Just Starting Out
1.21 - The Bat at the Window
Cassandra gestured to the hotel, a three story building with a bright sign loudly declaring that it was called the Treefall Inn.
“This is where you’ll be staying!”
John nodded. “It looks nice.”
“This hotel is pretty particular, so I was only able to book two rooms on one account,” Cassandra said apologetically. “One room with a single, the other with two double beds. Kayla, I was thinking you could take the single. John, Malcolm, you two could take the double, make it a guy’s night or something.”
John didn’t respond to that. Cassandra… he should have told her. He was so close the last time she’d visited Newcrest… if only Lillian hadn’t shown up at just the wrong time two days in a row… he could have avoided this whole situation. Cassandra would have understood, and Kayla would probably been the one staying in a room with Malcolm instead of him. If only he hadn’t been so afraid of letting Lillian down…
“Well, that certainly sounds fine to me,” Kayla said, jarring John out of his thoughts. “A single room? Yes, please!”
Malcolm did nothing more than nod nervously.
Cassandra, either not noticing or choosing to ignore John and Malcolm’s less than enthusiastic reactions, led the three of them into the lobby. As she went up to the front desk to get the room keys, John, Kayla, and Malcolm all sat down in one of the many seating areas scattered across the lobby.
“I, uh, see refreshments over there,” Malcolm coughed awkwardly, gesturing in some direction. “Do any of you want anything?”
“Water with lemon, thanks,” Kayla smiled. “This seems like a decently fancy hotel, so they’ve got to have some of that delicious lemon water!”
“Nothing for me, thanks,” John said quietly.
Malcolm nodded, and walked off.
Once he was out of earshot, Kayla turned to John. “Okay John, what’s up? You’ve been weird ever since Cassandra said you have to room with Malcolm.”
“I- I, uh, just haven’t ever shared a room in my life? And, uh, I really don’t want to start now?” John stammered.
“Oh right, you never had sleepovers as a kid,” Kayla said, shaking her head. “Poor thing. Okay. Here’s what we’ll do. I’ll ask Cassandra if you and I can switch rooms. I don’t mind sharing a room with Malcolm. He just better not be a loud snorer.”
John shrugged awkwardly.
Kayla looked over the back of the sofa, trying to spot Malcolm. “Where is that boy? That lemon water sounds really good just about now.”
“Uh, Kayla, how do we tell Malcolm we want to switch rooms without, you know, offending him?” John asked quickly.
Kayla turned back around. “The truth. You wanting to sleep alone because you’ve never shared a room with anyone before is completely understandable, John.”
“I doubt he has either, Kayla. Maybe he won’t?”
“Then in that case, John, we’ll ask Malcolm to take the single, and we’ll both suffer through sharing a room. I don’t mind where I sleep, personally, but if you’re so bothered sleeping with someone else in your room, I’m sure your sister would be less of an issue. Right?”
Cassandra walked back over with the room keys, cutting their conversation short. “What’s this I hear about switching rooms?”
“John’s never had a sleepover before, so he’s a bit anxious about sharing a room with Malcolm,” Kayla shrugged.
Cassandra smiled. “Ah. I see. You know, I’ve never had one either, John. Wasn’t easy for me to make friends as a kid, me being who I am. So, personally, I’d actually be excited to have one! I understand your position, though. So, Kayla, how does this sound? You can stay at my place, and John can take your room.”
“That sounds good to me,” Kayla nodded.
“Alright then! Let’s fetch Malcolm, and check out your rooms.”
Once they’d all dropped off the luggage in their hotel rooms, everyone headed to the Goth mansion, both to drop off Kayla’s stuff and start investigating.
When they got there, however, they found Bella talking to a strange woman on the front porch, both dressed in athletic gear.
“…think they might really be an issue.” the woman was saying. “I’m sure he knows he’s unpopular, but the level of unrest-“
“Maia,” Bella warned, spotting everyone approaching the house.
“Aunt Maia?” Cassandra asked. “What are you doing here? I thought you were an extended vacation to Selvadorada!”
“Well, uh, surprise! I’m back!” Maia laughed, quickly dropping the serious tone she’d had before.
“Aunt Maia, these are my friends John, Kayla, and Malcolm,” Cassandra said, gesturing. “They just happened to be in town, so I took some time off work to entertain them.”
“You sure Mitch would approve of that?” Maia asked.
“I work hard enough for him, I’ve earned a few days off,” Cassandra said casually. “But, Aunt Maia, how do you know that? You’ve been gone since before I started working for him.”
“You think I wouldn’t update her on my precious children?” Bella cut in. “Of course not! You know how much I love to brag, Cassandra dear.”
