(unedited)
But I don't need a cure,
This is not a disease.
I'm not even sure why,
I'm down on my knees.
And I don't need your fix,
|No, it's not what it seems.
"Rooftop to the Street" âTonight Alive
"Where is she?" Nathan asked as soon as we saw Ashton.
"They're still talking to her," he said. He glanced at me and Jacen, then back to his brother. I stared at Ashton; trying to read his carefully blank expression. So he had known, or at the very least suspected Keira would so this, otherwise he wouldn't have come here. Did he know why, too?
Nathan paced back and forth. "Why would she do this?"
"Did Keira actually kill Olivia?" I asked hesitantly even though I had a feeling he didn't know, and wouldn't tell me even if he did. It'd be stupid especially since we were in the police station, but I wanted to see his reaction.
He turned to give me a harsh look. "No! Of course not! Why would she?"
He looked and sounded sincere but I didn't know if he was as good at acting as Ashton or Jacen. Nathan, along with Skylar and Vanessa had always seemed like the ones who were more clueless as too what was going on, but they were still part of the Elite. The exclusive group of privileged teens that still somehow managed to keep dozens of secrets despite being so well-known.
"Why does Keira do any of what she does?" Jacen asked, dropping into one of the seats set up along the wall. It wasn't a big room, with only a couple chairs, but there were multiple doors that probably led to longer hallways.
I had been here a couple times for Shawn, since he worked here as a detective, but I had never gone anywhere other than the lobby, where we were now, and his office, so I had no idea where Keira was.
Ashton gave Jacen a hard, almost reprimanding look. I had a feeling what Jacen had said had a bit of a bigger meaning than a simple, rhetorical question. "She's been here since this morning."
"I thought you said you were going to school," Nathan said. "Did Keira text you that she were here or something?"
Ashton grimaced, then shook his head.
"Oh, this is gonna get good," Jacen muttered. He was quiet enough that I was the only one who heard him, or maybe Ashton and Nathan were both too distracted to pay attention. He glanced at me. "Nate's gonna find out everything Ashton's been keeping from him and get mad about it."
"You're an asshole when you're hungover," I told him. He looked a lot more amused and easy going than he should've for someone who's sister was possibly going to jail. Unless, had he, like Ashton already known? Or was he just sure that Keira would somehow get out of it? If Keira could get out, though, why would she bother confessing in the first place?
"I'm an asshole all the time, Elena," Jacen said. "Get over it."
"How'd you know she was here?" Nathan demanded.
"Lucky guess," Ashton replied.
I winced. Either he wasn't trying, or he was a more horrible liar than I had thought.
"I'm serious, Ash," Nathan said. "Did you know she was gonna do this?"
Ashton sighed. "I didn't think she'd do it."
"And boom," Jacen whispered as I dropped into the seat next to him. "This is when things really start heating up."
I ignored him.
I felt like I should've interrupted Nathan and Ashton somehow, but what could I say? I hadn't known. I had overheard Ashton and Keira in the kitchen, but I hadn't known what they were talking about. Confessing to murder was a huge thing so I guess I understood why Ashton had thought Keira wouldn't do it, but keeping Nathan in the dark about it wasn't right either. I had a feeling if I tried to help, I'd only make it worse.
I wasn't good at these kind of things.
Jacen had been right, Nathan exploded. "That's your problem, Ash! You always underestimate people."
Ashton didn't even try to deny it.
"Why didn't you talk her out of it?" Nathan demanded. It was actually a little scary to see him like this, since most of the time I had known him, he had been laid back and easy-going. I hadn't expected that he was always like that or anything, of course, but it was still weird seeing him so angry over something, even though his anger was understandable.
"I tried," Ashton said. "You think there's any way of convincing Keira not to do something when she's determined to do it?"
"Why didn't you tell me?" Nathan asked, starting up his pacing again. "You should've told me."
Ashton shook his head. "I didn't think she was serious."
I narrowed my eyes. He was lying, I think. It wasn't because of any obvious body language, or anything, but because I was pretty sure even if he had known for sure that she was serious he still would've tried to keep it from Nathan. To keep him "safe". He would've tried to talk her out of it.
"How did you know? Why did she tell you?" Nathan demanded, turning to stare at his brother.
I glanced at Jacen. "Did you know?"
His jaw clenched. "Do you think I would've let her if I did?"
"You don't seem distressed about it," I pointed out.
He looked at me from the corner of his eye, then stared back up at the ceiling. "I'm not into wearing my heart on my sleeve. That's more Nate's style."
