Page 32 of Chasing the Red Queen

“Deal.”

Hours later with time a blur, they had milk and a slice of leftover apple pie sitting atop the kitchen counters, laughing like old friends. Back upstairs, they stopped to use the bathroom, together, terrified of the ten by ten porcelain torture chamber. Leaving the bathroom, with the halls a silvery twilight, they clung to each other, the shadows utterly frightening. When they found their room and closed the door, Makayla propped a chair under the door handle since there was no lock. They finished unpacking and then, they sat Indian style on the floor and exchanged tales of school, Debbie and Heather, their dislike of this sprawling mansion which they both agreed, was straight out of a horror movie, the local university and everything else imaginable. Donja finished putting her things in her wardrobe and grabbed the sheets to make her bed.

“I’m exhausted,” Makayla yawned. “Let me help you and if you don’t mind, we can just sleep on one bed. I don’t want to sleep by myself.”

“Sounds good to me.”

After the sheets were tucked and smoothed, which Donja taught her since she had never made a bed, they slipped into nightgowns and crawled into bed, backs to the headboard, phones in hand.

“Oh my God!” Donja slapped her forehead with the palm of her hand.

“What?” Makayla asked.

Donja offered her purple android. Makayla took it and held it steady reading the text. “So, I assume this Kevin was your boyfriend.”

“Yes.”

“And he got this girl, Brandy, pregnant.”

“Yeah, which means if she’s eight weeks pregnant, he’s been humping her the last two months, all the while pretending to be in love with me.”

“Did you sleep with him?”

“No, but I came close. I trusted the slimy bastard.”

“Well, seems we have another commonality. Virgins!”

Donja laughed pathetically. “I’ll be seventeen tomorrow, so I’m not sure that’s something to brag about.”

“I disagree and so will you when you meet that special someone. Trust me, so will he.”

“You know you’re right and looking back, I can’t believe I came so close.”

“So did I…once, but I chickened out. Looks like someone’s watching over us.”

Donja squinted. “I’d like to believe that.”

“Must be a fact, we both made it to seventeen. Most girls I know can’t say that.”

“Yeah, just a few hours and I’ll have made it. August 30th and I’ll be 17.”

“That’s neat, mine’s March the 26th, so I beat you. I’m already 17.”

“Almost legal.” Donja smirked.

“Hmm, yeah,” Makayla said rolling her eyes, “but don’t tell my dad, he’s intent on mapping out my life.”

“Donja laughed. “I hear ya. I bet Mom bakes a cake tomorrow and she’ll make a fuss like she always does.”

“She should, my mom always did,” Makayla said with a faraway look in her eyes, “it’s your day so I suggest you enjoy those candles on your trip around the sun…and,” she paused with a cocky little grin that blossomed into a big, pearly white smile, “since it’s your birthday, I insist that you go out with us tomorrow night.”

“You know,” Donja said with her eyes twinkling. “I think I will.”

“Sweet,” Makayla laughed, “and while Heather’s at the reunion tomorrow and the workers are here renovating, the two of us are going shopping, my treat, birthday girl.”

“Ahhh, that’s kind of you.”

“Don’t mention it, but I’d best warn you, we may not find much goth, like I said, it’s not too popular in this area.”

---