Saving Everest Page 16

  “Sure, you’re a genius.”

  “I think so too.” Beverly smiled and reached out to ruffle his hair, and blatant embarrassment covered his face like a mask. Beverly came to stand next to me, and Manny scrunched up his face as he readjusted his hair.

  We spent the next hour engaging in all the festival had to offer. From rides to face paint, we did whatever the kids wanted to do. By now the festival was in full swing, the stands filling by the second. Manny figured we’d get some food, and although Hadley and I had already eaten, we all got in line for more fair food. I was always in the mood for a corn dog.

  “Everest?”

  I turned to see Mikey and Aurora behind us in the line. Beverly went to hug Aurora, but Mikey intercepted the hug for himself.

  Beverly smiled gently in his quick embrace. “Hey, Mikey.”

  “What are you guys doing here?” I asked.

  “You know I love a party.” Mikey winked, waving his hand like he was whacking a fly.

  “Hello, children,” Aurora said in monotone. Her hair was now a bright fury of red and I didn’t miss how in awe Hadley was of her. While Manny gave them a normal greeting, it took Hadley a moment to get the words out.

  “Yo, hey, guys.” Lincoln and Lucky approached us with lighthouse-

  bright grins. I guessed everyone really was at the festival today.

  “What’s up, gentlemen?” Mikey did a handshake hug with Lincoln and fist-bumped Lucky.

  “We were just about to play a set when we saw Everest and his big head,” Lucky said, making Manny snort.

  “Oh, you’re playing?” Beverly asked.

  “First timers,” Lucky replied with a cheesy smile.

  “How come you aren’t playing?” Hadley asked me.

  “I didn’t know about it.” I shrugged.

  “You can play with us if you want,” Lincoln said.

  “No, I’ll just watch. It’s fine.” I shook my head. “What are you playing?”

  Lucky’s eyes widened.

  “‘We Are the Champions,’ the same Queen song we play every Friday. You sang it with us before, just do it again,” Lincoln said.

  “It’s different.” This crowd was three times as big. If I messed up, more people would know.

  “You can do it,” Hadley chimed in.

  “Yeah, I second that,” Manny said.

  “Third,” went Mikey.

  “Fourth,” came from Aurora.

  I turned to Beverly and she grabbed my hand and walked us a couple of steps away. “Are you scared?”

  “What if I’m not any good?”

  “Hey, hey, you stop that right now. Remember when I said you’re like a gloomy cloud?” she said. I scrunched up my face and glanced at the stage. She wrapped her arms around me and continued, “This is your rain, Everest.” She looked up at me. “Are you ready for a storm?”

  “I stay rain ready.” I laughed into her hair.

  “Ugh, just date already,” Aurora groaned, causing us to separate.

  I made my way through the crowd, pretending that I wasn’t a bundle of nerves. I concentrated on the stage. It seemed so big, and so far away; it wasn’t like the makeshift stage at 21 Daisies. This was an actual stage, with an actual crowd, and the stakes were a little higher. When I got on the stage, I had to remind myself to breathe. I looked out in the crowd for my friends, but it was too big. At the last moment, before we were to begin, I saw them muscle their way to the front, my sister and Manny close to the stage, their bright faces shining.

  “You nervous?” Lucky asked from behind me.

  I nodded, unable to speak.

  Lincoln clasped my shoulder hard. “Well, it’s too late to back down now.”

  The nerves clawed at me as I stood center stage. I was crazy. This was insane. But when the guys started playing their instruments, my blood rushed, and my face felt comfortably warm. I was engulfed in the aura of this magical place. It didn’t even feel real, how the space was filled with nothing but happy people. When I began singing, I forgot why I was even nervous in the first place. I was having the time of my life. I gradually hit a soft, high note. The song was intense and beautiful. The chorus caught everyone’s attention, and that moment right then couldn’t have been anything less than rain. My dad loved this song. For a moment I wished he could see me. The girls were as caught up as I was. Mikey smiled and immersed himself in the music, thrashing his head like a maniac. I was so caught up in the performance that the crowd didn’t scare me; they were just as mesmerized as I was, dancing and nodding their heads.

