CHAPTER SEVEN

The phone rang as I was getting out of the shower.
“Julia, phone!” My grandmother yelled from downstairs.
The only upstairs phone was in my mom’s room, so I wrapped a towel around me and slung another over my shoulders to keep my hair from dripping and went into Mom’s room.  She had gone to yet another job interview, leaving three or four suit-like outfits all over the bed.  I picked up the extension and heard my grandmother hang up.
“Hi Julia, it’s Kaitlin.”
I hadn’t expected to hear from Kaitlin.  Actually, I hadn’t expected to hear from anyone in Truhart.  “Hey Kaitlin, what’s up?”
“Well, a bunch of us were going to the lake to go swimming and I thought you might want to come.”
“I didn’t even know there was a lake in Truhart,” I said, trying to wring some of the water out of my hair.
Kaitlin laughed.  “Well, it’s not much of a lake, but it’s all we’ve got.  So, want to come?”
I had never been swimming in a lake.  I wondered if there were big fish or other yucky things to worry about.  I couldn’t ask, though.  I didn’t want Kaitlin to think I was afraid. 
“Sure, but my Mom isn’t home so I don’t know when I’ll be able to get there.”
“Hold on a second.” I heard Kaitlin cover the mouthpiece and talk to someone.  “Melanie can come get you.”
“Are you sure?” I said, thinking maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.  “I know I’m not her favorite person.”
“It’ll be okay.  We’ll be there in like an hour, all right?”
“Cool,” I said, though my mind was already racing about what I would wear and what Melanie might say.  “See you.”
“See you.”
I didn’t have time to dry my hair and it was going to get wet anyway, so I put it in two braids and wrapped it with red and orange cord that matched my bikini.  I wished I had all my clothes because I only had one bikini with me.  If I went to the lake again soon, I’d be stuck wearing the same one.  Oh well, it couldn’t be helped.  Besides, I wasn’t sure I’d want to go again.  Or if they’d invite me.
I threw on some shorts and a T-shirt and put on a touch of waterproof mascara and some lipgloss.  I grabbed my beach bag and manatee beach towel and went downstairs.
“Do you know what time Mom will be home?” I asked Grandma, who was at the kitchen sink, epotting some crazy looking houseplant that had all these little extensions off it.  “Kaitlin invited me to go swimming at the lake.”
“Do you know how to swim?”
“Duh.  I’m from Florida, of course I know how to swim.” I rolled my eyes.  “I also took two CPR classes at the Y and was a junior life guard at the community pool.”
Grandma nodded.  “You wearing a bathing suit or are you going to skinny dip?”
“Grandma!  Geez.  Of course I’m wearing a swimsuit.” I pulled my T-shirt aside and showed her the strap of my bikini top.  “See?”
“There’s probably not enough to that bathing suit to matter whether your naked or not,” she said.
I didn’t bother responding.  “So, do you think it’ll be okay if I go?  They’re going to pick me up in a ew minutes.”
“I suppose.  Just be careful on the rocks.  They’re slippery suckers,” Grandma said, wrestling the plant into a bigger pot on the counter.  “And keep your bathing suit on.  Fish like to nibble on sensitive bits.”
“You are so gross, Grandma.”
“I’m just speaking the truth.”
A horn honked outside.  “Gotta go,” I said. 
“Be careful!”
“I will,” I called.  “Tell Mom I’ve got my cell phone.”
Melanie was looking annoyed when I got out to the driveway.  “We don’t have all day,” she said as I got in the back seat of her red Honda. 
Jenny sat in front next to her sister and Kaitlin and a girl I’d never seen before sat in the back.
“Sorry.  My grandmother was nagging me.”
“This is Francie,” Kaitlin said, introducing the girl sitting on the other side of her.  “She’s going to be in tenth grade, too.”
Francie looked like she was going to be a senior, at least.  I’d never seen a girl who looked so mature, not even if Florida.
“Hey,” I said.
Francie barely glanced at me.  “Hey.”
It didnt’ really matter that she wouldn’t talk to me because Melanie cranked up the radio as we tore out of the driveway and Good Charlotte started rattling my brain.  I could only hope swimming in the lake wasn’t as dangerous as riding with Melanie.
***
We drove for about six Good Charlotte songs before turning off the main road onto a gravel road with a sign that said ‘Truhart Lake, .2 miles’ and following the bumpy, curvy road through the trees until we came to a dirt parking lot. 
