Chrysalis (Dangerous Secrets)

by Francis, Rose

  “What?” Sydney asked.

  “Sydney, I’m just kidding again.”

  “No, I mean who? Who do you know? Who do you work with? What do you even do? I have no idea what you do!”

  Sydney felt panicked. Did he really know someone who could hurt Nicholas?

  “Are you supposed to?”

  “Well, I’d like to, you’re my brother after all. I am interested in your life, just as you’re way too interested in mine.”

  “Well that’s sweet and all, but you don’t have to worry about me sis. I get what I need when I need it. However I need to get it.”

  Sydney sighed.

  “That worries me Adam.”

  “Are you kidding me? I’m more worried about you.”

  ***

  Sydney decided to head over to Nicholas and continue her investigation.

  She wasn’t looking forward to running into Mrs. Dhalton again, even if she was intrigued by her, but she knew she had to wade through the mud.

  It seemed Mrs. Dhalton made a special effort to torture her because she was there as Sydney was escorted in. Sydney looked straight at her and smiled, hoping it came off as open and friendly.

  “Hello Mrs. Dhalton,” she said in a voice dripping with honey.

  Evelyn looked her up and down with a smile and lightly disguised scorn.

  “Oh hello. Sydney right?”

  Sydney was determined to have Mrs. Dhalton like her.

  “How are you doing today?”

  “I’m fine.”

  Mrs. Dhalton just looked at her.

  “I heard you like gardening—may I see your garden sometime? I dabble in it myself. I have a particular fondness for zinnias and the daylily.”

  “Hm. Well, that’s very nice.”

  Mrs. Dhalton turned and went on her way.

  “I’ll get Nicholas for you,” the man she heard Nicholas call Samuel said as he led her toward the family room and turned away.

  Samuel came back a few minutes later to escort her upstairs where he informed her that Nicholas was waiting for her.

  Sydney felt a little apprehensive as she entered the room.

  She observed Nicholas sitting on his bed with his head in his hands, looking burdened.

  When he heard her enter he looked up, his face allowing a small smile.

  “Hi sweetheart. What’s on your mind?” he asked.

  “I should be asking you that. How come you didn’t come down to meet me?”

  “I’m honestly trying to avoid my mother as much as possible. Don’t ask.”

  Sydney laughed.

  “I don’t think I have to.”

  “Yeah. Hey, what was the deal with you running off like that last night? And avoiding my calls earlier today?”

  Sydney let out a breath.

  “Well, the memories of, you know, that event became overwhelming—I had to have some time to myself.” She told herself a partial truth was not really a lie—even if it was one of omission.

  He nodded.

  “I understand,” he said. “Still, you could have at least told me to leave you alone for a day or something. I was going crazy not knowing what was up. I almost drove over there to talk to you.”

  She apologized for keeping him in the dark.

  “I’m kind of new to this relationship thing,” she added with a small smile.

  She thought about how she could get more information from him without being obvious, but was suddenly distracted by one of the photos he had on his dresser of the two of them, and it occurred to her that she knew nothing about his own relationship history. She knew it was a silly thing to wonder about at that point, but she couldn’t help being curious; after all, she figured she would be able to tell a lot more about him by his relationships with the other sex.

  “Tell me about your ex-girlfriends. I mean friends, sorry.” She grinned at him.

  He laughed a hollow laugh.

  “That’s what you came over to talk to me about?” He shook his head. “No way. Not a good idea.”

  “Why not? Okay I’ll go first. So there was Jason...”

  “Yeah, you told me about him—you were thirteen, blah blah blah. You know that’s not fair. That’s the end of your story.”

  She affected a hurt look and pouted her lips. He got up, grabbed her and kissed her, making her aware that she had not moved closer to him since entering the room. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment.

  “So you agree then?” she said once their lips separated.

  “You don’t want to hear it, I promise you.”

  “Mmm, the way you said that makes me even more interested.”

  She stared up at him and batted her eyes.

  “Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he said then took a few moments before beginning.

  “Honestly, my story’s similar to yours in a way. My love life’s pretty empty of girlfriends.”

  He stopped as if that’s all he was going to say.

  “But surely you saw lots of women?”

  He nodded.

  “Yes, I saw lots of women.” Again he stopped.

  “And did you take them out? You went on dates with them?”

  He nodded again.

  “Yup.”

  “And that’s it?”

  He didn’t answer.

  “First, second, third base?”

  “Yup. Okay that’s enough. Look, Sydney, I’ve had ‘relationships’ with lots of women, but I haven’t had any real girlfriends. Well, besides Lisa. I dated her my first year of college so I guess she counts. I’m not sure if I’ve ever met anyone duller than her though, she was like a shell of a person. At first, I thought it was mysterious and interesting. But it got old fast.”

  “See, now we’re getting somewhere. More?”

  He sighed.

  “Well, there was Emily but that had to be the most shallow relationship ever; everything was about the surface. She was playing a part, I was playing a part and we were both playing these parts because we were the types who were supposed to be together.” He shook his head. “We parted ways because she was doing her own thing with other guys, although she was discreet about it and I didn’t care. But she ended up falling for one of them so she took off.” He gave a short laugh. “Did me a favor.”

