Authors: Renee Carter
“Tristan,” I shot back.
The Creature quickly placed a hand on his arm. “Remember, Trist, remember when....” She lowered her voice and leaned closer to his ear.
He appeared distracted for a moment, as he slid his arm away from her, and then he was drawn in by her words.
I told myself that I didn’t care, but that was just a lie. Every time she giggled that horribly fake giggle and every time he forced a smile in response, it was like another knife wound to my gut. I’d never expected my job as babysitter to be turned into being a professional third wheel. I kept telling myself that there was only half of the day left and that the money was worth it. Wasn’t it?
half of the day left and that the money was worth it. Wasn’t it?
* * *
As I turned off my car, another eruption of giggles caused me to glower. The Creature climbed out, leaving Tristan alone in the backseat. I sighed and walked around my car, while she strode importantly toward the house. When I opened the door to let Tristan out, he hardly appeared as giggle-filled. I reached for his hand, my voice low while I asked, “Having fun?” Tristan stood up and was suddenly close to me; I could feel his warm breath on my cheeks. He replied darkly, “What do you think?”
He hadn’t given the cheery answer that I’d feared, but how was I supposed to know what he felt, when he was the one letting her flirt obnoxiously for the last hour? I grumbled, “I don’t know, Tristan. I don’t even understand why she’s here.”
“Look, I had to let her stay.” He sighed heavily. “My mother loves Lexus and I thought I should humor her, for a change; more like how you are with your parents. It won’t be too bad. Lexus just can’t know about us. I don’t want you getting fired, Amy.”
Fired?! What about making me want to quit? I opened my mouth to tell him, when The Creature rushed down the front stairs and slipped into the tiny space between us. Grabbing his arm, she said, “There you are! Come on, Tristan. Let’s go sit by the pool,” and eyed me, before jerking him toward the house.
I chose to follow them at a distance while my mind worked on decoding what Tristan had said: he was doing this as a favor to his mom, but he didn’t want The Creature to get me fired. So...he was being stupid. Couldn’t he tell that she was evil? That should’ve trumped any obligation! What a boy.
When I walked into the kitchen, Mrs. Edmund was hunched over a pile of papers on the counter. I glanced out through the French doors and saw that Tristan and The Creature had already settled onto two lounge chairs. She was holding a bottle of tanning oill and giving him a look that made my skin crawl.
Disgusted, I turned away and found Mrs. Edmund looking at me with a tearstained face. I walked toward her, frowning. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, uh, I’m sorry.” She dabbed at her eyes with a crumpled Kleenex. “I-I just was trying to balance the checkbook while the kids were playing upstairs. My husband used to take care of the bills on the Internet, but I could never figure that out. I thought by hand wouldn’t be so bad but....” She shrugged and her mouth twisted as she fought against a sob.
“Well, why don’t I help you?” I said and lifted one of the papers off of the counter. “We can go through it one more time: I’ll read your bank statement and you can make sure everything’s checked off in your ledger.”
“Thank you, Amy.” Mrs. Edmund picked up her pencil with a look of determination. “This hasn’t been easy, but I think everything will get better. Especially if Tristan’s happy. He tried to help me after my husband passed away; he spent more time at home, even stopped dating. But then the accident....” She sighed and then said firmly, “Well, Lexus will make him happy, again.” I wasn’t about to poke a hole in Mrs. Edmund’s bubble, but that girl was in no way the angel of happiness. Glancing outside, I saw that The Creature had stripped even further from her tiny skirt and tank top to a string bikini. When she tried to apply the oill to his chest, he snatched the bottle from her hands and began putting it on himself. Good.
Looking back at the paper in my hand, I began to read off the first number when Mrs. Edmund said,
“Amy, I was wondering, has Tristan happened to have mentioned our cabin to you?”
“Um....” I vaguely remembered that guy at Tristan’s post-graduation dance saying something about how it was on a lake and how I’d go if I was “with” Tristan. And then The Creature had made some comment, too...something about being
alone
with him there. I hadn’t heard anything from Tristan directly. Of course.
“Well, it’s up on Wind Song Lake in Wisconsin,” Mrs. Edmund explained. “It’s a lovely area; a lot of families from Grayfield vacation there in the summer. I thought you could drive Tristan and Lexus up tomorrow, so they could have a day alone before we come on Saturday? They went up early last year and really enjoyed it. Would you be able to do that, Amy?”
