Shangri-la
Chapter 2
Reaching into her pocket, Iris pulled out the napkin and looked at it. “Hey Justin,” she said, “What time is it?”
“Just after seven. Why? What is that?” Justin strained to look over at what Iris was holding. The air felt cool and smelled of cut grass, the distant echo of a lawnmower pounding the air as Iris paused, looking up at the sun. Behind them, Iris’s house loomed over them, the windows watching as they lounged on the large slab of concrete just outside the backdoor.
Finally, after composing her reply, Iris answered with a little bit of bewilderment, “It’s a girl’s phone number.”
“A girl? I didn’t know you swung that way.” With a teasing grin, Justin used his fist to tap Iris’s shoulder. “Is she hot?”
“I don’t swing that way . . . at least I don’t think I do.” Iris’s cheeks flamed red. “And yes, I suppose she was rather pretty, but she looked a bit older than me.”
“How old?”
“I don’t know, early twenties, I guess.” Iris let out a deep breath. “You know how hard it is for me to guess people’s age.”
“Hey, remember how that girl in our Chemistry class last year had a thirty-year-old boyfriend? Five or six years is nothing compared to that.” Justin kept his smirk on his face, refusing to let it vanish.
“I don’t want to date her,” Iris exclaimed. “And it’s not like she was hitting on me or anything. She just said that we were the same and told me to call her tonight.”
“She was so hitting on you! The same? She meant you’re both lesbians!” Justin sat back, roaring with laughter.
“No, she didn’t!” Iris blushed again. “It didn’t sound that way at all!”
“So are you going to call her?” Leaning forward, Justin watched Iris with shining eyes.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Right now?”
“I don’t know . . . Is it late enough?”
“Sure!”
“I think I would rather be alone though.” Iris looked down, picking at a small rock that had wander its way onto the patio.
“Aw, c’mon!” Justin pleaded. “I’m your best friend! And besides, I want to hear this.”
“Well . . . all right.” Pulling out her cell phone with a trembling hand, Iris pushed the buttons from the napkin, double checked to ensure that they were right, then pushed ‘talk.’ Setting the phone down, Iris put it on speaker mode and they silently listened to it ring.
“Hello?” a voice answered after a moment, sounding electronic through the phone.
“Hi, Lotus?” Iris said, moving her face closer to the pavement.
“Yes?” There was a silent pause.
“This is Iris . . .” she said slowly. “From the shopping center earlier today. You told me to call you?”
“Iris! I’m glad you called. How are you?”
“I’m doing fine . . . how are you?”
“She is so a lesbian!” Justin more mouthed than spoke.
Frowning at Justin, Iris picked up the phone and turned away from him.
“Good. Are you alone?” Lotus asked.
“No . . .” Iris looked at Justin as he rolled his eyes at her.
“Are you with your parents?” Lotus’s voice sounded amused.
“No. A friend.”
“Tell her I’m your boyfriend.”
“Shut up Justin!” Iris hissed.
A light chuckle came from the phone. “Do you want to meet in person?”
“Umm . . . sure.”
“Bring your friend along,” Lotus added.
Iris looked at Justin. “Of course I’ll come,” he said. “I want to see what this chick looks like.”
“Okay,” Iris answered.
“Meet me at the Cold Stone on Main Street. You do know where that is, right?” Lotus asked.
“Yes,” Iris replied.
“Tell your parents that you’re going to get ice cream, but don’t mention me.”
“Why not?”
“Your father gave me a nasty look earlier, and I’m sure they wouldn’t let you leave if they knew about me.”
“Okay.”
“Leave in fifteen minutes. I’ll be there waiting for you.”
“All right . . . Goodbye.”
“I’ll explain everything to you when I see you. Until then, farewell.” The phone went silent, and the numbers in the timer flashed repeatedly after Lotus had hung up.
“This seems kind of fishy,” Justin said.
“It’s going to be the two of us, so we’ll be safe.” Iris carefully put her cell phone back into her pocket.
“She specifically told you to lie to your parents,” Justin argued.
“You know how protective my dad is. He doesn’t like me hanging out with you, and we’ve known each other all through high school.”
“But still . . .”
“Are you coming or not?” Because if not, then I’ll go by myself.”
“Why are you so intent on this?”
Iris hesitated. “You’ll think I’m crazy.”
“I already think you’re crazy.”
“Right before I saw her,” Iris began, “the wind had picked up and I swear I heard a voice whispering to me, but I couldn’t understand what it was saying. When I looked in the direction the wind came from, I saw Lotus and I had the feeling that she knew something so I had to go talk to her. I just can’t ignore it.”
“It sounds like your imagination is getting away with you.” Justin scowled.
“Are you coming?”
“I don’t think I have any other choice.” Justin pushed himself up from the ground. “I’m coming.”
“Good. I’ll go inside and tell my parents that we’re going out for ice cream, then we’ll leave.” After walking to the door, Iris stopped and looked back. “Thanks Justin.”
“Don’t mention it.” Justin shrugged. “Just keep your guard up, okay?”
“I will!” With a smile, Iris went inside her house.
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