by Raathi Chota
“No, you care!” Miranda exclaimed as she stood up. “He sees that you’re doing fine without him, so they’re trying to mess with you. To fuck with your feelings!”
“Yet on the first day of the bet, you loved Blake and me. So freaking goals! Now, you hate both of them.”
“That’s before he got you back on smoking! Before he brought the old fucking Lana back, which Levi created!” She pointed her index finger at me. “Yet the new one made a promise not to bring the old Lana back! You broke our promise, Lana. You said you wouldn’t get addicted again, but you fucking did!”
“It’s not that fucking easy when you’re going through so much shit!” I shouted and pushed her finger away. Miranda let out a pathetic laugh as she tugged on her hair.
“Stop being so self-centered!” she yelled. “The people around you are being affected too! They’re going through their own shit! Mom isn’t even at a friend’s house; she’s probably at a fucking bar hoping the guy who loved and abandoned us fifteen years ago will come back!”
Everything went quiet after that. I stared at Miranda with drained eyes as I thought of her and her mom. I knew Miss Stevens went through a tough time, but I didn’t realize that it got worse. Miranda barely spoke about her mom.
“Miranda, I—” She cut me off as she raised her arms. We watched as she spun around and walked upstairs.
“Give her some time,” Melissa mumbled as I stepped forward. A door slammed shut, which echoed through the house, and I couldn’t help but think of earlier today.
Miranda didn’t come out of her room the rest of the night even though I knocked multiple times. The rest of us decided to sleep on the sofa after we watched movies. I walked into the kitchen and turned on the light. I squinted and noticed that it was three in the morning. I was thirsty, so I poured myself water.
Out the corner of my eye, I saw Melissa walk in. She wrapped herself in her gown as she squinted at me. I gave Melissa a sleepy smile as she went for a drink too. She leaned against the counter and drank her water. I set my empty glass on the table, then turned to her. She raised a brow at me as I bit the inside of my cheek.
“Do you think I’m a whore?” I blurted out as her eyes widened.
“No, you’re just surrounded by horny bastards who are selfish. They do things to put you under pressure,” she said and sat beside me. “In the end, they want you to choose…”
I didn’t know what to say, so I played with the glass. Melissa finished hers and set it on the table.
“Why does Miranda hate Levi?” she asked.
“Long story.” I laughed.
“I love stories.” She smiled. I let out a sigh as I tried to recall the memories from the previous years.
“Levi just turned seventeen and spent it here. All his friends came over, and they left around midnight. The next few nights were the same, so I decided to follow him since he’d sneak out. That’s when he started racing,” I began. “Ever since that night…my life changed. He told me to live a little since my head was always in my books. I trusted him, so I agreed to race with him. It was honestly so much fun, and I felt free. We went home and got busted. I had to make up a lie on the spot so we weren’t grounded.
“As each night passed, the lies got bigger. I still remember going to this party with him and having my first drink. It was only a sip of Levi’s, though. Keene offered me a cigarette, but I kindly declined, saying alcohol was enough for the night. I still remember making a bucket list with Levi when we were young. One of the things he put on it was smoke a cigarette because we saw Mr. Bronx smoking and we were intrigued.
“The thing I liked about it all was that Levi didn’t tell me to change my appearance. I still wore my big glasses and oversized cardigans. He said, ‘We’re showing the world what a nerd can do,’ but I wanted to change. I told him, and he took me shopping and bought me a whole new wardrobe with clothes that I was comfortable in.”
“So that explains your glow up in junior year,” Melissa joked as she nudged my shoulder.
“Finals came, and I sunk into my books again. The old Lana only came out when Levi was here. I couldn’t focus, and I was stressing out a lot. Keene knew this guy who could help, and how fucking ironic that it was Parker,” I mumbled. “Yet he only gave me one bottle. When Levi left, I didn’t have any more, but he left me something.”
“Ooh, what was it?” Melissa asked as she stared at me.
