by Akaku Red
“Your father … was murdered.”
Chapter 6
My mind was blank.
I had never thought that hearing the truth about my father’s death would hit me like that— I couldn't even sleep after Elise left.
My alarm started ringing; it was time to go to school, but … I couldn't move.
I felt numb.
The news was too shocking!
Who would kill my dad?
Who could kill such a lovely person?
“He was murdered by an unknown person. The police still don't have a culprit, nor do they have a single clue.”
My voice was lost, my heart sunk.
“H-How?”
She cried.
“I don't know! I don't know, how this could happen; he never had enemies, he was always a good person.”
Elise was in pure shock while talking, she even started to tremble.
“No, this can’t be true!”
I couldn't believe it.
No! My dad couldn't have died like this! This is not true!
“We didn't even bury him— we didn't hold a funeral for dad!”
She pulled me closer and hugged me tight.
“I know that! But there was nothing left anymore and we didn't have much time…”
Her voice was cracking.
“The shop he was working in, was burnt down with him inside. It was too late. Once I made a promise; if something ever happened to him, we would go back to London as fast as possible.”
My body started shaking, as her words kept flooding into my mind.
To die like this … was horrible.
It was so hard for me to believe that my father died like this.
I didn't want it to be true, and as she spoke about her reasons for hiding the it, I felt the empty space inside of me start to grow.
The place my father left inside my heart was aching once more.
Before this moment, I could believe that my father was still in Florida and that I would see him again someday, but now … I realised that he would never come back.
I will never see him smile again.
I won’t hear him arguing with Elise, when she would make me do my homework instead of letting me play with him. He would never hold my hand again.
My father … was gone; shot and set on fire, by a stranger.
My heart couldn't take this.
This was too much.
Unfair…
“Miss Brown, you need to get ready.”
I heard a faint voice speaking; the housekeeper had opened my door without me noticing.
“I called out to you, but you didn't answer.”
Oh … I guess, I was too deep in thought.
“Mrs Brown is already on her way to work. She trusted me to wake you up, and to make sure you eat before you go to school.”
She quietly walked in while closing the door, and then she started cleaning my room, although it wasn't dirty.
“Thank you, Olivia. I told you already that you can call me Jenny. You don't need to address me like that.”
As I spoke she smiled and nodded, but I knew she would refuse.
Olivia was in her late thirties, she had short black hair and little wrinkles beneath her brown eyes, maybe because she worried too much.
She was always quiet and calm, and only really talked when she either had a question or was answering one.
“Please get up, I don’t want you to be late.”
I forced myself out of my bed, my head felt impossibly heavy.
To survive this day, I needed to take something to rid myself of this headache.
I don't know how I dragged myself to the cupboard, how I changed my clothes or how I got into Tyler’s car.
I just felt like an empty shell wandering on earth.
“Are you okay?”
He asked.
“Yeah … I just didn't sleep well.” I sighed.
“If you don't feel well, then we don't need to go to the celebration.”
I shook my head.
“It’s a special occasion, you can’t skip that! I’m fine— I just need to pull myself together.”
Tyler remained silent after my words.
Even as we arrived at school and I got out of his car, he didn't say a word.
Linette was waiting in front the school gate and waved her hand, as I neared her.
“Good morning, Jen-”
Suddenly, she stopped before ending her greeting.
She checked me out, while her eyes widened.
“Wow … you look terrible.”
“Thank you! I couldn't really sleep last night.”
“I guess… I wouldn't sleep too well either, if a hot mess like Tyler was be next to me.” A voice cut in.
Charlotte appeared out of nowhere and wrapped her arms around my waist.
She started laughing, noticing that she’d startled me.
“Good morning, girls!”
I tried to relax a bit, so I could get used to her closeness.
It reminded me; something like this… Alice would also do.
She had always wrapped her arms around me or swivelled me around.
Just this time— It was Charlotte.
“Good morning, where’s Amy?”
Linette asked, staring down at Charlotte’s arms.
“She will come later. Haha … Why? Afraid that I will steal Jenny away?”
She asked jokingly.
“No … but I thought it would be uncomfortable for her, holding her like this.”
Linette looked away; her cheeks started to flush red.
“Aww … Come here! I will hug you too!”
She pushed me over to Linette and started to hug us both.
It didn't feel uncomfortable at all, even as Linette also started clinging on me.
These two distracted me from my deep thoughts, they made me feel … like I was not alone.
“Jo! What did I miss here?”
Amy’s voice sounded from behind us, but even without receiving an answer; she joined in.
“Okay, we should stop now, before it gets awkward.” Linette said, as she was the first to let go.
“True.”
We all made a little distance and started looking around, checking out if somebody saw us.
Luckily, it wasn’t the case.
