Harmony (10 page)

       “Make you sad,” I replied.

       “Soph, it’s not that, I’m just really, really bad at this dating thing.”

       “So we are dating!” I excitedly replied.

       Ian shifted gears. “Yes, I guess we are.” My heart soared!

       I wasn’t late for school, not with the way he drove anyways. I leaned over to kiss him goodbye. “I’ll pick you up after school,” Ian said. “I think your friends are waiting for you.” He pointed out.

       “Yikes, I’ve ditched them pretty much this whole time, haven’t I?” I said.

       “Better go. Miss me?” I said, climbing out.

       “I miss you already,” Ian said smiling. “Now go, graduate already. This is getting really embarrassing that my ‘girlfriend’ is still in high school.” Music to my ears!

       “Max. Em! Hey, wait up,” I called across the lot.

       “Well, well look who rolled into school with the fancy car,” Max said enviously. “What’s up with that?”

       “Oh, that’s Ian’s car, not mine. He picked me up this morning,” I said.

       Emily grabbed my arm to get my full attention. “I want details. What happened to you this weekend? I called, but your Grams said you were already asleep.” Emily rushed on, “Why didn’t you text me? I’ve been dying to find out!” she exclaimed.

       “Okay, wow. Give me a minute,” I said a bit overwhelmed by the onslaught of questions. We headed into school and to our lockers.

       “What’s going on? Are you guys going to clue me in?” Max asked.

       “Okay, speed version,” Em said, looking at Max. “That was Ian. Remember? From the movie theater?”

       “Actually, boyfriend,” I chimed in.

       “Double wow. New development.” Emily giggled excitedly. “All right, he picked her up after school on Friday and they spent the whole weekend together.”

       “Whoa, time out,” Max said his voice escalating. “
Boyfriend
? I only missed one day of school and you have a boyfriend?”

       “Look guys, I’ll explain it all at lunch,” I said, hurrying to my locker.

       “Okay, but hurry or we’ll be late for Harris’s class again,” Em said as she slammed her locker shut.

       “Yeah, okay later! But you owe me an explanation, Sophie Flynn,” Max yelled down the hallway.

       Mr. Harris’s class was seriously a bore. “I don’t think he really knows much about calculus,” I whispered to Em.

       “Seriously, if I hear another calc problem explained in football mumbo jumbo, I’m going to scream!” Emily concurred. “So, tell me, what is he like?” Em asked, leaning conspiratorially close to my desk.

       “Who, Mr. Harris?” I said to avoid the subject of Ian. 

       Emily rolled her eyes. “Ian. What’s he like?”

       I sighed and said, “Dreamy. Absolutely perfect in every way, and I don’t see what he sees in me.”      “Well, it’s obvious from the two times I’ve seen him that he worships the ground you walk on,” Emily stated.

       “What?” I denied. “No, it’s just that we have this connection. It’s hard to explain. You know I said we’ve been friends for a long time, and I just know what he’s thinking even before he says it.”
There,
I thought.
Let’s see how Em digests that nugget of info.

       Emily was blown away. “That’s so cool and way over my head, Soph. Is it the same for him?”      “Pretty much,” I replied.

       “What does Grams think of him? I can’t believe she gave you permission to go. How cool is she! I want her for my grandma,” Emily proclaimed.

       “I think Grams likes him, at least that’s what she told me. She’s known him just as long,” I said.

       After the first four classes we met Max in the quad to head out for lunch. “I’m craving a Frosty like no other,” Max said, putting his arms around both me and Emily. “My treat?” he asked.

       “Sounds good to me,” Em said.

       “Me too,” I replied.

       “Well, my car is not quite up to speed like your
boyfriend’s,
Soph, but at least I have one, right?” Max said.

       “Max, give Sophie a break!” Emily said as she punched him playfully in the arm. “You can be such a jerk sometimes.” Emily turned giving me her full attention. “Now, I want details…what else happened?”

       “So the bike was cool; I was a bit nervous, but he handled it so well that I barely knew I was on it,” I stated.

