The Chronicles of Fire and Ice_The Revealing Page 5

  “You boys want to stop by and grab a snack?” I asked.

  They both agreed as their faces lit up like Christmas morning.

  We walked inside the restaurant. Business was just about dead besides the older couple in the corner sharing a bowl of soup and a sandwich.

  “Hey, Dad,” Marcus and Elias said as we walked inside.

  “Hey, Mr. Peterson,” Dalton and I greeted.

  “What brings the whole crew in here today?” Mr. Peterson asked.

  “I just wanted to bring the boys in to grab a snack while we dropped Marcus off,” I said.

  “What are you guys having?” Mr. Peterson asked everyone. I ordered a smoothie as usual.

  “Carrot cake please,” Dalton requested.

  “I’ll take a slice of red velvet, Dad,” Elias said.

  “You know, in the summertime we could really use some extra help around here, Dylan. If you ever want to make a few extra bucks outside of what your parents give you, there is always a job for you here at the Carrot Cake,” Mr. Peterson said.

  “I’ll keep that in mind, Mr. Peterson.”

  We all took a seat at the stools and indulged in our snacks.

  “I'm thinking about taking Dalton to the mall with me when I leave here. Mind if Elias comes with us?” I asked Mr. Peterson.

  “Not a problem. I’ll call and let his mother know.”

  “Sweet. Mom’s birthday is coming up, and Dalton and I wanted to go pick her out something.”

  “And I want a new game for my system,” Dalton said.

  “All right then, boys, finish up and let’s go see what we can spend our money on,” I said.

  “Here, Elias.” Marcus gestured. He pulled Elias to the side, put his arm around his shoulder, and handed him ten dollars. “It’s all I have right now, use it wisely,” he whispered.

  “Thanks, Marcus,” Elias smiled.

  We got to the mall and the boys ran straight to the gaming store.

  “Stay in there. I’ll be right back,” I said from outside the store. I moseyed my way to a few stores and got myself some new tanks for the summer. I lost track of what I really came to the mall for — Mom.

  “So who’s the lucky lady?” One of the jewelry associates asked.

  “It’s my mom. Her birthday is next week. I want to get something nice for her.” I looked down to catch the name on her badge only to notice she was checking me out. I can understand her reasons. I smirked inside but was straight-faced on the out. She had to be my mother’s age.

  “Ashley, is it?” I asked.

  “Why yes, it is,” she purred. Her right shoulder shrugged up and body followed, leaning across the glass barrier.

  “So can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure thing.”

  “Let’s say you’re seventeen-year-old son was shopping for your forty-fifth birthday gift. What do you think he would get you?”

  She cleared her throat abruptly, took a step back from the counter and suddenly went into professional mode — standing tall and straightening her hair.

  “Well, you should check out these diamond earrings, but then again my seventeen-year-old son wouldn’t be able to afford a gift like this.”

  “Can I take a look?” I asked. She removed them from behind the glass and handed them to me. I admired them for a moment. “They’re pretty nice. I’ll take them. Looks like something Mom would wear.”

  “Really. Don’t you want to at least know the price?”

  “Humor me.”

  “Two ninety-nine.”

  I handed her my card. “Can you wrap that up for me as well?”

  She rolled her eyes and almost snatched the card from my hands. She probably thought I was some spoiled little rich kid.

  “Thank you again, Miss Ashley.”

  I walked back to the gaming store and looked around for my brother and Elias. As I looked around, my pulse sped when there was no sign of them. I called their names out and got no response. My breaths became shallow and my heart was on one wild ride.

  Graduation

  Chapter 5

  My brother and Me

  How could I be so careless?

  I wasn’t even gone for more than twenty minutes and I already lost them.

  Great job Dylan.

  Everything horrible that could happen to them, I thought of. I got dizzy as the colors of people’s shirts started to blend and the sound of pointless chitchat fuzzed like a static radio station. I walked around asking people if they saw either of the boys. I described them using hand gestures to mark their height compared to my own body. Nobody had a clue and some didn’t care.