“So, did Tyler hinder you from sleeping or did you miss your chance again?” Charlotte asked; placing her arm around my shoulder.
“What do you mean?“
I was confused— What chance did I miss?
“You know … You … Tyler … On a bed?”
She started making crude signs with her hands.
“Err— Sorry, but Tyler wasn't in my room.”
“So you missed the chance! Well, too bad for him.”
She shrugged her shoulders and laughed.
“Could you please, stop talking in riddles?”
I pleaded.
“Don’t tell me you don't notice how he looks at you!”
Linette tugged me away from Charlotte.
“Listen! Jenny has never been in love before, nor does she understand the nasty things you are saying, okay!”
Charlotte looked at me, clearly shocked.
“How old are you again?”
“Stop it Charlotte! She isn't into that kind of stuff, it is what it is.” Amy said smiling.
“Wow, wow! Don’t make me look like the bad girl! Anyway, I think that Tyler wants you! And all I am saying is that you should have fun and give him what he wants.” She winked as she pulled me closer again.
“How would you even know? You don't know this guy!”
Amy shook her head in disbelieve.
I was also confused.
I mean she must be wrong, because … he wouldn’t want someone like me.
“I don't want nobody else, but you.” His words came back into my mind.
My heart started beating faster.
“He looks at her with those eyes full wi
th desire.” Charlotte wanted to mimic Tyler, but she failed and made the girls laugh; even I started laughing.
“Anyway! He looked like that! And I am always right.” She sighed and tried the weird look on her face again.
“By the way! Jenny, we heard that Dean made an announcement yesterday.”
Amy said, changing the topic and ignoring Charlotte completely, making her pout.
I nearly forgot yesterday’s occurrences.
“Oh … yeah, he helped us out.”
“Maybe he is a nice guy after all…”
Amy muttered, as we passed through the hallway.
“No, he isn’t! He is an asshole!”
Amy and Charlotte gave Linette incredulous looks, both raised their brows.
“Well, he helped us out… but still, he is an asshole.”
Linette got a red shimmer on her cheeks, as she argued back— even though the other two didn’t say anything.
“Jenny, did you know that Linette was secretly in love with Dean? But he broke her heart, when he got together with that cheerleader.”
“HEY! Stop it! Don’t listen to them, that was a long time ago and I don't love him anymore.”
Linette pulled me away and started talking excitedly, which didn't make her answer seem credible at all.
“Yeah, yeah! There she goes again! We are friends, you don't need to hide it from us.” Amy added.
“Please, believe me Jenny! I don't love him anymore.”
Her eyes looked at me pleadingly, and I couldn't let her suffer anymore.
“I do believe you. Everything is fine.”
I said, calming her.
“Thank you.”
She whispered.
“Okay, okay. Sorry Linette, we didn't want to upset you.”
Those three girls really helped to lighten up my mood.
They made me forget about my silent mourning, with their funny way of teasing each other…
We needed to pass through the school garden, to get into our chemistry class room.
Charlotte and Amy parted ways with us, since they had history on the other side of the building.
As Linette and I crossed the garden, I had the strong feeling of being watched again.
The feeling wasn't great at all.
In fact, the whole school day I had felt like this.
I turned and looked around, but there was nobody…
Sometimes … for a millisecond … I saw a silhouette, but it vanished when I tried to get a closer look.
It was creepy and it really gave me the chills.
Who was this person?
Dean didn't show up at school, but even so… nobody tried to bully us.
He really did have in impact in this school, which left me speechless, but also grateful because he kept his word.
“So you are telling me now … you looked up the address, but we can’t go since your mother don't want you to concern with Alice or the Orphanage in general?”
Linette summed it up.
I nodded.
We were waiting in front of the school gate; school had ended, and Tyler was late.
He still wasn’t here to fetch me, so Linette stood by my side while we waited.
Gladly, the feeling of being watched had disappeared and right now I was telling Linette about my situation, and that I couldn’t go out alone.
“Hmm … We need to find a way out, without your mother and Tyler knowing.”
She pursed her lips, thinking hard for a while and then she smiled.
“Leave that to me, I have an Idea!”
“Really?”
“Yeah! Ah … and do you have a cellphone? We should exchange our numbers!”
She fished her phone out of her schoolbag and held it in front of me.
“Yeah … but I don't really use it. I even left it on my desk at home.” I said.
Linette pouted.
“But I will write your number down, when I have my phone, I will message you.“
Her smile came back.
“Good call!”
I grabbed a pencil and my notebook out of my bag, and then I wrote down her number.
“Oh look! Tyler just came right on time.”
Linette said and pointed at his car.
“Have a great weekend! See you on Monday! And don’t forget to massage me!”
Before I could say anything, she was gone.
So quickly that she might as well have been a ninja.
