Dedicating this to Sweetpeas because she inspires me to write.
Chapter 7
Goodbyes
Andrew’s P.O.V
This is like quicksand. Struggling to get out of it won’t get me anywhere.
Plus, I don’t see why I have to be the one to get into these troubles.
Maybe because you were the one to volunteer.
A voice in my head nagged at me. It’s just too much to handle.
Before I start getting lost in my thoughts again, I decide to take a quick shower and meet Scarlett. Maybe her company would help me clear my head.
But wait... maybe that is not possible.
What will I tell her when she asks me about that little incident?
I still do get ready and grab my phone. That’s when a small Piece of paper catches my eye.
I quickly unfold it and read it.
Meet me at ‘THAT SECRET PLACE’. Don’t keep me waiting.
-Scarlett.
Oh okay so I guess I am not off the hook. I still have to face her. I can’t just delay the Inevitable.
I casually walk to the secret door and slip in after checking if anyone followed me or saw me.
I see her sitting on a bean bag fiddling with her phone.
“What up?” I ask and then mentally cringing at that. What up? Seriously?
“Let’s cut the crap and now you tell me what really is going on.”
Oh shit… what am I going to say? The truth might be too dangerous.
“Uh- erm… scar, let’s just say I can’t tell you.”
“Can’t tell me? Pfft..! you know I can keep a secret! I really wanna know! I am CURIOUS!”
“Ever heard of something called ‘curiosity killed the cat?”
“No I don’t really care. Just tell me!”
I let out a sigh. I guess giving a Hint won’t harm anyone.
“Erm… Tyler and I have gotten into some trouble and now some bad guys are after us.” I say this waiting for some reaction but all I see is poker face.
“So you are telling me that you and Tyler are in some trouble and you are being chased by some bad guys? Seriously? How bad could they be?”
She is not buying what I said. I can’t really give the whole secret away!
“Yes, they are bad, bad enough to slaughter anyone like a pig.” She gasps when I say this. Well, this is the truth. Last month, a girl faced the same punishment because she denied giving pleasures to the boss. I inwardly cringe when I remember that scene.
“Look, there is not much to say over here. All I can say is we have been running away from them for a while and they are bad. I wish I could tell you what it is but that will be very dangerous. I don’t want to drag you in this situation.” I say this with firmness in my voice and exit the room before she can say anything else.
After this awkward conversation, Tyler and I go to Olivia.
“Hey Olivia, Got something today?” Tyler asks smiling like an idiot.
“No but I hope to get it soon. That Brandon has been a jerk lately. I swear if he is late again, I will break his neck.”
“Chill babe, we got something for us. It’s a bonus this time.” Tyler says this while he looks for it in his pocket.
“A Bonus sounds good.” Olivia smirks.
Tyler pulls a brown cover out of his coat pocket.
“That is some real shit!” Olivia exclaims while her eyes almost pop out. “How did ya manage to get this weed?”
“Hush…! This is not my home. Keep it down!” I exclaim when she shrieks the word ‘Weed’ so loud, I swear if she doesn’t keep it down we would end up in jail.
“Opps..!!” she apologizes and reaches for the brown cover.
“Hmm… this is very good.” She sniffs the weed. “How did you get it?”
Tyler and I look at each other for a second. I know what he is thinking. Should we tell Olivia?
I just nod.
“Liv, we stole it.”
“You stole it? Are you out of your mind?”
“Yes, I mean No! I’m not crazy!”tyler says defending himself.
“Well you are… whom did you steal it from?”
“Radley.” Tyler looks down at his feet when he says Radley’s name.
“Oh my god! You are in so much trouble. If he finds out that you stole his stuff, he is going to shoot you. What were you thinking?”
I have to stop this before Tyler starts arguing.
“Look, we did what we had to. We will be giving this to Stan tomorrow. No one will know what happened and this will be behind us.” I say with a firm voice.
“Look, I just don’t get it. Why do you get yourself into trouble? And that sister of yours, what is her name? Scarlett I guess. What about her? Did you not bring her here so that she can stay safe?”
Liv keeps on firing questions and statements at Tyler and me and all we can do is shut up and listen to her. We both know she has a point but we do what we have to.
After an hour or so we drop Liv at her place and go back to the manor to check on Scar.
**Scarlett’s P.O.V**
Andrew just walked out. Just walked out like he doesn’t really want to tell me anything.
He could be feeding me bullshit or he might be saying the truth.
I don’t know!!!
I guess I need to stop thinking coz this is not taking me anywhere. I will be patient and wait for them to tell me when they want to.
I get a book from the library and sit there on the couch trying to distract myself.
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“Scar, wake up.” A gentle voice murmurs to me.
“scarlett, wakeup.” This time I feel someone’s hand caress my cheek and I flutter my eyes open.
“This is not my room.” I say suddenly sitting up.
“That is because it is my room.” Andrew chuckles at my stupid statement.
“You fell asleep on the couch in the library” he continues, “and mother asked me to take you to your room but your room was being cleaned so I brought you here so you could sleep.”
“Oh thankyou, I think I was really tired.” I stand up and put my feet into my shoes.”
Oh wait!!! I am not wearing my shoes and there was a blanket covering me. That means Andrew carried me all the way from library to his room, removed my shoes and covered me with a blanket. That is sweet. I blush at the thought of him being all sweet.
Was he in the room all the time?
Oh god! Did I say something in my sleep? I just hope I didn’t say anything stupid.
“By the way you missed your lunch. Are you hungry?” Andrew asks while checking his phone.
“Yes, I am. What is the time?”
“It is quarter past 2.” Andrew replies while typing a message.
He looks up and smiles.
“Let’s go.” He says and drags me along with him.
“Where are we going Andrew?” I ask while I straighten my hair. It looks like I just woke up. That is true anyways.
“We are going out to eat something good.”
“Oh ok”
I let him take me to his car and we drive to the town.
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The place looks quite decent. It’s just outside the town.
Andrew orders for us and then there is a moment of awkward silence when the waiter leaves.
I know what he is thinking. The same thing as I am.
We haven’t yet gotten the morning incident past us.
“you will be leaving tonight.” Andrew said while looking for a reaction.
Sure as hell he got one. A frown marred my face.
I do want to go but I don’t want to go. I miss my friends but I really like getting away from my usual life. I have to admit, I like this lazy schedule that I follow everyday and this is just not monotonous as my usual weeks. At least someone is there for me. Andrew’s mother is just too sweet and Andrew takes care of me. Like asking me if I need something or taking me out for lunch and dinner. At home, I could stay hungry for all week and no one would care. Even if I went missing, they won’t know until a week or two.
“What are you thinking?”
“Just that I will have to stay alone in that house while Tyler screams his head off at the phone while mom and dad fly across the globe on vacations and business trips.”
“Oh, so you stay alone at home?”
“Yes, usually, yes. Mom is home sometimes and Tyler stays home these days but when he does, he is usually on the phone or with some of his friends.” I say making a bored face.
“Oh that is… sad.” Andrew says looking down.
“Yes it is but I can’t help it.” I say with a distant look on my face.
We talk the whole time about random things and then we head home.