Trace

Chapter 9

   "Good morning, sunshine," Harry's deep, raspy voice says over the line.

"Morning, why'd you call me this early?" I ask, wiping the sleep from my eyes.

   "Toby's having a party tonight and I was wondering if you wanted to come?"

I don't wait before I answer, "Sure! What time?"

    "9 o'clock."

I gulp, knowing that night parties lead to drinking and drinking leads to a wild party.  I shrug this off, however, and know that I will not have any sips of beer or anything.

   "Alright..see you then," I answer.

"I'll pick you up tonight, yeah?" Harry quickly asks.

    "Oh..uh.. yeah! Sure, that'll be great."

I can almost sense Harry's smile when he responds, "Awesome. I'll be seeing ya, El. Oh, my love I'll sure be seeing you."

     My face blushes while I shyly smile, even though Harry can't see me.

"Alright, Harry. Good bye."

**************

   I walk down the stairs to get some breakfast in my growling stomach, and I see my mom worriedly hovering over the morning paper.

  I walk over to her and sit down, as I try to skim what she's reading.

"What's wrong, mum?" I ask her, placing a  hand on her shoulder.

   "Oh, um- n-nothing," she winces as she smiles.

"Are you sure...?"

    "Absolutely! Tonight, I'm going to be out a little later at the office, and then I'm going to your aunt's house, maybe spend the night if it's really late."

    "Aunt Hannah? W-why? Is something wrong?" I question, with fear in my eyes.

"No- nothing we should be worried about yet," my mother tells me.

    "Oh, okay. Well- I'll see you tomorrow, then?"

She nods, "Mose likely so, Cae."

       She stands up from her chair and walks over to me and hugs me, "Don't stress yourself over this, love. Okay?"

   I nod, and head over to the counter to see what I should eat for breakfast."

   ****************

     Anne plops down on Ayla's bed, as Ayla and I search her wardrobe.

"Something exciting- yet simple," Anne informs us.

    We are helping her get ready for tonight's party, and Ayla offered for her to wear one of her outfit's to look good for Toby.

   "You want to stick out, Anne," Ayla says, as her face is buried in between the double doors, furiously moving her arms about searching for something suitable.

     "Classy?" I ask, holding up a small black dress.

"We're not going to a funeral, Cae," Ayla groans, shoving it back on one of the shelfs.

    "Sexy. You want to be able to turn him on, yeah?" Ayla examines.

"I suppose.." Anne's head wanders around the room, and looks a bit distracted.

    A few more minutes go by as we rummage through the heap of clothing and garments before Ayla shouts, "Perfect!!"

   She holds up a red dress, with black pockets and a black neckline bordering down to the hem.