Alone.
Alone
with a flirtatious Creature for an entire day. The idea made me feel like throwing up.
“
Sure
,” I said with false cheer.
“Oh, wonderful!” she said, the color returning to her cheeks. “It takes about two hours to get there, so I was thinking that you could use Tristan’s car? It’s a very nice car, so I’m sure the drive will be comfortable.”
I grimaced, wondering which one of her sons had told her about the sorry state of my car. “Yeah, that’ll be fine. I’ll come over around ten.”
Mrs. Edmund beamed. “Perfect.”
Well, at least one of us was happy.
“I still can’t believe that you’re going to a cabin with your boyfriend,” Mom sighed from the doorway. She was cupping a mug of tea in her hands, staring over my head as I packed, and remembering back to when she was dating Dad. I shoved a sweatshirt roughly into my duffle bag and grit my teeth together. I explained,
again
, “Tristan’s not my boyfriend. I’m getting paid to go do this.”
“You said his cabin is on a lake?” she continued like I hadn’t spoken. “Water can be so much fun in the summer....”
Yes, it would be if got to hold a certain Creature under it. I smiled wickedly at the thought and zipped my bag shut. “Okay, I’m ready.”
Mom squeezed my shoulder while we walked to the front door. “You’ll have to tell me all about it when you get back!”
I grimaced while I gave her a hug. “Only the highlights.”
She waved as I headed out to my car, threw my bag onto the passenger seat, and started the engine. I waved and backed out of the driveway. “It will be fine, it will be fun, it will be fine, it will be fun,” was the mantra playing over and over in my mind. Last night, I’d thought about confronting Tristan with how I felt
—telling him about The Creature’s plan. The problem was that still I didn’t want to. Not really. I wanted him to realize for himself.
I drove in silence all of the way to the Edmunds’ house. When I pulled my Camry through the open gate, I let off of the gas and coasted down the drive. Tristan’s Mercedes-Benz was parked in front of the stairs and it was beautiful; the shiny silver exterior didn’t hide the fact that it was worth a considerable penny. My Camry’s brakes squealed in protest of the attention I was giving to the other car. Ignoring my car, I threw it into Park and climbed out, shouldering my duffle bag.
I walked up to the Cabriolet and carefully ran my fingers over the cool metal. I peered through the windows and, seeing the black leather seats, smiled. Yeah, I think I could
suffer
through driving this car.
Maybe the trip wouldn’t be so bad, after all. I set my bag down on the ground and placed my hands on my hips, still taking in the idea of driving such a fine car. My eyebrows popped up when I saw that it was a convertible. Perfect for the highway!
I did a little dance side-to-side and realized that it was actually a nice day outside. It was warm, but not humid, and the sun was shining in a clear blue sky. Feeling my energy renewed, I turned and climbed the steps up to the house. I found Mrs. Edmund, Chris, and Marly standing next to the door. I smiled brightly at them and Chris looked puzzled. “Why are you happy? You have to go away with
her
.” Mrs. Edmund gasped, looking down at her son. “Christopher John!” I smiled. “Cabriolet, kid.”
Chris shook his head sadly, as if he was positive I’d lost it once and for all. He jumped when The Creature screeched, “Boy, my luggage is upstairs!”
Mrs. Edmund said, “Dear, he isn’t big enough to carry it. I’ll help you.” Marly was busy sucking on her thumb. I gave her a gentle push toward the base of the spiral staircase, where Tristan was standing, and said, “Give your brother a hug. You’re not going to see him until tomorrow.”
The little girl immediately ran to Tristan and wrapped her arms around his legs. Tristan smiled, looking genuinely pleased for the first time in too long; I’d missed his smile. He told his sister, “I’ll see you soon, genuinely pleased for the first time in too long; I’d missed his smile. He told his sister, “I’ll see you soon, Marly. You won’t even notice I’m gone.”
Mrs. Edmund was on the stairs, huffing while she fought with the luggage. I hurried to help her down the last stairs and then took the giant bag in my arms. I struggled toward the door and asked Chris, “Would you give me a hand getting this into the car?”
Thinking I was asking him, Tristan swung his duffle bag back onto his shoulder and took a step forward.
