Once I was safe in the air, Nathan turned to talk to Derrick and the others. “Micah, take your shirt off and give it to Derrick. You, too, Gabriel. Luke, grab Micah. Gabe, get Tom. Let’s go back.”
“I’m not getting carried out,” Micah said. He backed up but I could see from my position that his legs were already red.
“Derrick, tie the shirts to your legs,” Nathan ordered.
Derrick caught the shirts in the air that were tossed to him and bent over to tie them at his knees. When he was finished, he grabbed Micah by his belly and hoisted him over his shoulder.
“Put me down,” Micah said, squirming. Since he had his shirt off and was sweating, Derrick nearly slipped trying to hang on to him.
“If you don’t stop wiggling, I’m going to drop you into the nettles,” Derrick hoisted him again.
“Fine. Just don’t drop me.”
Tom hopped on Luke’s back without question.
“Jessica,” Nathan turned around to face her. She was standing by, watching us. Her face flushed. “Take us out of here. Shortest path.”
Jessica nodded, took one look around and then started heading toward the tree line again. Nathan followed close behind her. I did my best to try to hold on by my legs on to his back. I shifted my arms so I wasn’t strangling his neck. My palms pressed against Nathan’s chest.
Nathan didn’t seem to notice me wriggling. His hands gripped at my thighs to the point where I thought it would cause bruising but I didn’t want to tell him it might be a little too strong.
Jessica was a pro. She threaded her way through the trees and picked the easiest paths that would allow those carrying people to get through without too much trouble.
“Still think it was a bad idea to bring Jessica?” I whispered to Nathan as he marched forward.
He glanced back at me over his shoulder. It was the first I noticed where he hadn’t shaved for a few days. With his tan skin and his reddish hair, it was nearly undetectable. It was unbelievably appealing. “Don’t you ever tell her I said that,” he said.
Soon Jessica had us back to the long grass path that was behind Kota’s house.
“Put me down,” Micah said. “I can walk from here.”
Derrick dropped Micah into the grass. Micah crashed on his back. He grumbled but stood up. Tom jumped off of Luke’s back, giving an appreciative nod. At least one of them was polite.
“We made it,” Tom said. “I thought for sure we’d gotten turned around and we were lost again.”
“Want to put me down?” I asked Nathan.
He retucked his arms under my thighs and hoisted me higher on his back. “I’ve got you. Let’s get home.”
We made it to the two palm trees in Kota’s back yard. Max, Kota’s golden retriever, was tethered in the back yard. He barked when we approached, and sniffed at our legs.
Nathan was still carrying me through the back yard and onto the driveway when a familiar green sedan pulled into the drive. Erica took one look at our faces and at Nathan carrying me through her windshield and parked her car in front of the garage doors. She jumped out, her mouth open in surprise. “What happened to you all?”
“Stinging nettle,” Jessica said. “Sang’s legs were stung. And so were the boys’.”
“I’m okay,” Derrick said. “They didn’t get me that bad.” He stood on the concrete and untied the makeshift pants made from shirts, handing them back to Gabriel and Micah.
“I’m out of here,” Micah said. He sprinted off toward the road.
Tom shrugged, waved goodbye and followed along, nearly sprinting on his way.
“I’m going to make sure they cross the road without getting run over,” Derrick said. “See you guys later.”
“Bye,” Luke said.
“Well, get Sang inside,” Erica said, a sympathetic smile on her face. She unclipped her nametags off of her nurse’s uniform and tucked them into the purse on her arm. “We’ll put some lotion on her.”
Nathan carried me into the house. Jessica headed into her bedroom to change. Erica dropped her purse on the kitchen table and disappeared to the downstairs bathroom to grab the first aid kit. Gabriel pulled out a seat at the table and Nathan knelt so I could slide off his back.
After I sat in the chair, Nathan took the seat next to me, scooting his chair over. He lifted my foot up into his lap so he could bend over and inspect my leg.
