Arise

Valerie stared at me for a moment before explaining, “Before I moved here, Caleb’s parents had the forest scoped and mapped out. Since most of their work involves the forest they divided it up in case people like us were to ever get lost.”

I raised an eyebrow. “People like us?”

She crossed her arms over her chest and cleared her throat. “Girls.” I scoffed. That answer did not sound like a total lie so I believed her anyways.

Before I could share my negative opinions, Dr. Hal spoke, “Sorry to interrupt,” She looked over at Valerie before looking at me and her clipboard. “You have only a few minor injuries: a couple bumps and bruises that should heal fast.”

“What about Dylan?”

“Thankfully, nothing too serious, just slight shock, and a cold from the weather.” My shoulders slumped and I let out a breath of relief asking, “Val’s party is tomorrow. Will I be okay by then?”

Dr. Hal nodded and closed the manila folder. “Yes, I will give you some pain medication. If you want to be up on your feet for the event, then I highly suggest that you are on bed rest for the remainder of today and try to get some sleep for tomorrow. I know that you want to see your sister, so Lu—Miss Marshall—can take you to your room.” She smiled, unclicking her pen and leaving the room.

Val squeezed my hand. “I know the doctor said you should be on bed rest, but if you want, I can take you on a tour of the house?” Valerie offered, to which I agreed. If I was going to be here for the remainder of the week, I might as well get to know my surroundings.

As she helped me to a wheelchair, a shadow came over me. I raised my head, and to my disappointment it was the man I would never get along with: Caleb Meyers.

He didn’t resemble the same guy I remembered from high school. Though his short chestnut-colored hair and brown eyes were the same, his build was different. He had grown to be more muscular, which was easily seen due to his rather small t-shirt. I rolled my eyes. He looked at me with an ugly scowl. It only appeared whenever I was around.

It’s not that I hated him, it was just that I deeply disliked him. The main reason was because he made my best friend move far away. The other reason was because he started the whole hating thing first. You say one joke about them being a couple and you’re blacklisted for life. I was happy for Valerie—I really was, but there was a problem if the best friend and boyfriend didn’t get along.

Valerie sighed and closed her eyes. “Please try to get along for the week.”

“I will if he stops glaring at me so much,” I said with narrowed eyes.

Valerie put her hands on his chest and said, “Cal, only for a week. Please be nice.”

“Fine.”

I placed my arms over my chest. My bored eyes contrasting his stormy ones.

Valerie came behind the wheelchair and pushed it forward towards the hallway through the door. “I am going to give her a brief tour, and then she is going to be resting. Is that alright with you?” He nodded, and she smiled at him. I tried to stop the gag that came up my throat.

The journey from the clinic to the fourth floor was filled with catching up. She wheeled quickly through each level as she explained what each floor was used for. The elevator dinged, and she wheeled me out and down a wide hallway. “This is the top level of the mansion is for guests. Level one is where the kitchen, dining and living room are. That is obviously where everyone eats and hangs out. The second and third levels are for people who are training to work here and want to stay with their families.” We made it to the elevator where she pressed the button that would take us to fourth floor. Ground level is the basement, and it is suggested that you don’t go down there.”

“That is a part of the--”

“Caleb Family Secret.” She chuckled. “Yup, pretty much.”

As their relationship progressed, our friendship digressed. I couldn’t hang out with Valerie because she was always with Caleb and said stupid jerk face wouldn’t let me hang out with her because he was a jealous caveman. When I approached her about the problem, she almost broke down. She had been trying very hard since the beginning, but Caleb wouldn’t budge. She then proceeded to tell me she was moving away to live with him. No reason why except for the fact that she loved him.

I frowned in thought. We had argued a lot during that last year of high school. Walking around egg shells. She had always told me that Caleb’s family led her top secret life and she couldn’t share it with me. Eventually, I learned to live with that, though it was an invalid explanation of why there were so many secrets. My bets were on his family being in a mob.

Long story short: he stole my best friend and I despised him for it.