“Unfortunately,” Cassandra sighed. “But anyway, Kayla’s going to be staying in my room for the next few days. I hope that won’t be an issue?”
Bella, oddly enough, looked as if she wanted to complain for a few moments. But she quickly put on a smile. “Of course! It’s going to be an honor to have you staying with us, Kayla! Just give Maia and I some time to tidy up first.”
Kayla nodded. “Sounds good to me!”
Cassandra frowned. This was unlike Bella. The house was always spotless. And, above all, she’d never admit to her house being anything less than perfect. And Maia’s sudden return? Something was up. She walked over to Kayla, and grabbed her luggage.
“I’ll bring this in and help out, mom,” Cassandra said.
“Oh no, dear, there’s no need! Go out and entertain your guests, I recommend-“
“No. I insist,” Cassandra smiled, cutting her off. “Kayla and John were about to visit their parents anyway.”
John nodded quickly. “Yeah! They’re like, totally expecting us already!”
“Oh. Uh, very well, I guess. I appreciate your help, Cassandra dear.”
Cassandra smiled, and pushed past Bella and Maia.
“Come on,” Bella said quietly to Maia.
Maia nodded, and the two hurried in after Cassandra, shutting the door behind them.
“Well then… I guess we’ve got to see our parents now? I guess I’ll just uh, leave my luggage outside?” Kayla asked.
“Sounds like it,” John shrugged. “And I’ll text Cassandra about your luggage, don’t worry.”
“I… I guess I’ll go back to the hotel. See you guys later,” Malcolm said quietly.
“Probably for the best,” Kayla agreed. “We all know they’re not all that fond of you. I’m truly sorry about that, Malcolm.”
Malcolm nodded slowly.
After a few more words, the three of them said their goodbyes, Kayla put down her luggage, and they went on their way.
Kayla and John stood outside Adrienne and Jameson’s house, shifting anxiously. It felt weird to just show up unannounced. And it was just too late to call them and let them know they were on the way.
John and Kayla shared one last anxious look before John walked boldly up to the front door and knocked.
They waited a few moments before Adrienne opened it.
“John! And Kayla! I can’t believe you two are here!” Adrienne squealed, rushing forward to hug both of them.
Once she did, she backed up, and crossed her arms. “Your father is going to be just thrilled, you know? Ever since he retired, he’d spent each and every day complains about how bored he is sitting around the house. Come on! Let’s surprise him!”
Before Kayla or John had a chance to say a word, Adrienne ushered them into the house.
She gestured for them to follow her, then once she got to the door into the living room, Adrienne turned back around and put her finger to her lips. Adrienne then cautiously pushed open the door and walked into the room.
“Who was it?” Jameson asked.
“No one from around here,” Adrienne sighed dramatically, sitting down next to him.
“What do you mean?”
John and Kayla guessed that it was a good time to head in, and jumped through the door. “Surprise!” they shouted out.
A huge smile crossed Jameson’s face as he got up to hug them. “I am so happy to see you two. It’s been too long!”
“Sorry we’ve been so busy,” John said, shaking his head. “It’s just too hard to come out here and see you guys, but we need to start trying to do it more often.”
“No worries, sport,” Jameson said. “It’s your mother’s fault for selling you that house all the way out in Newcrest.”
Adrienne crossed her arms. “That one house was in Willow Creek was available, but this one girl who wore nothing but purple snatched it up earlier this year. These two really missed their opportunity!”
“We turned that place down for a reason, mom, but regardless, I’m glad that purple lady is happy with it,” Kayla said, taking a seat.
“Speaking of your career, mom,” John said, sitting down. “When are you going to start thinking of retirement? I’m sure dad would appreciate the company.”
“I would, dear,” Jameson chuckled.
“I enjoy it too much to quit this early,” Adrienne sighed. “This job always allows me to meet new, interesting people. And I get to come home and entertain Jameson with tales about my latest lunatic client.”
“She is right, you know. When that woman your mother was talking about earlier showed up for the third time in purple, we both knew something was wrong. We went on and on coming up with theories… by far, the highlight of the year until today.”
“Anyway, tell us about you!” Adrienne said. “You guys don’t need to hide it- I know we’re not the only reason you’re in town.”
“Well, Cassandra needed help…” John said quietly.
“And I get to see my friend Melody, the yoga instructor you recommended I visit back at home, mom,” Kayla added.
“You’re closer with that Goth girl than ever, eh sport?” Jameson chuckled. “Well hey, good for you. Good to have powerful friends, and whatnot.”
“How’s it going with Lillian, John?” Adrienne asked.
“Oh,” John said, blushing. “She’s uh, great! She just doesn’t like Malcolm much, so we get in fights a lot over that… but other than that! She’s incredible!”
