Take Me Away (Everly Place Book 1) Page 4

  "Yeah." I roll my eyes. "Because you wanted help with your paper."

  "That's not the only reason. I like talking to you. You challenge me."

  "I challenge you," I snort. Geez, he's really drunk.

  "Yeah, you do. You call me out on my shit. People might think you are quiet and passive, but I know the real Iris." He smiles like it's some kind of honor for him.

  "You don't even know me anymore, Clay.” I look down at my hand as I twirl my hair around my finger. “I'm not the same girl I was seven years ago."

  "I know you're not. The girl you were seven years ago did take my shit and she shouldn't have. The woman I'm looking at now is the one that I want to know more about."

  He did get that right; I shouldn't have put up with any of it. I shouldn’t now, but I am intrigued by this new man he’s become I want to know more about him, too—when he is sober and makes more sense.

  "OK. Let's get you in." I open my door.

  "No, no. I got this." He opens his own door and stumbles out, bending down to say goodbye. "I'll see you tomorrow."

  Tomorrow? Graduation. I really need to get home and go to sleep.

  I don't bother trying to help him; I'm sure he has done this on more than one occasion. Instead, I put my head down on the steering wheel for a minute to collect my thoughts before driving home and going back to sleep.

  Chapter Six

  Morning comes too soon, and I struggle to open my eyes. The smell of bacon and eggs fills the air; I glance over at my clock. 10:06 a.m.!

  I jump out of bed. I never sleep this late. The late-night encounter with Clay kept me awake, and even on the clock, I take an extra-long shower to allow myself more time to process the last couple of days and to prepare for the next.

  I'm so glad that my sisters are home to help with the cooking. It smells wonderful in the kitchen, and the sun is peeking through the clouds. Lily stands at the sink. She turns to face me with her hands perched behind on her on the counter and a big grin across her face.

  "What?" I smile as I run a brush through my hair. My sister just stands there and continues to grin. "What?!" I shout, louder, with a chuckle.

  "You know what." She points a spatula at me. "I saw you and Clay outside last night. Do you care to fill me in?"

  "There is nothing to tell. He was drunk and needed a ride," I tell her casually as I turn around to avoid further interrogation. She lowers the spatula.

  "Mm-hmm. Something is going on with you two. I just don't know what yet." Lily turns back to the sink.

  "There is nothing going on," I scoff as I pull my hair into a ponytail.

  There really isn't. Clay has been a little more conscious of me these last couple of days, but I suspect he is just feeling overwhelmed with school and this internship, so he needs someone to vent to. I don't mind being that person, as long as we have a mutual respect for each other. There is nothing wrong with a growing friendship. I convince myself this is our whole story—I’m no novel character—but the feeling of his fingers running over my leg floods my mind and I can't extinguish the glimmer of hope that this time, things are different.

  My graduation ceremony is at four o'clock this evening, and I give in to Rose's pleas to curl my hair and put on some light makeup. I won’t admit it, but I like the way the mascara widens my eyes.

  Aunt Meg and Becca arrive about an hour before we have to leave, and I am ecstatic to see my cousin. Becca has always been like a third sister. Her parents divorced when she was young and she's an only child, so she spent many summers with us growing up. We reminisce and catch up, and I fill her in on everything that is Clay Keller. She is the only person I dare talk to about this because she has no affiliation with this town or his family.

  Becca has changed a lot over the year: She sports purple highlights, a new nose ring, and a tattoo of a hummingbird on her wrist. My cousin has always been a bit of a wild card—you never really know which side of her you’ll see. She is very smart, but also has a troubled side that stems from practically raising herself while her mom worked twelve-hour days. I'm not one to judge people on their past mistakes or their appearance, though; my opinion of people comes from the way they treat me.

  "Any parties tonight?" Becca asks as she applies more eyeliner in front of my vanity mirror. She is a beautiful girl, and could easily go without all of the makeup on her face.

