Thankfully, it didn’t take me long to get over the whole Nick-rescue drama. In fact, by that afternoon, I was totally feeling like myself again, and was rather proud of designing a pretty cool mini-golf course on the beach for Kiki and her little friends. Plus, I’d had a pretty impressive rescue of my own before lunch. Not quite as dramatic as Lexy’s…but real at least, thank you very much!
It all started when Josh and Brian raced by me with a pack of preschoolers on their heels.
“Give me back my bucket!” Kiki hollered on the verge of tears. “I’m telling Mom! Give it!”
Brian stopped for a second and dangled a pink plastic pail in front of him. “Why don’t you come and get it?” he taunted.
Kiki ran up and lunged, but Brian yanked it away. “Too slow!” he teased her.
“Suckers!” yelled Josh. “Hey, Bri, what do you say we chuck it all in the ocean?”
“No!” cried the kids.
Brian nodded, grinning wickedly. “I’m in!”
I sighed. Enough was enough. Without a word, I stomped over to Josh’s towel and found just what I was looking for. Then I jogged back to the surf.
“Out of our way!” Josh yelled, coming up behind me.
I held up his DS case. “I think maybe you should stop,” I warned him. “More than one can play that game, you know.” I slowly began to swing the case to and fro.
Josh’s mouth dropped open. “You wouldn’t!”
I looked at him and grinned. I really thought he knew me better than that.
“Just give back the toys,” I said, nodding to the line of victims, “and pick on someone your own size from now on.”
The boys hesitated, so I stepped out to where the water rolled over my toes. “Now!” I commanded.
Josh turned to Brian nervously. “Do what she says,” he gulped.
And together, they dropped their booty.
Kiki and her friends dove in to claim it. “Yay for Samantha!” Kiki cheered.
Grinning, I tossed Josh’s case up to the dry sand and brushed off my hands.
He frowned as he scooped it up. “You are messed up, Sam,” he said.
“I know you are, Josh, but what am I?” I said, just as Kiki wrapped her arms around my waist in a giant hug.
Still, despite my accomplishments for the day, when I went to bed that night, I couldn’t get to sleep.
Maybe it was just because my room was so hot—a thick, heavy heat that made my bed feel like rocks in a sauna. Or maybe it was because my mind was buzzing with thoughts, and I just couldn’t stop them.
Some—okay, a lot—were about Nick and what had happened that morning. No matter how hard I tried, I kept seeing the same thing over and over: him lying as limp as those moon jellies Josh loves to collect. Then my thoughts started to shift a little. They were still on Nick…but now they were about how much I liked him. I hadn’t really admitted it before, but I definitely had a crush on him. Could he be crushing on me, too?
He was awfully nice to me. But he was sixteen and I was still just twelve. My parents would never, ever let me go out with him (or anyone else, for that matter!). So what if he did like me back? What would happen then? And what would I tell Jeremy Ryan when I got home again?
If only I’d had Mina and Liza to talk to! Oh, well…
On top of all that, there was a part of me that couldn’t help—late at night, in creepy room 13—thinking about what Nick had said about the house being haunted. Sure, he was joking. But my mom always says that every joke has a little truth behind it. And all of a sudden, the big, old place suddenly seemed like an awfully good home for ghosts—what with the full moon leering in at me, and the waves sounding just like a growling monster right outside. (Bottom line: I should not have read Appointment with Death before bed. Big mistake!)
I turned my pillow over for the hundredth time to find a cool spot, tightly shut my eyes, and ordered myself to go to sleep.
And that was when I heard it.
It wasn’t the waves, and I didn’t think it was the wind either. It sounded like a ghostly soul, crying in utter torment!
My eyes flew open and it stopped. I took a deep breath.
Then it started again.
If I’d had any covers on top of me, I definitely would have pulled them up over my head. I curled up in a ball instead. I was just thankful that whatever was making that sound seemed to be staying where it was.
Then it hit me like a rogue wave! That sound was coming through the wall just behind me. And that meant one thing: It was coming from Juliette’s room.