There were three other cars in the parking lot and when Melanie killed the radio, I could hear laughing and music.  I couldn’t see the lake from here, but I figured it was just on the other side of the trees, judging by the noise.
We all piled out of the car and started walking. 
“Wade and Darren are here,” Kaitlin said to me quietly.  “And some of the other guys.”
I wasn’t sure if she was happy or warning me.  I just kept walking.  Once we got to the edge of the parking lot, we skirted past a bunch of scrubby little trees and I got to see the lake.  It was definitely small, like Kaitlin had said.  It was ringed with big rocks and didn’t look much bigger than the Olympic sized swimming pool at the Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale (?) where Jeanette and I used to go.
There were a bunch of people in the water, tossing around a ball.  Most of them were guys, but there were two girls with them.  I recognized Wade immediately.  He was so cute, it was hard not to.  I didn’t see Darren at first, but then I spotted him bouncing up out of the water like a dolphin.  He was still wearing that stupid baseball cap.
“Hey Guys,” Melanie said, turning on the charm.
“About time you showed up,” Wade said, splashing water in her direction.  She squealed and jumped back, even though the water wasn’t anywhere close to touching her.  “We had to go get the new girl.” Like she didn’t know my name. I gave a little wave. “Hey.” Wade ignored me completely and kept splashing water at Melanie. Darren waved, his baseball cap shadowing his face so I couldn’t tell whether he was mocking me or genuinely being nice.  “That’s Tyler,” Kaitlin said, pointing to the guy Francie was making eyes at. She waved to a boy who looked younger than the others and was sitting on the rocks.  “That’s Denny. He’s Tyler’s brother.” Melanie and Francie were taking off their T-shirts and shorts, so I did the same. “Who’s the girl?” I asked Kaitlin, while the other two girls were busy giggling at the guys flailing in the water.  “Monica. She’s Wade’s cousin from Baltimore.” Kaitlin leaned in close to me, as if she didn’t want the others to hear.  “That’s how I got Melanie to bring you along. I told her it wouldn’t be fair to Monica to be the only one who was new.” Great. I got the pity invitation. “Thanks for thinking of me,” I said, but Kaitlin was too busy smiling at Denny to get the sarcasm.  I realized I was the only one besides Francie wearing a bikini and I was very conscious of the fact that I didn’t fill mine out nearly as well as she did. Francie was checking me out and smirked, like she knew what I was thinking.  “Cute bikini,” Melanie said, though her tone sounded anything but flattering.  “Oh yeah,” Wade added, coming out of the water. “Real cute.” I thought he sounded sarcastic, but Melanie seemed to take it personally. She smacked him in the arm and he gave her a hug. I tried to ignore them when he started nibbling on her neck, but it was almost impossible not to watch. He whispered something in her ear and she looked at me and laughed.  I was already wishing I’d stayed home and I hadn’t been there ten minutes.  “C’mon,” Kaitlin said, tugging on one of my braids. “Let’s get in the water.” I followed her down the slippery rocks into the lake, hoping I didn’t fall and bust my butt in front of everyone. The rocks were covered in slimy stuff and I tried not to make a face.  “What is that stuff?” “It’s just moss,” Kaitlin said, swimming out to where Darren was once she got into the water.  I followed her, finally feeling in my element. If there was one place I was comfortable, it was in the water. Even if it was a small, still lake.  I caught up to Kaitlin as she treaded water next to Darren.  “Hey, Julia,” Darren said, making a face. “Don’t you love Truhart?” I laughed. “Almost as much as I love that baseball cap.” His face turned mock serious. “Don’t joke on the hat. Virginia Tech rules.” “Sorry, that would be Miami,” I said.  Kaitlin shook her head. “Don’t get him started.” We talked college football for a few minutes while Kaitlin swam circles around us. Monica, who had gone up onto the shore to talk to Wade and Melanie, came back into the water and swam over to us.  “Hi,” I said, feeling a little more confident now that I had Kaitlin and Darren to talk to. “How long are you in Truhart?” “Too long,” she said, with this eye-rolling heavy sigh. “I hate this place. I can’t imagine why anyone would choose to move here.” I was going to agree with her and then I realized she was talking about me. “I didn’t really choose it, my grandmother lives here.” “You poor thing. At least I get to go home in a week.” Kaitlin and Darren both swam away, leaving me alone with Monica.  “Bunch of country hicks,” Monica said, loud enough for them to hear. “They think swimming in this pond is some kind of big deal. Give me a break.” It wasn’t that I disagreed with her, but I thought it was kind of rude to be talking about people who’d been nice and invited her along. “It’s not so bad. At least it’s not crowded with a million little kids and trash everywhere.” “I’ll take kids and trash over pickup trucks and no mall.” Francie and Tyler were sitting on the bumper of one of the cars, shoulder to shoulder with their heads close together. I hadn’t even noticed Tyler get out of the water. He was definitely a cutie, but he was also very definitely into Francie. I was happy to keep my distance from both of them.  Wade and Melanie came back into the water, followed by Denny who hadn’t said a word since I got there. Wade splashed Monica with water and got me a little bit, too. I just wiped my face, but Monica started thrashing around.  “Knock it off, Wade. I’m so sick of you!” Wade just laughed. “Baby. I can’t believe your parents sent you here.” I thought Monica was going to cry. “Believe me, I’d rather be in Baltimore. They had to go take a stupid cruise and send me to this nowhere town.” Wade swam close enough to ruffle her wet blond hair. “Aww, you know you love me.” Monica’s only response was to swim away.  I saw her get out of the water and grab her towel.  I guess she was done with us for the day.  Wade tugged one of my braids.  “Don’t you want to join her?” “Why?” I asked, swimming a little farther away from him.  The last thing I needed was Melanie thinking I was trying to move in on her guy.  “Because you hate it here as much as Monica does.” “No I don’t,” I said, but he was right.  I did hate it.  Or, more accurately, I hated not being in Miami. “ It’s okay.” Everyone except Denny laughed.  “Please. We all know you hate it here. You can’t wait to go back to Miami,” Melanie said, using a horrible whiny voice when she said Miami.  “I just miss it,” I said.  “Truhart is okay.” “Don’t you mean Truhick?” Wade asked.  Wade and Melanie were swimming around me, making me feel dizzy.  “Leave her alone,” Kaitlin said. “I’d miss Truhart if I moved some place else.” “I’d die if I moved to Miami and had to watch Miami football,” Darren said.
Denny leaned back until he was floating in the water.  “I’ve moved eight times, Truhart is okay.  Not the best, not the worst.”
“Denny’s dad was in the Army,” Kaitlin explained.
“He’s retired now and he wanted to come back to his hometown.” Denny paddled his hands in the water until he spun around to face me, his head floating on the surface of the water.  “He said your grandmother is nuts.”
“She’s not nuts,” I said.  Denny didn’t sound like he was being mean, but she was still my grandmother.  “She’s just a little weird.”
“That car of hers is weird,” Wade said.  “She drives it like a tank.”
I hadn’t seen the car yet, but this had me worried.  I was happy to get a chance to drive, but I wasn’t too wild about the idea of driving some land yacht around.  I had enough problems without worrying about everyone making fun of my transportation.
“It’s an awesome car,” Darren said, which made me feel a little bit better.  “It’s just how your grandmother drives it that’s the problem.”
“She’s psychic,” Kaitlin said.  “My mother told me so.”
I couldn’t really deny that one.  Grandma definitely seemed to have a knack for reading my mind.
Melanie shook her head.  “I heard she was a witch.”
Melanie’s comment about my grandmother being a witch had made everyone laugh.  Everyone but me.

CHAPTER SIX

Something smelled good when we walked in the house.  Grandma, for all her annoying yelling and nagging, was a good cook.  I was still a little wary of all the fried food, but it was nice to have home cooked meals.  Mom was usually too busy with work or at a show to cook and Dad didn’t even know where the kitchen was, as far as I could tell.  I’d been too busy with school and extracurriculars to bother cooking.
“Pot roast for dinner,” Grandma called when we came in.  “New potatoes, parsnips, carrots, onions and peppers.  And cornbread, of course.”
“Smells good, Mom,” my mother said.  She sounded tired.  “Can we do anything to help?”
The only time my grandmother ever seemed to be truly happy was when she was puttering around the kitchen.  “Wash up, set the table, put the butter out,” she ordered.  “Time to eat.”
The house phone rang.  “Get that,” Grandma said, taking the pot roast out of the oven.
I answered it. 
“Hello, Pumpkin!”
It was my father.  “Hey, Dad.  What’s up?”
“I thought I’d call and see how you’re doing.  Grandma making you crazy yet?”
I looked over to where she was carving the pot roast.  “Oh yeah,” I said.
Dad laughed.  “Sorry.  I don’t know what possessed your mother… Oh, never mind about that.  I just wanted to see how my girl is.”
