I am Clara

Surprises

Being the only two occupants in the home (his parents out of town), it was very difficult to avoid Andrews. The clock struck noon when my grumbling stomach got the best of me. I was forced to endure blazing brown eyes as I sat at the wooden kitchen table. The silence was unsettling. I'd have preferred that he shout at me, listing his various accusations, rather than quietly watch me eat my bologna toast. He just sipped his soup, eyes never leaving my own. After nearly a half hour of shifting uncomfortably under his gaze, I snapped.

      "Do something!" I begged. "Yell at me. Insult me. I don't care, just say something!"

      "We've had this argument a thousand times," he said, still not looking away, not a single emotion flickering on his features. "There's nothing I can say that I haven't said before."

      "Your calm tone is freaking me out."

      "I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable, but I'm not angry, Clara," he said still in the same tone. "If anything, I'm disappointed."

      "For God's sake," I groaned. "You're trying to replace my father as well, now."

       Disappointment? That was such a dad word of punishment. Why did Andrews have to be so mature about this? He even refrained from shooting me the eye roll that I knew he so dearly wished to regard me with.

      "Well, if you're not going to make a big deal out of this, I've got things to do, such as a sturdy rope treasure hunt. Help me if you want, I completely understand if you don't." I stood and put my plate away. He followed me to the sink, rinsed his bowl and placed it next to my dish.

     "I'm pretty sure we have some in the garage," he said, heading towards the back door. That easy? He'd just show me where they were? Hand them to me, no questions asked?

     "You're not going to ask what they're for?" I followed him outside.

     "Would you tell me the truth if I did?"

      "No." I answered truthfully. He'd have seen through my lie.

      "Then what's the point?"

      "I suppose you're right." I was glad he had decided against wasting our time, but we were never this silent and it was making me so uncomfortable that I was almost looking forward to tonight. Almost, being the key word.

      Adding ropes and chains found in the Andrews' garage to my usual bag of spare clothes and EpiPen, I jumped out my window, making sure to avoid the driveway this time around. It was only after stepping foot outside of the yard that my nerves started to kick in. I had been reminding myself all day that they would be asleep and that there was only two of them, therefore convincing myself that I wouldn't run into any problems or danger. I was starting to think I had been fooling myself. It had been difficult to even think about being nervous when I was constantly reminded of my buckling knees, tripping and falling over a dozen times.

      Beige tents appearing up ahead, I tried to ease the pounding heart in my chest. No fear. All would be good, I told myself as I transformed into the suit. It was now or never. If I turned back now, I knew there was no convincing me to come back.

      Wearily, I approached the first tent, strategically placing my every step as to avoid snapping twigs. Listening for any signs of movement on the other side of the thin fabric and satisfied with what I heard or more so didn't hear, I stepped through the opening of the beige curtains, sword in one hand and chains in the other. Well, here goes nothing.

     Though the tent was quite small, in it I discovered two beds and a large trunk. Two beds? As in two people? Two tents, and two people but they share the one small living area? I didn't buy it. Ignoring my newly discovered lack of faith in Xander's testimonies, I walked towards the first sleeping body.