The Creature quickly put a hand on his arm and said smoothly, “She meant the boy.” Tristan frowned and continued walking forward. “His name is Chris.” From the doorway, I saw The Creature blinking in surprise, but I couldn’t revel in the moment because of the weight I was carrying. Chris had scampered ahead to the car and opened the trunk. Due to the four seats and the convertible top, it wasn’t the largest one invented; not that many trunks could have handled the ridiculous size of her luggage. I groaned as I heaved the bag inside and then, panting, saw that about six inches of it was still sticking out. I eyed Chris and asked, “Any ideas?”
“If she has a big bag, I’d try it sideways.”
I started, a little surprised that Tristan had heard me.
“If that doesn’t work, try having Chris jump on it.”
Wait. Was Tristan making a
joke
?
“Uh, thanks,” I said and looked down at Chris. “Well?”
Chris scoffed, “I’m not jumping on that thing!”
“Here.” Tristan walked down the front steps. “Just show me where it is.” I looked blankly at his outstretched hand. I swallowed, reminding myself that Chris was watching, and quickly grabbed Tristan’s hand. His skin was warm against mine, just like the night when he had touched my face. I tried to ignore the memory while I led him to the trunk and set his hand on top of the luggage. I stood next to him, watching as his fingers gripped the fabric and lifted the bag easily, rotating it and setting it inside.
“Amy?” Tristan turned his head toward me and I wondered if he knew how close we were standing. “I wanted to say that—”
“Amy, be a doll and get some CDs from Trist’s room!” yelled The Creature. She was standing on the top step and looking very upset. Who would’ve guessed music meant so much to her?
Right
.
“I can get them!” Chris said quickly, while looking back and forth between Tristan and I.
“That’s okay.”
I patted his fluffy head and walked back to the house. I knew that whatever Tristan had been intending to say was never going to happen in front of her. I also knew that she had no idea that most of Tristan’s CDs were no longer in his room. In fact, only one remained. But what kind of slave—I mean,
employee
—would I have been if I started thinking for myself and actually went to the closet to get other CDs? No, she would get exactly what she asked for: Jon Buckley.
I climbed the spiral staircase and headed down the hallway to Tristan’s room. When I walked inside, I saw that nothing in the room had changed; the black comforter was pulled tight across the bed. I smirked as I remembered the look he’d given me when I first jumped on the bed and suggested that we fool around. The smirk faded when the memory was replaced by the one of The Creature laying next to him, tracing circles on his arm. Evil day.
I found the CD abandoned on the floor next to his bed. I picked it up and held it against my chest while I quickly left the room, sprinting down the stairs and out of the house. Tristan was already in the backseat of the Cabriolet, our two duffle bags on the seat next to him. The Creature had her window down and was grinning at me like a Cheshire. “I called shotgun.”
I rolled my eyes. Of course she had.
Mrs. Edmund and the kids were standing outside, at the top of the steps. Chris whispered, “Good luck.” I glanced back at the car and laughed. “Thanks.”
Like a soldier heading off to war, I bravely squared my shoulders and marched to the car. I climbed inside, my jeans sliding over the leather, and set down the CD. With one last wave at the three concerned faces, I pulled out of the Edmunds’ drive. I hardly had to press on the gas and the car sped down the road faster than my Camry could’ve ever dream of. I enjoyed the feeling of power under my foot and couldn’t wait to get onto the highway and really try it out.
I saw The Creature pick up the CD from the center consol and appraise the picture of the handsome young man on the cover. I watched out of the corner of my eye as she opened the case and slid the CD
into the player. I quickly reached down and hit the fast-forward button to the sixth track. The guitar intro began and then came Jon’s voice:
“The day she walked into the room, your head was turned, though it
was too soon—”
“What is this?!” The Creature screeched, her timing impeccable.
“It’s the only CD Tristan had in his room,” I answered lightly. “Jon Buckley.”
“He sounds so
depressing
,” she whined.
I smiled. “But the lyrics are great.”
“
...she overthrew you. She took your spirit and broke your will. You changed before the face of all
who knew you.”
“Don’t you think so, Tristan?” I asked pointedly; this hint about the lyrics was the closest I’d come to outright telling him what I thought about him allowing The Creature to stay. I looked in the review mirror and saw Tristan tip his head upward. I could almost imagine his bright blue eyes staring at mine through the reflection and, I felt a glimmer of hope.
