I'll be posting another update on Saturday or Sunday before Christmas!
Chapter Forty-Nine: "I Read That Reed Reads."
"SO YOU WEREN'T BLUFFING." Jackson laughs.
I chuckle softly. "Nope, why would I?"
He just shrugs and sits down at their usual table, digging into the cafeteria's pizza.
After Louis had left after my little rant last night, Carly called me and had requested me to eat lunch with them to discuss what tonight's plans were. Given that I was talking to Louis for an hour somehow, I was too tired to pack so I needed to wake up extra early this morning to start. I'm about halfway through, so when I get back tonight I'll have to stay up and pack the rest before leaving for the airport at three.
"Some things are too good to be true." He answers with a full mouth.
"Yeah. When Carly said you were eating with us, I thought she was talking about someone else." Becca states.
"Whatever, needless to say, we're just glad you're back because we have some pranks set up for next week before the break!" Bella says excitedly.
"Oh," I say. Too bad I won't be here for them. "Sounds fun."
"Oh trust me, it will be." She assures me.
"Right." I grin. "So, um, times, how are they working out? I'm on a time limit."
"A time limit?" Carly says in disbelief. "Since when?"
"Um, since I have to wake up early tomorrow." I reply.
"Why?"
I shrug. "I'm going back to California."
"Wait, what?!" Carly exclaims. "Since when?"
"Since last week?" I say with furrowed eyebrows. "I'm going for the break. I won't be back until the end of the first week of January."
"But. . ." Becca trails, "that's almost a month!"
"You betcha." I smile widely.
"You're not. . . you're not planning on never coming back, are you?" She asks uneasily, biting her lip.
Yes. "No." I say. "Of course I'm coming back." Only because I have school to finish.
"Okay, cool! So we can just make a list of winter pranks to pull once you come back!"
"Yeah."
***
The rest of lunch was uneventful, as per usual. We came to the conclusion that I'll get picked up about an hour after I get back to the house because I needed to change. I looked like a homeless person because I was in a rush this morning and didn't have time to shower or dress properly.
None of the boys were on the bus after school, so I took it that they were skipping or doing something else. So when I see that Lance is the only one at the house when I walk in, raises my eyebrows.
"Hey." I greet, grabbing a glass and the apple juice for me to take to my room.
"Hey." He replies casually, flickering through channels.
"Um, if anyone comes to the door just yell for me."
"Going somewhere?" He asks.
"Um, yeah. I'm meeting up with some friends before I leave tomorrow." I explain. Lance turns around and stares at me curiously.
"That's tomorrow?" He asks.
"Yeah. I'll be gone before you all wake up." I tell him.
"Why so early?" He questions. "One of us could have driven you."
"That's a hassle," I shrug off, "besides, there's late chores at night and it wouldn't give you enough time to sleep well before having to wake up."
He stares at me, trying to find somethingâa lie, a hesitation, something, but I don't budge. I have nothing to hide.
"Yeah, well you'll be gone awhile. I'm sure everyone would like to say goodbye."
"I could beg to differ." I chuckle. "Besides, I'll say goodbye at dinner, which I'll probably be back by."
"What makes you think we wouldn't say bye?" He asks confusedly. "Brooklyn, we may have gotten off on the wrong foot but we're getting used to you now. You're one of us."
"Until that actually happens, Lance, I'm still considered a nuisance under this roof and I'm sure y'all will be relieved when I'm gone for the month."
I place the orange juice back in the fridge and quickly make myself a sandwich. We're going to have a big dinner tonight apparently, and I want that to be my opportunity to eat a fullâdecently sizedâplate of food.
"You're wrong, babe." He sighs, and I roll my eyes.
"I usually am, but I don't think so," I start, "I know where I stand with most people and here it's different. . . I live here yet we're nothing close. Not even friends. To be honest, I don't even think I could consider us acquaintances. It's complicated, and you guys make it more complicated than it has to be. I'm an easy person to get along with but let me tell you, if your only intentions are to try to figure out my secrets, then you better stop because you won't be finding anything out.
"I tried that once and it shot me in the face and that's something I truly don't want again. I want happiness, and I can't try to be happy when I have a swarm of people demanding that I tell them about myself. Secrets are supposed to remain secrets and you should know that. I know you and your brothers are hiding something from me but you don't see me pressuring you for answers, do you?"
