Dripping Roses

Familiar Faces

I stepped out of uncle john's ancient truck and into the warm august breeze. Logan grabbed his bags and began walking to the house. He turned around and said “do you have Wi-Fi john?” uncle john nodded grinning. Logan started sprinting to the house. I went to grab my bags just as lucky  and rusty came running at me.

 Uncle john caught them just in time because lucky almost tackled me. The weird thing was, they were growling at me. Uncle john smacked them on their muzzles and said “NO” he looked over at me guiltily. He said “sorry sky, they're usually really friendly, anyways I'll go put them in their dog pin, then I'll be back to unlock the garage”. He walked off with each of the dogs by their collars.

    I grabbed my bags and sat them on the hood of the truck. I ducked into the cab to grab my small backpack and saw a heading on a newspaper that uncle john apparently had been sitting on. The heading read “gruesome animal attack leaves three dead”. 

I began to read more when someone said “excuse me?” I jumped dropping the news paper and almost hit my head. I spun around to see a guy with short blonde cropped hair. He looked me straight in the eyes and his jaw dropped as he looked me over and took a step back. Out of nowhere uncle john walked between us and said “Kyle, good to see you, how’s your dad?” 

    Kyle took another step back keeping his back to the woods. He kept eye contact with me and said “ yeah we're good, uh he said to bring these tools over” he handed john the tools and got in his little truck and drove off. It's funny I’m sure I would have heard him pull up.

 I tugged on my ring a little as john said “well, that was definitely weird, do you two know each other or something?” I shook my head and looked at john. “ no I don’t think we do”. He glanced at the little truck pulling away then at me. “well might as well show you to your place”. He grinned and then walked to the back of the truck grabbed my suitcase walked to me and took my duffle bags I grabbed my backpack and began following him. 

    As we walked I noticed the metal retractable door was new and the windows looked reinforced. I glanced at the only walk through door which was metal and picked up my pace. John was huge as in tall as in long legged as in a fast walker. So I kind of had to jog to keep up.

 We reached the garage and he opened the door. “Welcome to your new home” I mockingly said “ home sweet home” as we walked in. The downstairs had a concrete floor, with four thick wooden posts supporting the up stairs. 

    It was almost empty except for the pile of different vehicle parts in the corner, a tarp covering an unknown bulk and a workbench that stretched the entire length of the back wall. We headed up the stairs only to reach another thick metal door. He stuck a key into the keyhole and it opened. 

We walked into a big room it was about twelve by fourteen feet and had dark wooden floor paneling. There was one big window to the left facing the cabin and barn outside. To the right was a little bar and counter with a mini fridge and microwave. There were two black bar stools pulled up to the bar. And straight ahead was a wooden door.

    My uncle john sat my bags and suitcase down on the floor. “alright sky, you have a mini kitchen, and a living room. Follow me and ill show you the rest of it”. He walked through the wooden door ahead and we stepped into a room slightly smaller than the living room. It had the same wooden floors and white walls as the other room except the window was slightly smaller and there was a small closet. On the far side of the wall next to the bathroom door on the right, was a big dresser almost the entire length of the wall. 

    Uncle john said “this is the bedroom and there’s you a dresser and closet you can use and since your parents had money set back for you guys you can buy some more furniture, anyways the door to your right leads to the bathroom. Its got a big counter and a shower so your good, I guess, anyways I already have you a bed so I’m going to go get that, oh and here’s the keys”. 

He waved bye and ran outside to his truck and took off. I stood in there looking around my new bedroom and took a deep breath. I walked into the living room and grabbed my bags. I sat the bags down on the dresser and my suitcase in the floor. 

I unzipped my suitcase and bags. I checked inside the closet for hangers and saw that it was empty. “wow, he’ll get me a dresser, a bed , mini fridge and microwave, but forgets clothes hangers”.

    I walked over to the dresser and started putting my pants, socks, underwear etc. In the dresser. I pulled out my dads Tennessee titans jersey and folded it and sat it on my dresser for pajamas. 

After about a half an hour I had finished unpacking my clothes. I got into my suitcase and pulled out my cheerleader outfit and put it in the bottom drawer. Then I pulled out my pictures. One of me and my dad working on my old car, one of my mom and me on my birthday, then one of me Logan and mom and dad at Christmas two years ago.

 I got to the pictures of me and my friends. There was a picture of me as a toddler with a huge silver husky or something. It’s kind of funny that mom and dad never mentioned having a husky dog.

