"Memorable"

Part Three

(8,521)

Alix leaned over the island in the kitchen, staring intently at the clock on the wall. Her gaze went from looking through the front window below the clock, and fixating back on the clock's second hand, ticking by. All of her friends were supposed to arrive at 4 P.M., and it was 3:53.

Adam walked into the kitchen, and through Alix's line of sight for a brief moment. She ignored him. Adam arrived at the conjoining section of the adjacent countertops, where there was a crockpot cooking everyone's dinner. He checked on it briefly, before turning around and leaning back against the counter. His hands grabbed the edges of it as he looked Alix's way.

"Is anyone here yet?" Adam asked. He smiled slightly, noticing how passionately she was staring down the clock. She was eager for everyone to arrive.

Then, a car pulled to a stop in front of the sidewalk. Alix perked up, standing up straight and resting her hands atop the island. Adam stood up straight himself, and he took a look out the wide window to see what had caught Alix's attention. The two of them watched as Graciela got out of the car, and waved to her parents in the front seats. She shut the car door, and came running up to the front door of the house. Alix rushed over to answer as soon as the doorbell was pressed.

She opened the door to see Graciela on the doorstep, wearing black cargo pants, a light yellow tee, and a checkered bomber jacket tied around her waist, looking as if it held everything together.

Graciela smiled seeing Alix, who wore an orange corduroy, overall-style jumpsuit overtop of a black and white striped tee. She opened the screen door and stepped up from the porch inside, immediately giving Alix a hug.

"Hi, Gracie!" Alix exclaimed.

"Hey, Alix!" Graciela returned her greeting. The two of them separated, and Graciela looked to her right to see Adam walking over from the kitchen. He wore a rustic colored, vintage-patterned button down shirt, tucked into a pair of black dress pants, with a bright white belt fastened in the middle.

"How are you?" He asked her, and she walked over to give him a hug.

Their greeting and parting with hugs was still somewhat new, since it took Graciela a few gatherings to warm up to Adam. Sure, he was different than the other Facility workers, Graciela knew, but that didn't change the fact that he had been one. But, she had been able to rid of the rest of her anxieties late in the previous year, finally feeling as comfortable around him as she did with everyone else. Adam was relieved to see the change— he was worried she'd never get over her horrible associations.

After they separated, Graciela answered, "I'm pretty good, actually."

"You haven't responded to my texts in a few days," said Alix, walking over to them both. "Has homeschool been time consuming lately?"

"Not exactly," Graciela told her with a wink. "I have some special news to share after the boys get here."

"News? What kind of news?" Alix was intrigued right away.

"I won't tell," Graciela teased.

"Not even if it's good or bad?" Adam inquired himself.

"Maybe I'll give another hint when someone else gets here," she gave in.

"Someone better get here fast, then," Alix crossed her arms.

"My money's on Oliver," Adam joked.

Graciela chuckled. "I would take you up on that bet, but I'd be on the same side as you."

By then, everyone knew that Oliver was always right on time— down to the minute, no matter when it was. They each showed little faith in Salem arriving early, until Alix shushed them all.