Atlantis (19 page)

“
Not that I know of. Not yet at least.” He went to stand up.

“
Please don’t go.”

“
I don’t want to.” Elliott took my face in his hands and kissed my mouth as tears streamed down my cheeks. I couldn’t help it. “I love you Miele. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“
But you don’t know when. . .” I closed my eyes as I wrapped my arms around him.

“
No.” He hugged me close and left before I could open my eyes. He was so quick that he very well may have vanished. I stood there alone.

It was probably at least ten minutes before I could will my legs to move. I drudged home detached, isolated from my other half. I looked around as I walked and realized everything looked grey when Elliott wasn’t around. It was as if I was a character in a silent black and white film. No color. No sound. Boring. Elliott brought color to my world. He cleaned the lens.

Lens.
That’s it! I ran the rest of the way home to find my camera.

Chapter 9. Snapshots

As I approached my front porch, I noticed Charlotte sitting on the stairs waiting for me.
Damn.
I should have used the window.

“
What do you want Harlet?”

“
Where’s Nicholas?” She crossed her arms, probably to show me she meant business. To bad for her, I didn’t care.

“
I don’t know. Why would I?” I tried to walk past her, but she purposely stood in my way.

“
Because I haven’t been able to find him anywhere.” Charlotte’s voice had taken on a hissing quality. “And. . .
conveniently
, you haven’t been around either. I know you two were making up in some hidden place,” her eyes moved to mine attacking me like daggers. “Or making out,” she accused. I’m certain her eyes would have been shooting lasers at me if they could.

He wishes we were making out
, I thought. “Isn’t he supposed to be
your
boyfriend?” If sarcasm could drip from words, mine would need a life vest.

Charlotte glared at me.

“
Boy,
that
would be awkward. . . you and me being friends, if I made out with Nicholas all afternoon, huh?” I didn’t answer her question on purpose. If she was going to be absurd and ask stupid questions, she could worry over me not justifying them with answers.

“Did you kiss him?” I pushed past her and had my hand on the door when she said, “Lilly, answer me!”

“
You won’t believe any answer I give you anyway. . . Ask him.” I shut the door in her purple face and gritted teeth.

I shook Charlotte off, and out of my mind. I had more important things to worry about. As I walked past the kitchen, I realized how hungry I was and backtracked into it. I hadn’t really eaten all day, and this day seemed to be going on forever. Glancing up at the clock on the microwave I saw that it was only 5:17.
Was that the real time?

I opened the fridge to see if my mom had left me anything good. A stack of sandwich meat and cheese was placed next to a loaf of bread, and there was a pan of leftover lasagna. I picked the lasagna. I cut myself a square and zapped it in the microwave. I was so hungry I didn’t even bother to sit down. I ate standing at the counter. One more quick glance at the clock, 5:23.
Seriously, the clock must be broken.
Shoving the last bite into my mouth, I bounded off to my room in search of the camera.

As my hand went to twist the handle on my door, I heard Theory meowing impatiently from the inside of my room. One little grey paw was sticking out from under the door trying to get out.
Whoops.
I had accidently locked her in. I cracked the door and she shot out in the direction of her litter box. I was so distracted with her that I didn’t even see Nicholas sitting on my floor. He was leaning against my bed, looking through my art history book. I didn’t become aware of him until his voice broke the silence.

“
Where’ve you been hoe? I’ve been waiting forever.”

“
Waiting for what?” My voice was colder that I meant it to be, but I couldn’t help it. Nicholas had already used up what little patience I had today.

He sat the book down and motioned for me to come sit beside him. I sat at my computer desk instead. I thought there should be a few feet separating us, just in case he got any more brilliant kissing ideas. I noticed the cord from the camera sticking out from under the bed. Good thing Nicholas was having a hard time looking me in the eyes, or he probably would have noticed how I involuntarily kept glancing at that cord. Actually, knowing Nicholas, he would have misinterpreted my eye glances as checking him out.

“
I’m sorry about earlier Lil. But also, I’m not at the same time.” He kept fidgeting with his hands, careful not to look me in the eyes.

“
I don’t think it counts as an apology if you admit that you’re not really sorry.”

A smirk of a smile crossed his face. He quickly glanced up at me then back down to his hands. “Yeah, you’re right. But it’s true.”

“
I know.” I shook my head in defeat. What was I going to do with him?

“
So. . .am I forgiven?” He still wouldn’t look at me,though I could tell he wanted to. I kept catching sideways glances from him as he waited for my answer.

I rolled my eyes. I hated how I needed him now more than ever. Nicholas was my anchor to reality. My anchor to this world. I gave in. “Yeah, you’re forgiven.”

Nicholas was so happy he jumped up and gave me a hug. He was so strong he lifted me out of the chair. When he finally let me out of his arms, he sat me on the bed. I looked up into his brown eyes and saw that Nicholas was Nicholas again. His happiness was contagious. I smiled also, but not for the same reasons. I was happy to have my friend back. Hopefully he wouldn’t screw it up this time.

“
I think I’d better go,” he said to my surprise. “I don’t want to push my luck again today. Maybe I can come back later?” He was already opening the glass and starting to climb out the window.

As instantaneous as if a brick was just chucked at my head and I dodged out of the way, I realized something. I lunged off the bed at Nicholas and pulled him back into my room with such force he landed on the floor. I slammed shut the window, and closed the blinds.

Nicholas looked up at me from the floor, where I’d left him. “If you wanted me to stay Lil, you could just ask.” He winked. As he went to stand up he added, “What was all that about?”

I only had to say one word for him to understand. “Charlotte.” I said as I sat on my bed.

“
Yeah. . . I meant to ask you about that. What’s her problem anyway?”

“
The problem is she was just downstairs. If she sees you leave here now. . .Ugh!” My hands grabbed tufts of my spikes in frustration. I wanted so badly for Nicholas to leave so I could try and talk to Elliott with the camera again, but I couldn’t have him leave the house right now. It looked bad, and Charlotte wouldn’t believe the truth.

“
If I’m not allowed to leave,” he paused and looked at me, “not that I mind.” He winked at me again. “Will you at least tell me why? You know, besides the obvious you-want-my-body reason.”

He wished.

I teased back. “Well besides that. . .” I took a deep breath and sighed.
He should know.
“Charlotte likes you.”

Nicholas looked confused. “I like her too,” he shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.

I couldn’t believe he still didn’t get it.

“
Nicholas.”

“
Lilly.” He mocked the serious tone I took with him.

“
Charlotte. . .”

“
Yeah.”

“
Like
likes you.” I winked.

Nicholas laughed. “You’re lying. Since when?”

Could he be serious? “Since forever.” From the look he gave me I could see I was going to have to narrow it down for him. “Since she quit being able to talk to you.”

He sat down next to me on the bed. I could tell he was thinking. Nicholas looked down at me. “It’s been so long since she could talk to me. I’d guess at least a year.”

“
Exactly.” Good. The lightbulb was turning on.

We were quiet again. I could see that he was incorporating this newfound information into the day’s series of events. He scooted closer to me. “This doesn’t change how I feel Lilly. . . about you I mean.”

So much for Nicholas not wanting to push it.

“
Yeah, but do you see my predicament?” My eyebrows raised.

“
Is this why you don’t want to be my girlfriend?”

I shut my eyes.
Deep breaths Lilly. Deep breaths
. Was he being serious right now? I just wanted him to go home. I wanted to be alone. No, I wanted to be with Elliott. “We aren’t doing this again today Nicholas.” I opened my eyes and looked at him.