Before the Ever Green (BTEG #1) ✔️

Chapter 40

Here he was, and her I was. I have so man things I want to say to him. So many things I want to apologize for. Dragging him with me. Leaving him. But, in the moment, the only words I can make my mouth form are, "You're here." and to be quite honest, I am not sure if it was a statement or a question. Maybe both.
"Yep. I am here." He says
"How did you know to come here?" I ask. No one knew where we were going.
"I didn't. Not really. When you left, I asked Clinton if he knew where you were. He responded, 'no'. I didn't want to stay with Maxwell. He didn't enjoy my company. And, Tobi and the twins were getting on my nerves. Allison has been a family friend for years. My parents trusted her, and kept her secret about her location. Honestly, I am not sure if anyone knows my family ever was friends with her. I couldn't go back to the shed. It reminded me to much of you. I thought you were dead. So, I thought about where I could go. My parents home was out of the question, and all my friends, well, aren't my friends anymore. So, I thought back to the last time I talked to Allison. She told me if I never needed anything, to visit. I figured it couldn't hurt. And, it turns out...it was a lot better than 'not hurting'. I can't believe you are here...and okay."
I have no words to describe what I just heard come out of his mouth. He thought I was dead? What would make him think I was dead? I just disappeared. Oh...he had no clue where I was. Of course he'd think I was dead. But, why does your mind always go to the worst possible option? It's like a #1 human flaw. Always jumping to conclusions that are way worse than the actual fact. Why?
"Yeah. I am alive. Unhurt." I manage to make my vocal cords work. I'm not sure if they will, again.
"Well, how did you get here? How do you know Allison?" He seems so confused.
"Oh. Um...Allison is my great-aunt. She was helping Brit and Jaeger," I point to the siblings, "My cousins."
I can't help but recognize the surprise in his eyes. He almost seems a little hurt, like he can't believe I left him, but then his expression changes, "You found family?"
I nod.
"That's great, Addilyn."
Why does this feel so awkward. Maybe it's all the un-spoken words. Everything we've wanted to say, but haven't had the guts to say out loud. So, instead, we let it haunt our minds. Just like, I would never tell him how I felt, when I thought he had surely died. I'm not sure I could if I wanted to. It was an emotion I don't really have a name for. I've never felt it before. Maybe it was because I've never cared for someone, and almost lost them. Maybe I will never feel it again. The only person I have ever really cared about was my Mom, but she has never been in danger. She was always hated, but never in harm. Maybe my brain recognizes Everett as a part of my family. Maybe he is something more than family. Maybe. But, I don't know what else to call what I feel. So, I don't.
"What? You two gonna k-" Jaeger starts, but Brit jabs him in the stomach with her elbow. She gives him a look. "What?" he asks her, and she widens her eyes. He gets the memo. I don't. Should I know what Jaeger was about to say? Does Everett know? His eyes show...fear...it started the second Jaeger started talking. Why does it seem he is always messing things up. No, I am turning into Brit. I can't let that happen. Being Brit would include all her drama, which I don not need.
Everett turns to me, "So, Allison is your great-aunt. Small world. Because I've known her since I was a little kid."
"Yeah," I say, "Small world." Why is this so awkward? It seems so strange. It seems like, even though he is only a few feet away, he is actually a million miles from me. So distant. I don't why. Does it always feel like that with friends? Is Brit and I's friendship just different? Or, is Everett and I's friendship different?
Allison interjects my thoughs, with a whistle, "We need to get back to work. Brit and Jaeger have a lot to learn, if they want to be able to do anything to protect themselves."
"Hey. Don't judge the power of perfection." Jaeger is pointing to his face.
"Ooh! Where's perfection. All I see is a donkey's ass. Oh wait, that's your face. Sorry for the mistake, Jaeger."
He gives her a look, "Bitch."
"I am female, but I am not a dog, Jaeger."
"Ass."
"Yes, I have an ass."
She is coming back at all of his comments. It's like it isn't fazing her at all. Maybe she's just lived with it so long. Maybe she just likes annoying him. It is plausible, being as she is always antagonizing him with horribly childish comments. And, here are a lot more. It doesn't surprise me one bit.
"You two!" Allison calls, "Get into formation." She looks to Everett and I. I grab his hand, and pull him into the arrangement of trees to hide. On the way to a new position, I explain everything to him. Why we are doing this. That he is going to want to cover his ears. That we will fall from the tree. That if Brit is doing it, there might be a lot of screaming and yelling. "Well, honestly if either of them are doing it. They are both super childish."
"Addilyn, stop rambling." He tells me.
I turn to him, and let go of his arm, "Up." I say, gesturing for him to climb. He does. I follow behind him. When we are both situated at the top of the tree, he just stares at me. We are both on branches on opposites sides of the trunk. I put my back to the trunk, and Everett. I think he does the same, because I can hear and feel him move.
