Two

        Where We Change

        For a moment, everything seems normal.

            But then I rub my eyes, and that moment is quickly replaced by the events of the last three years. Staring up at my high, slanted, white ceiling, I decide that I better just get up and face the day rather than lying in my old bed until someone has to drag me out of it.

            Looking to my left, I notice that Belle is still asleep in the silent house. As quietly as I can I get out of bed and notice that there are two separate piles of clothes on the beige dresser beside the bed. One is labeled with a sticky note for me, and the other is Belle.

            I don’t get much of a selection other than plaid, jean and the single cotton dress. I look out the window to see the sun shining, not a single cloud in the sky. Without many options, I change out of my old clothes and into a plaid long-sleeved shirt and a pair of navy shorts. Rolling up the sleeves, I make my way as noiseless as possible out of the room and down the stairs.

            Every single step creaks on the way down. I always have known that the plantation house has been in our family for generations, but I don’t remember it being this noisy when I was younger.

            “I knew you would be the first one up,” Grandpa says as I open the front door. I step over his bloodhound, Bear and he groans in response. Settling into one of the rocking chairs, Grandpa smiles at me. “You always were up even before me when you stayed with Grandma and I.”

            Grandma had passed away a little over five years ago and even though he’s had time, my Grandpa still looks sad when he brings up the memory.

            “Grandpa?” I ask, my voice quiet. “How’s Mom?”

            It’s silent for a long time..

            “She’s the same,” he responds truthfully. He watches me with sad eyes but I pretend to be distracted with the trees blowing in the breeze. “Some days she remembers other’s she doesn’t. I’m concerned that if she sees you and Isabelle, it might scare her.”

            “Why?” I whisper.

            “She knows you are my granddaughters, but if she finds out you’re her daughters, she will get upset. I’ve tried many times to explain,” he sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Most of the time, she has no idea that I’m her father. I have to pretend that I’m here to take care of her as a patient, rather than a dad.”

            “So there’s no progress,” I reply sadly. Staring down at my hands, I don’t know how to react. “Has the doctor said anything about her-“ I immediately stop talking when the front doors swings open and Belle steps out.

            “Good morning, Isabelle,” Grandpa smiles. “Hungry?”

            She rubs her eyes, still not awake yet. “Very.”

            “Great! I have some things to do but I called Ms. Grey and she has agreed to take you two out to brunch. She’s even bringing her grandson.”

            The last name Grey rings more than one bell inside my head. There’s a short moment when I can’t remember why the name seems so familiar and then it hits me.

            “Oh, I’m not hungry,” I explain, avoiding everyone’s eyes. “I’ll just stay here. Maybe I can help you,” I offer quickly.

            “Stevie, come on,” Belle whines. “You are not abandoning me. You’re coming. Right Grandpa?”

            Grandpa nods and I groan. I do not want to go whatsoever.

            “Better go get showered and ready, girls,” he smiles, winking at me. “Stephen, you might want to dress up an extra bit. I remember you and the Grey boy being quite fancy with each other years ago.”

            Belle looks at me, her eyes wide. I cover my own with my palms and shake my head. I hear Grandpa laugh as he rocks in his chair.

            “Why don’t you go grab a shower before Stephen?” He says to Belle. Once I hear her inside the house, I finally lower my hands. Grandpa’s watching me, a sad look on his face. “There’s something I need to tell you, Stephen.”

            That sentence is the exact one I hate the most. Every single time I’ve heard it, there has been bad things to follow it.

            There’s something I need to tell you, Stephen. Your cat died while you were at camp.

            There’s something I need to tell you, Stephen. Your mother is sick.

            There’s something I need to tell you, Stephen. We’re moving awar.

            There’s something I need to tell you, Stephen. Your mother and I are getting divorced.

            “I’m no longer taking care of your mother.”

            Our eyes meet, and I am completely speechless. I don’t blink but instead stare, as if being completely still will make this moment less real.

            “I brought her to the Maple Falls Care Facility a few months ago.” Again, I don’t respond. “There’s nothing I can do here that’s better for her. There’s a better chance for her there, with professionals.”

            Slowly, I rise from the rocking chair, finally breaking eye contact. I avoid looking at anything but instead, blur my eyes.

            “Stephen, are you okay?”

            I continue my silence as I walk the deck, each step causing my knees to wobble. When I’m in the house and walking up the steps, I’m still in my daze. Belle comes out of the bathroom, her hair wet. She looks at me, concerned but I don’t speak to her as I walk into the bathroom and close the door behind me.

