Dead Lines

26: Arrival

Unedited

Chapter Twenty-Six

Getting ready was made harder by texts. You never know the annoyance of modern technology until it was constantly interrupting what you were doing. I’d sent a very brief message to both Cecil and Allie, informing them I was back. Simple and to the point.  When my phone literally exploded with responses from all of my friends, I knew me coming back wasn’t going to be a quiet affair. I gathered from their messages that Allie was with Bev and the Triplets as they all got ready for the night’s festivities and that’s how they’d all found out.

The chiming was getting on my nerves and as I finally dug everything I needed out from under my sink, I was tempted to put on the “Do Not Disturb” to make it stop.

But I didn’t and the reason was a tall, very fluffy-haired boy. I’d sent him a message right after the first round of texts from my friends and I’d yet to hear from him. Granted, I had several voicemails I hadn’t checked, mostly because I knew the majority of them were probably from my father asking where I was or when I’d be home. My call log reflected that.

But none of them were from Schylar.

It made me sad and had disappointment settling into my heart like a stone.

There was also a lack of response from Cecil but I was only a little worried about him. Logic told me he’d come find me as soon as he could and I shouldn’t stress about his absence. If something happened to him, I would know. Romantical sentiment, maybe, but the truth of it was felt deep down in my bones. I wasn’t saying there wasn’t a disjointed feeling because he hadn’t already come to find me. I was trying to ignore it.

“Tales! Are you almost ready?”

I blinked and refocused on my reflection in the mirror. No. I was definitely not almost ready.

“Give me ten more minutes!” I called out.

I was still donning my gray jersey robe. My makeup was done and I was almost finished with my hair, but the rest of me, not so much. The trip into la-la land had set me back.

“Five! We’re already going to be late. Let’s not make it epically!”

I snorted and resisted the urge to laugh. “Since when did you use the word ‘epically’?”

“Tales!”

“Ok!”

He may have given me five minutes but it took me seven to finish up and get my butt downstairs. Like all the times before when he’d have to wait on me, my father was pacing the floor at the bottom of the stairs, his hands held behind his back in impatience.

“You should’ve been a lion for Halloween,” I commented when I reached him.

He sighed in relief when he looked at me and then he was trying not to smile. “Well, look at you. Puffy gown and all.”

I glared at him in annoyance. “You’re funny. If you ask me to sing ‘Be Our Guest’ I might have to disown you.”

“Shouldn’t have let a little girl decide what you were going to dress up as.” He wrapped his arm around me and kissed my temple. “Didn’t the cutlery in Beauty and the Beast sing that song?”

“Maybe. I haven’t watched the movie in years.”

“Then I don’t have to worry about you singing. I’ve heard your crooning. It could shatter glass.”

Ribbing from my dad. How quaint. “Says the man who’s only talent is the swinging of a metal rod.”

A grin split his face. “That’s your talent too, honey. You sure you’re ready for this? Last chance to back out and go have fun with your friends.”