Note: Here's the sequel to Someone Else's Happy Ending! Hope you all enjoy it!
"Give your mother a hug." I take my twins in my arms and give them a tight squeeze.
"Mom, get off."
"Ugh." I ignore them.
"Come on, I won't see you two until Christmas holidays."
"Mom! You're gonna owl everyday anyway. The train's gonna leave." I finally let my them go and watch as they board the train. Cheyenne was smart and took off before I could hug her to death.
"They're gonna be fine, love."
"Mommy, why can't I go on the train?" I look down at my youngest, Keera.
"Cause honey, you're not old enough yet. Your time will come, don't you worry."
"Are we gonna go see Jasmine now?"
"Yes yes, we can go see her. Just in a minute, I want to see the train leave." Jasmine is Phoebe and Gabe's little girl. She and Keera were born about 2 months apart. She's their miracle baby. After trying for 5 some odd years, 4 miscarriages and 2 still births, they finally got their little girl. I feel slightly guilty because I have 4 kids and they only have 1.
As the train pulls away Ethan and Bridget wave from their compartment. I feel a pang in my chest. I'll be going from having 3 kids all year, 4 for the summer, to only 1. I look down at Keera and smile sadly. At least I get her all to myself for the next 6 years.
Draco takes my hand and squeezes it, sensing my sudden mood shift. "Mommy, let's go!" Keera pulls us back out to the train station, leading us back to the car. Draco finds this highly amusing and I just give him a look.
"Keera, honey, Jasmine will be there no matter how fast we go." The look she gives me just cracks me up and I have to keep from laughing at her. Her and Jasmine are very close. After finding out we were going to have twins Phoebe insisted we move closer to them. Draco didn't like living in a muggle town at first, but the home we bought was amazing, so it was a little easier persuading him.
The house originally had 3 bedrooms, but after learning our twins were a boy and a girl, we had another bedroom built on. And then when we found out I was pregnant with Keera, we gave Bridget Cheyenne's room and redecorated Bridget's as the nursery. Bridget and Cheyenne share a room when she's home from school for holidays, much to both their dislike.
I unlock the diver's side door and climb in, watching Keera as she buckles up. She likes to pretend she does it and then let's it go when I'm not looking. We got into a lot of trouble from the police last year for that. After I'm sure she's buckled up and Draco climbs in the passenger seat, I start up the car and edge my way into traffic.
Draco doesn't see the need to have a car at all. He hasn't even bothered to get his license. He doesn't know why we can't just floo everywhere. "Are we all buckled in?" I stare at Draco. He doesn't like to use his seat belt either, which is where I assume Keera got that habit from. It's like I live with 2 children and not a grown man. Draco puts his hand on my leg and I look down at it. Even after all this time, he still gets to me. He grins at me but doesn't move his hand.
I sigh as I change lanes, making sure I'm in the right one. It takes about an hour to get to Phoeb's. Keera sleeps most of the way. I see Jasmine playing outside in their front yard as I pull up to the driveway. She waves and calls to her mommy as I pull up behind their car. I see Phoebe in the kitchen window and wave as I turn off the car. "Wanna get her?" Draco opens the backdoor and pulls Keera out of the car. I notice her seat belt was already undone. What am I going to do with that girl?
I grab my purse and walk up to the house, opening the door for Draco. "Put her up in Jazz's room." Draco's about to take her upstairs but she wakes up.
"Are we here?" Draco sets her down.
"Yes, Jasmine's outside, go play." She gives me a hug then runs off.
"Hey guys. You're a little early."
"She spent less time watching the train leave than I thought she would." Draco moves to avoid me hitting him.
"You can thank Keera for that. She drove the kids crazy talking about seeing Jasmine after they left. She practically dragged me to the car." Phoebe laughs as she moves around the kitchen.
"Lunch is almost ready. Soon as Gabe's done fiddling with the grill. Hope hamburger's are okay." Hearing 'Gabe', 'grill' and 'hamburgers' in the same sentence, Draco takes off in the direction of the backyard. I was actually quite surprised with their friendship. Draco's not a snob, but he was definitely raised that wizards are better than muggles. I like to think I had something to do with it.
I shake my head and raid the fridge for a cold drink. "So Bell, I have some news. I don't want to get excited yet though."
