The Eye Of The Ankh #Wattys2016

Chapter Thirty-Five

Hugo leaned against his SUV, crossing his arms. I leaned against my car. "Why were you there that night, Hugo? I didn't even know."

Hugo took a deep breath. "Okay. I'll try to explain.

"So, before that night, about a month before, I went into the future—what is now now—and I saw that... that I liked you as much as I do. So then when I went back to that present, I made sure to find you. I didn't want to actually talk to you, but I watched you. I know, sounds stalkery, but I couldn't help myself. I didn't want to accidently screw up the future I knew."

"So, basically, you saw the me now, and decided to watch the me then?"

Hugo laughed. "Like I said, sounds really stalkerish."

"I didn't know you called police... I didn't know you were there that night... How come you never told me?"

"I didn't want you to know. I told them—the cops—over and over not to let you know I was there. At least I know they did as I asked."

"I wish I knew it was you." I blinked, trying to avoid crying. I've been doing quite a bit of that lately. "If I knew..."

Hugo tapped his fingers against his elbow. "I thought it would have been better if you didn't know. You would've thought of me differently."

I bit my lip. "I'll see you tomorrow, Hugo." I unlocked my car and got in. I didn't even look at Hugo before I backed out of the parking space and drove home.

"Wait, he what?" Halle said, chewing on her straw.

"Yeah, Hugo was there the night my parents were murdered. I didn't even know until he told me last night. He was the one who called the police."

"That's crazy." Marco said, swallowing a mouthful of pizza. "Wonder why he didn't tell you..."

I shrugged. "He said he thought it'd be better if I didn't know."

"Well," Jean began, "it's not like you have any special right to know."

Halle elbowed Jean. "Dude, of course she has the right to know. That's like not knowing who saved you from a fire when you were little. You just... need to know."

"Need to know what?" Hugo asked as he sat down.

"Which teacher we hate more: Ward, or Ashlock?" Halle lied.

"That's tough." Hugo said, debating it in his head.

"Well, I don't take art, so I guess Ward is worse for me." Marco said. Jean nodded in agreement.

"I'd say Ward. Only because she's crusty and old." Hugo said.

"Oh! Oh!" Halle swallowed her food. "What's the difference between a crab with breast implants and a dirty bus stop?" We all waited in silence. I've already heard the answer, but I wasn't about to steal her thunder.

She smiled. "One's a busty crustacean, and the other's a crusty bus station."

Jean smirked, shaking his head, Hugo chuckled, and Marco had a confused look. "I don't get it." He said. The rest of us laughed.

"Guys, could you please explain?"

This time of year is boring, there's no sports going on, no musicals or anything. Halle claims that there's tons to do. Jean and Marco—who I'm pretty sure are more than just friends—agree with me. Hugo is constantly bored.

"What about this," Halle said the next day at lunch. "What if we all drove to the next town and hung out there for a while."

"And do what?" Marco raised an eyebrow. "Shop?"

"Well," Halle began, twirling her fork in her noodles, "Maybe just Alice and I can shop, and you guys can do guy things."

"Guy things?" Jean questioned.

"Yeah, you know, guy things. Whatever guys do."

The three boys just looked at Halle, like she grew a third eye. Halle looked at me, looking for help. I took a deep breath. "You three could gawk at girls while Halle and I shop. You wouldn't like shopping with us. Or, if you get bored, you could go do something else. We could go this weekend. Halle and I could take my car, and you three can go in Hugo's SUV."

"Well what if we're busy?" Marco asked.

"Well are you?" I asked.

"Well, no..."

"Then why the hell not?"

"I'm free." Jean said.

"I'm free." Hugo added.

Marco rolled his eyes. "Why the hell not. I'm free."

Halle smiled. "I'm the best friend any of youhave. Seriously." Halle took a bite of noodles. "Geeze."