Chapter Two

 

Chapter 2

 

“How exactly am I alive?” I asked Emery.

“I told you, your coat came undone at the right moment. Any later and you would have been a pancake.” He said with a smirk on his face.

“Oh, well will you walk with me Home? I don’t want to ride the bus that almost ran over me.” I said.

“Oh, sure. No problem. But are you sure you want to walk in this freezing wasteland?” He said over dramatic and humorously.

“Oh, I’m sure I’ll survive.” I said putting the back of my hand on my forehead. “But wait, won’t you slip and fall on the ice?” I asked not thinking of his blindness.

“Trust me, I’ll be fine. Just hold onto my arm.” He said.

“Oh, sure I don’t want you to slip.” I said kindly.

“No, I meant so that way “you” don’t slip.” He said seriously. I let it go and we started walking home.

“How did you become blind?” I asked.

“Well, it’s actually quite a long story, but it all has to do with learning a lesson.” He said.

“Wait, so your parents blinded you!?” I asked.

“Well actually my father did.” He said, informing me.

“Isn’t that child abuse?” I asked wondering what type of father would blind his own son.

“Well, not with my father.” He said.

“Not with your father? Doesn’t he realize it’s child abuse no matter who you are?” I asked.

“Try telling him that.” He said.

“That’s not right.” I said.

“Oh, trust me it’s quite alright.” He said smiling. How could he smile at that? I don’t understand him.

“So, have you learnt your lesson?” I asked more sarcastically than seriously.

“Apparently not. I’m still learning.” He said, with an even bigger grin on his face.

“I really don’t understand you.” I said confused and flustered. He grinned.

“Ya know, you’re awfully cute when you’re confused.” He stopped, and for once blushed. I laughed, and then realized what he had said.

“Well then.” I said still smiling. “You’re not half bad looking yourself.” I couldn’t believe I just openly said that. “I can’t believe I just said that.” I told him.

“It’s ok, at least we’re in agreement.” He said still blushing.

“Well, this doesn’t mean anything, ok? I mean we just met.” I said, trying not to show my own embarrassment.

“Oh, well that’s a relief.” He said grinning again. “What do you look like anyway?” He asked.

“Oh, yeah, I know what you look like but you don’t know what I look like. Well, I’m 5’6, I have short spiky brown hair, with red highlights, and a red tank-top, with blue-jeans, and black shoes.” I said.

“Wow, That sounds…interesting.” He said.

“Oh, thanks, well you look weird yourself.” I came back.

“What? But just a few moments ago you said I didn’t look half bad.” he reminded me.

“Oh yeah, crap. Well, you do look very nice.” I said.

“Why thank you.” He said taking a bow.

“So, what was this lesson that you were supposed to learn?” I asked. He got a different look on his face.

“Do we have to talk about this now?” he asked.

“Well, if you don’t mind, I’d kind of like to know.” I said.

“It really is a long story, something about finding something in something.” He said.

“That helps a whole lot. We have 2 miles to walk yet.” I said.

“It’s much longer than 2 miles. Trust me.” He said. I changed the subject.

“What really happened?” I asked.

“Huh?” He asked.

“I saw a blind kid pull me from under a bus. Explain please.” I said.

“Hold on there, are you sure? I mean since we hung out all day it could be possible that when you closed your eyes you saw me.” he said, sounding like he was hiding something.

“No, I know what I saw. What are you hiding?” I asked seriously.

“Look, I don’t want to get into it ok!” He snapped, and didn’t have a smile on his face like usual, so I knew I hit something…but what? What would make him snap at such a little conversation?

“Look, I have to get going.” He said going as fast as a blind person could go, especially on snow.

Hmm, wonder what it is about him. He then turned around.

“We still have 2 miles yet.” He said.

“Why did you get so mad at me?” I pushed.

“I…I don’t know.” He said.

“I’ve…” He stopped. “Never mind.” He said.

“No, what?” I asked.

“well, this is going to sound odd but, I’ve never been angry before. Never yelled at someone. Never blushed…” He trailed off.

This guy really is strange. I knew there was something about him, but I still don’t know what, why won’t he tell me?

“Never?” I asked.

“No, never.” He said.

“You really are unique Emery.” I said.

“Yeah.” He said, still smiling.

“So, what’s your father like? Even though he blinded you.” I asked him.

“He’s Kind, compassionate, and very loving, but don’t get in the way when he’s angry.” He warned.

“How can you say he’s all those wonderful things when he blinded you?” I asked confused.

“Well, he did this to show me something important. He has a bigger plan than I know.” He said.

“What?” I asked very confused now.

“It’s really hard to explain.” He said.

“Oh. Well I’d really like to hear the truth sometime.” I said smiling.

“I’ll see what I can do.” He said with a huge grin. “So you’re new here? Where’d ya move from?” He asked.

“Oh. Umm Florida.” I said.

“Hmm. Well then it’s quite a bit difference in weather then huh?” He said laughing.

“Yeah. It’s a bit warmer there.” I said shivering.

“So if you’re new here, where’d you move from?” I asked.

