Unconventional Scars Read online

  Alex, she learned, was level-headed and intelligent. He inherently had a logical solution for any given situation, and for this reason he was often the one called upon to dispense advice. He had a dry sense of humor and frequently made snarky comments that Anna found hilarious. Because of his Canadian accent, sometimes she would deliberately mispronounce the word about just to tease him. He would merely smile, resting his tranquil blue eyes on her in a way that elevated her mood for the rest of the day. Since they both had fourth period Modern World History, they began to walk there together after lunch.

  School itself was primarily fun. The only class that gave her any trouble was Algebra II, but whenever she was confused by a problem she sought out Erica, who would patiently explain it to her in a way that made sense. She had a knack for simplifying things.

  Algebra problems weren’t the only baffling thing about third period. Sebastian was in that class as well, and continued to flirt with her in his flamboyant manner. Whenever he happened to catch her eye, he would wink or purse his lips into a kiss. He amused Anna with his antics. Another girl who shared their class, a stunning but shallow blonde named Bailey Blake, was not quite as amused. She would glare in Sebastian’s direction whenever he paid any attention to Anna. Karen, with her vast knowledge of all things melodramatic, confided that Bailey had recently dated Sebastian, but he’d broken it off with her because of her possessiveness. It made no difference to Anna. She was too deliriously happy with her new life to care.

  6

  Three weeks after Anna’s arrival, Phil informed her that he had an assignment in Pennsylvania and would be leaving on Monday for approximately four days. It was a Saturday morning, and they were in the breakfast nook having cereal together. He was munching on some high-fiber stuff that resembled tree bark, but Anna had filled her bowl with Count Chocula, stocked at her request by Marie.

  “I hope you’re not worried about me, Uncle Phil,” Anna told him, poking at the cereal with her spoon. “I know how to handle things.”

  “I don’t doubt that, pumpkin. I just want you to promise me that you’ll call Lisa if you have any problems. All right?”

  “Sure. But honest, I’ll be fine.”

  Phil opened his mouth as though he wanted to say something else, then closed it again. He ate a few more bites before finally speaking.

  “Annie, I don’t know the first thing about raising teenagers. You know that and I know that. So we’re both just going to have to learn as we go along. Kind of play it by ear, you know?” He paused, scratching his chin. “I . . . um, assume I should impose some kind of guideline or something while I’m away. But honestly, I don’t really know what to say that you shouldn’t already know. I’m not going to insult your intelligence by telling you not to throw a wild party and wreck the house because I know you’d never do that.”

  Unable to stop herself, Anna giggled. “Sorry. I was just picturing the house filled with motorcycle gang members.”

  “The neighbors would love that.”

  “Totally. So you’re saying I shouldn’t mail the invitations, then.”

  “Funny.”

  “I’m a funny person.” Anna munched on her cereal. She loved how it turned the milk all chocolatey. “So do you care if any of my friends come over?”

  “No, not at all. Just do me a favor and don’t mess with anything in my office, okay?”

  “No problem. I won’t even go in there.” There was no need to – she had her own computer now. Her first week here, Uncle Phil had bought it for her, along with her own cell phone. He seemed to revel in spoiling her.

  “I’ll call Charlotte and make sure it’s okay for you to ride to school with her boys. I’m sure Creed won’t mind giving you a lift.”

  Anna smiled.

  “I’ll leave the keys to the Suburban here but since you only have your learner’s permit, don’t drive it unless there’s an emergency involving massive blood loss and requiring lots of stitches. Got it?”

  “Got it.” Anna stood up and took her bowl to the sink. “Everything’s within walking distance from here, anyhow,” she commented. “It’s so cool being able to just walk a few blocks over to rent a movie or whatever.” In her pocket, her cell phone buzzed. It was Erica, informing her that everyone was meeting downtown at seven to see a new horror movie.

  Phil appeared to have said everything that was on his mind and had gone back to reading the paper between bites of cereal.

