Castling: A Novel (NaNoWriMo21)

29. What's One Afternoon?

The Next Few Days

That night, while Dad plates dinner, I shoot feelers out about this weekend. It's a resounding yes, Mom telling me to "live a little," Dad offering to drive me out to Kieran's (if Kieran is still living in that house a million miles away). I'd say so with how he walks into school a minute before Ms. Tudor shuts the door. I act like I'm not as interested as they are, which is kind of true, but also not.

Second chances.

"Oh, go, Chase," Mom says. "What's one afternoon?"

"Max will be there."

"Well, see? Even better!"

"You'll have fun with your friends," Dad says.

I told them about Max. They don't seem as tense about him as I am. Mom thinks that "kids will be kids." Dad says that Max likes messing with me because I'm the "newbie."

"No, he doesn't."

"Play along. Match his sense of humor. See what he says."

Really?

"It's one afternoon," Mom says. "Get out of the apartment. Interact. Better than sitting in your room all weekend like you usually do."

There go my Games.

"Fine..."

When have they ever been wrong about something?

Oh, wait!

On Wednesday, the topic comes up again during lunch. Kieran wants to know if we've decided. Max jumps on board, but only after I board this rickety ship first.

On Thursday, it's set in stone. Kieran gives us an approximate time to arrive. We can be there at noon. The more I think about the weekend during Daniela, the more a day together outside of the cube might be entertaining after all. I remember back to a good time when Kieran and I used to chill under the pine tree in his yard, playing Pokémon.

I loved that.

"Hey, Chase?"

How does Max feel about Quilava?

"Want to go for a walk, or you got your Games?"

"Uh..."

After dinner on Friday, Dad reads my mind. I had gold-medal curling, but it's three hours. I don't want to miss Team Kinsley's underdog run, but I'm not one for breaking routine. I choose the Friday night walk. I'm sure I'll be home in time to see the second half of the match, right? Going around the complex doesn't take an eternity.

A walk will do me good to compartmentalize my emotions anyway.

Kieran's mom hasn't seen me in ages. She's going to gush over me like a crazy grandma. I'm not looking forward to her impulsiveness, but Dad tells me that I'll live.

"Kieran's mom has always liked you."

Dad isn't wrong. Kieran's mom adored me. When Dad picked me up, she used to sing my praises across Esterton, and they'd lose themselves in those long, drawn-out parental chrat trants...

Trap chats!

...I know she's going to ask me about the school.

Nod and smile, right? It's what I do best.

You can feel the nightly chill in the air. It's nothing like when I was outside for recess. I have to stick my hands in my pockets. I don't want winter to end, but spring might want a chance. I'll take some spring, not too warm, not too cold, hoodies still in fashion.

It feels like there's something missing with my walks with Dad when we're not looking for shiny window displays to critique. I know, we're a couple months removed from the holiday season, but that was cool. It gave me something to look at. Everything just looks...

Dead.

I spot a cat in a lower window. I'll take pets for display substitutes.

"So, do you three have anything planned?" Dad asks, talking about the super-trio's day.

I shrug. "Are you sure you don't mind driving?"

"Chase, it's for you. What do you think?"

What's worrying going to do for me?

"Ooh! Look!"

There's a bright light in the sky. The birds are all asleep, and I know what a plane looks like. The light isn't moving, but the clouds that cover it back up are.

"The moon?" I ask.

Dad gasps. "Wow!"

With all the wintry clouds dominating the sky day and night, I almost forgot what the moon looks like. I barely see it. It's not full, a sliver of silvery light, like a cracked door. Chloe likes the moon. She practically worships the moon and anything natural.

Oh, blessedmoon, lend me a piece of your celestial energy, and assist me in my cross-townvisit tomorrow!