Unpredictable and Irresistible

Chapter 4

For the rest of the day, Maisy could not focus. No matter how hard she tried. In English class, the teacher led a discussion about one of her favorite books, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, yet all she heard was the girl's unrelenting warning in her mind. Stay away from Xander. Stay away from Xander. Stay away from Xander. Whenever Maisy was told she couldn't do something, it made her want to do it all the more. Maisy's thoughts trailed back to a winter weekend when she went skiing for the first time with friends. Maisy had never put on skis before that cold day, but that didn't stop her. Her friend, Annie, was the most experienced one out of the bunch; she had been born with skis on her feet. Annie was eager to lead her new friends through the slopes, which were a second home to her, and failed to realize that Maisy, especially, was not ready.

The first challenge was getting on the ski lift. Once it was their turn to get in position for the ski lift, Annie flew past Maisy without any hesitation. Maisy struggled to push herself to the line where they had to wait for the lift. Her boots and skis felt so heavy and awkward and her poles did little to push her forward. Tears sprung to her eyes and she was glad to have her goggles to hide them. Hot and sweaty from embarrassment, her first layer of clothing clung to her like skin. Annie refused to offer any help, but Lucy, the other friend, stuck out her pole to Maisy. Maisy grabbed ahold and offered a weak smile and Lucy whisked her beside her. Next thing she knew, the ski lift was hitting her behind and taking her away and up.

Maisy could not remember anything she had seen on the ride to the top, for her eyes were closed the entire time. When they finally got off the ski lift, Annie said: "Follow me." Maisy and Lucy had no choice but to follow her since they were clueless about where to go. Maisy gradually came to feel at ease as she glided by children much younger than her, also learning to ski for the first time. Then, Annie took a turn and so did Lucy and Maisy and there were no longer children in sight. There were very few people around and the sound of voices was replaced by the whistle of the wind. Maisy's feeling of being at ease was short lived for now she was at the peak of a black diamond slope.

Maisy shared a glance with Lucy that said: What have we gotten ourselves into? The hill was steep and only got steeper the more she looked at it. There were trees on either side of the hill and she felt like they were watching and pointing their branches at her. She realized she had been unknowingly holding her breath. She inhaled and exhaled and a the puff of air formed before her eyes.

Annie twisted the poles in her hands impatiently "Ready?"

Lucy spoke up "Are you crazy?"

Maisy remained silent, watching how things would play out.

Annie retorted "Go ahead, leave. I should've known neither of you were man enough to do this. The baby slope is where you belong."

Without another word, Annie went over the edge.

Lucy tried to console Maisy "We're better off without her, let's go."

Maisy thought it would be best to go with Lucy, but she couldn't bring herself to turn away. Annie became smaller and smaller as she swooped farther and farther down the hill. If she left now, Annie would be right about her. A voice chimed inside Maisy's head: No one can tell you what you can and can't do! Prove her wrong! And so Maisy left Lucy and she went over the edge.

Maisy looked back now to that moment and remembered how she felt. The fluttering of her heart. Her eyes wide open with fear. The wind her guide. The option of turning back was gone and what was before her was white. Blinding white. Snow surrounded her and she was small, a lonely black dot against a white world. Maisy learned an important lesson that day. No one could stand in her way. Not then. Not now. Not ever.

The slamming of books and restlessness in the air brought Maisy back to class. It was the end of the school day. All the of events of the day seemed to have rushed past her at the speed of light. She could hardly grasp what had happened. This morning with Cody felt like a dream; she doubted whether it really happened. Then she met Xavier, whom she was told to stay away from. But she knew she would not, could not stay away. Her curiosity was too strong. She sensed there was a story here, waiting to be uncovered.

Maisy felt a painful jab in her shoulder and looked up from her desk. It was just Lucy. All the other students had rushed out of class as soon as they were dismissed. The girl standing before Maisy now was the same Lucy she knew six years ago on that ski slope. Her blue eyes were timid like those of a caged animal, darting erratically around the room.

"Study date, remember?" Lucy asked.

Maisy winced for forgetting that today was Tuesday and every day this week she went to the library after school to study with Lucy.

"I forgot." Maisy bit her lip.

"You forgot? You?" Lucy asked in shock.

"Yeah it's been a long day, can we have a rain check?" Maisy asked, wanting to get home and not be bothered by anyone else.

"No, you promised, and I really need your help with the chemistry project." Lucy didn't wait for a response, but scooped up Maisy's backpack and started walking out the door. Maisy groaned at the physical effort of standing up from her desk and lethargically followed Lucy to the library.

The library was Maisy's favorite place to go in school. It was almost always quiet, except for the occasional middle schoolers snickering over a sex scene in a book. The librarians knew Maisy and were excited to see someone young share the same passion for reading. Maisy loved the time she spent enveloped in a story and the way her thoughts merged with the character's as one. Reading was an escape from her life. Reading allowed her to go to all the places she wanted to go and to do all the things she wanted to do. If her life was a book, she figured it would be the dusty one on the back of the shelf. A plain cover to catch no one's eyes, to be held by no one's hands. She couldn't imagine anyone wanting to read her story, but that would soon change.

Lucy cleared her throat, waiting for Maisy to take a seat next to her on the couch. Maisy was happy the couch was vacant since it was the most comfortable place to sit in the library.

"What's going on with you?" Lucy easily sensed something was wrong, having known Maisy for years.

Maisy realized how lucky she was to have Lucy in her life. Lucy was there for her when she needed her. Maisy turned to face her on the couch and told her everything; missing the bus, meeting Cody, meeting Xavier, and the girl's warning. Lucy didn't respond for a while and just sat there, absorbing the information.

Then, out of nowhere, Lucy shouted "Maisy!"

Maisy clamped her hand over Lucy's mouth "Lucy, don't be so loud!"

"Sorry, sorry, I'm just so excited for you!" Lucy strained to keep her voice a whisper.

"Excited for me?"

"You need to see Cody again, he sounds so dreamy." Lucy sighed.

"Really, Lucy? That's all you got from what I said?" Maisy said, shaking her head. She refused to admit it out loud, but she agreed with Lucy about Cody.

"Do you think he has a cute friend?"

"Probably, but that is not important right now! Focus!"

"Okay, okay, but we're coming back to this later. Anyways, I think I've seen Xavier around. He is always with that girl, Madison. I think that's the one you're thinking of - with the short black hair."

"Do you know anything about her?" Maisy was now sitting on the edge of her seat, hoping Lucy would reveal more.

"Choosing to mess with Madison would be a death wish." Lucy was no longer smiling, her facial expression serious.

"Why? You're advising that I stay away from Xavier, like Madison said?" Maisy's mind was racing with questions she wanted to ask.

"You don't know this girl Maisy, but I-I've heard things. If you know what's best for you, you'll stay away from Madison and Xavier." Lucy pulled out the chemistry book from her backpack, signaling the end of the conversation.