“Cigarettes. Somehow, they helped me when I didn’t have the pills. Levi said he was sad that he couldn’t see my first drag. Yet Miranda wasn’t very impressed when she caught me in the back of school before our History final,” I mumbled. “She hated that he was trying to change me and that he was a bad influence, but I wanted to change. I wanted to take risks.
“Then summer break of 2015, he said that we’re going to finish the bucket list. We tried to by going skinny dipping, street racing, threw a TV out the window at a party, road trip to California, and even took a picture with a snake. We did all the crazy stuff in California. We were inseparable. He was the risk taker, and I was the excuse maker. After we came back, I’d tell our parents an excuse for coming home so late, and sometimes it would work.”
“Wow, so you were his good girl, and he was your bad boy.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“So when you made a bet, it was all an act because you did half of the stuff already?”
“Yeah, I didn’t want to mix with another group of bad boys and leave with the same result, but I guess things didn’t go as planned.” I mumbled the last the part.
“What did you guys do in Summer 2015 before Levi left?” she asked.
“Miranda, Keene, Levi, and I went to a party. This guy Jaden hosted it, and his parties are wild,” I mumbled. “That was the night I lost my virginity to Levi. Next day I woke up and he was gone. End of the story—”
“Wait…you said you tried to finish the bucket list. What was left?” Melissa asked as I let out a dry laugh.
“Quite a few. Levi is a person who doesn’t believe in love. He specifically wrote Do not fall in love…I could never ever tick it.”
“Now I know why Miranda hates him. He left you right after he took your v-card, but you couldn’t tick it bec—”
“I fell in love with him,” I whispered. “In a way, I let him control me. We used to fight, but I forgave him easily because I didn’t want to lose him. He wasn’t even mine in the first place.”
“Did you ever tell him?” Melissa asked as she gently placed her hand on my knee for comfort.
“Yeah, and the worst part is he said it back, but not in the way I said it to him.”
“Do you still love h—”
“What are you guys doing up so late?” Miranda’s voice echoed through the kitchen as she cut off Melissa.
“Should be asking you the same thing.” Melissa gestured to Miranda’s attire. She was dressed in a gray coat, jeans, and Converse. Car keys dangled in her hands as she tugged on her beanie.
“I-I’m going out quick,” she mumbled, then put on her beanie.
“At three in the morning,” I said. Miranda ignored me as she walked past us and out the back door. I hastily slipped on my shoes and grabbed a hoodie as I followed her.
“I’ll stay here,” Melissa said as she looked at Tiffany, who was fast asleep on the sofa. I gave a curt nod and walked out the door. I saw Miranda get into the car as I quickly opened the passenger door. When I got in, I noticed Miranda’s stare.
“I’m not letting you go out alone at this time,” I said as I buckled myself in. Miranda let out a sigh as she started the car then drove out the driveway.
Silence filled us as I rubbed my arms for warmth. The windows fogged up from the coldness, and the road was barely visible.
“I’m sorry for snapping at you earlier. I didn’t mean to…” Miranda blurted out.
“It’s okay, and I’m sorry too. I didn’t know about your mom.” I turned to her.
“I hate it when we fight.
I mean, you’re practically my sister,” she said as I smiled at her.
“Love you, Miranda,” I said as I playfully punched her shoulder.
“Love you too, Willson.”
“Where are we going?” I asked as we drove into the industrial area.
“Mom phoned. She needs me to pick her up.”
“Oh,” I mumbled. We drove through the streets, and surprisingly, they weren’t empty at three in the morning. Mostly drunk people and gangsters lurked. We turned a corner where the club was.
