July (The Year of The Change Book 1) (43 page)

Paint Me a Rainbow

Bright, and way too early, I heard the trucks pull up. From my bathroom window, I saw the painters converge on us like a swarm of ants. There were eight of them. First they unloaded scaffolding, piles and piles of it. Steve was there directing the action. I washed up and dressed. Today would be a long day.

Still sore from being an idiot when I jumped out of the truck, I stretched. Most of the effects from Phase Walking were gone. It would take a few days before the scratches healed and the bruises began to fade. Also, I would have to pamper my stomach. My intestinal nemesis felt that was the least I could do for all the abuse it suffered yesterday.

They built the tower of Babel on one side of the front porch. My stomach groused louder about yesterday, so I went downstairs before I could watch them build another tower of Babel on the other side.

A platter of pancakes sat in the oven so I helped myself. My job today was to stay out of the way and not cause any trouble. The last thing these guys needed was a distraction that could land them in the hospital.

After a gluttonous event, I went back to my room and settled in with my tattered library book. Holding true to my promise from yesterday, I was going to stay in my room and out of trouble.

The decision to stay inside had as much to do my aches as it did with the yard that was overly populated with testosterone. No matter what anyone said, I wasn't stepping foot outside the house. After the scare I gave Destiny and Richard, I figured the least I could do was leave them alone in hopes they would forget weird event number three. Plus, I really wasn’t in the mood to find out if I’d driven Destiny away. If my new friends couldn't get over their scare then I might as well be home schooled. I could be lonely just as well at home and it wouldn't be nearly as dangerous.

A couple of chapters in, noise in the bathroom attracted my attention. With my luck Drew had found a way up. I went to investigate and found a black haired guy messing with the screen on the window.

“What are you doing?” I demanded. I sounded braver than my knocking knees belied.

“Taking the screen off, so I can scrape the window sash.” He didn’t look threatening.

“Oh, okay.”

I walked away and closed the bathroom door. It was a little late to fret about having a lock on the outside of the door. Drew could climb up just as easily as this guy. The thought sparked tremors. I must talk to Dad about a lock tonight.

There was a clattering behind the door and I jumped.

“Shoot!” Plus a few cuss words under his breath. It didn't sound like Drew.

Cautiously I opened the door to find the black haired man leaning in the window, one hand straining to reach a tool he’d dropped.

He looked at me and pulled himself back out the window. “Could you hand me my screwdriver?”

I was a little skeptical about whether he dropped it on accident. “Sure.” I retrieved the tool and handed it to him, staying at arm’s length, just in case.

“Thanks.” He put the screwdriver in his tool belt. Pulling out a paint scraper he chipped away at what was left of the old paint. He didn’t seem affected, yet. I was curious why he wasn’t.

“What’s your name?” I was putting myself on a thin limb and hoped that it wouldn’t break out from under me.

“Cy.” He didn’t look up.

“That’s unusual.”

“Yeah, it’s short for Cyrus.” He exhibited no signs of The Change.

“That’s cool, I like that name.” Cyrus … It fit him.

A chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Thanks.”

“Is it hard to scrape the paint?” I hadn’t realized how bored I was until I sunk to talking about old peeling paint. What was next … drying time?

He grinned. “Nah, especially your house.”

“How come? It looks like hard work to me."

“Not much paint left.” That sure was the truth.

I leaned against the doorway as I watched. “Have you been a painter long?”

He still didn’t seem affected. It was nice to be able to talk to a guy that wasn’t my father’s age.

“A couple of years.” He kept working.

Even though I was being nosy, I continued anyway. “Why’d you decide to be a painter?” It was better than reading the book I got from the library. It had a slow beginning.

He chipped away at the paint as he spoke, the flakes flying everywhere. “I needed a summer job and Larry had an opening.” That made sense. “Then I fell in love with Larry’s daughter, Amber, and we got married last year.”

“Congratulations.” I doubted Dad would ever introduce me to someone who worked for him.

“Thank you.” He looked happy, not affected.

Perhaps, if they were already married, or in love, it didn’t affect them. I thought back over the last seven months. The guys who’d been affected were single. I had to think a moment, but didn’t remember any of them being married. Footsteps outside jerked me from my thoughts. Someone had climbed up to the roof. I braced myself in case it was Drew.

He looked over his shoulder. “Hey, Zach.”

Someone stood behind him. “Hey, Cy, Steve wants you on the ground, he’s having trouble with the equipment again.”

Cy shook his head and grinned. “It’s nice to be needed.” He handed Zach his tool. “Okay, here’s the scraper … oh Zach this is …” He hesitated. “You never told me your name.” Cy turned to me.

“Sylvia.” I answered.

“Zach, this is Sylvia, Sylvia this is my little brother, Zach. He’s working with me for the summer before he heads off to college.”

Cy’s little brother bent and peered in at me with his light brown eyes. The sun lit his hair and a reddish halo gave him the features of an angel. If I hadn’t been on guard my jaw would’ve dropped. He was drool worthy.

He grinned and waved. “Hi.”

With a slight waved I waited for his expression to change. It showed in his eyes first before the goofy smile spread across his face.

It was time to go. “Bye, Cy.” I left the bathroom and closed the door.

“It’s not your day, Zach.” Cy was nice.

I could sit in my rocker by my other window and enjoy the breeze that blew in. It would’ve been better if I could've had both windows open.

