Second Nature (11 page)

Someone screamed as Jake
grunted, and I hurried through the door to see Ashton on the floor with his
face pushed into the hardwood and Jake on his back, bending his arms up his
spine. Him being the quarterback, he didn’t have the brawn Jake had.

“Jake! What the
fu—”

“Ashton?” I dropped to my
knees, cutting him off. His eyes darted to mine.

“Lain?” He grunted as
Jake released him. “What are you doing here?” He shoved Jake back. “Dick!”

“Saving your ass.” Jake
grinned. “Where’s the girl?”

Ashton scowled and rubbed
his chin. “What girl?”

“We saw you, kissing that
blonde.”

I didn't want to be
talking about this. “It doesn't matter. We came to warn you and see if you were
okay.”

“By jumping on my back
and attacking me?” He shot Jake a look.

“I thought you might run
again.” Jake shrugged.

“Where? Out into the
swampy reservoir?” Ashton snarled back.

Jake laughed. “Good to
see you’re okay, man.” He slapped him on the back and got up, offering a hand
to Ashton.

“I’m fine. I just didn't
want my sister to get attacked.” He took Jake’s hand and stood up. His
expression softened as he turned and offered me a hand up. I took it, sighing
like a moron when our hands touched. He lifted me to my feet. “Are you all
right?”

“I’m fine.” I frowned.
“Just worried.”

“Me too. I’ve wanted so
badly to come and check on you.
All of you.
How’s
Sage?”

My lips parted, but it
was Jake who spoke, “She’s got some things in her closet we need to discuss.”

“Like what?” He turned
and looked at Jake.

“A ransom letter to
Rachel, asking her to meet behind the pool house on the night of the party, a
phone with the words ‘answer me’ on it, and a lot of cut-up ransom note letters
and glue.” Jake recalled perfectly what I had told him.

“What?” Ashton looked
pale. “She had all of that in her closet?”

“In a box in the bottom
drawer. There was a hollow spot where she kept her private stuff.”

“Yeah, I know it.” Ashton
nodded. “Why would she have all of that?”

“We don't know. We were
hoping you might know.” Jake folded his arms across his broad chest.

“I know it’s not hers.
She might have been framed by the killer and not even know that stuff is
there.” Ashton looked deep in thought. “Oh God, they might be trying to pin
this all on Sage now.
Unless that was always the plan.
Get me out of town so they could frame her?”

It was a scenario I
hadn’t considered, unless you counted the scenario where all of us were being
framed.
But not Sage alone.
I had been so pissed at
her I had assumed she was the killer.

“Like Vince,” Jake added.
“The letters he got were filled with really disgusting photos of girls, the
kind you go to jail for.”

“Gross.” Ashton winced.
“And I got a letter threatening me and Sage, making me leave town. If I didn't,
Sage was next.”

“So you knew Rachel was
dead?” I gave him a sympathetic look.

“I don't want to talk
about this now.”

“We need your side of the
story. What you saw and heard and know.”

“I wanted to come and
find you and tell you. If anyone could solve this, it’s you.” He offered a
pathetic smile.

“You shouldn't stay here
anymore. If we found you, someone else will easily. A PI is looking for you.”

Ashton smiled. “I already
saw him. I paid him double not to find me. He’s leading my parents and the
police all over hell’s half acre. And he’s watching them so I know if they’re
coming out here at all.”

“He didn't tell you we
were coming?”

Ashton shrugged at Jake.
“I didn't think I needed to be protected from you guys.” He laughed bitterly.
“Apparently, I was wrong.” His eyes burned.

Jake grinned back.

“You can stay at my
house, if you want.”

Ashton gave me a narrow
gaze. “I don't want to bring you into this.”

“I’m in it up to my
eyeballs. I’m drowning in it. My house is where they found Mr. Henning.”

He winced. “How’s
Andrew?”

“Doing better than any of
us.” Jake scoffed.

“I have an attic that no
one goes into, ever. And my dad is never home. My mom won’t know you’re there.
The staff never goes up there. It might be safer than here.” I didn't want to
add that if Sage was the killer, the cottage was the last place he should hide.
“We won’t tell anyone. Only Jake and I will know you’re there.”

