Barely Bones

Barely Bones 7

"You will need other people, and you will need to be that other person to someone else, a living, breathing screaming invitation to believe better things."

-To Write Love On Her Arms

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Chapter Seven, Part I: Hash Browns and Ivies

My hair was at its worst that morning, I'd forgotten to pack toothpaste, and the thought of a McDonald's breakfast had scared me so much that I'd opted out of ingesting anything. Yuck.

It was a horrendously startling way to begin the day, but my shaky fingers still managed to pull open the car door and strap myself in. There was only a short drive spanning between Cameron and Ess, and me.

While I was daydreaming, Sebastian pulled out of the lot and started a casual conversation with Gwynn.

"How'd you sleep?"

"Horribly, the sheets are so itchy, and I found crumbs in one of the pillow cases."

"Same. The wood frame of the fouton is starting to rot. Worst forty bucks ever spent. Well. There's only one more night to endure."

Two days to share with my favorite people in the world.

"Alright, we're in the neighborhood now.. damn, these houses look like they're worth more than everything me and my extended family own.. hey, what was their address?"

I told him, and he pointed to one of the Queen Anne-style houses encased in ivy and weeds.

Sebastian smiled at me through the rearview mirror. "That's them."

My heart tensed up, as if it knew.

Standing in the explosive mess of a garden was Cameron, dressed in full black, despite the harsh beating of the summer sun.

I just about fell out of the car and scraped my knees on the asphalt of the street. Sebastian hadn't even stopped the vehicle yet.

"Oh my gosh!" Gwynn squealed. "Are you okay?"

But I didn't hear what she'd said, because I was sprinting towards Cameron, who was still unaware of my presence. Seriously, put down the damned book, stop stepping on the dandelions on your lawn, and look over here.

Turning back to the open garage, he yelled, "Dad, Ess, I'm going ouー!"

That was when I tried to tackle hug him, except he was heavier and so much taller than I was, so it just sort of ended up like I'd run straight into a wall (or a sturdy rib cage).

"Sonuva biー holy hell," he cursed.

I'd already let go, but I was still smiling. Cameron was stunned, but he looked so healthy now. My mother wouldn't believe it if I told her.

His jaw dropped. "EssーEss! Ess! You need to get out here, now!"

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Chapter Seven, Part II: Nice to See You, How've You Been?

"You said your name is Gwynn?" Ess asked.

Gwynn beamed. "Yep!"

While I was introducing Gwynn to Ess, Cameron was pacing the driveway with his fingers grasping tufts of his hair. He was shocked, but in a good way.

"And you, Sebastian! I thought you weren't planning on visiting until next year! How'd you get stuck with these crazy girls?"

"I'm a nice guy," he said warmly. "This girl here?" He pointed to me. "She probably woulda killed herself if she didn't see you guys soon."

I cleared my throat but couldn't bring myself to deny it.

"Let's go to the waterpark!" Ess chirped.

"I, um, I don't have a bathing suit," I mumbled.

"Screw it! Your regular clothes will be fine," she said with a smile. "I can lend you whatever after."

So, we left.

Cameron was still shocked, but I walked next to him anyway. It was nice to see color in his cheeks, the muscles on his bones.

I smiled at him. "Nice to see you, how've you been?"

Dazed, he forced a grin. "Never, in a hundred frigging million years, would I have guessed you'd show up here. With Sebastian. You could have at least called, you know, to prevent the heart attack I'm about to experience."

Hilarious. He was just so funny to watch, but no one else would ever understand that. Cameron just sort of stared at the pavement, trying not to step on the occasional ant or manhole. His arms didn't even swing when he walked. It was terribly endearing.

"I wanted to surprise you."

"Hell yeah you did." Then he glanced at me for the first time in a while. "But that's a good thing."

Suddenly, the ear-shattering scream of Gwynn rippled through the neighborhood, saying, "I call the tall swing!"

"Gwynn! We're here for the waterpark! Let those kids use the swingー dammit, Gwynn!" Ess barked as she stormed after her.

Cameron put his arm around my shoulder and laughed.

Perfect.

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Chapter Seven, Part III: C-Level Students

I wasn't sure where all this water park water had come from, but it could've been toilet water and I wouldn't have minded. For the most part.

But once we were sick of standing under a bucket and waiting for it to dump warm water on us, we slipped on our shoes (with great difficulty) and headed to Mr. Carter's house. Apparently he'd been preparing dinner.

Life was nice, for a change. Ess and I had both become C level students (except for in history, for some reason), Cameron and Gwynn were on the honor roll, and Sebastian was barely maintaining passing grades. Cameron now weighed more than Essー not that she was heavy, but he wasn't exactly a heavy weight champion. We all hated our teachers.

And those were the highlights of our lengthy conversations.

It was nice to know that someone who'd once excelled in school had become average, like me. It was hard enough dealing with my mom's disappointment without the constant jeering from your friends who'd already set a standard for you. I didn't want a damn standard.

I was about to have a breakdown, I swear.

Instead, I just sort of followed them listlessly until I was in Ess's room while Gwynn went to the bathroom and the boys changed in Cameron's room.

"How about this shirt?" she asked, tossing me a flimsy black cotton top.

"Too big."

"This one?"

"Holy crap, Ess, I don't want to wear your volleyball jersey. That thing smells like expired ham."

"You'll freeze your eyelashes off if you don't change soon. Now here, wear this one. Remember it?"

"Hey, this is the shirt those kids in summer camp made for you that year before you left!"

"It's too small for me now, so I think it should fit you."

I thanked her and huddled myself into the corner while I changed. She might've been Ess, but I was still scared of anyone seeing me like that.

When I turned around, she had her hands on her mouth, a surprised expression on her face.

"Ess?"

"Holy crap."

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I used to be great at school, so I came to expect being great, but when I couldn't be great even after I tried, I just sort of accepted it. This used to be a huge cause of my stress, so I understand anyone who's going through the same thing. Eventually you'll numb out.