Chapter 26 - We May Die But Everyone Does

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To say Pete was in distress was a major understatement. I held the phone about an inch away from my ear to spare myself from the volume of his voice.

"You were almost murdered and you decide to let me know days after the fact! Of course I'm pissed!"

"There was nothing you could do about it. The police came and Detective Carson is looking into it himself." And Theo. He was apparently laying low in town. I only knew this because of a loud mouthed officer who didn't get the memo that the particular detective had run a failed undercover mission that had yet to blow over.

Detective Carson didn't make an effort to address me about it and I figured it was best not to bring it up either. The last thing I needed was to somehow give them more reason to believe the girls and I feel guilty. Although they were probably linking the reported attmepted murder to Victoria's murder.

Detective Brooks, however, was apparently treading thin ice. I was beginning to believe Theo was sent in to replace her in a way. It seemed like her confident and aggressive investigation manners weren't appreciated by anyone.

"You?" she said looking unimpressed. "Someone attacked you? Why do I feel like your at the center of all the towns drama? Someone should write a book about you."

"Detective," Carson warned standing in between us. "Why don't you see what forensics got?"

"They got nothing. This attacker of yours conveniently touched nothing while entering or exiting."

Standing there in my PJ's, hair wet and frazzled, I felt my patience slipping. I wanted her and her stupid royal blue blazer out of my house.

"The attacker had gloves on." I braced myself.

"How convenient."

I inwardly groaned.

Oh, how much easier it would be if we could work together with them. Yet with no tangible evidence, turning to them could result in accidentally turning ourselves in.

My gran was more flustered than ever. She was even talking about moving or the possibility of dorming at a college far away from this 'god-forsaken town'.

"But the police aren't watching over you now are they?" I could imagine the veins on his forehead practically bursting. "You live alone with your grandmother who barely even remembers to lock the doors!"

It was true.

"How would you know that?"

"Well . . . I assume. Anyways, what I'm saying is I could have been hanging out with you and in turn been some extra muscle in case someone tried to hurt you again."

"Wait," I said, cutting him off. I appreciated his concern -I really did - but all the lecturing about my safety was not only tiring but something I wasn't used to. My grandmother no longer had the energy to and my parents weren't around long enough to do so. "This is not the reason I called -"

Something in his voice shifted drastically. "Did I cause this?"

"What?" Taking a break from my pacing, I sunk into my bean bag chair. "Caused what?"

"You almost drowning. Victoria died in a similar way and I'm starting to think that maybe I'm a constant in all of this mess for a reason. Maybe I'm bad luck or -"

"Pete, there is no such thing as bad luck. If there was you'd be luckier than a four leaf clover." I felt my cheeks redden at the spontaneous compliment. "At least . . . I mean . . . I feel lucky to have you around."

Across from me, Helen faked a gag while Norah giggled. I had forgotten they were there.

"I'm sorry but that was kinda gross. More emotionally open than I've been with a guy!" Helen shrugged apologetically while Norah swatted at her.

"It's cute! You would have swooned if Zac was on the other line!"

"Shh!"

Pete cleared his throat. "You make me feel the same way. Which is why if I'm causing this I need to stay away-"

"No," I replied firmly. "Isolation doesn't make problems go away. Besides, this definitely wasn't about you." I glanced up at the girls and they gave me nods of approval. "I know what it's about and it has to do with what I've been keeping from you."

"Oh."

"I called to see if you would come over before homecoming today so I can tell you. You deserve to know."

"I'll be there, Arielle. You can count on it."

A few hours later, I was staring at the dress Helen had brought me for homecoming from the very bean bag chair I had landed on earlier.

"I know it's not exactly 'you. Your style is more quiet, modest, and reserved. There is nothing wrong with that." Now Helen was pacing, carrying the air of a business woman trying to convince her boss in investing in a project. "But tonight my vision was to convey who you are under the surface. Under there, you are loud with bravery, fierce, and the most beautiful person I know."

I broke my gaze away from the dress to smile at her.

Helen was always sweet but only then was I realizing how being with Hannah had masked all of that. She reduced our personalities to the qualities that made us useful to her. Helen was just social, Norah was just smart, and I was just loyal. It made me sad thinking about the time we lost being subjected to all of that.

Passion stirred in Helen's eyes.

"I wanted to showcase that through this dress tonight . . . especially because . . you know - we might die. Might as well go out with a bang!" She fired finger guns into the air for effect which both made me feel amused and uneasy.

"Wow, I wish that much thought went into the selection of my dress," Norah complained.

"Oh hush! I gave you a vintage dress fantasy so don't pout!" It was true. Norah's dress was pink, sleeveless with buttons down the bodice and a full skirt that followed every motion. It would look stunning on her.

