~Anonymous~
“You’re right,” I said letting the paper slip from my hands and float down to the bedspread. “I’m even more confused than ever. I thought there would be other names in it so I could try to figure out who wrote this. Anonymous,” I said snorting with disgust.
She put her arm around my shoulder. “I told you that you might not like it.” I nodded and continued to stew in silence. “It has to be your mom since it was written by a woman and it was in your basement, right?” she asked contemplating. “Maybe you should confront your parents,”
“That’s ludicrous. And besides, I don’t know if I can do that. You know how they are. I don’t think they’d be very receptive to my accusations.”
“What about your dad? He’s pretty mellow. Maybe you could corner him while your mom is out drinking blood and stuff.” I gave her a dirty look. The thought of my mom biting someone made my teeth grind. “I’m just kidding,” she said wearily.
I shrugged off her comment and said, “I don’t know, maybe I could talk to him about it instead. It’s worth a shot. Although I doubt he’d know more than me. But since it is a locked room in our house, one of them has got to know something.”
“What do you think about the part about the brand or tattoo? Does that sound like something she has?”
I pondered on that while drumming my finger along my upper thigh. In most cases, every inch of her body was covered in fabric. There were only brief moments when she wore something revealing like a swimsuit, but even then she sported a sarong with her hair down. “I don’t think so. It could be somewhere she doesn’t show very often I guess.” The doorbell rang and I bolted up.
Zilla put a hand on my shoulder and said, “Chill out, I have a surprise for you.”
I folded the pages up and place the newly pieced together document underneath my pillow then hid the book back carefully in the bathroom. She ran to the front door and I heard voices come back up the hallway. I recognized them as soon as all four of their head’s poked in.
“Don’t look so terrified,” Alyssa said with a laugh.
“Yeah, I know Locke’s ugly, but sheesh girl,” Jett chimed in, which earned him a little shove from Locke and a sour face from Zilla.
“Tough crowd,” I replied winking at Jett. “What’s up ladies, oh, and gentlemen?” I said acknowledging Locke.
“Oh sweetie, you’re so adorable,” Jett replied batting his lashes. I smiled. His bubbly personality was infectious.
It felt good to have a little normalcy today. I watched Alyssa’s purple locks sway back and forth as she made her way to the bed. She grabbed my arm and pulled me up. “Were going out so get dressed,” she said.
“Where are we headed?” I asked excited at the prospect of doing something other than lying around in bed.
“We are going to the beach for a bonfire,” Locke said clapping his hands together in anticipation.
“A big group of kids from school are going to be there and I think you could use some fresh air,” Zilla said pulling some clothes out of the closet. She picked out a pair of dark-wash jeans, a pink tank top and matching hoodie.
“Thanks,” I said taking them reluctantly.
“Isn’t a little too cold to be playing on the beach? It’s December after all.” They all shook their heads no in unison and I sighed. “Fine, you win. Let me get dressed and we can go.”
“That’s my girl,” Jett said giving me a hand up.
As we were headed out I paused briefly next to the living room and my eyes slid to the spot where there was still blood stained into the carpet. I had managed to avoid coming down here until now so it wasn’t a surprise when I got choked up and received a giant group hug from all my friends. I felt so peaceful and loved that I couldn’t cry anymore. “Thanks guys,” I said through sniffles. “I’m ready.”
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