Angel of Fire - the Breath of Immortality - Book One #Wattys2014

The Call

Chapter 16 - The Call

I woke up early Saturday morning to the sound of thunder and practically flew to my window to look outside. It was pouring rain. I remembered hearing a weather report for the weekend, but didn't think it was supposed to rain until Sunday. Stupid Michigan weather. So now, besides the torrential downpour, it was also so foggy outside that I couldn't even see my own back yard. A thick haze covered everything as if the clouds had fallen out of the sky.

Crawling back in bed, I covered up knowing that if the rain didn't stop soon there wouldn't be enough time for everything to dry out. We would probably end up having to postpone everything.

I must've fallen back to sleep because the next sound I heard was my mother's annoying sing-song voice. "Good morning, Sunshine!"

Like nails down a chalkboard, I pulled my pillows over my head in an attempt to drown out the noise. Too bad it didn't work. Lifting one pillow, I squinted in the gloom of my room. "Is it still raining?"

"Nope. It stopped and the sun is shining." Mom walked to the window and threw open my black bedroom curtains letting the morning light stream in. Gross. "Looks like it's going to be a beautiful day." 

I covered my head again and groaned. "I hate mornings."

"Time to rise and shine," she announced brightly. "It's after ten." I could practically feel the smile lighting up her face. It was annoying as hell.

"I hate morning people more than I hate mornings."

Mom grew stern and more lecturey by the second. "Quit being so ornery. I just came to tell you that Carmen called. She thought you would already be up and ready." I heard her sniff sarcastically, and then she added, "Shows how much Carmen knows about you."

I grunted and blindly tossed a pillow, missing horribly.

"Anyway," mom continued unfazed by my outburst. "I promised Carmen that I would wake you up.  And now I have." She walked to my door and announced, "I'm going to go make some coffee. You want some?"

Reaching out a hand, I grabbed my cell phone off the nightstand and ducked back under the covers like a hermit. The screen glowed in the dark and showed I had five missed calls from Carmen.

I answered from my bed cave. "Sure. I'd love breakfast in bed too when you get a chance."

Mom gave a sharp laugh. "Awww, wouldn't it be so great if I was the kind of mother that would do that for you?"

"Can't blame a kid for trying."

When my door clicked closed, I called Carmen. She answered on the first ring. "What are you doing still in bed? I thought you would be dressed and ready by now."

"For your information, I am already dressed." I lied.

"Really. What are you wearing?"

"Wearing?" I repeated, voice going high.

"You know, as in clothes." I could almost hear her eyes rolling. "I want you to wear something cute."

I balked at that. "To run around in a cornfield? I don't think so."

"Hel-lo," she said with a disapproving sniff. "You're meeting my brother, dummy." Frustration was plain in her voice. "Don't tell me you're going to wear one of your ridiculous flannel shirts again."

I stuttered, appalled. "Da...don't you mean ridiculously awesome? I happen to love my flannels."

"Trust me. You're the only one. You can change into one of your hillbilly shirts later...if you must," she added, grudgingly.

"Well, what are you wearing?" I asked, hoping to get some idea of what she considered cute.

"It's a surprise."

I scowled. "I'm breathless with anticipation,"

"O-kay." Silence, then a sigh. "Y'know, this cheerful, euphoric side of you is really freaking me out." She tried to keep the bitterness out of her voice, and failed miserably. "When this is all over, you're going to thank me."

"I seriously doubt that," I said, with mild heat.

"Prepare to eat your words, Chaos Killbourne."

I fought a grin. "If I do, it will be a first."

"Well, I also wanted to tell you that my brother, Nick and the guys from his band arrived last night. They'll be coming over early to have enough time to set up their equipment. That okay with you?"

I thought about Thomas and his warning about not allowing any visitors to come over as I absently twirled a piece of my hair with a finger.

"Sure," I moaned. "The more the merrier."

Carmen sounded hesitant. "You okay?"

I nodded, then realized she couldn't see it. "Yes. Fine. When will they be here?"

"We're leaving as soon as I hang up," she said excitedly. "Oh, I almost forgot to ask. What costume are you going to wear?"

"Costume?" I repeated.

"You are planning to dress up, aren't you?"

I frowned. "I haven't given it much thought." I usually only dressed up when I was little, even though I've always despised All Hallows' Eve. The fact that I was about to turn sixteen exactly at midnight, really chapped my ass. Having a birthday on Halloween always stole my thunder.

"Never mind," Carmen said, interrupting my thoughts. "I'll bring a costume you can wear. We're also going to need more people to dress up and work the maze to scare people besides us," she pointed out.

I smiled into my cell. "My mom's already got that covered too. She's President of the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce. All of her business contacts and friends in the community are already planning to come and help us out."

"N-iiice," Carmen groaned. "Where were her friends when we had to decorate all by ourselves?"