Saving Everest Read online

  “I’m ready for wine,” she said after she finished up her spin, and my aunt Macy practically jumped up from the couch when she heard that. They both went into the kitchen to get glasses, leaving Manny and me on the couch.

  He turned on some football while I asked him a million and one questions about it. I did this every year, and just because we weren’t having Japanese takeout didn’t mean I would disregard the tradition.

  “Please leave me alone,” Manny grumbled, and I chuckled. He was just too adorable; I have loved him since forever. He was my first best friend, and I wasn’t going to forget that. We may not have been blood, the same race, or gender, but he meant the world to me. I was his sister, and I always would be.

  “That’s impossible—”

  My phone buzzed violently in my pocket.

  I’m gonna be there soon

  I’m outside

  Bev

  Beverly

  Beverly ffs I gotta get you a new phone

  Text messages from Everest came in all at once, and I cringed when I noticed that the last text was sent fifteen minutes ago. I leaned on the couch to look out the window and spotted his cherry-red Mustang. I smiled and waved at him. I waited for him to leave his car, but six minutes later he was still sitting there.

  Um come in

  Why he was just waiting out there? He could’ve easily just knocked on the door. The waiting in the parking lot was a bit strange. Finally, I spotted his figure getting out of his car and felt a surge of excitement radiate through my whole body. He was wearing a white button-down top with a black tie, and black bottoms. His tall shape ventured toward the stairs but then stopped. I raised my eyebrows and watched as he put a fist up to his lips and bit his thumb knuckle.

  “C’mon.” I whispered to myself. Grabbing my phone, I sent him another text.

  There’s nothing to be scared of . . .

  He pulled his phone out of his slacks and, wearing a mask of confusion, looked up at the window where I was.

  I’m not scared

  I received his text seconds later and sighed when he still didn’t make any attempt to walk up the stairs. He ran a hand over his face, and I could just tell by his body language that he was nervous. Despite his words, his body told me his true feelings. He had performed in front of thousands of people, had the weight of the school on his shoulders, and changed what was expected of him, but yet was afraid to meet my mom.

  I tucked my phone in my pocket as I swiftly threw on my shoes. The autumn air swirled on my skin, and my breath came out in tiny puffs of white. I trudged down the steps until I reached Everest.

  “There’s no reason to be nervous,” I told him, linking my arm in his and giving him no chance to say any words as I practically dragged him up the steps.

  “I can’t help it,” he grumbled, finally giving in and admitting he was being skittish.

  “Just relax,” I assured him with a giggle. He was nervous for no reason.

  “This is just the first time I’m going to have a real Thanksgiving.”

  I looked up at him and smiled. “It’s going to be great.”

  I took his hand and opened the door.

  “Everest!” Manny ran and hugged him, and I was surprised when Everest wrapped his arms around him.

  “Hey.” Everest smiled and ruffled Manny’s hair, the tenseness he had shown earlier slowly fading.

  Manny looked up at him with a scowl. “Why does everyone feel the need to touch my hair?”

  “Because you’re just so cute,” I told him, giving him a hair ruffle of my own.

  “I’m guessing Hadley isn’t here.” He pushed me off him and frowned.

  “Yeah, she’s in New Mexico with my mom and some family.”

  “So this is lover boy,” my mom spoke, a smile on her face. She came out of the kitchen with a sharp knife in her hand.

  I watched as he swallowed nervously.

  “Yes, ma’am, but people usually call me Everest.”

  I wanted to laugh, but the tension in the room made me feel as though I shouldn’t.

  “Don’t call me ma’am. It makes me feel old. Do I look old to you?” my mother teased him.

  Everest looked at me for help, and I turned to my mom. “Really, the knife? Is that necessary?” I laughed, not able to hold it in anymore.

  “I’m just introducing myself . . . and my knife,” my mother added.

  “Oh, leave the poor boy be,” Macy chimed in, walking into the living room with a wine glass in hand.

