Back to You (2 page)

“Yes, it’s October 4th today,” he confirms, smiling at last. “Sometimes, you are out of this world, you know that?” Vuk’s hoarse, earnest laugh is like a warm embrace.

“Want to celebrate your anniversary moving here with me? But take it easy, this is the first one.” His eyes burn deep gold.

I don’t lower my guard. “I don’t want to celebrate, and I don’t want to be wished a happy anniversary.”

“That’s a shame.” He brushes a lock of his unkempt golden hair from his face. “I thought you might have changed your mind. Usually humans love birthdays, anniversaries, parties, presents, stuff like that.”

“Well, you did say that I was out of this world, right?”

I’m dismayed. My nightmares veiled in fear now seem a reality. First of all, I have absolutely no intention of celebrating the day I lost Jason. And then I have Vuk here by my side, watching me, determined to come back into my life. I feel the warmth of tears looming over my eyes a glimmery sheen that brightens and dims my gaze.

“Whatever. Maybe later, then. Just please don’t try to create a barrier between us, I can’t stand it. But I think a celebration would be cool, fun. Everyone will be there. And everyone will be good to you and do everything you say, little girl. That’s what’s so great about an anniversary.”

“And what’s it all mean to you?”

“Same as ever. A lifetime of captivity, a tie that can never be broken, that sort of thing.” He taps the leather bracelet on his right wrist, a symbol of his promise.

“Oh well, if that’s all it is.” I laugh, still trying to make the boundary clear. As usual, when Vuk is around, boundaries get blurred.

“You see, Stella,” He purrs my name. “Given that the date slipped your mind, it’s the least I can do.”

“I guess, technically, speaking,” I say. “Yippee!”

Vuk’s lips curve into that irresistible smile of his.

“You should be in a good mood. If not today, when?”

“What if I don’t want to be in a good mood?”

“Now there’s a surprise.”

He leans over me, taking my face into his hands, stroking it gently, his fingertips delicately tracing my cheekbones, the outline.

“I’ll see what I can do,” he whispers into my ear, his expression now composed. But there’s something about his stubbornness that raises doubts.

“You know, I’ve just realized that you’re dressed all in black, sharper than usual.”

“I told you, kid. You’re not really present just lately.”

“I guess so.” I feel helpless and somehow vulnerable in his embrace.

My ear is crushed against his chest, I hear his hypnotic, reassuring heartbeat. I smell the sweet, familiar aroma on his skin. He holds me tenderly, holding my head with one hand, as if I were as fragile as a newborn baby. And that’s just how fragile I feel in his arms.

“Why don’t you start making your way there. I’ll just get my wits about me and join you.”

“Yeah, sure! Like I believe you!”

“You’d just wait for me to leave to find an excuse not to come. I gotta strike the iron while it’s hot.”

“Vuk, do you know how many moving here anniversaries I’ve had?”

“That’s got nothing to do with it. And four isn’t many, anyway,” he smiles. “Am I wrong, or do humans not usually celebrate a few anniversaries before they get sick of them? Anyway, we can talk about it later. Right now, I have to take you someplace.”

“What do you mean?” I reply with a grunt, my curiosity perked.

“You have no idea?”

“No! Just tell me.”

“No way!”

I pout as he drags me to my closet. He opens a door and looks over my clothes.

“Oh no!” I cry. “No party, no presents. Scott promised me!”

“You don’t want to spoil everyone’s fun, do you?”

“I thought that
I
got to choose what to do on
my
anniversary,”

He picks out a blue dress and throws it at me.

“Put this on.”.

Vuk waits outside the door as I put clothes on. I realize that taking time to look over my overly clean, sterile room, as if I never lived in it, could be dangerous. I lie still on the bed for a few minutes, waiting for him to come back, but nothing happens. Surely something will come back. The pain, or that dull feeling. Surely it won’t last.

Then I try to remove that thought and, as I dress, I concentrate on the fact that Vuk will be there when I emerge from my bedroom.