"Hm, what's that."
"I'm late." I get the point immediately, she's pregnant, again.
"Oh sweetie, I'm happy for you." She nods, looking down at her belly. I really hope this works out for her. Her and Gabe have been through enough as it is. Honestly I'm surprised they keep trying. I figured once Jasmine was born they'd stop. I know I would have. As if expressing my thoughts, she says,
"I was really surprised. We said we'd stop after Jazz. She's our miracle baby and I'm perfectly happy having just her. I was so busy last month, helping plan my sister's wedding, going to Greece for two weeks. I guess I just forgot a few pills." I take a sip of the orange juice I'd found.
"Does Gabe know yet?"
"No. I don't want to get him anxious if it's only for nothing. I think I'll wait to tell him."
"Okay, well be careful." Just then our conversation is interrupted as Gabe and Draco enter the kitchen. Gabe's holding a plate full of hamburgers.
"Let's eat!"
**
"Draco, do you hear that?" I set two wine glasses down and sit beside him.
"Hear what, Bella?" I smile and take a sip.
"Silence. Isn't it wonderful?" He grins as I set my glass back down.
"Yes, yes it is." I rest my back against Draco's chest and he wraps his arms around my waist.
"I think I could get used to this." I feel him smile against my head. I thought the first night would be very lonely, but I'm actually quite enjoying it. Silence is golden. And quiet. I can't believe it's only 8 PM and it's this quiet.
"So, do you think we should take advantage of this new found silence?" I pat his arm.
"Not tonight, I don't think. Today was exhausting. Maybe tomorrow if you're lucky." He growls low in my ear. It makes me shiver.
"Oh Bella. It's been forever." I laugh while taking another sip of wine.
"It's only been a week, calm down."
"Seems like forever." I smile and look up at him. He kisses my forehead. Not too long after I fall into sleep.
12 November 2011
The Boy Next Door, Chapter 9
I spin around to see Adrian looking into my bedroom from outside. I hurry over and yank up the window to see him standing on a ladder. I give a small prayer that my bedroom faces the backyard and help him into my room. When he starts pulling the ladder up I stare at him like he's insane.
"What are you doing? There's no room for that in here." He chuckles.
"It's a slide in, folding type of ladder. Watch." I do as he says and am amazed to see that, when folded in on itself, the ladder is about a third of the height it was just seconds ago.
"Well, that's seriously cool." He props it against my dresser.
"Hang around me long enough, you'll see plenty of cool things." I snort before remembering that everyone is standing outside my door while Lyss is supposed to be showering. I walk over to my bed and shake Lyssa a little.
"I really hate to have to do this Lyssa, but you need to wake up. Come on." I shake her a little harder and she jumps, startling both Adrian and I.
"Whaazzitt?"
"Lyss, don't freak out, just listen okay?" She rolls onto her back and stares up at me like she's seeing light for the first time. I sit on the bed beside her and take her hand. "Are you listening?" She nods. "Okay, I told Bren you got into a fight last night and she called your mom." Her eyes go wide and she starts to sit up but I push her back down. "Don't worry, I haven't said anything to them."
"What's wrong then?" I glance up at Adrian.
"Well, your mom and Jake brought two cops, who are all standing outside my door right now. I told them you're taking a shower, which means you'll have to get wet again, to prove I was telling the truth." This time she sits up before I can stop her.
"They called the cops?!"
"Lyss, calm down. You're showering, remember?" She nods and starts getting out of bed. "Where are you going?"
"To shower, right?" I could smack myself in the face, but refrain and help her out of bed. She's shaking and can barely walk, so I help her to the bathroom. I look back at Adrian as he's sitting on the bed, looking around my room.
I help Lyss through a second shower and dress her in some of my long p.j's. Her bruises are worse in the short amount of time she's been here. Once I feel like she's presentable enough I unlock and open my bedroom door to see everyone in a sort of circle, talking to eachother. They all turn toward me when I open the door.
"Took you long enough Emma."
"Save it Brenda. Here she is, fresh out of the shower." I make to let go of Lyssa's arm but she clutches onto me so hard I almost yelp. I look at her face to see tears forming in her eyes, and wince at the big bruise on her cheek.
