Chapter Four

  

                                                 CHAPTER FOUR       

 

                                       

A week had passed since Jay and his family had arrived to this new but unusual place. Albeit it was a part of the swift moving London life, well developed and urbanized, it felt isolated and strangely empty. The businessmen’s feeble efforts to revitalize the vicinity, at times seemed to have fallen flat. Though there were several large malls, buzzing markets not to mention the almost always filled busy eating outlets and large, green parks, constituting to the beauty of the district, yet there were things, which seemed to be completely out of Jay’s perception.  The whole place would go dark and silent after midnight. The few, old natives of the place, Jay had met till now, seemed dreadfully irrational, believing in peculiar superstitions, who would not leave their houses after sunset and board up their windows and doors. An odd, ringing silence would blanket the entire place soon after nightfall. Unexplainable, chilly mist would then descent, dropping the temperature by quite a few degrees. It was out of the ordinary. That is the reason it made Jay too keen to explore the entire place as swiftly as possible.

This was conceivably the motive why Jay found himself, all prepared one morning, to go out on a long hike. This was due to the fact that there were small hills and dangerous ledges jutting out of the most bizarre places one could imagine. Since Jay was an American guy, he was mightily self-governing and free, making his decisions himself and loved to take risks. Today was consequently, a day of his dreams. Besides, this place held unfathomable secrets, which Jay would love to discover. All this constituted to the fact that Jay was going out today. Since the music lessons were not scheduled until a fortnight later, he decided he would, make this time useful and see as much of the area as possible.

Dressed in a pair of faded blue jeans and a black sweatshirt over it, Jay quickly retrieved his pair of sunglasses from the section in his wardrobe. The day was sunny, the sky clear and so the sun shone with great intensity. Yet, it was not warm, the cool, swirling breeze, blew over the tree tops making them swing merrily around. Jay stepped out of his house, making use of the back door. His parents were out in the backyard garden, which in proportion to the gigantic house was huge too. 

Jay had to smile. His parents shared a common passion. Roses. In fact, Jay suspected if his dad did that just to make his mom happy. They amount of love & respect they held for each other was exemplary. As his mother was a big ‘flower’ fan and back home, they had a large lawn filled with an assortment of beautiful flowers which the two had planted together each successive year after their marriage. Even now, his parents, in loose, soiled gardening dresses were busy with planting a few samples of rose bushes they had got. Watering and laughing, having a fine time together. Jay had a sudden feeling of immense love towards them. Praying God would always keep them together & happy; Jay waved them and crossed to his garage.

As Dawn and her family had moved to an old rest house they owned there, only a few days after their arrival, Jay was supposed to go and pick Dawn up.  He called her up and drove over too her place at a mind blowing speed. He used to be a careful driver back home, but the empty, steep and dangerous road tracks here, tempted him to go over 80km/h each time. He reached her and waited for her to come out, leaning against the bonnet of his debonair red Ferrari, which was yet another gift from his beloved father.

 Soon he heard a door slam, and considering it would be her, Jay looked up. She wore a pair of black jeans and a pink and grey top over it. An elegant, short coat coming up to her waist only; covered her long, slender arms. Her black boots were snug and in place. Her blond hair were tied behind her in a ponytail and only a few loose bangs kept slipping onto her forehead adding more drama to her already appealing appearance. Jay opened the passenger seat door of his car and bowed her inside. Her cheeks flushed red and she looked away, smiling. Grinning at the response he got out of her, Jay made his way to his own side and started the engine. It roared to life and winded onto the large and empty path ahead. 

They drove in silence mostly apart from the occasional bursts of conversations. What Jay liked most about Dawn was perhaps her habit to remain silent. Though it seemed a bit unnatural because most girls Jay had met so far were not only extremely talkative, but also immensely loud and at times annoying. So Dawn was an instant favorite. Jay jammed his foot down onto the accelerator and the needle jumped to over 60km/h. He stole a look at Dawn. She looked a bit alarmed, her eyes wide in shock and eyebrows pulled together rather fiercely. Jay smiled and apologizing, lowered the speed again. Dawn told him it was Okay and turned away. Jay suspected if she did not like it. But then, he was probably wrong since he could spot her smiling in the reflection on her window. So she thought Jay was cool. Wow! Well, he could live with that.

 Soon they seemed to have reached the edge of the place. The entrancing countryside had melted into a stretch of lonely wilderness. There was hardly any sign of life around. Jay saw a cute little squirrel scamper around a tree trunk. But that was all. Nothing else. Jay cut the engine and stepped out. Dawn followed him and soon they were out into the large empty space. There was an almost uncanny silence hanging in the air. Heavily. Looking around, they therefore jumped out of their skins when they heard a voice calling them. 

“Hey!” They turned around & saw, to their immense relief, a young girl late into her teens, waving at them frantically just a short distance away. She looked kind of worried.

 Dawn said,” I think we better go check out if she needs something.”

 Jay nodded and their walk broke into a jog as they hurried towards the girl.

“Is something wrong, Miss?”

 Jay asked as soon as they were near her. 