  “Dalton! Elias!” I screamed.

  Nothing.

  “Excuse me.” I walked up to one of the employees. “Have you seen two boys about this tall? One was wearing a red shirt and the other was in plaid. Both are wearing blue jeans.”

  She looked at me and nodded.

  “Oh yeah, I know where those two are.”

  A sigh of relief came over me. I could breathe again and the knot in my stomach untied. “Could you point me in the direction?” I wiped the sweat from my forehead and followed her. She took me to a room located through one of the store doors. It wasn’t huge so we were there in just a few steps. I walked in and the shelves were loaded with video games. I looked to the right and there they were, playing video games on one of the consoles.

  “They’re testing one of the games releasing next week. Drag Race 5,” she said.

  “Thanks.”

  She walked off still going on about the game. I went over and stood behind them. The way their bodies moved and twisted with each turn of the car was an indication of just how sucked into the game they were.

  I interrupted them.

  “Ahem. Thought I told you two not to leave. Thought something bad happened to you guys.”

  “What are you talking about, Dylan?” Dalton continued to mash buttons.

  “Yeah, you said don’t leave and we didn’t,” Elias said.

  They were both technically right. I told them not to leave the store and in reality, they didn’t. They dropped the controllers and followed me out the store. We dropped off Elias at the front of his house.

  “Sorry that I scared you today, Dylan. I didn’t mean to,” Dalton said as we drove home.

  “Don’t worry about it.” I reached my hand behind his seat and pulled out a box. “Check these out,” I smiled. “What do you think?”

  He opened the box and took the earrings out.

  “I think Mom will like them.” He closed the box with a smile.

  “I think so too.”

  The sun was just starting to set, the sky dark and peachy. I put the box in the trunk so Mom wouldn’t find it. We walked inside. The smell of dinner was at its peak. My mouth salivated at the aroma of steak and potatoes — Dad’s favorite. I usually ate dinner in my room or at the table when we all sat as a family. Tonight I wanted to eat in Dalton’s room, just the two of us.

  I walked inside with two plates and took a seat on the beanbag chair. His room was painted blue with red and yellow race car décor. I used to have his old room until he was born. When mom had him, I told Dad to put bunk beds in my room so I could share with my little brother.

  “You can sit on the bed, Dylan.” Dalton nodded to the bed.

  “Nope, I’m good on the beanbag. What are we watching?” I said. He hopped off the bed and took a seat next to me. “SpongeBob Circle Pants, my favorite,” I said.

  “Square.”

  I smirked. “I know what his name is.”

  We gave the TV our undivided attention as we sat there and grubbed out. I really wanted to chat with Dalton, so I took this time to connect with him.

  “That was pretty good, huh?” I put the plate down. “Can I talk to you, Dalton? It’s about me leaving for college in the fall.”

  “Yeah, Dad already told me.”

  “Dad? What exactly did Dad tell you?”

  “That I will have my ow
n game room pretty soon.”

  Thanks Dad.

  Thanks technology.

  Together you two have corrupted Dalton.

  “I think Dad was kidding. I will still need a room for when I visit and the summer. What he was trying to say was that I won’t be next door anymore and I won’t see you every day.”

  “How long will you be gone for?”

  “Most of the year and home during summer and holidays.”

  “Dylan?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Can I go to college too?”

  “Sure, in about six years. I promise if Dad is anything how he is now, he’ll be filling out applications for you.” I nudged him playfully, and he returned the gesture.

  Dalton and I have always had each other’s back. Most of my friends can’t stand to be around their younger siblings, but I look forward to it. I enjoy being a role model. I always said that if I had to be stuck on an island with one person for the rest of my life, I would undoubtedly choose Dalton.

  “How far will you be from home?” he asked.

  “That’s a hard question. I haven’t decided yet. I need to figure it out though because I’m running out of time.” The conversation migrated and I found myself talking to myself. I turned to him. “I should know in about a week. I promise I’ll tell you.”

