Darlings Read online

  “I know, Jon. I’m going to try and convince Mrs. Collins mom is sick again, though last time she said the excuse wouldn’t work anymore, it’s worth a try.” Gwen smoothed her pants once more in the mirror. “I’ll be back around eight. Mike needs a bath, it’s been a couple days, give him one for me?”

  “Sure.” Jonah looked at his feet rubbing some invisible lint around with his toes.

  “It’s going to be okay, Jonah, I promise, have I let you down before?” she positively questioned.

  “No. This shouldn’t be up to you,” he proclaimed still looking down, tears starting to well in his beautiful cloud like eyes.

  Gwen hugged her brother, now her height. “I love you too,” she whispered, hot tears beginning to sting her cheeks. Leaving in a purposeful hurry Gwen slid on some black flats and got into her shiny red jeep, beginning her nerve racking path to the school.

  Driving rather erratically, she finally arrived at Park Point Elementary School. The sign might as well have been written in blood. She parked and, putting her head on the black leather steering wheel, she prayed, “God, if you are real, please, please let this turn out alright.”

  In the empty halls of the school, Gwen walked briskly, replaying what she was going to say in her mind. The school smelled of a mixture of Tempra paint and sweat, a familiar scent from her childhood. Finally, she arrived at Mrs. Collins classroom door. It was covered in bees made of construction paper, with each child’s photo glued where the face would be. “My busy bee’s,” it read. She contemplated turning around, but seeing Mike’s smiling face on the paper bee’s body she forced herself to knock on the door.

  It opened quickly. “Gwendolyn, I um, I was expecting your mother or father.” Mrs. Collins peeked her blond head around Gwen searching for one of the two down the barren hallway. She smelled like warm vanilla and cinnamon, just as Gwen had remembered her.

  “Um, my mother is sick and my father just couldn’t get away from work,” she lied. “They sent me instead,” she added with a fake smile on her uncertain face.

  The teacher sighed in acceptance. “Gwen, sweetie, come in.” Mrs. Collins was one of Gwen’s very favorite teachers and Gwen one of her best students. Gwendylon sat down in a brightly colored, too short, elementary school chair. The teacher was a tall thin woman with shoulder length bright blond hair that flipped out perfectly at the bottom. She adjusted her electric pink square glasses that complemented her bright pink and blue floral knee length dress. The woman began. “I know something’s going on at home, Gwen. You can talk to me. I remember your mother being so involved when you were young. She was on the PTA and never missed a meeting. She was a little less present with your brother, but now with Michael, she hasn’t even made it to one meeting…in three years. I’ve called numerous times and always get the machine.” She crossed and uncrossed her long slender legs. “Are you okay?” she asked as if to peer through Gwen’s false exterior.

  “I um, yes, I am fine Mrs. Collins, really I am. Mom’s just been off since you know, Emma died.” Emma Darling was the happiest three-year-old anyone could find. She was the spitting image of Gwen. Curly auburn pig tails always adorned with extra-large bows. She was rarely seen without a smile on her round little face. Janie was so involved then, so loving, so motherly. It had been four years since Emma was killed by a drunk driver. Her mother was holding on to the stroller with one hand and mailing a letter with the other when the truck came up on the sidewalk. It ripped Emma’s stroller out of Janie Darlings hand. The littlest Darling had gotten crushed between the brick wall of the post office and the front of a Ford F-150 before her mother’s eyes.

  “I am required by law to report any instances of neglect or abuse, you know, Gwen?” Mrs. Collins shifted uneasily in her chair.

  “I know, and really if there was anything going on I would let you know,” she lied through her teeth.

  “Gwen, you shouldn’t have to take all of this on. You’re just eighteen. Michael is very young. He needs his mother and father…” she took off her glasses and continued tenderly. “Gwen, I don’t believe everything is okay, but I also know the kind of young woman you are. I know you love your siblings dearly. Michael is well taken care of physically, and he’s very bright, it’s just some of his stories and this obsession with being invisible isn’t normal for a boy his age. He

  doesn’t play with the other children often. We need to work on his social skills and get him a little more into reality.”

  “I know, Mrs. Collins and I assure you I - I mean, we, are working on it.” Gwen held back tears.

