It's My Life

Chapter 9 - Set in Motion

Tom had continued his attentions of me, had visited my house and met my parents. For some reason I trusted him in knowing where I lived, but I didn't tell him much, nor did I show him the backyard and back fence that led to the ocean. He exclaimed on the view of the ocean further out, but you couldn't see the shore from my place, hidden by the fence and trees. I saw an expression pass over his face when he met my mum and dad, but it was gone before I could look at him again. I took him upstairs (naturally my father told us to behave), and showed him my room and the general upstairs.

"You have such a beautiful house, and a magnificent view of the ocean." Tom said, moving to my bedroom window. I nodded.

"I love it. The ocean is so special. So serene." I replied. He looked at me.

"Not always. Sometimes it can be quite unforgiving." Tom said softly. I looked at him, seeing another calculating look on his face. I wanted to ask him what he was thinking, but he turned away then and moved across the room.

"My parents seem to like you. That's a big thing." I said, trying to turn the subject onto more normal topics. Tom smiled.

"I always try to make a good impression. Usually easier to date someone when their family like you." Tom said. I nodded.

"That's very true." I replied.

"Dinner's ready." I heard Dad call out. I looked at Tom.

"Ready?" I asked. He took a deep breath and nodded, and together we headed out of my room and downstairs to the kitchen. Mum had cooked up my favourite vegetarian lasagne, and we all sat down to eat.

"This all tastes amazing, Mrs. Silver." Tom said, eating the lasagne with gusto. I grinned as Mum blushed slightly.

"Thank you, Tom. Please call me Louise. And this is Cassi's favourite. She's got a few allergies. Is there anything you don't eat, Tom?" Mum asked. I wanted to kick her, but I couldn't without possibly hitting Tom.

"Well, my family don't eat fish. We're all allergic. Otherwise, I eat anything." Tom replied. I looked at him in surprise, then to my parents. They had stopped eating, but quickly started again, not wanting to alarm Tom. More words were exchanged, though Tom declined dessert, and said a polite good-bye, thanking my parents for their hospitality. After he left Mum, Dad and I cleaned up.

"Allergic to fish. Reminds me of someone." Dad said, clearing the table. I looked at him

"Seriously, Dad? Don't jump to conclusions. Just because he's allergic to fish doesn't mean he's anything like me. There are many people out there that are allergic to fish, to shellfish. It's nothing new." I said, putting plates in the dishwasher.

"I'm sorry Cass. You're right. Not everyone that's allergic to fish is like you." Dad said. I looked at him, then kept stacking the dishes. Mum frowned too, and Dad went silent, washing the bigger items in the sink. We worked on in silence for a bit, and then Mum and Dad went into the den and I headed upstairs. Flopping on my bed, I thought over Dad's words, and pulled my workbook to me, but I couldn't focus on homework. I stood up and, after turning off my light, I stood at my bedroom window, looking out over the ocean. I could almost feel the salty spray on my skin, and I sighed, leaning against the window-frame. It baffled me, the way Tom always watched me, the way he seemed to be in-tune with me. Not so much in feelings, but he knew where I was, where to find me. He had said dating. He was technically my boyfriend now, anyone would agree. I sighed, feeling the pull of the ocean, the tug of the moon shining on the rippling surface, but forced myself to turn away and head to bed. I could swim in the morning.

As the weeks passed, spelling club grew more intense, and finally the coach announced that we would be going up against several other colleges in a competition. I felt excited, it would be my first college competition, but I felt a little sad too. Knowing my luck I'd be up against Tabby, and her father always went along to her competitions. That unnerved me but, other than Mum and Dad, I couldn't tell anyone. I wanted to tell Tom everything, but I couldn't. He could tell there was something wrong, but didn't press the matter, to which I was very grateful. How could I tell him that the spelling bee would bring a potential enemy into our school, though he would wear a mask of friendliness? If I told Tom that, then I'd have to tell him why he was a potential enemy, and that was a story I wasn't ready to tell. Not yet.