It was typical of Crystal that she worked closely with Emily on the design of her castle. There was a lot of pink involved, plus some purple and gold. It even had a drawbridge. It had already begun to take shape before I started at St Michael's. Most of the construction work took place in Crystal's workshop. It was her creative space. Once each piece was made it was transported to site and assembled. After a couple of weeks of work it was almost finished and as an added bonus Crystal had warmed to Mr Vadash. She wasn't rude to him before that. Prickly was the word I'd use. It was obviously her distrust of men that caused the barriers and defenses to fly up.
As a result of them becoming more friendly Andy's dad managed to persuade her to file suits against Child Protective Services and the agency responsible for placing Chloe with us. I also filed a suit against them. That started a backlash for a while until Mr Vadash put a stop to it. The suits dragged on for months of course. Not only is the law stupid, it's also very slow. Of course this involved Ms Goodbody in another project. This time for the Assistant DA. Emily and his daughter were close friends. What one had, the other had to have to. Not in competition it was a little girl alliance against which not even God could stand.
While all this was going through its sedate meandering motions I started at school with Andy. Who as I may have indicated was a social butterfly. Not a member of the geeks, nerds, jocks or emo's cliques, but accepted by all of them. As he liked to put it, he was a channel for communication. We were joined by a few other outcasts eventually. Not a formal group, merely misfits banding together in a very loose way. Including a young lady, Heather, who had Cerebral Palsy. Intellectually she was on a par with me. She hadn't been propelled out of childhood before her time like I'd been, her problems were far more long term. The courage with which she faced them still humbles me. Her motorized wheelchair led to some modifications at home. The first time Heather came round we had to carry her inside. The second time, a week later, there was a ramp, several doorways had been widened and Crystal was drawing up plans for an expansion of her house. A rec room.
It wasn't all smooth sailing. As a result of my good fortune I became an absolute asshole before the end of the semester. I'd learned from Andy, how to crack wise. I'd also learned that if your snide remarks and insulting comments were aimed at teachers laughter was guaranteed. A lot of the work I could do standing on my head, so I had time to think. Time to study. To seek out the teachers weaknesses and triggers. It got me a few detentions. So I upped the ante, like the piece of shit I was. Andy cautioned me, and this early in our relationship our braking wasn't as efficient as it would become. One day I went too far with a joke and it sent Ms Kochanski rushing from the room to the amusement of half the class. The other half knew I'd been an asshole. My unblinking stare was what broke her in the end. My careless remark about her never getting the chance to have children, was only provocation. It was intended as a smart one liner. She wasn't old or ugly. What harm could it do? Apart from destroying her self confidence and bringing up harrowing memories.
Why Crystal didn't beat the living shit out of me, I will never understand. Ms Kochanski had to take time off work. I had a full month of detentions. That didn't matter to me. I felt like the big man. I'd destroyed a teacher. Until Crystal heard about it. That evening she read me the riot act. I'd rarely seen her angry, even then it was brief. Now she was volcanic and it went on for what seemed like hours. During which she told me Ms Kochanski had been married. Had tried to start a family, only to miscarry four times before being informed she would never be able to have children. As a result of which her husband left her and was now awaiting the birth of his second child. I don't think any of this would have registered as a concern to me, were it not for the fact my actions had also hurt Crystal. She couldn't believe I'd do something so callous.
Lecture of chastisement delivered I was whisked around to the teachers house. Where I made an abject apology. Crystal was still mad with me, so I meant it. More for her sake than Ms Kochanski's I admit. And in admitting this I understand I was utterly selfish. Seeking only to relieve myself of her ire. The upshot was I became my teachers slave for a period of not less than one month. Should my performance not be adequate that could be extended indefinitely. To her credit April Kochanski accepted my apology and didn't take advantage of me. When she eventually returned to school after the summer break Andy and I led the applause for her. Needless to say my classroom behavior from then on was impeccable. As far as the female teachers were concerned. A few of the male teachers were absolutely dicks. It was always open season on them.