  The blond teacher reluctantly continued. “Alright. I will let you and your parents, work on this.” She agreed. “But Gwen, please if you need anything, I mean anything, call me.” She wrote her number down neatly on a piece of lined paper, ripped it off, and gave it to Gwen.

  Gwen felt as if her heart would pump right out of her chest, “Thank you Mrs. Collins, and I will. It was nice to see you.”

  She leapt up and made a beeline for the door. Walking briskly down the hallway she dodged groups of parents with her head down. Don’t cry. Do not cry in front of these people. You’re almost there. Smile. She felt like she could take off sprinting at any moment. Once safely inside her red jeep, she inhaled deeply, trying to control her shaking hands. Looking back, she saw Mrs. Collins peering out her classroom window. Gwen waved and plastered on her best fake smile pulling out of the parking lot.

  She was thankful it was beginning to get dark. Darkness would make it harder for Mrs. Collins to see the torment hiding behind her smiling mask. She felt hot tears begin to build in her eyes when she came to the stop light. She let go. Tears streamed down her face, running her mascara.

  Dreading her “suburban house of hell” as Jonah had so tactfully put it, she made a last minute left out of town. After a long drive, her jeep came to a gravel lane that led to a thick forest of trees.

  Gwen parked and got out into the tall grass. The brisk fall air met her sweet warm breath and formed clouds of delicate smoke. She tromped through towering weeds, listening to the sounds of the forest. Walking faster and faster Gwen found herself running full speed under branches and over thick roots of trees. She ran as if her life would be lost behind her until finally she tripped over one of the large barky brown elbows that held the giant trees in place, landing flat on her face. Pushing herself up she examined her now scraped elbow and began to look for her shoe. Blood trickled down her arm. No shoe in sight. She sat back in the grass with her knees pulled up to her chest and began to sob. Tears rolled down her cheeks like water from an eve spout in the midst of a heavy rain.

  How had her life become this? She was happy once. She had friends at one time and cared about boys and clothes, dances, and cheerleading. She had a bubbly mother who made her cinnamon toast before school and always packed a chocolate Kiss in her backpack. This mother used to care about her grades, had expectations, and dreams for her family. She told the best night time stories of worlds far away from here filled with pirates, princesses, mermaids and magic. Her father, though always strict, thought the world of his wife and children, was always home on time, and greeted each member of his family with a warm hug and requests of knowing the happenings of their days. She bit her luscious bottom lip and pressed her hands to her aching forehead.

  “You know, it’s a lot easier to get around out here with both of your shoes.” She heard a boy’s voice behind her. Terrified, Gwen jumped up and turned around. Indeed it was a boy, around her age, she guessed. He had shaggy brown hair and large emerald green eyes. His square jaw and slightly pointed chin were the perfect ending to the rest of his beautiful boyish face. Large muscles bulged out from under his tight black shirt. Herculean thighs swelled beneath distressed blue jeans that gave way to stylish black shoes. He dangled a black slipper like shoe from his thick finger. “I’m assuming this is yours?” he stated, one eyebrow cocked, peering at her bare left foot.

  Beautiful. That was the only thought going thr
ough Gwendlyon Darlings head at that moment. She couldn’t take her eyes off his emerald green ones. They shone with such innocence compared to his adult body. The sting of the cold broke her trance. She looked down at her naked foot as if to confirm yes, she was missing a shoe. Quickly, she wiped her tears in embarrassment. “Um, yah I guess that would be mine.” Ugh, that was a dumb thing to say, she thought. Of course he knew it was hers.

  Gwen reached her hand out to take it from him when to her surprise he knelt down in front of her. The smell of sweet pine and laundry soap swept over her senses.

  Pulling her foot closer she asked, “What are you doing?” After all she didn’t know him. Though, she wished she did.

  “Just give me your foot.” He looked up at her with those sparkling eyes. She couldn’t help but to oblige. Hesitantly, she gave him her naked foot. He ever so softly took her ankle in his large hand and slowly slipped on her flat. Their eyes met and held one another’s gaze just long enough to make the situation a bit uncomfortable. Gwen looked away and the mysterious man hastily released her foot.

  “Thank you,” Gwen said, remembering her manners.

