Chase
The doctor at the hospital diagnosed me with a mild concussion and, after taking X-rays, said my arm was fine and healing in the right places. A week later, my headaches are gone and my arm is fine.
Allie Jo and I decided it was best to keep Tara’s story to ourselves; we couldn’t risk more Mr. Smiths looking to make money off Selkies. We didn’t even tell Sophie, and we saw her nearly every day. Sophie and Allie Jo have been knitting furiously, as if they have some kind of deadline. Which I guess they do. Sophie and her family are leaving today.
I get up quickly and slap the button on the alarm. Let Dad sleep; he deserves it. I pull on my shorts and a blue skateboard shirt, brush my teeth, and try to fix my hair, which is standing up at all angles. Rub in a little of Dad’s gel and, yeah, my hair’s chillin’.
Before I leave the room, I grab the little white box that’s been sitting for weeks on my nightstand and slip it into one of my pockets. It’s now or never.
Mrs. Duran, Sophie, and Allie Jo are sitting in the parlor by the grand staircase when I come down. Mr. Duran’s getting the suitcases together and finalizing his bill with Mr. Jackson.
“Morning,” I say, acting all casual even though my heart beats a million miles a minute. They all look up at me, smile, murmur, “Good morning,” and “Hi, Chase,” and I realize I need to get Sophie alone if I’m going to do this.
I look right at her. “One last game of air hockey?” I ask.
Allie Jo stands up. “Sounds good to me. Sophie can be on your team on account of your arm.”
No, no, no! I shout in my mind. But what can I do with Mrs. Duran sitting right there? When we turn down the hall, my hand slips into Sophie’s and she squeezes back, causing my heart to overflow. I wonder if this is what love feels like.
“Allie Jo, could you go back?” I blurt.
She furrows her eyebrows for a second, then glances at our hands and smiles. “Oh. Lovebird stuff.”
My face heats up. Sophie giggles.
After we’re alone, I take Sophie into the game room and tell her I don’t want to play games. “I have something to say.”
Her blue eyes sparkle up at me. It’s a rush having her look at me this way.
My lips open and close. I gaze into her eyes and that calms me. “I like you,” I say.
She breaks out in a big smile. “I like you too.”
My heart soars. I dig into my pocket and open the box.
Her hands fly in front of her face. “Oh! It’s so pretty!”
“A green heart,” I say. “Just like the one you gave me.” I gesture with my cast.
Then I take the ring and slip it onto the third finger of her right hand. “If I could, I would put it on your other hand.”
She turns her face up to mine, and I kiss her softly, hug her tightly.
Then she’s gone.
Later, I grab my skateboard and head up to the third floor, laughing at the Guests Prohibited sign. Ah, the third floor; so nice, so long. So perfect.
I slap the board down and plant my right foot near the tail. Pushing off with my left, I glide down the hallway, stopping at the place I fell before. I pop the board up.
“Hey!”
I whip my head around and see a girl standing all sergeantlike, hands on her hips, legs apart. I grin, throw my board down, and I’m off.
She pounds down the hallway. “Is it time for my lesson yet?” she shouts.
I laugh. “Come and get me!”