Chapter 5
November 17, 2003
Summer flipped her hair in agitation. She glanced at her watch for the third time in the last two minutes, yet Christian still was not sitting opposite her at the small table near the front door. She whipped out her cell phone in frustration and began to dial the number when a light tap on her shoulder stopped her. She turned around and was pleasantly surprised to see the friendly face of Kate and her boyfriend Ty.
“Kate! Ty! Wow, I didn’t expect to see you guys here!” Summer exclaimed, jumping up and giving the couple a hug.
“Yeah, well, we didn’t expect to be here either, but somehow we ended up wandering this way and finding the party,” Ty smiled. “Really, we just planned on playing bridge with a couple of other losers and call it a night.”
Kate playfully hit Ty and laughed. She stretched out the long white gloves on her arms for they were beginning to wrinkle and shrink. “I swear, these things are more bother than they’re worth.”
“Why did you wear them then?” Summer asked, sitting back down and gesturing for Kate and Ty to do so as well.
“Well, actually, I—”
“HEY GUYS!!!”
The high-pitched, nasal voice stopped Kate’s explanation in its tracks. The trio turned to see the one they feared it to be: Valerie. Valerie was dressed in a bright pink jump suit with enormous hoop earrings hanging down to her shoulder. She was all smiles as she moved Ty over on his seat and sat down at the table.
“What’s UP, guys? Like, I totally haven’t talked to y’all in forever,” she gurgled, then threw her arm around Ty. “Except for this guy, of course.”
“Wow, um, yeah,” Ty said, forcibly removing Valerie’s arm from around his neck. “So, how are you this evening?”
“I’m great, really. Just coming to hang out with my homeys, you know? But you don’t look so great, Summer,” Valerie commented with a frown. “What’s the matter? Did Christian dump you or something?”
Summer manufactured a smile to put on and said sweetly, “No, Valerie. Actually, he’s on his way over. He’s just wrapping up with a couple of friends, that’s all.”
“Oh, really? That’s odd. I saw him walking off with Gemini and Sharon and them down towards the dorms,” Valerie said.
For all her attempts to keep her composure, a flash of hurt crossed Summer’s face. Kate noticed and squeezed her hand.
“I’m sure he just forgot something and had to go back and get it,” Kate said.
“You know Christian, after all; always forgetting things!” Ty joked, trying to lighten the mood.
“Yeah, but why would all of them be going back together?”
“You know, Valerie, I really don’t know, and seeing as how you’ve just made Summer’s night, why don’t I treat you to a card trick way over there on the other side of the room. What do you say?” Ty asked, trying to get Valerie away from Summer before she did anymore damage.
Valerie agreed and followed Ty over to the other side of the room leaving Summer and Kate to themselves.
“I’m sure he’ll be back, Summer,” Kate offered.
“Oh, I’m sure,” Summer spat bitterly. “You know, I just don’t know anymore, Kate. It’s like I think we’re fine, and the next minute he’s getting all side-tracked. He spends practically all of his time with Gemini, Rusty, Sharon, Zeke, and Vivica. It really leaves me wondering where we stand.”
“Now don’t you even start thinking that,” Kate commanded. “This is not about Christian; it’s about Sharon and all her friends who keep taking him away from you.”
Summer looked at Kate for the first time. “Are you still harboring a grudge against Sharon? It’s really time to let that go.”
“Oh, it’s just getting started, honey,” Kate said menacingly. “Sharon’s going to pay for what she did to me this past spring.”
Christian lit up his cell phone to check the time, and his eyes nearly bulged out of his head when he saw the time. He stopped suddenly and turned to the group behind him.
“Guys, I was supposed to meet Summer ten minutes ago back at the Caged Bird!” he said.
“Well, I’m sure she went back to the dance floor like she always does. Come on, let’s go before Randall gets away from us,” Gemini said, trying to hurry Christian along.
“You know, I’m beginning to think that this isn’t such a good idea,” Mason said worriedly. “Why don’t we just head back to my dorm for a nice pitcher of lemonade and an evening of reading Dune. I’m almost finished, and I’d really like to get done tonight.”
Gemini turned to Mason. “Look, if you’re going to help us out, fine, but if you’re going to tag along and whine and complain the whole time, then do us all a favor and leave! Please!”
Zeke stepped up. “Look, Gem, we’re all a little tense, but this is no time to start taking it out on anyone.”
Gemini closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then smiled. “Okay, I’m sorry, Mason. I’m just really ready to find out what’s going on.”
“You guys can do that, but I’ve gotta run,” Christian said, beginning to walk in the other direction.