"Okay Alyssa, enough of this. Let's go." She trembles so badly that I almost say 'no she's not going anywhere' but one look at her mom's face makes me shut up. So instead I help Lyssa down the stairs and out the front door to her mom's car. I have this sudden urge to go with her, especially when I see the terrified look on her face, but I left my phone upstairs and Adrian is still in my room. Two things I cannot leave here without, so I say goodbye and go back into the house.
I'm about to head down the hallway to go upstairs when Bren mutters 'got what she deserved'. I was going to let the fact that she sold Lyss out to her parents slide, cause honestly I'm not up for a confrontation right now, but when I hear that I just can't. I spin around and stomp back down the hall into the kitchen to see Bren sitting at the table, picking up the newspaper.
"Got what she deserved, did she? Are you fucking kidding me? How old are you, 10? You have no idea what the hell you're talking about. So shut the fuck up about things you don't understand." She continues to scan the paper as if I'm not here yelling at her.
"Who's acting 10, Emmaline? As far as I can tell, you're screaming at me when I've done nothing wrong. I only -"
"You have no idea what you've done Brenda! You couldn't have left it alone and just kept your nose out of someone else's business, could you? No, you had to get involved when you don't even know what's going on. Well good on you Brenda, good on you." It infuriates me that she's still acting as if I'm not standing here, so I spin back around and practically stomp a hole through each of the stairs. When I get to my room I slam my door so hard I hear the wood crack.
I sit on my bed but I'm too mad to sit so I end up pacing instead. I'm vaguely aware that Adrian is still here, but at the moment I'm too angry to care about my behaviour. I just about scream when my phone rings. Without checking the caller ID I flick it open and ram it to my ear. "What?!"
"What are you doing? There's no room for that in here." He chuckles.
"It's a slide in, folding type of ladder. Watch." I do as he says and am amazed to see that, when folded in on itself, the ladder is about a third of the height it was just seconds ago.
"Well, that's seriously cool." He props it against my dresser.
"Hang around me long enough, you'll see plenty of cool things." I snort before remembering that everyone is standing outside my door while Lyss is supposed to be showering. I walk over to my bed and shake Lyssa a little.
"I really hate to have to do this Lyssa, but you need to wake up. Come on." I shake her a little harder and she jumps, startling both Adrian and I.
"Whaazzitt?"
"Lyss, don't freak out, just listen okay?" She rolls onto her back and stares up at me like she's seeing light for the first time. I sit on the bed beside her and take her hand. "Are you listening?" She nods. "Okay, I told Bren you got into a fight last night and she called your mom." Her eyes go wide and she starts to sit up but I push her back down. "Don't worry, I haven't said anything to them."
"What's wrong then?" I glance up at Adrian.
"Well, your mom and Jake brought two cops, who are all standing outside my door right now. I told them you're taking a shower, which means you'll have to get wet again, to prove I was telling the truth." This time she sits up before I can stop her.
"They called the cops?!"
"Lyss, calm down. You're showering, remember?" She nods and starts getting out of bed. "Where are you going?"
"To shower, right?" I could smack myself in the face, but refrain and help her out of bed. She's shaking and can barely walk, so I help her to the bathroom. I look back at Adrian as he's sitting on the bed, looking around my room.
I help Lyss through a second shower and dress her in some of my long p.j's. Her bruises are worse in the short amount of time she's been here. Once I feel like she's presentable enough I unlock and open my bedroom door to see everyone in a sort of circle, talking to eachother. They all turn toward me when I open the door.
"Took you long enough Emma."
"Save it Brenda. Here she is, fresh out of the shower." I make to let go of Lyssa's arm but she clutches onto me so hard I almost yelp. I look at her face to see tears forming in her eyes, and wince at the big bruise on her cheek.
"Okay Alyssa, enough of this. Let's go." She trembles so badly that I almost say 'no she's not going anywhere' but one look at her mom's face makes me shut up. So instead I help Lyssa down the stairs and out the front door to her mom's car. I have this sudden urge to go with her, especially when I see the terrified look on her face, but I left my phone upstairs and Adrian is still in my room. Two things I cannot leave here without, so I say goodbye and go back into the house.