  I question whether or not I should tell Becca about the big graduation party at Mark Sommerville's house tonight. I haven't decided if I even want to go. Mark always has raucous parties with kegs and a sea of people and it really isn't my scene. I know that Becca will thrive in that kind of environment while I'll be left twiddling my thumbs in a corner by myself. The only way I’ll make an appearance is if Amber goes with us. Amber is a lot like me—a quiet introvert—but she has sharper socialization skills than I do.

  "I'm... not really sure," I lie.

  "There has to be a party somewhere. What else do you guys do in this boring town?" She rolls her eyes.

  Becca is from Seattle, so she’s experienced much more excitement than I have, and her life hasn't been all about family. Aunt Meg is a wonderful mom when she’s got the time to be one, but lately her career has become her priority, which often leaves Becca to fend for herself.

  Defending our lifestyle and our small-town boredom, I tell Becca about the party, and she begs me to go. She's literally on her knees begging, and I give in before pulling her up through laughter. Now I can only pray that Amber comes, so I’m not a lonely loser tonight.

  After reciting my speech for the tenth time, I put my cap and gown on over my new white dress, and meet Dad out front for pictures.

  The gym is packed when I arrive. My body feels numb and tingly from the stampede of nerves. Our class is rather small—only sixty students at the most—but with so many families attending the ceremony, it's body-to-body in this small auditorium. The thought of speaking in front of the large crowd nauseates me.

  But soon, Mr. Jones is introducing me as the valedictorian, and I’m making my way to the stage to give my speech.

  "Good evening, fellow classmates. I am humbled to have the honor of speaking on behalf of the class of 2019. Today is a turning point in our lives. We have spent the last four years in the halls and classrooms of this school just to prepare us for this special day..."

  I forge on. My speech is long but meaningful, and hope I have touched at least one person in attendance.

  I close with a quote from Steve Jobs: "Don't let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

  I choke on my words a little, but everyone claps, and I take my seat. I am still holding my speech in my hand and I re-read the quote to myself a couple of times. My heart and my intuition know what I want. But do I have the courage?

  My name is called, and I walk across the stage to accept my diploma. That part was easy. I feel like I can finally sit down and breathe now that this is all behind me. Not just the speech and the ceremony—high school.

  But the pressure of adulthood and the future replaces the anxiety of this day, and suddenly, it all feels so much heavier.

  Chapter Seven

  "I'll pick you up at eight," I promise Amber between a flurry of hugs and her parents’ congratulations.

  Over to my right, I see Clay standing with his family; his cousin graduated today, too. I catch him looking at me as they walk towards us.

  "Congratulations, sweetie," his mom says with a hug. I thank her and stand silently with my hands clasped while my dad talks with them.

  Clay is glaring at me with his hands in his pants pockets. He looks so handsome in a pair of black dress pants and a blue button-up.

  "There you are," Lexi cries as she takes Clay's hand into hers.

  I feel my body tense up and turn away as if it doesn't faze me. I thought they broke up. Clay
didn't mention them getting back together last night. Did he see her after I dropped him off? I can't imagine he was able to hold a serious conversation at that point. I turn my head slightly just to see the expression on his face and while he looks annoyed with her, he doesn't let go of her hand; he looks into my eyes like he can feel the tension, and he must know I have questions screaming through my mind.

  Becca joins us. She’s glaring at me, too, but in confusion. I pull her towards the doors before she makes a scene.

  Dad decides to take us to the diner to celebrate. My Aunt Meg tells a very long and boring story about her new promotion. Becca and I keep rolling our eyes back and forth, but Lily and Rose seem entertained.

  "Hey, Iris." I hear a familiar voice. Eric.

  "Oh. Hi," I echo as he stands over our table. Eric was in my graduating class. He must be having dinner with his family, too.

  Eric’s always had a little crush on me, but I've never seen him as more than a friend. We went to a dance together our junior year and he tried to kiss me; I turned away. He never held it against me, and was always very kind.

  "Are you going to Mark's tonight?" he asks, pushing his glasses up his nose.