He nodded. “Okay.”

“Sounds like a plan.”
Jake’s eyes burned.

“Let me grab my things.”
Ashton turned and hurried into one of the bedrooms. I watched him packing his
backpack.

“What about the blonde?”
Jake whispered.

“I don't know.” I
shrugged and followed Ashton around the cottage, not letting him out of my
sight for even a second. My heart was broken that he had found someone so
quickly, but at least he would be at my house. Maybe I could show him how much
I liked him and make him realize I was the right girl for him.

Sister Wives

I sat next to him in the large
armchair and logged onto
World of
Warcraft
, clicking on a realm with low player activity so it wouldn’t lag
as badly. “You pick your race, gender, and class here. Then you do the finer
details like hair color and features you want.”

He clicked on human,
making me wince. “You want to play alliance?”

He paused. “The horde
guys are all really hideous to look at.”

“Not the blood elves.” I
clicked on race and made him a male paladin. “See?”

He wrinkled his nose. “I
guess. The ears are sort of frightening.”

I cocked my head. “Ash,
you do realize this is a cartoon, right?”

“Yeah.” He laughed. “I
just don't want to be ugly. Is that wrong? Does it make me shallow?”

“Yes.” I shook my head
disapprovingly and clicked on the name generator. “When you enter the world you
will go to the start. This is the training section so you can learn how to use
the ‘toon’ you’ve created.”

He clicked and finished
making his character—a tall dark-haired blood elf named Elderan. He was
handsome and strong with his paladin armor. “I do look good as a blood elf.”

I rolled my eyes. “You
sound like a girl.”

“You sound like a girl.”
He gave me a look. “A nerdy one at that. You’re the one hooking me up to this
game.”

“Yes, corrupting your
coolness.” I smirked. “What else are you going to do for the next few weeks
while we figure out who the killer is? I can’t get a TV and an Xbox up here.
You’re lucky I have this air mattress and extra bedding, and my grandma’s old
furniture is up here.”

“No, I’m lucky the attic
has a balcony I can piss off of when I get desperate.” His eyes darkened with
his brow lowering. “You know it’s not Sage, right?”

“No.” I pressed my lips
together and shook my head. “We are all suspects, Ash.
Me,
you, Jake, Sage, Lindsey.
All of us.
Our parents too.
No one is off the list.
Guilty
until proven innocent.
I’m sorry. And the letter making supplies in her
closet are pretty suspect.”

“She’s being framed. Or
even worse, I was being framed, and she found them and hid them. She might be
protecting me.”

It was another scenario I
hadn’t considered.

“No matter what you guys
are being made to think, my sister couldn't hurt a fly. Not even a mean one
like Rach. And no matter what Rach did to Sage, neither of them deserves the
fate they’ve been given. Rachel could be a bitch, and she had some
extracurricular activities that could shock the strongest stomachs, there’s no
doubt. But she didn't deserve her death. The most evil person in the world
doesn't deserve a death like that.”

“Did you see her?” I
asked.

“When?”

“In the woods. After she
got killed.”

He looked down. “I don't
want to talk about that right now, if that's all right with you.” He glanced
down on me, lifting a hand to my face, cupping my cheek. “I imagine you won’t
ever be free of that image.”

“Ever,” I whispered as my
eyes hazed over, ignoring his touch and reliving the moment I came upon her and
Sage. The shaking and screaming and crying would haunt me along with the images
I saw.

He put the laptop down
and hugged me. “I’m so sorry you girls got dragged into this.”

I melted into Ashton,
realizing this was one of at least three of the main fantasies I had regularly.

“The whole night is still
such a whirlwind of crazy.” He sighed and hugged tighter for a second before
letting go, like he was ready to move on. I wasn't, but making it weird while
we were alone in the attic wasn't a great option so I let go too. I got up,
taking his warmth and smell with me.