I'm about to head down the hallway to go upstairs when Bren mutters 'got what she deserved'. I was going to let the fact that she sold Lyss out to her parents slide, cause honestly I'm not up for a confrontation right now, but when I hear that I just can't. I spin around and stomp back down the hall into the kitchen to see Bren sitting at the table, picking up the newspaper.
"Got what she deserved, did she? Are you fucking kidding me? How old are you, 10? You have no idea what the hell you're talking about. So shut the fuck up about things you don't understand." She continues to scan the paper as if I'm not here yelling at her.
"Who's acting 10, Emmaline? As far as I can tell, you're screaming at me when I've done nothing wrong. I only -"
"You have no idea what you've done Brenda! You couldn't have left it alone and just kept your nose out of someone else's business, could you? No, you had to get involved when you don't even know what's going on. Well good on you Brenda, good on you." It infuriates me that she's still acting as if I'm not standing here, so I spin back around and practically stomp a hole through each of the stairs. When I get to my room I slam my door so hard I hear the wood crack.
I sit on my bed but I'm too mad to sit so I end up pacing instead. I'm vaguely aware that Adrian is still here, but at the moment I'm too angry to care about my behaviour. I just about scream when my phone rings. Without checking the caller ID I flick it open and ram it to my ear. "What?!"
08 November 2011
The Boy Next Door, Chapter 8
I close my phone and smile. All things considered, hanging out with Adrian all day is going to be kind of nice. I'm still sticking with what I said about a summer fling, but if we're going to the same university, why not see where it goes?
I shut it from my mind for the moment and go back downstairs. As I'm walking down the hallway I hear a voice yelling from my dad's study. I roll my eyes as I listen to Bren rant about how ungrateful I am, how spoiled I am, blah blah blah.
Sure I may act like a bitch toward her, but I think I have every right. She was trying to lure my dad into an affair while my parents were together, and then just moved right on in after my mom left. She treats her daughter like a queen and rarely ever talks to me unless it's to belittle or criticize me in some way.
My dad tries to stick up for me, but there's only so much he can do short of kick her out. And honestly, I think he depends on her in some weird way. He tries to hide it, but I can tell he's not over my mom leaving. I still catch him staring at the phone as if it'll ring and she'll be on the other end.
I sigh, shake my head, and grab another bottle of water from the fridge. I'm about to get another fork when there's a knock at the door. Expecting it to be Adrian, I stand behind it and say 'we don't want any of what you're selling, sir!'. Mature, I know. My jaw just about drops when I hear Lyssa's mom on the other side of the door.
"Emma? Could you open the door, please?" I yank the door open to see April, Lyssa's mom, standing on the front porch with her husband and two police officers behind them.
"Uh, hi. What's going on?"
"Your step-mom called me, told me that Alyssa is here and in some kind of trouble. Only told me that you told her she got into a fight last night." My heart starts to race and I feel kind of wobbly on my feet. You have no idea what kind of trouble your daughter is in. "Can I come in please?" I'm about to tell her that Lyssa's not here when Bren comes up behind me and grabs the door.
"Don't be rude, Emma. Let them in." I stand aside and watch as Bren invites the two people I want to see least in the world right now. All I know is they cannot see Lyssa. Luckily for me I hear my cell ringing at that very moment. Relieved beyond words I sprint up the stairs and slam my door behind me, grabbing my phone and jerking it to my ear.
"Yes?"
"I was about to head over when I saw the police pull up. Something going on?"
"Adrian, I think I'm in a bit of trouble."
"What's wrong?"
"I can't tell you." I hear voices downstairs, sounding as if they're moving toward the stairs.
"If I can help you, you need to tell me what's going on." I lock my door as I hear the footsteps coming up the stairs.
"Listen, you can not repeat this to anyone. If you do I will seriously hurt you. Long story short I'm almost positive Lyss was raped last night. She walked here from wherever the guy dropped her off and is now sleeping on my bed. Brenda called her mom, who in turn showed up with the police because I told Bren Lyss got into a fight last night." There's silence on the other end of the phone and voices on the other side of my door. "I don't know what to do here Adrian."
"Hold on for like five minutes, I'll be right over." I'm about to yell that five minutes it too long when I hear the click that means he hung up. I close my phone, smack myself in the face a couple times, and jump when there's a knock at my door.
"Emma, let us in please." Thinking quick I rush into the bathroom, make sure the other door is still locked, and turn on the shower. I go back to my bedroom door and hold the knob, even though it's locked as well.
