'Or Jane.' Xavier supplies.
'No,' Julie shakes her head, 'I think she looks more like a Louisa.'
'Yes.' Carly shrieks, 'I bet her name was Louisa, and she's always pretty pale, even now that it's summer she's only just barely sun kissed. I bet she's got some like...Norwegian in her.'
'You're right.' Xavier starts evaluating my features now. Way too close for my comfort. 'I reckon her dad was Norwegian, and he probably died when she was a baby.'
'No,' Julie again shakes her head, 'she has a fifteen year old sister and they have the same dad.'
'Can we not do this.' I say, the calmness starting to become harder to force.
'So maybe her dad died when her sister was a baby, and he was murdered and they saw it happen so they had to go into witness protection, and she became Elizabeth and that's why she moves around so much.' Xavier looks triumphant.
'Libby, was your dad murdered? Is that why you don't talk about him, because you have to keep quiet or you'll blow your cover.' Julie watches me with a seriousness that tells me she actually believes this story. I have to choke back a laugh. 'You can totally trust us.'
'Julie, my name isn't Louisa, I'm not part Norwegian and my dad wasn't murdered. I'm not in the witness protection program, and I really don't want to be talking about this anymore.'
'You're very defensive.' Carly replies, 'I read somewhere that after witnessing acts of extreme violence, people often resort to defensive behavior.'
'They also resort to it when they people they're with are too stupid to realize that they don't want to talk.' I snap. I cringe at my own words and how harsh they sound. I didn't mean to let myself get so riled up by this.
'Whoa.' Julie watches me carefully, 'You don't have to be such a brat about it.'
'Oh my goodness.' Carly screams and swims a little away from me.
'What is it?' Julie starts splashing around, 'Did something bite you?'
'No, no, it's not the water, it's... what if the reason she doesn't want to talk about her past, and the reason she's travelled around so much is because... what if she's the one who killed her dad. I've seen shows about this, kids who lash out and kill their parents for like...no readon.' Carly looks physically sick. I'm really starting to wonder if there's anything Carly won't watch a show about.
I'm getting seriously annoyed now. They think my life is a plaything that they can sculpt into entertainment for themselves, and I've had enough. I let my anger take over, but instead of yelling at them to back off, I decide to play it cool. Have a little fun with them.
I let my eyes widen a bit, and look around me like I'm scared someone is watching.
'Shut up.' I say quickly, eyes darting, 'You don't know what you're talking about...it wasn't like that...I was young and...I didn't know...and...just shut up.' I'm proud of my acting skills. I sound just the right balance of freaked out, angry and crazy.
'Oh my goodness.' Julie slaps a hand to her mouth. 'Libby...are you like...on the run?'
'This always happens, someone always pushes and pushes until it comes out and then we have to leave. It wasn't supposed to happen again, I wasn't supposed to have to leave this time.' I make my voice just a touch more desperate. They all back off a bit. Are they seriously falling for this?
'Look, we won't say anything.' Xavier says, 'You don't have to... you know keep us quiet.'
'Pippa's going to hate me. She made friends here and now...we'll have to go, we'll have to leave.' I close my eyes briefly, and I'm just about to start laughing, unable to keep up the act any longer, when Julie starts swimming back to the boat. Fast.
The others don't waste any time either, they swim after her and so I figure I'll let them all talk it over for a bit, before I point out how crazy they are for believing this. That is if they don't figure out that I'm joking first, which they should. They must realize I'm joking. They wouldn't really believe that I killed my dad when I was a kid and now I'm on the run, using a fake name. Would they?
I slip beneath the water again. I'll have to go back onto the boat and tell them I was kidding, and then they'll get mad at me for messing with them, but they deserved it. If they wouldn't let it drop, then why shouldn't I have a bit of fun with them?
I swim down low again, almost reaching the floor of the ocean this time, because we aren't out all that deep, and then I kick back up. When I break the surface I look for the boat, and see them sailing away from me.