He opened his mouth and began, “I—”
“
I
think it’s horrible,” she cut in and reached for the stop button on the player.
I pulled my eyes back onto the road and my hope dissolved. Then Tristan spoke again, his tone firm. “I like him. Leave it.”
The Creature froze, her eyebrows arched.
I looked back into the mirror and saw that his sunglasses were still facing me. My voice less than steady, I asked, “You do?”
“Yeah. Before, I wasn’t,” he hesitated, as if searching for words, “lying to you, Amy.” My heart began to race and I was suddenly ready to tell him everything that I’d heard and everything that I’d felt. I didn’t care if we got into a car accident; I was going to keep staring into that rearview mirror and spil it all. But before my mouth could form a syllable, The Creature shrieked hysterically, “
Chinese fire
drill
!”
My intention was snapped like a twig when his head turned to face the back of her seat and he scoffed,
“What?”
How could she steal his attention so quickly? She knew exactly how to press his buttons. I nearly screamed aloud in frustration. Instead, I gripped the steering wheel so tight that my knuckles turned white.
“We are
not
doing a fire drill.”
“But why?” she whined, but I could see that her eyes were glowing triumphantly.
“Because...” I sighed, realizing that I had to concede to the job she’d given me. “Because I’m the driver.
”
A cruel smile grew on her face. “Oh.”
I pulled onto the highway, the Cabriolet accelerating easily, but now the expanse of cement didn’t look quite so enticing. It only looked long. Very long. Too long.
* * *
Though, that
was
an idea...
We were driving past cornfields, farms, and an endless stream of little towns that I felt sleepy just looking at. I’d never been on a very long road trip, but whenever Ahna and I’d drive to Chicago for a concert, we’d always sing along with the radio at the top of our lungs or play games looking for words on road signs. We would
not
sit silently with only the sight of a cow licking its own ear to amuse ourselves.
This type of driving was maddening.
When the CD started over again, The Creature hit her head against her window. She groaned, “I need to get out of here.”
I shook my head and pointed at a road sign. “Not for another fifty-five miles.” The Creature glared at me and hissed, “What about a bathroom break?”
“Um, I don’t think so.”
“But, I
need
to go,” she complained.
I shook my head, again, and kept my eyes on the road. “No...we’d lose our momentum.”
“Our
what
?”
“Momentum,” I repeated and gestured with my hand. “Forward motion.”
“I
know
what ‘momentum’ is,” she snapped.
I decided to play dumb. “Then why’d you ask?”
The Creature rounded on me, looking murderous. “
Because
—”
“Amy, maybe you should stop.” Tristan’s voice cut through her argument. “We need a break.”
“Fine,” I said shortly and roughly whipped the Cabriolet onto the next exit. I spotted a Gas Fast just off of the ramp and I swung the car into the station. Bypassing the pumps, I parked in front of the convenience store and looked expectantly at The Creature. For someone who was supposedly in such need of a bathroom, she sure was taking her sweet time getting out of the car. “Well?” She huffed and quickly undid her seatbelt, her hand already on the door handle. She hissed, “I’ll be back in
just
a minute,” and sprinted into the store.
I shook my head. I knew she was worried about leaving me alone with Tristan, but she didn’t have to be with the mood I was in. All of the driving with her was really getting to me and I was tired. I turned off the car, briefly giving the CD a break, and bent forward, my forehead resting against the steering wheel.
Finally, a moment of peace.
“Can we get out and walk?”
I sighed. After how Tristan had taken her side, I wanted to tell him to get out and walk by himself, but I knew that wasn’t a good idea with all of the cars driving around. Sitting up, I undid my seatbelt and climbed out of the car. I walked around and opened the passenger door to help him out. When I felt his fingers close around my arm, my stomach jumbled itself into hundreds of knots.
I swallowed and pushed a strand of hair behind my ear, while we began to walk.
“I’m glad you stopped; we haven’t been alone in a while,” he said. When I didn’t respond, he frowned.
“I’m sorry you have to be here, Amy.”
Shocked, I stopped short and gasped, “You don’t want me here?” Tristan’s grip tightened and he fumbled, “I didn’t mean—with Lexus being—I thought you’d feel—”