Prowl (3 page)

As I stretched, the scent of freshly brewed coffee reached my nose. Grandma could be heard puttering around in the kitchen. I threw my covers off, got out of bed and shuffled to the closet to retrieve my robe. As I did, something caught my eye.

No. It couldn’t be. I stared hard, my mouth gaping open. In the exact spot where I swore I saw a man standing the night before the floor rug had been moved and in its place was a razor blade. I bent to pick it up, inspect it. My heart pounded and sweat broke out across my forehead. How had it gotten there?

There had to be a perfectly rational explanation. It wasn’t like there was anything unique about that particular razor blade. It looked like all my other ones. Maybe I’d accidentally dropped it while unpacking. Yes. That had to be it. That’s probably when I pushed the rug over as well.

I stood, taking a deep breath. Opening the top drawer of my dresser I dropped the razor inside and cinched the belt of my robe. As I left my bedroom I glanced one last time at the spot near my bed and an uneasy feeling landed in the pit of my stomach. I could’ve sworn the rug was in the right spot the night before. Shaking away the thought I quickly closed the door and padded down the hallway.

“Good morning,” Grandma stood at the counter, in her robe and slippers, pouring a cup of coffee. The bright yellow wall assaulted my senses and the scent of potpourri wafted under my nose.

“Hey.” I rubbed sleep out of my eyes.

“I made coffee. Help yourself.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled, shuffling toward the cupboard and extracting a cup.

“How’d you sleep?”

I contemplated telling her, but thought better of it. “Great.” Smiling, I filled my mug up to the brim.

“Good.” After taking a sip of her coffee she set it down on the counter. “So, what would you like for breakfast? I have eggs, bacon, potatoes.”

My stomach churned. “I’m not much of a breakfast person.”

Grandma frowned. “But it’s the most important meal of the day.”

I would have laughed if she hadn’t looked so serious.

“Sorry. I’ll eat some toast, if you have it.”

“Jam? Cinnamon and sugar? Peanut butter?”

I winced. “Just plain.”

“Suit yourself,” she answered good-naturedly and popped the bread in the toaster. “Your mom was exactly the same way. I never could get her to eat a good breakfast.”

I almost relented at that point, but the thought of eating a huge meal so early hurt my stomach, especially after the night I’d had. Instead I sipped my coffee and waited for my toast.

“That’s what you’re wearing today?” Grandma asked when I emerged from my room wearing a long sleeved shirt and jean shorts. “It’s going to be in the nineties today. You’ll melt.”

My face flushed. When I took my shower I checked out my newest cut and the couple before that and none of them were fully healed. There was no way I could wear short sleeves.

“I’m fine,” I answered before ducking out the front door.

“Where are you going?” she hollered after me.

“Just a little walk. Need some fresh air,” I let the door slam behind me. Stepping out onto the front porch, heat enveloped me. She was right; it was stinking hot. Wiping my brow I walked down the stairs and onto the thick grass, feeling the feathery reeds between my bare toes. Lifting my head to the sky, I closed my eyes and let the sun warm my face.

“Hey,” Rhiannon said, appearing again seemingly out of nowhere.

I opened my eyes. “Hi.”

She furrowed her brow. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, sorry. It must’ve looked strange. Me, staring up into the sky like that. I was just clearing my head.”

“No, that’s cool. I was asking because your aura’s really off today.”

“What does that mean?”

“Yesterday it was yellow. Today it’s all gray.”

She stepped away from me like I had the plague.

I shook my head. “Honestly, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I don’t know anything about auras, but I’m fine. Just a little tired. I didn’t sleep well last night.”

“Ah, that makes sense.” Then her eyes widened.

“Oh no. I hope we didn’t keep you up.”

“No. I didn’t hear your party. Just some weird chanting noise and then—“ I stopped myself, realizing that I couldn’t tell her about my hallucination. She’d think I was crazy.

Rhiannon looked stunned, almost frightened.

“You heard us chanting? That’s odd. We were inside with the door closed and your window is clear on the other side of your house.”

A chill ran up my spine. “You were chanting?”

“Only some of the time.” Her face softened into a smile. “Then the real party began. Like I said, maybe I’ll invite you some time. I think you’d like it.”

My stomach tightened. I stared out at the street, quiet with no breeze like the desert. Sweat slid down my spine. “It’s hot.” I fanned myself with my hand and moved into the shade of the porch, sat on the bottom step.

“Yeah, it takes awhile to get used to.” Rhiannon followed, plopped down beside me.

“How long have you lived here?”

“A couple months. We moved from Washington.”

“Washington? Really? That’s where I’m from.”

“Huh. That’s weird.”

Everything about her was weird. I still wasn’t sure if I liked her or not.

“What made you move here?” I asked.

“My dad’s job. It hasn’t been so bad though. I’ve already made a lot of friends and the weather’s really nice.”

I nodded. Her proximity made me nervous for some reason. I needed to get away from her. “Well, I better head inside. Grandma’s taking me over to the Giovanni’s today.”

“Be careful.”

“Why? What’s wrong with them?”

“Nothing really. Let’s just say we don’t share the same beliefs.”

“Oh. Yeah, Grandma said they were religious.”

“That’s one way to put it.”

I shrugged. “Doesn’t bother me much. Grandma’s always been that way. Mom and I have always just ignored it.”

Rhiannon smiled. “Cool. So you, like, don’t have the same religious beliefs as her?”

“Not at all.”

“Like I said, I think we’re gonna be friends.”