  Sydney’s eyebrows raised.

  “Aha! So you’ve been dumped!”

  He shrugged.

  “If that’s what you want to call it. We weren’t even really in a relationship, you know? It was by name only. We were both elsewhere.”

  “So you have had girlfriends.”

  He shook his head.

  “I guess, but not really. It’s just that none of them really had an impact on me, you know? No special significance besides first kiss, first date, first, well, you know. Or the third, fifth, tenth, whatever. Other than that, I’ve never really felt anything for them. They didn’t feel for me either, I can promise you that. They served a purpose for me, I served a purpose for them. Simple.”

  “So I’m your first real girlfriend?”

  “That you are. In more ways than one.” He came close to her and held her. “You’re certainly the first I fell for like this.” He kissed her hand, then her cheek. Then he kissed her mouth. “I love you Sydney.”

  “Mmmm. Which reminds me. Why?”

  She saw the question mark form on his face before he verbalized his confusion.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean why did you, you know, choose me? Why do you like me? You can have any girl you want, I mean look at you—I’m serious Nicholas,” she reprimanded him as he smiled a killer grin, pretended to toss his hair as if preparing for a photo.

  His face held a faint smile as he said to her: “Sydney, you’re beautiful. What can I say? I’m shallow. You caught my eyes...”

  “I’m not beautiful Nicholas and we both know it,” she interrupted him. “Everyone knows it.”

  His facial expression struck her almost as much as her words seemed to ha
ve struck him. It was as if she had punched him in the stomach. His face reflected hurt, every trace of playfulness disappearing.

  “Well, I’m sorry Sydney, but I didn’t get that memo.” He sighed. “You are beautiful. Especially since you don’t know it.”

  She changed gears.

  “Okay, when did you see me for the first time, and what made you notice me?”

  She could hear the desperation in her own voice but couldn’t help it—she needed to hear from his own mouth what about her was worthy of taking note, even though her original intention was to find out more regarding the possibility that he was involved in her attack.

  He looked at her, examining her face for a few seconds with an intense yet contemplative look.

  “Well, one day, I was headed north, walking towards my class, and you were headed west some ways ahead of me and I saw that beautiful head of hair, all wild and curly. I didn’t remember seeing such a head of hair before so I examined you a little more closely and realized you looked somewhat familiar—I guess I’d seen you on campus before, but you didn’t register then. This time you did. I noticed your face—such quiet beauty there. Such a delicate, soft, feminine face. I mean I still didn’t get a good look, but you looked like such a serene person, so self-contained. You were lovely then, and you’re still lovely now. I didn’t remember seeing you before, but I sure couldn’t help noticing you after. I also noticed you were never with anyone, male or female...besides Maria of course.”

  “You noticed her then?”

  Of course he had to see Maria, who wouldn’t notice her?

  “Only because she was with you. Sydney, why do you find it so hard to believe that you are worth noticing? By yourself?”

  She lowered her head, unable to face him and his accusatory eyes.

  “And you know what?” he continued, “I looked at you and thought: ‘there’s a girl who needs some fun in her life. I hereby make it my duty to show that girl a good time.’”

  “Did you really think that?”

  He smiled.

  “Not really.”

  “Well,” she decided to retort, “I looked at you and said: ‘there’s a boy who needs some discipline and structure in his life. But I’m not getting involved in that mess.”

  He laughed.

  “You do like to stay in your boxes, don’t you?”

  She was thrown off guard.

  “Sometimes boxes are good. Especially when you aren’t born into money and privilege like some people I know.” She ignored his faux sound of hurt. “Structure is what takes some of us through life, the only way some of us can reach our goals.”

  She looked him in the eyes.

  “So you’re sure that’s the first time you saw me?”

  “Pretty much,” he replied.

  She felt relief settling through her.

  “What is it Sydney?”

  He was examining her.

  “Nothing,” she said. “I just...I think I need to relax—I’ve been reading too many thrillers or something.”

  He looked like he was about to question her further, but she was saved from his potential cross-examination by a knock on the door.

  Nicholas shouted his consent and Samuel’s kind face appeared.

  “Your mother requests your presence.”

  “What? Why? Where is she?”

  “Downstairs, sir.”

  “What the hell does she want?” Nicholas muttered to himself. Then he turned to Sydney. “I don’t know why she didn’t just come up, but I’m going down to see what’s up. This should be quick. I’ll be right back,” he said.

  ***

  As Nicholas descended the last set of stairs, his mother’s beaming face came into view. She looked like a cat who’d just swallowed a canary.

  Nicholas started feeling uneasy.

  “Nicholas darling, I have a surprise for you!” she said in a singsong, playful manner.

  Nicholas almost found himself smiling back, so infectious was that strange yet enchanting smile of hers. But his own near-smile peeled away when he saw what made her so joyful as Amber filtered into view.

  “Honey look who stopped by! It’s our old friend!”

  Evelyn’s smile looked real this time. It reached her eyes, making them almost vibrate with energy. Her perfect eyebrows arched in a way that made her face take on a fiendish expression.

  Evelyn grinned while almost pushing Amber forward.