  "Yeah, we plan on going for a little bit." I nod and look at Becca, who’s giggling, and I know she's making fun of me.

  Eric isn't an unattractive guy, but he is definitely not her type. He’s tall and slender with black hair, brown eyes, and glasses. His khaki pants are too short for his long legs, and his light green shirt is missing a button in the middle. He doesn't always dress like this; I imagine these are special graduation clothes.

  "Awesome. I'll see you there." He returns my nod and walks back to his table.

  Becca starts laughing the moment he departs, and I shush her, glancing worriedly back to make sure Eric didn't hear. He is such a sweet guy, and I know all too well the feeling of being laughed at for my clothing choices and demeanor.

  While we’re at dinner, Aunt Meg gives me a graduation card with a check in it: two-hundred dollars. My jaw drops open. I know she makes decent money, but I can't believe she would give me this much. After trying not to accept it a couple times, I thank her with a hug, and tell her I'll use it to buy a cell phone. (Probably just a prepaid phone; I don't intend to use it often.)

  We finish dinner and go home to get ready for the party. Becca opens her suitcase and digs for something to wear; she settles on a red and black plaid print skirt and a black tank top. I put on a blue sun dress, and she lets out a sigh.

  "Iris, don't you want to try something else?"

  I don't care what she thinks. I like and feel comfortable in my dresses.

  "Try this on." Becca throws a pair of jean shorts and a white tank top at me. I hold them up and shake my head, but like my sisters and the unexpected two-piece, she convinces me to put it on. I'm starting to get annoyed with everyone trying to change my physical appearance, but I go with it, because part of me knows that it's time for a change and there is no harm in experiencing a new trend. I run a straightener through my hair and touch up the makeup Lily put on me earlier.

  "Yes!" Becca endorses the look; she taps a finger on me and makes a sizzle sound.

  Clay likely won’t attend tonight—it’s more for the 2019 class, after all—but knowing this bums me out a little. It's probably for the best if he and Lexi are back together, though. I don't care to see those two together right now.

  I decide to drive and, as promised, we stop to pick up Amber on the way. Mark lives a couple blocks away from the Kellers in a big house on a lake. We all three walk up to the door, and I take in a deep breath before plunging in.

  The music is loud, and bodies fill the living room and kitchen area. There is a couple making out on the couch and people are lined up around a keg in the middle of the kitchen.

  "I'm getting a beer," Becca says, walking over to join them.

  Amber and I continue into the living room where there is dancing and a crowd around the dining room table, playing drinking games.

  "Hello again." Eric hands me a red cup.

  "What's this?" I bring it to my nose to smell it. Beer. I hand it back. "No, thank you. I drove, so I'm not drinking."

  "Oh, come on. You have to celebrate. You just finished high school." He throws his hands up, splashing the contents of his cup, and lets out a shouted woo-hoo! I've never imagined Eric as a drinker, but it looks like it's helping him to loosen up. He takes the beer back when I offer it again.

  I look over and see Clay, Bryce, his girlfriend, and Lexi walk through the door. I should have guessed they’d show up.

  I grab the drink back from Eric and chug it, gagging a little, but not letting it stop me. While I drink, I make eye contact with Clay. He stands there in amazement at the sight of quiet little Iris slamming a beer and wearing booty shorts with makeup on and my hair down—it’s something I can't quite believe, myself.

  "You're driving." I point to Amber and laugh. She doesn't drink, anyways—but then again, neither do I.

  Lexi is trying to pull Clay into the kitchen, but he frees his arm and she goes without him. He's coming this way. He's coming this way. I choke down the malty bitterness while trying to hold my composure. I need another beer. My heart is racing and I'm getting nervous.

  "Eric, can you get me another?" I hand him my cup.

  He grabs it from me. "Hell, yes!"

  I turn to make conversation with Amber so I'm not just standing here like I'm waiting for him to approach me. And… he doesn't. He walks right past me, brushing his side against mine with a half-smile and a nod, and he heads to the table where there is a serious game of tippy cup underway.

