Making Circles, Vanessa Gilbert [books to read for teens TXT] 📗

“We should probably go join the party,” he said.
I smiled and nodded then replied with, “Okay but promise me one thing.”
“Babe I’ll promise you the world.”
I let one of my embarrassed smiles come out as I asked, “Ha okay well all I need is for you to be my prince. Protect me if you can and be there for me.”
“Babe, if I haven’t been doing that all along then why the hell are you still with me?” He asked smiling
Yes, why indeed.

“Come back now ya’ hear,” my great aunt Amy said as my mom, my dad, Carter, and I all walked out and headed towards the black Ford pickup truck.
“We’ll try,” Dad called back.
“Defiantly,” Mom said.
Both I and Carter nodded knowing that it was a total lie. What they were actually saying was, “Never come back,” and “We won’t we promise”. Carter snaked his hand into mine and gripped my hand protectively as we walked closer and closer to the truck.
I had no idea what it was but…it’s like if I wanted to break up with Carter I’d try…but all he’d have to do is wrap his arms around me and smile…he didn’t even have to wrap his arms around me…he just had to smile…and I was a sucker…I was telling myself each time that if I break up with him I’m a cold hearted bitch and I would regret it for the rest of my life.
I’d bet my life on it that he knew this…and that’s why every time I try to break up with him he just “so happens” to appear and start acting more like a boyfriend and less like the actor he is. Carter let go of my hand, and in the process making me let go of his, then he wrapped his, now free, hand around my waist and pulled me closer to his body.
I loved to feel the warmth that flowed from his body…it was like…like…I don’t know…like he was a dim fire…yes dim but still brilliantly warm and breath taking to watch. I could just imagine the colors he would burn if he was a fire. He would have reds and oranges and greens and maybe even a dim blue…I could just picture it…and each time I did the fire…the fire got bigger and bigger till suddenly…it was the only thing that kept the safety of my mind warm.
It was the only thing the lit up the darkest parts of my mind…of my world…of my life. We finally made it to the truck and climbed in, Carter first and then myself. He got settled into his seat and then patted his lap as an invitation. Like I have anywhere else to sit, I thought. I climbed in then sat on his lap and leaned back on him and began the long ride that involved lots of dozing in and out and of course lots of me playing with Carter’s hands and fingers.
I watched out the window, still mindlessly playing with his fingers, as my parents finished up whatever was being said or whatever was happening and then walked over to the truck. Carter tightened his arms around my waist and then snuggled his face into my hair. I giggled as I heard him take a deep breath and whisper in my hair, “Your hair smells weird.”
I let out a laugh as I said, “Well if my hair smells weird then so should your…face.”
Carter laughed and I could just imagine him shaking his head with his, “Why the hell am I dating this crazy chick,” face on as he starred at the back of my head. I smiled and then starred back at the window. The night air made the area around the house almost…I don’t know…exhilarating…but at the same time…chilling.
The trees surrounded the house and began to lean over and in towards the house. The moon lightened up the dark sky and shadowed the house and trees to give it an…eerie feel, the stars dimed lightly, and of course any creature or person out there looked…looked like creatures of the night…seen only if wanted to be seen.
I looked deep into the eyes of the night…deep into the eyes of the area and soon saw something…someone. I looked closer and began to make out a tall dark figure. The tall figure had eyes made of yellow jewels and teeth that shined in the darkest of night.
I blinked my eyes, rubbed them, and then starred at the figure again…and just like that it was gone. “What-cha starring at babe,” Carter asked.
“Oh nothing…well I thought I saw something,” I admitted sheepishly.
“What?”
“I’m not sure…it was…was some kind of creature. It had yellow eyes and sharp white teeth.”
“Are you sure you’re not just…imagining,” Carter asked.
I stared at him amazed at how much doubt was in his voice. Does he think I’m crazy? How could he think that? I’ve never given him a reason before. “I’m guessing by your expression you are a little angry,” Carter said.
“Well now that you mention it, yes I am, I’m actually quiet pissed,” I said.
“Sweetie, I meant nothing about it just maybe you know…you’re tired and you just saw something we all do it.”
I rolled my eyes at that remark and let out a sigh, oh yea everyone just imagines a strange creature stalking you like prey in the forest while you’re snuggled close to someone you love. I sighed and just nodded. “Yea maybe,” I said.
I would stand my ground and yell that I know what I saw and that I’m not crazy but…what’s the point. He’s probably right…I’m just imagining things and I need to go home and sleep. Both mom and dad climbed into the ford truck and then looked back at Carter and I. Carter still having his face buried in my hair…using my head as a shield from mom and dad’s evil glares as if that would work. Dad starred at me with an expression I knew all too well…it was his, “I know you’re upset and we are going to talk about it one on one.” I nodded, accepting the fact that he could see something went down when they weren’t looking…something that now was shown on my face as a I need to talk to you later kind of thing.
Mom and dad switched positions of the driver and passenger, now it was mom driving and dad in the passenger seat keeping a close eye on me and Carter…mostly Carter. Mom started up the truck and then backed out of the drive way and away from the house. As she did so I stared out the window looking to find any trace of the tall figure that I, apparently, just imagined. I sighed, maybe Carter was right, maybe I’m just tired or something and I need to just go home and relax.
I closed my eyes and let my imagination drive me head first into the depths of my world…of my perfect world…a world where I live in happiness, a world where Carter treated me like his girlfriend, where all my friends got along. With that my mind turned down the run path and soon I was down memory lane remembering what had happened between my friends Jacie and Terri.
I could see that night…that memory…that event as clear as day…as if though it was happening this very moment. I shut my eyes violently and shook my head gently taking in the fact that Carter had his face buried in my hair. Tears pounded on my closed eyelids, demanding to walk among the pink fields and hot sand, demanding to see the world. I wanted to let them out; I wanted to cry so much that nothing was left.
I wanted to curl up in a ball and just ball like a baby…how sad am I? Jacie and Terri were my friends and of course when I go back to school, tomorrow, people will ask…people will…assume. I sighed, it was a huge miss and each day, each hour, each minute…each second it seemed to do nothing but get bigger and bigger and soon its chaos. With that last thought the tears began to spill and with that I began to hide my face…the best I could anyways with my dad starring back at me. I never told my father what happened…and I never planned to.
I whipped the tears away, feeling like a complete wimp, and then leaned back on Carter making him move his face from the covers of my violet red hair and move to the side of my neck so he could look out the window with me. Clouds filled the sky calling down warning of thunder, lightening, and rain. Without thinking I pressed the down button for the windows and watched as the windows slowly crept down so that the wind blew across Carter’s and my face. I took a deep breath enjoying the smell of rain and enjoying the sensation of the moist air preparing for the rain.
I closed my eyes once again and let the water of drowsiness wrap around me and drown me in its un-fightable grasp.