“No, Chris, don’t go!” Sharon said, tugging on his arm. “We need all the manpower we can get just in case something happens.”
“Do you guys hear yourselves? I mean, seriously, if you think this guy is dangerous, then why on earth are you chasing after him? We are not NYPD Blue guys; far from it, actually,” Christian said out of frustration, then began walking away. “I’ll see you around.”
“Fine, leave! We’ll remember that next time you’re looking for someone to watch Drop Dead Fred with!” Gemini shouted after him. After taking a moment to regain her composure, Gemini turned to the rest of the group. “Never mind him, guys, we have a job to do. Now, let’s go and get it done before it’s too late.”
Eve suddenly felt cold as she was walking back to her house. She considered it odd since the weather was so hot and humid, after all. However, she had test results on the brain and had to get back to her room in order to look hers up online. She was so preoccupied with her anxiety that she did not notice her sly younger sister creeping up behind her.
“Why the rush, sister dear?” Nerissa sneered lowly, stepping up alongside her sister.
Eve stopped and turned angrily to Nerissa. “What, are you following me now? You’ve been giving me creepy looks all evening long, and it’s starting to get on my nerves.”
“Oh, how terribly rude of me,” Nerissa mockingly apologized. “I should know better than to make Eve, Mistress of Eden, uncomfortable, eh?”
“You know that’s not what I meant! What’s your problem? It’s like you’re—like you’re angry or something.”
Nerissa shrugged and began walking away. “I suppose one day you’ll begin to understand. In the meantime, I must say good night, so—”
Eve watched Nerissa walk away with confusion plastered all over her face. She wasn’t sure, nor ever had been, of what to make of her sister, but whatever it was, it wasn’t good. That much she knew.
“Why the drawn face?”
Colby’s voice caused Eve to wheel around to confront him. Confusion and wonder had been replaced by anger and hostility in her eyes.
“Didn’t you get the hint earlier when I said that I didn’t want to talk to you?”
Colby shrugged and moved closer. “I figured you were just stressed. Here, let me walk you back to your room.”
When Eve noticed Colby’s arms closing in around her, she quickly jumped back. “Don’t you ever touch me again, do you hear me?”
“What’s your problem? I’m just trying to help,” Colby said innocently, raising his hands in the air.
“No, you’re doing the same thing you always do, Colby: try to suck me in and get me to fall for your stupid charms again. Well, not this time. Go away and leave me alone! For good!”
A sly smile flashed across Colby’s face as he watched Eve walk briskly towards her dorm hall. “You’re only making my job that much easier, Eve.”
Matt flicked some loose crumbs of dirt out from under his fingernails, then leaned back in his office chair. He wasn’t sure of what to make of Kim suddenly showing up in his office, but curiosity overrode his reservations.
“Now, may I ask why you’re here?” he inquired, linking his hands behind his head and putting his feet up on the desk.
“I need your help,” Kim said shortly, taking off her purse and laying it in her lap.
Matt waited for her to go on. When she didn’t, he said, “With…”
“You know who with. Don’t play dumb, now, Matt.”
Matt grinned and leaned further back in his chair. “Ah, now, we wouldn’t be talking about Caleb, would we?”
“Come on, Matt, I really need you to be serious,” Kim pleaded, tightening her grip on the purse in her lap. “I heard that he took a job here, and—well—”
“You want me to give you the hook up, right?”
Kim looked into her lap. Her fingers were now playing restlessly with the zipper of her purse, for she knew not how to respond directly to his question. “Fine, yes, I do. I want the ‘hook up.’”
“That’s better,” Matt said, leaning forward suddenly in his chair and nearly falling out of it in the process. After steadying himself and regaining his composure, he continued, “What would you like me to help you with?”
“I want—well, I’d like a job here, too,” Kim said hurriedly.
Matt stared at her for a moment. He couldn’t quite grasp what she was asking for out of the sheer absurdity of it. “You want to work here? Excuse me, am I still talking to Kim here?”
“Don’t act stupid, Matt,” Kim snapped. “Yes, I’m asking you, and yes, I want the job.”
“And you expect to get it with what qualifications? What are you even applying for?”
“I’m applying to be a—well, a—whatever you have available.”
Matt suddenly decided to have fun with this. He put on the rather oversized glasses sitting on the large oak desk and began searching a “database” on the computer sitting on one side of the desk. After a few silent moments, he turned back to Kim. “Well, we do have an opening, but I really don’t think you’d like—”
“What is it?” Kim excitedly interrupted.
