Page 10 of The Surprise
I’ve seen scenes in movies where someone crowd surfed at a concert. They’d fall off the stage and an ocean of hands would hold them up, while they bounced and traveled around, lifted by a sea of people. That’s how I feel at dinner. Like here, no matter what you say or do, someone will lift you up, carrying the conversation along boisterously.
Four girls, three boys including Aiden, and a bevy of adults. All of them chattering, making jokes, and smiling. No one even seems to notice that I’m not talking, and it’s warm in a way I don’t recall ever experiencing.
“You were tripped?” Ethan says. “Or you wore those new purple converse you’ve been dying to wear that are still too big, and you stumbled over your own feet?”
Izzy scowls. “They aren’t too big.”
“They aren’t? Ugh, that’s even worse. Are you telling me you really do have clown feet?” He’s grinning ear to ear.
Izzy’s scowling, but you can tell she’s notreallymad. “It’s good to have career options,” Izzy says. “Unlike some people, I have a bright future.”
Ethan rolls his eyes, and then Whitney takes up the charge, telling him that cowboys stopped being cool at least a hundred years ago. But even when they poke fun at him, you can tell they love him. And he loves them, too.
“Beth, are there any teachers my girls need to watch out for?” Abigail asks. “You’re the only person here with any inside information.” She’s smiling, so I can tell she’s at least half-kidding.
“Mrs. Abbott is pretty nice,” I say. “She teaches English. But Mrs. Fisher is really, really strict. I hated her class freshman year.”
“It sounds like there may not be any other options,” Abigail says. “Is that right?”
I nod. “That’s the bad thing about a tiny school, I guess. Not many chances to change classes.”
Abigail sighs. “Well, if you survived her, hopefully they can, too.”
“I’m sure your girls are much smarter than me,” I say. “They’ll probably be her favorite students.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Ethan says. “You look really smart, and Izzy here had trouble last night tying her shoelaces.”
“I had trouble changing the laces out, because Gabe put a knot in them.” Izzy kicks Ethan. “I can tie them just fine.”
“Ow,” Ethan says. “They say the truth hurts, so I’ll let you decide who to believe, Beth.”
I’m laughing now, too. “I always thought I was missing out, not having a brother.” I twist my lips. “Now I’m thinking maybe not.”
Izzy and Whitney clap and jeer.
Ethan cocks one eyebrow at me. “Just when I thought she was nice and sweet.”
“Nice and sweet are overrated traits,” Whitney says. “Get some spiky-toed boots and join the rest of us.” Her smirk is half terrifying, half inspiring.
“My mom has ruined them,” Ethan says. “She’s raising two little man-eating lion cubs.”
“Ruined?” Abigail arches one eyebrow. “In what way are lionesses bad?”
“They kill most of the meals to feed the entire pack,” Steve says. “I think that lionesses are probably the most under-celebrated of all animals.”
Ethan rolls his eyes. “Dude. Really?”
Steve chuckles. “I could say the same to you.”
“My friend’s dog had puppies last year,” Izzy says. “Her lab had fourteen puppies.” She looks around the room, daring anyone to argue with her. “Anyway, when I went to visit, the puppies were all six weeks old, and a few of the puppies kept attacking their mom.”
“Attacking?” Abigail asks.
Izzy nods. “Biting, snapping, growling. Attacking. Anyway, they did it to get the mom’s attention.” She smirks. “Just like Ethan does.” She turns toward me. “Don’t worry. He loves lionesses as much as anyone. He just likes to growl about it to get some attention.”
“Attention’s hard to come by around here,” Ethan says. “I have to fight for it any way I can.” He tilts his head, and I can’t help noticing how handsome he is in an effortless way. Unkempt blonde hair. Expressive face. Eyes that almost disappear when he smiles because they squint up so much. “Imagine how nice it is to be an only child. No snapping and biting and attacking at all.”
I open my mouth to say that it’s not that great.