I dress without really thinking about what lies ahead, gazing aimlessly at the dark vegetation outside the window. The clouds, which have just begun to form, are swollen; tonight there’s no chance that they’ll allow a ray of moonlight from the west to penetrate, the same beams that earlier brightened Vuk’s divine face. As the seconds tick by, thoughts of how to get out of what Vuk has in store for me race through my mind. I take no pleasure in being forced to celebrate when I’d much rather just curl up into a ball and despair about the bad hand life has dealt me. And I did kindly request, actually I ordered in no uncertain terms, that no one was to throw a party for me or even mention the date. To avoid running the risk, I’d even taken the evening off work. But it would seem that Vuk is not the only one to have blindly ignored my request.

Worse still––not only do I have to attend a party, but I will be the center of attention, something that for someone as shy and gawky as me is never welcome. I know that I’ll probably fall flat on face at some point in the evening. Please just let me not be my clumsy, self-conscious self tonight!

As soon as I open the door, Vuk loads me on his back and carries me down the stairs to the front door. In the driveway I can make out the outline of a vehicle––a big, bright metallic red Ford truck lurking in the shadows.

Vuk slides me off his back, ignoring my astonished expression. “Did you buy another pickup?”

Vuk leans proudly on the hood, grinning broadly.

“Yup, yesterday. This’ll be its maiden voyage.”

“Cool!” I raise my hand to high-five him. When our hands meet, though, my fingers weave into his, I hold his hand to mine.

“A mean machine, rides like a rocket.” His face lights up proudly.

“I bet it does. But I was kinda’ fond of the old one,” I sigh. “She was a beauty.”

“Sorry,” Vuk apologizes. He nods toward the engine. “But I didn’t have much choice.” He shrugs and unintentionally reminds me of the awful moment of the accident.

“This one is awesome too, huge!”

“You gotta change your ride sometimes, right?” He smiles.

“Yeah, sometimes you need a change.”

I release my grip on Vuk’s hand. I act nonchalantly, determined to be easygoing about maintaining that boundary between the two of us.

“I was thinking about getting something else,” adds Vuk. “A fierce motocross bike, with wheels up to my waist, the back lights with a metallic protective cover, and two spare plates on the bearings.”

“If I win the lottery, I’ll buy you one for Christmas,” I promise.

He looks at me tenderly and puts his mouth to my ear.

“I already have everything I need.” He runs his warm fingers down my check to my chin. Then he tries to help me into the shiny new pickup.

I cross my arms and don’t budge an inch, staring challengingly into those golden eyes.

“It’s my anniversary, I should be allowed to drive.”

“I thought we were pretending this wasn’t a special event.”

“You’re the one who insisted.”

“Now I’m doing as you asked.”

“If it’s not a special day for me, then I don’t have to come out with you tonight, right?” Being forced to go out unexpectedly had gotten on my nerves, already on edge, so much that I was being even more sarcastic than I wanted.

“Ok then.” He slams the passenger door shut and walks around the truck to open the driver’s door. “It’s all yours, happy anniversary.”

“You’re really going to let me drive your brand new pickup? Wow, that’s some news!”

As I say this, Vuk glances at my Corvette and shakes his head in disapproval.

“Yeah, your car ain’t exactly in the best shape.”

I wrinkle my nose. I don’t like it when my car, my baby, is criticized. It’s my pride and joy. It has never let me down, we’ve shared joy and pain. And it’s got charisma to kill for, despite its years of honorable service.

“Whoa, cool it,” I warn him. “My car is a veteran.” I never lose my cool with Vuk, even if lately he’s been putting me to the test. Vuk, barely able to contain his laughter, smiles.

“I can’t argue with that, kid.”

“That’s more like it.”

“But you want a better ride?” He asks, leaning his arms on the roof of the pickup. “Then get in. But I’d better do the driving.”

I stand still, uncertain, scrutinizing him.

He peels his body off the truck’s bodywork and walks toward me, his face becoming warm, soft. His arms around my waist are a snare I cannot and don’t want to escape.

“Please, little girl, we need to get moving.” His voice is delicate, a fine sandpaper whisper. I sigh and resign myself to getting into the pickup, half regretting not to have insisted. I slide into the passenger seat. His face cracks a smile and he jumps into the cab, his emerald eyes fiery as he prepares to hit the road.