“There.” Miranda pointed to where a few people walked around. I squinted my eyes as I searched for Miss Stevens. She leaned against a lamp post as she looked around. Miranda parked the car a few yards away, and we got out. Just then, someone approached Miss Stevens. He touched her, and my eyes widened. “Hey, don’t touch her!” Miranda shouted as she ran toward the man. I followed as Miranda tried to pull the man away. The man aggressively pulled away and stroked Miss Stevens’ cheek. Miranda kicked the guy as I tried to push his hands off her.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a bouncer approach us from the club across the street. He was big and muscular. He ripped the man off Miss Stevens. Miranda went to her mother’s side as I watched the bouncer punch the guy. I suddenly paled as I got a view of his face. The words “we’re watching you” echoed in my head as the two men fought. Suddenly, he turned to me, and I went stiff. One of James’s men stood right in front of me. What frightened me the most was that it was the one who’d been in my room.
Chapter Twelve
Lana
Everything suddenly stopped as I stared at the men fighting. It had to be a coincidence. The memory of him when he entered my room frightened me. He was tall yet muscular, and I heard a little accent.
“Lana!” Miranda yelled. I blinked rapidly and turned to see Miranda limping toward the car.
“Get the hell out of here!” the bouncer yelled as he kicked the guy. The man wiped the blood from his mouth, then looked at me. He still dared to smirk as he straightened his posture and ran away. The sudden urge to follow him and ask him questions grew in the pit of my stomach.
“Leave us alone!” I yelled as he glanced over his shoulder to look at me. I watched as he ran and turned the corner right into the alley. I was confused as to why he’d want to go there.
“Kid, get out of here. It’s dangerous,” the bouncer said. I thanked him, then spun around. I ran to the car, where Miranda helped her mother into the backseat.
“I’ll drive,” I said as I took the keys from her. She nodded, then got in the back with her mother. I started the car and quickly drove out of the area because I hated this place at night.
“Who the hell was that?” Miranda demanded. I looked up into the rearview mirror to see her in the center while her mom was asleep on her chest. I shrugged, then looked back at the road. “No, Lana. The way you looked at that guy…like you’ve seen him before.”
“He was the one who was in my room.”
“What?”
“Calm down, okay?”
“No, I will not calm down! You should tell your dad. He can help, Lana,” she said as I rolled my eyes. “Either you tell him or I will.”
My eyes widened at the thought of my dad aware that one of James’s men had been in our house. He didn’t even know that I was at the cottage that day.
“Fine, I’ll tell him.” I sighed.
“Good. Thanks, by the way,” she murmured.
“No problem,” I mumbled as we drove and silence tramped in our thoughts.
***
I stared at my dad’s office door and debated on whether I should enter. I could tell him that Miranda and I saw one of James’s men. Not the whole room thing. Christmas was in a few days, so I’d rather tell him now than when it’s Christmas or New Year’s. I opened the door to see my father behind his desk. He was so focused on going through papers that he didn’t even notice me. Afterward, he stood up and grabbed his jacket.
“Dad,” I said, and he raised his head.
“Lana, hey. How was the sleepover?” he asked as he put his jacket on.
“I—it was good,” I mumbled as I looked down.
“But…” He trailed off. I let out a sigh as I looked up. I shut my eyes.
“We were in the industrial area, and I saw one of James’s men,” I admitted. I slowly opened my eyes to see Dad’s knitted brows.
“What? How?”
“Well, we were getting Miranda’s mom from a club, then he approached her. This bouncer came and helped us. Then he ran off into the alley.”
“The alley?”
“The alley that’s under investigation.”
“Are you sure it’s him?”
“Yeah, his face matches the one at the station,” I said. That part was right because some of James’s men had been spotted, so there were identities.
“All right,” he said after a while. “Come with me.”
“Where to?” I asked as we walked out of his office and into the living room.
“The alley. I’ll call Detective Kale, and you’ll tell him what you said to me,” Dad stated as he put on his beanie. My eyes widened as Dad ushered me out of the house after I grabbed my coat. I took out my glasses and put them on as I got into my dad’s car.
We arrived at the alley, yet it was covered in tape so we couldn’t pass. The thought of being here in broad daylight terrified me. Everything looked the same from the day Benny, Liam, Nick, and I was here. A policeman guarded the alley as Detective Kale approached us.