  “I get it. I wouldn’t dare hurt Beverly . . . she’s my . . . best friend,” Everest explained, and I smiled. He’d never called me his best friend before.

  My mother put the knife down. “Best friend? That’s cute. Beverly has never brought anyone over before. I was beginning to think she wasn’t ever going to.”

  “Yeah, don’t scare him off. He’s harmless,” I said.

  Everest glanced at me curiously before looking back at my mom.

  My mother smiled. “Okay, well, good. Food is ready.” She went back into the kitchen, and Everest turned toward me.

  “Now your mom thinks I’m a priss,” he told me, annoyed.

  “Why would she think that?”

  “He’s harmless,” he mocked me.

  I laughed. “You are.”

  He looked even more annoyed. “No, I’m tough.”

  “Okay, lean, mean, killing machine. Let’s go eat.”

  We sat at the table, Everest beside me, my mother at the end of the table, and Manny and Macy in front of me.

  “I’ve never seen a Thanksgiving table look like this,” Everest said, eyes glued to the scene in front of him.

  “Excuse me?” my mother asked raising an eyebrow.

  “There’s just a lot going on . . . is that kimchi?” Everest asked.

  “Yes, yes, it is,” I told him with a smile, sort of proud that I was able to show him something different.

  “This all smells amazing.” Everest’s eyes glazed over from the array of food—mashed potatoes, creamed corn, baked macaroni, yams, ham, potato salad, green beans, corn bread, stuffing, rice and beans, three different pies, apple crumble cake, rolls, gravy, kimchi, and of course, a turkey.

  “I know.” My mom smiled at her hard work. “Just wait until you taste it. Now, let’s go around the table and say what we are thankful for,” my mother said, grabbing my hand. We formed a circle with our hands around the table. Everest’s grip was warm and tight.

  “I’m thankful for Bill Nye and Batman.”

  “I’m thankful for seeing another year and my beautiful boy, who is growing up to be something spectacular.” Aunt Macy stared at her son lovingly, a proud look etched on her features.

  “I’m thankful for being off today and seeing all of you around my table. I’m thankful for the love and support I get—oh, and wine,” my mom said shortly after.

  “I’m forever thankful for the clothes on my back, the food in my mouth, and the roof over my head. I’m thankful for this day. Just to sit in this chair and see all of you makes me complete,” Macy said.

  Everest looked uncomfortable.

  “Just say something you’re thankful for,” Manny explained slowly. “I’m thankful for tacos, school, and my mom, of course.”

  “I’m trying to think.” Everest looked as though he was going to fidget out of his chair. All of the eyes at the table landed on him and I felt bad. But all he had to say was one thing—surely there was one thing he appreciated.

  “You don’t know?” Macy raised an eyebrow.

  Everest stared at the ceiling and visibly struggled with thought.

  “Damn, that hard?” my mom chuckled.

  Watching him, I wanted to get him out of that situation. He looked completely ill at ease and I couldn’t stand that. Especially since we were in
my home.

  “He said music,” I spoke up, and I caught the little sigh of relief he made.

  “Oh.” Macy laughed.

  “I didn’t hear him. Next time say it with your chest.” My mom chuckled under her breath.

  “Okay, okay, can we eat now?” Manny asked, aggravated, before I even had a chance to say what I was thankful for.

  “I don’t even know where to start.” Everest scratched his head.

  “You’ve been deprived. Here have some of this.” My mother leaned over and added items to his plate. “And this, can’t forget about this.”

  She added more and more food to his plate and waited for him to taste it. I grabbed his fork and gathered the macaroni on it.

  “Try that first,” I told him, gathering some macaroni on my fork as well.

  “Oh, oh my God.” He shoveled more and more into his mouth, his eyes practically rolling into the back of his head.

  “Same,” I laughed, watching his reaction to the rest of the things he tried.

  “Not gonna lie, I’m a little afraid to try this.”