“I really don’t think it’s in your line of—”
“Oh, what is it? I’ll do whatever!” Kim nearly yelled, sitting forward in her chair in unbridled anticipation.
“Are you sure you want to hear it?”
“TELL ME!”
“We have an opening on the Team of General Office Hygiene and Cleanliness,” Matt announced, half-grinning at Kim.
“Which is—”
“A janitor.”
Kim bit down so hard on her lip that she drew blood. The clutch on her purse was enough to tear at the fabric. By the sheer grace of God, she managed to stifle a scream that suddenly rose from the depths of her throat. Surely such a thing was unthinkable. There was no way that she, Kim, mademoiselle extraordinare, would do such a thing. And then—
“I’ll do it.”
Summer ordered sodas for both her and Kate before resuming the conversation. She sipped the last drops of her first drink and then pulled out her purse. “I swear, these drinks are worth more than this whole place is.”
“Summer!”
Summer let out something like a cry and slid down in her chair. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, Kate. I’m not usually this irritable, but tonight’s just been such a—a blah night. I really wanted it to be a special one, you know?”
“Oh, totally. I mean, here I was thinking that Ty and I would go for a moonlight walk, and there he is entertaining Valerie with stupid people tricks,” Kate said, setting her chin down on her upturned palm. “I guess things just never work out the way you expected them to.”
“Which is why I think it’ll be a surprise that I’m here, right?” Christian said from behind them.
Summer turned towards the voice quickly, and despite herself, a bright smile emerged on her face. “You little devil! I could have sworn that I was going to have to chew you out when I got to your house.”
“Yeah, well, you still can, if you’d like,” Christian said, taking the empty seat next to Summer and across from Kate.
“Don’t tempt a woman, Chris. They’ll undoubtedly take you up on the offer,” Ty said as he returned to the table.
Christian stood up and shook Ty’s hand. “Wow, it’s good to see you guys here.”
“Yeah, it’s been an interesting evening,” Ty said. “Valerie was out like a light after the first couple of tricks, but hey, at least it gave me some practice.”
“So, Summer, would you like to head down to the beach so that we can talk?” Christian asked, taking her hand lightly in his.
“I don’t know, Christian. It’s kind of late and—” Seeing that Christian wasn’t buying her excuses, she smiled and nodded. “I’d love to.”
Christian stood up and pulled Summer up with him. “That settles it, then. Kate, Ty, we didn’t want to say anything, but the odor coming off of you guys is a little too much for us, so we’re going to jet before it starts sticking to us. It’s been fun!”
Kate and Ty laughed. “Yeah, well, you’d better take off before the police catch you for indecent exposure,” Ty joked.
Christian made a gun-shooting motion at Ty and laughed. “Hey, now. We’ll see you guys later.”
Finally, a chance to spend some quality time alone with Christian, Summer thought to herself. Who knows what this night still has to offer?
Mason rapped lightly on Randall’s open door. “May I come in?”
Randall turned the book he had been reading over and smiled at his friend. “That depends. Do you have a little white flag?”
Mason laughed and plopped down on the bean bag chair in a corner of Randall’s room. “For what?”
“Do you come in peace or do you come with the enemy?”
Mason shifted uncomfortably, and the sound of the chair moving under him was enough for Randall.
“Don’t be afraid of me, Mason. I’m still your buddy from way-back-when, you know,” Randall said reassuringly.
Mason’s eyes glistened unexpectedly. “You’re different now, though. You won’t answer my or anyone else’s questions, you’re elusive, and you’re a—well, for lack of a better term, pompous ass.”
Randall guffawed loudly before returning his book to the bookshelf by his window. “You know, Mason, for being a traitor, at least you’re a funny one. ‘Pompous ass,’ eh?”
“I’m sorry, but that’s what you’re acting like. You didn’t used to be like this,” Mason said half-apologetically. “You’re still my friend and all, but—”
“Oh, but we can’t be friends anymore, Mason. Not with you working with the other side now,” Randall responded quietly yet firmly.
“What are you talking about?” Mason said, still trying to throw off any suspicion.
“Please. When you have people who can’t even be quiet when listening outside of the door in the hallway, it kind of gives you away,” Randall said with a glance towards the still-open door.
“God, if only I could duct tape your mouth shut!” Gemini suddenly cried from the hallway. “I swear, Sharon, you give everything away!”
“SHHHH!” was Sharon’s vehement reply.
“It’s okay. I’ve known you were going to come all along, so you might as well all come in now,” Randall called to them, opening the door and revealing Gemini, Sharon, and Zeke tangled together on the floor of the hallway.