“Oh, umm. Well…” He looked as if he was searching for the answer. “Actually up north, way up north.” He started in but then I realized I was home.

“Well, this is my house I should go.” but as I turned I slipped on some ice and my books went everywhere. “crap! How do I do that?” I asked mainly myself.

“Here, let me help you.” said Emery.

“But you can’t see.” I said.

“No, but I can feel.” He said.

“Oh, right.” I felt really stupid, again. As he helped pick up my books I got caught up looking into his eyes. They were interesting. They were green, with so much life and love and beauty, But blind people usually have eyes that are lifeless. Emery’s on the other hand were so very…

“Hey are you still here?” Asked Emery.

“Huh?” I said snapping out of it. “oh, yeah. Sorry.” I said trying not to sound obvious.

“What were you saying?” I asked.

“Oh, umm nothing. You should be going.” He said obviously uncomfortable. What was it about him?

“So, I’ll see you Monday?” He asked.

“What?” I asked.

“At school, I’ll see you at school Monday?” He asked again.

“Oh, right. Yeah.” I said. I had forgotten that it was the weekend.

“See ya.” He said grinning.

“Wait do you know how to get home from here?” I asked.

“Yup, I live up the road 1 more mile.” He said.

“Oh, well then. Maybe we can hang out then?” I asked.

“Sounds great.” He said. Looking a bit relieved I had to leave. I went inside, took off my huge coat and my boots and started later talking to my mom about my day, well about Emery.

“He’s so confusing, I mean he’s also new here but he knows exactly where to go, and what’s going on.”

“What’s so bad about that?” My mom asked.

“Well he’s blind! Doesn’t that seem odd?” I asked.

“No, I mean most blind people are very intelligent.” She said.

“Yeah. But his eyes are filled with such, such. I don’t know he’s just so…” My mother cut me off.

“Sounds like you have a crush.” She said smiling.

“What!? On Emery? No way!” I said blushing, because I knew she was probably half right.

“Yeah, it sounds like you like this guy.” She said.

“Well we’re just friends and that’s the way we like it.” I said.

“Okay.” She said still smiling. Later I was thinking about what my mom had said. Did I have a crush on Emery? It would be stupid to. I mean besides, Emery is good just being friends. Even if his eyes are filled with wonder, and life, and the way his hair…NO I don’t like him that way. I heard the door bell ring.

“Trinity, the door is for you.” My mom yelled up the stairs.

“Oh, ok. Coming.” I said. I made my way downstairs and found Emery at the bottom. He did look amazing, and he’s just so…I slipped on a wet spot on my stairs from the left over snow. I started tumbling down the stairs when he caught me.

“Ya know, I’m blind and I’m fine, you can see and fall, what’s wrong with that picture?” He asked.

“Yeah, I know. So what’cha need?” I asked.

“Well I got half way home when I realized I was carrying an extra book. I think I picked this up when you slipped.” He handed me my math book.

“Oh, you trekked all the way back here in the snow and ice? Thank you, It would have been difficult to do without the book. So how’d you know I slipped?” I asked.

“As I’ve said before, I’m blind not stupid, Also my ears work just fine, if not better, plus I traveled back here to talk to you.” He said.

“Oh, well thanks anyhow.” I said.

“So can I talk to you?” Asked Emery.

“Of course.” I said.

“Well, today when I got angry at you. I wasn’t kidding when I said that’s the first time I’ve ever been angry. I’ve never felt that feeling.” He said looking down.

“Oh. But what about your dad blinding you? How did you not get angry with him?” I asked.

“Because his reason is good.” He said.

“How? He made you this way.” I said.

“Yeah, but if you knew my father, if anyone really knew my father they’d know.” He said.

“Who is your dad any way? You keep talking about him like he’s someone famous.” I asked.

“Well, he used to be, but like everything else his fame went down. People started to dislike him more and more.” He said.

“Oh, was he an actor? Or singer?” I asked.

“No.” Was all he said.

“Well, whoever your father is. I’m glad he’s not mine.” I realized what I had said.

“I’m so terribly sorry, that came out wrong.” I tried to cover.

“A lot of people feel that way. But there are so many who want to call him dad.” He said.

“But the guy tortures his own children.” I said.

“Yes, but he also loves us very much.” Said Emery smiling again. “Well I should go.” He said.

“Oh, ok.” I said.

“I’ll see you Monday?” He asked.

“Yup. I’ll be there.” I said.

“Good, except this time can you not be the one to test the tires on a school bus tomorrow?” He asked.

“Ha ha. Trust me I promise.” I said. My mother stared at me.

“What about school bus tires?” I looked at her.

“I’ll tell you later. I’m fine, and it’s nothing.”

“Nothing!? You could’ve been killed!” She exclaimed while hugging me.

“Thanks Emery.” I mumbled.

“Sorry.” He smiled. “Oh, also I heard your prayer. Are you going to turn your life around?” He asked. “Oh that? Well you know how it goes when you’re in a life and death situation. You say things.” I said.

“I know that too well. I’m kind of getting tired of it. Well, see ya Monday.” He said.