Should I run over there and try, somehow, to save her?
Or should I silently wish her luck and dive under my bed?
Or were the sounds I was hearing not zombie moans at all, but maybe…sobs?
Duh! I thought. Juliette was crying! And the minute I realized that, I jumped up and ran to her door.
But then I stopped short. No matter how much I wanted to knock and ask Juliette what was wrong, I couldn’t help thinking: Why would she talk to me now, when she never really has before?
I stood there for what seemed like ages, trying to figure out what to do.
What if I’d been crying for so long? I finally wondered. Would I really want to be left alone? Or would I want someone to rub my back and tell me I’m not alone? I knew the answer—for me, at least. And so what if Juliette said, “Get lost!”? Again. At least I would have showed I cared. At least I would have done something.
So I raised my fist and knocked very gently on the door. Then I held my breath and braced for a very possible “Leave me alone!”
There was a pause, then a very faint, Sniff, sniff. “Who is it?”
I turned the knob and pushed the door slowly. There was a soft creak as it opened.
“Uh, hi…it’s Samantha,” I whispered.
The moon was bright in Juliette’s room, too, and I could see her lying on her bed in a ball just like I had been. Her ceiling fan was whirring softly, and everything was fluttering: the loose wallpaper, the cockeyed shades, the sheets, even her hair. She had her back to me, and I was surprised at how small she looked. Suddenly, I felt like I’d made a mistake. Maybe I didn’t belong there after all.
But then Juliette spoke again in a voice that was high and tight and about as miserable as one can get. “What do you want?” she asked.
“I…uh…well…nothing really. I mean, I guess I just wanted to see if you were okay. I, um, heard you through the wall. And if you want to talk or anything…I just wanted you to know I’m up. But I completely understand if you want to be alone, and I’m really sorry for bothering you.” I swallowed hard. “Really. I’ll just go now. Good night.” I tiptoed backward.
Slowly, Juliette turned around. “No, wait…That’s okay,” she said hoarsely.
I could see right away that her face was all puffed up and blotchy. She’d been crying, all right. But why? I crossed the floor and touched her gently on the shoulder.
“Do you…want to talk about it?” I asked her.
“There’s nothing to say,” she choked. “I hate them both!”
“Who?” I asked as a million ideas raced through my mind all at once. The first thought, of course, was Josh and Brian. But I hadn’t really noticed them bothering her that much. (That privilege seemed to be exclusively mine. Lucky me.) Or maybe she meant a boyfriend? I thought she’d said she didn’t have one. But maybe I was wrong. (Once in a while, that happened.) Maybe she had a terrible boyfriend. Or maybe she had an Olivia Miner stealing him out from under her.
She sucked in a trembly breath. “My parents,” she muttered.
Oh. I nodded. Of course. “What did they do?”
Juliette looked up at me, surprised. “Don’t you know?” she said. She scooted over a little. “Uh, here, sit down.”
“No, I don’t know,” I said as I took a seat, and more thoughts raced through my head. Were they sending her to another school? Or had they grounded her for life? But Jackie didn’t seem that mean. And Juliette’s dad wasn’t even around.
“They’re doing it,” she went on, clearly trying to hold back a sob. “It’s really happening. They’re splitting up. After twenty years. Can you believe it? How can they do that? I hate them so much!”
Wait. What? Splitting up?
I couldn’t believe it. And I didn’t know what to say at all. “Did you…” I began, “…uh, just find out?”
Juliette sniffed. “Not really. I mean, I knew they were having problems. That’s why my dad didn’t come to the beach with us. But they said they were going to try to work things out. My dad even said he’d try to come for a week in August. Then today he calls and says he got his own apartment! Not only is he not coming; he’s not even going to be there when we get home!” With that, her sobs began to pour out all over again.
“I…I’m so sorry, Juliette,” I said, wishing so badly that I could think of something to say that would make her feel a little better. I tried to think about how I’d feel if that happened to my parents, but I couldn’t. My parents were my parents—they went together, like the yin-yang symbols on the necklace I sent Liza. Still, I knew it could happen, and had happened to people like Zoe Martin. But she actually seemed okay with it now, after a year.