"No," I said. "Apparently you just like pretending nothing's serious."
"Because it's not," he replied harshly, shaking his head. "They won't be able to find anything against Keira."
"Then why'd she confess in the first place?" It didn't make sense. If Jacen was right, and there wouldn't be anything that connect Keira to the Olivia's murder, why would Keira confess in the first place? Why would she do any of this if it wasn't going to go through?
Jacen shrugged. "How am I supposed to know what goes on in her mind?"
But something, maybe the glint in his eyes, told me he did know why she had done it, or at the very least had a guess. "I think you're lying," I said, even though I wasn't sure calling him out on it would help.
He shrugged again, neither confirming nor denying it.
"What if they do believe her?" I asked.
"Then we get her out," he replied. "It's not like we haven't done it before."
He said it casually, like it was no big deal that they had kept someone out of jail. For murder, too, or something smaller? I remember Cameron had mentioned it as well when he had been talking to Skylar after Daniel had been arrested.
I glanced at Jacen. "Who did you keep out of jail?"
He smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
I narrowed my eyes at him, but before I could continue asking, one of the doors opened and a police officer stepped out, followed by Keira.
Nathan and Ashton approached her immediately, but Jacen stayed where he was, watching them with cold eyes.
â¡ the trouble with love â¡
After they took Keira back in for more questioning, Ashton went to tell Vanessa and Skylar what happened and see if they wanted to join us at the police station. We were still waiting for Keira to come out.
"Did Keira say why she did it?" I asked Nathan quietly. Jacen was still sitting on the other side of me, but he had his earbuds in and connected to his phone so I wasn't sure if he was listening.
Nathan shook his head. "She just said it was complicated."
Ouch. "It'll be okay," I tried. "They can't keep her here."
He shrugged and looked away. "I know they can't. It's just..." He paused and let out a sigh. "She didn't tell me, you know?"
And neither had Ashton, his twin brother, despite knowing. That must've been like a double betrayal for Nathan.
"Maybe she just didn't want to worry anyone," I said, trying to make him feel better. It probably wasn't working. I had never been good at things like this. I could lie, and tell when people lied, but when it came to making them feel better I was pretty useless.
He raised an eyebrow at my pitiful attempt. "She told Ashton."
I didn't know what to say to that.
It was a little strange Keira had told Ashton, but if this was somehow related to the case- no scratch that, it involved Olivia, so it was related, for sure. If Keira had known about the case, then I guess it made sense why she had told Ashton. Except Ashton had said it was a secret, that no one should know.
"I know Keira has secrets," Nathan said suddenly. "I met her four years ago. I haven't known her forever."
I knew this story, if somewhat vaguely. I remembered seeing the rise of the Winston's on TV and in newspapers as I was growing up. They hadn't always been a rich family, not like the rest of the Elite. They had only been a major player for the last couple years. Still, they had been one of the fastest companies to rise. It had taken them a little more than half a decade to go from more or less unknown to one of the biggest textiles and technology producers in the world. A business miracle, by some people's words.
"I don't mind that," Nathan continued. "But something like this... It's a murder. Murder," he repeated, almost like he couldn't believe it himself.
He shook his head. "Sorry. I shouldn't be unloading all of this on you, that's not fair."
"No, it's okay." I felt bad for Nathan. His girlfriend had just confessed to killing someone, and his brother had known but neither of them had told him. It was a false confession, yeah, but it was still a pretty big thing especially since Keira had disappeared without leaving any sort of note.
He shook his head again. "Let's just drop it." I stared at him, but he was already moving on. "Has Vanessa mentioned New Year's to you?"
I shook my head, and decided to let him get away with the change of subject. "What about it?"
"We go down to her beach cottage for the week. We leave on the twenty-eighth and come back on the third," Nathan explained. "You should come."
A week with the Elite? At a beach cottage? No way Kaden would agree to that. And did I even want to go?
"It's not just us," Nathan added. "Our parents come too, but it's a big enough house that we rarely see them."
"I'll have to see whether or not I'm already doing something for Christmas," I said hesitantly.
He gave me an easy smile. "Sorry for the late notice. I think Vanessa was meaning to tell you last week but forgot."
Before I could reply, a familiar voice called my name. I looked up to see Shawn standing at one of the doors.
"I'll be right back," I told Nathan, standing up, and walking towards him.
"Shouldn't you be at school?" Shawn asked as he led me a little farther down the hallway.
I bit my lip. "Maybe."