"Why did you leave?" He ask me.
I take a deep breathe, "I just needed to get away. Everything Mr. O-Clinton said made me think of my child hood. Maybe you don't know, but I had a pretty sucky childhood. So, I felt claustrophobic, and just needed to be out of the walls holding me inside. I've always been held between 4 walls. Almost never let out. I needed freedom."
"Why didn't you come back?"
"I don't know." I admit. I really don't know. "I guess I just got caught up in everything. I thought about you, though. I thought about coming to get you, and bring you with us. There just wasn't time. We needed answers, Everett. You have to understand."
"I do. And, I am sorry about you childhood. I've heard the stories. I can only imagine, but I have been told I have a pretty great imagination."
"Maybe not good enough." I say, "Remember what Sara and John did to me, when you started school?"
He nods.
"They were being kind, those weeks. They weren't on there best game. I guess after 16 years, they started to have less and less tricks to use. They'd used old ones too much."
"Addilyn," His voice sounds strained, like her can't get the words out. Or, can't get them out right.
"Don't pity me. I don't want to remember the last 16 years. I want to be free. For once, I want to be able to fly like a bird. To live how I want to live. I don't want my mom telling me what to do. I don't want to be told 'be more like Sara Jane'. I don't want John to pour mud on me. I don't want to live like I have lived before. Free. I need to be free."
"Let me help." He says. I can hear the sincerity in his voice.
I am looking straight forward, at the trees and bushes. I am looking at branches, leaves, brown, green, the sky, blue. I am looking at birds, bunnies, and rocks. But, I am not looking at Everett. He has been so kind to me. I think I would shatter, if I looked at him.
Boom! I am falling from the tree. My hands are over my ears. This time, it is a lot stronger. I am pulling my legs up to my chest, while I am laying on my side. I am trying to keep from making a sound, to stop showing pain, but I am clinching my teeth, and letting out little winces each time a wave of power blasts through the air. It is hard. It hurts. I have to deal with it. "Over there." His voice is strong. Jaeger did it this time. No trouble. He jus did it, and with so much more power than Brit. And, Brit was mad. I am glad Jaeger wasn't mad. I am pretty sure I'd be dead.
It would be too powerful to handle.
I attempt get up, now that the waves have stopped coming. Everett is already up, and standing above me. He puts out his hand. I grab it, and pull my self off. I brush off my pants. "Thanks."
"No problem." I start to walk, but he grabs my wrist, "Addilyn." he looks troubled.
"What?" I am looking into his ocean eyes. His gorgeous ocean eyes. He doesn't say anything. Not a word. He is looking at me. I am looking at him. I am breathing. My heart is pounding. He moves a piece of hair from my face, and looks at me. He looks into my eyes, then away. His hand moves to my face. It brushes the side of my head, and down my hair. He pulls out a leaf. "Thanks." I say, breathless.
What did I expect to happen?
We walk back to the group, silent.
The silence stings. It burns like fire. It shouldn't be so quiet. Why does it have to we so awkwardly quiet.
The silence is broken by Jaeger, and his "Oh my gosh! It fell so damn amazing! I felt all the power." His hands are Allisons arms, up by her shoulders. He pulls her into a hug, "Thank you! You are the best great-aunt ever."
"No problem...now let me go."
"Sorry." He turns to Brit, " I did better than you." He licks his index finger, and puts it down in mid air, making a sizzling sound with his mouth.
"What ever, loser." Brit says, "How bad was it?" She asks, turning to me.
"What?" I ask. What does she know or what does she think she knows?
"How bad was the blast?"
Oh. "It stung. It swear I was gonna die. It was only a little stronger than yours, though." I lie. Jaegers was a lot stronger than hers. There was no denying it. But, I want to still have her as a friend. There is no way that is going to happen anytime soon, if I take Jaegers side...in anything. I'll just have to keep lying to her. It won't be too bad. I will still have a friend, right? All I am doing is boosting her confidence. How can that possibly be bad?
She gives me a smile, "Thank you. See, Addilyn thinks I am almost as strong as you. I blame the fact that you workout practically everyday. It's almost all you do. Well, except when you read on the couch, and cry like a baby, because it's so emotional." She has little mocking tears. She gives a satisfied smile. "What? Did I burst your bubble?"
"No. But, I think I should save what I know about you for a better time. A time when it will sting...a lot more than this." He smiles, " I am a lot smarter than some people. But, I won't point out who."
"Ooh. You make bad comments, too. What's next? You gonna put on a red nose, colorful afro, and join the circus as a clown? You'd make a great addition. If you don't speak. You might scare the audience."
"Such children."
"Right?" Everett whispers, I turn to him startled. He sees my confusion, "You said, 'such children', I was agreeing with you."
Did I say that out loud? I could have sworn I said it in my head. Maybe I am going crazy.