A Crazy Phase

CHAPTER THREE: Shriveled Black Raisin instead of a Heart

November 3, an unfortunate ride home and a toothy-smiled greeting

From the backseat of Ben's pickup, I listened to the two guys in the front seats as they carried on an annoying conversation.

It was about four o'clock now, and ever since I had said yes to Ava's afternoon plans, I was questioning my existence. Normal afternoons just can't exist in my life.

"So she got her head stuck in your gate?" Ben asked and he was clutching his side with one hand as the other steered.

"Yeah, but the best part is that her best friend called the police on her," Cass answered.

I looked down at the butcher's knife in my lap. I was seriously reconsidering the whole beheading thing. Instead, I kicked my feet up on the two armrests and knocked Cass' elbow off. He twisted around in his seat and looked at me with those piercing dusky eyes of his. The first five seconds of meeting him, I thought they were beautiful. But then he had opened his mouth and now they just annoyed me.

"You still owe me an apology," Cass said.

"For what?" I said, stroking the knife's blade. He didn't seem phased.

"For screaming at me because you thought I was the one that called the police," he answered.

A twinge of guilt made its way to my heart. I had screamed at him and accused him of calling the police, but really, he was a stranger so of course I had every right to do that.

But then I was a stranger to him and he had found me in his gate and helped me.

"Well too bad, buddy," I said. "Because you're not getting one."

"You'll come around one day," he said like a promise.

"Sure," I grunted, and he turned back around to face the road.

Ben looked at me in the rear view mirror, and raised one eyebrow. Could people seriously stop doing that around me. I feel disabled without the eyebrow raise ability, I thought as I tried to console my useless eyebrows.

"Yeah, when Bobbie had called and explained the situation, it sounded plain stupid, but when you explained, it was downright hilarious," Ben said. "This might top last time."

"What did happen last time?" Cass asked Ben. Ben gave me a questioning look in the mirror as if asking, Is it okay if he knows? He knew I was somewhat touchy about it.

I shook my head.

"I'll let Remi tell you," Ben said. "If she wants to."

"No," I said. "I don't." I slid the right sleeve of my black shirt up and peeped at the one inch scar that marred the skin on my shoulder. It was in the shape of a small curve, and I imagined it was smiling cruelly at me, mocking me with every day it lived there. "And don't ask again."

For the rest of the ride to Cass' house, he and Ben talked casually. What a shock it was when he mentioned he would be going to Brookdale high - the only high school in this small town. Or that he would be starting Monday. He said his mom was running errands with Skylar when I had been found. He said she was probably enrolling him and his siblings.

When Ben asked where to turn, I noticed the familiar neighborhood. And that's when it clicked. I understood why this neighborhood seemed so familiar when Ava and I rolled through here hours ago.

"Hey!" Ben said as he rolled through the gates and onto Cass' driveway. "We live in the same neighborhood. We're just two doors over. Stop by anytime. That is, if you can stand to be around a moody five year old."

"If I can stand to be around Ree for a few hours, I think I can take on a five year old," he said while opening the door.

"Goodbye Cass," I ground my teeth together.