by A. L. Martin
“Well, you better get to school. If I don’t text you back, then you know I’m driving home from the airport. I will text you back the minute I stop somewhere. I promise,” Kurt kissed my forehead.
“You better. I love you.”
“I love you too. Get going to school before you are both late.” He waved his hand for me to get out the door.
****
To my surprise, the morning was going pretty well, and my favorite time of the day was here before I knew it. I flew out of class and hurried down the hallway toward the cafeteria. I turned the corner, and there Braedon stood, leaning up against the wall looking at his phone. He glanced up from his phone when I got closer to him. Then, I heard Kurt’s voice whispering in my ear as if he was walking next to me, telling me I needed to tell Braedon before he heard it from someone else.
“Hey, Beautiful. How has your morning been so far?” Braedon asked.
“It has been surprisingly good. I thought I would be in between Sophie and Alexina all morning as they yelled back and forth at each other.”
We walked into the cafeteria and Sophie was at our usual table sitting alone. I walked past the salad bar to make sure Sophie was doing okay. “Sophie, are you okay? I haven’t seen you most of the morning,” I said, sitting down beside her.
“I just got here right before lunch. I was at the police station most of the morning, answering questions.” She turned to look at me, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Police station? Why were you there?”
“They told me I was a suspect.”
“A suspect to what?” I said louder than I meant for it to be.
“Alexina is still missing.” She said, looking straight in front of her, not blinking or anything.
“Did you tell them that she’s done this before and that she’s probably at a friend’s house? Why would they assume you are a suspect, to begin with?” I scooted closer to her. I wanted to comfort her, but I didn’t know how. I looked up at Braedon as he walked up to the table. His beautiful smile quickly disappeared the minute his eyes met mine.
He sat down next to me, not saying anything. He stared at us for a few minutes, then he finally found the courage to speak up. “What’s wrong?” he asked, staring at me.
“Alexina is missing still. The police have Sophie listed as a suspect in her disappearance. She was there this morning answering questions about where she could be.”
Braedon ran his fingers through his hair and down the back of his head, rubbing his neck side to side. “How did they come up with such bullshit?”
“Hi, Braedon,” Blair winked at him as she walked past him.
He stood up immediately and yelled for her to stop. She said something to her friends that were sitting a few tables away. She turned to walk back over to our table. He glared at her. “You can’t have me, so you destroy innocent people’s lives instead. You really are a certified bitch!”
What are you talking about? I don’t appreciate you calling me a bitch,” she said, standing directly in front of Braedon, staring up at him.
I didn’t like her standing that close to him, even with him being pissed off at her. I was confused at first about what was going on, but I quickly caught on. I was trying to keep my attention focused on Sophie because she was sitting there not saying much. I knew she was in shock. She should have stayed home today, but I’m sure her stepmom made her come to school. She sat there staring off into nothingness, not moving or talking. It was as if we weren’t even there with her.
I tried talking to Sophie, but she wouldn’t respond to anything I was saying. She kept staring off into the distance, and every now and then, a tear would roll down her cheek. Braedon and Blair were still arguing, which wasn’t helping Sophie at all. I had enough when the tears started to flow down her cheeks. I shot up out of my chair. “Blair, you need to run back to your minions, and get the hell away from us! You know you gave the police Sophie’s name. I know why you did it. Braedon’s right, you truly are a bitch! Did you honestly think for one second that he would go running back to you? All you did was drive him farther away, which is fine with me.”
“I didn’t turn Sophie’s name into the police. I have no idea what the hell you are talking about.”
“Whatever! Get the hell away from us!” I screamed.
Blair glared at us, then turned to go over to her friends, who were waiting for her over by the cafeteria doors. The sound of Blair’s boots clicking against the floor echoed throughout the cafeteria. I could feel hundreds of eyes on me, while I stood there in the middle of the noiseless room. I turned my head slowly from side to side, looking around at everyone staring back at me.
