|| The House ||
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Reagan had spent her whole Saturday morning researching everything she could about Heather Barnes, she couldn't sleep she was tossing and turning all night thinking of Zachary haunting words.
"Heather didn't die what Emery did to her was far worse"
If her mother was responsible for doing Something horrible to Heather —she needed to find her to know what happened the day of the fire she just needed answers.
Groaning she closed her laptop shut at another dead end, she couldn't find any listing to where Heather might be, and she could feel a headache coming on. Glancing at the clock she saw it was already passed three p.m . her eyes widen at that she didn't think she was sitting at her desk for over five hours, standing up she was a bit stiff as she began stretching out her limbs. Looking out the window saw what a nice day it was.
'A walk might be a good idea right about now ' she thought to herself. after getting dressed she heads down to the kitchen heading Stright for the pantry grabbing a strawberry Poptart. she quickly devoured it hoping it would satisfy her stomach for a while. Before walking over to the fridge where her grandmother had a whiteboard connected to it, quickly writing down that she went for a walk before heading out through the back door and into the woods It didn't take long for her to stumble on a trail as she began walking it. Taking in a deep breath of fresh air, she found herself surrounded by a sense of peace. The rustling of the Fall leaves and chirping of birds filled the air, something she had never experienced before living in the city or small towns, they never lived near a wooded area like this before. She couldn't help but wonder if her mother chose to because it reminded her of home.
As she strolled along the path, she couldn't help but dwell on her mother's actions. She had always known her mother to be kind and selfless, always willing to lend a helping hand. It was hard to believe that she could have ever done anything terrible, let alone to someone she considered a friend. But then again, she did hide a whole life from her
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She came to an abrupt halt, startled by an unexpected sound of crunching leaves. Scanning her surroundings, she found nothing that could have caused the noise. "Anyone there?" she called out, wishing she had brought some kind of defense in case there happened to be a mountain lion nearby.
As she heard crunching leaves once again, she decided to venture deeper into the woods, away from the trail. As she got closer, her eyes scanned her surroundings until they finally caught sight of a little girl hiding behind a tree a few feet away. "weird" she thought, she walked towards the girl, looking around to see if anyone else was around but saw no one in sight.
"Hey there, are you lost? Can I help you?" she asked the young girl, who turned around suddenly with wide eyes.
"Don't he'll find me," the child replied in a low whisper.
Before she could ask who 'he' was, a familiar voice interrupted, "Gotcha!" as She turned around, she was surprised to see Derek, who stared at her in disbelief.
"That's not fair she helped you " the young girl whined behind Reagan, walking over to her brother side who she saw was still looking at the unknown girl.
"R-Reagan, what are you doing out here?" Derek questioned in surprised.
"Oooooh! Reagan," the little girl's eyes sparkled as she teased Derek with a knowing smile. Derek glares down at her before his eyes shifted back up to Reagan.
"Just thought I take a walk."
Derek nods
Reagan quirked an eyebrow " what are you doing out here?"
Derek eyes shifted to beside him " me and my little sister Cora were Uh —Uh—playing hide and seek" he replies in embarrassment, Reagan couldn't help but smile at that. her eyes dropped to the small girl who was already staring up at her with an adorable toothy grin.
" you're the one who made the brownies " Cora grinned excitedly "and you don't even smell" Reagan couldn't help but to snort at the weird compliment but she'll take it " can she play with us? "She asked looking up at her brother who was already staring down at his little sister wide-eyed before looking back up at Reagan
"Oh I—I don't —"
"I'd love to "Reagan quickly replied interrupting him, she didn't have anything better to do so why not, Cora cheered excitedly grabbing a hold of her hand as she began dragging her away, Reagan was caught off guard at how strong she was for a little girl she had to keep up trying not to fall over any fallen branches as she was being pulled deeper into the woods.
" Count to 100 and no cheating " Cora called out to her brother; Reagan looked over her shoulder to see Derek staring after them mouthing a sorry to Reagan
" I can't hear you !!!"Cora yelled out causing Reagan to laugh at how bossy she was.
Rolling his eyes Derek turned around "1..2..3..4"
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Cora was perched on her brother back while Reagan walked beside them. —After a few games of hide and seek and a walk along the creek —the three began making their way to the Hale house for some much-needed food —the sun had just started to set setting an orange glow amongst them
" I can't believe you never played hide and seek before " Cora exclaims in shock —she was most definitely the talkative one out of the Hales that she had met " you can play with us whenever you want but you have to make us more brownies."
Reagan chuckled at that as she stared over at her with her hand out.
"deal" She agreed as they shook on it.
Reagan caught Derek staring at her, Paige voice playing in her head.
"He likes you if it isn't obvious."
she bit the inside of her cheek fighting back a smile looking to the ground not wanting to trip over anything as she hides her Scarlett tinted cheeks with her hair.
