Shades of Atlantis (25 page)

But of course you were right to stop, he said solemnly. It wouldn’t be right, not yet. In a few days you’ll be much more equipped to make a decision about your future.

I huffed, remembering why I had been leaving. Caleb smiled, amused.

I couldn’t stay mad at him. As much as I hated to admit it, he was only trying to do everything right right in his eyes. I smiled back.

Good, he said standing up. I’ll be right back. I brushed myself off and fixed my hair. Caleb came back in under a minute with an envelope in his hand and sat on the ottoman in front of me.

What’s that? I asked eying the envelope.

This is for you. He offered me the envelope.

I attempted to take it from his hand, but quick as a flash he pulled his hand away.

Ah. He smiled. I want you to open this at home and think about it until Friday.

My curiosity was triggered as I took the envelope from him. What’s in it?

Something for when you grow up, he laughed.

I don’t believe you!

What? Caleb asked guilelessly.

You just couldn’t help yourself. I stood up and he stood with me. He couldn’t just let it go, there had to be one last sarcastic comment. Take me home, I ordered.

Triona Caleb went to put his hand on my shoulder, but I flinched away and brushed past him. I was teasing.

I want to go home, Caleb. Please take me home. I crushed the envelope in my clenched fist and rushed to the stairs, but again he was there first.

Be reasonable, Triona.

I squeezed my eyes shut and ignored the sound of his voice and the effects it was having on my body. What makes you think you are so much more mature than I am? I raged and opened my eyes.

Caleb’s eyes widened as if taken aback.

Just because you have money and a big house and a fast car. It doesn’t make you an old man. You’re only three years older than me. A dark brooding expression flashed across his face, but he said nothing.

Okay, then. I’ll walk. I tried to shove past him but he wouldn’t budge.

Caleb gave in and sighed. No, if you really want to leave, I’ll take you home.

There was a bleak silence between us in the car on the way back to my house. I got out, slamming the door after me, and thundered up the driveway, ignoring his calls to come back. When I got to my room, I shut the door, pushed the envelope Caleb gave me into my desk drawer, and threw myself on my bed glaring up at the ceiling. I was so angry it was easy to block out all the other feelings I usually had when Caleb wasn’t near me.

I knew this wasn’t a serious argument; I knew we would make up, but I wanted to punish him for making me wait again.

Fire

I amazed myself by being able to keep my anger up over the next two days, though not without causing discomfort to myself. I refused Caleb’s calls, and when he waited for me outside school, standing beside his car on Thursday, I simply ignored him, driving past with Amanda and Ben, refusing to meet his eyes. I knew if I heard his voice or looked in his eyes, I would give in, and the enforced exile I banished myself to was to prove a point: no more waiting. I had to be sure that he wouldn’t back out on Friday, that he would fulfill his end of the bargain.

It was hard, and Friday was the worst. Roughly two-thirds of my class didn’t show up for school, instead busying themselves with preparations for the prom. No one got away with that excuse in the Pryor household. Ben and I were there along with Jonathan apparently the prom excuse didn’t wash in his home either but Amanda and Jen weren’t. It meant several of my classes turned into study periods because of all the empty desks, and I had nothing to distract myself from thinking about Caleb and even, at times, Seth. Why did he hate me so much? Did he think that I wasn’t good enough for Caleb? Or was it that we were leaving together? I racked my brain but couldn’t form a definite conclusion. It was a relief when the last bell rang.

Caleb was waiting outside, and I felt his eyes on me as I drove past. It was harder this time because I was alone, since Ben was getting a ride with Jonathan to his house. A bunch of guys from school were going to hang out, play video games, and generally do whatever guys did before throwing their tuxes on at the last minute. I dragged my feet up the stairs, wondering if I could get away with last minute preparations too. Caleb still planned to pick me up; the voice mail he left on my phone that morning was very clear. He also added that I wasn’t proving my maturity by ignoring him.

His voice was light-hearted, but I knew I’d gotten my point across. This was one promise he wouldn’t renege on.

I was surprised to hear muffled giggles and the sound of movement emanating from my room. I took the remaining steps two at a time and flung the door open. Apparently preparations were in full swing here, after all. Jen and Amanda had completely taken over my bedroom. My desk was strewn with every makeup and hair product known to man. Shoes, bags, and hair dryers lay scattered on the floor. My dress was hung on the outside of my wardrobe beside Amanda’s jade-green, spaghetti-strapped one, and Jen’s black dress was draped over the end of my bed with a fur stole over it.

I hope that’s fake, I muttered to their startled faces.

They must have been too wrapped up in what they were doing to hear me come in. Come to think of it, how did they get in? The key on my nightstand answered my question. Ben.

Of course, Jen stated matter-of-factly. Her long hair was twisted around large drum rollers. But this isn’t, she added. The bracelet Caleb gave me was laid across her delicate wrist. The string of diamonds and white gold glinted as she twisted it under the lamp beside my bed.

Yes it is, I laughed and came into the room closing the door behind me. I didn’t think it was fake.

No, Jen said assuredly. This is real and vintage. The dress too. She got up and stood beside my dress, running her fingers lightly over the fabric. I saw this dress on a website when I was looking for ideas on what to wear. It was sold at a charity auction for sixty thousand dollars in nineteen ninety-nine to an anonymous buyer.

How could she possibly remember all that? I grimaced at her and rolled my eyes when Amanda started coughing profusely, after splashing too much of some sort of powder from an enormous puff onto her face. How do you know it’s the same one?

Eh, the label, Jen said caustically at my apparently underwhelmed expression.

It couldn’t be the same dress, could it? It was only prom, after all. What are you doing here, anyway?

Amanda twisted in her seat, still blinking furiously. Caleb called and said to make sure you’re ready for seven.

He did, did he? I scowled.