  “Just don’t go too far. I’ll still need rides to the mall when Mom and Dad won’t take me.”

  “Check this out. When you turn sixteen and get your license, I will give you my car.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, but you still have plenty of time to practice on your video games before you get behind a real wheel.”

  We headed down to the kitchen and cleaned up our plates. Mom and Dad were sitting in the living room on opposite couches. Dad was watching TV while Mom was on her laptop. I took out some vanilla ice cream from the freezer and some junk food out the pantry. Dalton got a bowl and loaded it with ice cream and sugary toppings. I glanced over at him and smiled. I loved my brother and my family more than the air I breathed. College will be hard, but I was ready to take my next step in life. I think.

  Chapter 6

  Project Prom

  It was the day before prom. The prom committee was in a frenzy running around finishing the decorations in the gym, making sure tomorrow would be a night we’d all never forget. Not ironically the girls did all the work while partaking in conversations about dates, dresses, and makeup. The boys, of course, were huddled in the corner of the gym watching all the magic happen; their conversation focused more on the “after prom.”

  I walked into the gymnasium to Jessica barking orders, pointing in every which direction.

  “That goes there, we need more balloons here, here, and there. More streamers and glitter people. Hey, Dill Pickle.” Her arm connected around the small of my back. My arm gently rested on her shoulders. We walked in sync.

  I was stunned at the amazing job she and the decorating committee had done. Giant balloons covered the floor, some hovered to the ceiling. The DJ booth was set and large hand-painted paper covered the walls that showed off the skilled artists of our senior class.

  They transformed our sweat smelling, dull, and boring gym into something that looked like it should be featured on HGTV.

  “Wow, everything really looks great, Jess,” I said. She locked onto my elbow, smiling at my compliment.

  “I have to make sure everything is perfect for us tomorrow night. What time are you picking up your tuxedo?” she said as if I better not forget.

  “Once I leave here, Marc and I are gonna run and pick ‘em up.”

  “Jeff, can you hang that just a smidge higher, and kick a few balloons in that corner over there, it looks a little lonely. And what about your hair?” She held a curl that dangled near my eye and stared at it like it was a smelly sock before letting it go.

  “What about it?”

  “Nothing. I’m just saying, how about a haircut? I think it should be something new and different.”

  “No, Jess, the curls stay. You know I can’t let these bad boys go.” I shook my curls in her face.

  “What a dork.” She pushed me away from her. “It was just a suggestion. You never know, you just may like it.”

  “But you love this dork.”

  “Yes, I do. OK, guys, take ten and get some coffee, we’re going to be in for a long night. All right, Dill Pickle, I’m kicking you out. Are we still on for lunch tomorrow?”

  “Yes, along with Marc and Monica.”

  “If they must, I guess they can join.”

  “That’s the prom spirit.” I hugged her and left the gym.

  At the car, Marcus was leaned over the hood with his books sprawled open, a pen resting on his ear.

  “Are you seriously doing work right now,” I said. “School’s over.”

  “Just reading over some things.”

  “Hey, your mom is picking up the boys, right?”

  “She said she was.”

  “Cool, let’s head out.”

  When we got to the tuxedo shop downtown, an older man with white hair and a hump in his back greeted us, different from the brunette with her stomach busting out of her shirt who took our measurements a few weeks ago. We handed him our tickets and he headed to the back. As we waited, we took a seat on an old couch that had half the stuffing missing. For a moment I thought I heard him back there wrestling with the plastic. Whatever it was, it sounded like the plastic won.

  “Can you believe it?” Marcus said. “We’ve been friends since the third grade, best friends since the sixth, now prom and graduation next week.”

  “Where did the time go?” I looked over at Marcus as he reminisced, chuckling at his thoughts.

  “Remember that time in fourth grade during recess when Philip tripped me and I fell into the mud puddle?” I said.

  “It was classic.” Marcus laughed.

  “All the people that laughed at me, you were the only person to lend me a hand.”