He frowned. "I should probably lecture you, but you'll get enough of that from Kaden."
Thank god. I knew Kaden would probably be mad if he found out I had skipped school because of the Elite, so I didn't need more people scolding me for it. Kaden was usually pretty easy-going, but he had been stressed about the case with the Elite, and my involvement probably wasn't helping.
Oops, sorry Kaden.
"But I do want to know why you're here." He glanced over my shoulder, through the glass of the door, and into the lobby. "Especially with Jacen Winston and Nathan Sinclair."
I sighed. "Keira Winston decided to confess to killing Olivia Tunclet."
"What?"
"Are you on her case?" I asked. Shawn dealt with bigger cases, like serial killers or high-profile murders, since he was a detective for the station. "They'd need a detective for it, right?"
"I was," he said. "But they pulled me as soon as Kaden was hired as Daniel's lawyer. Not allowed any personal strings."
"What going on with it? First Daniel... Do you think they'll take Keira too?" I asked, knowing Nathan would probably want me to find out as much as I could. Not to mention, I was also a little curious, but for an entirely different reason.
He shook his head. "It's a mess and everyone just wants it to be over. But they're letting Daniel go."
Well, that's good, at least. "Can I ask you something?"
"I don't think I could stop you," he replied with a wry smile.
I rolled my eyes, but otherwise ignored him. "Keira confessed, but she knew there wasn't any evidence that would make them believe her, so why would she confess in the first place?"
"I don't think I should answer that," he said, staring at me.
I pouted. "Please?"
He sighed. "There could be any number of reasons. It could be to confuse us even more. Some kind of game for them."
I knew Keira and games, this whole thing had started because of a game, but what I didn't know was whether she was the one moving the pieces, or just a pawn in the bigger picture.
"But after a while, maybe even now, the police won't take any of the Elite's words seriously," Shawn continued. "They might think it's a hoax."
"What do you think?" I asked.
"I don't know what to think," he replied. "I'm not on the case anymore.
I opened my mouth to ask what he would've thought if he was on the case, but before I could a loud voice boomed down the hall. "Whitlock! Back to work."
Whitlock was Shawn, his last name.
"I won't tell Kaden," Shawn said. "But be careful, alright?"
"I will," I promised. I gave Shawn a quick hug, then watched him head down the hall and turn into an office.
When I went back to the lobby, Ashton had returned, with Skylar and Vanessa as well. I guess they has decided to wait with us instead of staying at school. "Who was that?" Ashton demanded when I stepped back into the lobby.
"Friend of mine," I replied.
"Do you think he knows what's going on with Keira?" Nathan asked.
I shook my head. "He's not on that case. But he did say they're letting Daniel go."
"Well, Sky, you can tell Cam his brother's completely free," Nathan said, turning to look at Skylar.
Skylar shifted in her seat. "I'll leave him to find out himself."
"Why wouldn't you want to tell him?" Vanessa asked, blinking at her with wide eyes.
She shifted uncomfortably again. "Cameron and I broke up."
What?
"What?" Ashton echoed, apparently having thought the same thing as me. I think all of us were surprised. "When?"
She bit her lip. "Yesterday."
"I should've known there was a reason you were drinking so much," he said, slapping a hand to his forehead. "I'm sorry, Sky."
She shook her head. "It's whatever."
"No, he deserves to-" Ashton started, standing up.
"Sit down, Ash," Skylar interrupted. "We both agreed it'd be for the best."
He glanced at her, eyebrow raised. "Really?"
"No," she admitted. "But it's not worth it."
"Skyl-" Vanessa started.
"I don't want to talk about it, okay?" Skylar said harshly, causing the group to fall silent. I glanced around, accidentally catching Ashton's eye, but I could tell he was thinking the same thing I was. This, the case, and everything that came with it was already starting to affect things, and people that weren't really related.
How much longer did we have before everything ripped at the seams?
-- â¡ --
Teaser: "You're leaving town?"
QotC: Who do you suspect the least of the Elite?
PS. Some of you may already know this, but I'm thinking about entering The Trouble with Love in the Wattpad Prize. Of course, I'd have to finish it, which I'm not sure if I can do. I'm going to try, but update as normal. If I do by some miracle manage to finish, you guys will end up getting a bulk upload of 15-ish chapters at the end of the month. If I don't, then, at least I tried, and I'll be way ahead for chapters. c:
PPS. Since some of you have been asking, this book will probably be around 55 chapters. So there's still a little less than half left of Elena and the Elite's story. :)
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