Amanda sighed. Come on, Triona. You know this is stupid. You’re obsessively in love with the guy, you haven’t seen him in weeks, and now you’re ignoring him?

It looked like even if I hadn’t already decided I was going, I was out-numbered anyway.

A few hours into the primping and preening, I had to admit I was having fun. I couldn’t remember ever having done anything so girlie with my friends. My dark red hair gleamed as a result of whatever concoction Amanda applied before setting it in long curls down my back, while Jen painted my nails blood red. Amanda was fixing Jen’s hair into a complicated twist at the back of her neck when the message alert on my phone buzzed. I dived across my bed to retrieve it, thinking it might be Caleb. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t phone or text him, seeing as technically we still weren’t speaking, but if he texted me, I could answer.

I guess the cold war is over, Jen snickered, looking sideways at me before Amanda, with both her hands, forcibly turned her head back to face the mirror.

I was shocked to see it wasn’t Caleb, or anyone else I would have expected for that matter. It was Seth.

Maybe we should try to be friends for Caleb. What do you think?

What is it? Amanda asked, not taking her eyes from Jen’s reflection in the mirror.

Nothing, just Seth with a reminder about work. Jen’s head shot sideways, making Amanda drop a jeweled clip she was trying to insert into her hair. So all that stuff the other day is forgotten about, is it? she questioned curiously.

I don’t really think it was about me, I lied as I texted back: Why not?

Right, Jen muttered, clearly not convinced.

I didn’t know why I was covering for Seth with my friends. Of course I knew he didn’t like me; I just didn’t know why. On the other hand, I knew all of us getting along would make things easier for Caleb.

Amanda glared at Jen before picking up the clip and trying again. I waited with my phone in my hand, eager to see what he’d say next, but I still almost jumped out of my skin when the alert went off.

Meet me at Caleb’s to talk. You might find it enlightening. :-)

I looked at the clock to see if I had time. I was particularly eager to go so I could offer the news to Caleb, my way of showing him I could be mature, and intrigued to hear what Seth had to say. I texted straight back.

See you there ASAP

I grabbed a pair of jeans from my wardrobe and started to tug them on.

What are you doing? Amanda demanded, utterly aghast.

I forgot something. I’ll be back.

Oh no you don’t. We told Caleb we’d have you ready. She went over to the door and blocked it with her tiny frame.

I thought about my options. I was pretty confident I could take Amanda easily, but it would hardly be fair to start a fight on prom night. Anyway I wasn’t sure I could take the two of them, and Jen looked like she was preparing to back Amanda up. I wasn’t going to be allowed leave if they weren’t sure I would be back on time. I knew I had plenty of time to go see Seth and get back. My eyes turned to the dress.

Okay, I sighed taking it off the hanger. I’ll get dressed now and then I’ll be ready. I’ll be back before seven, I promise.

When I arrived at Caleb’s house, it looked deserted. There was no sign of Caleb or Seth. It dawned on me that Seth asking to meet here instead of his own house or the restaurant was a little odd. I fished around in my purse for my phone so I could check his message again in case I’d gotten it wrong.

Damn, damn, damn, I groaned under my breath. I must have left it on my bed when I was getting dressed. I scanned the area again, but there were no cars around. I rummaged one more time hopefully, not that I could miss my phone in the tiny sequined bag. I was startled by a knock on the car window; it was Seth smiling in at me serenely. I gave myself a few seconds to ease my breathing, and then opened the door. Seth held it politely as I got out.

You look very beautiful tonight, he commented gallantly.

I couldn’t take credit for anything. Jen and Amanda handled hair and makeup, and Caleb picked the dress and the simple diamond bracelet.

Somehow, I didn’t think Seth would be interested.

Thank you, I answered graciously. My heart gave a small thump; something in the way he surveyed my appearance didn’t sit right. His eyes were very green today, a shimmering green, and he was staring at me with a peculiar expression, as if he had just tasted something he really didn’t like.

I felt uneasy; maybe this was a mistake. Seth slammed the door of my car closed, and the whole body of the old car juddered from the force.

Where’s Caleb? I stammered, suddenly feeling nervous. Again Seth smiled, his lips pulling back over his perfect white teeth. It reminded me of something, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

Don’t you know? He looked surprised and held his hand up gesturing to the door. I thought he would be here, so we could all talk together.

No — I don’t know where he is, and I’ve forgotten my phone, so I can’t call him.

Never mind. It’s probably best he’s not here for the moment anyway. It wasn’t lost on me that he didn’t offer to call and what did he mean by that?

Seth held the door of the house for me, allowing me to enter first. Why was it unlocked? I caught his scent as I passed. Ginger and sugar, sickly sweet. It had never seemed that way to me before. I walked down the stairs carefully, holding the skirt of my dress up a few inches so I wouldn’t trip.

I could feel Seth no more than two steps behind me, his footfalls so quiet that I had to strain to hear them. He made me jump when he leaped to the ground four steps from the bottom, landing so lightly he barely made any sound at all. I stopped on the last step and watched as Seth continued to the window.

Looks like someone has a special night planned. Seth’s voice was friendlier than I’d heard it in a long time, but it was fake. This whole thing suddenly being nice was an act. I shuddered and wrapped my arms around myself. He flicked a switch on the wall, and outside on the deck what looked like thousands of tiny lights came to life.

My feet wouldn’t move despite Seth beckoning me forward with his hand to look. I saw from where I stood, even though it was still bright out, the lights twisted around every inch of rail and a table set with candles and glasses. Why was he showing me?

What’s going on, Seth? What do you want? I asked cautiously.

He looked crestfallen and insulted. I just wanted to talk. I knew it was an act. I knew instinctively that he was lying, and I wished I had my phone. I took one step back up the stairs, not taking my eyes from Seth.