“I’m fine,” I said, even though I wasn’t.  I desperately wished for a cordless phone so I could go upstairs and tell Dad I wanted to move back to Miami.  Now.  But like every other modern convenience, Grandma seemed to have missed the invention of the cordless phone.  So I stood there in the kitchen wrapping the stupid phone cord around my hand, very aware that both my mother and grandmother were hearing every word I said.  “I miss you.”
“I miss you, too, sweetheart.  Maybe I can get up there for a weekend before school starts.”
“That would be great.  Or I could come there,” I said hopefully.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Dad said.  I could hear Rachel in the background.  “You need to get settled in there.”
“I am settled.” I let the phone cord unravel from my hand.  “I miss my friends.”
“You’ll make new ones.”
Here we go again, I thought.  The same old lecture.  Funny how no one had asked me what I wanted to do.
“I’ve got to go,” I said.  “We’re having dinner.”
I barely said goodbye before hanging up.  Mom came over and put her hand on my shoulder.  “Did your father say something to upset you?”
I shrugged her off.  “I’ve been upset since I got here.  I hate this place.”
I didn’t wait for the tears to start, I made a dash for the stairs.  I heard my mother call me back, but I ignored her.
“Let her be,” Grandma said.  “The girl has been through enough.”
I slammed my bedroom door hard enough to rattle the windows and waited for someone to yell at me.  For a change, no one did.  No one even cared what I did anymore, as long as I stayed in Truhart.
***
I must have fallen asleep because I woke up to see my mother standing by the bed.
“Hi, sweetie,” she said in that apologetic, sympathetic, aren’t-you-pathetic voice.  “How are you doing?”
I rubbed my eyes and sat up.  I hate being woken up.  “I’m fine.”
“I spoke to your father.” A different look crossed her face, which more closely resembled my feelings about Truhart.  “He said you were upset you couldn’t go back for a visit before school starts.”
“I don’t understand why--” I started.
“You’ve only just go to Truhart,” Mom interrupted.  “You need time to settle in here, make some friends before school starts.”
“I don’t want to settle in,” I said, smacking my hand on the bed.  “And I already have friends.  In Miami.  Where I belong.”
Mom sighed and sat on the edge of my bed.  “Honey, we’ve been through this.  For the forseeable future, this is home.  It’s not ieal, but we both have to make the best of it.  I’m sorry it happened this way.”
I felt bad.  Mom probably wasn’t enjoying living with Grandma anymore than I was.  “I know,” I said finally.  “I just miss home.”
“I know, baby.” She patted me on the shoulder.  “But your father and I came up with a compromise.”
I perked up at that.  “What?”
“Well...” She smiled.  “We were thinking we’d speak to Jeanette’s mother and maybe a couple of your other friends’ parents and see if they would let them come up for a long weekend.”
My heart sank.  “No, I don’t want that.”
“Why not?  I thought you missed your friends?”
I didn’t know how to explain to my mother that I didn’t want Jeanette, or anyone, to see me in Truhart.  I didn’t want them feeling sorry for me or going home and talking about poor little Julia who had to live with her Grandma in a decaying old house without a swimming pool.  I didn’t want them to see the little hick town I lived in.  Most of all, I didn’t want them to know I didn’t have any friends.
I shrugged.  “I don’t know.  It just isn’t the same.”
Mom sighed again.  She was doing that a lot lately.  “Julia, I don’t know what to do for you.  I thought this was the perfect thing to make you feel better.  After all, you’ll be sixteen in a month and what better way to celebrate than to have some of your old friends here with your new friends?”
My mother was clearly delusional.  “Mom, in case you haven’t noticed, I don’t have any friends here.”
“What about Kaitlin?”
I rolled my eyes.  “She’s in ninth grade.”
“So?  She’s been nice to you and she seems to like you.  You’ve got six weeks until school starts and I’m sure there will be all sorts of opportunities for you to make friends.” When I didn’t respond, she went on, “Just promise me you’ll think about having the girls up?  We don’t have to get the airline tickets right away, but your father has promised to take care of it and I think you’ll have fun if they’re here.”
“I’ll think about it,” I said, knowing the only answer could be no.  “Thanks.”
Mom smiled, as if I’d said something wonderful.  “You’re welcome, sweetie.  I just want you to be happy.”