       “Okay, fast forward,” Em pushed impatiently, “what else happened between you two?”        “Well, we went to his ahh…family’s cabin up past Sequoia. I really wasn’t paying attention. Somewhere off of the Twenty. They have this library that is too cool. I spent an entire evening reading!” I said excitedly.

       “Reading? Where was Ian?” Em asked.

       “Oh, he went hunting,” I replied. It wasn’t a lie.

       “Hunting?” Max asked clearly confused.

       “Yeah, you know, a guy thing. Look, it was totally fine. You know how I like my alone time,” I said, stressing my point. “Anyways, he cooked, we went for a walk, and found an awesome meadow full of wildflowers that he picked for me.”

       “Aww, that is so romantic!” Em interrupted. “So. Not. Fair! I’d love a guy to pick me wildflowers.” Em sighed.

       I jabbed Max and gave him that look. “What?” he winced.

       “Never mind,” I said. Boys could be so dense sometimes. “Is he taking you to the Senior Ball?” Em asked.

      
Senior Ball!
I’d totally forgotten again about signing up for the dance committee. “I don’t think school dances are his thing. I really can’t imagine him wanting to come back to high school,” I said.

       “How old is this guy, Soph?” Max asked in a concerned tone.

       “He’s only twenty-three,” I said defensively.

       “Where does this guy go to school? Does he work? What does he do when you’re here?” Max quizzed.

       “Jeez, Max. What’s with the twenty questions? You’re not my dad. He’s a great guy,” I replied a bit too harshly.

       “Maybe we could all go out for dinner and bowling sometime,” Emily said, trying to smooth over the tension. I wasn’t sure. For all I knew, Ian probably hated bowling. “Let’s go out Friday,” Em said anxiously.

       “Sure, I don’t see why not,” I trailed off. I hated to commit Ian to something he was sure to dread, but I felt like I had to make some sort of effort with my friends. “I’ll have to run it by Ian. He might have to work late or something,” I added.

       We pulled through the drive-thru and Max ordered our food.  We sat in the parking lot, inhaling our food before lunch period was over. Emily rambled on between bites about her weekend and what she hoped to wear to the Senior Ball.

       I was silent as I chewed on a piece of my burger. I felt a shiver run through my body.
Ian, I missed you!
I thought. I could see Ian smiling.

       Finally I can get a word in. Does Emily ever stop talking?
he asked.

       I laughed out loud.

       “What’s so funny?” Max asked.

       “Oh nothing, just thinking about something Ian said. Not important,” I replied, stifling my laughter.
Have you been listening the whole time? Are you spying on me?
I teased.

      
Honestly, I was bored with the conversation, so I wandered in and out of your mind, but I did hear we have plans for Friday.
Clearly Ian was amused.

       Yeah, sorry! Would it be okay? I don’t think they’ll leave me alone until they see us together in some sort of social setting.

       Ian laughed.
Dinner might be awkward, but bowling would be okay.

       My interest was piqued.
You bowl?

       Guess you’ll just have to find out,
Ian said teasingly.

       When we conversed telepathically, I pictured us together sitting at his cabin on the swing. It was weird how I could be with him there mentally but in the car with my friends at the same time. It still wigged me out a bit!
Gotta go, we’re back at school. Still picking me up?
I questioned.

      
Still picking you up.
Ian blew me a mind kiss.

       PE was seriously dumb. How many times did we have to play badminton? What was the practicality of it? Two o’clock couldn’t come soon enough. I wanted desperately to escape high school. I felt like I had so little time to find out everything I could about Ian. He was becoming an obsession. True to form, I felt Ian’s presence before I saw him at the end of school. And there he was leaning against his car all casual like.

       “Hi,” I said as I hugged him. “Were you waiting long? I had to get a list from one of the girls on the dance committee and got bombarded with one assignment after another,” I apologized profusely.

       “No problem, Soph. I’ve had years of practice in being patient,” he replied.

       I stopped. “This isn’t what you signed up for. Are your regretting being the official boyfriend?” I asked.

       Ian smiled. “No, it’s refreshing to think about and do something else. Sometimes, I forget that life does move on.”

       Climbing into his car I said, “Well, I’m glad I could be of service to you then, kind sir.”

       We drove in silence for a bit. “Sophie, I’m going to be gone for a couple of days,” Ian blurted out.

