Looking for Something That's Not There (or just hidden)

F   o   u   r

Looking for Something That’s Not There

(Or Just Hidden)

 

Claire

I let rock music pound through my head so I could let the extra energy run to my feet. I made it to school in record time and was earlier than usual. I slowed down and caught my breath. I felt pumped now and ready for the day. Kayla was usually always here early to practice some new cheerleading routines either by herself or with a few other girls from the squad, before they went to practice. That was just one of the many reasons she was head cheerleader; besides her amazing athletics she was an over achiever. If anyone were to ask why I was here, Kayla would be a perfect excuse. I went to my locker and dropped my stuff off and then searched the school for Avery.

I don’t know why I thought he might be here early, but I guess missing out would have been worse than not knowing for sure. I glanced into the classrooms, but they were all either empty or containing a teacher, with whom I really didn’t want to have a conversation with. He was no where. I was beginning to think that everything that had happened between us really was nothing but a mere dream that I had come up with as I slept under the starlit canopy last night. Maybe Avery really never existed at all and was just a character that I had imagined so I could get my mind off of Brendan. Then I had to wonder. Had I really broken up with Brendan yesterday after all? It seemed so unreal how everything was coming together, but it must have been real because of how vividly I remembered everything occurring.

I continued walking down the hallways feeling defeated, when I felt a presence of someone behind me. I turned around thinking it may have been Kayla, but there was no one there. The hall was quiet and except for me there was no one else around at all. I frowned to myself for the silliness of my hallucinations and decided it might be better if I stopped looking for him; I would probably see him soon enough as it was anyway. I headed to the library, walking slower than normal. Now that I had a set destination I could take my time and calm down. The entire time though I still felt like someone was following me. It wasn’t a feeling in a creepy way like normally you would feel if you were being stalked, but yet it was more of a comforting sense of security from just being watched by someone who loved and cared about you.

I hadn’t felt that since my father died and now it was an unexpected surprise to receive it once again even though I had no idea how this feeling was being emanated. I eventually reached the library where I searched the various books until one particular title caught my attention: Supernatural Earthly Residences. I grabbed the books binding and released it from the shelf’s hold. I flipped it to the back and skimmed the summary. The feeling of someone peering and reading over my shoulder along with me was painstakingly obvious, but I ignored it because I knew no one was really there.

Many people live their lives day to day basing their beliefs on what they know to be a normal and typical based reality. They fail to see that supreme and supernatural beings may live among us. If they were to look past the stereo type life we live they would see some frightful and horrifying truths that they couldn’t bear to live life knowing. If people knew what was really out there without doubt the idea would be quickly disposed of so people would disregard the delicate fact that fantasy and fiction really can become reality. This is for those who have questions that are not afraid of receiving truthful answers in return. Open your mind up to the possibility of those that are unseen can truly be present in a world that they are mistaken for as myth and legends.

On the surface I felt like laughing because of the cheesiness of it like I would have most any other time, but deep down it was different. I almost felt open to the idea and possibility after what I had thought to have experienced. The sense that everything was real hovered deep down trying to tell me to stop doubting the truth just because it seemed far fetched.

The familiar sound of talking and feet hitting the floor hinted that students were marching into school and getting ready to start the beginning of their day. I checked the book out quickly and tucked it under my arm, hoping that no one would end up seeing its title. I couldn’t believe how fast the time had flown. The hallways were once again crowded with hustling and chatty teenagers. I hurried to my locker and dropped the book off into my bag and headed off to my first hour class which was government.

“Hey, Claire!” someone said as I dropped my books on the desk with a loud thump. I turned to the voice and smiled.

“Hi, Bobby. What’s up?”

“Well, auditions for the new play are this Friday. Are you going to audition this year?” Bobby asked.

“I don’t know. I haven’t even heard the theme for it yet. Have you?”

“Yes, it’s supposed to be a modernized twist on Romeo and Juliet. I really think you should try out for Juliet, you’d fit her perfectly.” He said. Bobby was into drama for sure and normally got the lead role himself; it wouldn’t surprise me if he had secretly already been cast as Romeo.

“Oh, that sounds interesting, but I’m not sure I have the time right now to audition. Do you know of anyone else that is interested in the parts?”

“Well, Ms. Argus is practically going to do everything in her own will to have that new kid, what’s his name? I think it’s Avery, to play Romeo, but there’s no way he’d end up doing it.” Bobby began matter-of-factly with a hidden sense of hesitance and resentment that I was able to pick up from after so many years of knowing him. “So I think I might try out, but you know that if by some slight chance Avery gets cast as Romeo than every girl in school will be on their hands and knees begging Ms. Argus to cast them as Juliet. So who knows? Either way it’ll be an interesting turn out.” The little wheels in my mind began to turn as I thought about this new predicament that had laid itself out in front of me.

“Oh, why don’t you think he’d agree to play the part?”

“Claire, have you seen the kid? He’s a total heart throb that thinks he’s too cool for the school. There’s no way he’d even consider bringing himself as low to play in the school’s drama production.”

“No I haven’t seen him, well, I have, but I mean I haven’t noticed that he had that type of an attitude. He seemed relatively friendly to me.”

