Page 49 of Lines

Hope King is one of those youthful people. It’s like the passage of time didn’t affect her at all. Wrinkles on her face are minimal, just a tad around her eyes and lips from smiling. She is almost always happy and cheerful. A lot of times, when I was younger and would visit her at work, I would hear from other employees and patients how happy they are to have her there to brighten up their day. Happiness always reaches her blue-green, sea-like eyes. At forty-five her hair has a few greys in it, but it’s still mostly her golden-brown wave that reaches just under her shoulders.

“Nope, I’m going to visit another friend,” I say vaguely.

Her eyebrows rise in surprise and I see her elbow Dad in the gut. “And who is that another friend, Derek?”

I can’t tell them I’m going to a girl’s house, especially not to Amelia’s house. There is nothing wrong with Amelia or her house, trust me, I’m sure my Mom would love her. And that’s why I don’t want to say anything. No getting girl in this house or talking about girls in this house until there is one worth mentioning. That’s the only rule I actually like to follow.

Not that Amelia’s not worth mentioning or bringing home—she is. If there were pictures in the dictionary hers would be right next to perfect girlfriend material.

“Just a friend.” I grin sheepishly at her, rubbing the nape of my neck. “I won’t be too late.”

Not giving her time to protest or ask any more questions I wave at them and turn around to go out.

It’s not that they give me a hard time about staying out all night. There are a lot of nights they both work night shift, so by now, they know that sometimes I spend the night at Andrew’s and he at my place. Nothing new about that. And with the way Amelia and I parted ways earlier, I’m not even sure she’ll let me enter her house, much less stay.

But earlier today she said she wasn’t feeling well, and that thought didn’t leave my head for a second. Not while I was doing my homework, and not while I ate lunch or went jogging. I couldn’t even take a nap no matter how tired my body was because my mind was filled with her.

It’s crazy.

The way that this girl occupies my mind is driving me nuts!

I can’t think straight because she’s always on my mind. I wonder what she’s doing, or like now, how she is feeling. Is she all right? Is there somebody taking care of her? What if she’s all alone?

Once I reach the door, I find Ace sitting in front of them. His head is tilted to the side, and he looks at me with his pale eyes. I rub his head in passing.

“I’ll be home soon, buddy,” I whisper, trying to get around him, but he doesn’t let me through.

“What? You wanna go with me?”

Ace barks once and gets on his feet, wiggling his tail.

I shake my head at his excited face and open the door. “C’om.”

He wiggles past me and starts walking toward the car parked in front of the house. I rarely bother putting on his leash because he never walks too far away from me. He steers away from other dogs, cats, and humans. Actually, I really think I’m the only person he’s comfortable enough to be around. If I’m at home, Ace keeps to my side, and if I’m out he stays in my room.

I open the back door for him to get in, but he gives me a look of disgust and walks to the passenger’s side. Sighing, I walk around and open him the door.

“Demanding little...”

Closing the door, I walk around and get in the car myself, put on my favorite rock band and turn the key.

It’s time to pay a visit to little Miss Campbell.

* * *

Amelia

“What do you think, Lola?” I look at her curled safely against my middle. She doesn’t even sneak a look at me. That’s how interesting I’m to her. Not even my dog listens to me, but that doesn’t stop me from continuing to talk to her, crazy-dog-person that I am. “I don’t like Rory with Dean, they are so boring together.”

I watch for a few minutes in silence. It’s that scene in which they are walking and kissing at the same time. How do they manage not to crash into something?

“Jess was fun until the moment they became a couple.” I look back down at her, but still no reaction. “Now he’s just acting like an idiot all the time, and the only thing they are doing when they are together is inspecting each other’s throats.”

She sighs like I’m boring her to death and she just wants me to shut up so she can sleep in peace. I would know, after having her for five years, I’ve become an expert in deciphering her looks, sighs, and barks.

Giving up on discussing Gilmore girls with Lola, I return my attention to the laptop where I’m watching reruns of season three.

It’s the best cure when I’m feeling moody and my whole body is hurting. A few minutes later, however, Lola lifts her head abruptly, surprising me. I look at her as she listens for a while before she gets up, shakes her colorful fur, and jumps off the bed. Barking happily, she pulls through the crack in the door and runs down the stairs just in time for the bell to ring.

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