"Sorry, Lyss is showering." I hear mumbling and one pair of footsteps backing away down the hall. No doubt going to the other door to the bathroom.
"Let me in, Emma."
"It's my room and I'm not letting you in. Lyss is showering, her parents will just have to wait." More mumbling. I take a quick peek at Lyssa and sigh with relief that she's not awake to hear this. I just about jump to the moon when there's a knock at my bedroom window.
I shut it from my mind for the moment and go back downstairs. As I'm walking down the hallway I hear a voice yelling from my dad's study. I roll my eyes as I listen to Bren rant about how ungrateful I am, how spoiled I am, blah blah blah.
Sure I may act like a bitch toward her, but I think I have every right. She was trying to lure my dad into an affair while my parents were together, and then just moved right on in after my mom left. She treats her daughter like a queen and rarely ever talks to me unless it's to belittle or criticize me in some way.
My dad tries to stick up for me, but there's only so much he can do short of kick her out. And honestly, I think he depends on her in some weird way. He tries to hide it, but I can tell he's not over my mom leaving. I still catch him staring at the phone as if it'll ring and she'll be on the other end.
I sigh, shake my head, and grab another bottle of water from the fridge. I'm about to get another fork when there's a knock at the door. Expecting it to be Adrian, I stand behind it and say 'we don't want any of what you're selling, sir!'. Mature, I know. My jaw just about drops when I hear Lyssa's mom on the other side of the door.
"Emma? Could you open the door, please?" I yank the door open to see April, Lyssa's mom, standing on the front porch with her husband and two police officers behind them.
"Uh, hi. What's going on?"
"Your step-mom called me, told me that Alyssa is here and in some kind of trouble. Only told me that you told her she got into a fight last night." My heart starts to race and I feel kind of wobbly on my feet. You have no idea what kind of trouble your daughter is in. "Can I come in please?" I'm about to tell her that Lyssa's not here when Bren comes up behind me and grabs the door.
"Don't be rude, Emma. Let them in." I stand aside and watch as Bren invites the two people I want to see least in the world right now. All I know is they cannot see Lyssa. Luckily for me I hear my cell ringing at that very moment. Relieved beyond words I sprint up the stairs and slam my door behind me, grabbing my phone and jerking it to my ear.
"Yes?"
"I was about to head over when I saw the police pull up. Something going on?"
"Adrian, I think I'm in a bit of trouble."
"What's wrong?"
"I can't tell you." I hear voices downstairs, sounding as if they're moving toward the stairs.
"If I can help you, you need to tell me what's going on." I lock my door as I hear the footsteps coming up the stairs.
"Listen, you can not repeat this to anyone. If you do I will seriously hurt you. Long story short I'm almost positive Lyss was raped last night. She walked here from wherever the guy dropped her off and is now sleeping on my bed. Brenda called her mom, who in turn showed up with the police because I told Bren Lyss got into a fight last night." There's silence on the other end of the phone and voices on the other side of my door. "I don't know what to do here Adrian."
"Hold on for like five minutes, I'll be right over." I'm about to yell that five minutes it too long when I hear the click that means he hung up. I close my phone, smack myself in the face a couple times, and jump when there's a knock at my door.
"Emma, let us in please." Thinking quick I rush into the bathroom, make sure the other door is still locked, and turn on the shower. I go back to my bedroom door and hold the knob, even though it's locked as well.
"Sorry, Lyss is showering." I hear mumbling and one pair of footsteps backing away down the hall. No doubt going to the other door to the bathroom.
"Let me in, Emma."
"It's my room and I'm not letting you in. Lyss is showering, her parents will just have to wait." More mumbling. I take a quick peek at Lyssa and sigh with relief that she's not awake to hear this. I just about jump to the moon when there's a knock at my bedroom window.
Mind Over Matter, Chapter 25
Note: This is the last chapter to this series! Stay tuned for the sequel!
"What?!" I'm in such shock I accidentally say this out loud. Jackson gives me a warning glare while the other two look at me as if I have two heads. "Sorry, I was just thinking out loud. I think I'm going to.. go.. to my room." I turn sharply and stalk back to the house. I slam the door and make Arlene, the woman staying with us while Liz goes 'looking' for Will, jump about 5 feet out of her chair. She smiles and starts to say something but one look at my face shuts her up.