I sat back down beside Sophie, putting my arm around her. I tried to comfort her the best I could, but I felt like I was failing as a friend. “Braedon, I think I’m going to take Sophie home with me. She shouldn’t be here right now. I don’t know why they made her come to school.”
“You’re probably right. They aren’t going to let you just leave with her though.”
“I’m going to go try and talk to them. Surely, they can see she is in no shape to be here, and that her stepmom is a complete idiot.” I stood up, grabbing my stuff. Braedon helped Sophie up out of the chair, while I grabbed her stuff as well.
We walked on each side of Sophie, helping to hold her up on our way to the office. I knew they weren’t going to let me take her home, but I had to try. She hadn’t said anything in the last 30 minutes, which was out of character for her. The minute we opened the office door and walked in, the secretary, Mrs. Hughes, asked what Sophie was doing at school. We told her that we were pretty sure her stepmom made her come to school, so she didn’t have to deal with her at home. She got up from her chair and walked around the counter. “Oh, you poor girl,” she said, giving her a hug.
Mrs. Hughes surprised me when I first started school here a few weeks ago. She had a stern look about her, and the pronounced lines around her eyes didn’t help either. She always looked so mean. So, the first few days I tried to avoid having to go to the office and talk to her. One day I had forgotten my assignment for a class at home, and Mom left it for me in the office. I was expecting to hear some mean response from her, but instead, she was so nice and friendly.
“You know what’s going on?” Braedon asked,
“Yes. Her stepmom told us on the phone as she was bringing her to school. We tried to tell her that Sophie didn’t have to come in today, but she insisted on bringing her to school. We could all see she was traumatized from being questioned by the police. How could that woman make her come to school in this type of condition?”
“Well, she’s a bitch! That’s why she brought her to school.” I looked up to find Mrs. Hughes staring at me with her mouth open. I apologized for my comment.
She let out a giggle. “You are exactly right, Karsyn. I’m not supposed to let you leave with her, but she has no business being here right now. I’m going to excuse you both for the day. If her parents have a problem with it, then we will tell them she had no business being here. I think her dad would agree with us. He seems more level-headed than her stepmom.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Hughes,” I said, helping Braedon get Sophie turned around so we could help her out the door.
Chapter 11
Sophie didn’t say anything all the way to my house, or question why we were at my house. Mom’s car was in the driveway when I pulled up. I knew I had a lot of explaining to do about why I was home early from school. I thought I had a few more minutes to prepare myself for questioning, but I was wrong. Mom came out the front door right when I got out of my Jeep.
“What do you think you are doing home? You get your butt back to school.”
I walked around the Jeep, opening the door to help Sophie get out. “Mom, let me explain after I help Sophie out,” I yelled over my shoulder.
“What happened to Sophie?” she asked, moving to the other side of me to help with Sophie.
“She was questione
d by the police this morning about Alexina’s disappearance. Afterward, her bitch stepmom made her go to school. Look at her, Mom. Anyone can see school is the last place she needs to be right now. I swear her stepmom is the worst!”
Mom helped me get Sophie in the house and to the couch in the family room. She still hadn’t said anything since we were in the cafeteria. I didn’t want to call her stepmom because she would come get her and take her back to school. Mom sat down with Sophie on the couch, while I went upstairs to change out of my clothes. I opened up my bedroom door, and I was in the meadow again. I don’t have time for this shit right now.
My visions were happening more often, without any warning to them. They weren’t lasting that long either, so I had to look fast. Just like the other times before, I wasn’t that close to the knotted tree, and there were no flowers in the meadow. I could still see the black boot. The minute I took a step closer in the direction of the tree, I was back in my room. I flopped face first on my bed and screamed into my comforter. It didn’t muffle my scream like I had hoped, because, within a few minutes, Mom was at my door. “Are you okay, Karsyn?”
I leaned my head back enough so I could answer her. “Yes, I’m fine. My visions are having fun with me right now.”