  ****

  Around six-fifteen, as Anna was brushing her hair and preparing to leave for the theater, she got a text from Alex. Walk with me? It made her want to bounce up and down on the bed like a hyperactive kindergartener.

  She texted back OMW, then spritzed herself with some perfume and hurried downstairs, calling out, “Going to the movies now, Uncle Phil. I don’t need a ride. See you later, okay?”

  “Have fun,” she heard him yell from his bedroom. He was getting ready to go to Lisa’s.

  Alex was already halfway across her yard, so she met him by the mailbox. They began to walk along the sidewalk together in silence. Glancing surreptitiously at him, Anna promptly felt nervous butterflies in her middle. Oh man, was he ever cute! Being near him at dusk was even more exciting than being around him at school. It felt more intimate.

  He was dressed in cargo pants, a navy blue golf shirt and the brown suede jacket that he frequently wore to school. His hair touched the collar of his shirt and for some reason she wanted to run her fingers through it. She wondered if it would be as soft as it looked. She also wondered if she was going to get through the evening without making a complete fool of herself.

  A few minutes passed before Alex spoke. “This movie’s probably not going to be all that great. And Josh is the one who suggested it, so don't blame me if it sucks.”

  Anna kicked a stick with one of her white sneakers. “With a name like Slaughter Harvest, trust me, I'm not expecting much. I don’t care, though. I love horror movies, even the crappy ones.”

  “You’re kidding. Really?”

  “My favorite genre. I love the classic stuff best. Like the old Hammer and Amicus films. The scenery is always beautiful. Nothing in the world makes a horror movie better than a dark castle on a stormy night.”

  He smiled, amused by her revelation. “You’re the romantic type, then?”

  “I don’t know about that. If I had a choice between a romantic comedy and a bloody, disgusting, chainsaw-to-the-face flick, guess which one I'd pick. Does that make me a weirdo?”

  “Absolutely. It means you’re a closet psychopath.”

  “Oh, I am. You should see my closet. Now that’s terrifying.”

  Alex laughed. The sound was gentle and subdued, like his voice. “You’d probably like Mario Bava’s stuff.”

  “Are you kidding? Black Sabbath is one of my favorite movies. Have you ever seen it?”

  “Is that the one with Boris Karloff as a vampire?”

  “That’s one of the stories, yeah. There’s three. They’re all super creepy. We should rent it sometime.” Anna instantly wanted to kick herself for making the suggestion. Could you be more obvious? Think, then speak, blabbermouth! Jeez!

  Alex focused his gaze straight ahead, avoiding her eyes. “Yeah, sure. We’ll have to do that one of these days.”

  And how was she supposed to read that? Was he serious or was it a polite attempt to blow her off? Hard to tell. Her experience deciphering the male code was pretty limited. She decided a subject change was in order, and fast. “How come Josh didn’t pick you up?”

  “I didn’t ask him to.”

  Okaaaay . . .

  Alex glanced over at her, then explained, “Erica was riding with him. They don’t need a chaperone. Three’s a crowd, you know?”

  “Oh. Yeah.”

  Neither of them spoke for a while. They had almost reached the theater when out of nowhere he suddenly said, “You smell nice. Good enough to nibble on. Makes me hungry.”

  Surprised, Anna turned to gape at
him and promptly tripped over an uneven spot in the sidewalk. In a flash, his hand shot out and grabbed her arm to steady her.

  “Better watch where you’re walking,” he said. She couldn’t tell if he was suppressing a smile or not.

  “Guess I’m not the most coordinated person in the world.” Her arm felt warm and tingly where he’d touched it. Just ahead she could see Karen in front of the theater, waving them over.

  “Get a move on, slowpokes!” she hollered.

  Everyone else was already there, waiting; Erica and Josh, holding hands, and Karen with her date, someone named Dalton that Anna didn’t know very well because he was a senior. Chase had been given his walking papers last week, after Karen got wind that he’d been seen parked in his car making out with another girl. She hadn’t seemed too heartbroken. There was no shortage of potential boyfriends, in her case.

