Beyond Reach (18 page)

Finally, we're done and Mr. Dynell seems pleased with our results. I watch as Garrett logs more statistics into his
computer. Then I notice something as I catch him from a side angle.

“Do you have a black eye?” I point to his right eye, and he turns away. “You do, don't you? What happened? Did you get into a fight?”

“Yeah,” he says dryly. “A fight with a door. I got up in the middle of the night when I was sick and ran smack into the bathroom door.”

“Ouch.”

He nods. “A rude awakening.”

“Looks like it got your nose too.” I notice what I can now see is some swelling. That must've hurt.”

“Uh-huh.” He closes his laptop and looks at me like he's trying to figure out who I really am and what I'm up to.

“What's wrong?”

“Just wondering.”

“What?”

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

I smile. “Why not?”

“Well, I know you need my help in this class. But something else is going on too.”

I give him an innocent look. “I just happen to like you, Garrett. You're a nice guy. And I appreciate that you're smart. I think you'd be a good friend.”

“You mean you think I could use a friend?”

“Whatever.”

“Am I some sort of mission for you? A let's-make-a-, friend charity case?”

“Of course, not.”

“What then?”

“I don't see why you're such a skeptic.”

“I'm scientific. It's my nature.”

I laugh. “You've actually got a pretty good sense of humor.”

“Thanks a lot.” But his expression is still glum.

“And you seem a little down to me. I could be wrong. Maybe it was just the flu. But I guess I thought you could use a friend. And why shouldn't we be friends?”

He shrugs.

“And we do need help for the Sweethearts Ball.”

He lets out an exasperated sigh. “So that's it?”

“No, that's not it. I got dragged into it by Olivia, and now I'm dragging you into it too. But you are on Honor Society, so you really do have a responsibility to do your—”

“Yeah, yeah.” He seems to loosen up. “So, what's the deal with Olivia trying out for Stewed Oysters? That seems a little off-the-wall, if you ask me.”

“Yeah, it's kinda weird. But OHvia has a really good voice and she does play several instruments, and they needed a female vocalist, so she thought, why not?”

He shakes his head like he's trying to imagine it.

“Sometimes we need to try something new.” I grin at him. “Like new friends. It makes life interesting.” Then I get an idea, and without fully thinking it through, I decide to go for it. “Hey, why don't you come with us?”

“Huh?”

“To the audition. I'm going to sort of support Olivia. You could come along and just watch. Do you like music?”

“Well, yeah, who doesn't like music?”

“How about Stewed Oysters? Have you heard them before?”

‘Yeah. They were pretty good at Battle of the Bands last spring.”

“Well, then come with us.”

“Are you serious?”

“Definitely. Come on, Garrett.”

He sort of shrugs. “Well, okay, I guess I—”

“Good. Meet us by the west exit after school, okay?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

Then class is over, and I tell Garrett good-bye and that I'll see him later. Okay, I'm not totally sure that he'll show up or what Olivia will think, but I have a feeling she'll be all right with it.

I catch her on the way to my next class and give her a heads-up about inviting Garrett. At first she's surprised, but then she's fine. “The more the merrier.”

“Thanks,” I tell her. “I just think Garrett needs some friends right now.”

“Do you still think he's the suicide guy in your visions?”

“Not really. But I do think he's lonely. And he's actually kinda fun. For an academic, he's got a pretty good sense of humor.”

“See ya after school, Sam.”

Then as I'm on my way to art, my last class, my cell phone rings. Assuming it must be Ebony and hoping that nothing's gone wrong with Cody, since he's been on my heart today, I immediately answer.

“Hey, I heard the fantastic news,” says Ebony. “And I'm so excited!”

“Oh, that's right. I almost forgot that I left you a message this morning.”

“So your pastor was really okay about you working for us?”

“He was totally great! It was actually a huge relief to tell him about the whole thing. He's a very cool guy.”

“I know. I've met him before. He seemed very well grounded and genuine.”

“And he wants to talk to you. I told him I'd let you know.”

“I'll give him a call.”

“Any word on Cody? Did his mom call or anything? I've been thinking about him a lot today.” I lower my voice. “But no visions or dreams or anything.”

“I haven't heard a thing.”

I sigh. “Too bad, I've really been praying for him to open up to someone. That's a heavy load for a twelve-year-old to carry.”