'Wait.' I shout. 'Julie wait.' They don't hear me, or if they do they don't listen. So I do the only thing I can do, and I start swimming back to shore.
Twenty – Charles
I press down on the car horn twice and watch as Libby jumps a good couple of feet to the side. She's just walked up from the beach into the parking lot, presumably to cross it to start walking home. She turns to the sound of the horn, spots my car which is pretty easy considering it's my mom's minivan, that she decorated with large daisies. The kids are all in the back, even Katie, who asked me to come pick her up from the beach after we left the hospital.
Libby walks over and pokes her head through the window. She's breathing hard and dripping wet.
'So,' I smile at her and try not to laugh, 'I hear you killed your father and you're on the run from the cops.'
'Julie called you?' She groans loudly.
'Nope, she came round to my place and started ranting about how we'd been lied to, how we weren't safe and stuff like that. Did she really leave you to swim back?'
'Uh huh.'
'Hop in.' I lean over and unlatch the door.
'You're not worried I'll murder you all?' She raises an eyebrow.
'Eh,' I shrug, 'I'll take my chances.' I grin and she steps back and opens the door.
'I don't want to get your seat wet.' She indicates the soaking wet bathing suit.
'Libs, I have five younger siblings. This car has seen worse than a little sea water.' I promise her, and she slides into the seat beside me. 'Julie dropped your purse off to me, but she said that your clothes fell overboard.' I raise my eyebrow to show her exactly how much I don't believe that, 'Oh, and don't worry, I managed to convince Julie and her friends that you're almost definitely not a crazy murderer.'
'Thanks for that. I didn't really think that would be something I'd ever need to convince someone of, but thanks.' She lays her head against the headrest as I pull away.
'Some people are way too gullible.' Katie says, leaning between my seat and Libby's.
'Aren't they just.' Libby agrees.
'So, want to talk about how they wound up thinking you were a murderer?' I ask, passing her a coffee that I picked up for her on the way over. Iced and full of caffeine and sugar, just like she likes.
'They asked too many questions. I got annoyed.' She shrugs, it's the shortened version of a story I know I'll get out of her later. 'Thanks for this.' She holds up the cup and smiles warmly.
'Seems fair enough.' I reply, knowing she doesn't want to stay on the subject, 'Ok, so who wants to head home, and who wants to go grab a late lunch?'
'Lunch.' All of the kids yell, minus Katie, who responds quietly that she's hungry and could eat the entire left side of the menu at the diner.
'Libs, you want to join us at the diner?' I smile.
'Uh, hello.' She motions to the fact that she's in nothing but her bathing suit.
'Beach town, I'm sure you won't be the first or last.' I reply. She doesn't look amused which makes me smile even more, 'Ok, fine, look in the bag by your feet.'
She bends and opens up the plastic bag that I'd stashed in the car after Julie and her friends left. Inside there's a pair of pale blue shorts with tiny light pink and white flowers on them, and a white camisole (Julie taught me what it was) top.
'How did you get these?' She asks, immediately pulling them on and slipping her feet into the white sandals I picked up.
'You left your window open. I went across the roof.'
'You broke into my house and took my clothes?'
'Uh...Ye
s.'
'Thank you.' She beams at me brightly. 'You even managed to get things that match together.'
'I didn't date Julie for eight months and pick up nothing about clothes.' I reply. A pang runs through me at my use of the word date instead of saying dating.
Today gave me hope, because even though she was way off base and just a touch crazy. When she was worried about something, she came to me. That means something, it has to mean something.
'Julie's style looks like the French Renaissance got warped into the modern day and then thrown onto her body. Anything you learn style wise from her is best forgotten instantly.' Katie says, leaning forward between the seats, 'Your outfit is cute and casual, and with your hair wavy from the sea you look fantastic. Also, you don't have to plaster on the makeup because you're naturally beautiful and you're happy in your own skin. That's the kind of role model that girls should have, that I'm happy I have.'
'Wow, that's... really nice of you.' Libby smiles at my sister and then looks at me, we're both thinking the same thing.