Isaac Giovanni was even cuter up close. When Grandma introduced me to him I thought I would faint. Instead I mumbled something unintelligible and my face turned bright red. I’m not sure which was more embarrassing. He took it well though, smiling a huge dimpled grin that sealed my fate despite my vow to stay away from boys and the warning from Rhiannon. I loved Isaac’s family too. His mom Sophie was so warm and inviting and made the best lasagna I ever tasted. Tony, his dad, was super funny and cracked jokes all afternoon.

After we ate, Isaac asked if I wanted to go outside to shoot hoops. I was pretty shocked, since that was the first time a guy had ever asked me that. But I said okay and followed him outside where a giant basketball hoop loomed in the driveway. Isaac immediately palmed the ball, dribbled toward the hoop. After making a shot he threw it to me, and I, of course, missed it. I grimaced as it rolled out into the street.

“Sorry. I’m not really good at sports.”

Isaac just laughed and jogged out into the court to retrieve the ball. “That’s okay. What are you good at?”

I bit my lip. “I don’t know.”

“Come on, everyone’s good at something.”

For a minute I thought I would cry. What was I a good at? I couldn’t think of one thing.

Isaac interrupted my thoughts. “I’ve only known you for a couple of hours and I can already think of something you’re good at.”

“Really? What?”

“Laughing.”

“Laughing? Are you serious? That’s not a talent.”

“Hey. Don’t underestimate it. You made my dad’s day, laughing at all his jokes.”

I shrugged. “He’s funny.”

“See, not everyone has a good sense of humor like you. I love that quality in a girl.”

My cheeks burned and I stared hard at my feet.

“Anyway, we don’t have to play ball. I mostly just wanted to get you alone.”

Man, I thought he was different than other guys. I should have known better.

“Wanna sit down?”

I glanced over at him. He sat in the grass, patting the spot next to him. Anger burned through me.

“No thanks. I’m good,” I said, icily.

“Are you okay?”

“Look,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “I don’t know what kind of girl you think I am, but let me tell you I’m not a slut. I came out here because I thought you wanted to play ball, not make out or whatever.”

“Whoa. Whoa.” Isaac threw his hands up in surrender. “I didn’t mean that the way you took it. Wow.” He ran a hand over his hair, a deep crimson blush spilling across his cheeks. “I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry. I-I-just wanted to talk, to get to know you a little better, that’s all.”

He looked so sincere that the anger left me, deflating like a popped balloon. “No, I’m the one who should be sorry. I’m just over-sensitive, I guess.”

“Hey, I understand. I know how guys are and I’m sure a girl as pretty as you gets hit on a lot.”

My heart skipped a beat at his words.

“If you feel more comfortable we can go back in.” Isaac started to get up.

“No. It’s fine.” I walked toward him, sat down in the grass. It tickled my legs. “It’s nice out here tonight.” It had cooled down considerably from the heat of the afternoon. There was even a slight breeze.

“Yeah. You’re from Washington, right?”

I nodded. “The weather’s a lot cooler there.”

“I guess that’s why you’re wearing long sleeves. If I were you, I’d definitely get some new clothes.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I’ll do that.” I fiddled with the bottom of my sleeve and changed the subject. “So, how long have you lived here?”

“My whole life.”

“Seriously?” With as many times as Mom and had I moved I didn’t know people stayed in one place their whole life. “That must be amazing.”

“Yeah, it is. Some of my friends I’ve known since we were running around in diapers. It can be pretty embarrassing when Mom pulls out the photo albums.”

I giggled, but inside felt a little jealous. My mom didn’t even own a photo album and I didn’t have a lifelong friend.

“Hey, do you know Rhiannon? She lives on the other side of Grandma’s house.”

His face hardened. “Stay away from her.”

I swallowed hard, surprised by his visceral reaction. “Funny she said the same thing about you.”

He snorted. “That doesn’t surprise me.”

“She said you had different religious beliefs.”

“You could say that.”

I cocked an eyebrow appraising him. His whole demeanor had changed when I mentioned Rhiannon. He went from being fun and relaxed to tense and evasive. It made me wonder what was going on with the two of them.

I opened my mouth to ask him, when Grandma’s voice sounded behind me. “Ready to go, Kenzie?”

Startled, I turned to Isaac who was already standing. I guess he was ready for me to leave. Feeling a little let down, I followed Grandma inside to say my good-byes. When I said good-bye to Isaac he still seemed agitated. I wasn’t sure if I had made a friend or an enemy.

“See, I told you that you were gonna meet a hot California guy,” Haley said when I spoke to her on the phone.

I fell backward on my bed, laying my head on the pillow while keeping the phone pressed against my ear. “I’m not even sure if he likes me.”

“This guy must really be something. Send me a picture.”

“Oh yeah. That’ll go over well. Hey, can I just take a quick photo of you to send to my friend? Can you say stalker?”

Haley giggled.

“I miss you,” the words slipped out before I could stop myself.

“Yeah right. Not with Mr. Gorgeous right next door.”

“Shut up, Haley.” I groaned. “I just wish I knew why he acted so strange when I mentioned Rhiannon. You should’ve seen it. It was so weird.”

“Whatever. Don’t worry about it. So he doesn’t like her. Better for you, anyway.”

“Yeah, but it’s more than that.”

“Maybe she’s a stalker. Like the girl in Fatal Attraction, or something.”

I rolled my eyes. “I highly doubt that.”

“Well, you did say she was strange.”

“Yeah, but she seems nice.”

“Hey, don’t go getting a new best friend. You already have one.”

I smiled. “You have nothing to worry about, Haley.”

“Good.”

Outside my open window came a crunching sound like footsteps on brittle leaves. I inhaled sharply.

“What happened?” Haley asked.

A shadow swept past. It resembled the figure of a man.

“I think someone’s outside my window,” I whispered crawling on the top of my bed and inching forward. I peered out but saw nothing.

“Kenzie?”