There were tiny blotches covering my skin from the top of my feet to my knees. His warm breath fell over my calf. I twitched, the intense itching resurfacing. I reached down to rub at them but Nathan smacked my hand when I tried. “You scratch at it now, you’ll just keep scratching until it bleeds.”
Erica reappeared with the kit. “Luke,” she said. “Could you get Sang a glass of water?”
It made me smile. She was taking charge a lot like how Kota did.
Luke disappeared into the kitchen. Erica checked the kit and selected a pink bottle of lotion. “This should work.” She twisted open the plastic top and handed the bottle to Nathan.
Nathan spilled the calamine lotion into his palm and started rubbing it into my legs. He focused intently on the task. From the serious look on his face, I wanted to tell him it was okay but I was embarrassed as it was. Erica was witnessing this and I couldn’t imagine what she was thinking. I knew my own mom would have plenty to say about something like this.
Only she didn’t seem fazed by this, either. Maybe their touches with me were normal and I was still super sensitive. My mother’s constant fear had me still paranoid and unsure.
Gabriel slumped into a chair behind me. His bright blue eyes had dark circles underneath to contrast. I didn’t realize he looked so tired before. Was it the sun and heat that got to him or was staying up at night with me earlier that week getting to him? Or was it the Academy? “Kota’s going to kill us,” he said.
“Kota won’t kill anyone,” Erica said. “It was an accident. I’m just glad you boys got her out safely. You should be more careful when you go into those woods.” Luke came back with the glass of water and Erica held out a couple of pills to me. “You’re not allergic to anything, are you?” she asked.
I shook my head, taking the glass of water from Luke. “Not that I know of.”
“Those antihistamine pills should take care of the inflammation. If it gets worse or if you start running a fever, we’ll take you to the doctor.”
I swallowed some water and took the pills. Nathan gently dropped one of my legs from his lap, reaching to pick up my other leg. My heart was racing at how sweet Erica was and how nice the boys were. This was normal. I was sure of it. People took care of one another. I should do this for them. I couldn’t help but think of how lucky I had been to run into them. Erica, Jessica and everyone seemed worried about me. Kota’s mom barely knew me and she was doing more, hovering over me more than my own mother did when I was sick or hurt.
Jessica returned wearing shorts and a loose t-shirt. Her face was washed and looking refreshed.
“We’re lucky we had Jessica,” I said, wanting to be as kind as they had been. The best I could do was offer a compliment.
“Yeah,” Nathan said, seeming to understand my thoughts. He beamed at Jessica, nodding to her. “She picked up that we were in nettle. Otherwise I think we would have gotten it worse.”
Jessica’s cheeks turn as pink as the primrose still in her hair. “It wasn’t a big deal.”
Erica shared a pleased smile and collected her daughter by the shoulders for a hug. “I’m glad you were with them.”
My heart swelled. Was that good? I was envious of how easily Erica hugged her daughter. I wanted a hug, too, but I quelled my desires by focusing on Nathan’s touch on my leg.
Luke fell into another chair, wiping at his brow. “Let’s not let Micah lead the way next time. I bet those nettles grew around our ankles just to bite him.”
Erica popped him on the hand with her palm. “Don’t say things like that. You all should get along.”
“It’d be easier if he was trying,” Luke complained. “You should have heard the fuss he made about Sang.”
Nathan finished up my legs but kept my foot in his lap as he sat back and replaced the lid on the lotion bottle. “Well, he can complain all he wants. Sang lives on this street now, too. If he doesn’t want to hang out, he can go home.”
“He’ll miss out,” Gabriel said, scratching at his ear behind the black rings, “when we play basketball at Sang’s.”
Like that was a possibility. Why did he even suggest it?
Erica smiled. “That sounds like fun. What are you all doing tonight? Are you guys staying for dinner?”
“No,” Nathan said. I was grateful he answered because I wasn’t sure how to say no to her after being so nice. I didn’t want to bother her any more, either. He patted at my foot. I dropped it to the floor and he stood up. “We should get home. Homework.”