'A little too nice.' I say instantly.
'No such thing big brother.'
'There is with you.' I shoot back, 'What do you want?'
'Nothing,' she says, her voice rising in defense, her back going just a little straighter and then she slumps back down, 'well... nothing much.' She smiles innocently. Libby laughs as she attempts to squeeze some of the water out of her hair, while leaning out of the car window.
'What do you need?' Libby asks.
'Remember Libs, you don't have to feel in any way obligated to do what she asks you to do.'
'Hey don't try and sway her before you even know what it is.' Katie swats at my arm, and then she twists her body round so that she's fully facing Libby. 'I was wondering...well Pippa and I were wondering if you'd maybe take us to a gig. It's in a warehouse three towns over, and it's specifically been put on for under twenty ones. I've already cleared it with my mom that it's ok that I go, and Pippa said she'd asked your mom and got the ok as well. Only...well my mom said she doesn't want us going on our own, because we'd have to take the bus and she doesn't want us coming back late at night on our own, so...well she suggested that I ask Charles to take us, but going to a gig with your older brother is completely lame. Pippa said she'd be happy for you to take us though, because even though you're her big sister, you guys are close and she says you're really cool. It's on Sunday evening and if you say yes, then I'll do anything you want.'
'Anything?' Libby says with a slow grin.
'Yes.' Katie sighs dramatically and clasps both of her hands together, 'I'll do anything.'
'Three nights from now?' Libby asks.
'Yeah, Sunday.'
'Ok then.' Libby nods.
'You're too nice for your own good.' I warn her.
'It'll be fun.' Libby replies. 'I like music and my sister and your sister.'
'On your head be it.' I say as I pull into a space at the diner. 'Ok everyone out and if anyone throws a tantrum about not getting two helpings of ice cream, I'm looking at you Sean and Lewis, then I won't take you to ride your bikes in the park later.'
'Yes dad.' Lewis grumbles.
'Don't call me that.' I feel an instant stab on pain at being called that, at being, in any way, compared to him. Libby must notice as well because she gently places her hand on my forearm, and gives me a small smile.
'Come on, everyone out and if you all behave, then I'll buy each of you a ticket into the fun fair tomorrow night.' Libby says cheerfully.
'You really don't have to do that.' I say, because it feels like she's been helping out a lot recently.
'I know I don't, but it's a tradition that you and I go, and Julie too, if she wants to come, and this year you have the kids to watch, so they can come with us.'
'You don't have to pay though.' I reply.
'I'm loaded remember, refunded camp payment.' This time it's her who tenses up, so I move my arm from under her hand and put my hand on her arm instead.
The kids all start piling out, excitedly heading towards the diner, ushered in by Katie.
'Thanks for coming to get me.' Libby says quietly, holding my gaze.
'Don't worry about it, I'm all about rehabilitating hardened criminals.' I reply. I receive a whack in the arm as a result, but she's laughing as we get out of the car.
We get back to my house at around five and the kids all immediately race inside in hopes of reaching the TV remote first. Libby and I stay outside and sit down on the front lawn. Her picking daisies and threading them through each other to make a chain. While I talk about Julie, and she does what she's so good at doing, listening.
'I think,' Libby says once I've finally stopped talking, which takes a while because seeing Julie today has given me so much hope. 'We need to come up with a win Julie back plan, right?'
'Right.' I nod, 'but how do I win her back if she's already made up her mind?'
'Easily,' Libby shrugs, 'just remind her why she fell in love with you in the first place, but before we get to that you need to accomplish stage one.'
'Giving her distance.' I say, because from what little I know about breakups, I'm pretty sure that distance is a key component.
'No way that's an awful idea.' Libby shakes her head fast, threads another daisy onto her chain and then looks back to me, 'Phase one is to go to her. Tell her that you understand why she broke up with you, that you're willing to be friends with her like she wants, but that you also love her and won't give up on trying to get her back.'
'I thought distance made the heart grown stronger.' I point out.