"You'll find out eventually," he says softly, and I scoff. "I'm serious, Brooklyn. Our past isn't good just like yours isn't."
"You don't even know me." I snap.
"I know that you were in love."
The knife that was in my hand is dropped onto the floor, and my head snaps up to Lance who's looking at me emotionless. "Excuse me?"
Landon was the only person who knew I was in love. Did he tell them? Did he tell everyone that I had a love before this? Oh my God that boy is going to get a piece of my mindâ
"We check up on you." Lance's voice interrupts my thoughts. They check on me? What does he mean that they check on me? "You're aware that you have nightmares, right?"
"Yes." I mutter, and bend down to fetch the knife and wash it. I didn't need to lie, nightmares are a common occurrence and it's not like I elaborate on why I get them.
"Well, you scream a lot." He chuckles softly. "Sometimes you wake up, and other times you don't, but every time you scream you always say this one guys name."
"Taylor." I whisper.
"Yeah, him." Lance says. "You would keep telling him you love him or whatever and beg him to stop whatever it is that he's doing."
"He could be a family member." I say through gritted teeth. Not out of anger, but just because I'm really bad about keeping secrets if my stupid mind keeps giving them away.
"He could be, but I don't think he is." He says.
I sigh. "Okay, you're right." No use in hiding it anymore. One of them knows, what's going to stop another from finding out? Besides, to them, he's just a guyâwell, Landon knows a bit more than that, but he's still a guy. A guy that sent me to prison, but also a guy who wanted what's best for me and took a big sentence to save me.
"I'm not going to ask who he is because obviously he affects you." Lance says softly, smiling at me.
"I know you're curious." I say, continuing making my sandwich.
"Of course I am, but obviously this dude meant a lot to you and clearly you haven't moved on completely from him so I'm not going to pressure you by asking who he is."
"He was my boyfriend." I say softly. "Got me into a lot of trouble but loved me to pieces and had good intentions. He made me who I am today but isn't proud of how he did it."
"How did he do it?"
"I can't answer." I say stoically.
"Okay." He smiles softly. "Thank you for telling me."
"He's just an ex," I shrug like it's no biggie, sniffling and holding back my waterworks. "Things just didn't work out. It happens. That's life."
"If you don't mind me asking, how long had you two been together?"
I smile at the memory. "A little over a year. We had to go away and couldn't be together so we had to break it off."
He frowns. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah, me too." I chuckle forcefully. I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand, and mold the two pieces of bread together. "I'll see you at dinner." I don't wait for him to answer and grab my drink and snack, trudging upstairs. I quickly eat and finish my juice before grabbing some clothes and showering.
An hour later, I'm dressed in grey tights, a navy green hoodie with my last name written on my sleeves, and some Vans. I'm throwing my hair in a side braid when Lance calls me. "Friends are here!"
I grab my phone, bag, and glasses, rushing down the stairs and into the living room. The house is still empty besides Lance and I, so I had a peaceful hour.
"Have fun." He chuckles, and I grin, winking at him. "What time will you be back?"
"Um, six." I say.
"Cool. See you!"
I make my way outside, and climb into Carly's car. Only the twins are in here. "Where are the others?" I ask.
"The boys are going to meet us there." Carly explains as she pulls out and starts driving down the road. I nod in acceptance and stare out the window as the music blasts with modern country music.
Time flies as we reach the mall, having conversations the whole way here. The twins are adamant on buying lingerie, so we're doing that while we wait.
"Ooh! What about this?" Becca demands as she shoves a black lacy piece of underwear in our face. It covers about half a butt and the waistband goes up pass the hip bone.
"Cute." I say. I'm not one for panty shopping. I love it, but I hate doing it.
"I'm totally getting these!" She exclaims, grabbing four other pairs in white, grey, red, and blue.
For the next while, we continue shopping until the girls have enough pairs of underwear and bras to last them until college graduation, and it's to the point where I'm starving.
"Let's get Manchu Wok!" Carly says, linking our arms and dragging us towards the food court.
"Watch you what?" I ask in confusion.
"Manchu Wok." She says slower. "It's a Chinese place. They make really good noodles and spring rolls."
"Oh, man, I could go for some Chinese." My mouth waters at the thought, and I might my feet picking up pace.
