The Gathering

TWENTY-ONE

I BACKED AROUND THE corner so fast I stumbled into one of the little kids. I apologized, then broke into a fast walk and didn’t stop until I was in the bathroom. I would say my humiliation was complete at that point. But it wasn’t. The end of lunch bell rang, we went back to class, and there were two empty seats in our class—Rafe’s and Hayley’s—and they stayed empty for the rest of the afternoon.

I was looking forward to my visit to Mina with Daniel, which I hoped would slap thoughts of Rafe out of my head. Then, in last class, the boxing coach came by and told the guys that he needed to reschedule tomorrow’s early morning meeting for four thirty today. So no visit.

Daniel knew something was bugging me and insisted on driving me to the park gates. He promised to call me later so we could pay Mina a visit that night.

Kenjii had been waiting at the gate and walked home beside me as usual. Otherwise, the woods were silent and still. I caught a whiff of what could have been smoke. I hoped not.

Last night Dad had said a small outbreak of fire had been spreading inland. Luckily, that’s mostly uninhabited wilderness, and they hoped to have any blazes under control soon. Salmon Creek had once been evacuated for wildfires—before we moved here—but it had just been a precaution. Still, it worried me. Nothing is more devastating to a forest than fire. It was enough to make me wish for our typically rainy fall weather.

As I approached the house, I heard someone sawing wood. Had Walter—Dad’s seasonal assistant—come back to Salmon Creek to help Dad because of the wildfires? Was he working on Fitz’s tree house in the meantime? It would be a good ending to a lousy day, but when I didn’t see Walter’s truck in the lane, I figured Dad was cutting up firewood.

When I rounded the house to say hi to him, I saw a figure in the yard, using a handsaw on a small stack of boards. Fitz was stretched out in a sunny patch by his feet. I stopped and stared. Stared so long that Kenjii whined and nudged my hand.

Rafe turned and saw me. He brushed his hair back and smiled, the crooked “real” smile that made my breath catch.

He waved at the pile of wood. Beside it was the blueprint for Fitz’s tree house. “I owe you a birthday present. You mentioned this yesterday. I asked your mom, and she said it would be all right if I gave it a shot. Can’t promise anything, but I’m pretty good with a hammer and saw.”

“Oh.” A stupid thing to say, but all I could think of.

The smile fell. “Or if you’d rather I didn’t …”

“No, that’s … Thanks. It’s just …” It’s just that I have no idea where this came from, and what you’re doing here, and why you’re doing this. I looked at him. “You didn’t say a word to me at school today.”

“You didn’t say a word to me.”

“I was going to. I wanted to talk to you about visiting Annie, but you were with Hayley.”

“Yeah, I heard the rumor that she’d been the one who dosed you. I figured if I could prove it, that might help. She thought I was mad at you, so I used that, chatting her up, trying to get her to admit she’d done it. Nothing, though.”

“You didn’t come back after lunch.”

“Came here to see if I could work on this. Surprise you.”

“Hayley left, too.”

“Yeah, she’s, uh, over by McGill Lake waiting for me. Or she was. I said I was cutting out early, heading there for a swim, hinted she was welcome to join me. I was hoping that would get her to spill about the drugs. Not the nicest thing I’ve ever done, but if she did dose you, she deserves it, and if she didn’t, maybe she’ll decide I’m a total jerk and back off.” He stepped toward me. “I was a jerk yesterday, Maya, and I don’t blame you for backing off. But you said you were confused, and so was I.”

“Because of the drug thing.”

“Not just that. I wasn’t sure about the party, if you were inviting me because you wanted me there or you just wanted to be nice after meeting Annie. I finally decided to go and I wasn’t expecting anything, but then it started out good. Really good. The climb and us talking. And then you went back to your friends, which I totally understood. But I figured maybe it was a hint, too—you’d played good hostess, and your job was done. So I took off for a while. Checked in on Annie. Came back and, bam, everything was good again. We go up to the roof and things are really good, even after I made an ass of myself confessing all that stuff. But then I find out you were drugged, so I don’t know if you do like me or it was the dope. I spend the night worrying about it. I talk to you. Everything seems cool again … only it’s not cool and I get the feeling you’d be a whole lot happier if I just went away and stayed away.”

He wasn’t wrong. About any of it. Even the last part. But happier wasn’t the right word. More like relieved. Whatever was happening between us, it was too much, too fast, and I worried I was going to get hurt. I’d never been hurt before, not like that.

When I went out with guys, I liked it fun and casual. I had a good time while they were around, and when they left, I was okay with that. But if Rafe said he was leaving, I wouldn’t be okay with that and it scared me.

“So …” he said when I didn’t answer. “I’m here doing something to apologize, because I know that I handled yesterday badly. I pushed too hard, too fast, and stormed off in a temper when you needed me to slow down. It won’t happen again. I’d like to turn back the clock to Saturday night, when we were talking, hanging out. I promise not to try to get you back into the woods.” He paused. “For at least forty-eight hours.”

I laughed. “So you are on a schedule.”

“No, I’m impatient. But I will wait.”

“For forty-eight hours. And if there’s no make-out session by then, time’s up.”

“No. I said I won’t try for forty-eight hours. What happens after that is up to you.” He met my gaze. “It always will be.”

