Chapter Four

 January 1^st, 2005 [Evening]

 

            I slipped onto Mae’s front porch and knocked. Her neighborhood was a quiet one, and I didn’t want to wake any one up.

            “Hello?” The door cracked open.

            “Mae, it’s Juliet,” I whispered, peering through the light.

            “Oh, Juliet. Mae mentioned you were coming.” The door opened up enough for my slim waist to slip through.

            “Hello, Mrs. Carter.” I smiled as I stepped in. The house was warm with yellow light. Their love could be felt throughout the room, but it was accompanied by a small darkness. Mae appeared from the kitchen and ran to hug me.

            “Afternoon,” I whispered as I rubbed her hair.

            “Hey,” she said, giggling.

            “Juliet, please come into the kitchen.” We walked into the kitchen and sat around the table. Mae poured a glass of water for everyone.

            “Mae said you had a surprise for us.” Her mother looked hopeful.

            “Yes, miss Carter. I brought you and Mae something to help you get back on your feet.” I handed her the money envelope. She eyed me carefully, but when she opened it her defenses fell.

            “How … how much is this?” Her eyes were wide.

            “Two thousand, Mam,” I replied.

            “We can’t accept this, Juliet. I just can’t.”

            “Mam, I insist on you keeping this. It’s my treat. Mae and I are very good friends and I care very much for her and her family.” I said this while resting my fingertips on her hand. It seemed to convince her.

            “Alright, but we will pay you back. Maybe not with money, but with something.” She jumped up to hug me and I returned the gesture. Mae and I said our goodbyes.

            “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I called out.

 

My ride home was filled with thoughts from earlier. The man who gave me his phone number was so mysterious. Seeing as I had never met him before it was a little awkward to receive his phone number. The black hair that donned his head was gorgeous, tasseled around as it was. Oh, and his eyes; they were enchanting.

 

As I was about to pull into my usual parking spot, I happened to look up, realizing my spot was taken. Leaning against the end of a used Sentra was Brendan. He looked half asleep donning that wicked grin.

“Good afternoon, Brendan.” I waved, pulling my hoodie and keys from the truck.

“Hey Julls. How ya doin?”

“I’m alright.” As I walked up the stairs, he followed me to my door.

“Brendan, what are you doing?” He stood in front of me and rested his hands on the door, trapping my shoulders.

“Oh nothing,” he whispered, but in that moment he was doing something. His lips were moving closer with every second. Panicked, I dropped to the ground and gagged myself. My pizza splattered on the ground beside his shoes.

“Oh Julls! Are you okay?” He said. A very sarcastic and mean remark almost escaped my lips, but more food came up before it had a chance. Brendan shoved my arm around his shoulders when I was done and carried me inside.

“Brendan, you should go home now. I may have something contagious, please. I don’t want to get you sick.” He set me on the couch, kissed my head, and left quickly, closing the door on his way out.

 

I rinsed my mouth out in the sink and locked the door. Why had I done that? Brendan was bound to try something on me, but why wouldn’t I let him go through with it? The man’s face from the square popped up in my mind. How could that be the reason? We weren’t dating, therefore it shouldn’t have mattered.

 

Wednesday passed without meaning. It was surprising how by the middle of the week I was sick of working already. Mae and her mother were already doing better, splitting up the money into areas of their lives that needed it. I couldn’t have been happier for them. My book had accumulated four new pages over the past day in the boring hours of the night, but my mind hadn’t fully recovered from receiving the phone number.

 

It bugged me nonstop on my way home from starbucks. I looked at the paper lying nicely in the seat and then looked back. I couldn’t call him. There wasn’t any possible way my nerves wouldn’t explode if I did. For my own safety, I could not contact this mystery man.

 

I arrived home earlier since it was Wednesday. A small percentage of men and women were dragging their children off to church, which cleared the roads a bit. I dropped onto the couch and propped my feet up, digging myself deeper into the couch. After a few minutes of squirming, I was comfortable. Smiling, I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. In through the nose and out through the mouth. In through the nose and out through the mouth… My head bobbed to the side before I fell asleep.

 

 

“Mae, Mae, Mae!” she was running too quickly and in the wrong direction. I picked up speed, throwing my legs in front of me, left and right, but I would never catch up to her. Out of no where, she stopped.

“Juliet, it’s time for you to go,” She whispered, raising her pointer finger. I backed away slowly, shaking my head.

“Ahh!” Fire flew from her finger tips as she roared with power.

“Don’t!” I screeched. My high pitched voice did nothing for my survival. The fire engulfed my insides, burning me. As I lay dying on the ground, I watched the stars. Hot and cold in the same place. My eyes fluttered, but in a blink he was there; the man from the square.

“What…?” I was very confused.

“Don’t worry,” Was all he said.

 

I jumped out of my dream, causing me to fall from the couch.

“Ugh,” I whispered. The room was very dark. I guessed it was early in the morning, but when I glanced at the clock I realized I had only been asleep for half an hour. Groaning, I stood up and shook the blankets off. From the freezer, I pulled out a Poptart package. A mushy smore delight melted on my tongue, causing me to smile.