Grayson was standing between me and the stairs. I knew I had plenty of time until Ben got there, but I had intended on sitting in the living room with Grandma for a few minutes, just to chill out and kind of relax a little bit, not argue with my sister. I tried to keep my tone light as I asked, “What’s wrong, Gray?”
She stood there for a few moments with
I hadn’t been sitting on the swing very long when I heard Ben’s truck pull into the drive. Even though Grayson hadn’t followed me outside, I was relieved that he was early. I took a deep breath and hurried over to him before he went to the door to knock and find out I wasn’t in there.He wasn’t headed toward the door, though. It was like he kn
I have no idea what the movie we watched was about. I was paying a lot more attention to Ben than I was the people on the screen. I needed both hands for the popcorn, but I didn’t eat a whole lot of it since I was pretty full from the tacos, and then I was able to hold Ben’s hand. Once his fingers interlaced in mine, they could’ve switched the romantic comedy we were watching to something about bears dancing with walruses, and I would’ve had no idea.
By the time we got back to Whispering Hollow, it was almost midnight. I needed to get home. I knew that. But I wasn’t in a rush to get there. The excitement from the fight in the parking lot had worn off, leaving me a little bit tired and little anxious. It didn't seem to be effecting Ben at all, despite the fact that he was the one who had done all of the fighting.
“Well?” Grandma asked me as I filled up a small vase with water for my rose. I plunked it inside, glad it was still alive, and stepped over to the table.“Well what?” I asked her, already knowing what it was she wanted to know. It wasn’t just an inquiry as to whether or not I’d had a good time on my date with Ben. She wanted details--jui
“Are you sure you don’t want to go with us?” Mom asked as she was bustling around the kitchen the next morning, packing up snacks and drinks for the drive. They were going into Great Falls to see the apartment, and Mom was going to stop by and apply at a few other facilities that might need nurses before the one that wanted to hire her needed her to start. She was so scatterbrained at the moment, so out of sorts, I could tell she was anxious and nervous about the entire trip.
The long piece of polished wood stood about six feet tall, it’s top adorned with several large gems that twinkled in the morning light as it filtered through the trees. Sapphires, diamonds, an emerald or two, all of the stones were beautiful, but in the very center of the staff, there was a large opening which I didn’t quite understand. I would have to sort that out later. For now, I took the polished wood in my hand and marveled at how beautiful it was. It fit so nicely in my palm, as if the forest had taken into consideration just how long my fingers were, just how strong my grip would be.
“You know what this is?” I asked Grandma, holding the staff in one hand and Sam’s hand in the other.“Of course I do,” Grandma said before taking a sip from her steaming hot mug of coffee like it was no big deal at all that she knew what the magical weapon I’d just found in the forest was capable of. “I’ve never seen it befor
I sat in my room alone for a few minutes after Sam had left, not sure what to do. I felt as if I had done something wrong, but I didn’t know what it was, and I didn’t know who to ask. The idea of calling Sam and asking him why he ran out the door seemed ridiculous. Likewise, I could hardly call Ben and ask him.After a few moments, I took the box and hid it und