  “You’ve never had collard greens?” I asked with disbelief.

  “No, not yet . . .” He shook his head, poking at the green dish with his fork.

  “Just don’t inhale the scent,” Manny advised, scrunching up his nose. He never really was a fan of collard greens. It wasn’t something that he was used to—he’d probably only had it a few times.

  “Just eat the kimchi,” Aunt Macy told Everest, shaking her head in disapproval at the collard greens.

  “Everest, don’t listen to them.” My mom waved a dismissive hand and urged him to eat them.

  “All right, I can do this,” he chuckled before quickly shoving some into his mouth.

  We all watched his face as he chewed, a certain determination laid out on it.

  “Do you like them?” my mom asked, watching his features closely.

  “Everest?”

  His face was still in a state of something unreadable as he slowly chewed.

  “You’re chewing it for so long,” Manny said, emotionless before grabbing a biscuit.

  “Yeah, swallow it already,” Aunt Macy urged him.

  A slow closed-mouthed smile of pure amusement pulled at the corners of his mouth, and I watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed.

  “Was it good?” I laughed.

  There was about ten seconds of silence as we waited for his answer before he swiftly shook his head with a chuckle. He grabbed the beer my mom gave him and washed down the taste.

  “Yeah, I can’t see how they can eat that stuff,” Manny uttered under his breath.

  “You should try it with some hot sauce.” My mother moved the bottle closer to him.

  Everest laughed, his face flushed red. “The taste was good, I just wasn’t a fan of the consistency.”

  “It’s like a gooey, smelly sock, right?” Manny whispered to Everest, but it was hardly a whisper at all.

  “Don’t get popped, Man-man,” my mom threatened with amusement.

  “At least you tried them and were honest,” she said to Everest with a shrug, and added mashed potatoes to his plate. “You’re just not used to them.”

  No one at the table was raised on collard greens except my mom and me. They were so rich in flavor, I wasn’t offended at all by the others’ view on them. That just meant that there was going to be more left for me.

  “Yeah, he’s not used to any of this. How’s everything else though?” my mom asked after eating a forkful of mac ’n’ cheese.

  “Pretty good. My taste buds haven’t had this much fun before.”

  “Oh baby, that’s because your tongue has been programmed to Caucasian cuisine,” Macy said, making my mom almost choke on her potato salad from laughing.

  “You’re stupid,” my mom said to Macy with a snort, reeling from her laugh.

  “My cook is actually Hispanic.” Everest scratched his head.

  “Cook? I forgot you Finleys got old money,” my mom said with a smirk.

  “Did she tell you?” I asked my mom but turned my head to look at Macy.

  “Yeah, she did, but I already knew. I work at a hair salon, Beverly. Girls talk,” my mother stated, lifting a brow. “But that’s irrelevant.”

  “Excuse me . . . old money?” Everest said, confusion written across face.

  “Money so endless your great-great-great-grandson would be set,” Macy explained.

  “None of that money is mine. I was just born into it.”

  “I wish I was born into some money,” Macy snickered.

  While my mother and Macy talked about the things they would buy if they won the lottery, I observed the scene. Manny barely talked as he ate, his facial expression blank. Everest looked relaxed as he chuckled every so often at my mom and Macy’s banter.

  “How did Beverly come to meet someone like you?” The way my mom said it forced a pang to hit my chest. Everest sensed it, too, because his nose wrinkled a bit.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Exactly what I said,” my mother laughed.

  “We met in the library,” he told her before taking a sip of his beer.

  “Now that makes sense.” Macy laughed loudly.

  “That sounds about right,” my mom agreed, looking at Macy.

  “So, are you guys using protection?” Macy questioned, and the air turned stiff.

  “Protection for what?” I asked into the quietness.

  Manny face-palmed and sighed. “Wow.”

  My mother turned to Everest. “Did your Indiana Jones go exploring?”