  When I met everyone off stage once we were done, the good feelings continued.

  “I still feel like that didn’t happen.” Lincoln shook his head.

  “You were so good!” Beverly told us, and I grabbed her back in a hug again.

  “No, but really, we should do this. You’re the missing piece, Everest.” Lucky shook his head, seriousness throughout his voice.

  Still high off the crowd, I picked Beverly up and spun her around. “Can you believe that I did that?”

  She laughed and held on to me around my torso while Hadley held on to the other side. “I’m so proud of you,” Beverly said.

  It was crazy how things could change but simultaneously stay the same. So much had happened in my life, but the mailman still delivered mail the next day, and my neighbor’s dog still barked the same way. Spring still turned to summer and summer still turned to fall, and in a month’s time, winter would still be here for us all. But there were these huge changes in my life, and it felt like my world had stopped and flipped upside down. One of the hugest changes in my life was no doubt the people. A year ago, I didn’t know any of these people, and if you would have told me that we would be on a hangout, I’d have probably laughed.

  A know-it-all class president, her band-geek best friend, the town’s misunderstood local delinquent and his lost girl, an ex-star quarterback slash ex-suicide attemptee, the princess-loner in shining armor, and two bonehead musicians.

  It was like life pressed the Randomize button and pushed us all together, and strangely, it felt right.

  Afterward, we split ways and Manny and I went to win Beverly and Hadley these huge stuffed bears. I almost didn’t want to get them because it would be a pain to carry them around, but I was glad I did when I saw Beverly’s expression after I won. I knocked the bottles down with ease, and helped Manny with the secret trick to knocking down the bottles. After his fifth time, he finally got the other bear. I’d never heard a little girl squeal so loudly.

  “Oh, look the photo booth just opened!” Hadley said.

  My phone rang and when I answered, it was my mom. “Hadley has dance in an hour. Please bring her back home promptly.”

  “We’ll be there.” I hung up with sigh. Hadley was having fun. We were having a great time; better than we’d had in a while. When I ended the call, I could tell her mood had dropped.

  “Was that mom?” Hadley asked.

  “Yes. You’ve got dance in an hour. We’ve got to get home.”

  “Just let me take a picture with Manny first!”

  Hadley threw her bear at me and grabbed Manny’s hand to run to the photo booth while it had no line.

  Beverly stared at me, asking me with her eyes if everything was all right. She worried about me too much. It shouldn’t have to be on her to make my problems her problems. She was an angel for being there for me, but that shouldn’t have to be on her. So to wipe the look of worry off her face, I wrapped my arm around her and hugged her close to me. The feel of this was comforting. The feel of the moment was too pure. My feelings were so strong. And, for the millionth time in the past two days, I was confused. I was confused because maybe, just maybe, I was having one of the best days of my life. I’d never felt more alive. And I was confused because maybe, just maybe, I thought I was falling for
my best friend. I was confused because the future didn’t scare me anymore—I saw it as a chance for opportunities now. I was confused because I was okay with not having a plan. I was confused because maybe I was free, and maybe, just maybe, things were going to be okay.

  “We have to go,” I whispered into Beverly’s ear. “But I really don’t want to.”

  I backed away, my thoughts managing to scare me senseless.

  “Me either,” she said softly.

  “Why did only one come out?” I heard Hadley’s voice.

  “Not sure.” Manny’s voice spoke as they reached where Beverly and I were standing. He held the single strip of photos in his hand.

  “I say you keep it.” He stared at it for a while before holding the picture out to Hadley.

  “No, you keep it.” Hadley smiled.

  “But—”

  “I insist.” She pushed the hand holding the picture to his chest.

  He smiled shyly. “Okay. I shall keep it safe.”

  Beverly hugged Hadley. “I had fun with you today.”