“I feel exactly the same way. And I sure don't want to request a court order to bring him in here. I told his mom that I'm giving Cody until next week to come forward.”

“I'll keep praying for him. In the meantime I better get to class.”

“Yes, of course. Let's plan on getting together on Monday after school, Samantha. You'll need to sign some paperwork here, things to make your employment official.”

“Cool.”

“I'm heading off to a wedding this weekend. But if anything new comes up, feel free to call. Not that I'll be much
help out in Des Moines, but I can probably find someone else to step in.”

“Have a great weekend,” I tell her. “I'll see you on Monday.”

Finally, the day ends and I'm heading to the west exit to meet Olivia. I'm almost there when I notice Garrett sort of meandering that way too, like maybe his enthusiasm is lagging a little and he may need a boost, so I come up from behind and grab him by the arm. Of course, this just makes him jump.

“Sorry,” I say, still linked arm in arm with him. “Didn't mean to scare you. Ready to go to Olivia's audition?”

“I don't know if that's—”. “Come on, Garrett. It'll be fun. And I already told Olivia you were coming. She's expecting you.”

Garrett looks unsure, but I just keep escorting him toward the exit. It's a good thing he's not a real big guy since I can tell he's dragging his heels a little.'But I also hope that maybe he's enjoying the attention. I sense that we're being observed, and I'm sure people wonder what's up with me and Garrett. But I don't really care. If anything, I'm sure we make a pretty funny pair.

“Hey,” calls Olivia. “Ready to go?”

“Your fan club has arrived,” I tell her.

“Hey, Garrett,” she says with a big, beautiful Olivia smile, which actually seems to dazzle him just slightly. I'm sure he's not at all used to getting this kind of attention from girls. “Nice shades.”

“Thanks,” he says quietly.

She jingles her car keys. “Let's go, kiddies.”

Garrett sits in the backseat, and Olivia and I sit in front and attempt to engage him in some small talk, which is a challenge. But by the time we get to Cameron's house, he seems a bit more relaxed.

“Cameron and I used to be friends,” he tells us as Olivia parks in front. “Back in grade school.”

“Really?” says Olivia. “You guys seem so different.”

“That's probably why we're not friends anymore.”

“Funny how people can change,” I say as we get out of the car.

“Man, am I nervous.” Olivia looks toward the brick house in front of us. “This feels worse than doing a solo at a school concert.”

“Just imagine those guys in their underwear,” says Garrett.

Olivia and I laugh.

“Yes,” I agree. “And really bad underwear.”

“Right,” says Garrett. “Like tighty-whities that got washed with a red towel.”

“Pink!” I say as we walk toward the house.

“Thanks, you guys.” Olivia rings the doorbell, and although we can hear music coming from somewhere, no one answers the door. “Do you think this is a trick?” she asks anxiously.

“Why don't we try the garage,” I suggest. “It sounds like it's coming from there.”

“I'll go check,” offers Garrett, which seems rather nice considering he's been sort of ambushed into hanging with us this afternoon.

“He's really nice,” Olivia says as Garrett walks toward the garage.

I nod. “Yeah. He just needs some friends.”

Then Garrett waves for us to join him, and before long, Olivia is introducing us to the members of the band.

“I already know Garrett,” says Cameron. ‘What's up, dude?”

Garrett shrugs. “Not much.”

“They just came to listen,” explains Olivia. “Hope that's okay.”

“Cool,” says Cameron. “Groupies.”

“We don't
need
an audience,” grumbles Jack, the bass player. I remember now that Olivia had her concerns about this guy, and he does seem like a grump. But Cameron ignores him, and Dirk, the drummer, seems amused by the spectators as he fiddles with his cymbals.

“You guys can sit over there.” Cameron nods to a weight bench against the wall as he hands Olivia some pages. “Here's the song we're working on. We'll run through it once so you can hear it then you can join in the vocals second time around. Okay?”

“Sounds good.” But I can hear the nervous strain in her voice. Suddenly I remember that my purpose here is to pray. So with eyes wide open, I do that.

Dear heavenly Father, please help Olivia to relax and do her best. And if it's Your will for her to participate in this band, please, make it work out so that they will all want her and appreciate her But if it's not Your will, I ask that You just close the door and lock it shut. Amen.

They band is playing now, and the sound is really pretty good. Apparently they have a keyboardist who's missing,
and Olivia asks if they'd like her to step in. Cameron looks kind of surprised, and Jack looks totally skeptical.