She was amazingly fast.
I tore out the paper with her number on and let it slide into my pocket.
I tossed my notebook and pencil back in my bag.
I got in Tyler’s car, and sighed as I sat down.
“Hey! Are you feeling better?” He asked.
Not really … even though the girls could distract me for a while, I still don’t feel well.”
I lied again…
“Yeah … I feel better. How was your day?”
He smiled sadly, knowing that I hadn’t told him the truth.
“I had some things to do. Normally, I would have a day off today, but since no one was at the department, I took the chance and worked in peace.”
“That’s good to hear.”
I let the backpack slide on to my lap and leaned back on the seat.
“Are you okay? I don’t want to force you to come with me. If you feel tired and can’t go, just tell me.”
He looked at me with concern in his eyes.
And because of his look, I had a little thought in my mind.
“Did my mother tell you about last night?”
Tyler was caught, he nodded at my words.
“So you knew … how my father died. I guess Elise was the reason why you couldn’t tell me.”
He nodded again.
“Everything she did was to keep you safe. She didn’t want you to be hurt or sad. Since you had bad experiences in the past, she was afraid that you would need medication again. She didn’t want to risk that kind of trauma…”
His grip on the steering wheel got heavier.
“And I … also didn’t want you to suffer. That’s why I thought Elise was right … hiding it was the best. I just don’t understand why she changed her mind.”
At first, I was shocked to hear him talk like that. Something in his voice got darker and he sounded regretful— but as I saw how worried he was, and how much he thought about me… I felt touched.
I raised my arm and touched the back of his hand, which was resting on the gear stick.
“Tyler …Thank you! I really appreciate your kindness and worry, but I needed to know the truth! I won’t go back to the medication. It is far worse not knowing the truth and then learning about it later. Now that I know how my father died and why Elise hid it, I can actually grieve normally and … someday I will allow myself to rest about this matter, but for now, I am glad to know the truth.”
As I spoke Tyler lifted my hand to his face.
He softly kissed the back of my hand and then he pressed it to his chest.
This little gesture made me feel cherished.
My heart was beating like crazy and I felt the heat creeping up to my face.
“You’re right. I’m sorry! You have all the right in the world to know about your father’s passing. I was selfish and acted for my own needs.”
I didn’t know what about his behaviour was selfish— but I couldn’t ask about it at this moment, since his touch was distracting me a lot.
“It must have been shocking news.”
I nodded to his words.
“Yeah … I would have never imagined, that he was murdered.”
Tyler tightened his grip on my hand.
“I am sorry for your loss.”
I stayed silent… if I started talking, I knew that I would cry.
That’s why I stopped saying anything that was connected with the death of my father.
As we arrived, he told me that he would come and get me at 7 p.m.
So I had
… err … I mean my mother had two hours to get me ready for the event.
Elise was already at home, calling me over to the dining room.
She had a pizza placed on the table and was sitting in her usual seat.
“Hey, come sit down! We don’t have much time, I want you to eat-up and then I will work my magic.”
Seeing her being happy and excited like this made me feel better.
I took a seat beside her and then we both started eating.
“You came back early from work.” I noticed.
She swallowed down a big bite of the pizza, before she answered me.
“Yeah … yesterday, I worked longer, just so I could get out earlier today.”
“So you worked overtime, yesterday?”
“Yeah — But this wasn’t a problem, I wanted to finish the translation on that day anyway.”
I nodded, feeling touched by her words.
She overworked herself for my sake.
“How was your day at school?”
“Oh … It was nice! Linette, Charlotte and Amy are great people we are really getting along. They are lively and funny!”
“That’s nice to hear! I am glad you have found some friends.”
Her smile was sincere; even her green eyes sparkled a little, but she was more interested in something else.
She looked at my face with a dazzling smile on.
“I can’t wait to doll you up!”
I couldn't help myself and smiled too, she really was too excited about that.
But as long this made her happy, then I was happy too.
After we finished eating, my mother accompanied me to my room.
I wasn’t really shy around her, that’s why I undressed myself, only wearing my underwear.
“Good, now here, wear this dress!”
The good thing about Elise was that she didn’t stare at my scars.
She acted as if they were invisible, even though the three big scars were eye catching.
My upper body was covered with marks … but they weren’t as big as the main three.
The scar on my left side of my chest and on my lower back were deep, still red and the scar on my stomach was a little thicker and strongly visible, yet she treated me normally.
Other people were taken aback by my scars, they distanced themselves from me and called me names.
They treated me like a disgusting thing, that’s why I was afraid to show them.
Sadly, even though I was a victim, I sometimes get portrayed as the monster…
But… Elise, Rick, Alice, the police officer and the doctor who helped treat my wounds, were the only people who I wasn’t afraid to show my scars.