Chapter 19 - To Waltz With A Killer

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

I had been lucky enough to witness the beauty alongside my grandmother when I was ten. She woke me up early when the stars were still out. There was a glimmer of a secret in her eyes. She said there was something marvelous happening on the beach, something my mother would have wanted me to see.

All though I didn't know it yet, the sea turtles played a big role in my life. They were special to me, connected to me. It was a feeling that I, as a ten year old, wouldn't understand. But I did now.

I stood there, amazed by the beauty of life as the sea turtles raced their way into the ocean. It was the image I always thought of when I needed comfort. My grandmother was the voice that eased all the troubles and pain. I was reborn in the moment, with a whole new mind and way of thinking.

The reptiles start their lives alone and tasked with one of the most important and difficult challenges in their lives: To make it to the ocean with only the light of the moon as their guide. I knew that my parents had left me alone like the sea turtles, whether they meant to or not. But I also knew that they didn't leave me completely defenseless. I knew the way just like the turtles did. All I had to do was complete the journey.

Now, normally getting lost in one's thoughts is a perfectly fine thing. However, allowing myself to completely drop my senses in the dead of night in a town that recently experienced a murder. . . was most definitely not wise.

As if to put an exclamation point on that notion, a stranger emerged from the darkness behind me and grasped my shoulder.

I yelped nearly slipping into the water and whipped around to see a chuckling figure.

"Woah now, Arielle," it said. "No need to swim away."

"Pete." I took a breath and slowly released it. "What are you doing out here?"

The teen was standing a few steps away as if he was still worried he might startle me. "I should ask you the same thing," he replied swiftly.

All I could muster was a pointed look that said I wasn't going to budge until he did. He chuckled and knelt down next to me.

"I was on a walk because I couldn't sleep and then I saw a mysterious figure sitting at the edge of a lagoon that turns out to be you."

"Oh." I laughed knowing that it was my turn to answer the question. The truth was the preferable answer but it was also the humiliating one.

I hesitated a bit too long and the air grew awkward.

"Did you get stood up?" His words cut through the tension and caught me off guard. "By Zac?"

My cheeks were flaming. "How did you . . .?"

"You're all dolled up and Zac is the guy your into, isn't he?" He watched me carefully as I fumbled for words. Was I really that transparent?

I opened my mouth to agree - Zac was the guy I liked. Yet for some reason the words tasted sour. Maybe it was because he stood me up, pulling that off can really change a girls mind.

"After tonight- I'm not completely sure."

"Eh - no worries. The guy's a little weird anyways. He bites his pencils." Pete made the gesture of digging his teeth into the writing utensil rather exaggeratedly, drawing a giggle out of me. "It's kind of gross. He probably gets lead in his teeth all the time-"

"Stop! I get it! I get it!" I doubled over in laughter and then elbowed him. "You're so mean!"

"Only because he hurt you."

A smile crept onto my lips. He didn't even know the extent of it. "Well, thanks."

"So what are you going to do now?" he asked.

I shrugged. "Go home?"

"No! Let's not waste a perfectly good evening." He stood up and reached out a hand. "The night is young."

"What do you propose we do?"

He pointed to the other side of the lagoon. "That strip of land over there leads to a killer view of the moon where we can picnic. We can take the row boat and basket that is conveniently provided for us."

"Sounds like a plan." I stepped onto the boat a little to hastily resulting in it tipping over with me in it.

"Woah there!" Pete grabbed my arms to stabilize me laughing all the while. "Your gonna have us capsized before we even get going!"

"Well the boat should have better balance."

"You're blaming the boat? What do you recommend it do? Take Yoga classes?" He climbed onto the boat with me as I shoved him playfully.

"Okay, you're definitely the one to blame here."

"You and the boat need to take Yoga."

"Fine, Arielle. We'll take Yoga, now get off our case!"

The boat ride was filled with endless teasing and bickering. We even got stuck around a cluster of lily pads because we couldn't row in perfect harmony. As frustrating as the situation was, we were giggling all the while.

It was all fun and games until we realized that we were actually stuck this time. A tangle of moss and aquatic plants kept us under a low hanging tree, its vines hung around us like beads from a door frame.

"Row in my direction," Pete said becoming more concentrated.