“Morning, Willson,” he greeted. “It’s a few days before Christmas. Why’d you call?”
“My daughter here was in the area early this morning and spotted this man. He’s one of James Cornelius’ men,” Dad said as he showed the photo on the iPad.
“He came through here?” Kale questioned as he looked down the alley. I followed his gaze to the alley. There wasn’t much since the snow arrived. Most of the evidence was either with them or gone. They still checked every day in the hope that Jack would come back to his home.
“Yeah,” I replied as I avoided eye contact.
“What’s the latest report?” Dad asked as I folded my arms. Detective Kale looked at my dad, then me. “She’s my daughter and a witness,” Dad said as he swung his arm around my shoulder. Kale let out a sigh as he looked over his shoulder at the policeman. He gave him a nod and the policeman returned the gesture, then walked off.
“We’ve done all the questioning, and they all say the same. Something’s not right. They keep saying he was an alcoholic, came here and worked in the café,” Kale admitted.
“What café?” Dad asked.
“Behind the alley. We’ve been there and interviewed them. None of them have heard of Jack August.”
“In the news, they said his co-workers weren’t fond of him. What about them?” I asked as I remembered when Jack first came on the news.
“They’re journalists and news reporters. They change it around and brainwash you to believe anything they say,” Dad replied.
“Yeah, and the surveillance cameras are no help either.” Kale sighed.
“Wha-what cameras?” I asked as I looked down the alley, yet there were no cameras.
“This wasn’t always a bad area. It was okay. Yet they still had their cameras,” Kale said as he motioned across the street. I paled as I looked at the camera that was in the building right opposite us. It faced directly at us and got a perfect view of the whole alley. “Spoke to the owners and they said it stopped working a few weeks ago and everything was wiped. Probably a fuse or something.”
“And they can’t fix it?” Dad asked as I stared at the camera.
“They’re working on it, but it’s a low chance that we’ll get the footage back from September when he went missing,” Kale responded.
“Okay, thanks. Merry Christmas,” Dad said as he placed his hand on my back.
“Merry Christmas. Oh, and Willson, we need to have that meeting soon,” Detec
tive Kale said as we walked to the car. Dad gave Detective Kale a blank look, then a nod. I raised a brow as we got into the car.
“What was that about?” I asked as we drove.
“Nothing, just wanting to discuss a few things,” Dad mumbled. Silence filled the car as I thought over what Kale said. Who knew how long those cameras were out? I wanted to text Benny and tell him, yet I didn’t want to ruin the holiday mood. Maybe I’d tell them after Christmas.
“Do you think you’ll ever get James?” I asked after a while.
“Yes, we will,” Dad said, then turned to me. “I don’t want you to worry. We’ll get him.”
“I know you will, Dad.” I smiled.
“Listen, err…I’ll drop you at home. Someone should be there now. I don’t want you to be alone,” he said as we drove into our neighborhood.
“Thanks, Dad, for everything. I love you,” I said.
“Anything for my little girl. Love you too,” he said as he stopped in front of our house. I looked past him to see Blake’s motorcycle and Levi’s Mustang in the driveway. I didn’t want to be home with them. Not now. “Well, I gotta head to the station. See you at dinner,” Dad said, then kissed my forehead. I got out of the car and walked to the front door. The door was unlocked, so I pushed it open. When I got home this morning, Dad and Richard were the only ones home. Mom and Jade were probably out, and I didn’t know where Levi was. Well, he should have been here since his car was here. I walked in. The sound of the television played through the house as I took off my coat and placed it on the hook. I strolled to the kitchen but felt a tug on my arm.
“Where were you? You just drove off like that yesterday,” Levi stated as he spun me around.
“I slept over at Miranda’s house. Chill,” I said, then pulled my arm back.
“You could’ve said something instead of just walking out of here,” he said with an irritated look.
“Look who’s talking,” I said, then spun around. I think I bumped into a wall or something because I immediately backed away and rubbed my nose. When I looked up, I saw Blake.
