Homecoming Shadows

Chapter Sixty Seven: Deception in Hollow Words

...

I wake up to the sound of my phone buzzing, irritatingly disrupting my peaceful slumber. Groaning, I reach for it, squinting at the blinding screen.

"...Yeah?" I mumble, my voice still laced with sleep.

"Ruby!!! Where are you? Why weren't you replying to my texts yesterday?!" Dan's voice pierces through the fog of my sleepiness, instantly jolting me awake. Panic starts to seep in as I frantically look around the room, searching for Cay. But he's nowhere to be seen. Panic turns to confusion.

Only a note lays on my bedside table, its short and sarcastic content bringing an instant smile to my face. 'You owe me a slice of pie for this.' - I can practically hear Cay's chuckles in my mind. But Dan's relentless questioning breaks through my thoughts. "I can literally hear you chuckling! Ruby, what's going on?"

I shiver, suddenly aware of the chill in the room. I grab the blanket and wrap it around myself, seeking warmth and comfort. "I'm fine, Dan. I just felt really tired yesterday. I visited my old school, and memories crashed into me, draining my energy and dampening my mood. So, I... I wanted to be alone for a while and stopped at the motel on the other side of town."

Silence hangs heavy in the air as Dan processes my words. I can almost hear him drawing a deep breath on the other end of the line. "Why didn't you tell me? I was worried for you," he finally says, his voice filled with a mix of concern and hurt.

The ache in my heart intensifies, guilt washing over me like a tidal wave. "I'm sorry," I respond, my voice laced with regret. "When I got to my room, exhaustion overcame me, and I immediately fell asleep. My phone was out of battery, and I left the charger in the car..." The words spill out, the blatant lies ringing hollow in my own ears.

I desperately hoped that he wouldn't perceive the deceit in my voice. But Dan's a detective. He's trained to notice deception in others. It's an uphill battle, one that I'm beginning to lose.

And although Cay had simply been here, watching over me as I drifted off to sleep, nothing more, I can't shake the feeling that I've done something terribly wrong. The weight of guilt settles heavily upon my chest, making it hard to breathe.

...

Dan and I left off things in the middle of a heated argument. He didn't want to argue anymore, unable to tolerate our fights. He suggested that we both needed some time apart and, this time, I understood him completely. I knew I had caused him a lot of worry and stress in the past few days. So, I decided to give him the space he needed.

I spent the morning working on the computer in my motel room. Afterwards, I walked to a local diner to have breakfast. The walk to the center of town was pleasant, but as I approached the Oakwood High School, a shiver ran down my spine. The building seemed to take on an eerie ambiance. I quickly got into my car, only to find Miles's notebook patiently waiting for me on the front seat. It seemed to beckon me to read it.

I drove away from the haunting school building and stopped near the town's old library. I sat there for an hour, immersed in the notebook, carefully reading each word and sentence. The notebook contained a wealth of information. It was as if I had reconnected with Miles again, not on a personal level, but on an emotional one. It felt like our souls were speaking to each other through the pages. Each sentence tore at my heart and brought back memories of our time together.

With a heavy heart, I put the thing down and hid it in my bag. I realized that I couldn't read the whole diary in one sitting. I needed time to process and gather myself before delving back into the past and the intense emotions I had felt for the boy that wrote it...

Determined to find something that could help me restore my fragmented memories, I decided to drive to the cabin where Miles and I had spent many happy days together. I hoped that rummaging through the old boxes in the attic would uncover something significant.

Just as I arrived there, my phone rang. It was Daria... Surprised by her call, I answered, and to my amazement, she seemed friendly and genuinely interested in what I was doing. When she found out about my plan to visit the cabin, she asked if she could join me. I agreed, grateful for the company and the distraction.

April called me several times, but I turned my phone on silent. Dari was curious, but didn't ask me anything for a couple of minutes.

"Troubles in paradise?" She smirked, referring to Dan. Probably, she thought that I had argued with him.

"Yes... Something like that," I muttered. She didn't need to know that I was avoiding April. And there was a damn good reason for that.

Someone knocked on the door and I was utterly surprised to see Cay standing outside. Daria winked at me, going to put a kettle on.

"...Dari said you needed help with old stuff sorting," Cay threw, taking his jacket off. I averted my gaze not to stare at his body like I usually did. What was happening with me?! A slight glance at him was already making me blush.

"Yeah. Thanks for coming!" I blurted out, hurrying to the kitchen to help Daria. I prayed to God, Cay hadn't noticed the way his presence made me feel.

All day long, the three of us spent in the cabin, looking through old photo albums and things from our past. Every time Cay would accidentally end up near me, I'd intentionally move away, trying not to make it too evident that I couldn't have him near me. I feared that even the slightest touch of his skin on mine could trigger something heavy and unbearable for my mind.

Soon Dari switched on some old pop music on the radio in the living room. Her tea turned out to be mulled wine. I wondered why every journey to the cabin ended up with us getting drunk... But right now, that was exactly what I needed. The three of us settled in the living room. Cay made a fire, casting a warm golden glow around the room. I sat in the armchair, so there was no danger of him sitting near me and me smelling his intoxicating scent. God... Why do I even still keep thinking about that?...

Dari bitterly smiled, pouring us drinks. The old photos of our adventures lay on the table.

"We did have lots of fun together. Didn't we, guys?" She smiled, nodding at the photos. I also smiled, reminiscing about the good times we had shared.

Cay stood with his back to us, his body was relaxed. I imagined him smiling. And couldn't help but long for that smile. The last time I saw him really smiling was probably thirteen years ago...

As the night grew darker and the fire crackled, we found ourselves opening up about our fears and dreams. It was a vulnerable moment, one that I had never expected to share with these two. But as they listened and offered their support, I couldn't deny the bond we still shared.