  “You’re very welcome.” He stared at her. Odd silence mixed with the sounds of the forest filled the space between them. Gwen rubbed her bumpy arms; she was much colder than she thought she’d be.

  “I am guessing your name isn’t Cinderella,” the boy said with a half-smile that made Gwen’s stomach flutter.

  “No, it’s Gwendolyn. Gwen for short, and who are you?” she asked.

  “Petren. Pete for short,” he answered. Sitting down across from her, back against a tree, he placed his elbows casually onto his knees and got comfortable.

  “What are you doing out here?” she asked. Gwen didn’t see people out there often, let alone anyone her age.

  “Funny, I was wondering the same thing about you.”

  Slightly offended, she explained, “I always come out here. My parents own the pond over there. It’s kind of my spot,” she answered.

  “Oh, excuse me am I in your spot?” he looked around smiling as if he was pretending to be sorry.

  Gwen rolled her eyes. “No. Besides what are you doing out here. Better yet where are you from? I haven’t seen you around school before.”

  “I’m staying with my cousins for the year,” he stated. “The Lostrins.”

  Gwen knew who the Lostrins were. They had started school only last Friday. They were a huge family of adopted kids, some blood-related, some not. There was Tina, in Gwen’s grade, a petite little blond haired girl with a spunky pony tail, tough personality and an hourglass figure. She remembered greeting Tina in the hallway, only to be met with a glare and a flip of her hair. She felt sorry this guy had to live with her. Then there were Tokala, Koli, and Arthur. They were brothers. Tokala was the oldest and a senior. He was the talk of the female population at school with his dark skin and jet black gelled hair and deep brown eyes. The strong silent type. Then there was Koli who’s Tok’s younger brother. A spitting image of his older brother, aside from his size and freckles. Koli was smaller and more happy go lucky than Tok. For some reason he reminded Gwen of a Jack Russell Terrier. Always excited and ready to go. Arthur was the youngest of the brothers and while muscular, he was the thickest of the three, towering over the rest.

  “Oh, yah? A couple of them are seniors too. I heard they moved into the Henderson cabin out here, is that where you’re staying?” Gwen prodded. She secretly hoped so.

  “You got it,” Pete said, still flashing his cocky smile. Silence.

  “I live in West Glen,” Gwen offered a little information up about herself more so to break the quiet. More silence. Maybe he wasn’t interested.

  “I have you all figured out Gwendolyn Darling,” he said while relaxing his head against the tree.

  “Oh really, and how is that?” Gwen was a little uneasy now although she couldn’t ignore the excited butterflies in her stomach. He knew about her.

  “Well, not everyone’s father is the district attorney,” he said.

  “Oh,” she muttered, a little disappointed. Why would he be interested in her anyway? He was gorgeous. Gwen had always been told how beautiful she was but she failed to ever see it. He interrupted her thoughts.

  “But my cousin wasn’t exaggerating how…beautiful you were.” His cocky smile widened. She blushed.

  “Thanks. I’m sure I am just the picture of perfection right now.” She wiped run mascara from under her tired eyes.

  “Come on,” he said standing up.

  “Why?” she insisted.

  A pseudo-annoyed sigh escape his lips. “Just come on. You were on your way to your “spot” before that root jumped out and grabbed you right?”

  “Well, yah but-”

  “But what?” he asked. Extending his hand out to help her up. “You look like you could use someone to accompany you.”

  She peered at him through skeptical eyes. “How do I know you’re not going to kill me and bury me out here?”

  “You don’t,” he stated bluntly. Gwen sat still eyeing him. “Suit yourself,” he said, turning to walk away, though having no intentions of actually doing so.

  “Okay.” Gwen stood up and straightened her shirt. She would surely end up the dead girl if it really did turn out to be a scene from a horror movie. She could just hear the audience scold her for being so foolish while drooling over their buttery popcorn.

  “What was that, Cinderella?” he asked, holding his hand up to his ear in gentle mockery.

  “Okay, ok, I’m coming.” She rolled her eyes again, smiling. “Only because there’s a better chance someone will come across my body by the pond.”