I heard the door open and felt Mom’s hand on my back. “Oh Karsyn, I wish there was something I could do to help you. What happened? Did you see anything different?”
I rolled over on my back, so Mom wasn’t talking to the back of my head. “No. It has been the same each time, and today when I tried to move closer, the vision was gone. It doesn’t want me to see something.” I sat up on the edge of my bed, looking down at my pastel rug. “I think I know why I haven’t been able to see anything in my visions.” I slowly turned to look at Mom.
“Karsyn, you aren’t saying what I think you are saying?” Mom crinkled up her nose.
“I don’t know,” I flopped back on the bed.
“Change your clothes. I’m going to go back downstairs to make sure Sophie is doing okay. I shouldn’t have left her downstairs by herself, but I heard a muffled scream.”
“Sorry, Mom.”
She closed the door behind her so I could get changed in peace. I didn’t move off my bed for a few minutes in hopes another vision would appear. I forced myself to get up off the bed and changed into a pair of black leggings and an over-sized, long-sleeved shirt, and then threw my hair up in a ponytail. I went back downstairs to get me a drink of juice and found Sophie talking to Mom. I walked over to the loveseat. “Sophie, do you want me to get you some juice?” I asked, sitting my glass down on the end table.
“Yes, please. I’m sorry to be such a bother. Thank you for taking me out of school. I can’t believe she made me go in today. I wish Dad would leave her one day,” Sophie looked up at me. “You have been such a great friend, Karsyn. Again, thank you.”
I leaned down and gave her a hug, then went into the kitchen to get her juice. I didn’t feel like a good friend. Good friends don’t keep important facts from one another. I should have kept to myself like I had planned from the first day I started school. None of this would be happening if I had stuck to my promise. I finished getting Sophie’s juice, then grabbed us a snack since neither of us at lunch earlier.
“Here you go, Sophie. I made us a snack too. I got us red grapes, cheese, and crackers.”
“Thanks. I should be going soon. I hate being around her.”
“Why don’t you text her closer to the time school lets out, and tell her you are coming here for dinner? That way you won’t have to go home for a while,” Mom said, getting up off the couch.
“Are you sure, Mrs. Alexander?” Sophie said, turning to look at my mom as she headed into the kitchen.
“Yes. We would love to have you for dinner. We are having chicken tonight,” Mom smiled.
“I love chicken, but I probably won’t eat much. I’m not that hungry,” Sophie took a sip of her juice. Sophie grabbed a grape, but nothing else off the tray. At least she was taking sips of her juice. I wanted to let her know that I knew what it was like to be so stressed out over something you didn’t do. I couldn’t tell her though, for the fact I would have to tell her about how I was almost convicted of my best friend’s death. We sat and talked for a little bit, nearly forgetting to text her stepmom. I knew I would have to drive Sophie to her house later.
****
I was getting plates out of the cabinet when the doorbell rang a few times. I sat the plates down on the island and ran to the front door, but I didn’t get there before another set of rings echoed throughout the house. I opened the door to find Sophie’s dad and stepmom at the door. Sophie’s dad looked professional in his charcoal suit with a white shirt and burgundy tie. Her stepmom was dressed to fit her snobbish attitude. I knew they were designer clothes, but I didn’t know which designer to be exact. She had on dressy black capris, a cream-colored sweater, and diamond jewelry. Sophie’s stepmom started to yell over my shoulder into our house for Sophie. Mr. Grey’s eyes narrowed as he glanced over at her, and then slowly back to me. “I’m sorry for my wife,” he glared over at her again.
“Don’t apologize for me!” she snapped at him. “I’m not the one that took your daughter out of school without your permission.”
His jaw flexed and his eyes narrowed even more. “I think you should go wait for me in the car.”
She stood there, glaring up at him, but after a few minutes, went to their car to wait for him. He didn’t take his eyes off her until she closed the car door. “Again, I apologize for my wife.”
