Before the Ever Green (BTEG #1) ✔️

Chapter 25

Maxwell offered that I sleep at his house tonight, because Tobi is housing the twins. He sets me up in the second bedroom, which is only big enough for a twin sized bed and bedside table. My bag is still on the couch, so I grab it and switch into my night-gown. Mom never bought me pajama pants, because she thought they were unladylike, I think she's full of hot air, but I'd never call her on it.

Everett is also staying at Maxwell's, but on the couch he spent the last few hours recovering on. I guess he really didn't have anything else to do. He looks pale, even in his tanned skin. I am pretty sure he's only gotten a few good hours of sleep in the past week. He always seemed drowsy at school, when I'd see him.

I sigh, and go to sit by Everett, "How you feeling?"

"Fine, I guess."

"Oh, well if you guess, you're not sure. If you're not sure...how can I trust what you tell me?"

"Addilyn, I am fine. Really, I am just tired. I just haven't slept well in a few days, so my body is trying to make up for it."

"Well, you better have a good sleep tonight, because I have a feeling Clinton O'Riley will want to meet you, too"

"You met him? How was he?"

I laugh at the question, "Well, he looks like he's in his mid to late thirties. He has dark hair, and hazel eyes. He seems nice enough, but he doesn't trust people. He seems to know everything about everything, at least that's what he wants you to think, and he's organized and formal. He likes systems."

"You learned all of that from one talk with him?"

"Well, I read between the lines. I've always seen what's underneath the straight fact. I've been able to dig out tiny details a lot of people bypass. I guess it comes with not having a lot to do in the large mass of time on my hands. I've just adapted, and learned to study tiny details. That's why I'm an A student."

"It's a gift. But, I guess if I really didn't have anything to do in 24 hours a day, I'd probably do the same thing. It would focus your mind, and allow you to focus on one thing for long periods of time without getting bored. I bet you've stared at flowers for hours, trying to discover it's inner secrets"

I laugh. Maybe it was something like that. And, Everett was right, I could stare at a single object for hours, studying it. I'd spent a whole day watching a caterpillar when I was 7. Mom let me climb the tree for the first time, and he was the first bug I saw, so I just watched him. "Maybe I need to see the inner secrets of life. I know it intrigues me, what you can find out just by looking at it for a while,"

"How do you do it? I'd get bored and move on to the next thing. I could never just stare at an inanimate object for hours."

"Who said they were inanimate? I stare at trees. Bushes. Leaves. Creeks."

"Addilyn Ember, the girl with the longest attention span of any human." He laughs, and is looking at me, I mean really looking, when he says, "Maybe some of us are just more amazing than others could ever wish to be,"

"Maybe you're one of those people,"

"Maybe you are."

"I don't think so," I say, "I'm nothing special. Never have been. Never will be."

"You don't really believe that, do you?"

"Good night," I say before heading back to my room and shutting the door. I crawl into the heavy sheets of the twins sized bed, and fluff the pillows underneath me.

I think.

I think about if maybe Everett is right, that I might be special. Possibly because of my power. Possibly because of my long attention span. Or...maybe I am normal. But, what is the definition of normal?

nor·mal

ˈnôrməl/

adjective

conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected.

Yep, I was most definitely not normal... I was never standard or typical. Everyone knew I was that crazy kid that read during lunch instead of eating, talking, and making out like Sara Jane.

I was never like the other kids. I was the exact definition at my school. At least as far as all the students were concerned. And, because I was different, because I allowed myself to be different, I got food flung in my face.

To think all my teachers wished I'd be like the kid that did that to me disgusts me, but then again, maybe they didn't know. Why would anyone tell on Sara or John? They were popular, and looked up to. No one would betray them to come to my side. No one would help me.

I am alone in this battle.

I am no longer alone, because someone wants to help me, but I don't know if I can take the chance. I guess I am a little like Mr. O'Riley; I am very un-trusting, and it might be the think that kills me.

I need to trust, but it's had after what I've been through, where I couldn't trust anyone. I was just able to open up to Everett. I'm not sure Clinton, Tobi, Maxwell, the twins, and everyone else who lives here should be my next trusting step. Maybe just one person at a time.

One at a time.