Current Impressions (39 page)

Funny the things you notice in a moment
of sheer humiliation
, she thought, as time dropped into
neutral, prolonging her torture.

There was a hiss-like sound from the short
blonde.
Yep, definitely his girlfriend.

A male was chuckling.
Not Micah. Must be
the jock.

Arms wrapped around her, hugging her back.
Oh my gosh!

She shifted her weight back, trying to
detangle herself from Micah’s arms. Pulling her face away from his
neck, the memory of his scent automatically tucked away in her
mind, she met Micah’s raised brow line, wide eyes, and even wider
grin.

“Eden? Is that you?” he asked, as they
separated further.

Aware his hands still held her forearms, she
was forced to remain and maintain eye contact. She nodded,
terrified to speak.

“Wow! How the heck are you? It’s been
forever!” Though
his
face appeared delighted, she couldn’t
help but notice how
un-delighted
his girlfriend was, as her
amber eyes glared up at her.

Unfazed, Micah continued, “My dad told me
your dad got hired on at his firm. That’s awesome! So, did you guys
move back then?”

Again she nodded, hoping Micah would realize
he was still holding onto her.
What’s wrong with me? Running up
and hugging him!

“What’s it been four, five years?” he
asked.

Deciding his friends might think her a mute,
she answered, “Five.” Her mouth was so dry her upper lip got caught
on one of her braces as she spoke. She licked her lips, pulling her
mouth shut.

Micah didn’t seem to notice but the tan girl
did and smirked.

“Yo, Micah, are you going to introduce us or
what?” the big guy asked.

“Oh, yeah, sorry guys. This is Eden. We grew
up next door to each other, best friends our whole lives.” Micah’s
eyes danced with pleasure. He gestured to the jock. “This here’s
Chase, his girl Willow, and Megan,” there was the slightest
hesitation, “my girlfriend.”

At the word
girlfriend
, Micah’s blue
eyes registered something and he released Eden’s arms.

She gratefully let them drop to her sides.
“Nice to meet you.”

Willow cocked an eyebrow at her, her
icy-blue eyes sweeping up and down Eden’s frame as she twirled a
lock of her black hair between two fingers. “Where’d you move
from?” she asked.

Eden tried to answer under Willow’s icy
stare, but her voice cracked.

Micah jumped in. “Portsmouth, wasn’t it?
That’s where your dad got work after—” he stopped, searched her
face, and then glanced at his friends.

Oh gosh, he’s embarrassed by me!

“I, I have to go, get to class,” she said,
sidestepping, tugging at her backpack.

Micah frowned. “Do you need any help? Know
where you’re going?”

Her eyes were stinging.
Not now, please
not now
. She hated her overactive water works. She waved,
saying, “Yeah, I’m good, thanks,” and shuffled away.

“It’s sweet you’re back,” Micah called
out.

She peeked back. Megan was scowling at her
from behind Micah.

“Yeah, see ya.” She slipped into the throng
of almost-tardy kids. She had barely ascended the steps and darted
into the classroom when the bell shrilled.

Spying the only free seat on the opposite
side of the room, she hurried across, aware of gawking eyes. In the
second to last row, three seats back, she sank down into the chair,
sliding her backpack to the floor.

“Mr. Giles’s not going to like you, you
know,” a boy to her left leaned over and whispered.

She wanted to ignore him, but his
emerald-green eyes were startling bright and so close.

“Whatever, Andrew,” the redheaded girl to
her right whispered.

“Ah-hum,” the teacher coughed.

Eden snapped to attention.

“Are you a transfer student?” Mr. Giles
asked, holding the roll in hand, his bald head reflecting the
overhead lights.

“Yeah, from Portsmouth High.”

“I need your
name
,” Mr. Giles said,
apparently not caring where she’d come from.

“Oh, sorry, Eden McCarthy.”

“Ok, I assume you were given the right
textbooks at the office. We’re now halfway into the school year.
You missed the final before Christmas break.” There were a few
grunts of ‘so not fair’ and ‘lucky you’. Mr. Giles’s stare silenced
them. “I’ll get you a syllabus at the end of class to get you up to
speed.”

She nodded, anxious for everyone’s eyes to
be elsewhere. Mr. Giles walked away, methodically taking roll.

“He’s the worst teacher ever,” the redheaded
girl muttered.

Eden’s face flushed, afraid the teacher
might overhear.

“I’m Jessie, by the way,” the girl said,
offering a hand. “So, from Portsmouth, huh? Navy brat or
something?”

“No, my dad switched jobs.” She shook the
proffered hand as inconspicuously as she could.

“So, where’s your family’s mansion?” Jessie
asked.

“I, we don’t live in one. I live in
Sturbridge.”

“A townhome baby like me.” Jessie smiled.
“We’re neighbors.”

She smiled back. “Really? Cool.”

“I can tell I’m going to like you,” Jessie
announced, receiving a stern
shh
from Mr. Giles and snickers
from other students.

Eden sunk deep into her seat, ready to be
buried in her comfort zone of solving math equations.

“So, what was up with you and that girl
today?” Megan asked, hands on hips.

By the way she stood in front of the couch
glaring down at him, Micah had one guess why he’d gotten the silent
treatment the entire drive to his house after school.
She’s
upset about Eden still.
He sighed. “I already told you—she’s my
best friend. Or was,” he added, seeing his girlfriend flinch. “Why
are you being like this anyway? What’s the big deal?”