"But I didn't get a speech . . ."

At that, Helen launched a pillow at the blonde's head and continued. "I made some modifications to the original to give it a longer skirt and glittery flare. Because of that I have reserved the right to name it. The dress is called 'The Little Mermaid' and I would be honored to have you wear it tonight."

The dress wasn't what I had expected, neither was it something I would have picked out for myself.

True to its name, it had a mermaid body and a skirt that stretched out to give the look of a tale. It had cap sleeves to maintain my modest look and would compliment my hair and eyes with its peachy pink, sparkly color.

It was everything I never knew I needed.

"It's perfect. I would be honored to wear it." Helen squealed and latched her arms around me. "Let's just hope I don't have to run anywhere tonight."

"Oh, would you look at that," she said peering behind me and through my window curtains. "I think Pete's here. A car just went up your block."

"Hey, you should make him your homecoming date since he's already here!" Norah suggested while eagerly popping blueberries into her mouth. Helen was back to hogging the cream filled cookies. "That is, if he doesn't run away screaming when you tell him what's going on."

I stood up, brushing myself off. "Not very encouraging."

"Sorry!"

Making my way downstairs, I wondered if he would already be dressed up for the dance. Suddenly, I felt awkward in my t-shirt and leggings.

Before I could get my hands on the door knob, he was at the door knocking. At that point, I was worried about looking like I had been waiting by the door for him this whole time. Another knock, this one more aggressive, forced me to swallow back the petty worries and open up.

"Hey, come right . . . oh."

Zac's big doe eyes pierced mines. I was immediately absorbed by his sullen expression, not having the slightest clue why he showed up. He was dressed in a faded black sweatshirt further covered by a dark windbreaker. His hood was up despite the lack of rain coming from the dark clusters of clouds. A shadow cast on his face, dancing across his cheek bones and sliding down to his trembling lips.

"I needed to talk to you fast. I couldn't afford you deciding not to hear me out."

The polite thing to do was to invite him in, offer some warm tea and a snack. However, there was something in his demeanor that made me hesitant.

"What is it?"

"I've made a huge mistake." His voice was dripping with emotion. "I've kept things from you - things I should have told you from the beginning. I'm a coward! I - I don't deserve your forgiveness or anything really."

My mind was racing. There was a ton of things he could have been referring to. With the wildness of his hand gestures, drawing towards me and then back away like the currents of the ocean, he really could have been talking about anything. My mind could only go back to Victoria; the alleged affair, snapping at me at the Halloween party, finding me unconscious in the evidence room, his sudden skittishness and need to disappear from school . . . Everything was just piling up.

Of course he was keeping things from me, the question was what.

"Take a breath, alright? You're going to have a panic attack."

"I ditched you when I said we'd go on that date . . . I kept you at arms distance, I lied to you by pretending I didn't know anything but I do! I know about Victoria. I know almost everything."

My knees were ready to give out from beneath me. I felt a wave of betrayal as I tightly gripped his arm. "How long?" My voice was more intense than I had ever heard it. Zac flinched.

"I'm so sorry."

"How long?!"

"Before it even happened." He was crying. Tears streamed down his face and he quickly wiped them away, sniffling. "I'm sorry."

Not being exactly sure what that meant, I should have refrained from reacting so strongly. Yet the sizzling heat burning inside me wasn't thinking logically.

I shoved him. "You asshole! You could have saved her!" I kept pushing him, using all the force in me. His shoulders bobbed back, he took the hits without protest.

"Maybe! Maybe I could have! But it's too late, Arielle."

"Then why are you telling me this now?!" Whether he fully understood it or not, knowing that there was a way to prevent Victoria's death made my heart break all over again along with the sick feeling of being lied to by a guy I thought I could fall in love with. At that moment, I hated him.

"I'm telling you because while I couldn't save Victoria, I can save you." He grabbed my arms and was pulling me out of my own doorway.

"What are you doing?" I freed an arm and reached for my doorknob, missing it by an inch.

He released me once we were a few steps away from the door. His voice quiet. "I can't tell you everything here but all you need to know now is that something very evil is coming for you."

"Something evil? You mean someone? Because news flash I was attacked in my own home a few days ago!"

He winced hearing this but continued. "No, it's something. At least that's what Victoria said."

It was already enough there was a serial killer running around looking for opportunities to kill me and silence my friends. Zac was now imposing the idea that there was some paranormal aspect to it? I couldn't even think about it.

I shook my head. "You have to understand that the way you've been acting as of recently gives me no reason to trust you. You've been hot and cold ever since the Halloween party and after disappearing for weeks you show up here ready to come clean?"