  “What about when I joined the chess club in the seventh grade?” Marcus asked.

  “Do I? I was embarrassed to be seen hanging around you.”

  “Yeah, but the next week you joined too, even though you didn’t know how to play chess.”

  “Oh yeah. I tried blocking that memory out. Thanks, bro.”

  “We do have a lot of memories, man. I’m ready to see how things play out during these next couple of years.”

  “Our college years will be the best journey of our lives.” I guaranteed him. Having the chance to reminisce on some of the memories we both shared reinforced the real value of friendship. I wasn’t sure how many people I would keep in contact with after this summer, but Marcus was no doubt my best friend and brother for life.

  “OK, one tux for Mr. Peterson and … one for Mr. Perry.” The clerk said. We paid him, grabbed our tuxes and headed home.

  Marcus greeted his mother and brother when we walked in his house then ran off to the bathroom.

  I took a seat on the squeaky leather couch that sounded off with every movement and gave my best effort to get comfortable. I grabbed the photo album underneath the coffee table. The first page had an old Polaroid that was discolored around the edges. The bottom portion read in red cursive ink: “Peterson Family.”

  “Funny, isn’t it?” Mrs. Peterson said, staring from behind me. “That picture was taken right outside the adoption agency the day we took Marcus home. He wasn’t even old enough to walk or talk,” she giggled. “Ryan’s parents weren’t too crazy about the idea of us adopting a kid of a different race. They said it would only be trouble for him in the long run. The moment we first held him, we knew he was something special.”

  “He’s lucky to have great supporting parents like you and Mr. Ryan,” I said. She reached for the book, and I handed it to her. I sat quietly. I didn’t want to interrupt the nostalgic moment she appeared to be having.

  “Thank you, Dylan. We’re glad that he has found a friend in you.”
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br />   “Well, I guess that just makes me quite the lucky guy then,” Marcus said, standing in the doorway.

  “Well.” She wiped her eyes. “I’ll let you two get to whatever it is you have planned.” She left the room.

  “OK, so what’s the agenda for tomorrow?” Marcus walked over and took a seat next to me. The couch squeaked.

  “Here it goes.” I pulled out my phone and opened the calendar. “Lunch at noon, Jessica will be at my house so I’ll pick you and Monica up from here. After that, we’re going to Walkway Over the Hudson for some good old Poughkeepsie town fun. Once we head back, the girls will need the remainder of the night to get ready. You know how they are with their hair, make-up, clothes and…” I was interrupted.

  “Yeah, I got it, girls take a long time.”

  “Chill.” I threw a hand up. “Now, are you ready for the big finale?”

  “Wait, there’s more? I feel like I should be taking notes or something.” He rolled his eyes.

  I knew he wasn’t in the spirit of prom like I was. “There’s the limo,” I said. “And you rented it.”

  “Where on earth am I going to get the money for a limousine rental?”

  “My parents rented it for me, but we’re telling everyone that all your hard work slaving at the Carrot Cake paid for it.”

  “I feel like you’re up to something.”

  “Me? Never.”

  Marcus had a slight glow to his skin. I believed he was secretly excited just as much as everybody else was for prom. It was cool if he didn’t want to admit it.

  “So seven-thirty I’ll pick you up and then we’ll go get the girls. The best night of our senior year will take place tomorrow. How does that sound?” I wrapped my arm around him and hugged him in closer to me.

  “Well, sounds like you have the whole itinerary for the day. I’ll just tag along for the ride like I always do.” He shrugged.

  “Cheer up, party pooper, it’s prom.”

  I gathered my things, told his family goodbye, and headed home.

  The next morning I was the first to awaken. All the excitement and anxiety didn’t allow for me to sleep very long. I did my daily hygiene routine then went outside to grab the day’s issue of the Poughkeepsie Journal, our town’s famous newspaper. The day was already perfect. The sun was peeking out, the sky a nice cool blue with a temperature to match. Walking back inside, I ran into Dad who normally got the paper himself.