Erica laughed. “I love you guys. I never have to remind you.” She hugged Nathan, wrapping her arms around his neck and plopping a kiss on his cheek. Nathan’s cheeks tinted red but he seemed used to this attention, patting at her arm in an awkward way to hug her back. “Make sure Sang gets home safe.” She turned to me. “You should come over this weekend. We’ll have a fun night together.”
I felt my heart racing with happiness. “Really?” I asked. It had me confused when she said night. I wondered what exactly she meant. She wanted me over for dinner?
She smiled and nodded. “And we may let the boys come, too,” she said, glancing at the others. “If you all will behave and keep her out of trouble.”
“We’ll see if Trouble can keep herself out of trouble,” Gabriel said, hooking an arm around my neck.
I pulled a face at him. How much worse trouble could I get into now?
N aked
That evening, I got back later than I normally did since my dad was gone. Nathan was going to take Gabriel home as soon as Kota got back. Luke followed me home and climbed up the back wall to the roof to get to my window and wait.
I walked in and paused when I spotted Marie in the kitchen. She huddled over a pot of macaroni, stirring in cheese mix and milk. I caught how she looked different with the makeup she was wearing. Wasn’t she worried about wearing makeup in the house? Our mother would see it and she’d be on her knees for sure. I wasn’t sure if the guys would pull her out, too.
There was something else off about Marie, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. She ignored me as she stirred so I didn’t stop to ask. I wasn’t sure what to say.
I padded my way up the stairs and pushed the door open. The door caught on something behind it and stopped short. I had to shove to squeeze myself inside.
A clump of clothes collected right behind the door. I hurriedly shut the door and locked it. When I turned, Luke was already inside, the window open behind him. My heart thundered, worried because of the concerned look over his face.
He slipped to the open closet door and looked in. I closed the window behind him. I came back to puzzle over the haphazard pile of clothes on the floor. Did Marie go through my things again? It wouldn’t have been the first time.
My heart stopped. I went for the attic door. It was closed but I peeked in, checking for the cell phone. It was still there where I hid it in the wall.
I breathed out a sigh of relief.
“Your clothes are gone,” Luke whispered to me, still standing inside the closet door.
My eyes widened. “What?” I shifted away from the attic, closing it and stepped up behind him.
The closet had been emptied out, some remnants piled on the floor at the bottom, mostly underwear and bras that were previously piled up on the shelf in the closet.
Luke helped me as I picked up the spilled clothes on the floor, dumping them on my bed. It looked like Marie’s clothes but there were some others mixed in that I didn’t recognize. I separated the t-shirts and jeans in an effort to shuffle through them. My blouses and skirts were missing. Nathan’s and Luke’s shirts that they’d given me were gone.
Luke shifted on his feet, rubbing at the back of his head. “Did your mother do this?”
I bit my lip, my brain churning but I shook my head. “No,” I said. It didn’t feel like something my mother did. My mother wasn’t interested in what we wore usually. My father bought clothes in bulk once or twice a year, from places I didn’t know but I had guessed were garage sales. He bought a variety of sizes and Marie and I sorted out what we could wear between us.
Luke leaned into me, finding my hand and squeezing it. “Who?”
I shook my head again, blinking. “Marie, I guess,” I said, blushing. “I don’t know. She doesn’t really like the clothes I wear and they don’t fit her. She’s downstairs. I’ll go talk to her.” It surprised me. She once in a while borrowed a shirt but it seemed odd she would take out all of my own clothes and leave hers in my room.
He nodded. He couldn’t follow me now. “I’ll wait in the attic,” he said. “But come get me as soon as you can figure out what’s going on. Don’t bother your mom about this, even if this was her.”
I thumped my way back down the stairs to the kitchen. Marie had her brown hair pulled back in a ponytail away from her narrow eyes. She sat on the counter, swinging her legs as she ate from a bowl of macaroni and cheese. I realized she was now wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt I’d never seen her wear before and that was what was bugging me earlier. The t-shirt was a simple soft green, with a low scooped neck and looked too small on her frame and the jeans were tight.