He frowned, his eyes darting back and forth. "But . . . No. You have to understand, Arielle. I have been put in a horrible position and I am trying to protect you. I know Victoria didn't kill herself. She was murdered and so will you and Norah and Helen! If not to save yourself - do it for them."

A light rain started to fall. He removed his jacket and draped it on me. I let him. I had to go with him and hear him out.

"Where can we talk about it?"

"I have a spot that's safe. We'll drive there." Without missing a beat, he choufered us to his jeep.

"Can we make it back before homecoming?"

He gave me a look. "Seriously?"

"I'm not going for fun. I sort of have a plan to -"

Pete's car was quickly pulling up beside Zac's jeep. He was out of the car in seconds, making his way towards us with a weary expression. He came to a stop right in front of us, blocking our path.

"Hey, what's going on here?"

Zac fidgeted. I could imagine he didn't want anyone else to see him. He was probably trying to remain hidden. "We were leaving."

"Leaving?" Pete's eyes flickered between the two of us. "Arielle, didn't we - uh - have plans?"

"Oh, yes." I mentally face palmed. I had forgotten in the mix of all the drama. "Zac, this will have to wait a minute -"

"No, I'm sorry but it can't." He linked his arm through mine and pushed past Pete, knocking into his shoulder.

"Wait!" I tried to keep my stance but found myself being dragged. He was opening the passenger door and coaxing me inside, all the while I felt frustration bubbling up inside me. "Stop it! I'm not leaving right now."

In one violent movement, Pete grabbed hold of Zac's arm and threw him onto the ground. He landed hard on the concrete.

"What was that for?!"

I had never seen Zac angry. He was always a level person and when he did begin to come undone after Victoria's death, he still remained less emotional than the rest of us. When he got up and dusted himself off his face was red and his fists were balled.

"I'm doing her a favor! She would come with me if she knew what was good for her!"

"What is that supposed to mean?!" I yelled, climbing out of his jeep.

"I can protect you unlike goldie locks, over here!" Zac made a move closer to me, causing Pete to raise a hand to punch him.

"Stay back," he warned.

It was obvious to me this was about more than trying to get me to stay with one of them - which was entirely my decision to make and not there's - but also about the tension that had been building up between them since the rumored affair with Victoria.

"How about we all take a breath?"

With the eerie smile forming on Zac's face, I knew this was far from over. "You couldn't protect Victoria and you can't protect her."

Then he pounced.

One second Pete was on top of Zac going for his throat and then Zac was throwing punches.

The front door swung open and the girls came out, immediately stopping in their tracks at the sight of the boys.

"This is like an episode of Animal Planet!" Norah said looking both disgusted and intrigued.

Helen was peeking out from behind Norah as if she was afraid guts would start splattering everywhere. "Let me guess! They're 'fighting for the most suitable mate' - also known as the rare species 'Arielle Rae Winters'."

The boys continued to struggle. Pete got up and raised his fists. They circled each other, giving us a clear view of their bruised and somewhat bloody faces.

"Dang, they really went hard on each other. Jokes on them, they'll both be too ugly for Ari after they're done." Norah elbowed Helen, shaking her head.

"Don't be so shallow . . . There's nothing plastic surgery can't fix."

"Okay, this is over!" I hopped into the space between them, taking that moment to pray I wouldn't accidentally get hit in the face. "Either you both can stop fighting or we'll leave you here to go at it until your escorted off by the police. I have no time for this."

They eyed each other for a moment.

Great, now it's a staring contest, I thought.

Zac was the first to put his fists down. He pulled something out of his pocket, placed it in the palm of my hand, and closed my fingers over it.

"If you change your mind, this is where to find me." Watching him leave, I suddenly felt sad.

"Hey!" I caught up to him as he started up the engine, stepping onto the bar lining the vehicle to be at eye level with him. It was then that I saw who Zac truly was. It stared back at me from his glassy blue eyes. Not the mysterious, dorky boy I admired from afar, not crazy, ill- tempered or impatient, not a bitter soul who picked fights or tried to hurt people. He was just lost. He was broken, ashamed, and confused. He wanted to make things right but didn't know exactly how. He and I weren't so different. "I will come and see you tonight. I promise."

I held the paper up to my chest, above my heart.

"And I promise that I will do whatever it takes to make sure you make it out of this mess alive."

I started to remove his jacket to return it. He held his hand up.

"You can give it back later, that way you have to come see me. It's expensive." He gave a half smile and drove away.

Pete and the girls stood there. They were all waiting for further instruction - like they weren't sure what to do.

It was time to step up and fully accept the leader position I had worked my way into.

Author's Note - This story is close to wrapping up! I'd love to here your predictions of what's going to go down in the final chapters! Not only is it a fun guessing game but it'll help me see if I wrote this book too predictable.

Thanks for reading!



















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