" So why do you guys play hide and seek in the woods? " Reagan asked the Hale's, she thought it was odd someone could get lost in these woods especially for a little kid.
"Where else would we play it? "Cora questioned in a confusion.
"Don't people usually play it in a house?"
Cora shook her head as if it was the most ridiculous thing she ever heard " that would be too easy " she chuckled Reagan quirked a brow at that.
"And what about Laura—She doesn't like playing?"
" She used to, but she got boring once she started kissing girls"
"Cora! "Derek huffed out.
Cora jumped off her brother back, when she spotted the house "What" she shot back looking over at her brother who was giving her a look " it's true" she shrugs innocently before walking ahead of the two.
" I'm sorry about her " Derek apologize rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.
Reagan was about to reply but was caught off guard about what she was seeing.
" You live in the actual woods" Reagan breathed out in awe as she looked upon the beautiful built house that sat in the middle of the clearing. Tall trees surrounding it, it had too many windows to count and had to have at least 10 bedrooms inside the two-story mansion.
Derek couldn't resist smiling as he saw the awe look on her face. He started moving towards his house, but when he looked back, he noticed that Reagan was still standing in the same position, her stunning blue eyes fixed on the house.
A small chuckle left his lips" you coming."
Reagan face broken into a grin as she quickly followed.
Once she made it to his side, they began making their way towards the Hale house side by side.
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"Thanks" she said as he handed her a glass of lemonade. She was standing in one of the Livingroom's because of course they had two, admiring the old family photos that adorned the walls and shelves in the room. After devouring their delicious turkey sandwiches Derek made them, Cora had gone to her room leaving the two alone. Reagan was amazed by house beautiful the house was. The interior of the house was just as stunning as the exterior, with elegant dark woods and pops of vibrant red imparting an elegant touch. Everywhere she looked, there were antique items and old photographs, she couldn't help but feel both amazed and a little scared, not wanting to damage anything that looked incredibly expensive. She never seen anything more Extraordinary—you could tell how much love went into this home throughout the years. walking over towards the fireplace where she noticed newer photos were placed on the mantle. they were many, one of the three hale children that she figured was taken very recently just outside of the home another with a group of over 10 people around a dining table outside enjoying their family meal all had big grins on their face some with laughter
she quickly spotted Derek beside a blonde hair man who looked to be in his early 20's. must be his uncle Peter she thought remembering Derek talking about him. as she went further down, she couldn't help but to smile.
" Is that you" Reagan giggled as she pointed to the photo of what looked to be a kid version of Derek covered in mud along with a girl who she guessed was Laura, as the two had two big grins on their face. Derek who had been watching her looking around the house, eyes widen remembering what photo she was talking about and quickly stood in front of the photo blocking her view "Okay I think that's enough sightseeing for one day."
Reagan shook her head as she looked up at him from the height difference between them which wasn't much " you shouldn't be embarrassed, I wish I had photos of me— but they all burned in the fire." she spoke sadly" Me and my mom used to take a photo in front of every Welcome sign we've come across we had to have over 80 photos from all over—my mom even made a collage out of them that we would hang in every house we lived in "Reagan smiled fondly at the memory " I wished I had at least one of those" she admitted, feeling her eyes begin to water at the thought of her mother, she looked down trying to hold them back not wanting to cry in front of him" sorry" she apologized feeling embarrassed
Derek frowned at the amount of pain she had gone through. The world seemed to be against her —And yet she still manages to have that beautiful smile on her face every time he saw her. it made his stomach do flips every time she just looked at him. He didn't understand how he could feel so deeply about someone he barely knew it didn't make no sense. She was all that clouded his mind, from the moment he first laid eyes on her when she drove into town.
He wondered if she felt the same.
Derek caught himself staring and quickly shook it off "So how was the dance "Derek asked hoping to change the subject, he didn't want to see her upset — he made his way over to a couch nearby, which she followed as the two sat Facing one another on the leather loveseat.
Reagan mind began flashing to Zachary Larson and the knife to her throat where she still had a small mark from when the knife was pressed into her skin "Wasn't as great as everyone made it out to be" she gave him a tight lip smile before taking a sip of her drink.
"That bad huh" Derek snorted. He couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.
"Wasn't all that bad—I saw Paige she looked great we talked for a little."
Derek couldn't help but to panic at that, if he knows Paige like he does then she definitely talked about him "what did she say about me?"
"your smile that his favorite" Reagan thought as she quickly averted her eyes taking a much-needed sip of her lemonade.
"Im going to kill her"Derek thought
Regan noticed his panic expression "nothing Embarrassing, promise —"she assures " you're lucky to have a friend like her, I can tell how much she cares about you—how long have you guys known each other?"