  After purchasing their tickets and various snack items from the concession stand, they all filed into the theater. Of course, since the others were paired up, Anna wound up sitting with Alex beside her. Josh was on her right, holding a tub of popcorn that he and Erica were already crunching on. Further down, Karen busied herself talking her date’s ear off. At one point someone in the theater belched loudly and they all cracked up, unsuccessfully trying to stifle giggles until the lights went down and the previews started.

  Anna soon found it hard to concentrate on the movie. She was nervously aware of the figure sitting on her left in the darkened theater and wondering why simply being so near him made her palms sweat. He politely let her have the arm rest, keeping his hands lightly resting on his thighs, and eventually she found herself watching his hands instead of the bloody carnage on the screen. His fingers were long and slender - an artist’s hands, she mused. He did take an art class at school. She’d seen him with his sketchbook at lunch.

  At first, in the dark, she didn’t realize that he had turned his head ever so slightly and was watching her staring at his hands. Suddenly feeling eyes on her, she looked up and was mortified to see him studying her. And then, he smiled . . . slowly, not like any smile he’d ever given her before, but a sensuous, knowing curve of the mouth that reached his eyes and implied that he knew very well what he did to her.

  Oh God. She directed her attention back to the screen and resolutely refused to let her gaze wander again. It was amazing how difficult it was.

  Trudging out of the theater afterward, Anna was quiet, wondering what would be said during the walk home. Karen, complaining loudly that she had to pee, dashed for the ladies’ room in such an exaggerated hurry that Erica and Anna exchanged looks and laughed. They waited by the restrooms, chatting with each other since the boys had grouped off and were making jokes about some gross part of the movie that Anna had somehow managed to miss.

  “Whew! That’s better,” Karen announced upon emerging from the restroom. “I’ve had to go for, like, an hour.”

  “Well, why didn’t you go?” Erica wanted to know.

  “I didn’t want to miss anything. Although I kinda wish I had now. I’m going to have nightmares tonight. That was totally twisted!”

  Anna raised her eyebrows. “Are you seriously telling me you’re freaked out by a killer scarecrow? Really, Karen?”

  Hearing their exchange, Dalton joined in with enthusiasm. “Better close your curtains tonight, Karen. You might look out the window and see the scarecrow’s face looking in at you. Oh, and don’t forget to check under your bed . . . muahaha!”

  Karen shoved him. “You are so not funny. Are you ready to go yet? I told my parents I’d be home by nine-thirty. They’re still pissed about my grades. Wait ‘til they find out I blew that last biology test. I don’t want to make things worse by being late.”

  “Yeah, I’m ready. Let’s go.” Dalton pushed open the theater doors and they all piled out into the clear night that had grown chilly. The moon was bright in the sky. For some reason it made the night seem even colder.

  Karen and Dalton headed off in the direction of his car, Karen cheerfully shouting, “I’ll call you guys tomorrow! Nighty-night, sleep tight!”

  Erica snuggled against Josh and shoved her hands into his jacket pockets, lifting her chin to grant him a kiss. “You guys want a lift home?” he asked Alex, while wrapping his arms around Erica and hugging her close.

  Alex glanced at Anna before answering, “No, that’s okay. We’ll see you later.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah. Thanks though.”

  Erica pulled one hand out of Josh’s pocket and fluttered it. “Bye. Keep an eye out for the boogeyman.”

  “Bye,” Anna said, grinning back at her.

  For a moment she and Alex stood watching Erica and Josh strolling slowly away, arm in arm. Then he gave a little sigh and asked, “You ready?”

  Anna nodded. She just wanted to get home. Hanging out as friends with other couples was proving to be awkward. She wasn’t uncomfortable around Josh and Erica at school, but for some reason being out with them at night was different. It made her feel out of place, like she should be embarrassed for being in their presence without a date of her own. She got the impression Alex felt the same way.

  “You don’t mind walking, do you? I should have asked you first. Sorry.”

  “No, I don’t mind.”