  A nod. After these last couple days, all I get is a nod?

  Eric reemerges from the crowd with my drink and I thank him for it. Becca is still in the kitchen flirting with a couple of guys from the baseball team. I look back over to Clay as Lexi walks up beside to kiss him on the cheek. He doesn't seem to acknowledge her existence, which surprises me. At least it's not just me that he ignores. If this is the way he treats the women he claims to care about, I want no part of it. It still stings a little, but I slam my second beer and the pain begins to subside.

  "Whoa. Killer." Eric takes my beer from me.

  "Hey,” I stammer, “I was drinking that."

  "You need to pace yourself. I said we needed to celebrate, not annihilate,” he laughs, handing my drink back.

  I take a sip in agreement and my eyes wander back to the table. Clay is partaking in the game now, trying to flip a cup upside-down while Lexi cheers him on. He finally gets it, and high on victory, he grabs her face and pulls it to his. He kisses her. I shake my cup and realize my beer is gone.

  "Refill." I mean to hand it to Eric, but Amber swoops in and says she’ll get it for me.

  I sit down on the couch and begin to feel the burn in my chest from the beer, which is allowing me to loosen up a bit more. Eric takes a seat beside me, and I give Clay and Lexi one more vile look before thinking two can play this game.

  I'm not even sure if there is a game, but my head tells me there is, so I scoot over and sit across Eric's lap. His face is inches from mine, and I hope that he doesn't get the wrong idea and try to kiss me again. I can smell the alcohol on his breath; he has a small bottle of liquor in hand he keeps sipping on.

  Becca and Amber come over to us, and Becca looks confused. She is gesturing her hands back and forth from me to Clay and I just shake my head. Then Amber hands me my drink, and Becca gets even more confused.

  "What has gotten into you, Iris? I like it." She gives a smile and an evil laugh.

  Feeling pretty good now and knowing I don't want this confidence to fade just yet, I grab the bottle from Eric and take a sip only to spit it out.

  "It's an acquired taste,” he fobs, taking another swig.

  I'm not sure if it’s my loud laughter or Becca’s dancing that catches Clay's attention, but he walks over to us. I ignore him just to give him a taste of his own medicine.

/>   "Iris, can I talk to you?" he asks, but I continue to ignore him.

  I’m still sitting on Eric's lap, but Clay walks over to me and kneels down so his face is level with mine. "Iris, I said can I talk to you." His eyes are still gorgeous. But today, I won’t go swimming in them—today, I'm pretty upset.

  "Oh, I'm sorry, the music is loud and I didn't know you would actually want to talk to me in public." I glance around flippantly, and then bring my eyes back to his with a serious look on my face.

  "Are you drunk?" He should know that I am. And he was right, that night in my new car, drunk out of his mind—this is not the Iris he grew up knowing, but I kind of like this side of me. She's happy and doesn't care what anyone else thinks.

  "Maybe a little." I pinch my fingers a quarter-inch part and squint my eyes through them.

  "Come on." Becca pushes her way between me and Clay, almost knocking him over. "We are going down to the lake to go swimming."

  "I don't want to go. I want more of this." I swish my cup up as I’m pulled to my feet.

  "They have some." She points to the boys she was talking to in the kitchen.

  I shrug OK.

  "Didn't you drive?" Clay asks while he helps me balance. I can't understand why he is acting so concerned. "I saw your car out front."

  "I did, but we are just walking down to the lake. Besides, my best friend is driving later." I put my arm around Amber’s shoulder and we turn away from him. I notice Lexi walking back and forth from the kitchen to the living room and point. "Your girlfriend’s looking for you."

  “Come on, Eric; you can walk down with us," I call out with my arm still hanging around Amber's neck. He jumps off the couch and hurries over to us like he was waiting for an invitation.

  We all gather outside to walk down to Mark’s lakefront property, including a few guys I don’t know. (Becca sure knows how to reel them in.) I'm a little sad we’re leaving the party, but I feel thrilled I was able to catch Clay's attention, and in front of a crowd.