“The people that reside here are his employees and closest companions. His family owns this whole lot of land including the forest, so they give them a place to stay. His parents live in a cottage a little bit away from here along with some other respected elders. There are houses of course and the town about a half hour away, if you want to go there before you leave.” She finished just in time as we reached the room I would be staying in. I heard shouts from the room, which sounded like Dylan and a boy. Valerie reached to turn the knob, but I stopped her, wanting to listen in on the argument.

“What is your deal?” I could hear Dylan’s muffled voice shout through the door.

“My deal? I’ve been trying Dylan. For months, I would listen to you drone on and on about some boy that clearly didn’t deserve you.” The person shouted back. Val and I shared a look.

“Excuse me,” she asked astonished and offended.

He sighed. “You deserve someone better.”

“You mean someone like you? You left me!” Her voice broke at the end.

“Dilly—” She interrupted him.

“Don’t call me that. You lost that right a long time ago, Jordan,” she deadpanned. I turned the door knob and quickly pushed opened the door. The tension needed to diffuse.

Dylan’s head turned to the noise and she made eye contact with me before embracing me in a rather awkward hug. Jordan looked like he was going to punch something. His eyes were hard, jaw tight, and fists clenched. He stormed out of the door with Val on his heels.

I know I should be worried about Dylan but honestly, I was in awe of the room. It was what I imagined a fancy hotel room to be. The room was massive. It had two queen beds next to each other, separated by a night stand with a giant lamp on it. The lamp could have easily been mistaken for a chandelier. Closer to the door was a huge sitting area: couches surrounding a coffee table and a flat screen tv against the wall. A dresser and vanity were on the other side of the room next to the closet. I snorted. I guess being in the mob had its perks.

Dylan helped me to the bed and I grabbed her arm. “Do you want to talk about it?”

She shook her head and then proceeded to call mom from her cellphone. Mom answered on the first ring. “Honey, are you and Rosie alright?” I heard her worried voice over the speaker.

“We are fine mom.”

“Oh, Mark! It’s the girls! They’re fine! Valerie called hours ago, and we were worried sick. We tried to leave but there was a winter storm advisory. Cop cars blocked exits out of town.”

“It’s fine mom. No harm was done to me or Dylan other than a couple scratches, and some bruises.” My voice faded out at the end.

She gasped and her voice broke. “Oh dear! I told you it wasn’t a good idea to drive! We are coming to get you.”

“First of all, airfare was expensive.” I spoke again before she could say anything, “Secondly, the car has been damaged, but Valerie said Caleb can have it fixed by the end of the week. I’ve waited years to see her again, Mom.”

After finally convincing my parents we would be okay, they agreed to let us remain here for the rest of the week. Jordan brought us some dinner and tried to talk to Dylan, but she blatantly ignored him by hiding in the adjacent bathroom. I walked over to him and grabbed the food out of his hands and put it on the table. I walked backed to him and said, “Give her some time, Jordan. She’ll come around so don’t give up just yet.” He gave me a hopeless smile and left.

She finally came out of the bathroom and looked at me. She looked at me expectantly and placed both hands on her hip. “You want to say something?”

I raised my hands in defense. “I come in peace, I swear.” She sighed and crawled into the bed before bringing her knees to her chest. She was now sporting a fresh pair of pajamas and her hair was wet from the shower.

“How much of it did you hear?” She was referring to the argument she had with him from earlier that day.

I sighed and crawled in next to her. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and rest my head atop of hers. “Just enough to see that you’re hurting.”

She leaned her head on my shoulder. “Now would be the time you shared your opinion and told me what to do.”

I chuckled softly before releasing her, so she could meet my eyes. “You’re almost an adult; it’s time you think like one. I don’t exactly know your whole story, but just a little advice.” She waited for me to continue, “It’s been years since you last saw him, and clearly it reopened some old wounds. Just don’t shut him out, okay. He was your best friend before shit went through the roof. Remember: you were the one who decided to take the trip with me, and I know it’s not because it’s her bridal shower.”

We talked some more and ate dinner before falling asleep soundly, hoping tomorrow would be a better day.