Megan let out a short blast of air from her
mouth, making a face at him. He hated when she did that; it really
wasn’t attractive.

“
What’s the big deal?
Micah, you’re
leaving me in like two weeks!” Her voice hitched up in a hysterical
sob.

Great, now everything’s my fault because
she’s crying.
He cringed.

“Sorry, Meg. I know you’re upset I’m going,”
he soothed. He patted the seat cushion next to him. “Come
here.”

Pouting, she sank down beside him. She
sniffed and then leaned her head against his chest. “Why do you
have to leave? Just stay here with me.” She sniffed again.

Irritated, he rehearsed the same lines over
again. “My parents already paid for the semester. My cousin gets
here next week. I’m only going to be gone three months.”

“And you’re probably going to flirt with
every girl in Rome too, right?”

“Meg, don’t you trust me at all?” Now he
didn’t hide his irritation.

“No, not after how you acted today with that
Eden girl!”

Ironically, what was irking her was the same
thing bothering him too. He’d been happy to discover the tall
blonde bowling him over was Eden. His parents told him the
McCarthy’s were moving back to Bon Air and he’d been hoping he’d
get to see his old friend again before leaving. What he hadn’t
counted on was how rude his friends would act.

“Yeah, about that. What was up with you guys
today?” he asked.

Megan stared at him.

“You all acted like jerks,” he reminded
her.

Her eyes bulged. “I can’t believe you’re
making this all about
her
. You’re totally dodging it.”

“Dodging what?”

“You were holding her arms like forever! I
saw the way you looked at her. Don’t even try to deny it!”

Micah threw up his hands. “Meg, really? Are
you
that
jealous of Eden?”

“Yes, well, no… I don’t know! So you swear
you don’t
like her
like her?”

“No more than Chase or any other of my
friends. She’s just a friend to me, I swear.”

She smiled and then giggled. “Ok.” She laid
her cheek against his upper arm, too short to reach his shoulder.
“Guess I just want you all to myself until you leave.”

He moved his hand to the top of her head,
brushing her hair back. Normally, he’d kiss her forehead or utter
some reassuring nonsense, but not today. Since Megan was engrossed
in the TV show, he let his eyes wander the living room.
Hard to
believe I’m actually leaving.
With football done for the
season, he didn’t mind being gone the last half of his junior year.
Megan minded.

Knowing his parents were out to dinner with
friends, a movement in the front entry caught his eye. Rotating to
get a better look, he disturbed Megan. She peered up at him.

“Sorry, I thought I saw—” He froze,
staring.

Poised in the entryway, a woman appeared out
of nowhere. Her pearly white skin contrasted with the form-fitted
crimson gown she wore. Her face was beautiful: a straight nose, red
full lips, and riveting, onyx eyes. Black hair reached the leather
belt at her waist.

Megan spun around, searching the room.
“Micah, saw what?”

His eyes flickered to Megan and then back to
the woman in red.
She’s breathtaking.
His jaw went slack,
his mouth gaping open.

“What is it? Why won’t you answer me?” There
was panic in Megan’s voice now, but he felt transfixed. The woman’s
lips slowly parted, opening. His breath caught, waiting for her to
speak. Instead, her head inclined, her body bowing, and then she
was gone. Disappearing into the nothingness she’d come from.

“Sorry,” he said, exhaling, his shoulders
slumping forward.

Megan was either going to cry or scream, he
wasn’t quite sure yet. “I thought I saw something,” he
explained.

“What? What’d you see?”

“Uh, nothing, really.” It sounded lame.
I’m a terrible liar.

“Nothing? You’re totally freaking me out!
That wasn’t
nothing
.”

“Sorry,” he repeated. He didn’t know what
else to say.
Man, I feel like I just did football drills
. He
noted Megan’s scowl.
I’m not sure I can handle her hysterics. I
just saw a freaking ghost!
Somehow, he knew Megan would
not
be able to handle
that
truth.

“Sorry? You’re sorry! I swear, Micah—”

“Megan, please. I just can’t do this with
you right now.”

Her mouth snapped shut, her eyes
narrowing.

When he remained quiet, she stood in a huff.
“Fine, be that way. I’m going home.”

He forced himself to his feet, but she was
already storming from the room.
Do I even want to
follow?

“Meg, wait,” he called, stepping after
her.

“First the flirting and now this… I just
can’t take anymore.” They were by the front door now. She whirled
around, facing him. “Go to Rome and forget all about me.” She
jabbed a finger at his chest. “We’re through, Micah!” She threw the
door open and slammed it behind her, leaving Micah speechless.

Wow, didn’t see that coming… Chase wasn’t
kidding about her being the jealous type.
Feeling guilty, yet
relieved she was gone, he returned to the couch, sinking down into
its cushions. He kneaded his eyes with his knuckles before staring
back at the entryway.

Who was that woman?
he wondered.
Will she come back?

“Lacey Hawkins invited us over for dinner
tomorrow night,” her mom announced just as Eden threw popcorn into
her mouth. Startled, she clamped down on a hard kernel. It lodged
into her gums.
Ow…

“That’s great,” her dad said, passing her
mom the popcorn bowl.

Losing her appetite, Eden set her popcorn
aside, only to have her younger brother, Brendon, take it. After
the movie ended, she ran up to her bedroom and changed into her
favorite boxer shorts and t-shirt before climbing into bed with a
fantasy novel in hand. There was a soft knock at the door.