“It’ll be okay,” I said, rubbing Juliette’s arm gently. “I know it doesn’t seem like it. But really, it will.”
Juliette didn’t say anything else, and I didn’t either. But I thought about all the things I could say…like how great it could be now to have double holidays, vacations, and maybe even wardrobes. Like how sometimes single parents (like Zoe’s dad) let you get away with a whole lot more.
But it’s weird—sometimes the less you say, the better. And for once, I didn’t go on and on. I just hugged Juliette and let her cry some more.
We didn’t get much sleep that night.
Juliette didn’t say much at first, but after a while she did start telling me how hard the summer had been, worrying about her parents, missing her dad, and being away from all her friends for so long.
“My mom says she needs this time,” Juliette explained. “But”—she looked around—“it’s the last thing that I need. Being away from my friends, and surrounded by other…happy families. It feels like this summer will never end! I should have stayed with my dad,” she said.
“Why didn’t you?” I asked her.
She wiped her eyes. “He said he was just too busy with work and…looking for a new place to live, I guess.”
A new wave of tears appeared. “I’m sorry,” she sobbed. “My summer’s ruined, but I don’t want to ruin yours, too.”
“Don’t be sorry!” I told her. “I understand. And believe me, you are not ruining my summer. Not at all.”
I hated to say it, but I was just a little, very teeny, tiny bit happy. Happy that Juliette hadn’t been blowing me off. She’d just had a lot on her mind, that was all. And now she was talking to me. In her room. About the most important things ever.
“I know it’s really hard,” I said. “But if it helps you to talk, I’m totally here.”
“Thanks, Samantha,” Juliette said. She used her pillow to wipe her eyes. “You’re really cool. I’m glad our moms are friends.”
“Me too,” I said. And I was. Very.
“You’re lucky,” she went on.
“Oh, my parents aren’t perfect,” I said quickly.
“No, it’s not that,” she said. “You get along so easily with everyone. You’ve really—I don’t know—come out of your shell since the last time I saw you. I envy that.”
“You do?” I said. I couldn’t have been more surprised if she’d revealed that she was an alien from the planet Xorba.
“Yeah, I do,” she replied. “I wish I were more fun, like you.”
“But you are fun!”
She looked at me. “You’re kidding, right?”
I shrugged. “Well, maybe not so much this summer. But I remember our moms’ reunion. You were the most fun then. Remember? Ou-yay aught-tay e-may ig-pay atin-lay?”
Juliette nodded. “Es-yay. I loved doing your hair there, too. It was so long.” She studied my new look. “It looks supercute short. What made you decide to cut it?”
“Locks of Love,” I explained.
“What’s that?” she asked. I filled her in.
“That’s awesome,” she said. “See, Samantha? You are cool.” Juliette pulled her own hair in front of her face. “Do you think mine’s long enough?”
“We can measure it to check,” I said. “It’s got to be a foot. But I think so.”
She let her hair go and flipped it back. “Awesome. I want to do it.”
“Are you sure?” I asked. I mean, getting rid of my hair had been no big deal. But Juliette’s was so pretty. So her.
“Definitely,” Juliette replied. “I’m ready for a change.”
“Well, it’s definitely cooler when you have it short,” I told her. I tilted my head up toward the ceiling. “And so is your room.” I sighed. “You’re lucky that your fan works.” I shut my eyes and let the warm but steady breeze blow across my face.
“Yours doesn’t?” she said. “Why didn’t you change rooms?”
Good question. There were still plenty of empty bedrooms. But I’d already unpacked and put up pictures and settled in before I realized my mistake. And I still liked having Juliette next door.
But I didn’t say that.
“I like the wallpaper,” I said.
“Well, if you get too hot,” said Juliette, “you can always come to my room.”
“How about if I get scared?” I asked, glad at the chance to bring up a new subject. “You know what I’ve heard? This house might be haunted! Guess who told me?”