The girl reminded Jay strongly of someone, he could not recall at that time. Long hair, which unlike Dawn’s bangs, ended in curls around her face, straight nose and a fair, pink complexion, with freckles all over her  face. Dressed in a pink blouse with a long maroon skirt underneath, her outfit seemed hardly appropriate for an outdoor activity.

 “Nopes!” She admitted, in heavily British accented English, a cute smile spreading over her lips which showed off her gleaming white teeth.

 Dawn looked relieved and smiled at the girl. Jay was still a bit puzzled at the way she had caught their attention. Apparently, the girl noticed Jay’s expression and so decided to explain.

 “Well actually, I guide tourists who come here. It’s so much fun! I am a native, you see. You two seem to be tourists too, now aren’t you? Well, I can show you the Grey ending or the Guardian Alley. You’d like those. You may also be interested to see…..”

 She was going on, all excited when she caught the sight of their puzzled faces and broke off awkwardly. 

“Oh, I am sorry. I am Janice. & you are?”  Jay gave her one of his most dazzling smiles. 

“Hey! It’s Okay. Don’t worry about it.”

 Dawn too introduced themselves to Janice. “I am Dawn & this is Jay Aston.”

 “Oh! Like the Jay Aston?”

 Janice ejaculated in delight

 “Oh! I had been hearing for so long, that you were going to come here. Wow! I am so glad do have met you, I always dreamed of………..” 

She was holding Jay’s hand and shaking it with excitement, when she realized herself and stopped abruptly.

“Oh, I am so sorry. I forgot myself.” 

She murmured, voice low, cheeks flushing a furious crimson colour, none of the exhilaration she had had a few moments before. Jay chuckled along with Dawn. A moment later, Janice’s embarrassed and tinkling laugh joined in.

 “It’s Okay, Janice!”

 Dawn smiled. 

“Yep! We are cool”. 

Jay added and then asked her at the same time. 

“Actually, we are new to this place. Can you tell us something about it?”.

“Sure!” Janice said. “Sit” Janice said and began her tale.

                                   

                                  **************************************************

“Gazelle…. Umm, may I have a word with you?”

 Zach approached them as they were leaving the school on Thursday noon. Carmela took a look at him and felt herself blushing. A crimson tinge appeared onto her cheeks and she smiled at him.

 He was so handsome. With wavy, short and light brown hair and a tall height, great muscular built, he was manly and gorgeous. He had a dull complexion but his features just seemed to be cool anyways. He was confident and smart. All of which made him the school heartthrob. Most girls worshipped him while most guys…… Well let us put it this way, he was popular in school. Ask for Zach Dueh, and everyone would know about him. And Carmela had a crush on him ever since she had joined school. Though Gazelle wasn’t much interested in guys, let it be it be anybody. And she did not know how Carmela felt about Zach.

“Yeah, sure. Is something wrong?” 

Gazelle smiled and nodded up at him. He shook his head and looked at Carmela pointedly. 

“I mean alone.” Carmela flushed a furious red and her eyes flamed with tears. She turned to leave when she felt someone grasp her hand tightly. She did her best to pull her hand away and leave. That’s when she heard Gazelle.

“What? Listen, we are always together. You can’t do this. Whatever you have to say, you can say it to both of us. Carl isn’t going anywhere. You hear me?”

Gazelle was angry, how could have someone asked her best friend to leave. But Carmela, Well she didn’t feel that way. She thought as if Gazelle was faking that anger. 

“Well, I just had to ask…. Umm…. Well, can you please go out with me on the homecoming dance on Saturday night, please?” 

Carmela’s head snapped back towards him as she looked at him with anguish. Someone she loved had just asked her best friend out while completely ignoring her? This can’t be. Besides her, Gazelle looked at him, eyes wide. 

“Oh. I see. So that’s what it’s all about, now isn’t it? Well, I think I’ll go.” Gazelle smiled “But I have a lot of homework so basically, it’s impossible……..”

“But please. Just once. I really want to do this. I promise you won’t regret it.”

 Zach insisted. Eyes pleading Gazelle. Carmela sourly turned away. She didn’t belong in the cozy little scene. Gazelle looked thoughtfully at him and then turned to Carmela who was still making her attempts to run away. 

 “What do you think?”

“Of course. Go ahead.” She forced a smile.

 “Sure?” Gazelle looked at her suspiciously. The last thing she wanted was to Gazelle start worming out her secrets.

“Yeah, why not?” Go on!”

 Carmela assured her while stealing a look at Zach’s face. His tensed face broke into a huge smile and he winked at Gazelle.

 “Great! I’ll pick you up at 8 then?” 

“Done!” Gazelle smiled at him. 

Later as they were going home, Carmela could feel Gazelle studying her face suspiciously. 

“You sure you good?” 

“Yeah. But I have to leave now, dear. Mom’s expecting me soon now. Okay? See you later.” And with that she jogged away to her house.

But a weird feeling was badgering her at the back of her mind. For the first time, she felt a sharp pang on envy… Why was Gazelle so beautiful? Why was she so good at everything? Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, she walked up her screen door. This wasn’t the first time Gazelle had beaten her at something….