Derek couldn't help but to let out a little snort at how him and Paige met " we've known each other since first grade I guess but we didn't ever talk, it wasn't until freshman year actually — I made the basketball team and me and some of the guys were goofing off in the hall — when Paige stormed out of the band room she was so angry, she grabbed the basketball we were playing with and kicked it down the hall — not before telling us to go fuck ourselves "Reagan couldn't help but to laugh at that as Derek joined her " for then on I bugged her even more at first It was a joke and I just wanted to get under her skin but as the school year went on —I actually liked spending time with her —there's no bullshitting when it comes to Paige"
Reagan, wish she had someone like that.
Derek shifted in his seat as his eyes fell to his cup "she hasn't had the easiest life, she had leukemia when she was 8 and has been in and out of hospitals for years — it came back the summer of sophomore year, but she beat it of course—but it was tough seeing her like that. "He voiced sadly.
Reagan mind immediately went to Paige almost fainting and the panic in her voice.
"Don't tell Derek."
Reagan scooted closer grabbing a hold of his hand for comfort which he gladly accepted as his eyes looked up to Her's— wondering if she felt what he felt when their hands touched—
Her eyes met his as if answer his question that she did, it was as if the air around got lighter.he could feel something within him call out to her . Reagan couldn't take her eyes away from Derek Green eyes feeling a warmth spread through out her. She wonder why she only felt this warm feeling whenever they touched and nobody else.
"What on earth is she doing here!?" a voice exclaimed harshly, causing Reagan to abruptly retract her hand , feeling the warmth that surrounded them leave —while they both turned to face the source. Laura loomed at the doorway, arms folded tightly across her chest, her gaze fixed on the two with a quizzical brow raised high.
Derek was annoyed and chewed on his bottom lip. "None of your business, Laura," he snapped, glaring at his older sister. Laura wasn't taking any of it, though. "You know how Mom feels about unexpected guests," she shot back, looking at Derek with a knowing expression.
Reagan didn't want Derek to get in trouble, and she didn't want to get on Laura bad side. So, she decided to make a hasty exit. "Actually, I should probably head home. It's getting late. Thanks for the sandwich and the lemonade," she said, standing up. Derek quickly followed suit and took the cup from her that she handed him "Uh—tell Cora I said bye " she said flashing him a thankful smile before passing by Laura. She smiled at her, but it wasn't returned. Oh well, she thought to herself as she walked out the door. At least I tried.
" Nice Laura" Derek hissed out at his sister walking towards her he shoved the 2 cups into her arms grabbing his car keys before following after Reagan.
" Reagan wait up" Derek called out catching up to her "I'll give you a ride."
" I'm fine really. "She assured not wanting to bother him longer than she already had
" Do you even know where to go, it's dark out, I'll take you home " He offers holding up his car keys.
He was right the sun had already set and it was dark out she couldn't see more then 2 feet from where she was standing, and she had no idea where she was or which way to go "okay." she gave in
Derek nodded as he made his way to the side of the house.
Reagan followed, spotting the black car—she wasn't much into cars, but she didn't have to be to know this car was nice.
Opening the passenger door, she sat herself down putting on her seat belt just as Derek turned on the Ignition.
" So, where too"
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The two fell in comfortable silence as the car speaker hummed with Blink 182 in the background. Derek broke the quiet, stealing a glance at Reagan. "So why were you really in the woods " Derek asked over the music Stealing a glance at her.
"I was looking through my mom things and found a photo of her with some girl name Heather Barnes they seemed to be very close, I tried to track her down but it's like she fell off the face of the earth."
Derek could tell how much this bothered her, "did you try looking for her family?"
" Her father died a couple years ago and her mother long before that?"
" And no siblings?"
This caught Reagan attention, how stupid could she be for not searching for siblings, just because she didn't have any didn't mean everyone else did, as she looked over at Derek, she couldn't help but to grin at him.
" You're welcome" was all he said parking in front of her grandmother's house.
That was fast she thought as her eyes looked up at the familiar house, before looking back over at him " Well thanks for the ride and the day I really needed that and Cora "she giggled thinking of the talkative little girl that said everything that was on her mind she had to have asked her over 100 questions —which Reagan was more than happy to answer.
"Sorry about her —I know she can be a lot."
she shook her head "Are you kidding —she great I always wanted to have a sibling —you can see how much she looks up too you Its quite adorable actually"?
Just then Reagan noticed the porch lights flashing, she looked back over to Derek "I better go, my grandma waiting—I'll uh see you at school and thanks again for the ride" she began unbuckling herself opening the door.
"Night—Reagan" he quickly said—she sent him one last look sayings a quick goodnight before closing the door and making her way up to the house.
Derek waited until she made it safely inside before slumping back into his seat with a huge grin on his face before driving off.