Read Online Beloved Evangeline by W. C. Anderson - Free Book Online
Authors: W. C. Anderson
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of it. I nodded every now and again even though I had no idea what he was saying.
“ So what do you think ladies?”
“ It’s... really something,” I said slowly. Apparently, I am all wit and eloquence these days.
“ Wow, Steve, have you always known this much about antiquities?” Nicky added in a sarcastic voice I knew well. She turned to me, smirking behind Steve’s back. I felt like kindred spirits again, just like we used to be. Steve, of course, took the bait and launched into a very condescending explanation of just how he’d come to know so much about antiquities and many, many other things.
Memories flooded in, reminding me of how I’d allowed our friendship to emaciate. Nicky and I had spent a really large portion of our childhoods together, especially after my mother... went away. She had willingly gone along with me on my quests. In fact, I sort of dragged her around in my mania, my quest for answers and meaning. She was up for anything I suggested, no matter how crazy or dangerous, and she never once complained. She was with me always during those initial dark times. She’s the only person, aside from my brother, who has never treated me like I was different. Either she doesn’t see it, or my weirdness just doesn’t make any difference to her. This train of thought wasn’t helping my current situation, I realized, and I suddenly felt sick.
Steve was still droning on about the house when I interrupted him, somewhat awkwardly, “I need to use the restroom.”
After Steve finished escorting me to the restroom, I stood facing myself in the mirror for a good five minutes. I could just leave now , was the predominant thought. Though, there was still a small chance that maybe I could still pull this off, if I have the courage. Where would I go if I left here, anyway? Answer: I have absolutely no idea. It’s not like I have very much money or any ambition to start over from scratch someplace new or any real job skills to make up for either of those things. No, none of that matters , I thought, I’ll figure all that stuff out, somehow . I know what’s coming now, and I just don’t have the strength to live through it again.
Finally, after feeling that staying in the bathroom any longer would be even more embarrassing than my behavior outside had already been, I splashed some water on my face (and underarms, please don’t tell anyone) and headed out. I had planned to sneak out, just leave without telling anyone, but luck is rarely on my side. Steve was waiting for me as soon as I turned the corner. I ran right into him.
“ Whoa there, girl, we didn’t get to the highlight of the tour,” he said grabbing me by the arm and whispering, “You didn’t plan on leaving before we’d had our little chat , did you?”
I couldn’t think of anything to say. In a former life, I would’ve shaken my arm loose, said something like, “I don’t need to stick around to find out how little your ‘chat’ is,” and kept on walking, but—I couldn’t seem to muster the strength. This is for the best, probably, since hiding hasn’t been working out for me so well lately. My nightmares have been returning, and the strange accidents are also back. Maybe it was just not knowing whatever Steve knew about me that made me feel so oddly powerless, so out of control. Just the thought of everyone finding out—that thought alone was enough to almost shrivel me up into nothing.
I became strangely aware of being watched, but before I could investigate, I realized, with horror, that Steve was leading me toward the master bedroom. Instead of dragging me by the arm, he was now escorting me—with his hand on the small of my back. I turned slowly, painfully slowly, to see my entire crew staring at me, watching me being escorted by Steve to the master bedroom. Gavin and Nicky, stood out especially, their wide-eyed looks of concern unmistakable.
Lyle was making a face, shaking
“ So what do you think ladies?”
“ It’s... really something,” I said slowly. Apparently, I am all wit and eloquence these days.
“ Wow, Steve, have you always known this much about antiquities?” Nicky added in a sarcastic voice I knew well. She turned to me, smirking behind Steve’s back. I felt like kindred spirits again, just like we used to be. Steve, of course, took the bait and launched into a very condescending explanation of just how he’d come to know so much about antiquities and many, many other things.
Memories flooded in, reminding me of how I’d allowed our friendship to emaciate. Nicky and I had spent a really large portion of our childhoods together, especially after my mother... went away. She had willingly gone along with me on my quests. In fact, I sort of dragged her around in my mania, my quest for answers and meaning. She was up for anything I suggested, no matter how crazy or dangerous, and she never once complained. She was with me always during those initial dark times. She’s the only person, aside from my brother, who has never treated me like I was different. Either she doesn’t see it, or my weirdness just doesn’t make any difference to her. This train of thought wasn’t helping my current situation, I realized, and I suddenly felt sick.
Steve was still droning on about the house when I interrupted him, somewhat awkwardly, “I need to use the restroom.”
After Steve finished escorting me to the restroom, I stood facing myself in the mirror for a good five minutes. I could just leave now , was the predominant thought. Though, there was still a small chance that maybe I could still pull this off, if I have the courage. Where would I go if I left here, anyway? Answer: I have absolutely no idea. It’s not like I have very much money or any ambition to start over from scratch someplace new or any real job skills to make up for either of those things. No, none of that matters , I thought, I’ll figure all that stuff out, somehow . I know what’s coming now, and I just don’t have the strength to live through it again.
Finally, after feeling that staying in the bathroom any longer would be even more embarrassing than my behavior outside had already been, I splashed some water on my face (and underarms, please don’t tell anyone) and headed out. I had planned to sneak out, just leave without telling anyone, but luck is rarely on my side. Steve was waiting for me as soon as I turned the corner. I ran right into him.
“ Whoa there, girl, we didn’t get to the highlight of the tour,” he said grabbing me by the arm and whispering, “You didn’t plan on leaving before we’d had our little chat , did you?”
I couldn’t think of anything to say. In a former life, I would’ve shaken my arm loose, said something like, “I don’t need to stick around to find out how little your ‘chat’ is,” and kept on walking, but—I couldn’t seem to muster the strength. This is for the best, probably, since hiding hasn’t been working out for me so well lately. My nightmares have been returning, and the strange accidents are also back. Maybe it was just not knowing whatever Steve knew about me that made me feel so oddly powerless, so out of control. Just the thought of everyone finding out—that thought alone was enough to almost shrivel me up into nothing.
I became strangely aware of being watched, but before I could investigate, I realized, with horror, that Steve was leading me toward the master bedroom. Instead of dragging me by the arm, he was now escorting me—with his hand on the small of my back. I turned slowly, painfully slowly, to see my entire crew staring at me, watching me being escorted by Steve to the master bedroom. Gavin and Nicky, stood out especially, their wide-eyed looks of concern unmistakable.
Lyle was making a face, shaking
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