  “Unless I throw you in of course.” He winked. She began to follow him, arms crossed over her chest, but just then someone yelled up ahead. In an instant the girl appeared behind them. Pete’s eyes narrowed in a scolding manner. Tina huffed, her hands placed firmly upon her luscious hips.

  “Pete. We’ve been looking for you. Come on your needed elsewhere,” Tina demanded tapping her small foot.

  “Oh hi, Tina, right?” Gwen extended her hand.

  Tina examined it like it was covered in snot. “Yah, Tina.” She turned to Pete. “Like now,” the small girl stated stomping off, her hips swinging.

  Gwen eyed the sassy blond. “I don’t think she likes me much.”

  “Tina’s harmless. She’s always been pretty feisty.” His cocky smile had disappeared. “Really, I’m sorry but I do have to go.” Just then Tok and Koli showed up.

  “There he is!” shouted Koli as he ran up to Pete. Tok followed behind in his usual, purposeful demeanor.

  “Hey Pete, did Tina find you?” Not waiting for an answer the excitable boy continued talking a mile a minute. “We’ve really got to go, you know go?” he said putting a little too much emphasis on the second go.

  Tok shot Koli a glare. “Yah it’s time for supper,” Tok said. Something weird was going on.

  Pete addressed the middle brother. “Koli, walk Gwen to her car ok?” She could tell Koli wanted to object but the look in Pete’s eyes said all there was to say.

  “Ok,” the boy said in a discouraged voice.

  “Gwen this is Tok and Koli, two more of my cousins. Guys this is Gwen.” Pete quickly introduced in afterthought.

  “Hey Gwen.” Tok said hurriedly shaking Gwen’s hand as he motioned with his eyes in the direction of the cabin.

  Pete stepped closer to Gwen, almost uncomfortably close. He looked down at her, his hands in his pockets. “See you around, I promise.” Pete said to Gwen and he and Tok jogged off. Jogging backwards he yelled through cupped hands, “Make sure she walks ok Koli!” Gwen grinned.

  “Uh, ok sure Pete.” Koli looked confused. “Ready?” he asked Gwen, who was too busy watching Pete run to hear the short tan boy. “Gwen?” he asked breaking her trance.

  “Oh yah, sorry,” she answered. “Where are they going?”

  Koli looked a little uneasy. “Just to make s
upper I guess,” laughing nervously, he walked quickly in the opposite direction. “Is your car this way?

  “Yah,” she slowly responded, watching Pete finally go out of sight. Gwen still felt like something wasn’t right, but not much in her life was. Koli lead the way. “So, you’re a junior here huh?” she asked making small talk while attempting to keep up.

  “Yup” he said.

  “What brought you to Parks Point?” she inquired, secretly wanting to know more about Pete.

  “Oh, ya know, our parents got a new job,” he quickly said. They were walking through the tall grass and her breathing became labored.

  “I see, where did you live before?” she asked.

  “Baltimore.”

  “Huh. That’s a long way from Iowa. Did Pete live there too?” she asked hoping she wasn’t being too obvious but she’d hoped wrong.

  “If you want to know more about him, you can just ask you know,” he said with his cheesy juvenile smile.

  She contemplated denying it, but her curiosity got the best of her. “That obvious?”

  “Oh yah,” he affirmed. Just when she was finally going to get the chance to score more information on Pete they arrived at her jeep. Turning to thank him, Gwen was surprised to see he had already taken off, running back toward the forest.

  “Thanks, Koli!” she hollered after him.

  He waved without looking back. Strange she thought. Gwen drove home with no music. Her head was swimming with thoughts of Pete. Tomorrow was Tuesday. Good he’d be at school. The boy in the forest was so mysterious and not to mention incredibly hot.

  Her excited thoughts were replaced with a recount of the day’s activities as she pulled into the drive way. The lights were out. Good. She looked at the clock. Eight forty-five. Gwen hoped Jonah had put Mikey to bed already. Her father’s car was still gone. Also good. She could sneak in without a confrontation. Sleep tugged at her eyes. As she emerged from her jeep, Nannies faint whine echoed in the night air. That jerk she thought to herself. No one had set Nan free yet. She walked around the garage and unhooked her furry friend. As soon as Nannie felt the familiar click of the leash unhooking, she bolted around the house for the garden.