Five Nights at Freddy's: The Silver Eyes(17)

Charlie had kept in better touch with Marla than the others. Marla was the type who made it easy to stay friends, even at a distance. Even as a little kid she was always sending letters and postcards, undeterred if Charlie didn’t respond to every one. She was resolutely positive, and assumed that everyone liked her unless they made it clear otherwise, using the proper expletives. Charlie admired it about her—she herself, though not shy, was always calculating: does that person like me? Are they just being polite? How do people tell the difference? Marla had come to visit her once when they were twelve. She had charmed Charlie’s aunt, and made fast friends with her school friends while still making it abundantly clear that she was Charlie’s friend, and she was here only to see Charlie.

Marla’s gigantic smile turned serious as she studied Charlie, peering at her as if trying to spot the differences since they last met. “You’re as pale as ever.” She took Charlie’s hands in her own. “And you’re all clammy, don’t you ever get warm?” She dropped Charlie’s hands and proceeded to study the motel room skeptically, as though uncertain exactly what it was.

“It’s the luxury suite.” Jessica said without expression, as she searched for something in her bag. Her hair was sticking up in all directions, and Charlie stifled a smile. It was nice to see something about Jessica in disarray, for once. Jessica found her hairbrush and held it up triumphantly. “Ha! Take that, morning frizz!”

“Come on in,” Charlie said, realizing she and Marla were still in the doorway, the door wide open. Marla nodded.

“One sec. JASON!” She shouted out the door. No one emerged. “JASON!”

A young boy came trotting up from the road. He was short and wiry, darker-skinned than his half-sister. His Batman t-shirt and black shorts were made for someone twice his size. His hair was cut close to his head, and his arms and legs were streaked with dirt.

“Were you playing in the road?” Marla demanded.

“No?” He said.

“Yes you were. Don’t do that. If you get yourself killed mom’s gonna blame me. Get inside.” Marla shoved her little brother inside and shook her head.

“How old are you now?” Charlie asked.

“Eleven,” Jason said. He went to the TV and started fiddling with buttons.

“Jason, stop it,” Marla said. “Play with your action figures.”

“I’m not a little kid,” he said. “Anyway, they’re in the car.” But he stepped away from the television and went to look out the window.

Marla rubbed her eyes.

“We just got here. We had to leave at six this morning, and someone,” she said pointedly; glancing over her shoulder at Jason, “wouldn’t stop fiddling with the radio. I am so tired.” She didn’t seem tired, but then she never did. At their sleepovers as kids, Charlie remembered her bouncing around like a maniac while the rest of them were winding down for the night—then falling asleep abruptly, like a cartoon character who’d been hit over the head with a rolling pin.

“We should get ready,” Jessica said. “We’re supposed to meet the guys at the diner in an hour.”

“Hurry!” Marla said. “We have to change, too, I didn’t want to get all gross while we were driving.”

“Jason, you can watch TV,” Charlie said, and he looked at Marla. She nodded, and he grinned and turned it on, starting to flip through channels.

“Please just pick a channel,” Marla said. Charlie headed into the bathroom to get dressed, while Jessica fussed with her hair.



A little less than an hour later, they pulled into the diner parking lot. The others were already there, in the same booth they’d been in the night before. When they got inside Marla performed a second round of squeals and hugs, only slightly quieter now that they were in public. Overshadowed by her enthusiasm, Lamar stood and waved at Jessica and Charlie, waiting until Marla sat down.

“Hi, guys,” he said at last. He was wearing a dark tie and dark grey suit. He was tall and thin, black, with his hair shaved close to his head; his features were sharp and attractive, and he looked just a little older than the rest of them. It could have been the suit, but Charlie thought it was something about the way he stood, holding himself like he would be comfortable wherever he was.

They had all dressed up a little for the ceremony. Marla had changed at the motel, and she and Jessica were both wearing dresses. Jessica’s was knee-length and covered in pastel flowers, a light fabric that moved as she walked. Marla’s was simple; white with big sunflowers splashed over the fabric. Charlie hadn’t thought to bring a dress and she hoped she didn’t look out of place in black pants and a white button-down shirt. John was wearing a light purple shirt today, though he’d added a matching tie in a slightly darker color, and Carlton seemed to be wearing an identical outfit as before, still all in black. They all sat down.

“Well don’t we all look nice,” Marla said happily.

“Where’s Jason?” Jessica craned her head from side to side.

Marla groaned.

“I’ll be right back.”

She scooted out of the booth and hurried out the door.

“Lamar, what have you been up to?” Charlie said. He grinned.

“He’s an Ivy League man,” Carlton said, teasing. Lamar looked briefly down at the table, but he was smiling.