Odin's Murder

*

We pass Julian and Ethan on the way through the quad. The taller of the two has his camera out, snapping a shot of something in the trees while my brother stands by, fidgeting. Ethan’s got a little smirk on his face, and I wonder how many times Jules has made him wait while he finishes ‘one more page’.

“Where are you two going?” my twin asks, hands on his hips.

“On a walk,” I reply, tone casual. I don’t look at Faye, but I do see her shift the package behind her back. The girl is cleverer than her wardrobe implies.

I hear a snort and look over my shoulder. Ethan, from behind the lens, says, “A walk. In those shoes. Come up with something better, Cherry.”

It’s the first time he’s spoken to me outside of a classroom since our epic shock of a kiss. I’m relieved I’d grabbed my sunglasses as we left and don’t have to look him in the eye.

During our study sessions I have the project to focus on, but out here there is nothing between us but my skinny brother and my fairy-sprite-in-mothballs roommate, and neither of them can compete with the evil energy that runs between Ethan and me like the river Styx.

“Shouldn’t you be off lurking somewhere with your girlfriend?” I ask, with a sweet smile that isn’t.

“I’d think you were on the prowl for Joe College, too, dressed like that, except you have Faye with you.” He gives her a warm smile, something I’ve never been graced with. “So where are you going, on your ‘walk’?”

I stare at the two boys. “Come on, Faye.”

“Mems?” Julian’s tone is parental.

“We’re just going for a walk. And talking. About girl stuff. Like boys. And how rude, nosey ones are jerks.” I grab my roommate by her sweater and walk away.

Once we’re out of earshot she says, “I can see why Julian worries about you. We’re about to break the number one rule Zoe gave us.”

“We’re just going to ask if the guard has seen her. And it’s hardly off campus,” I scoff. “It’s six houses down the lane. For all we know it may actually be on the school property. That’s the rumor anyway.”

“What are we going to do when we get there? Just give her mom the package?”

“Yeah, and find out why she decided not to come this year.”

“Maybe there was a family emergency?” Faye asks. “Or maybe she already got sent home pregnant from her own handsome college boy. They could be eloping to Vegas!”

“Ugh!” I feign a shiver. “Don’t say things like that!”

“What, you don’t want to get married?”

“I haven’t met a boy I’ve wanted to be with more than a month, much less the rest of my life.” I sigh. “Eidetic memory has its drawbacks.” I glance behind us. We cross a small side street that splits the campus and walk down the thinner stone path to the older section of campus. On the way we pass the chapel. “Is this where you and Ethan took all the pictures?”

She nods. “See the front door? I looked it up. Unlike the Shakers, who separated men and women during services, the Moravians encouraged a family environment.”

“Maybe the Shakers were smarter than we thought. Nothing causes more trouble than the opposite sex.”

“What do you mean?” Faye asks. “Personally, I enjoy associating with boys. They’re often good at conversation, not to mention quite pleasant to look at. Julian has lovely eyes. They’re a lot like yours, but in the sun, the brown turns rust, like the color of dark beer. And when he talks about books sometimes it’s hard to pay attention, because his eyes light up and get so pretty.”

“Julian. My brother?”

“Don’t tell him I said that. He takes his books very seriously.” She looks up at me, face scrunched, until I shake my head in promise.

“His hands are nice, too. Slim, but large. Long fingers. I imagine he is quite skilled in various tasks with them.” She turns to me again, for confirmation.

“Um... sure. Like, he plays the guitar if that’s what you’re asking.”

“I guessed. I saw the calluses on his fingers. Is he any good?”

“Not really.” I feel guilty when her face falls. “He writes some neat lyrics, though.”

We continue down the path, beyond the tiny church tucked into the trees. I glance at the historical sign, without reading it; I’ll save it for later.