Seeing Shadows (Shadows 1)

"I don't mind the drive." Simon looked at me, a smile playing on his lips. "It all depends on the company, I guess."

"So what exactly are we going to do tomorrow?" I asked, not knowing how to react to his statement. So I did what I did best - deflect.

"My mom wants to take us out to lunch. She's going to the spa afterwards with Kendra to get ready for the party and she wanted me to invite you girls along. Her treat."

"Absolutely," Sarah squealed in delight.

Simon looked at me when I didn't answer. I wasn't sure how comfortable I would be hobnobbing with Simon's mother at a spa. I was a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. I didn't spend much time inside of spas and I didn't want to look green in front of her.

"Caitlin?" Simon asked in a questioning tone when I didn't reply. "You don't have to if you don't want to. We can do something else."

It felt churlish to refuse such a generous offer. And Sarah would also be there so maybe it wouldn't be too bad. "No, it's a lovely offer. Of course."

The drive down to Connecticut went by a lot faster than I anticipated. Despite what Simon had claimed, Grant was alert and energetic during the drive and he was constantly coming up with games to play, like trying to be the first to spot a new state license plate. Even though the games were simple and juvenile, I found myself laughing and smiling, enjoying the easy camaraderie and banter immensely. I hadn't spent my childhood on roadtrips and this was a new experience for me.

I found myself glancing at Simon frequently during the trip. Every time he looked at me, it was difficult to not search his eyes for something that didn't belong there. It had been like this ever since my aunt's revelations. But I never saw anything except Simon's clear blue eyes looking back at me. It was hard to believe that there could be any such thing as a vardoger temporarily possessing Simon's body, even if it was for seconds at a time. Simon was too vibrant, too strong, too full of life to have anything overtake him.

We stopped in a town called Hancock to fill up on gas and grab a bite to eat, and then we were back on the road. Before I knew it, Simon started pointing out landmarks on the road, indicating that we were close to his house.

"That's my high school," he said, pointing to a large building made out of brick. I peered at it, trying to see it through the dark. I could barely make out the words Lincoln High School on the sign in front of the building.

"What were you like in high school?" I asked, turning to look at Simon's profile. I could imagine him being popular with girls fawnin

g over him. Not much had changed in a few years. "Were you a jock?"

Simon shrugged as he glanced at me. "I ran in all different sorts of crowds. I'd like to think I had a mix of friends."

Grant leaned in between the front seats. "Don't let this guy be modest. He was an all-american in basketball. Plus he was the lead in every damn play. It got annoying having to go see that junk all the time."

Simon laughed. "It's a bit of an exaggeration to say I was the lead in every play. And no one made you come see me in them."

"Nuh uh!" Grant protested. "My mom did!"

I laughed at Grant's affronted expression. "Poor Grant. Having to be tortured by being exposed to the arts. High school arts, anyways." I turned to look back at Simon. "I didn't know you had an interest in acting."

"I don't. My school mostly put on musicals, so it was just fun to mess around with them. Nothing serious."

"Now that makes sense," I said. "Singing even back then, huh? Were you in a band in high school?"

"The Mechanical Pencils!" Grant yelled out.

"What?" Sarah asked from the back seat. "What are you babbling about, Grant?"

Simon grinned. "That was the name of our band in high school. Don't ask me how we came up with it. I think it was Grant's idea."

"Because we were in school. Pencils, right? And we always had an endless supply of lead. Get it? The Mechanical Pencils!" Grant explained.

Simon rolled his eyes. "It only makes sense in Grant's mind. And that's one place I never want to go."

Our conversation came to a halt as we turned into a gated street with a booth in the front. Before I could wonder out loud where we were, Simon pulled up to the booth and lowered his window. A middle-aged man in a grey uniform that strained against his pot belly was sitting in the booth. When we pulled up, he leaned his head out the window, nodding in recognition.

"Hi Simon. Long time no see. Visiting for Kendra's birthday?"

"Yup. Good to see you, Ray."

Ray then straightened in his chair and pushed a button that opened the gate. He gave Simon a wave as we started pulling into the now open street.

I silently watched the houses we passed, in awe of their size and grandeur. These weren't merely houses. They were estates. The mansions were on huge pieces of land, with perfectly manicured lawns that I could only imagine would be verdant and lush come spring.