old chest upstairs and all but shoved us out the door to take a walk in the yard. Oh crap a walk, in heels? Who was the moron that suggested this brilliant idea? The walk had an awkward silence to it at first. Neither of us was really all that good at making conversation.

I decided to break the ice. “Thanks so much for inviting us to dinner. It was really nice to see you again.”

“Amy, you don’t have to be so formal. We’ve been friends for years. Why don’t you tell me how your trip here has really been?” He was grinning wickedly now. He stopped to offer me his very large arm. I paused, I wasn’t really sure if I should take it, somehow it felt wrong. I didn’t want to send him the wrong message when I wasn’t too sure how I felt. Reluctantly I decided it was better than seeming rude.

“It’s been an experience. Mom and I had a little bit of a fight but I think it’s mostly resolved now. Either that or she’s planning to get back at me by buying more outfits like this one.” I gestured to the dress with my free arm. No need to tell him what really happened. I didn’t know how much of a snitch he might be.

He laughed loudly and pulled me closer. “Well I think the dress looks stunning on you. No. I take that back, you look stunning in that dress!” I ducked my head down, embarrassed by his response.

At that moment the wind suddenly shifted blowing our hair wildly around us. We both laughed in response, but coming from his open mouth was the sickening smell of smoke. It instantly burned my throat and made my stomach churn. I recoiled from him in response.

“Ew. Adam do you smoke? That’s really nasty. Don’t you know how bad cigarettes are for you?” He let my arm drop and turned from me.

“Amy Jane, I can quite honestly promise you I don’t smoke at all.” Even though he was turned away from me I thought I saw his face pull up into a tight smile.

“Are you sure? Because I thought I—”

“I helped dad with the grilling. You probably just smell the smoke coming from the grill. I really don’t smoke.” When he turned back his face was smooth, but his blue eyes had a dark gleam to them; like there was something I should have known. I gave him a puzzled look.

“I’m really sorry to hear that you and Greg broke up. If you ever need anyone to talk to please feel free to call me at any time.” His abrupt change in topic surprised me.

“Uh. Thanks I really appreciate it. But how did u know that?” I was sure I hadn’t mentioned it to anyone, especially Mom or Steve.

He shrugged, not bothering to hide the grin that quickly spread across his face. “I guess you could just say I have my ways.” He turned to stare at me with a look so intense it gave me goose bumps, not in a romantic way, but in an eerie way. We heard laughter coming back from the house. We both sighed, and turned to walk back.

I could hear Steve’s commanding voice coming in whispers through the wind. “It’s getting late and we don’t want to intrude on you anymore than necessary. We will be in touch in case something goes wrong.” The context confused me, so I assumed that it had to be something that I missed in the house.

We exchanged goodbyes in hugs and promises of seeing each other soon. I was caught off guard when I turned to wave goodbye for the last time, all of their smiling faces and bright eyes were startling. They shone not in a friendly way, but in a hope-filled way, like I w
as their key to something wonderful. The Greys had always been nice, but there was just something creepy about them. I could never seem to put my finger on it, but the way they did things was always just a bit off.