Page 1 of Meet Me in the Blue

LUKA

The Beginning

9 years old

BLADES OF GRASS ITCHEDat my skin while the salty pine-scented air pinched at my nose. It was too quiet here. Even though we were still in Washington, I missed my city. I didn’t care that Mom had said it was dirty and dangerous. I lay in my front yard, hoping for sun and noise as goose bumps ran across my arm. I guess I should have been happy it hadn’t rained all week, but the soil was damp enough it seeped into my shirt and jeans anyway. If we were still in Seattle, I’d be with Mika and Alistair riding scooters at Centennial Park, not dying a slow death in my front yard. Could you die from boredom? I exhaled and closed my eyes, resolved to ask Dad about the percentage of people who died of boredom every year. After a few minutes, a cloud decided to block the sun, and I opened my eyes with a quiet gasp. A strange boy stared down at me with giant brown eyes.

“Who are you?” I asked, annoyed at the dumb look on his face. I couldn’t tell if he was smiling or about to cry.

“Rook,” he said, his voice a little shaky. “I live next door.”

“What kind of name is Rook?”

He shrugged and rubbed his hands over his shirt as I sat up to get a better look at him. His skin looked soft, the brown color of it almost matched his eyes. I didn’t know if thinking a boy’s skin looked soft was a normal thing to think, but I didn’t care. He was the one staring at me like a weirdo.

“My dad likes chess,” he said, but his eyebrows dipped like he wasn’t sure what he said was true. “Or maybe the letter R? My brother’s name is Reese.”

“My little sister’s name is Nora.” Rook nodded, his curious brows furrowing, like I’d said something important as I stood.

“What’s your name?”

“Luka.” I scratched at my skin, and he stared at my arms. My skin was pale compared to his and spotted with pink lines and dots of dirt. “I think I’m allergic to Hemlock Harbor.”

His smile was sideways as he snorted. “Or maybe the grass. You should ask my daddy, he’s a doctor.”

“So is mine.”

We had a silent standoff until he ran his hand over his neatly clipped hair.

“Guess that’s one thing we got in common then.” He glanced over his shoulder and rubbed the back of his neck. “So, my mom said I’m not supposed to go into the woods by myself…” He kicked at the ground with the toe of his sneaker, his knobby knees sticking out on his long legs. “You think… well, maybe would you—”

“Sure,” I said, too eager. Swallowing, I found my voice again. “I mean if you’re inviting me, yeah?”

His smile made my stomach do a somersault, and I couldn’t understand why. I blamed the strange tofu stuff Mom had made for lunch.

“Yeah, come on… it’s kind of spooky and dark, but if you’re not scared, I can show you the old fort I found.

“Old fort?”

“Yeah… it’s run down, but I like to read in there sometimes, when my mom isn’t home. Dad doesn’t care if I go into the woods alone.” He puffed out his chest and it made me want to stand taller.

“Sounds cool,” I managed to say. “I should ask my mom.”

“Oh yeah, me too.” He pointed a thumb over his shoulder. “Be right back.”

I headed into my house, ignoring my little sister as she ran after me. My mom was in the kitchen, mixing what looked like juice in a glass pitcher.

“Thirsty?” she asked, and I shook my head.

“The boy next door asked if I could play. Is that okay?”

“Dr. Whelan’s son?” she asked, smiling big enough I felt bad for being mean to her this morning about moving. “That would be great, Luka. I was hoping you two would become friends. He’s in your grade. Even has the same birthday as you, kiddo.”

“He does?”

Something about that made me feel like I was smiling from the inside out.

“Yup.”

---