   The next pic I pulled out was of me and my friends with our drivers licenses. I remember that day we all went to olive garden and Rachael peed on herself because she had drank so much tea and laughed so hard. I miss my friends and it hurts a lot. 

After about another half an hour. I was done putting all my stuff away. I decided to change into something cooler, since john forgot to show me how to work the ac. I took off my clothes and was about to change when I decided to just take a quick body shower. I pinned my hair up so I wouldn’t get it wet and stepped into the shower. After about twenty minutes I stepped out and dried off. 

    I brought all my clothes, city clothes. I slipped on some loose, and torn faded jeans and pulled on a tank top. I braided my hair over my shoulder as my chocolate, curly bangs fell into my eyes, I need a haircut. I jogged downstairs and checked out the heaps of parts. Some of the parts were usable and some was junk. 

I pulled back the large tarp on the mysterious bulk and saw an old four-wheeler and an old motorcycle. They were rusted and pretty banged up but with a little help I could save them. I re-covered the soon to be extracurricular activities and walked outside.

 I took it all in, the barn, the horses , the sunset and the beautiful pine and evergreen trees that formed a globe around our little world. This place was beautiful and I felt right at home. Which was weird considering I had never lived here before. Right?

    I walked through the clearing to the house. I walked inside and took it all in. There was a huge front room about fifteen feet high. There was a large wooden staircase on the left that led up to a hallway in the loft. The only thing separating the upstairs and downstairs was an oak wood railing. 

There were two bedrooms upstairs one on the right and one on the left and a bathroom in the middle. Downstairs, to the right was a decent sized kitchen, it had a large counter, an average sized sink and a black stove. I walked up to the large black stainless steel fridge and opened it up. 

    There wasn’t much inside, a pizza box that was probably empty, a few freeze containers with leftovers of something in them. And some sodas in the bottom drawer. I grabbed a Pepsi and walked outside. The wooden porch ran the entire length of the house. 

There was a wooden swing supported only by some chains attached to the ceiling of the porch. I sat down trying to relax and opened up my soda. As I lifted the can up to take a sip john pulled up in his ancient wheezier. There was a large box in the back that was tied down by cables and ropes. 

    There was also two mattresses wrapped in plastic, and also strapped down. I stood up and stepped inside to throw my can away. When I came back out john was untying cables. I was walking out to the truck when a strong feeling of familiarity swept over me.

 Realizing that I had stopped halfway to the truck I began walking again. When I reached the truck john said “I'll get the other side if you get this side”. I nodded and started untying one of the ropes and got it, but then I got stuck on one. I just couldn’t undo the knot “here let me help you with that”. I spun around to see who had spoken. 

    As I turned I found myself less than a foot away from a guy who was about my age and was about six feet tall with cole black hair. His hair had a slight curl to the ends and it came halfway down his neck and swept into his eyes.

 His eyes were green, the color of spring grass actually, that had the slightest hint of brown in them. He had tanned flawless skin and a soft face with a strong chiseled jawline. His Adam's apple moved ever so slightly as he spoke 

“hi I’m Wesley, Wesley Reeves” he stuck his hand out in a friendly gesture. “My dads friends with john, he asked me to help him. Said he needed a new bed for his niece who was coming to live with him”. I hadn’t realized it before but my mouth was hanging open. In an effort to keep what was left of my dignity I took his hand and said “I’m Skylar”. 

    He smiled and asked “well do you have a last name, Skylar?” I let a smile slip and said “Morgenstern, Skylar Morgenstern” he smiled. His hand was soft with calluses and he had a strong grip. I let go embarrassed about my staring and my jaw hanging open. 

He stood there inches away and reached over my shoulder and pulled a certain place in the knot and it came apart. He retracted his hand along with his thick muscular arm, which I could see considering he was wearing a tight black long sleeve t-shirt That made his eyes stand out , he also had on camo cargo shorts and Tennis shoes. 

    He was really hot and I think I was drooling. It seemed like Wesley was about to say something else but uncle john stepped around from the back. “are you going to… oh! I forgot to introduce you guys!” he put his arm around Wesley’s shoulder and pointed to me saying “Wesley, this is Skylar, we call her sky, sky this is Wesley, we call him Wes.” 

We shook hands again, this time I saw what I think was a faint blush across Wesley’s tan cheeks. On his left cheek bone he had a faint scar about two inches long. It was a faint silvery color and looked so soft that I thought if I touched it that it would feel like silk or satin. He saw me staring and blushed more brightly this time. 

    Uncle john saw this and said “ok … now that you’ve met, I kind of need this upstairs and put together before sunset… which is in like forty five minutes…” and like that the small connection was broken and Wes was untying another rope.