“Yeah, we’re just—uh—we’re just inspecting the electrical sockets on this floor,” Gemini said, wiping some stray dust off of a nearby plug. “Well, guys, it looks like this one’s okay. Let’s move on to the next floor.”
Randall smiled as the three made their way to the stairs down at the end of the hall. After they started excitedly whispering and walking down the stairs, he moved back into the room where Mason was waiting with his hand shading his eyes. “That’s some team you got there.”
“It doesn’t have to be a you-against-the-world thing, Randall. I don’t know why you’re making it into that.”
Randall shrugged and sat back down on his bed. “You know me, Mase. I’ve gotta have excitement buzzing around me at all times.”
Mason rose from his chair and made his way towards the door. “If that’s how you want it.”
Just as Mason was leaving, Randall called out to him. “Hey, Mase?”
Mason turned back. “Yeah?”
“Just be careful, okay?”
Mason wrinkled his brow for a moment, then relaxed as if some understanding suddenly washed over him.
“Sure thing.”
Kim nearly ran Chloe over as she rushed excitedly out of Matt’s office. Chloe had wisely hugged the door as Kim barreled through and thus had escaped her increasing momentum. As soon as she was out the door, Chloe walked into Matt’s office.
“What on earth was that about?” she asked, laying a folder down on his desk.
“We have a new employee, Chloe,” Matt laughed, sticking a pencil behind his ear.
“Are you kidding me? You don’t have the authority to hire anyone! You’re just an intern under your father, have you forgotten?”
“Yeah, well, he won’t care,” Matt replied shortly. “Besides, we’ve needed a new janitor for quite a while.”
“A janitor? You can’t be serious,” Chloe said incredulously.
“You’d better believe it. Things are going to get interesting around here with both Kim and Caleb around here.”
A shadow passed over Chloe’s face. She rewound the audio tape in her head and replayed Matt’s words, and surely enough, they were what she thought they were. She leaned forward onto Matt’s face. “Did you say Caleb?”
Matt laughed loudly. “I know, isn’t it great? We’re going to have some serious fun around here with those two to keep us on our toes.”
Chloe now appeared to be in a trance. As if an automaton, she said robotically, “If Caleb is going to work here, I quit.”
“Haha, funny, Chloe. I’m sure he’d appreciate that one,” Matt said.
“There’s no joke here. If Caleb works, I quit. Period.”
Matt squinted his eyes as he looked into Chloe’s, which were now darkened and cloudy with some deep emotion that he could not identify. “Oh my gosh, you are serious.”
“As a heart attack,” Chloe responded promptly. “Get him out or I walk. It’s that simple.”
Matt didn’t know what had gone down between Chloe and Caleb, but he knew that it must have been serious for her to take such drastic measures. Matt, being of the curious nature that he was, took it upon himself to find out just what had driven her to such lengths so that he could retain both of “his” employees and find out a juicy secret in the process.
Eve locked the door behind her. She did so every night as a precaution, but she felt the need to do it this night especially. There was an odd feeling about the small town of Midway, and she didn’t want to take any risks of anything happening to her.
Suddenly, the phone rang. Eve casually walked over to answer it and then picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Beware the Ides of June!” a deep voice bellowed across the line.
Eve’s brow wrinkled in confusion. “Hello?”
“Beware the Ides of June!” the voice boomed again, this time darker and more meanacingly.
“Who is this?”
“BEWARE THE IDES OF JUNE!”
Eve began to be afraid. “Okay, this is not funny! Who is this?”
“BEWARE THE IDES OF JUNE!”
Eve slammed the phone down but held her hand over the back of it as she tried to catch her breath and slow her racing heart. It must have been some stupid prank caller who had nothing better to do. Strangely, though, she knew it was something more. Was it some stranger? Was it an enemy? She didn’t know who it was, and that scared her the most. Something odd and quietly terrifying approaching that night, and she felt it closing in around her.
BRIIIING!
The phone rang again underneath her tightly clenched hand.
BRIIIING!
It rang again, yet she still didn’t answer it.
BRIIIING!
It rang a third time, yet she still was too frightened to answer it.
BRIII—
“HELLO?!” she screamed into the telephone.
“Eve, babe, it’s me, Shannon,” Shannon responded. “Are you okay?”
“Can you come over right now?”
“Yeah, sure. Is there something—”
“Please come as fast as you can. I really need you here,” Eve said, nearly on the verge of tears.
“Yeah, I’ll be there. Listen, Eve, are you—”
“Please hurry!” Eve shouted, now unable to control the flood of tears pouring out from her eyes.
The terror was coming.