“I’d almost forgotten Malcolm was living with you,” Adrienne sighed. “Purposefully, I think. So, clearly, I’m not all that fond of him either. But regardless, she can’t decide who your friends are for you.”
“I’m not going to let her.”
“I’m glad to hear that, sport,” Jameson nodded.
The four of them chatted late into the evening.
Meanwhile, Malcolm was back to the hotel, and laid in bed, spiraling. Everyone hated him. Well, everyone except for Kayla. It was clear Cassandra was doing nothing more than tolerating him. It had to be, anyway. What reason was there to like him? He was a Landgraab. The name defined who he was before he even got to show the tiniest bit of his personality.
Everyone hated him, and the reason why they hated him wasn’t even his fault! Well, except for John. But regardless, Malcolm was sick of being tied to his family. If his mother wasn’t so awful to each and every person who had the misfortune of encountering her, maybe he’d have had a friend growing up. Maybe he’d have more than the weird relationship dynamic he had with John and Kayla at that current moment. Frankly, Malcolm was fed up with everything.
Sighing, Malcolm rolled over, and dragged himself over to the desk he’d placed his laptop on earlier.
He opened it up, ready to look up anything that would numb his mind. But, instead, he got an email. The name on it was one that seemed familiar, somehow, but also completely strange.
“Johnny Zest,” Malcolm muttered. “Strange.”
He clicked on it.
Malcolm,
I know you don’t remember me, but I know you. It’s taken years for me to track down any way of contacting you, so please, finish reading this email. Now that Nancy has done the same to you as she did to me, I think you’re finally in the right place to hear this. Malcolm. I’m your brother. Nancy disowned me when you were only 4. Dad couldn’t do anything, of course. He’s always been powerless in that house. I announced that I’d rather pursue music than become head of Landgraab Industries, and that was it for me! I want to talk to you more about it in person. So please, pay me a visit!
He listed his address.
And don’t bother emailing back. Sent this from a library email, I’d never get it back. Hope to see you soon!
Johnny
Malcolm leaned back in his chair. That was why the name had seemed familiar. There had been a Johnny in his life, at one point. Nothing he could remember clearly, yet all the same… All that Malcolm knew was that he had to pay him a visit. They’d both suffered through the same things. If there was anyone who was going to understand the burden of carrying the Landgraab name, it was Johnny.
That night, Kayla was woken up by a sudden strange banging against Cassandra’s window.
Rolling groggily out of the bed Bella had managed to track down, Kayla stumbled over to the window. Peering out, she didn’t see anything, then was suddenly surprised by a small black shape swooping past the window again, then flying into it with another thud.
Kayla went over to Cassandra, and shook her shoulder.
“There’s something outside that keeps banging into your window. Do you think we should let it in?” Kayla said quietly.
“Sure, sure, whatever,” Cassandra muttered.
She started to drift off again, but Kayla woke her up with another shake of the shoulder. “Could you please come and look?”
Cassandra groaned, but dragged herself out of bed regardless.
Grabbing her glasses from the bedside table, Cassandra dragged her feet as she headed over to the window. The moment she approached, whatever was outside flew into it with another loud bang.
“I think it’s hurting itself,” Kayla said quietly.
Cassandra nodded, and opened the window.
It flew in, and for the first time, Kayla and Cassandra got a good look at it. It was a bat. Despite flying into the window several times, it didn’t seem badly harmed.
“What do you think we should do with it now?” Kayla asked.
“Try to bring it back outside again, I guess,” Cassandra said. “Hopefully, it’ll fly off in a direction that isn’t my bedroom window.”
Kayla nodded, and the two started chasing the bat around the room, trying to catch it. After a few minutes of that, Cassandra’s door suddenly flung open, revealing Bella.
“What on earth is going on in here?” Bella asked. “It’s 2 in the morning, and I can’t sleep with you two jumping around-“
She suddenly stopped talking when she saw the bat. “Is that a bat?”
Cassandra nodded. “It wouldn’t stop flying into my bedroom window. Woke both me and Kayla up, we’ve been trying to catch it.”
Bella nodded, and walked slowly over to the bat. She said something quietly, then slowly reached out and grabbed it.
“How did you do that so easily?” Kayla asked.
“Bats are nocturnal…” Bella said quietly. “And it’s quiet at night. So, it makes sense to approach it quietly, right? Not with the racket you two were making…”
She left the room with the bat, shutting the door quietly behind her.
“Bella definitely didn’t strike me as someone who handles animals, well, ever,” Kayla said.
“She isn’t…” Cassandra agreed. “That was odd. I agree. But could we please talk about it in the morning?”
Kayla nodded.