There Will Come a Time by Carrie Arcos

Author:Carrie Arcos
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Seventeen

At night I pull out my phone to find a text from Lily. We had exchanged numbers after the last practice. I didn’t think she’d actually use mine.

Today I miss when she’d make me tea and we’d talk.

Her words pick at a scab. Just when I think it’s healing, the wound keeps breaking open. The bungee jump helped clarify that. I don’t respond.

I take out a piece of paper and begin writing at my desk.

Top Five Things to Do When Bored

1) Eat

2) Watch TV

3) Play video games

4) Go for a drive

5) Play bass

I’m tempted to go to the bridge again, but it’s not as if that’ll make me feel better, so I write:

Top Five Reasons Not to Go to the Bridge

1) Cold

2) Pathetic

3) Grace isn’t there

4) Need to move forward

5) Cold

Apparently I’m not as creative with the list thing as Grace was. There’s a noise coming from the hallway, so I go investigate. The light is on in Grace’s room. I push open the door. Fern is looking through drawers.

“What’re you doing?” I survey the room to make sure she hasn’t made a mess. Everything’s exactly where it should be, where it’s been for months, undisturbed. Someday we’ll have to sift through Grace’s belongings. Dad and Jenny are waiting on me, but I haven’t been ready.

“Looking for something.”

“What?” I’m actually curious. What would Fern need in here?

“A pink scarf.”

I point to the bottom drawer, the one where Grace kept her accessories. “Did you try that one?”

Fern sighs. “Yes, but it’s not there.”

“Isn’t it past bedtime?”

“Mr. Fox is going to a party and he needs it.” She holds up a stuffed animal for me to see.

I open Grace’s closet and her smell hits me. Grace’s smell. I hold on to the door frame because it almost knocks me over.

“Good idea,” Fern says behind me. She pushes past me into the closet, moving aside Grace’s shirts and jeans. Grace always ironed and then hung her jeans. They were perfectly organized, as if she were going to come and pull out a pair to wear tomorrow.

“Oh, here it is!” Fern says, and tries to pull the scarf off a hook. I help her get it down and she holds it tight against her chest. “Thank you, Mark!” She runs off into her room.

I close Grace’s closet.

I walk around the room, touching things as I go. Her dresser. The corner of her bed. The top of her computer. A book on her shelf. I open a drawer. Inside are Grace’s journals. I pull out my phone and text Lily.

Today it’s her smell.

Grace’s scent lingers like the wet smell after a rain. I wonder how long it’ll be before it leaves altogether. I shut the drawer, turn off Grace’s light, and exit the room.

My phone rings with an unknown caller, and I answer, expecting Lily’s voice.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Mark.”

Mom’s voice comes across a little too peppy. She’s calling from a number I don’t recognize. Smart.

“Hey.”

“Is this a good time?”

“Yeah, sorry, it’s been crazy busy. New school year and all.

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