Spin

Chapter Four

NOAH

(Age 9)

It took two weeks of my pestering before Lilah finally caved and agreed to let me come over to her house.

I raced home from school, dumped my backpack in my room, and tore out of the house like a whirlwind. I yelled unintelligibly at the blur that was Ma as I passed by, Gointomyfriendshouse! and I'llbebackbeforedark, and was gone before she had the chance to object.

I ran halfway there, stopping only when my legs were rubber and my t-shirt was drenched in sweat.

When I got to the cabin, I was surprised to find Lilah already waiting for me.

She was perched on the top step of her rickety front porch with an open book in her lap. Her head lifted when she spotted me crossing the yard, a smile playing on her lips. She marked her page and stood to greet me.

"Ready?" I asked when I reached her. I peered over her shoulder at the darkened windows of the cabin. Major vampire vibes.

She looked at the sad little house, with its peeled, green paint and bowing beams like she expected someone to be staring back. Then, her face filled with a kind of weary determination and she nodded.

I wondered where her mother was, and if she knew what Lilah was doing. My gut told me no, which was all the more reason we needed to get going.

"Let's get out of here," I said, with a mischievous grin.

Her smile transformed her jade-green eyes, lighting them up like gemstones.

She started marching alongside me like we were soldiers on a mission. A mission to break some rules. It was the first time since I'd met her that she looked sure about anything.

I led Lilah to the trail that would take us to Silver Creek.

The narrow path was humming with heat and buzzing insects. Overhead, a canopy of leaves sliced the sun into shadows, while the smell of green life swirled in the air and danced with the trees.

Still, none of it drew me like Lilah's colors. They were glowing and warm, like a lit candle on a dark night, and I was a helpless moth. I studied them every chance I got, letting myself absorb them. It was comforting just to be in her presence.

Before long, the sound of rushing water became distinct and grew louder with each bend in the path.

The trail opened up, the creek coming into view. We both shielded our eyes as the sun bounced off the water like diamonds, sending brilliant, white light dancing across us and down the embankments.

Leaving the shade was like stepping into a broiler. Heat pounded down on us blistering waves. I went straight to the water's edge and splashed my sweaty face and arms, the taste of salt strong on my lips.

If Silver Creek had been in any other place, it would have been called a river. But, since we claimed the mighty Mississippi—the Nile of North America—and this was just a puddle in comparison, it was named Silver Creek.

"It's shallow right here," I pointed a finger, "but it gets deep fast. Out in the middle, it's over your head." The excitement was plain in my voice. "I can show you all the best places to swim if ya want."

I glanced back at Lilah who still hadn't moved from the trailhead.
She stared at the water, her eyes sweeping back and forth, taking it all in, but something had changed in her expression.

"Come on," I said, gesturing toward the water. She took a few measly steps closer.

I frowned, unable to wrap my head around my growing disappointment.