"I am." My arms grew tired at the repetitive movement that got us nowhere.

"I think we are stuck. Like stuck- stuck."

I gave him a sarcastic expression, letting the ors drop into their holders. "You don't say?"

We sat in silence for a moment. He placed his head in his hand, gazing at the different kinds of plants and fishes around us. I listened to the soft chirping of the insects, the calls of the birds, and the splashes of the fish. After a moment, I caught Pete staring at me. He bashfully shook his head and averted his gaze.

I couldn't look away. There was something about how he had stared at me. Something that made me think about Hannah's deal.

True love's kiss.

Now I was the one looking bashful. How could Pete love me? That was a ridiculous thought. He barely knew me, right? We had always known of eachother but we never really connected. He was Victoria's boyfriend to me most of the time I knew him. Kissing my friend's ex? That would be weird . . .

Yet, it would really work in favor for me right now.

Did I maybe have feelings for Pete?

No . . . I had never thought of him like that . . . No.

"A penny for your thoughts? You look like your thinking about something very important," Pete teased but his voice was higher than usual.

"Maybe I am." We were staring at each other too intensely and for too long for there not to be a slight chance - the slightest chance - that something was there.

Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me, part of me chanted. The part that wanted to complete Hannah's deal at all costs was so desperate that it didn't care about Pete's feelings or my own or what Tori would think.

The other part of me was scared because the chanting was loud and as powerful as a drum.

As if he was lured in by the beat, Pete leaned in. I started to feel myself lean in too.

Then in a swift motion he rowed the boat out of the tangle, turning away from me.

I snapped back into reality with colored cheeks.

I'm such an idiot. Pete and I will never happen and should never happen. Ugh.

"Good work," I said quickly recovering.

We arrived on the other side and started hiking up a hill in a comfortable silence that Pete soon broke.

"Can you stop swinging the basket like Little Red Riding hood? You're gonna scramble the food."

"You seem really concerned about the food."

"What can I say? I'm hungry," he retorted with an all teeth smile.

We treaded in quiet for a few more minutes. Pete appeared to be thinking hard about something so when he finally turned to me again, I was attentive.

"Can I ask you something that might be personal?"

Sharing personal things with each other had become somewhat of a frequent occurrence between us so I figured why not.

"Go ahead."

He took a breath and broadened his shoulders. "I've . . . I've noticed that you've been a little isolated lately. Maybe- maybe it isn't a new thing. Maybe you've always been this way . . ." He groaned, frustrated with himself. "What I mean to say is you seem alone, Arielle. Even when you aren't you don't truly let people in. Am I right?"

I was speechless.

"Yes."

His facial expression darkened. "Why?"

I looked around at the greenery. We were probably the only ones around for miles.

So I let the words fall.

"I lost my parents at a young age. Too young to understand it but old enough to miss them. When they left . . . I guess it made me feel like so alone I got use to it. I figured everyone would eventually leave so it was better not to get comfortable. With Hannah it was different for a while but then it turned out she wasn't as trustworthy as she seemed. She wasn't real company."

We had been walking a few feet apart and he closed the distance between us to place a hand on my shoulder. "Not every person is like that. I know it seems like there's no one to trust in this town but I want to be here for you, Ari."

And part of me wanted to let him be there for me. I knew Pete's loyalty was true. He had proven it to me this whole time after Victoria's death.

But I was a walking- talking hazard. Not only did Hannah have it out for me but so did a mysterious and powerful stalker. Befriending someone and getting close to them puts them at risk. I didn't want anyone else to get hurt because of me.

Not only that but I as a person was dangerous. What happened back in July proved that.

"I appreciate it. I really do." The polite decline was implied and I could tell he understood because he frowned.

We set up the picnic in front of the moonlight, exchanging the bare minimum of words. It was like he was being quiet on purpose. Like he wasn't going to speak until because he wasn't satisfied with my answer from earlier. Deep down, I knew that probably wasn't the case. His mind had most likely wandered far from it. It was me who was lingering on it, not him.

Still, my fingers trembled and my breathing was shaky. My eyes watered and I wanted to ball my fist or scream because I couldn't understand why I was overcome with emotion all of a sudden. It was only a matter of time until Pete noticed I was about to burst and I didn't want to burst. For once in my life I wanted to be strong.

