Faultless

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

           The five of us began to deliberate and discuss different events and plans. I mostly sat quiet, just listening and agreeing with ideas. I still hadn’t gotten over the shock of it all. Arnold and John, clearly expressing their anger the most, took the lead with Louis chiming in some.

           However, my shock and our deliberation was interrupted by a knock on the door. Louis, Arnold, and I seemed to look to John while he looked to Lisa. After a moment she got up to answer the door. There stood a very tall girl in high-waisted jeans and a crop top, her long brown hair making its way down her back. Her cherry red lip stick and well done make up clearly played up her beautiful features.

           “I’m sorry,” she said in an almost unkind voice, “I forgot my key.”

           “Kali,” Lisa seemed surprised, “Hi. It’s okay. Come on in.” She moved aside to let Kali stomp by her in her high heeled shoes. This was David’s daughter. I knew that she had gorgeous features, but the boys only reaffirmed by their longing stares. Louis seemed entranced by her stunning looks, while Arnold wore an expression of shock, clearly not expecting something so feminine and graceful to be related to David.

           “What are you doing here?” Lisa asked, seeming confused.

           “I’m home for fall break,” Kali replied as if it was common sense and everyone should have known, “I wanted to get some things from my room. I didn’t realize we were having a party. Where’s my dad?”

           “He’s gone,” Lisa answered, quickly, “I mean he left a little bit ago…for work…I think.” She clearly wasn’t skilled in the art of lying.

           “Okay…” Kali said, not seeming to mind that Lisa was clearly lying to her. Although she quickly skittered up the stairs she had a certain grace about her. It seemed to me that she was probably always graceful at anything she chose to do. It was hard to imagine myself looking that in heels. Sometimes I wished I could play up my feminism to take control of situations as Kali had done, but it was hard to imagine myself doing when Benson had always made seem as if I was second to him.

           In a way Kali reminded me of Maryn and this only made the hole in my chest grow larger as I missed her more and more. I longed to see her and be with her. I knew Maryn and Kali’s demeanor and manors were nowhere near the same. But both seemed strong and independent, always ready to fight for what they believed in. Both showing always off showing off their strong will and strength through confidence. Although Maryn seemed to go about it in a more humble way while Kali knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to do what she had to get it. With my lack of all these skills, I envied them and longed to learn and pick up on some of these traits.

           “Look,” John interrupted my thoughts, “We clearly can’t continue anything now. Why don’t you kids take some time to let all of this process and sink in? We know it’s a lot. And we don’t need to figure out everything right this very second.”

           “Time?” Arnold said, angrily, “They’re killing kids! And all of the graduated ones are missing! We don’t have time!”

           “Please calm down, Arnold,” Lisa said, soothingly, “We’ll get this worked out. We promise. Let’s just take a break.”

           “Fine,” Arnold grumbled and headed for the stairs. Louis and I quickly rose and followed him. Since Kali was clearly in the room I had been staying and I was in no mood to get in her way, I followed the boys the guest room where we sat on the floor discussing the day’s events. Well, Arnold and Louis mostly discussed. I sat quietly, trying to take it all in and keep peace between the two. I wished I could take charge of a situation as Arnold could, but I always found myself in the background, sitting quietly and agreeing. Being careful not to push my beliefs and thoughts because I didn’t want to make them angry like I had when I did that with Benson.

           “Hey,” Kali appeared in the doorway. She looked directly at me with her sharp brown eyes, “Have you been staying in my room?” She seemed angry and this made me jumpy. I hated confrontation.

           “Y-y-yes,” I hated my stutter. I wish I could stand up and shoot her confidence right back at her.

           “Well that’s just great,” she said, unkindly, “Have you seen my hairbrush?”

           “No,” I shook my head, quickly.

           “Well that’s just great. It’s missing.” I had no idea what to say to that and was relieved when she turned to walk away. I let out a slight sigh of relief, only to realize she had turned around and was back, leaning against the door frame.

           “Hey,” she looked at Arnold, “What’s your name?”

           “Arnold,” he answered, quickly and confidently. Why couldn’t I do that?

           “And yours?” She turned her attention to Louis.

           “Louis,” he said with his always charming smile.

           “Nice to meet you,” she smiled flashing her brilliant white teeth then turned to go back to her room. Both of the boys seemed entranced. I couldn’t believe she just played them like that. Whatever we had been discussing before was long gone now. She had gone and distracted them. A terrible, familiar feeling began to form in the pit of my stomach. I suddenly felt sick, angry, and upset. I had felt this way before when Benson would make plans and not include me in them. How could Kali just walk in to a room and side track them like that? It disgusted me.

           We sat in a silence for what seemed like endless minutes while the boys both ogled over Kali. There was nothing I could do but sit and aspire to learn her ways. Finally Lisa came up and appeared in the doorway interrupting our awkward silence.

           “Hey,” she said, quietly, “I was just wondering if maybe you would want to go shopping, Ramona.”

           “Sure,” I said, standing up, glad to do anything to get away from the situation.

           “Great,” she smiled, “I figured you would be in need of some new clothes and I would love to talk to you.”

           “Alright,” I said, almost reluctantly.

 

           “Let’s go.” She turned and headed for the stairs and I followed. As I was about to head down the stairs after her, I notice Kali come out of her room and head for the guest room. I guess she had gone to take my place now that I was leaving. The sick feeling that I thought I had gotten rid of returned to my stomach.