*** Subj: Friends?
Date: 07/19/04 11:15:54 PM Eastern Standard Time
From:
To:

Hey J~
I don’t know what’s going on between us, but I feel like since I moved to Virginia you don’t want to have anything to do with me.  I hope that’s not true.  I miss a lot and tonight my mother said she and my father were working on a plan to get you up here for my birthday.  I told them that won’t work, but now I’m thinking it might be fun.  Maybe you and Cara could come up?  I doubt seriously I could get my mom to let Josh come up, but maybe Dad might think it’s okay.  I don’t know.
Anyway, let me know what you think about this idea.  I would rather come home to Miami, but it would be a great birthdayif you could be here.
Hugs,
~Jules

I was annoyed with myself almost as soon as I hit ‘send’ on Jeanette’s e-mail.  After that weird phone call with her while I was at Buckler’s, I just knew she’d be laughing at how lame I was.  But I’d sent it and there was nothing I could do about it except go to bed.
***
I woke up the next morning and checked my e-mail (make sure to add references to computer earlier in book; also references to Tatiana).  There was a message from Jeanette.

Subj: Re: Friends
Date: 07/20/04 12:52:03 AM Eastern Standard Time
From:
To:

Hey Jules,
I’ll talk to Mom and what’s-his-face about coming up for your birthday.  Cara, too.  It would be good to see you.
I’m sorry I haven’t written or called much.  It’s weird having you gone.  Nothing is the same, Josh is acting funny.  I don’t know.  I just figured you’d want to be left alone since you’re making new friends.  I think you’re kind of lucky to get to start over.  You can be anyone you want!
Gotta go, Cara is here and we’re going to the beach.
Miss ya,
Jeanette

I didn’t know what she meant by Josh acting funny and that made me worry a little bit, but I was so happy to hear from Jeanette, I practically bounced down the stairs when my grandmother screamed it was time for breakfast.  Weird how I was getting up earlier and earlier now.  Of course, I wasn’t up until two o’clock on the morning talking to Jeanette or Cara or Josh on the phone, so that probably had something to do with it.
My grandmother was flipping pancakes went I went downstairs.  Mom was no where to be seen, which was unusual.
“Your mother had an interview at 8:30,” she said. 
“I hate it when you do that.” I picked a piece of cripsy bacon from the plate on the table.  I was almost a vegetarian, but I couldn’t resist crispy bacon. 
“Do what?” Grandma asked.
“Read my mind.”
She laughed.  “Most people do.  It’s not good to have other people know your thoughts, is it?”
I could feel my cheeks get warm.  Considering some of the stuff I’d thought about my grandmother since I moved to Truhart, I’d have to say I agreed.
“Your mom tells me you took a driver’s education course last year.”
I popped another piece of bacon in my mouth and decided I’d better quit or I’d never be able to get into my jeans.  “Yeah.  I guess it’ll be awhile before I’m driving here, though.”
I’d researched the driving laws in Virginia and I’d have to be sixteen and six months (?) before I could drive alone.  That pretty much sucked lemons, as far as I was concerned.
“True.  But you get in some practice.”
“How?”
My mother had been running Grandma’s errands for her since we got to Truhart.  I hadn’t seen a car anywhere and I knew my mother would never let me drive her precious, ancient station wagon.  Dad was the only one who trusted me enough to drive his car, but maybe that was because he had been teaching me.
“You could drive me around,” Grandma said.
“Mom won’t let me use her car,” I said.
“You can use mine.”
“What car?”
She put the last of the pancakes in a stack on a plate and put them on the table.  There were enough pancakes and bacon to feed a dozen people. 
“My car,” she said.  “Sit.  Eat.  It’s been at the mechanic’s for a couple of weeks.  He called yesterday and said it was ready.”
It figured.  It was probably as old and decrepit a heap as Mom’s car.  But at least Grandma was willing to let me drive it.
“Cool.  What was wrong with it?”
Grandma finished chewing her pancake before she answered.  “Stupid thing.  A tree got in my way.”
“You hit a tree?” I wonder if Mom knew about this.  She must, that was probably why she was running errands for Grandma. 
“No, I just didn’t see the tree and it was in my way.” She gave me that narrow-eyed look of hers that dared me to argue. 
I knew better than to ask any more questions.  I wasn’t going to turn down the chance to drive, even if it was some old horse-and-buggy era car.  “Thanks.”
“You’ll have to take me shopping and to doctor’s appointments,” she warned.  “Don’t thank me.  It’ll be boring.”
“But at least I’ll get to drive, right?”
She nodded. 
I heard the front door open.
“Don’t tell your mother,” Grandma whispered.  “I’ll need to butter her up.”
Weird.  Wasn’t I the one that was supposed to be keeping secrets from my mother?