He was so beautiful. Even
there, locked away like a criminal, he was perfection. I was a puddle of goo
over the way his tee shirt stretched across his chest and tightened in the
arms. My eyes lingered too long when I noted how big and strong his hands were.
His chiseled face and dark-blue eyes made me shudder. When he smiled my heart
beat faster, which was surprising since I hadn’t thought it had made the
journey here with me, not since seeing him with that blonde girl. But neither
of us had brought her up so I was living on the lie that she was gone.
A figment of my imagination.

I stepped back again. “I
better get back downstairs before they notice I’m gone. If you need anything,
your balcony is directly over mine, just shout down. I’ll leave the patio door
open.”

“If I get lonely maybe
I’ll just hop down.” He winked and I flushed with color. My eyes lowered and I
giggled. It was officially the worst response ever.

Until I stuttered,
“I-I-I’ll see y-y-you later.” I waved and walked to the skinny stairs.

“I’ll just be here,
learning my trade as a paladin.” He snickered, maybe not even noticing I was a
moron in every way.

When I got down to the
main floor I opened the door carefully, listening for movement or even breaths.
When I heard nothing I slipped out into the hall and closed the door, locking
him in and everyone else out. I pocketed the key and walked to my room.

Just as I opened the
balcony door, Mazy walked into my room with Jewels in her arms. “Mom says you
have to come downstairs for dinner tonight. She’s not letting the staff bring
you food.” She rolled her eyes. “She’s being a tyrant down there. She even made
Dad come home for once. He’s slamming back the gins and sweating for no reason.
Something’s up.” She placed the cat on my bed and walked to the door, pausing
and looking back at me. “Why do you look weird?”

I shook my head. “I
don't.”

“Oh my God, that date
with Jake was awesome, wasn't it? He’s so hot.”

“It was more than I
imagined it would be.”

Her eyes lit up,
sparkling with gray-blue color. “For reals, did you have sex?”

“What? Ewwww, no!” My
face burst into crimson so deep even the trees outside didn't make the color on
my cheeks. “Jesus, Mazy!” Someone above us, someone who should have been
playing his game, sniggered. I coughed to cover the sound of him eavesdropping
from the deck above me.

She giggled and left the
room. Her mission to torment me was complete. She was smart and acted like she
was somewhere around thirty-five, but hopelessly stuck in the body of a
just-about-twelve-year-old.

I sighed and followed
her, fanning my face and hoping the color was fading.

When I got downstairs I
saw that she was right. Dad looked like he might cry and Mom had a terribly
cold look in her eyes. I assumed it was my attitude at her, but when we sat she
dismissed the staff, “We’ll eat alone tonight, thank you.”

The servers walked out,
giving each other looks.

My stomach tightened as I
glanced at them both, wondering what it could be. Had they heard from the
killer again? Was the missing cell phone that belonged to Mr. Henning finally
turned in?

Nervously, I reached
forward, scooping some potatoes for myself and passing them to Mazy. I didn’t
know what else to do with my hands.

Dad didn't take food and
Mom took so little it was pointless. Neither of them had intended to eat, that
much was obvious.

“We have some news. I am
so sorry to inform you both that your father and I are going to be taking a
little break,” she spoke pointedly.

I almost sighed because
it had nothing to do with the killer but at the same time, my world was
crumbling.

Dad closed his eyes,
sighing and taking another big drink of whatever was in his glass.

All the things I had said
to her came back to haunt me. I had started her on this path. I had made her
question him.

This was my fault.

Mazy paused, processing
for a second with the bowl of grilled asparagus in her hands. After a moment she
passed the bowl to me. When her gray-blue little eyes met mine, they glistened.
I shook my head in little twitches to tell her not to cry.

“We still love both of
you but this has been a long time coming. We are both growing and moving in
opposite directions, and we feel the need to take some time apart is
necessary,” Mom continued as her eyes watered, making the bright blue of them
sparkle and burst with color.

“I can’t do this.” Dad
stood up. “I’ll be in my office.” He turned and walked out of the dining room,
leaving the three of us. Mazy swallowed the bite of roast game hen in her mouth
before placing her fork down and giving Mom a look. “May I be excused?”

Mom nodded and lifted the
white wine glass to her lips.