“Right, let’s go!” he says, after making sure I’m comfortable in my seat. “We’ve got some celebrating to do.” His usual smile becomes even more breathtaking.

“Ok,” I consent.

And Vuk backs up the long, narrow drive.

News

As he drives,
I scan radio stations looking for some decent tunes. But white noise fills the cabin.

“Reception’s not great, is it?”

He glances over at me and shakes his head in disapproval. “This stereo is the latest generation. Turn off the multimedia option if you want to listen to the radio.”

I feel the my face flush as I follow his instructions. I sneak a look at Vuk’s expression as some hard rock fills the cab. I can’t help but smile––nobody could deny that the contrast of his black outfit with those stunning green eyes takes his good looks to a new level, almost surreal. And the fact that he’s wearing such an elegant black suit makes me nervous. But a glance down at my own outfit makes me even more nervous.

“Us wearing these fancy clothes, it makes me edgy. Nothing good can come of it!”

“Oh, yeah?” Vuk replies. “You’re leaving the house for the first time after your time as a zombie, and suddenly you’re the expert?”

“Can I just ask when will you take the time to tell me exactly what we’re doing tonight?”

“How can you not have guessed yet?”

“Is it so obvious that I should be ashamed I don’t remember?” Unless it’s … but I’m too scared to translate my suspicions into thoughts or words.

“You know, I really don’t want to embarrass you, but yes, absolutely!” Vuk stifles a laugh and looks at me. “I love it when you blush.”

I ignore him, shake my head to rid it of certain thoughts, and change the subject.

“I swear, I won’t go anywhere else with you if you insist on choosing what I have to wear, like this ridiculous blue dress with the label still attached that has been stuffed in the back of my closet under all the other clothes I never wear.” It’s more suited to a fashion runway than Medford. But it’s too late to regret not having worn the bottle green dress my mother gave me a couple birthdays ago.

“Did I tell you how lovely you look tonight?”

“Maybe you need glasses!”

“My eyesight is just fine, thanks.”

“Well, you did choose this dress!”

He pretends not to hear me, as a mischievous smile curls his lips.

“Maybe your judgment isn’t exactly objective,” I add.

“I couldn’t disagree more.”

At that point, my phone begins to ring, distracting my gaze from his face. I pull the phone from my coat pocket and, for an instant, scrutinize the “unknown caller” written on the display.

“Hello?”

“Yes, it’s me. Who is this?” I ask.

“No, to be honest, I don’t remember.”

“Ah, you’re Scott’s nephew. Hi.”

“Tyler?” asks Vuk, suspiciously.

I nod and cover the phone with my hand. “What’s up?” I mouth.

He just shakes his head and stifles a laugh.

“No, I’m in the car,” I reply. “What are you doing in town?”

I hear a noisy vehicle passing and the sounds of a crowd in the background. His voice becomes shrill. “I’ve just arrived at the station,” he yells.

Overhearing, Vuk rolls his eyes incredulously, and smiles broadly.

“He’s gotta be kidding! Let me talk to him.”

I frown and the terrible truth begins to dawn on me. I hesitate, pass him the phone, and then look down at the unlikely dress Vuk has forced me into tonight.

“Hey, Tyler. It’s Vuk Wolf.” Friendly enough. Then his tone changes, becomes more menacing.

“Sorry, but Stella is busy right now, for everyone but yours truly. No offense, man.” I know Vuk’s voice well enough to notice the underlying hostility. “Sorry if there’s been some kind of misunderstanding!” And he hits the “end call” button, a laugh of satisfaction escaping his lips. Then he turns to me, radiating sweet innocence.

“What?”

In a moment his eyes melt away my anger. I can’t argue with him when he cheats like this.

“What was all that about?”

“Maybe I should warn you.”

“Please do.”

He sighs, but doesn’t reply. He hits me again with the full intensity of those shining emerald eyes.