I stomp up the stairs and slam my bedroom door behind me, breathing heavily due to my anger. I sit on the bed and take deep breaths until I calm down enough to think. Jackson said they're going to wait a month, but who knows if they really will? Maybe they'll only wait a week or two. I can't stick around that long. None of us can.
Jackson is quiet during my mental tirade, until I start trying to plan our getaway.
I've already thought of that.
Wha- Of course you have. What did you come up with?
Easy enough, we go at night when Liz and Geoffrey are sleeping.
How do we get away from the building? We don't have a car and the nearest town is miles away.
I'll get Geoffreys' keys tonight after he's back with Liz.
I start to nod, then stop.
Wait, tonight? You want to do this tonight?
We've already decided, why wait?
Yeah, we have decided. Zee and Tessa haven't decided anything.
So that's their problem. If they want to stay then let them. I'm not risking your safety for them.
I shake my head and pull myself away from Jackson. He does have a point. Why wait when we can get out now? If we wait too long, they might decide to go ahead with their plans. But tonight seems too soon, especially since Christmas is only two days away. I sigh and lay back against my pillow and close my eyes. My plan was to just lay here for a minute or two, but I end up falling asleep.
**
I'm woken up by a knock at my door. "Gemma?" I sit up groggily.
"Yeah?"
"Lunch is ready, are you coming down?" I yawn and stretch my arms.
"Yeah, I'll be down in a minute." I get out of bed and walk over to the door, opening it and bumping into Zee. "Sorry, hey." His arms go around my back and I rest my head on his chest. It would be so easy with Zee. I know he feels that way, and I feel bad that I can't return it. I feel pangs of jealousy from Jackson, as much as he's trying to hide it. I let Zee go and look up at him. "Care to escort a lady to lunch?" He smiles and holds out his arm. I take it and we head down to the kitchen.
Tessa and Jackson are already eating lunch, egg salad sandwiches and baby carrots today. I sit across from Jackson, Zee sits on my left.
How are we going to talk about this without Arlene getting suspicious?
Can you connect with more than one mind at a time?
I don't know, I've never tried. Can you?
Mine works differently, you know that. Try connecting with Zee.
I glance over at Zee and tap my forehead, my special signal to tell him I want in his head. We think of the word, hippo, and I'm in. I look over at Tessa, who's reading as well as eating.
How do I get her in without letting Arlene know?
I'll take care of that.
Jackson?! What is he doing in your head? And why can I hear him?
I sigh. This isn't going to be easy.
We need to plan without letting Arlene know we're up to anything. He had the idea of me connecting everyone so we don't have to talk out loud.
I watch as Jackson gets up and goes to the counter. He grabs a pen and paper, writes for a few seconds, and then folds the paper.
"Hey Tessa?" She startles and look at Jackson. I almost laugh at the expression on her face. "Can I see your book for a second?" She gives him a confused look but hands him the book. He pretends to read it for a second, while slipping the paper in to mark her page, and then hands it back to her. She takes it and goes to the page, looking at me. I mouth 'common room' and point with my thumb out the kitchen door then glance at Arlene. She's oblivious to what's going on.
Come on, let's go to the common room. We'll put a movie in and pretend to watch it while we plan.
Plan what? What are we doing?
I'll explain in a few minutes, once I connect with Tessa.
"Arlene? We're going to go watch a movie, okay?" She nods.
"You're all done lunch?" I look down at the sandwich I've taken one bite of.
"I'm not that hungry today."
"Well okay, but remember you've got chores to do today, too." We all get up and head to the common room, Tessa reading Jackson's instructions on the way. Zee picks a movie and sets it up while I sit on the couch, Jackson beside me. Tessa sits on the chair, leaving Zee to sit beside Jackson.
"Okay, I'm ready Gemma."
What word am I thinking of?
Hippo, I thought I'd keep it simple so no one forgets it.
I nod at Tessa, and we both think of the word, and to my surprise, I'm in her head.
Okay, here's what's going to happen.