After placing a stack of books in front of the bathroom door, I retreated to the other end of the room. Nerves made it hard to get back into the library book. I decided to call Destiny to see if she wanted to do something over here. Retrieving the phone, I dialed. Ugh! I hung up immediately. I really wanted to do something with my new friend. What if event number three had been her breaking point and now she would avoid me? My face blushed as I pondered whether I could handle her rejection just yet. Maybe if I give her enough time she’d forget --

The stack of books slid across the floor as the bathroom door opened. I speed dialed the Petersons. Destiny answered. Zach peered in the attic and looked around. He smiled when he spotted me.

“Destiny, this is Sylv, is Richard home?” Please, please, please don’t hang up on me.

“Yes.”

I swallowed hard. “Could you please send him over pronto? I have a visitor in my bedroom and need a big brother if you don’t mind loaning him to me?”
Please, please, don’t hang up on me
!

Destiny moved the phone. “Richard, a guy got into Sylv’s room, she needs you.”

Zach left the bathroom and tripped over the books as he headed for me. His smile grew goofier by the second. The Change had to be very concentrated in my room.

Destiny came back on the line. “Sylv, Richard’s on his way.”

“Thanks, Destiny, bye.” I placed the phone on the floor. I wanted both hands free.

His steps were hesitant. “Hi, Sylvia. I just wanted you to know that I think Cy’s right, you’re very nice.”

I ran for the door. He beat me there.

He leaned his elbow against my only exit. “I was wondering if you would like to go out with me sometime.” He matched my steps as I moved away from him.

“Well, Zach.” I stumbled, but regained my footing. “Perhaps when you come back at Christmas vacation we could go out.”

He scrunched up his face. “That’s a long time to wait.”

A shrug got me around my nightstand. “We could email and talk on the phone. It would give me a chance to get to know you.”

“Oh, I’m a real nice guy.” He sounded sincere.

“I’m sure you are, but I don’t know you.” He was going to get into so much trouble and it was my fault.

“I’m not doing anything now. We could get to know each other.” Any other year and I would’ve been all for getting to know Zach.

Slipping quickly to the side, I put the bed between us. “Aren’t you supposed to be scraping?” There had to be something that would get through to him.

His eyes went unfocused and he stopped a moment in labored thought. The pause gave me time to dash to the bathroom. I locked the door behind me. Zach pounded on it pleading with me to open it so we could get to know each other.

The Change had better be worth this. “No Zach, please go away.”
And come back in five months.

How long could the door hold the way he pounded? I backed away looking over my shoulder at the window. I was scared of heights. At this moment I was more scared Zach would get through the door. After yesterday, I figured a motionless roof would be a piece of cake. I crawled up on the counter and looked through the window. It looked safe enough. Zach hit the door hard. I propelled myself out the orifice.

There was nothing out there, but me. The scaffolding was built up and onto the roof. I just had to crawl along the decline to reach it. From there I could climb down and run to the Petersons. Escape was my only thought as I took a deep breath and slid along, crab style, on my bottom. The scaffolding loomed up and I clung with all my might to the pole while making sure not to look down. No problems there, because I couldn’t have opened my eyes if I’d wanted to. The thought of climbing down flew away. All I could do now was cling for dear life.

“Sylvia, what are you doing up there?” It was Cy, and it sounded like he was on the ground, where I really wished I was.

The scaffolding vibrated. I tightened my strangle hold and muffled a scream. “I thought I would get some fresh air.” The teaspoon of spit still in my mouth wouldn’t go down no matter how hard I swallowed and tried to get my breathing under control. My heart was a lost cause.

“Why’d you come out on the roof?” He sounded closer and the tremoring steel slowed.

I didn’t want to get Zach in trouble, so I just shrugged. No words were better than a lie.

The awful vibrations hung on like a final off key note held too long.

“Where’s Zach?” Cy was next to me.

I still didn’t know what to say.

“Sylvia, where’s Zach?” He sounded ticked.

I swallowed hard against the arid desert in my throat and opened one eye. Yeah he was ticked. I couldn’t tell at whom.

“Sylvia?”

I closed my eyes. “In my room.” I whispered.
This is all my fault
.

“What is wrong with that kid?”

He wasn’t asking me so I kept quiet. Not that I could’ve told him anyway.

Cy put his hand on my arm. “Come on, Sylvia, I’m going to take you back in.”

The simple shake of my head sent a wave of vertigo through my whole body and I clung tighter. “That might not be a good idea.”

“What did he do?”

Before I could answer, Emma spoke from the direction of the window. “There you are, Sylvia. Are you alright?”

It took everything inside of me to force my eyes open to look at her concerned face. “Yes, Emma.”

“Good, you should come back in now.”

“Is it safe?”

“Yes, Richard has everything in hand.”

Cy’s manly strength almost wasn’t enough to pry my fingers from around the metal support pole. He pulled on my arm to help me stand.

“No, I’ll crawl.” It was uncomfortable to crawl on a roof in sweat pants. “Emma, this is Cy.” He stayed right beside me the whole way to the window.

“Hello, Cy.” Emma was cordial, as though we were meeting on the sidewalk.

“Hello, Emma.” Cy’s concerned voice was tinged with confusion.

“Zach is Cy’s brother.” I grasped the window sill firmly with my shaking hands.

“Ah, then perhaps you will be of assistance?” How she could stay so calm was beyond me.

“Lead me to him and I’ll wring his neck,” he growled.

Emma daintily chuckled. “I do not think that will be necessary.”

Cy pushed me through while Emma helped me twist around onto the counter. I slid off on shaky legs, Cy right behind me.

Richard, in the other room, talked quietly. Entering the large space I saw my next door neighbor sitting on the floor on the far side of my bed.

"Hi, Sylv, are you alright?"

Zach raised his head and barely peeked over the bedspread. With a burst of concerted effort he almost bucked Richard off. “Sylvia, you came back!”