I try to read them, and an instant later my relief fades to dust as my intuition points me to the terrible truth. My mind is so hazy that such an obvious and important detail completely slipped my mind, despite Vuk’s clues.

“You really are taking me to the bar for a ‘coming to Medford’ anniversary party, aren’t you?”

“You seem genuinely surprised.”

“Yeah! I am!”

“You, Jeff, and Scott celebrate the occasion every year. Maybe I’m just too conventional, traditional. But don’t be so obstinate, Stella.” His gaze doesn’t waver, his effort to maintain self-control intense. “And I bet you suspected it was something else.”

I try to shrug off his reply and cross my arms, leaving his theory hanging in the air. My anxiety-veiled hopes, at that point, seem like the nonsense of a madwoman.

“You said that today was the 4th, right?”

“Yep, October 4th.”

I sigh mournfully. I had forgotten that today was a special day. It was the last thing on my mind. I shut my eyes tightly.

“What is it?” Vuk asks gently.

“I came here exactly four years ago.” If my head was more together, I would have remembered today as the little calendar in the corner of my display was trying to tell me this morning. I would have noticed Scott’s strange behavior yesterday at the bar. My anniversary has been celebrated in Medford at the same bar every single year. At the end of the day, it’s his bar, he makes the decisions. It’s not up to me.

“So much has changed.”

“I know,” I say, “I was just thinking the same thing. Nothing is like it was before. But now it’s starting all over again. The car ride, the welcome party…”

“Well, this won’t be your last, Stella.” Vuk suddenly tenses up with a deep and determined tone. His lips tighten bitterly, as if he wants to guarantee something of which he himself is only half convinced.

My gaze wanders out of the window again. We’re already halfway there. Anger causes my face to flush, I can’t get the anniversary out of my head. This is the day I officially moved to Medford. Jeff welcomed me in style with a huge party and I met Jason Rees for the first time in the offices of the college. But it is also the date that he left me, one year ago. Yep, the very same day I moved to Medford after all those perfect years, the happiest three years of my life, of any life, even if they were the coldest and cloudiest years in my life, having been brought up on the Mediterranean coast.

“Does Scott know about all this? Will he be there tonight?”

“For sure!” Vuk stifles a laugh. “Seems that only Tyler was out of the loop.”

“Why are you doing this to me?” My voice gradually rises a few levels as each word comes out. His face turns serious again, not expecting my reaction. But he should know that I’ve been dreading this moment for months, and now that it’s here, it’s even worse than I expected.

“But we have to celebrate together, to make up for. Is it too much for your first time out? I don’t mean to rush you.” Despite that same doe-eyed look on his face, I can feel tears of frustration brewing in my eyes. I brace to stop myself from crying.

“And the other day,” I say, “you said you’d show me where you live now. Your new family.”

“Not tonight, Stella,” Vuk replies. “And, for the record,
you
are still my family.” His melancholic stance makes me feel guilty. What? Should I be happy? Well, I’m not! I just want to be left alone. Is that too much to ask? Maybe it is, tonight.

I can feel the anxiety rise within me. There’s nothing to celebrate, tonight of all nights. Every passing day brings that moment back to me, but today it is palpable. It has been exactly a year since Jason left. And that transformed October 4th into a date that should be wiped off the calendar.

I was convinced that Vuk knew all this. There was no way he should be taking me to a party, especially for the first time I’ve been out in a long while. Does he not know me after all this time?

“It just all seems like a nightmare!” I burst out, biting my lip to try to stop the words coming out.

“Well, you’ve got some of the right ingredients for one. The monster driving the blood-red pickup. A classic in horror films.” Vuk laughs.

“Ten minutes in a car with me, and suddenly you’re a horror film expert?”

“You inspire evil thoughts, little girl. So just trust me. Please.” Vuk’s voice is velvety smooth.

“Alright then.” I tighten my arms around my chest. “But mark my words. I haven’t been in an accident for a while now, I bet I will at least break an ankle.”

“You don’t have a problem with quiet nights out, but at the mention of parties, dancing, crowds…” Vuk shakes his head.

“Just look at this outfit, Vuk!” I wave my hand up and down the length of the dress dramatically.

