Page 38 of Eye of the Hurricane
Now it feels like every time I blink, six months have passed and all of the people I love are living new lives.
“If it gets much faster, I think I might get whiplash,” I joke.
“If you figure out how to slow it down, do me a favor and let your favorite art teacher know,” Vines laughs.
“Will do.”
“Go enjoy your last week of summer.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I thank her for her time and head back to my car. I hadn’t considered until this moment that this is my last summer as a student. This is the last summer I’ll have the freedom of no job.
During the school year, I’m a TA for Professor Vines and sell my artwork for extra spending money. When I’m done at DHU, I won’t be keeping my job at the university. Hopefully by next summer, I’ll be selling my work and being hired as a photographer.
After that I make my rounds to see Ravyn then Audra and Roman. By the time I’ve seen them all, it’s 8:18 P.M and the sun is sitting low on the horizon. It paints the sky a hundred shades of pink, orange, and purple as the last moments of sunset pass.
As promised, I pick up my phone and dial Katherine’s number. It hums for a few seconds until the line picks up.
“Is Luna still there?” I ask.
“Nope, just me.”
“I said I’d call, so I’m calling,” I say, stating the obvious. It’s a little awkward because I’m not entirely sure what to say.
“Do you want to stop by?” Her voiceis quiet and timid. I might mess with her if I didn’t know this was uncharted territory for her. Even though what we’re doing is just for fun, I still want to be careful with her. I know this is all new to her and I want to give her a safe place to test the waters.
“Do you want me to stop by?”
“Yeah. Is that okay?” she asks. I don’t know what on earth has made her think she can’t ask me for things.
“I’ll be there in ten to fifteen.” As I’m going to hit the end call button, she speaks again.
“Wait, are you still there?”
“Yes, I’m still here.”
“Will you spend the night?” There’s that nervousness again, like she’s bracing for being told no. We’ll have to work on that.
“Yeah, honey, I’ll spend the night. Let me stop at home and grab a couple things real quick.”
“I’ll unlock the door for you, you can just come in.” We say our goodbye’s and get off of the phone.
I drive to my house, letting my mom know I won’t be home tonight on my way up to my room. I change into sweats and a T-shirt, toss my toothbrush and deodorant into a tote bag I have for overnight trips and head to Kat’s house. I pull into the driveway twenty minutes later and park behind her car.
When I walk in the door, she’s in an orange sundress, pulling cookies out of the oven. The whole house smells like vanilla and she looks like sunshine.
“You made cookies?” I ask.
“All the best sleepovers have cookies.”
“That’s what this is? A sleepover?” I test. She sets the tray on the counter top and turns to face me.
“What else would you call it?”
“Guess it depends on what we do,” I say with a smirk. She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, fighting a smile.
“You rushed out on me this morning.” Her smile vanishes. I can see different questions and scenarios swimming in her head.