When we get there, I order a three item and get the noodles, honey garlic chicken, sweet and sour chicken, and three spring rolls. I love spring rolls. Even if I'm not hungry, I eat them anyway, and if they were a man, I'd do what Beyoncé told me to and I'd put a ring on it faster than you could say Chipotle.
"You're eating a lot," Carly whispers.
I freeze, but continue. "I'm hungry." I shrug, and eat so I don't have to speak. We eat in silence, the girls talking occasionally but I just focus on the food.
Half an hour passes and three tall figures surround is, and I look up to see Nathan, Jackson, and Atticus.
"Hello ladies." Jackson greets happily.
"Hey Jack." They all respond, and I give them all a wave. They all sit down and Atticus takes the seat beside me.
"Is this okay?" He whispers, and I nod.
"Hey, guys, look!" Bella hisses, and shakes Jackson's arm violently.
"What?" I ask, my mouth full of noodles. Atticus chuckles, and follows Bella's gaze. His eyes widen and I furrow my eyebrows, following his eyes. "What am I supposed to be looking at?"
Atticus directs me to some guy our age, his face stuffed into a novel. "It's like seeing a pink dolphin!" Bella exclaims.
"So what?" I hiss, still confused.
"That's Reed Pennington," Nathan elaborates. "He supposedly hates books and English."
"Yeah," Carly says, "On Facebook, I read that Reed reads, but I didn't think it was true."
"So what if he reads?" I question. "Have you ever thought it's a mask he is using? Maybe he secretly loves books but refuses to tell anyone because he has a reputation."
"No way," Becca shakes her head. "Reed burns books, okay?"
I shrug. "You guys probably just don't know him."
"Yeah, sure." She scoffs, and I roll my eyes.
I peek a glance at my phone and see the time, that reads it's three thirty. I made sure to set an alarm for five so I can get back in time to finish packing and be ready for dinner.
"So what's the game plan?" I ask, smashing the box in my hands.
"What about going to that party across town?" Nathan suggests, and my eyes widen. A party. On a school night?
"Yeah," Atticus voices, "heard it's wild."
"I can't." I say immediately. I don't want to go to a party. Especially when I'm on a time limit and have to wake up very early.
They all frown, even Atticus. "Why not, Sweetheart? Thought you like parties?"
"I do." I say. "But I can't. I need to be back by six and I have plans."
"Plans?" Bella echoes. "What plans?"
I sigh. "I'm going back to LA tomorrow morning. I have an early flight and I need to finish packing. We're also having this large dinner tonight for my departure. I can't miss it."
"Oh, right!" They trail off, but Atticus looks confused.
"You're going back to California?" He asks sadly.
"Relax, she's coming back." Carly rolls her eyes.
"Yeah! In a month, but she's still coming back!" Becca smirks.
"A month?" Atticus says. "A month?"
"Until school starts back up, yeah," I shrug. "You won't even know I'm gone, guys. School's done next week and for the other weeks, you'll be off on winter break."
"Yeah, but still." He protests. "A lot can happen in that timeframe."
"I'm not moving back, guys." I sigh. "I have school."
"You can always finish back in LA." Carly states.
I could, except, you know, I can't. My probation officer said that I can't return to LA permanently until I'm done grade eleven. She allowed me to visit, hence why I can go, but I can't enroll back to my old school until it's over. And given that I was released from prison early, my probation is longer.
"But I'm not going to." I state. "It'd be ridiculous. I started school there, moved here, and it'd just be stupid of me to move back before the first semester is even over. Now can we change the subject? I simply want to know what the plans are so I can calculate times."
The table falls silent, until a few minutes pass and Carly clears her throat. "Well, we can always stay here for a few hours."
"Great." I grumble, and get up to throw my trash away. When I return, everyone is ready to walk around.
"Where to first?" Jackson questions.
"How about Showcase?" Nathan suggests. "They have the hoverboards there and I want to see how long I can last before I kill myself."
We all chuckle, "Showcase it is."
***
Not much time passed before my phone started to vibrate for the third time in thirty seconds.
I pull it out, seeing three texts from Lacey. Opening them up, I furrow my eyebrows as I read the messages.
[LACE: BROOKIE]
[LACE (2): READ THIS ARTICLE]
[LACE (3): LIKE RIGHT NOW! ITS IMPORTANT!]
My eyebrows knit even more together out of confusion and curiosity, but nonetheless I click the link she sent, sneak over my shoulder to see if anyone is looking, and I read the headline.
My jaw drops.