The long summer break was approaching when a chronically depressed Andy turned up at the door. Wasting no time in explaining why his parents would never understand him and actively sought to make his life hell on earth. He never got what he wanted. Emily got everything she asked for. She was his sister and he loved her, but that love had been stretched to breaking point. Their parents were planning a trip to Europe. Two weeks at the beginning of the summer break. They'd be based in Germany, staying mainly at the hotel near Neuschwanstein Castle. If you've never seen it, check it out. It's the quintessential fairytale castle. Emily was already about to explode with pure joy. Andy did not want to go visit a boring old castle. Not when he could have spent the time with me. Doing boy stuff.
Which was mainly walking around looking for things to do that would be fun, but wouldn't get us in too much trouble if we were caught. He wanted to stay with us. Practically begged Crystal to house him for the entire 2 weeks. She wasn't averse to the concept. We'd stayed over with one another several times already. Always Friday nights, when I was at the Vadash's. Leading me to the conclusion she was meeting Dan. Which I was all for. At least I thought so. Although the images of her being with him gave me an indescribable sensation. A hollowness inside, into which I thought I might fall.
Crystal had been to Canada a few times. Other than that she'd never left Washington State. She gently tried to persuade Andy he should go with his family. Comforting him while staring at me with a look that said "one wrong word and I will ground you for eternity." She'd assumed I'd be all for him staying with us. She wasn't wrong. However I'd told him of some of the places my parents had taken me. Including Japan and Vietnam. I was so young at the time I had impressions instead of memories. It was one of our many contradictory dreams that one day we'd wander the world together. When I began to speak she gave me a fierce stare.
"Andy man. You have got to go. I'd much rather you stayed here, but that would be selfish of me. It's Europe. Germany isn't only a fairytale castle, there are a million other things there. Take your drone. Send me pictures and video's. Promise me you'll Skype me at least once a week. It's two weeks out of the whole of our lives. You'll do things you'll remember for the rest of your life."
With the two of us working in tandem it only took another hour or so to get him to reconsider. He'd run out of the house telling his parents they'd never understand and that he hated them. He called to say sorry and that he'd be happy to go on the holiday with them. They were all reconciled within seconds, but Andy had to go back so they could plan out their itinerary with things for both him and his sister. He was misty eyed when the call was over. Much to my surprise he threw his arms around me. Me stiff as a board, in shock, he pounded my back.
"I'm really gonna miss you besty."
I patted him self consciously.
"Ummmm. Andy? You're not leaving for over a week. We'll see each other tomorrow if you don't come back today."
He awkwardly disengaged himself. Sniffing and rubbing his nose on his sleeve. Embarrassed doesn't cover it. He offered the fist bump. I accepted with a grin.
"Yeah... I'll see ya later."
"Not if I see you first." I responded, it was our little catchphrase.
Returning to his incipient manhood Andy departed. I followed him to the door and halfway to the shortcut to his house. When I returned Crystal was waiting at the door for me.
"You did good Luke. I got a bit worried about you, after all that trouble with Camille Kochanski. Thought you were heading off down the dark trail. While your buddy's gone we can go walkabout if you like. I'll take you to visit my people at the Yakama Reservation. Then we can go up to Gifford Pinchot National Forest. What do you say?"
"Yes please Crystal. That would be perfection." The next part came out of nowhere. "I love you Crystal Goodbody."
I'd stunned myself. It hadn't been intended. Bubbling up from within me. Expressed without volition. She gave me a smile and a one armed hug. More than ample reward. After that it was something I began to say more and more. Not for the hugs and smiles, which became rarer and more special over time. I said it because it gave me a warm feeling inside. That night I had the recurring dream again. The one I haven't told you about. Running through the forest, chasing the green eyed she wolf. Whenever I had it I'd wake with a start. Sweating as if I'd actually been running. It wasn't frightening or scary, except in the sense I could never catch her. I'd see those eyes in the trees and no matter how fast I ran they'd get further and further away. She was still out there and all I knew was I had to find her or something dreadful would happen. It always took me a long time to get back to sleep after one of those. How did one track down an imaginary wolf in a dream? Now I know the answer was incredibly simple. Stop running. Which was also incredibly hard, when all you can do is run.