  “Okay, that’s enough.” Manny covered his ears and I was more confused than ever.

  “How you think you got here?” Macy told Manny, and suddenly it dawned on me.

  “I’m leaving.” Manny stood up from the table and began to walk toward my room, then came back to grab his plate before continuing on his journey.

  “You still didn’t answer my question,” my mother said, making my skin turn hot.

  “Ma, we—” I began but she cut me off.

  “I want to hear it from lover boy.”

  Everest looked amused. “No, not at all.”

  “No what?” my mother urged.

  “My Indiana Jones did not go exploring,” he said slowly, before a chuckle slipped through his lips. To my surprise, my mom laughed along with him.

  “What’s funny?” my mom asked even though she was laughing.

  “Why did you phrase it like that?” Everest covered his mouth, but his shaking body was an indication that he was still laughing.

  “Be quiet, now, and eat your food,” my mom told him with a chuckle, and in that moment, I felt like the awkward-meeting phase was over. I thought Everest might’ve just been approved by my mother at that point in time, which made it easier to play the board games.

  Manny rejoined us as we played numerous games until Aunt Macy started to accuse everyone of cheating. After that, my mother whipped out her pageant album. I’d seen the pictures over a million times. She pulled them out every chance she got, and I willingly looked at them. Partly because I was in awe every time I saw them and partly because I liked how her eyes would brighten when she reminisced.

  “You look like Beverly so much right here; your skin is just lighter.” Everest pointed to a photo of my mother on a swing.

  “Beverly looks like me, you mean.” My mom inspected the picture.

  “I’ve got to got to get some cigarettes,” Aunt Macy said randomly, and my mother’s ears perked. She hadn’t smoked in a little bit because she’d “lost” her pack of cigarettes a few days ago.

  “Stores are closed,” Manny said, to halt their efforts.

  “There’s a ma and pa shop around the corner,” my mother said as she put on her jacket.<
br />
  “You’re just going to going to leave us?” I asked.

  “You guys are basically adults, don’t be dramatic. Plus, I don’t really know what I expected, but you know what? I like you, Everest Finley,” my mother said, causing Everest to smile instantly.

  “Does this mean I can call you Mom now?” His boyish grin caused everyone in the room to replicate his energy.

  My mother and Macy laughed and laughed as they walked out of the door.

  From there, the three of us sat on the couch. They boys watched TV, but I just couldn’t get into it. So instead I went to look for some movies. It took longer than expected because the movies were scattered in random places in the apartment. No matter how many times I tried to make the movie selection neat, my mom would mess up the order without a second thought. During my search I heard Manny screaming and yelling at the television with Everest. After I gathered all the appropriate films, I went back into the living room to ask their opinions and saw Manny and Everest looking stressed.

  “I got some movies,” I said, waving them, but the boys didn’t look at me.

  “Shhh,” Manny told me, his eyes glued on the TV.

  Everest looked up at me and then glanced quickly back at the television before looking at me again.

  “What kind of movies?” he asked.

  “The Fast and the Furious, Matilda, all the Twilight movies . . .”

  “Okay, let’s watch The Fast and the Furious.” Everest shrugged.

  “Shhhh!” Manny urged.

  “I kind of wanted to watch Matilda,” I said sheepishly. I hadn’t watched that movie in forever.

  “Okay, Matilda it is.” Everest grabbed the remote and Manny yelled when Everest changed the input on the TV.

  “WHAT ARE YOU DOING! THE GAME IS STILL ON!”

  “Beverly wants to watch Matilda.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Manny looked at me with disgust.

  “I’m sorry, Manny,” I told him, but he wanted no part of my apology.

  “We can always watch the game later,” Everest told him.

  “You can, but I can’t. There’s no cable at my house.” Manny looked like he was moments away from punching Everest.

  “I’ll tell you what—when your mom comes back ask her if you can watch it over at my house. I have a home theater.” Everest lifted an eyebrow in suggestion.