  “You’re leaving?” Manny asked, his face going slack.

  “Yeah, Hadley has dance,” I replied, and Hadley groaned.

  “See you, Manny,” I said, holding out my fist, and he fist-bumped it.

  “I guess this is bye,” he said to Hadley.

  “No, it isn’t. I’ll see you at school, dork.” Hadley smirked and playfully punched him in the shoulder.

  He grabbed his shoulder in pain and forced a laugh. “That’s a nice right hook you got there.”

  And with that, they left, waving as we went off in opposite directions.

  “Before we leave, can we do one thing?” Hadley asked.

  “Of course.”

  She grabbed my hand and led me to the pumpkin patch.

  When we got home, Hadley convinced Mom to let her ditch dance for today. My parents never said no to her, so I wasn’t surprised. Hadley was so excited to pull out her pumpkin. We sat on the kitchen floor and carved pumpkins together in comfortable silence.

  “Today was a good day,” she said finally.

  I stared at her horribly carved pumpkin and smiled. “I think so too.”

  29

  Beverly

  My life went from being the same old things every day to every day being an adventure. It had been my favorite year yet, and I couldn’t help but have high hopes for what was to come. Thanksgiving had always been my favorite holiday, and with the facts that my mom was cooking again and that Everest was joining us, I just knew it was going to be the best holiday.

  I had been doing nothing but waiting and stalking time. I had already set the snacks out and prepared a chill playlist to play as the day went on. There were only so many times I could change my outfit, just to settle on the cranberry sweater and denim skirt I had already picked out two weeks ago. Everest wouldn’t be able to come until his performance at the Thanksgiving benefit concert was over, so it wasn’t like I could text or call him. As a matter of fact, the whole gang was busy. Mikey and Aurora had gone over to his father’s house for the day, Nami and Tiffany were volunteering at a shelter, and Lincoln and Lucky were at the benefit concert with Everest.

  I lay back on the couch, consumed with boredom. I painted the ceiling with my thoughts, drawing a story on the blank white canvas. Everest told me once that there was a story in anything if you thought hard enough. I projected my daydreams up high and dreamed about how this day would go. Everyone would get along, and the food would be better than ever. My mom would be trusting and not come off as unapproachable. I’d finally beat Manny at Scrabble and happily listen to all of Macy’s crazy stories.

  “That’s Macy and Manny!” my mother screamed moments after the doorbell rang and I almost tripped over my feet rushing to the front door.

  “Happy Thanksgiving!” I flung the door open and yelled with excitement.

  “Geez, girl, you scream just like your mama. Here, I made some apple crumble cake.” Macy shoved a bag in my arms before heading toward the kitchen without so much as a greeting.

  I looked in the bag holding the crumble cake and didn’t miss the price tag on the side of the box. “She didn’t make it.” I looked up to catch Manny in midsigh, before he stepped into my home.

  “Yeah, I already kind of had a clue,” I chuckled.

  “I made some kimchi though.” He stared at me with a mischievous smile before setting the jar on the table.

  “Thank . . . you.” I scrunched up my nose from the sour smell. My last encounter with the stuff wasn’t something I wanted to revisit, and Manny knew this but refused to care.

  “Don’t try and put your fingers in my pans! Move, Macy,” I heard my mother yell from the kitchen.

  “I’m just trying to help you out! The turkey is looking a little dry.” Aunt Macy matched my mother’s tone. But as always, Manny and I remained unfazed. They were like that every time they were around each other.

  “You know what’s dry? Your lips. They’re beyond the point of looking dry—how many times did I tell you that with this weather it’s necessary to invest in some lip balm. At least lick ’em before you split them.” My mother had amusement laced all through her tone.

  “Oh, you wanna talk about dry? Remember your elbows yesterday? You could start fire with that a—”

  “Happy Thanksgiving!” Manny yelled purposely to cut them off, making me laugh.

  “Is that my Man-man? Come give me some love.” My mom came out of the kitchen swiftly and pulled Manny into her arms.