"What?!" I'm in such shock I accidentally say this out loud. Jackson gives me a warning glare while the other two look at me as if I have two heads. "Sorry, I was just thinking out loud. I think I'm going to.. go.. to my room." I turn sharply and stalk back to the house. I slam the door and make Arlene, the woman staying with us while Liz goes 'looking' for Will, jump about 5 feet out of her chair. She smiles and starts to say something but one look at my face shuts her up.
I stomp up the stairs and slam my bedroom door behind me, breathing heavily due to my anger. I sit on the bed and take deep breaths until I calm down enough to think. Jackson said they're going to wait a month, but who knows if they really will? Maybe they'll only wait a week or two. I can't stick around that long. None of us can.
Jackson is quiet during my mental tirade, until I start trying to plan our getaway.
I've already thought of that.
Wha- Of course you have. What did you come up with?
Easy enough, we go at night when Liz and Geoffrey are sleeping.
How do we get away from the building? We don't have a car and the nearest town is miles away.
I'll get Geoffreys' keys tonight after he's back with Liz.
I start to nod, then stop.
Wait, tonight? You want to do this tonight?
We've already decided, why wait?
Yeah, we have decided. Zee and Tessa haven't decided anything.
So that's their problem. If they want to stay then let them. I'm not risking your safety for them.
I shake my head and pull myself away from Jackson. He does have a point. Why wait when we can get out now? If we wait too long, they might decide to go ahead with their plans. But tonight seems too soon, especially since Christmas is only two days away. I sigh and lay back against my pillow and close my eyes. My plan was to just lay here for a minute or two, but I end up falling asleep.
**
I'm woken up by a knock at my door. "Gemma?" I sit up groggily.
"Yeah?"
"Lunch is ready, are you coming down?" I yawn and stretch my arms.
"Yeah, I'll be down in a minute." I get out of bed and walk over to the door, opening it and bumping into Zee. "Sorry, hey." His arms go around my back and I rest my head on his chest. It would be so easy with Zee. I know he feels that way, and I feel bad that I can't return it. I feel pangs of jealousy from Jackson, as much as he's trying to hide it. I let Zee go and look up at him. "Care to escort a lady to lunch?" He smiles and holds out his arm. I take it and we head down to the kitchen.
Tessa and Jackson are already eating lunch, egg salad sandwiches and baby carrots today. I sit across from Jackson, Zee sits on my left.
How are we going to talk about this without Arlene getting suspicious?
Can you connect with more than one mind at a time?
I don't know, I've never tried. Can you?
Mine works differently, you know that. Try connecting with Zee.
I glance over at Zee and tap my forehead, my special signal to tell him I want in his head. We think of the word, hippo, and I'm in. I look over at Tessa, who's reading as well as eating.
How do I get her in without letting Arlene know?
I'll take care of that.
Jackson?! What is he doing in your head? And why can I hear him?
I sigh. This isn't going to be easy.
We need to plan without letting Arlene know we're up to anything. He had the idea of me connecting everyone so we don't have to talk out loud.
I watch as Jackson gets up and goes to the counter. He grabs a pen and paper, writes for a few seconds, and then folds the paper.
"Hey Tessa?" She startles and look at Jackson. I almost laugh at the expression on her face. "Can I see your book for a second?" She gives him a confused look but hands him the book. He pretends to read it for a second, while slipping the paper in to mark her page, and then hands it back to her. She takes it and goes to the page, looking at me. I mouth 'common room' and point with my thumb out the kitchen door then glance at Arlene. She's oblivious to what's going on.
Come on, let's go to the common room. We'll put a movie in and pretend to watch it while we plan.
Plan what? What are we doing?
I'll explain in a few minutes, once I connect with Tessa.
"Arlene? We're going to go watch a movie, okay?" She nods.
"You're all done lunch?" I look down at the sandwich I've taken one bite of.
"I'm not that hungry today."
"Well okay, but remember you've got chores to do today, too." We all get up and head to the common room, Tessa reading Jackson's instructions on the way. Zee picks a movie and sets it up while I sit on the couch, Jackson beside me. Tessa sits on the chair, leaving Zee to sit beside Jackson.
"Okay, I'm ready Gemma."
What word am I thinking of?
Hippo, I thought I'd keep it simple so no one forgets it.
I nod at Tessa, and we both think of the word, and to my surprise, I'm in her head.
Okay, here's what's going to happen.
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