One Black Rose (12 page)

After walking a few more steps I broke through the trees. The ocean looked different at night. There was a cool breeze blowing, ruffling the water, and the moon cast one long, white line over the otherwise black surface. Unfortunately, directly in front of me wasn’t a beach, as I had hoped. Instead, I was at the top of a cliff.

I hated heights. I decided instantly that I hated them even more at night. The wind was stronger coming off the water and I zipped up my jacket against the cold air.

I sighed. I would have to get closer to the edge to get a better view of the beach, so that I could figure out where I was. As I looked out at the silent water, my mind went back to the aching feeling that was lodged in my chest.

Down the beach to my right I saw nothing but jagged rock, but to my left I saw sand. It looked a lot like part of the beach where Carley, Nick, and I had spent my first full day at Castleton hanging out with Samuel.

Ugh. I didn’t even want to think about the rude Samuel who thought that sarcasm was his middle name and liked it that way. I glared out at the water. I was tired of feeling sorry for myself. Taking a deep breath, I knew I’d have to walk to the left, towards what looked like beach, and hope for the best. Just as I was about to leave the cliff I heard a low growling behind me. I froze.

I was in the middle of the woods in Maine and lots of things could be growling. But what popped into my head was a flesh-devouring wolf. Instantly I could imagine huge paws taking swipes at me and angry jaws snapping to sink into my skin. I shuddered.

As I gathered the courage and turned to face whatever was behind me I heard another snarl, only this one was much closer.

I gasped as I saw not a wolf, but a great big bear lumbering towards me. In the split second that I saw the massive animal, everything else left my mind. Forgetting where I was a took a step backwards. Too late I felt my foot catch on loose gravel and then start to slide backwards. I tried to catch myself, but I couldn’t, I’d already shifted my weight.

Panic washed over me. I started to scream as I felt myself toppling over the edge of the cliff. I flailed wildly, desperately trying to keep my body from falling into the ice-cold water.

I had only one thought: I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want to plunge into the dark ocean and be pulled away by the tide. It was the first real feeling I’d had since Holt had told me that we couldn’t see each other anyone. I scrabbled wildly with my hands, but to no avail. All I could do was scream.

And then suddenly a cold hand wrapped around my wrist. My body jerked as my momentum towards the dark water was stopped. I gave another cry as I was pulled forward, my feet gradually finding firm ground under me.

Before I could even think, I was face to face with Samuel, his blue eyes dark against the night, his face paper white. Since our bodies were pressed together I could feel that his breath was coming fast into his chest. His grip on my arm was painful. He was afraid.

Always one to rise to the occasion, my fabulously intelligent first words after Samuel saved my life were, “Hi.”

He took several more deep breaths before answering. I became painfully aware of all of the places we were touching.

“Are you ok?” he asked, finally pulling away and looking me over. I blushed at the way his eyes traveled up and down my body.

“I’m fine,” I said. “I think.” As I looked into Samuel’s eyes I remembered why I’d almost plunged off a cliff: a bear. Suddenly panicked all over again, I looked over Samuel’s shoulder to see where the bear was now. There was nothing there.

“Where’d it go?” I asked, looking around at the trees that were now draped in shadow.

“Where’d what go?” Samuel asked, still not releasing his grip on my arm, but loosening it ever so slightly. His hands gently started to stroke up and down my arms, making me shiver, but not from cold.

I looked at him incredulously.

“The bear,” I said, like it was obvious.

“I didn’t see a bear,” he replied calmly.

“Are you saying I’m crazy?” I wanted to know.

“Maybe, but not because of that,” was his ever so smooth reply.

“Sarcastic as ever,” I muttered. “Wait, what are you doing here?”

“I missed you too,” he continued, even now not letting up with the sarcasm.

“No you didn’t,” I said. “I haven’t seen you since you attacked Holt and me at the restaurant,” I said.

Samuel’s face darkened. “We didn’t attack you.”

I knew he was right, but tonight I’d gone from feeling nothing at all, to being completely numb, to being scared. I wanted to pick a fight.

“Whatever,” I told him, pulling out of his grasp. He let me go, his hands falling to his sides.

“What are you doing here?” I asked again.

He held my gaze for a split second, but only said, “I was taking a walk and heard you scream.”

I looked towards the water. Instantly I felt queasy and panicked all over again and looked away. “No you didn’t. You couldn’t have gotten to me in time if that’s what happened. No one’s that fast.”

“No one you know,” he countered.

“Plus, who takes walks alone at night?” I continued. Anger was a welcome fizz in the back of my mind as I braced my hands on my hips.

“Only crazy people apparently,” Samuel said with a grin.

“Hey!” I said, realizing too late that I had walked right into that one. “Really, what were you doing out here?”

“Nothing,” was his next elaborate reply.

“Right,” I said. “I’m beginning to think no one in this town tells the truth about anything.”

“You want the truth?” Samuel asked, taking a step towards me.

This time I knew enough not to step backwards, although something inside me told me that Samuel would catch me if I did.

“I always want the truth,” I told him, lifting my chin defiantly.

He nodded. “I can tell that about you,” he said. But I couldn’t tell if he thought that was a good thing or not. “Come on, I should get you home.”

“How do you know I can’t find my way home on my own?” I asked. I don’t know why I did, because I was totally lost, but I felt like arguing and Samuel had been so mean.

He looked at me with disgust. “First of all,” he started, “you are clearly lost, which is fine. If you walk into woods and don’t pay attention to where you’re going that is likely to happen. But,” he continued before I could argue, “I don’t care how safe Maine or this area is, I’m not leaving a girl to walk home alone, especially in the dark.”