“Arien, baby, wake up,” Carters voice said.
I opened my eyes, the water slipping away from me and allowing me to breathe, to see Carter…and what looked to be the sky? “What…where am I,” I asked, confused and still half way under the water of drowsiness. Carter smiled down at me and said, “We’re at your house. You’re mom and dad were being too lazy to take you up stairs so I decided to take it upon myself.”
Oh yea right, you took it upon yourself just so you could be in my bedroom with a good reason, I thought. I starred up at him as my eyes slowly drifted open and close. He smiled down at him and I watched as soon something covered the sky like a white, chipped blanket. I starred up at the roof of our porch then I starred at Carter’s face. Carter’s hazel eyes sparked like…like something I’ve never seen…almost like a spark of a huge firework that begins to act like its nothing special then it changes to something big and fantastic.
I watched Carters face with the same interest my friends shared when I draw and when a lion is stalking its prey…watching it…studying. I watched as it changed from the porch roofing and to the houses roof. I felt as the warm air wrapped its arms around me and cuddled me, welcoming me home. Carter carried me slowly up the stairs and towards my room. I kept starring up at Carters face and at the white roofing. I let out a tired sigh and then began to stretch a tiny bit. Carter laughed and said, “Hey be careful would you like me to drop you on your ass and just leave you there.”
“Please Carter as soon as I was on the floor you’d begin to freak and ask if I’m okay,” I sighed closing my eyes with my over confidence as plain as the color of paper on my face.
I heard a sharp laugh from Carter and then he said, “Oh so is this what you think Miss He-will-never-hurt-me.”
I laughed and nodded, and just like that I could feel my body falling through the air and hitting something soft. I let out a scream before my body hit the bed and as soon as my body did I opened my eyes and glared at Carter who stood by my bed with his over confident smile on his face. Wow that smile is annoying, I thought.
“You jerk,” I yelled at him lying on my bed