“Sure, if you want,” says Cameron. “But can you sing and play keyboard at the same time?”

Olivia makes an uncertain face like she's not too sure about this. Of course, this is a total masquerade since I'm well aware that she can play piano and sing simultaneously. She does it at church fairly regularly and sometimes at her house when we're just playing around and I'm imagining that I have some singing talent, which is a big joke.

I glance at Garrett, and he actually looks worried for her sake. How sweet is that?

“She can do it,” I whisper as they get ready to start the song.

He nods but still looks concerned. I suspect he's had his own embarrassing moments. He seems like the kind of guy with an empathetic spirit too. I'm so glad he came with us today. And he actually looks pretty cool in his aviator shades. I'm thinking with a little work, Garrett could look a whole lot less nerdish. Still, I'm not sure he'd be willing. And I don't want to insult him.

Suddenly, Olivia is playing keyboard and singing into the mie, like a real pro. It's fun watching the faces of the guys. Cameron and Dirk are totally getting down. But Jack, although surprised, still doesn't look pleased. Just what is his problem anyway?

Then I notice that he does resemble the guy in my. visions. Especially when he holds his head down to look at his bass. Maybe that's what this is about. Maybe Olivia
was really on to something here. Whatever the case, it's fun listening to Olivia holding her own with these bad-boy dudes, who actually seem more like normal kids right now.

“That was awesome,” Cameron says when they finish up. Garrett and I are clapping from our spot on the weight bench.

“You're really good, Olivia!” explodes Dirk.

“Not bad…” But Jack's voice sounds flat, and he doesn't even look at her.

“Come on, Jack,” urges Cameron. “Admit that she's good. Really good.”

“He won't,” teases Dirk, “‘cuz Jack wants to keep doing vocals.”

“You're full of—”

“Then admit it. She's good,” challenges Cameron.

“Yeah, man,” says Dirk. “You stink at vocals, Jack. Get over yourself, okay?”

Jack lets out some foul language, and I can tell Olivia's getting uncomfortable.

“Sorry about him.” Cameron frowns. “He's just jealous.”

“And you can go to—”

“Lighten up, Jack,” says Dirk.

“Maybe this isn't such a good idea.” Olivia sets down the mie.

“See what you did, Jack?” Dirk points a drumstick at him. “You're scaring her off now.”/

“We don't need no girls in this band.”

“Is that the problem?” asks Cameron. “‘Cuz if it is, you're going to have to change your voice and sing higher.”

“Maybe get a sex change.” Dirk grins.

“Because we want a girl singer. If Kyle were here, he'd agree.” Cameron glances at Olivia. “Kyle's our keyboardist. He's got the flu.”

“And Kyle's not gonna like that Olivia's trying to replace him,” Jack says.

Olivia holds up her hands. “Hey, I'm not trying to replace—”

“Ignore
Jack,” says Cameron.

“Yeah, he don't know jack.” Dirk laughs at his own joke.

“Kyle plays a couple of other instruments too,” says Cameron. “Do you play anything else?”

“Just flute and cello and violin, but I'm learning guitar.”

“Maybe she can replace you.” Jack sneers.

“Look,” Olivia says in a calm tone. “I don't want to be the cause of a big disagreement. Maybe you guys should talk this over while I'm gone. And whichever way you decide to go, I'm fine. Okay?”

“Yeah, maybe we can work Jack over once you girls are out of earshot,” teases Dirk. “Either he complies or he'll be singing soprano too.”

“Funny,” snarls Jack. “Maybe I'll just get the—”

“No!” Olivia says in a loud voice. “We're going. You guys work this out.”

“I'll give you a call,” says Cameron. “Thanks for a great audition.”

And then we are outta there.

“Whew,” Olivia says once the door is closed. That got a little creepy.”

That Jack dude has a real attitude problem,” says Garrett.

“Just because I'm a girl? What's up with that?”

“Maybe his mother used to beat him and he's a woman-hater now,” suggests Garrett. “Or maybe he's just gay”

Olivia and I laugh, but Garrett gets quiet now. So Olivia and I make a few more corny jokes at Jack's expense. But then I notice that Garrett's not laughing. And I start to feel bad about making fun of Jack. What if that poor guy really is the one in my visions? What if he's depressed and suicidal? For sure, he'll be going onto my prayer list now.