  Amber was smiling too, hers more mysterious and frightening. He looked behind him to double-check that Sydney was not there.

  “Amber!” he said, uncertain what to say or do. He was wallowing in so much discomfort that he almost didn’t see his mother gesture to Samuel, but he thought nothing of it, his attention on Amber’s green eyes, holding him in their cobra-like gaze.

  She surprised him by running up to him, hugging him and kissing him on the cheek.

  “Nicholas my darling, you haven’t called in so long—I’ve almost missed you!”

  Then she laughed.

  Nicholas was so confounded that it took a few seconds for him to regain his footing.

  “Amber, what are you doing here? I haven’t seen you in what, a year?”

  “Actually, six months, remember? We had lunch at that Italian restaurant over the Christmas holidays.”

  The steps behind him didn’t register until they stopped, and he saw the women in front of him focus behind him. It was then that he noticed Sydney, escorted by an apologetic-looking Samuel.

  She continued down the stairs until she reached him.

  “Um, Amber, meet my girlfriend, Sydney. Sydney, Amber—a friend of my mother’s.”

  Sydney simply stared at Amber while Amber laughed.

  “A friend of your mother’s—you’re so funny Nick. It certainly wasn’t your mother whose butt I kicked in tennis. Or who took me to lunch the same day. Or who kissed me goodbye!” She smiled up at him then turned to Sydney and stuck out her hand, still smiling. “Hi Sydney, it’s nice to meet you. Although I have to admit, I honestly thought you were the help at first!” She giggled. “Nicholas, you didn’t tell me you had gotten a girlfriend.”

  “I didn’t think I had to,” he muttered.

  “Really? Well, it would have stopped my calls, I can tell you that.”

  She stopped smiling and her face took on an earnest expression.

  “Nicholas, I’m a reasonable woman and I certainly have no shortage of options.” She shrugged casually. “I guess I gave you more credit than you deserved.”

  She turned back to Sydney and gave her a gentle smile, different from the one she had on before. “It was nice to meet you Sydney. I wish you two the best.” Then she turned to Evelyn. “Evelyn, nice of you to invite me over for dinner but I really must be going. And your son, well, he has made up his mind it seems. You probably should leave him to find his own path.”

  “Oh I’m sorry, I don’t remember asking your advice dear.”

  Evelyn’s eyes focused on Amber.

  Amber took it in stride.

  “Sometimes unsolicited advice is exactly what we need. Good night everyone,” she said, turning to leave.

  Evelyn turned toward Nicholas who could feel his eyes narrowing as he looked at his mother, rage boiling within him.

  He grabbed Sydney’s hand and said: “Good night. Mother,” through clenched teeth as he headed back to his room, ignoring her cry of: “I’m just looking out for your best interests dear!”

  Nicholas strode on, his anger eventually giving way to fear as he wondered how Sydney took it all. He didn’t have to wait long to find out.

  He expected her to scream at him as they reached his room and closed the door, to yell and tell him what a scumbag he was. But she remained quiet for a few agonizing moments, as if still absorbing the information. Then she turned to him.

  “Nicholas, what was that about?”

  “Oh that?” He scratched his head. “That was just, that was...”

  “Weren’t you seeing
me over the Christmas holidays?”

  “Yes, but I went on a date with her before you and I started going out.”

  She waited a few seconds.

  “I guess you think that’s enough explanation?” she said.

  “Come on Sydney, it’s not a big deal.”

  She smiled a scary smile.

  “Couldn’t you have mentioned her recently? You had the opportunity after all. I mean, even if you didn’t see fit to mention it at the time—which I understand—we’ve had time since. I just recently asked you about previous girlfriends and relationships...”

  “Yeah, but that’s just it—I don’t consider her a girlfriend or anything like that. It’s not like we did anything.”

  “So you didn’t really kiss her then. Your mother hasn’t been pushing you two together, and she has never been in this house before just now.”

  “Yes, but look—I just don’t see it as important because I don’t have any feelings for her! I mean sure, I took her to lunch after we played a tennis game but that was it! I never saw her after that day—it was only one date! And yes, Evelyn’s been pushing for us to be together, but I don’t care—I want you! Only you!”

  His escalation of emotion seemed to calm Sydney down.

  “So you haven’t been hiding her,” she said, eyes averted.

  He realized then her true fear—that Amber was his real girlfriend, and he had been seeing them both unbeknownst to each other.

  She thought he was like Eddie.

  “To tell you the truth, I had completely forgotten about her.”

  She looked at him quickly.

  “You forgot?” she asked, skepticism lacing the question.

  “I honestly did. Some things slip my mind like that, especially when they’re not important,” he emphasized.

  “But that wasn’t unimportant...”

  “It was to me.”

  Sydney looked down.

  “But how could you forget her? I mean, she’s so pretty!”

  He nodded.

  “Yeah, but she’s not really my type. I don’t know what else to tell you.”

  Sydney was quiet for a few moments.

  “This may sound kind of weird, but I actually liked her towards the end there,” she said.

  “Yeah, she was...something. Especially that part about you being the help.”

  “Okay, that was bad. But she was lashing out of course. You hurt her feelings.”