  “You smell like cholesterol.” Manny winced.

  My mother released Manny quickly after he said that and pursed her lips. “I’m going to go shower right now. Make sure she doesn’t touch any of the food.”

  She untied her apron, pulled it off, and threw it on the couch before waving a stern finger in my direction to let me know she didn’t want Macy anywhere near the kitchen.

  “Make sure you brush your teeth,” Aunt Macy called to my mother, at which my mother flipped her the bird before shutting the bathroom door.

  “I have some snacks to hold us over in the living room.” I waved at them to follow me as I sat back down on the couch.

  I had set some cheese, crackers, grapes, and other snack foods on a tray on the coffee table. For a little while, we watched the recording I had of the Thanksgiving parade. Manny would shoot down every balloon I liked, calling each one stupid. He liked to make me feel like I was lame every chance he got, but I knew he didn’t mean it. Anyone looking in would assume that he was serious because of his stern facial expression, but I knew he was just joking. I’d known the kid since his birth; I knew him better than anyone. Aunt Macy would have me watch Manny whenever she would go on dates—which had been countless times. She was a serial dater my mom would jokingly say, and had never been in a permanent relationship. But because of this, Manny and I were close.

  “So, babygirl, where’s lover boy?” Macy broke into my thoughts about her dating life and smirked. She picked up a grape and tossed it into her mouth with ease.

  “Everest is coming?” Manny’s eyes widened.

  “Where have I heard that name?” Aunt Macy mumbled, staring at the ceiling.

  “He’s a Finley,” Manny told her.

  Coughing came next as Macy clutched her necklace.

  “Are you okay, Mom?”

  “Do you need some water?” I asked, trying to leave the living room as she grabbed my arm to force-sit me back on the couch.

  “The successor . . . of Finley Corp . . . is having dinner with us?” Aunt Macy struggled with her words, looking quite shocked by whom my best friend was.

  “Ye—ouch.” She slapped my arm.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Her eyebrows furrowed and her lips pulled into a sneer. “Does your mama know?”

  “Does it matter?�
� I moved an inch away from her on the couch and rubbed my arm where she had slapped it.

  “Yes!” she huffed, exasperated.

  “Why?” Manny took his turn to be confused.

  She shook her head and sighed dramatically. “Wow.”

  “Anyway . . .” Manny trailed off, staring at his mother weirdly before looking at me with a nervous look. “Is um . . . is—”

  “Hadley coming?” I smiled. “I’m not sure.”

  “Who’s that?” Macy asked, almost like she already knew the answer but needed confirmation.

  “His sister.”

  “The daughter?!” Macy yelped, exasperated all over again.

  “Aunt Macy, calm down. I don’t see what the big deal is.”

  “How did you two even cross paths? It doesn’t make sense.” She grabbed a cracker and bit into it with intensity.

  “They go to the same school,” Manny told her.

  “It just kind of happened.” I shrugged with a smile.

  “Why are you getting so worked up?” Manny questioned his mother.

  “Why are you guys acting so nonchalant? The son of the man who basically owns this town is having dinner with us. It shouldn’t be something taken so lightly.”

  “Not that deep.”

  “Honestly.” I agreed with Manny.

  “I would’ve worn better shoes!” She smacked Manny’s shoulder.

  “Stop hitting my baby.” My mother came around the corner looking stunning. She’d curled her shoulder-length hair to add a crisp wave to it. Her face was free of any makeup, and I could see the tiny freckles scattered on her nose. Her eyebrows were done, of course, but she hadn’t filled them in, which I preferred. She wore a gray sweater with tightly fitted skinny jeans and her black heels.

  “You look so pretty,” I gushed, wondering if I would grow up to look like her.

  “Oh, this old thing?” My mom smirked and turned in a circle, showing off her outfit.

  “Why you got heels on?” Macy scrunched up her face. “Doing too much. I hope you fall.”

  My mother laughed unbothered and did another spin.