STORMS AND TWISTS

CHAPTER EIGHT

The holiday was fun and it was soon Christmas’ eve. Casey lay flat on his bed. His face was on the bed and he clutched his pillow tightly in an embrace. He smiled as he had memories of school.

He remembered his mates at St. Marks and felt a little bit disappointed. He missed them a lot. He recalled how he felt lost on his first day in Mill High School. He exhaled a bit.

Befriending Cody; meeting Melissa, the Talent show, the Elms Junior League, Felix’s pride and Carl’s attitude- he remembered all that. The best one was his encounter with Cody. He valued it more than his victory as a coach. Cody was his friend and that mattered to him more than anything else.

As he pictured the sweet memories they had together, he had an indistinct voice. He heard approaching footsteps and decided to check it out. He was extra-vigilant because their father was not around and Clara was out on a date with Ben.

He got to the verandah by his room and saw his sister crying. He was terrified and he was also short of words.

“Clara, what happened? Did something go wrong?” Casey asked.

“No, it’s fine.” She said, trying to wipe her tears but it gushed out the more.

“Look into my eyes and tell me you are fine”. Casey said, taking a frank look into her eyes. A tear drop trickled down from his face. He couldn’t bear his sister crying.

“Well, Ben broke up with me.” She said, bursting into tears uncontrollably.

“Clara, cool down. You’re crying and it’s hurting me”. He said, trying to appeal to her and weeping profusely.

“I’m shattered. I didn’t know what I did wrong. He came in with another lady and they started kissing right before me.” Clara said, wailing loudly.

“Clara…” He was short of words. He knew no one could just get over a breakup immediately.

…

Casey was at her doorstep overnight. He couldn’t bear it as she cried throughout the night. She wailed loudly in her room all night while he sobbed silently by her door. He also felt heartbroken.

Clara stood in the gap for him always and he could give her the whole world. Even if she was to step into a volcano, he would go in with her. Their love was mutual and no one could break their bond. They were siblings-keepers. Siblings-keepers would be just it in this case.

Casey woke up. He yawned and checked his wrist-watch. It was 7:12 a.m. and he could still hear sobs from her room. It had probably slept off while she was still crying. He could remember vividly that it was 4:03 a.m. when he drifted off into sleep.

He decided to go into her room. He knocked on the door several times but there was no reply. He tried to open it but he was closed. He suddenly became sweaty and scared. He had a premonition that she slit her throat or her wrist. He was about to succumb to the wild assumption when he heard her silent sobs.

“Clara, open the door”. He said, banging at the door repeatedly.

“Leave me alone. I will be fine”. She said amidst sobs.

“The both of us are aware that you will not be okay if you are left alone”.

Reluctantly, she opened the door. The door creaked slowly.

“You cried all night long”. He said, taking a delicate look at her sullen face.

“How do you know that?” She asked, making efforts to wipe her tears.

“I was…. Do not mind”. He said, not revealing the fact that he spent the whole night at her doorstep to her.

She turned to the mirror. Her hair was scattered and rough. She was stressed a lot.

“I will just never be able to show my face out there again”.

“No. who says so?” he countered.

“My whole life is over”. She said.

“It’s time to stop crying because of him. You are the strongest person I know on earth. Be strong for mom again”. He said, patting her shoulders gently. Clara sobbed silently again. She wiped her tears with the tip of his shirt.

“Sorry.”

“No sister. Today is Christmas day. Come and check my Christmas gift for you.” Casey said with smile.

Her smile dried up immediately. “Oops, I got so carried away by this breakup episode that I forgot to get you a gift. I’m so sorry. I don’t even know how I will ever make it up to you”. She pleaded.

“It is okay sis, we are all humans”. He said with a bright smile.

“Okay, let’s go and check it out”.

It was finally resumption day. Casey could recall how he spent his first holiday after being transferred to Mill High School. He had tried to read the magical book with Cody but all of their attempts were futile. The book was not written in any language and it was encrypted to the core. They felt frustrated when they realized that their efforts were in vain.

He and Cody had trained Oliver and he was getting better. They also went to the city stadium to watch a football match and they also exchanged visits.

The whole holiday was cool except for Christmas’ eve. He felt his sister’s pain but he was able to get her back to her normal self on the next day. She was his only sister and he had to keep her company.

Well, it was a week after the New Year celebration and they had to resume back to school. He got dressed and ready for school. He got out of his room holding his necktie in his hands.

He saw Clara and they had the morning devotion together. After that, they walked to the car and Clara stirred up a conversation.

“Let me put your tie on for you”. She offered.

“Okay.” He said, handing it over to her. She helped him with the tie and smiled at him.

“You are looking charmingly handsome today”.

“Thanks, big sis”.

“The girls in your school will be so attracted to you”.

“No, that’s the least of the things I need right now”. He said with a shrug.

“Okay, my charming prince”. She said and kissed his forehead.

The drive to school only lasted for ten minutes. He alighted from the car and waved her bye. She zoomed off and left. As he walked towards the gate, he saw Cody. They hadn’t seen themselves in the year.

“Hi, bro. welcome to Mill once again.” Cody said and gave him a handshake.

“Yeah, let’s see how this year goes.” Casey said with a smirk.

Just then Carl, Jeff and Harry passed by and gave those looks as if to say, we will get you.

“What’s wrong with them?” Casey shrieked.

“No. this year’s drama just got started?” Cody said, glaring at the sky.

. . .

Harry was about to say “hi” to his girlfriend, Holly when Carl dragged him and Jeff out. He brought them to the back of the school.

There were tall trees in the whole place but it was the last place anyone would consider spending much time at. It was the place where they carried out their activities as truants.

“God, why are we here again?” Harry grumbled.

“I’m angry and I feel like I’m losing it already”. Carl said, banging his hand on one of the trees. Blood oozed from his hand.”

“Sorry about that but what’s really eating you up?” Jeff nudged him.

“We can’t continue to allow those pipsqueaks take over. This is our domain and we control. Those nerds should not be our competition.” He said, referring to Casey and Cody.

“Yeah, something needs to be done. We need to be on top of our game”. Jeff said, cracking his knuckles and sitting by one of the tree stumps.

“First, they contended with us at the talent show and now they are striving to kick us out of the football team. They’ve toyed with the wrong people and it’s time they get what’s coming to them.” Harry said, fuming furiously.

“I don’t even know what to do”. Carl said, placing his left palm on his forehead.

“I have a suggestion. Let’s just go back to the school. I was about to talk with Holly and give her my first kiss in this year but you interrupted me”. Harry said.

“How does that solve this? You are off-point”. Jeff said, casting a disdainful look at him. Still, Harry wasn’t intimidated.

Then Carl snapped his fingers.

“Guys, you just gave me an idea”.

“What’d that be?” Harry asked.

“Leave that to me”. He said and gave out a hysterical laughter.