The Tower

Evangeline: The Tower Upright

"Jesus Evie!" Cameron says as I step into his car. "You look like shit." 

Despite the feeling of panic that still screams in my chest, I laugh. "What, no hello?" 

"Sorry," he replies. "But someone had to tell you and it might as well be me."

He presses his foot against the gas and the car, a small blue hatchback with an enormous dent in the side, lurches forward. I had forgotten how much I hate Cameron's driving. The airport vanishes behind us as he weaves dangerously through the traffic. I grab the handle above the doorframe. "Slow down, you're going to get us both killed." Of course, I know that isn't true. My gift would've warned me long ago, but that still doesn't mean I have to like Cameron's chaotic driving skills. 

He just laughs, turning his eyes off the road to look at me. "Wow. You're starting to sound like Mom." 

I gasp and punch him in the arm. "Take that back." 

I've tried my best to ignore it, but the sickening feeling of dread washes over me again. The gift inside me screams to stop! stop! stop! stop! But I don't know what that means. Stop what?  I ask in my head, but there is no answer, just that pit in my stomach, the sense that something terrible has been set in motion. 

"Where are we going?" I ask Cameron in an attempt to distract myself. 

"Addley's Hollow. It's a little town about a fifteen minute drive from here. It's where I live and work." 

"RIght. Groundskeeper at the world's most famous boarding school." 

"No need to be sarcastic Evie." He says and I know I've struck a nerve. He must still feel guilty for moving so far away from Mom and me to take the job. "Addley's Hollow Boarding School is one of the best in the country. I couldn't turn them down when they offered me the job." 

"I know." I reply quietly. 

We pass the rest of the drive silently. I've only been here for a few minutes, and already I've made Cameron upset. No wonder he moved halfway across the country to get away from me. He stares at the road and I watch the evergreen trees pass by outside the window, trying to ignore the horrible, squirming feeling in my stomach. 

I glance over at Cameron and marvel at our similarities. His dark skin is the same shade as mine, same as his ink black hair, though he wears his cut short and slicked back while mine is thick and fluffy, long enough to reach my chin. Although we may look alike, the way we dress are polar opposites. He wears khaki pants and a button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, while I'm dressed in ripped jeans, combat boots with a thick heel and a tee shirt from a band I've never listened to. 

The road takes a turn, leading us past a small sign, painted with trees and a smiling sun. Cartoon animals have their paws poised in a wave. Welcome to Addley's Hollow, is written in blocky letters. At the other end of the bend, main street comes into view. 

"Is that it?" I ask, gaping at the single street of small, eclectic shops. 

Cameron chuckles, our previous argument forgotten. "Yup. This is Addley's." 

I scan the storefronts for any name brand, any business I recognize, but all the little stores look family owned. 

Cameron parks at the corner next to a small, dark green building labeled, Glenn's Diner  in bright yellow type. The windows are carefully painted with more evergreen trees and a the statue of a bear right outside the door holding a sign that advertises the day's specials. 

"I have to go to work and set up for the big end of the year ball." Cameron says. I scoff and he shakes his head in return. "I know. Private school kids." 

"If you're going to work then what are we doing here?" 

"Just stay here until I get back. Have some lunch. All the Addley's kids go here. It's a great place to meet some rich friends." 

I step reluctantly out of the car and watch it vanish into the trees down a winding street. So much for coming here to spend quality time with Cameron. 

A little bell jingles brightly as I step into the diner. I take a seat at the counter and fish my tarot cards out of my pocket. Most of the time, my gift works fine on its own, but in times like these, when all it tells me is a broad feeling, the cards can help focus it. I reach into the deck and grab a card at random, placing it on the table. The Tower stares back at me. Upright. It means disaster. The pit in my stomach grows. 

I order a milkshake and fries from a peppy waitress. As she walks away, my attention is drawn to a group of boys at the other end of the counter, all dressed in dark green school uniform sweaters. They must be from Addley's Hollow Boarding School. I watch them curiously from behind a menu. 

"Charlieeee!" One of the boys says, clapping another one on the back. "When are we getting the soccer team back together?" 

"What? Looking for something to do since Christine dumped you?" The boy, Charlie apparently, smirks and a strand of his brown hair falls into his face. He brushed is away, only for it to slip back down. The other boys laugh uproariously. "Plus, you could hardly call it a team. We had one meeting before remembering that there's not a single one of us who isn't God awful  at soccer."

I can't help but stare at them. They are so similar and so different from the boys I know back home. They are still arrogant and oblivious to everyone outside of their group, but I can tell from their carefully maintained uniforms and old money accents that they aren't the boy's I've grown up with. 

The boys settle their bill and they vanish out the door in a flurry of voices. I look at their now empty barstools and see an abandoned coat resting on the seat where Charlie had been sitting. Before I even know what I am doing, I've crossed the room and the jacket is in my hands. It's made of a brown fabric I don't recognize. I didn't think anyone except office workers wore sports coats like this, but apparently that trend doesn't apply to Addley's kids. 

I wonder what I intend to do now that the coat is in my hands. I could run it out to Charlie, hope to catch him before he drives back to the school. I could leave it there, pretend I never saw it. I could dig through his pockets. I'm leaning towards the last option when the bell on the door jingles and Charlie appears again. His eyes scan the diner and rest on me, his coat in my hands. 

"Stealing my jacket?" He asks, an eyebrow raised. 

"Yeah right. As if I could get more than twenty dollars for this thing."

"Sell it? I just assumed you would want to wear it yourself." 

"And look like somebody's dad? No thank you." I scoff. 

"How dare you," He replies, clutching his chest in mock offense. "This is the most fashionable thing I own." 

"In that case," I reply, handing him the coat. "You can have it back. I would hate for anyone to have to see what you consider less fashionable that this." 

He looks at me for a long moment, his face spreading into a grin. "Thanks, thief." He offers me a hand to shake, as if we're two business executives closing a deal. "Charles Taver." 

"Nice to meet you," I reply. 

He watches me expectantly, waiting for me to give him my name. I don't. Finally, he shrugs and turns around. "See you later, thief." 

My food arrives as I'm still staring after him.