“Where’s my clothes?” I asked her. “Why are your clothes on my bed?”
“I traded you,” she said. “You can have the stuff I left you.”
“You can’t trade clothes if I don’t want yours. Yours won’t fit. Where are mine?”
“You have to trade,” Marie said. “It’s not your clothes. It’s our clothes. Mom said...”
I left the kitchen, not willing to hear what she was saying.
“Don’t go through my stuff,” she called after me.
I ran back up the stairs and used the push pin to unlock her door and enter her bedroom. This was really weird. She snapped at me about my nerdy clothes all the time. Why the sudden interest in what I was wearing? And the clothes she was wearing now I didn’t recognize at all. So where did she get them?
Inside her bedroom, I yanked open the closet door. A collection of more t-shirts and jeans were hung up. There were small piles on the floor, underwear, crumpled t-shirts and unwashed jeans. Nothing inside looked like mine.
Marie marched in behind me. “I said don’t come in here.”
“I thought you said you traded me.” I reached into the closet floor and pulled one of the t-shirts out. “Where did this come from? And where are my blouses?”
“I traded them.”
Something in the way she said that struck through me. “Marie, who did you trade with?”
“Danielle and I went through each other’s closets.”
I felt my jaw drop. “And mine?”
“They’re mine too. We went through and sorted them. She...”
“Has my clothes.” I finished for her, dropping the t-shirt in my hand to the floor. I pressed my palm to my forehead. “Why would you do that?”
“Just get out,” she said, her mouth twisting into a horrible frown. “It’s none of your business. Why do you care?”
“You can’t give away things that don’t belong to you. Why would Danielle want my skirts?” My voice rose. I couldn’t help it. And Nathan’s shirt! And Luke’s! Where were they? “How did she get into the house?”
“I let her come in,” she said. Her sharp nose crinkled. “You always wear the same nerdy clothes in the wrong way. Everyone thinks you’re a dork. Just wear the jeans.”
I pursed my lips. I didn’t have a way to combat her further. I stalked out of Marie’s room and across the hallway.
Marie knew I couldn’t go to our mother to complain. It would break the thin veil of
a pact we’d managed to forge between us. She could easily tell our mother I was out with the boys today, or that I had a key to the house, or a few other things that would get me into trouble. Did she know the boys came into the house? Is that why she thought it was okay if Danielle showed up? Her bedroom was right above our parents’ room. How could she get away with Danielle talking with her? The only way I thought the boys and I got away with it was because I was on the other side of the house.
There was no one to turn to. Our dad was gone with no way to reach him on his business trip. I couldn’t tell my mom without starting a fight and risk getting a strange punishment. With Luke there, he would pull me out and it would be a complete mess. I was stuck without recourse against this. If I fought Marie on it, she’d go to our mom and I’d end up in a punishment anyway.
I retreated back to my room, closing the door behind myself and locking it. I pressed my back to the frame. I swallowed, frustrated and biting my tongue to restrain words burning behind my lips. Nothing I could say would help. There was no room for negotiation right now. I didn’t even know Danielle and she had my clothes. It creeped me out.
I slipped over to the attic, gently knocking at it. Luke emerged, pushing his blond locks behind his ear. “What happened?”
“Danielle was here,” I said. “Her and Marie ‘traded’ clothes with me.” I went to my bed to go through the assortment again, hoping the boys’ things were at least there and I missed them the first time through. No luck. “Danielle took my clothes. Marie has hers and gave me whatever they didn’t want for themselves I guess.”
Luke frowned, approaching the bed and tracing a finger over a pair of jeans. “Can’t you get them back?”
“I don’t know how,” I said. “I can’t complain to my mother.” I picked through the pile, holding up a pair of jeans to my waist. It wasn’t much use. Each one of them appeared too big for me. The bottom hems pooled around my feet.
Luke sat on the bed. “You can’t go to school naked,” he said. “We should get your clothes back. Let’s go to Danielle’s. We’ll confront her.”