Chapter 22
Monday began as any other - rising early, classes and by the end of the day, homework. Samantha and Melissa had, once again, run into each other in the bookstore downtown after school. Having struck up a conversation, Melissa asked about Samantha's interest in the paranormal. Samantha, remembering their last conversation, was glad to share her recent experience at the Cummings house. Melissa hung on her every word.
“Oh, hey,” Samantha began. “Me and Henry are going to another house this Saturday. You want to go?”
Having seen many houses in Georgia that were believed to be haunted, Melissa jumped at the chance to get involved in their investigation.
“I would love to,” she replied.
Samantha also informed her that Henry would be there as well, but knowing how attracted he was to her, she decided to keep Melissa's involvement a secret, with the intention of surprising him. However, the more she thought about it, the more she believed that Henry might be embarrassed by what she considered a typical male response.
The next day, Samantha again, found herself in class performing the recurring routine of secondary education. She met Henry in the cafeteria for lunch, and as she began telling him of the invitation she made to Melissa, they both heard a voice from nearby.
“Is it okay if I joint you?”
Melissa had seen them as she left the register and with the manners of a southern belle, asked to sit with them.
“Oh, sure,” Samantha replied. “You remember Henry?”
Melissa sat with gracious poise that Henry and Samantha were not accustomed to.
“Yes, at the bookstore,” she answered. “I understand you may have found a haunted house. There are a lot of them in Georgia with the Civil War and everything. Some people just don't know how to move on.”
Having again broken into a sweat, Henry was unable to fully absorb the conversation, being distracted not only by her beauty, but also her charm and personality. Everything about her seemed to sparkle, and in Henry's eyes, she was an angel, a rare specimen of feminine perfection.
After a tense moment, Henry's ability to speak returned, but he still felt the nervous discomfort of adolescent sexual preoccupation.
“Um, yeah,” he began. “We think there might be someone attached to the house.”
Without missing a moment, Melissa spoke up about her recent invitation.
“I hope you don't mind me tagging along,” she began. “But if I get in the way, just let me know.”
Still wanting to make an impression, Henry assured her that she would not be in the way, and that her presence might provide for increased safety.
“Henry,” Samantha interrupted. “That's a good idea.”
After their experience at the Cummings house, she knew how important safety was, and was in complete agreement that more people are safer people.
“So, what time do you want to meet?” Melissa asked.
“Um, I don't think we actually set a time,” Samantha said.
Henry spoke right away.
“I think we said one o' clock.”
Now, she remembered, and offered to meet at the bookstore. From there, they would meet Henry at the abandoned ambulance station.
Lunch was only half an hour and soon the bell rang, sending everyone back to class. Melissa turned back and waved just as she disappeared into the crowd. Samantha and Henry were scheduled to attend the next class together. As in every class, Samantha sat at the front, absorbing every word, while Henry sat towards the back. Some teachers thought he might be bored and lacked the appropriate challenge, while others saw him as indifferent and would never progress beyond graduation. He tried to focus on the material being taught, but lacked the interest to learn. Some of his teachers had spoken to him about it, trying to help him find a reason to get involved. However, their words had no effect. It was as though Henry had better things to do than be in school. But when the bell rang, Henry was one of the first out the door. He wasn't in a hurry to get to his next class. He was in a hurry to get through the day, and leave school behind for the afternoon.
Samantha walked out behind him, and catching up, asked about Melissa's involvement in their investigation of the former ambulance station.
“Uh, yeah, it's cool,” he said.
He attempted to hide his nervousness by being nonchalant, but Samantha easily saw though it, and even though she tried to conceal a grin of amusement, Henry noticed and took offense.
“What's so funny?” he asked.
“C'mon, really?” Samantha began. “Dude, when we were in the cafeteria, you almost melted into your chair. You can't tell me you're not, at least, a little nervous about hanging out with her.”
Henry turned to her with noticeable irritation.
“Henry, c'mon,” Samantha continued. “Girls are supposed to see these things. It gives us an edge.”
Henry clearly understood, and sighed as he let his pretense fall away.
“I just don't know what to do when I'm around her,” he said.
They rounded a corner toward their lockers where they swapped their science books for English Literature. While Samantha's book already showed signs of wear, Henry's seemed to be untouched.
“You don't do much reading, do you?” Samantha asked.
“It's boring,” Henry began. “I don't understand half this shit.”
Samantha briefly considered offering herself as a tutor, but on second thought, believed that, given Henry's longstanding feelings for her, tutoring him might not be such a good idea.
Over the next couple of days, Henry noticed Samantha and Melissa spending a great deal of time together, doing what young girls do, talking and giggling. He had never seen this this side of Samantha before, but she had never had a female friend before either, and hoped she would put in a good word for him. He certainly didn't seem to have the ability to make an impression without losing his verbal skills. But such is the life of a teenaged boy. He was fine until he looked into her eyes. They were a fiery emerald green, perfectly set in her flawless freckled complexion, with long ringlets of glowing red hair falling down her back. He imagined the two of them together for all eternity, walking through the cemetery at night, holding hands, cradling her in his arms beneath a full moon. He imagined their first kiss as the gentle touch of a rose petal against his lips. But in spite of his fantasies, Henry was left with a strong suspicion that, like Samantha, Melissa would never be the girl he wanted. They would never become close. He realized that he was the one who needed to be assertive. He just didn't know how, and lacked the confidence necessary to be able to approach her without Samantha at his back. But with Saturday coming, he would have the chance to prove his mettle, and show himself as the strong person he believed she wanted. If he could only keep his head together.