I didn't move. I
couldn't. I also couldn't stop my lips from moving the moment Mazy was gone.
“Did you find out about Mike?” Was he the final straw that broke the camel’s
back?

Mom’s eyes pressed shut
in absolute betrayal. I might have spent a lifetime hating her, but I felt so
sorry for her in that moment. I reached across the table, taking her small cold
hand in mine. I squeezed and waited for her to lead the way. Tears streamed her
pale cheeks in silence. They washed away all the hate and meanness.

In a million years I
never imagined I would ever be on her side, but I was. No matter how rotten she
was
,
she didn't deserve to be cheated on. No one
deserved that. And her friend, Judith, was no friend. Even Rachel hadn’t been
that bad. No, that was a lie. Rachel was that bad.

Mom squeezed back after a
moment as silent tears kept streaming from her eyes. “One of our friends knew
and sent me something anonymously. The coward couldn't even tell me himself.
And after everything you said to me, I knew it was true, and it killed me that
you knew about it too.”

“What?” My insides
tightened, I pushed away the horrible feeling that I had caused this and made
her tell me the other part of the story.

“I got angry with your
father, demanded to know what you could have meant about him and the late
nights. He told me you were trying to cause problems for us. And then after you
left, a man came and delivered a package filled with letters and
photos—on a Saturday. I signed for it, for God’s sake. I signed for it
like it was regular mail.” Her shoulders slumped and she sobbed with small
shaking movements. But I didn't let go. I wouldn't let go.

“Dad and Judith deserve
each other.” He had attempted to make me the bad guy? I couldn't have been more
disgusted if I’d tried.

She nodded and lifted the
wine again to her trembling lips. “I never want to see either of them again.”
She gulped and it was gone. Her moods were like being out on a sunny day where
one cloud passed over and caused a storm for a minute as it blew overhead. But
the wind carried it off, taking all the rain with it. Her eyes darted to me.
“I’m sorry.”

“No.” I didn't want that
from her. I had not wanted it in a long time. “I’m sorry. I shouldn't have said
those things to you.”

“No. I am sorry I didn't
see it all sooner.” She nodded, tucking her perfect blonde hair behind her
shoulders. “I should have tried better to be a superior wife, and mother. Maybe
then he might not have—”

“No!” I leaned forward.
“No.” I got up and wrapped my arms around her. It wasn't the response either of
us expected. I could see that on her face. “Mom, he is a grown man. He made his
choices and his bed. I don't feel sorry for him. I won’t.”

“How long have you
known?” she whispered.

“Not long.”

“He has a child, Lainey.
A child with my best friend.
A child I have known all his
life. That little boy grew up under my nose, bearing your father’s nose on his
little face.” Her voice had gone back to the cold one I was used to. “How could
they be there every minute, every day? How could they ask me to be their friend
and wife and plan their parties and give them gifts? I had that child’s DAMNED
BIRTHDAY AT MY HOUSE EVERY YEAR! I PLANNED IT AND PAID FOR IT BECAUSE SHE WAS A
SINGLE MOM, AND I DIDN'T WANT HER TO BE ALONE!” She jumped up, her hands in
tight balls as the screams left her lips. She didn't say words, just made
noises.

I wrapped myself around
her. I didn't know what else to do. I held her tightly until all the rage had
slipped away and she collapsed on the floor. She sobbed and moaned, heaving and
losing everything. I watched as the fight and the hate left her. It crept down
her lip as snot and slithered from her chin as spit and trailed down her cheeks
as tears. She didn't get the control back. She didn't regain her composure. She
didn't stop shaking or crying. I held her in my arms, rocking her back and
forth.

Being the girl who could
catalogue every moment lived from the youngest of ages, this was the worst
moment I recalled. It was worse then stumbling upon my friends in the woods and
worse than finding Mr. Henning in my yard. It was worse than any single moment
I had ever lived.

The reason for that is I
felt, heard, saw, and tasted every bit of her disappointment and heartbreak.
She was my mother. Through thick and thin, she was my maker. My love and hate
for her were one feeling balanced very carefully on a thin sword. Most days the
hate won the balancing act, but today the love was everything.