The Unexpected Visit

Chapter 29

I did manage to fall asleep in the truck for about 20 minutes. A little while after that, we arrived at the apartments we would be staying in for a few weeks. I wonder when we will find Brooke. Anna said that Brooke plays softball and that I wouldn't see her unless I was at school or at practice. The softball team for each school practices at the same time as the soccer team and are only a field apart. I sit up and, with Owen's help, clean up all the blankets and pillows when I hear Anna's "Oh no". I immediately look outside and realize why she said what she did. The whole team is there, they've seen the truck arrive, and they know I'm in it.

"Anna..." Jackson and I say at the same time, worry in our voices.

"What are we going to do?" Owen asks, finishing our sentence equally, if not more so, worried.

"Are you up for this Rebecca?" Anna asks, looking directly at me.

"I have to do it sometime. I was kind of hoping that it wouldn't be this soon, but I can do this. I think," I mutter.

"We'll get out first and make a pathway. Owen, let the team greet her but get her inside as soon as possible. We've been driving a long time and I'm not sure how she will react to the difference in the atmosphere here. Especially the air difference between inside a car and outside," Anna says and gets out of the truck. Jackson mirrors her action and immediately shuts the door once he's out. What does air difference have anything to do with anything?

"I'll be right here the whole time; I won't leave your side for a second. I've got you," Owen says and gets out of the truck, turning around to see if I need help.

I get out and am greeted with shouts and general bubbliness. I'm sure Vallie had something to do with this. I try and smile at everyone, remember names, and keep my nausea at bay. It won't last long. I look at Owen and he nods, knowing I need to sit down, away from all the noise. Luckily, no one is stopping us from getting into the building. The apartments we got are already furnished. Owen takes me to his apartment since he doesn't have the key to the other one and lets me lay down on the couch.

"Are you going to be okay?" He asks, kneeling next to the couch.

"Yeah, I don't know that I will be able to get over seeing old friends though. It's been so long; I don't think they've realized it's me yet. I do and don't want them to find out. I know for sure that I knew Vallie and another girl we saw today, Jay. I think she recognized me though," I say, slowly breathing deeply.

"Wow, I never would've thought that you would know some of these girls. I saw you recognize Vallie the other day when we saw her right before we left. She's very cheerful all the time, isn't she?" He asks.

"Yeah, she always has been. It's one of the things I like about her, she always sees a positive. If she doesn't, she changes the subject to something more cheerful. I was kind of surprised when I saw her again after all these years that she didn't have her nose in a book. When we were younger, she was always reading. She especially loved a series about wizards, witches, and a very powerful dark wizard. I don't remember much of it, but it was a good book series; it had movies too," I say with a far off look on my face.

"Sometimes I feel like we're from different worlds, which I guess we kind of are. I grew up on the island. At first, all the kids played with each other. but as the years passed, we stopped playing and starting training to fight the kids we grew up with. It wasn't the best way to grow up, but it's mine--I mean, I got to know my parents. A lot of kids didn't..." Owen says sadly.

"We may have grown up different, but we're here now and that's what matters. We can't change the past. We change the future. No more kids growing up on islands without knowing their parents then being trained to fight each other. Come on, cheer up, things are looking better. We have a game soon. Just because you're an assistant coach doesn't mean you can slack off," I say, getting up and playfully nudging him.

"Hey!" He shouts, jumping on the couch sort of next to me.

"Don't you dare!" I shout back, knowing what he's thinking.

"Why not? Do you not like being tickled?" he asks, reaching for my stomach.

"No!!" I yell in reply, giggling because he has started tickling me.

He starts laughing as I try to get him back, and I'm laughing as I try to get away from his outstretched hands. "Stay away from me!!" I shout playfully. "Never!" He shouts back, laughing harder than before.

An hour later, we're lying on the floor, trying to catch our breath. He looks happier than I've ever seen him; he's grinning from ear to ear. I'm glad. I haven't seen him have much fun lately...he may have needed this more than I did.