“Mr. Grey, I’m sorry that I brought Sophie to my house without your permission, but you should have seen her at school after her stepmom dropped her off.”
“Why didn’t she drive to school?”
“I’m being rude. Please, come in,” I moved out of the way, so he could come in the house. I led the way down the hall into the kitchen. Sophie fumbled a plate in her hands when she saw her dad walk through the doorway. I walked over and took the plate out of her hands before she lost control of it again.
“Dad, what are you doing here?” Sophie asked.
“The school called and left a message saying you missed the last half of the day,” he said, moving closer to her. “I’m sorry. I’m Sophie’s dad.” He held out his hand to my Mom.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Jenna Alexander, Karsyn’s mom. I must apologize to you also. When Karsyn told me what happened at school, I told them it was okay for her to stay here for a while.”
“I’m sorry, but what is everyone talking about. I have no idea what happened today.”
“She didn’t tell you?” Sophie asked.
“Tell me what?”
“I was questioned by the police this morning about Alexina’s disappearance. They have me listed as a suspect,” Sophie’s voice was shaky, and the tears began to well up in her eyes.
“The police! Did you say anything? She didn’t tell me you were at the police station. I could have called the lawyer for you. I know you didn’t do anything, but you never want to answer questions without a lawyer.” He wrapped his arms around Sophie as she began to sob into his chest.
“Mr. Grey, you mean to say your wife didn’t tell you she was at the police station?” I asked, stepping closer to Mom behind the island.
He looked over toward us and shook his head no. Mom and I stood there with our mouths open as we looked at one another. I knew her stepmom was a bitch, but what she did was unforgivable. I was convinced Sophie’s wish just came true about her dad leaving her stepmom.
Her dad couldn’t possibly stay with her after what she did to Sophie today. Mr. Grey apologized again for his wife and told me he was grateful for me being a good friend to Sophie. He wasn’t mad at me for taking her out of school and bringing her to the house. We talked a few more minutes before he told us they needed to go. Mom and I walked them to the door, and Sophie’s stepmom started in on her the minute they stepped outside. Mom hurried up and closed the d
oor so she wouldn’t be able to try and yell at me. I ran to the living room to peek out the window, but Sophie and her dad were already in the car. Sophie was in the backseat crying, and it looked like her dad was yelling at his wife as they started to pull out of the driveway.
I felt bad for Sophie having to deal with that on top of everything that happened earlier today. Mom walked into the living room to tell me dinner was ready, but I wasn’t that hungry anymore. I was too worried about Sophie and the catastrophe that was about to erupt at her house.
I forced myself to get up and go into the kitchen to get a small plate of food that I would more than likely end up picking at. I sat at the island by myself while Mom, Dad, and Emerson were at the kitchen table. I managed to eat a couple of bites of chicken, and maybe a bite of rice pilaf. My parents knew I wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone, so they pretty much left me alone while I cleaned up the kitchen after dinner. The minute I washed the last dish, I ran upstairs to check my phone.
There were a couple of texts from Braedon, but nothing from Sophie. I wanted to text her but didn’t know if that would be a good idea. I laid back on the bed and texted back and forth with Braedon for about 30 minutes. He wanted to make sure I was okay and to check to see how Sophie was doing. I told him all that happened at the house before dinner with Sophie’s dad and her bitchy stepmother.
I placed my phone on my nightstand and closed my eyes for a minute in hopes it might relieve the headache that was beginning to start. I slowly opened up my eyes to find I was in the meadow. I really don’t feel like dealing with this shit right now! However, I was determined to find something this time. I didn’t waste any time and headed for the knotted tree. I was over halfway to the tree when I discovered what appeared to be black leggings peeking through the tall blades of brown and green grass. I was able to see fingernails, which were painted a black crinkle color. I went to turn back around when something caught my eye off in the distance. I stood there, trying to see if I could make out what it was without having to move closer to it. I was terrified to move for the simple fact I would wake up and not know what I was looking at.