Out of the Bayou: Secrets

Seven

Magnolia

We all walked on the dock in uncomfortable silence. I smiled as Andrew sat and ran his fingers over the carving in the dock. The carvings were our initials. The memory of that day flooded back. My dad was mad when he first saw Andrew and I carving his newly built dock. Once he saw it was our initials, he had a weird smile on his face, laughed, and simply said you two bests be careful with that knife. I sat down next to Andrew and pushed him playfully against his arm.

“I’m sorry about making fun of the folklore about Rougarous. I didn’t think it would become such a serious topic.” I said to Andrew, looking back, searching the area for Everett and Eli.

“No worries, Nola. No telling what got into Everett. I heard he had a rough night last night from Mr. John. We stopped at the store on our way over this morning and he mentioned it to me in case I saw him today. Mr. John knew about your parents' boiling and asked if I would talk to your parents about him joining us,” he said, shrugging.

“It is a silly story if you think about it, a Rougarou.” I chuckled, trying to disguise the fact I was thinking about last night’s events that I thought I dreamt.

“I don’t know. Anything is possible. What if werewolves are real, just misunderstood? What if they hide in plain sight and you already know some? Would they be bad and stupid then?” Andrew said, looking at me as if he was serious.

“Okay, and so are vampires and warlocks. Sure, whatever you say.” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Well, the stories had to originate from somewhere, right?” He said.

“Seriously, Andrew? You think there is something to those tales, that werewolves are real?” I asked with a puzzled look.

“Why not?” Everett said from behind us, startling me. “Just because you don’t agree with something doesn’t make it not true. It’s not like you and your parents know everything.”

“Easy Everett!” Andrew said defensively.

“What, are you scared of your little flower seeing what comes out of the bayou?” Eli said smugly to Andrew.

“I said that’s enough!”, Andrew spoke now, sounding extremely annoyed.

Both Eli and Everett began laughing sadistically as they headed back to the path that led home. Eli turned back and said, “ Careful after dark, little flower, something might be going bump in the night.”

I turned back to face the bayou, hoping the tears that started forming in my eyes would not fall. It wasn’t Eli. What he said didn’t scare me. I lived along the bayou for too long to think there were more than alligators out here. But Everett, he had hurt my feelings when he made me sound so conceited and full of myself. I honestly do not know why it hurt, but it did. Everett never stood up for me when Eli and the rest bullied me, but he also never said anything to or about me like that before. Still, I’m not sure why I let his words bother me, it’s not like he has ever showed any sort of interest in me. Why did I care if he didn’t like me? Everett Landry is a jackass. I would never give him any more of my thoughts, I vowed to myself. Oh lord, my mother was right. I’ll never live it down if I admit it to her.

“Nola.” Andrew broke my thought, sounding concerned.

I looked at him and couldn’t help but notice the look in his eyes that gave me butterflies. Just not as much as I feel when I catch Everett’s eyes. Stop it, Magnolia. What is wrong with me?

“Are you okay?” he asked as he placed his hand on my face, stroking my cheek with his thumb.

I gave a small smile and said, “I’m okay. They don’t bother me anymore. Just a couple of jackasses.”

“Hmm. Such a dirty mouth, Ms. Bourgeois” Andrew hummed at me.

Taken aback by his comment, I immediately apologized for my use of profanity. Andrew then began to laugh, shaking his head and said, “It’s fine, Nola. I was just joking. Come on, let’s get you back. I know you are ready to eat some crawfish.”

We both stood up on the dock, only for my numb foot to make me fall. It was too late and by the time I realized it, I had taken Andrew into the water with me. When I surfaced, I began looking for Andrew because he hadn’t come up yet. I called his name in a panic. Just as I was about to yell again. I grabbed at my waist and was pulled under. I tried to push away as hard as I could. It was when I grabbed it that I realized it was someone’s hands. It was then I was pulled up to the surface. I could hear Andrew laughing hysterically when I came to my senses. I started splashing him in the face and made my way to the dock to climb out.

“Oh, come on, Magnolia. It was funny. It was your fault for pulling me in with you.” Reasoned Andrew.

“That was so not funny, Andrew. You scared me to death. I thought I would never see you again. Jeez. Why did you have to scare me like that?” I cried.

Andrew climbed up the ladder behind me and reached out grabbing me by the arm. He pulled me into his arms, wiping my tears away tenderly.

“I am sorry. I didn’t think it would scare you that badly.” He comforted me.

“Of course. You are a great friend. One of my only friends here lately,” I explained.

“Oh,” Andrew said, pulling himself away from me. “I’m glad I can be there and be a friend to you.”

“Um, maybe we should start walking back now. It's starting to get late. We need to get cleaned up for the boil. I’m sure my parents will have half the town over.” I said, turning toward the path home.