 I snapped my attention back to john. “uh… right ill slide the uh mattresses out” john looked at me then the mattresses and said “no the ropes are almost untied now, me and Wes will get the mattresses, you can go open the doors and find a spot where you want it.” 

I nodded and jogged over to the garage and opened the front door. Then I ran upstairs and opened the second door as far as it would go. Then I walked into my bedroom sat my empty bags on the dresser and looked around. 

    Looking at my room I saw to the right in the back corner, the bathroom door. Three feet to the left, the dresser. There was enough room to the left for a bed, under the three foot long window. When Wesley and uncle john came in the garage I heard them. 

The next thing I knew, Wesley came through the upstairs door, top mattress on its side. He scooted it through the door and sat it up against the wall. Then he turned around and grabbed the bottom mattress, which uncle john had apparently slid up the stairs to him. 

When Wesley had put the second mattress against the wall he walked and stood a foot from me. “where would you like your bed to go?” I looked at the mattresses sitting against the kitchen wall. I turned my attention back to Wesley. “in here, just grab either mattress and follow me.” 

    I walked to the bedroom door and glanced over my shoulder. Wesley grabbed both mattresses and tuck them under his arms. He then grabbed the fronts with his hands and slid them toward the door. I turned my attention to the task at hand.

 I opened the bedroom door and walked over to the dresser. Wesley walked in tugging the mattresses behind him. “so where do you want them?” I pointed to the corner by the window and said “over there please” he nodded and sat them on the floor, stacked up against the wall. Uncle john walked in with the big heavy looking box, which I assumed was the frame. 

    “hey Wes, do you mind helping me put this together, it’ll go a lot faster with two of us?” he looked un bothered and said “sure thing john” john glanced toward the door “alright, let me go find the tools” he took off downstairs.

And suddenly we were talking again. “so are you possibly going to be attending Piscataquis high?” asked Wesley. I picked up my bags and put them in the closet as I said “yeah, I start the fourth”. He grinned “ so you’re the newbie everyone’s been talking about? They said you’d be starting Monday of next week?” I looked up at him and said

“well my brother Logan and I weren’t supposed to leave west Virginia till next week, but we were packed up and ready to leave and so we left a week early. So here we are now, starting school tomorrow with no idea how the hell to get there, or what classes we have and where they even are. I mean I haven’t even gotten a car yet because the money thing hasn’t pulled through yet. And I cant claim the money till the fifteenth when I’m legally eighteen.” 

He pulled keys out of his pocket “I could give you rides to and from school till you get a car, its on my way and I can show you around school, john said were both seniors so we probably have classes together”

 I looked at him considering, as he started grinning “ or you can ride with your brother… umm Logan?” I shook my head and his grin widened “or you could ride with john in the old rust bucket. Your choice of course”. I started thinking about my options. 

“she’s not a rust bucket” uncle john chimed in from down stairs. “she’s majestic” I laughed “uncle john you’ve had that truck since before I was eight”. 

    Wesley put his hands up in mock surrender as john walked through the upstairs door. I looked at john and then Wesley “hey john would it be okay if I caught a ride with Wesley to school tomorrow ?” 

John looked at Wesley who said “ I offered her a ride so she wouldn’t have to ride in you’re majestic truck” john looked at Wesley then the instruction manual “that’s ok, me and Logan can hang out in the majestic beauty that is my truck” I stifled a laugh and said “can we stop the use of majestic please, it’s been said five times in less than five minutes”. Wes laughed and uncle john looked at his watch. 

    “I’m hungry… sky go tell Logan to order pizza the number and our address is on the fridge. Here’s twenty dollars.” he handed me the cash and added “also there’s a stack of blankets, sheets and pillows on the couch you can use them for tonight. Ill give you cash out of the funds tomorrow to get whatever makes you feel at home, ok?” 

 I nodded and ran downstairs, through the yard and to the house. I opened the door and walked inside. I walked upstairs and to Logan’s  room. I knew it was his room because I could hear rap music and gunfire coming from his Xbox. I didn’t knock or anything I just walked in “ john said order some pizza okay? The numbers on the fridge”  

He looked in my direction with a confused expression as if he was about to say something when I heard “John said to order a meat lovers and cheese”. I turned around to find Wesley. “you snuck up on me again?” he grinned and shrugged his shoulders “ what can I say? It’s a gift” he went downstairs to wait for the pizza.