       “Hunting?” I asked.

       “Yes, I wish you didn’t know that side of me,” Ian lamented.

       “I understand you have to eat too. I get it. Remember that I see what’s here in your head.” I tapped his forehead. Ian swept a strand of my hair behind my ear and traced a fingertip down my cheek. Its cool trail was refreshing against my flush skin.

       “I don’t deserve you,” he replied.

       “Well, too bad, because you’re stuck with me,” We reached my house and I got out of the car. “Now go before I really start missing you.” And with that, Ian slowly drove away, leaving me with a premonition of feeling genuine loss.

LEGENDS

I found Grams in the garden.  “How was your day?”

       “You know, another boring day of school,” I said, plopping myself down on the grass. “Thirty days and counting. Do you need some help?” I asked.

       “That would be lovely dear,” Grams said as she wiped her brow.

       I wound my hair in a messy bun. It was so humid already! Kneeling in the dirt I asked, “What do you want me to do, pull weeds?”

       “Yes,” Grams replied.

       “Grams, you said you would tell me about our family. Is this a good time to tell it?”

       Grams put down her spade and said, “As good as any I suppose.”

       I busied myself with pulling weeds and sinking my hands in the tilled soil while Grams sat down in the shade of our oak tree. “Now mind you Sophia, I only know what’s been passed down from my grandmother. It was a bedtime story told to us often as children. There is a Celtic legend that goes something like this:

       Long ago, there was a king—King Connacher of the family Ulster. He was a mighty and proud man. Just before Samhain, he held a feast in honor of his brave knights—the Knights of the Red Branch. It was a festive occasion with dancing and drinking, where all sorts of merriment took place.

       Suddenly, a scream was heard amidst all the festivities, and the knights took up arms to protect the king. No one could be found. King Connacher summoned the Druid Cathbad to explain the strange happening. Cathbad walked up to the king’s Harper and his pregnant wife. He said, “It is the child who cried out. For this is no ordinary child. She will be blessed with great beauty, wisdom and sight—her name will be Deirdre. Her beauty will cause the Red Branch to divide, and war and strife will ensue. Ulster will suffer greatly.”

       Some of the knights wanted to kill the mother and child, but King Connacher was a vain and greedy man. He was curious to see just how beautiful Deirdre would be. King Connacher announced that when Deirdre reached the age of sixteen, he would marry her. When she was born, Deirdre was taken from her parents and sent to live in secret with a trusted maid servant to the king. Deirdre was taught the science of nature and schooled in music. Her voice was like honey on the wind. True to prophecy, her beauty was astounding. Most startling were her eyes; they conveyed deep emotion. To look upon her was to be drawn into another world. Her hair was crimson. She was one with nature, patient, and kind. Beauty sprang up all around her just from a mere touch of her hand. She knew she was to be wed to the king, but had long seen in visions another who would be her true husband.

One day while picking flowers, she heard a song. It was the song from her dreams. Following the sound, she came upon a lone hunter. He took her breath away! He had dark hair and bright eyes. On the ground where he stood, sunlight shone forth. A force compelled her to come to him, and she kissed him at once declaring her love for him. The hunter was Naois, the son of Uisnach, from the rival kingdom. He knew of the prophecy and Deirdre’s betrothal to Connacher. He bade her return before it was too late. Deirdre was adamant.

       She said, “I value this one moment more than ten lifetimes with Connacher.” Moved by her declaration, Naois took her to Scotland where they made their home and were happy for a season. King Connacher was furious. He had not even beheld her beauty. He went insane with jealousy that another would steal Deirdre from him.

       On their wedding day, King Connacher sent his three bravest knights to retrieve her and kill Naois. Their attempts were in vain. Connacher sent for his Druid and commanded him to use his powers to defeat Naois. Cathbad summoned the dark forces and elements of nature to rise up and destroy Naois. Deirdre with her own sight, warned Naois. Deirdre saw in vision three ravens come to her with drops of honey on their beaks, but as they flew away, the honey turned to blood. Frightened, Deirdre returned in secret to the king and bade him leave Naois alone before her vows. Connacher, already furious, sent her away and killed Naois himself.