“Who?” asked Juliette.
“The lifeguard, Nick!” I said.
“Who?” She looked back at me blankly.
“The lifeguard,” I told her. “Remember? The one I pointed out at the beach a while ago. Cute, with light brown hair. The one who got rescued in that drill today.” Not that I wanted to think about that anymore. Then I remembered it had been early. “Oh, right. You weren’t up. Never mind—it was just a drill. The one I talk to so much,” I said.
“Oh, right.” Juliette nodded. “You do talk to him a lot. And he is cute.” She almost smiled. “See,” she went on. “That’s what I’m talking about. You make making friends look so easy.”
“Well,” I replied, grinning, “I think meeting Nick had more to do with catching him on my hook than with being outgoing…” When she looked at me strangely, I told her the fishing pier story.
She was laughing before it was over, so I started telling her about my surfing lessons, too.
“You should totally come with me next time!” I said. “Nick could teach you, also. And there are a lot of other cool kids there, too. Don’t blame yourself for not meeting anyone at this beach.” I rolled my eyes toward the window. “It’s like elementary school central, right?”
Juliette nodded. “Yeah, I’ve noticed. And yeah…I’d love to try surfing.” A smile lingered on her face, and I noticed that her eyes were almost dry. Then her eyebrows slid together. “That lifeguard doesn’t think this house is really haunted, does he?” she asked.
I shook my head quickly. “No…but when I first heard you crying, I almost thought he was right,” I said.
“Sorry.” Juliette squeezed my hand. “I’ll try not to scare you anymore. But yes, you can come in here if you’re scared. Or anytime, really. I wish I’d talked to you sooner, Samantha,” she said.
I didn’t even know how to respond. All I knew was that I suddenly felt warmer—in a good way, for once!
By the time the sun was all the way up, I was wide awake. Juliette was sound asleep, so I slipped off the bed and quietly tiptoed out of the room. I had some business to attend to.
“Mom!” I said, walking out onto the porch. I pulled her up off of her yoga mat and dragged her into the Fish Room.
“What is it?” she asked me. “Is something wrong? What did Josh do?”
“Why didn’t you tell me about Juliette’s mom and dad?” I said, facing her and crossing my arms. “Did you think it wouldn’t come up over the course of, what, two months?”
She sighed. “Well, honestly, Samantha, you haven’t been around to talk to very much. You’re either playing with the girls, or with the other kids you’ve met, or you have your nose buried in a book. There’s only so much I can tell you if you don’t have time to listen. Plus, I didn’t know myself until we got here. But you’re right, and I’m sorry. I should have found a time to explain everything to you.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it. It’s so confusing when your parents actually agree with you.
“So did Juliette tell you?” my mom asked.
“Good,” she said. “I’m glad she’s opening up a little. Jackie’s been so worried about her. She’s taking this so hard.”
“Well, wouldn’t you?” I asked.
She smiled a little. “Yes, I guess I would. But don’t worry,” she said quickly. “Nothing’s going to happen to Daddy and me.”
“Oh, I know that,” I said. I hadn’t even been thinking about that…until right then! (Thanks a lot, Mom.)
“But parents do split up sometimes,” my mom went on, “and it’s usually for the best in the long run, I suppose.”
I made some kind of face that pretty much said, Oh yeah? Really?
“It’s true,” my mom said. “And I’m glad you finally know, because I really think you can help Juliette by being her friend. Maybe you can introduce her to some of your new friends, too. Some of those lifeguards seem just about her age. She could even go surfing with you next time.”
She flashed one of those smiles of hers that basically said, “I am a genius.” But I held up my hand.
“Way ahead of you, Mom,” I said.
She reached out and hugged me. “I should have known. I’m so proud of you, Samantha,” she said. “Now, how about a little yoga?”
I hugged her back and looked over her shoulder, through the door, and out to sea. It would be another sweltering, sizzling, blistering day, I could already tell. But in so many other ways, it was going to be different.
“How about we ask Karen if we can wait for Juliette?” I suggested.