My heart sunk. I was unpacking a picnic for a date. The last time I did this was when I was setting up the trap for Jacob. A cry escaped my lips.

So much for being strong.

"Arielle?" Pete looked up at me. "What's wrong?"

I took a seat on the wet grass and clenched the dirt in my hands trying to stay grounded. It didn't stop the sobs and it didn't stop the tears.

"Talk to me. Hey, look at me."

"You have to stay away. You have too!" The emotion made my head pound.

He sat in front of me to try and gain my attention. "Why? What's bothering you?"

"Stop trying to help me!"

"No." He leaned back. "I'm staying right here."

"I don't deserve this, Pete. I don't deserve anything. I have to stay alone because I hurt people. I hurt the kids at school. I hurt my gran. I hurt him. I killed him."

"Killed him?" His voice faltered. He was frightened. I wanted him to be scared. I wanted him to be so scared he would run away without looking back.

"Yes. I killed him. I killed Jacob --."

Pete's face contorted. "What? No, that was an accident. The police said he was messing around near the train tracks and got hit-"

"He was around the train tracks because I lured him there! I played a demented trick on him and his foot got stuck on the train track. He reached out for me! I watched him plead for his life!" I spit the words out like venom, in an intense trance. There was no going back now. I had passed the point of no return.

"Arielle-"

"I couldn't save him and he died! It's my fault and it was murder!"

"But that's not the full story, is it?"

"You should run. Call the cops! I don't care." I wasn't going to kiss Zac which meant Hannah would turn me in soon anyways. Pete might as well do it. That way Hannah wouldn't get the satisfaction.

---------------------------------------------

He was horrified. Yet, throughout the whole story, he stood beside me. When it was over he didn't run. He didn't dial 911. He didn't attack me.

He hugged me.

Of all things, he hugged me.

"That wasn't murder, Arielle. That was a horrible accident. I think you know that."

"Maybe I do," I mumbled into the air. I wasn't prepared for the amount of acceptance and support Pete was offering. It shook me to the core and made me feel an overwhelming amount of gratitude.

"It wasn't your fault. You didn't mean for it to happen. It could have happened to anyone in your situation. It's Hannah who crafted it into a murder story. It's always been Hannah."

I rested my folded arms on my knees. "But if I forgive myself -"

"Forgiving yourself isn't dismissing what happened. Whether you forgive yourself or not Jacob will stay dead. It comes down to whether you let yourself die with him."

I took a good look at the boy who remained at my side. For a second, I was enraptured by him. His eyes were more breathtaking than the moon and I wanted his arms around me again.

"I suppose you're right," I said unable to look away from him.

He gave me a boyish grin before pulling me up on my feet. "This has been a rocky day for you so let's end it on a good note."

I sniffled, wiped my face of tears, and mustered a broken smile. "What do you propose we do?"

He held out him hand and bowed. "Dance with me?"

I grabbed the sides of my dress and curtseyed. "Why, of course."

We fell into a slow waltz, keeping in time to Pete's soft humming. For the first time in forever, I was grateful for Helen's outfit choice. The way the dress swished around me and flowed with every turn made me feel like a princess. A princess with dirt stains on her dress and tear stains on her face.

When I rested my head on his shoulder, he began to chuckle.

"What?" I couldn't help but giggle along with him. That was the natural effect of Pete. He could make you bubbly without even understanding why.

"Do you remember that time Victoria set up a double date for us but Zac didn't turn up and neither did she?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"I just - I remember going into the movie with you. You were laughing so hard and I remember feeling so guilty because all I could think about was what it would feel like to make you laugh."

My pulse quickened. His tone, the expression forming on his face, it was all adding up to one frightening possibility. "Pete . . ."

He twirled me out and then pulled me close, securing me by his side. "I didn't mean to but-"

"Don't say it." I knew what he was going to say. It explained the new air around us. The air was fresh and exciting. It begged to be consumed and held the familiarity and safety of a summer night barbeque.

But it would be wrong. He was Victoria's. She was gone but he was hers first.

"You deserve to know."

He pulled me around to face him and our dance came to a halt.

Please don't.

Then he said it.

"I'm falling for you."












You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net