            It isn’t until the showers on that I allow myself to cry. I guess ever since I left my mother, I’ve been holding it all in, letting myself believe that I was going to come back and things were going to be okay. But she’s not. She’s sick. The kind of sick that you don’t get better from.

            The kind of sick that’s in your brain.

©

            “This is going to be as awkward as hell,” I mutter, rolling up my plaid sleeves. Belle has on a plain blue shirt and shorts that are almost as identical as mine.

            “At least we have each other to talk to,” Belle shrugs, kicking up a stone on the walkway as we head to the road. “When I’m not stuffing my face.”

            She smirks and I playfully bump into her, shoving her away. She comes back and does the same to me and then we continue walking to the deserted road.

            “Do you remember any of your old friends?” I ask Belle curiously, folding my arms across my chest.

            She opens her mouth to speak but instead of words, the sound of a loud horn rings out, as if someone is repeatedly smacking it. Hearing the sound of gravel, Belle and I turn to the right to see an old blue Camaro driving towards us. It’s hard to see through the windshield from the glare of the sun, but I’m pretty sure there’s an old lady in the passenger seat, reaching over to honk the horn.

            Belle and I stand on the edge of the road as it slows to a stop. The driver opens the window and suddenly I can see clearly.

            Sitting in the driver’s seat, is Jacoby Grey.

            “Don’t just stand there like a horse waitin’ for its hay!” Mrs. Grey calls, bending over Jacoby so she can see us. She’s waving pink handkerchief at us, as if it will make a difference. “Get in! Jacoby,” she ushers, patting his shoulders. “Can you get out so those pretty little girls can get in?”

            He nods and steps out of the car. Belle and I stand motionless as he pushes the seat forward. I refuse to look at him as I mutter a thanks and climb in the back seat with Belle right behind me.

            The car ride is ridiculously awkward.

            By the time we get to the diner, I feel like I haven’t breathed the whole way in fear of making a noise. The place is exactly the way I remember it. Black and white tiled floors cover the small, rectangular space, and the walls are painted sea foam. Old pictures hang everywhere, and underneath them are red and brown booths. The counter holds matching barstools, and a waitress is cleaning a glass, smiling at us.

            Belle and I follow silently as the Greys lead us to a booth next to one of the large windows. They take one side and we take the other. Belle squeezes in first, forcing me to be face to face with Jacoby.

            I still refuse to look at him.

            “So you’re Grandpa seemed pretty surprised to have ya two back here,” Mrs. Grey smiles over her menu. “What brings you two to lil’ ol’ Greenbrier?”

            “Summer Vacation,” I reply quickly, feeling three pairs of eyes on me.

            “Actually, we’re here because our dad-“ Belle starts, but I nudge her in the side and she shuts up.

            “Our dad is in the hospital,” I finish, shooting a look at my sister. “Right, Belle?”

            “Right,” she mutters, looking over one of the menus on the table.

            “I’m so sorry ta’ hear that,” Mrs. Grey replies sadly. “Is he going to be okay?”

            As she starts asking questions, Belle and I mumble vague answers until the waitress finally arrives. We order and by the time we’ve basically summed up everything, she brings us out food.

            “Mmm,” I mumble, shoving a piece of my buttermilk pancake in my mouth. “I’ve missed this.”

            “Some things never change,” Jacoby mutters, and for the first time, I actually look at him.

            He’s the exact opposite of the scrawny, pale, kid who used to read comic books and chase Dove Miller with snakes. In fact, he doesn’t look at all what I pictured him to be. His short black hair is now grown out, brushed just out of his eyes but I can tell it’s something he has to do quite often. On top of his hair, he’s wearing a plain, red trucker’s hat. He’s still thin, but not as much scrawny. Instead, he looks muscular, like he works out. But I think the most shocking thing, is that he has facial piercings. And not just one, four. On the bottom of his lip, he has two lip rings and on the top, two studs.

            The Jacoby Grey, the one who cried when he had to get his flu shot every year, is pierced.

            I cannot believe this.

            His blue eyes meet mine and I know I have to reply to his comment. So I nod my head towards him and shrug.

            “I guess some things do.”

A/N: Picture of Jacoby on the side :) I know you can't really see his face, but I thought maybe you can just imagine what he looks like lol