 Logan looked at me with an untrustworthy expression on his face “do you know him sky? Do I need to grab johns shotgun?” I rolled my eyes “yes I know him” I paused for a second “john has a shotgun?” he shrugged his shoulders “oh I don’t know I guess he killed the stuffed grizzly downstairs with his bare hands sky, I mean he is a big guy hmm…” 

    I crossed my arms “thanks for the input smart ass, and clean this room we’ve been here one day and its already messy…” he walked up and shut the door in my face. I walked downstairs to see uncle john walk in. 

“hey sky, we finished your bed early so I invited Wesley to stay for dinner before I give him a ride home” Wesley interrupted him and said “ I have a ride home, angus is picking me up” I looked at Wesley and asked “ who’s angus?” he glanced at me with a sly grin “ he is my less handsome but more irritating big brother”.

 I grinned At Wesley just as Logan walked down the stairs. He had a cocky look on his face and walked over to Wesley. He didn’t like Wesley, that much was obvious, “I need the phone to order pizza” 

    He went pale for a second when he handed Logan the phone and said “where’d you get that?” Logan pulled his hand back not keeping his eyes off Wesley. “none of your damn business…” john looked as surprised as I did “LOGAN” we exclaimed. 

This didn’t faze Wes however, he looked his normal color again and said “look I meant no offense I was just wondering, because it looked a little familiar to me…” Logan handed me the phone “here sky you order the pizza, I’m not hungry anymore”. He walked upstairs and shut his door behind him. 

    I looked at Wesley apologetically “I’m so sorry about my brother he can be an ass” he smiled “no need to apologize” I smiled  and nodded “well I’m going to go call the pizza guy”. I walked outside onto the porch to call the pizza guy. Uncle john stuck his head out the door “don’t forget, meet lovers and cheese, oh and here’s our address”. He handed me a piece of paper with the address. 

I called and ordered the pizza after john walked inside. I sat on the swing and watched as the last rays of sunlight dipped below the trees. I sat there for about twenty minutes until the pizza arrived. I walked out to the car as the guy got out. He looked at me and blushed. “uh, here you go miss, one meat lovers and one cheese” I smiled “thanks for the pizza”. 

    I handed him the cash and walked to the house. Before I could open the door Wesley walked out “here let me get that” he grabbed the pizzas and held the door for me. We walked in and he shut the door. 

Uncle john, Wes, and I sat down at the kitchen table. John and Wesley grabbed three pieces apiece and started devouring it. After a while of talking we got on the subject of the animal attacks. Uncle john said “has your dad heard anymore from the Sheriff Wes?” Wesley picked up our plates and put them in the sink. 

    “None so far, but they’re keeping an eye out. They think it’s a bear or mountain lion”. John shook his head “I hope whinny is ok, she just became a twenty five year old widow, and losing mike has had an effect on her”. Wesley sat back down as John said 

“let's change the subject shall we? Wesley are you going to be playing football this year?” he looked at john “I don’t know, I tore my ACL last year, I might” john smacked his hands together “well that’s something you two have in common” Wesley looked confused and turned to me “you tore your ACL ?” 

    I nodded and he said “when? How?” I looked up at him “I was Doing a backflip spiral in cheer squad two years ago and I landed the wrong way twisting my leg the wrong way and tearing my ACL”. He said “ouch” and john nodded as I stood up and stretched “well boys nice talk, but I’m tired, and I’m going to bed” Wesley looked out the window then to me “what time is it?” 

I pulled out my phone and said “ten til nine” he stood also “well I better be headed home I have school tomorrow, see you John” John looked at me then him “ Wes are you taking her to school tomorrow?” he nodded “yeah ill be here around six” he walked out with me. 

    It was a cool august night and the only light was the crescent moon in the sky and the light from the garage casting a pool of light across the yard. I looked over to Wesley “what time does school start?” he ran a hand through his black wavy hair and said “six forty five, so I'll be here around six, you know if you’d let me, I could drive you to and from school until you get a car”. I smiled in the darkness “I just might” he grinned at me in the darkness “it’s a date” he walked down the stairs and into the darkness disappearing from my view. 

    A few minutes later I saw a truck pull up and heard Wes get in. A moment later they drove off, as I walked to the garage. I went upstairs to my bedroom with the pillows and blankets. As I was making my bed I saw my ring over on my dresser. Hmm I  must’ve forgot to put it on when I took a shower earlier. I finished making my bed and sat down. Man this bed was heaven, I grabbed my iPhone and set an alarm for five thirty. I thought about what Wes had said and fell asleep smiling for the first time in a long time