  “I don’t think Karen’s going to get much sleep tonight.”

  For a split second Anna thought he was being lewd, then grinned when she realized what he meant. “Oh, please. What are the chances that a homicidal scarecrow will turn up in her closet? She’ll be fine.”

  Alex chuckled. “She’d never be able to handle staying home alone all night. Too much of a wuss.”

  “Good thing she’s not coming home with me. Uncle Phil’s at his girlfriend’s house and I wouldn’t be able to resist trying to scare her.”

  “You’re not afraid to be in the house alone after watching that movie?”

  “Why would I be? Imaginary stuff can’t hurt you. It’s real life you gotta watch out for.” Anna put her arms around her chest, shivering slightly. The temperature had dropped since the sun went down and her cotton shirt, though long-sleeved, was thin.

  Noticing, Alex pulled off his jacket and handed it to her. “Here. Put this on.”

  She took it gratefully. Slipping into it, she could feel the warmth from his body heat right away. It smelled of him, sort of a clean, woodsy scent that she found delicious. Without the jacket on, his arms were now bare and she couldn’t resist stealing a look. Slender like the rest of him, they were nicely toned, the muscles small but well-defined. At school he almost always wore long sleeves, but tonight he hadn’t. Under the bright glare of a streetlight, she noticed a long horizontal scar just above the crook of his left arm.

  “What happened there?” she asked curiously, indicating his arm.

  Alex didn’t look at her. He didn’t respond right away. She was beginning to think he hadn’t heard her, when finally he replied indifferently, “I fell through a window when I was a kid. Cut my arm on the glass. Guess I was as clumsy as you are.”

  “Shee. You trip over your feet once and you’re branded a klutz for life.” As if on cue, Anna promptly stepped on one of her own untied laces and stumbled. For the second time that night Alex reached for her arm, fearful she’d wind up sprawled on the concrete. Looking at each other, they both burst out laughing.

  “Okay, so graceful, I’m not.” She bent to tie her shoelaces.

  “Do we need to get you a guide dog?” Alex teased.

  “I don’t know. I’d probably trip over him.”

  “A guide buffalo, then. I think even you could manage not to run over a buffalo.”

  “Novel idea! You, sir, are a genius.”

  “By the way, I don’t recommend attempting to chew gum while walking. You might wind up down a well.”

  “Very funny.”

  “Why were you staring at my lap earlier?”

  Anna’s breath caught in her chest. Honestly, Alex had the mo
st unnerving way of springing thorny topics out of thin air!

  “Wh-what?”

  “You heard me.”

  “Um. I don’t know.”

  “You don’t know.”

  “I was looking at your hands. Sue me.”

  “Why were you watching my hands, Anna? Did you think they might be someplace they shouldn’t?”

  Anna felt her own fingers begin to tremble. The thought of his hands being somewhere they shouldn’t was an immensely appealing idea. Her mouth went dry. She realized suddenly that they were standing in front of her house, but neither of them moved.

  “Have you forgotten how to speak as well as walk?” Alex appeared to be enjoying her discomfort, damn him.

  “You’re impossible,” was the only retort she could come up with.

  “So I’ve been told.” His voice was even softer than usual, as if they were sharing a secret just between the two of them. He moved slightly closer to Anna, and she automatically took a step backward, though she wasn’t certain why she moved, or why, for that matter, he was making her so skittish tonight. They both waited, each wary of the other, for what seemed a very long time.

  “You should probably go on inside now,” Alex suggested, reverting back to his normal demeanor.

  “Oh. Yeah.” Anna cleared her throat. “I really should work on my English essay. I haven’t even started on it. I’ll be stuck doing that most of tomorrow as it is. So . . . do you . . . do you want to come in for a Coke or something? Maybe you could help me.” What on earth made you say that? You need to get away from him before you say something even more idiotic! If that’s even possible! What’s wrong with you tonight?

  He hesitated. Then, shaking his head, he said, “I don’t think so, Anna. I’ll see you later, okay?”