That stopped me. It was surprisingly gallant of him, even if I’d die before admitting it.

“I can take care of myself,” I informed him, even though I knew I had lost this argument.

“Clearly,” he said, for his third sarcastic comment in as many minutes. Without another word he turned around and started walking back towards the woods. I glared at his back, but hurried to keep up with him.

For the first few minutes the only thing that broke the silence was the noise of different animals hooting or scuffling around in the forest. If I’d been alone they might have scared me. I would have imagined a robber jumping out of the bushes or the return of the bear, but walking next to Samuel I felt totally safe. It wasn’t a feeling I was used to, and one I’d never thought I’d have when I was with him, but there was something very confident and strong about the guy walking next to me. I hated to admit it, but he might not be as terrible as he had seemed at first.

After awhile I got tired of the silence. “So, I’ll play along. What were you doing out walking?”

“Clearing my head,” he drawled, not looking at me.

“Feel bad about what happened at the restaurant?” I asked. Because I felt bad about it.

“Nope,” said Samuel. He hadn’t even hesitated, I thought. He didn’t even care if he appeared sorry.

“Awesome,” I muttered. “Do you feel bad about ANYthing?”

Samuel gave me a startled look. “In respect to you?” he asked.

I had thought he would avoid the question, so when he answered it head-on I was at a loss for words. Finally, I stammered out, “Yeah….”

The moment where Samuel might have actually said something serious passed as quickly as it had come. He shrugged and looked ahead again.

“You could just get along with him, you know,” I said irritably. I was now cold and tired and my grateful attitude for Samuel getting me home safely was wearing off.

“I could do lots of things,” Samuel countered. We’d reached Carley’s driveway, so obviously I knew the way from there. I was embarrassed to admit how close we’d been to the road the whole time. I really hadn’t been that lost.

“Samuel Cheshire, you are one of the most annoying people I have ever met,” I stated, and without another word stomped away. Since I left without turning back I couldn’t be sure, but there’s a good chance Samuel stood at the end of Carley’s driveway, laughing.

Carley hadn’t even noticed I was gone. When I came home she was already asleep. I could have been lost all night and she wouldn’t have had a clue. My return to her house and being alone brought back a return of my sadness. And even my anger at the sarcastic Samuel, and the fact that I still somehow found him attractive, couldn’t get me out of the funk.

After another terrible night’s sleep, I realized an obvious fact: I had to know what was going on. Samuel and Holt clearly hated each other, and Holt didn’t want to see me, and I was sure it had something to do with Samuel. It wasn’t just about me and it wasn’t fair. It was particularly not fair because whatever was going on seemed to be my fault, but how could it be?

I wasn’t sure how to approach it, so I decided to ask Carley for advice. I went downstairs all set to tell Carley everything. I couldn’t wait to talk to her about the restaurant – Olivia and the flowers, and running into Samuel – and about Holt afterwards, but I didn’t get the chance. Carley had news of her own.

In fact, Carley was so upset that my own revelations were pushed almost completely out of my mind.

When I came into the kitchen she was there, already dressed. She had made eggs, pancakes, and bacon.

“How long have you been up?” I asked, as Carley stood at the counter and furiously squeezed oranges for juice.

“That question implies I ever went to sleep,” said Carley as she squeezed another orange. “I lay awake ALL night.”

“What? What happened?” I asked. Now that I could see her closely I noticed the bags under her eyes, and her hair with the slightly frizzy look implying it hadn’t been washed.

I went to the cupboard and grabbed a bowl and spoon, then went hunting through the cereal boxes on the shelf for the Cheerios. When I turned back to my seat, instead of an empty place setting I found my plate stacked with everything Carley had been making. Plus, a cup of freshly squeezed orange juice, a glass of water, and a steaming mug of tea.

I raised my eyebrows at her.

“You think I’ve been slaving over this hot stove for nothing?” she asked, waving a spoon crazily in the air. “Eat.”

“You should calm down,” I said, sitting at the place she had set for me. “Maybe eat something.”

“I’m not hungry,” she replied tartly, turning away.

“Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?” I asked

“What makes you think anything is bothering me?” she said dangerously.

I started to eat, determined to wait her out.

“Is Nick going to come over and help us with all this?” I asked, indicating all the food. Since I was busy eating I wasn’t watching Carley at the counter, so I was startled when I heard a pot clatter to the floor.

“Nick who?” asked Carley, making a noise that sounded like teeth grinding.

“What?” I managed to say between bites of egg. I start to choke and stopped talking until I could get myself under control.

“What happened with you two?” I asked, my mind racing.

Suddenly, seeming to lose all energy, Carley collapsed into a chair. She threw her arms on the table and dropped her head into them, her mass of curls flinging out in every direction. She looked completely defeated.

She mumbled something, but I didn’t catch it.

“What’d you say?” I asked, leaning forward.

“We had a fight,” Carley wailed.

“About what?” I asked, thinking he had done something like try to kiss her. It was obvious to everyone in the world except Carley that Nick was in love with her.

She looked up at me completely red-faced, and bit her lower lip.

“I’m not completely sure,” she said in a very low voice.

“How can you NOT be sure?” I asked. “Surely you know what you fought about.”

“I guess,” she mumbled, picking at the food on her plate.

“Carley, what did you fight about?” I prompted. It couldn’t have been that he’d tried to kiss her. She wouldn’t be acting this way if that was it. Plus, he’d never do that without some sign that she wanted him to. He was just too polite and Carley was too oblivious about his feelings to give him any sort of signal.

Carley took in a gusty breath and let it out with a long sigh. “We fought about Samuel and Holt.”