My cheeks heated. I glanced over at the pile of wood and tools. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to.” He picked up the saw as I crouched to pet Fitz. “Like I said, Mom was a carver. Annie got her creative talent, but I learned the woodworking stuff.”

He placed another plank on the saw boards.

I straightened. “I should probably say hi to my parents. Can I get you a drink?”

“Water would be good.”

I picked up my backpack and went in the rear door. My parents were in the kitchen. Mom was chopping vegetables at the sink and Dad was sitting at the table, both facing the window with a clear view of the backyard … and Rafe.

We did the usual “how was your day” stuff, but it was awkward, like we were all trying very hard not to be the first to mention the new guy in our yard. Finally, I thanked Mom for letting him take a shot at the plans.

“He seems to know what he’s doing,” she said. “And it is a nice gesture. Very sweet.”

She said sweet in a weird way, like it surprised her or like she wasn’t sure what to make of it.

Dad said, “I’d be a lot more impressed if he wasn’t skipping school to do it.” His tone told me he wouldn’t be impressed at all, school or no school.

Neither seemed particularly thrilled to have him in our backyard. I wondered what they’d heard about him. No, strike that. I didn’t need to wonder. If anything negative was being said about “the new boy,” they’d heard it. My parents weren’t as involved in the town as others, but that only meant they heard gossip the next day rather than within the hour.

“So …” Mom said, chopping a pepper from the garden. “I didn’t know you were friends with Rafael.”

I shrugged as I added ice to an empty glass. “It’s recent.”

She pushed the peppers into a bowl. “That tree house is a big undertaking. More than I’d expect from a new friend.”

“Are you seeing him?” Dad cut in. “Dating?”

“I don’t know.”

“How can you not know? Either you are or—”

“Rick,” Mom said.

I filled a glass with water and took a couple cans of pop. Grabbed granola bars, too. Then I said, “It seems to be heading that way. Is it a problem?”

Dad looked like he wanted to say “Hell, yes,” but only pressed his lips together and looked at Mom. She took a cucumber from the pile of vegetables, and I knew I’d hurt her feelings. Normally, I’d come home and say, “Hey, Mom, I met this guy,” and tell her all about him. But this was different. I wasn’t ready to talk about Rafe until I had it worked out myself.

“If you have a concern …” I didn’t finish, because I wasn’t sure how to. Was I saying I wouldn’t go out with a guy if they were worried? Normally, yes. With Rafe, no. It wouldn’t matter what they thought or said. I had to make my own choices here, pay the price if I made the wrong ones.

“Just be careful,” Mom said.

“I always am.” I kissed her cheek and gave Dad a hug, and I’m not sure if that helped or not.

Rafe and I talked for over an hour as he worked. Once we started, the conversation just kept going, from one topic to another. I sat on the grass, dividing my attention between Fitz and Kenjii.

It was after five when he looked up at the blazing sun, wiped his forehead and said, “I was just thinking about this afternoon, when I mentioned that swim to Hayley. I could really go for one now, if you’re game.”

When I didn’t answer, he glanced over, squinting as he tried to see my expression.

“I don’t really swim.”

“Me neither. Just paddle around, cool off. We could—” The sun went behind the clouds and he got a good look at my face. “That’s not what you mean, is it?”

“I just don’t swim much lately, and the only lake in easy walking distance is the one—”

“Where your friend drowned last year.” He put down the hammer and shook his head. “I’m sorry. That was really inconsiderate.”

“No, it wasn’t.” I got to my feet. “We could, but I’d just rather not. If you want to do something, there’s a place I can show you. For climbing. Not exactly the break you had in mind, but there’s an overlook at the top. It’s a great view.”

“Sure.”

I had to tell my parents. I stepped just inside the screen door and said we were going for a walk, which got a long moment of silence.

“Just to the overlook,” I said. “We’ll take Kenjii.”

“And your cell phone,” Rafe said, coming up to the door. “Don’t forget your cell, because if I fall, I’m screwed. I don’t have one.”

Smooth. He obviously knew my parents weren’t impressed with him. If he took any offense at that, he didn’t show it, just added, “I’ll have her back by dinner.”

“Would you like to join us, Rafael?” my mom asked. “Or do you go by Rafe?”

“Usually.” A disarming grin. “Unless I’m in trouble.”

I opened the door and motioned him in as he continued, “About dinner, I appreciate that, but my sister will be expecting me.”

“Another night then,” Mom said. “Maybe on the weekend we can have a barbecue, and invite your sister.”

“Or,” I said, turning to Rafe, “if you want to skip the whole awkward meet-the-family social event, you could just submit your life story, including your views on politics, religion, and every social issue imaginable, along with anything else you think they might need to conduct a thorough background check.”

Mom sighed. “I really don’t know why we even bother trying to be subtle around you.”

“Neither do I. It’s not like he isn’t going to realize he’s being vetted as daughter-dating material.”

Rafe grinned. “So we are dating?”

“No. You have to pass the parental exam first. It’ll take you awhile to compile the data. They’d like it in triplicate.” I turned to my parents. “We have Kenjii. We have my cell phone. Since we aren’t yet officially dating, I’m sure you’ll agree that’s all the protection we need.”

Dad choked on his coffee.

Mom waved us to the door. “Go. Have fun. Dinner will be at six thirty.”