Memory After Memory

Chapter 8

He was having a hard time looking me in my eyes as he talked. "She hated that I visited you. She hated that you survived. She absolutely hated seeing us together. Every time I talked about something we all did together, she would slap me or throw at me whatever she had in her hand. I don't know what happened or why she snapped like that, but for whatever reason, she hates you with a passion."

It took me a moment to take all of this in. Now I understood their fights, the way she's been acting, the reason she's been so nice to me lately. It all comes down to being a failed attempt of murder. I didn't want to talk anymore about it so I just held him close to me. As I held him, I tried to fathom the idea of my best friend trying to kill me, but I simply couldn't believe it. I'd have to find out myself.

                                                                                      ~***~

Viney was making dinner tonight so Julian and I sat in the living room watching TV. I hugged a pillow as we watched an episode of The Office, an awkward silence between me, Julian, and Viney. As I clung to the pillow, everything Julian had said to me earlier at the lake rang in my head, piece by piece. It was all a bit much to take in. Viney, my best friend for as long as I could remember, possibly wanted me dead years ago. How could I know for sure that she doesn't want me dead anymore? On the other hand, I could only go by Julian's word. How do I know to trust it? Can I trust it? How do I even know it was Viney? This changed everything for me.

Viney came in with dinner. "You guys are awfully quiet tonight. Something wrong?"

I shook my head. "No. Nothing's wrong. Just tired, that's all."

Viney nodded and looked at Julian ."What about you?"

I looked over at him to see him just staring at her. There was no mistaking the anger boiling inside him and just ready to be released. He knew better though. At least, that's what I assumed when all he did was get up and leave. Viney and I just watched as he walked out. I got up to go with him but Viney stopped me.

"Hey. Can we talk for a minute?"

I nodded. "Sure." I sat on the couch again. "What is it?"

Viney played with her food. She didn't seem to want it, but had it. "What happened while you guys were out today? I'm sure you've noticed he's been like this since you guys got here."

The fact that she didn't use the word "home" stuck with me. "We were just talking."

"About?"

"Us."

The second she looked at me, I could see a hint of jealousy in her eyes. "What about you two?"

"In general. Why does that concern-"

"I told you he's not up for grabs a while ago, Amy." She had a sort of hostile tone when she said that. It made me flinch a little bit. "He's not yours and wasn't yours to begin with. Stop it!"

"Stop what?"

"Ruining him! That's all you ever did was ruin him!" That's what she's concerned about? Me ruining him? I thought back to what Julian said, but said nothing to her. I guess she could see the gears turning in my head because she started to smirk. "You're thinking about him, aren't you?"

"Why do you care?"

"Just curious, Amy. I mean, I did just make it clear that he's not yours so why is he still on your mind?"

"Because he's not yours either."

She froze in place for a minute, seeming to think about her next move. She set her plate down next to her and got up to stand right in front of me as I stood up. "How would you know?"

I just shrugged. "If it isn't clear to you, it screams at me that he feels nothing for you."

She crossed her arms. "He did when you weren't around. Now that you're back, he's just confused."

I shook my head. "I don't think he is."

"What are implying?"

"I'm not implying anything other than he's not yours so you have no right to say who he belongs to, Viney. So either get out of my face or do something." Again. I bit my tongue hard at that word. I wanted to say that so badly, just to put it to the test, but I knew that wouldn't do me or Julian any good, so I left that part out. She just stared me down, like she was getting ready to throw hands at me. She then backed away and grabbed her plate, throwing it and the food away as she left the house. Standing alone, I lost my appetite and decided to just go to bed. 

As I lay on my bed, everything played in my head. I wanted everything to be a lie, that what Julian said was just out of hatred for Viney. But even then, why would he accuse her of such a heinous thing? We've all known each other for years. Somehow, that got me thinking: what if this was just a facade? What if they were partners in crime?