'Not for Julie, for her distance makes her believe that whoever is giving her distance isn't interested, and she'll find something or someone new and shiny to pay attention to her. You need to make sure she knows that you're not ok with letting her go. If she thinks you're moving on, she'll be in a sort of...I don't want to say race, but that's kind of what it is.'
'What do you mean?'
'Well, when a couple breaks up, there's quite often this sort of unconscious race going on between the two of them to see who can be ok first. Who moves on first, who stops pining first, who gets a new boyfriend or girlfriend first.'
'That's crazy.'
'Yes, it is, but it's the brand of crazy that Julie buys. As far as she's concerned, the two of you are over and that gives her the chance to move on. You need to make sure that she knows you don't want to stop fighting for her. She'll love the attention and she'll hopefully hold off on moving on, so that she can see what you'll do to try and win her back.'
'Ok, so I think I can handle phase one. I'll go over there tomorrow and invite her to the fun fair, and I'll tell her everything you just said.'
'Good.' Libby nods.
'What's phase two?'
'That's a really simple one. Proximity.'
'Uh-huh.'
'Be around her as often as you can. Don't be all stalker outside her house at two in the morning, just...run into her and make sure each time you do, that you don't ignore her or just smile or wave. Make a point of going up to her and saying hello, don't tell her that you love her or anything, just generally chat with her. Make sure you always invite her places. If you're having a barbecue, invite her. If you're going to see a movie, ask her to come. She may not always say yes, but she'll appreciate that you're inviting her.' Libby smiles at me, 'When you're around her, don't argue with her, don't beg her to take you back, don't keep on telling her that you want her back. Phase one has taken care of that for you. She'll know you're not giving up, and then you'll be around her and she'll be reminded how amazing you are. Then you move on to phase three.'
'Ok.' It's a pretty good sounding plan at the moment, 'what's phase three?'
'Endgame,' Libby beams, 'once you've spent like...maybe a month or so in phase two and you feel it's the right time, and she hasn't moved on or pulled away, and she's still happily spending time with you. Ask her out on a date. Not just a movie at yours, or something. I'll watch
the kids, and you can take her somewhere really nice. Take her to a fancy restaurant where she can eat a three course meal, and then take her dancing or to a show.'
'Three phases, that's all it'll take?' I ask hopefully.
'Yeah,' She nods, 'three phases and if it all goes to plan, she'll be yours again before the summer is out.'
'How do you come up with things like this?'
'Superpowers.' She shrugs and smiles, 'Now, though,' she stands up and loops the daisy necklace around her neck, 'I have to apply my superpowers elsewhere, because I have summer homework that I've been putting off.'
'Need any help?'
'I need someone to do it for me.' She grins.
'Bring it over and I'll help you out.'
'Aren't you busy with kids?'
'As long as I'm here with them, I can help out.'
'Well then, I'll be back in a minute.' She runs towards her house, coming back out a few minutes later with a bag full of books over her shoulder, two glasses of what I know will be her homemade lemonade, and a container full of cookies.
Twenty One – Julie
Thinking that my best friend killed her dad, and then leaving her out in the ocean to swim back to shore, was not one of my finest moments. I'll admit, that looking back on it, I should have realized that she was just joking. I just don't always get her sense of humor. She seemed so serious at the time. I should suggest to her that she goes into acting rather than cooking, because she'd surely be good at it.
The way she got so wide eyed and panicky, and how she kept saying she'd have to leave again. It all seemed so real.
In my defense, it is strange that she never mentions her dad, and it's strange that she travelled around so much with her mom and sister before settling here. She doesn't talk about things much, especially not her dad, and so what was I supposed to think?
Ok, so maybe I wasn't supposed to egg on my friends while they pushed her to talk about it, or encouraged them while they made up stories. I also shouldn't have believed that she killed her dad. It's just that Carly and Xavier really believed it, and they were all freaked out. So when we got back to the boat, and they said we should just leave her. I didn't say yes, but I also didn't say no. Then Carly started sailing back to the docks, and I didn't tell her to stop and wait for Libby.
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