“Well, he would have. You see, only the guys can see through his mask. Girls just sit and stare at his face, when guys take notice to how a person really is.”

“So are you saying that just because he may be attractive to most females means we are too stupid to see what he’s really like?”

“No, Claire I didn’t mean it like that. Girls aren’t stupid – just distracted.”

“Uh huh, and guys can’t become distracted themselves?” I said. Bobby and I had been good friends since the first day I came to this town. We both enjoyed finding a way to debate each other. In the middle of eighth grade, when I got transferred in, our parents put us on the school debate team and made sure we got a chance to defend our position against the other. I almost laughed when I thought about the one issue we debated about whether peanut butter or jelly was better on a sandwich and everyone knows that they both go best when they’re together so eventually Bobby and I came to peace with that one.

“Ugh. Yes, they can and they can become very distracted even more so than girls, but -”

“Can I please have everyone take a seat and then we’ll begin.” Mr. Lombardi said politely from behind his desk. Something somber seemed to reside in his mind.

“I rest my case.” I said with a large grin and then turned back to my desk where I took my seat. The class was full with an exception to the seat next to me. I wondered where Becky, the seat’s usual occupant, had gone. She wasn’t one to be late or absent.

“I’m afraid I have some very sad news.” Mr. Lombardi began. “It was discovered that last night there was a group of teens partying down by the vacant lot. Many of them drove home intoxicated, but as far as we know there was only one accident, but in that one accident many were seriously injured and unfortunately there was a death of the passing pedestrian who the car had come in contact with. I’m sad to say that your fellow classmate Becky Thomas was that unlucky pedestrian. Her family will be having a memorial service this Saturday at 2:00 if you are interested in attending.” The room took on a shocked and dismal feeling as everyone recalled their classmate and friend with past memories. I felt regret for not trying to get to know her more, she was such a delightful person. I was always her partner for group activities, but never hung out with her outside of school. She did not deserve the cards life had thrown at her, but seemed to take them without complaints which made her even more undeserving for the fate she had in the end. The room was still as we had a moment of silence to remember her by and then Mr. Lombardi remembered he also had some other news for us. “Due to the fact that we now have an empty seat in our class, I was informed this morning that Avery Black is going to transfer in and act as Becky’s replacement, but it appears that he is not here today. So when he returns please make sure you welcome him. With all that said, please open your books and read over the second section in chapter six and take notes on it and then we’ll have an open discussion.” Mr. Lombardi finished and then sat down and turned to work on something at his desk. Everyone slid their faces down to their desks as well and began the task that was given to them. The hour went by slow with thoughts of Avery sitting next to me and knowing that I would have the perfect opportunity to talk to him lightening my mood more and more. I couldn’t help, but wonder where he was though. After his first day of school he surely wouldn’t bale on the second, would he? If he did, would he bale on the third and fourth as well, or was all of this a miscommunication or misunderstanding?

Day after day I waited for him to come, but he didn’t show. I would look around and search the school in the morning and in between classes hoping I’d randomly run into him again, but my efforts were in vain. No one had seen him since Monday and he hadn’t shown for the rest of the week. I was beginning to loose hope and thought maybe he really hadn’t ever existed, but the chatter of his appearance was still a reminder that he had.

By Friday afternoon as I sat in last period at school, I remembered that I was planning on attending the memorial service for Becky tomorrow. I thought about the outfits I had to choose from in my wardrobe. I would probably end up settling with a simple black sweater and the black corduroy skirt that my grandmother had bought me for Christmas last year. Nothing too over the top and it was comfortable with the cold weather. A tap on my shoulder made me notice the note that had slipped in front of me while lost in thought once again.

I looked around, but it seemed no one had noticed the disturbance in my concentration. I couldn’t figure out who had tried to get my attention, but I quickly opened it up and read the nice print scrawled onto it.

I don’t know if you forgot or not, but the drama production’s auditions are today. I encourage you to try out for Juliet.

I looked behind me at Bobby, who happened to have almost every class with me, but he was all the way in the back of the room listening intently to a lecture about the different aspects of the Judicial branch. Not to mention he has the sloppiest hand writing on the planet, but who else would have brought this particular subject up? He was the only one that wanted me to try out so it must have been him somehow.

I looked up at the clock and prepared myself to leave in 60 seconds. The second hand went by tick after tick until finally it was back to where it started and the loud bell rang throughout the school. Everyone jumped from their seats and departed in a rush. I was one of the last ones out and caught up with Bobby.

“Hey. You must desperately want me to try out for Juliet, huh?” I asked.

“What do you mean?” The combination of his scrunched brow and puzzled voice confused me. How could he not know what I meant?

“Your note.” I tried hinting.

“What note?”

“The note you passed to me in class that reminded me of the play’s auditions and telling me that I should try out for the part.”

“Well, yeah I think you would play a good Juliet, but I never passed you a note.” His typical matter of fact tone rang loud and true and I knew he was being honest, but if he didn’t write the note than who did? Then I saw him out of my peripheral vision. My face filled with a rosy pink and then faded into paleness.

“Claire, are you ok? You don’t look so well.”

My world faded into black.

 

© By Amanda Gloth