“No one usually accuses me of having good taste, but I outdid myself tonight. Even though you are the one who brings out the beauty of the dress, not the other way around.”

“Vuk, it’s a death trap! It’s so tight I doubt if I’ll even be able to walk. The least we can expect is a broken foot. And just lately I’ve become a walking magnet for disaster!” I show him my leg, bound up in the dress to convince him.

“Hmm…” He stares at my leg for longer than necessary. “I said earlier that you looked cute in that dress, but that’s a criminal understatement. You look amazing!”

The glow from his jade eyes is blinding.

“Remind me to thank you later, if I’m not in traction.”

As we near the bar, I try to recompose myself. But I’m filled with dejection; how can Vuk put me through this humiliation? A few moments of silence pass. Outside the sky has darkened, the clouds becoming more threatening.

“Here we are,” he says as we turn into the now familiar road where The Pats sits––the bar overrun by New England Patriots fans, the one I work in. And two of the biggest fans are Scott and Jeff, my father.

As we approach, I begin to realize that it’s going to be much worse than I imagined.

The lights are all on and there is a crowd of people standing out front. I see Scott waiting at the entrance and my heart leaps. His smile stands out from the crowd like a rare day of sunshine in cloudy old Medford. Massive boxes of flowers––the four o’clock flower, I presume––embellish the windowsills next to the entrance. Pinned up to the doorframe is a rainbow made of balloons and paper garlands have been tied to it.

I look at Vuk, and a nervous giggle escapes my lips.

The glow from the lanterns hung up outside the bar reflects delicately on the massive cedar trees, which surround the building. They are the very same lanterns Jeff used when he used to go camping with Scott and his nephew, Tyler.

“I feel like it’s my fifth birthday,” I sigh.

“Well, you sure don’t wear it well!” Vuk examines me and slips an arm around me for a second.

I take a deep breath and try to calm my nerves. The last thing I want is a party to remind me what day it is. I told Scott not to organize anything. No surprise party, no live music, no fuss. Obviously, my wishes are ignored.

Vuk pulls over to the sidewalk and turns off the motor. He gets out of the pickup and walks round to open my door, his eyes now their natural shade––emerald green with a few flashes of topaz. He offers me his hand. I stubbornly stay put, arms folded, secretly rejoicing in his gallantry.

Vuk can’t drag me out of the pickup, though he wouldn’t hesitate to do it if we were alone. The front of the bar is packed with people there to see tonight’s show, and they would all be guests of the party.

Scott takes it upon himself to almost carry me out of the truck. I try my best to look enthusiastic about the surprise party that I had begged him not to throw.

“Happy anniversary, Ella May!” he exclaims loudly, giving me a great big bear hug. Ella May, his nickname for me, made up of my second name and the month I was born.

“Shh,” I mouth, embarrassed, looking around, and hoping it wouldn’t set off the usual chain of “happy anniversary” cheers.

An amused Scott smiles broadly and kisses my forehead before turning to Vuk. He gives him a friendly punch on the shoulder.

“Took you a while to get her outta the house, eh?”

“Luckily, I know just the tricks to use,” Vuk grins. His voice becomes hoarse and sly, but still with that velvety undertone.

I turn toward him and narrow my eyes menacingly.

“Great work, kiddo!” smiles Scott. “Only you could do it. Thanks for your help.”

“My pleasure.” Vuk returns the smile.

“Your turn soon,” winks Scott, though just what he means is vague. He goes back into the bar.

Vuk takes a few deep breaths to calm his nerves. My eyes are still glued to his face.

“Your turn for what?” I ask, without hesitation. “You promised. No presents!”

“I didn’t spend a dime.”

“I told you I didn’t want anything. Nothing to unwrap and store in some corner.”

“And I listened, more or less.”

He’s standing still, leaning on the shining red pickup, a triumphant smile on his face.

“Not even a dime,” he repeats.

Then he leans in close to me, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.

“Trust me, little girl.”

“Good.”

“It’s a party,” he adds. “Behave yourself!” He makes to lead me to the group of people crowding the entrance to the bar.