Chapter 23: I've got a secret

Kimora's POV

I didn't hear a word Ms.Clementine was saying in US History. All I could think about was that body we'd found.

Twice I'd seen dead bodies and as far as I was concerned that was twice too many. How had he died? Starvation? Sickness? Had he been killed? It felt like I could still smell him rotting and I couldn't get the image of his decaying body out of my head.

"Reese," I whined during passing period. "Do you have a joint?"

"Nah my stash is at Marcus's."

"Ugh. I can't stop thinking about Saturday. Has there been any news about it?"

"Nope. He was homeless, I doubt the public would really care."

"I think I'm going crazy."

"Just forget about it ok?"

"Easier said than done," I muttered. I really wish I could talk to Cheyenne but we weren't friends anymore.

I missed her.

I wanted to know what was going on in her life. How was her relationship with Sebastian going? What had she wanted to tell me so badly that day?

I should've listened.

I was counting down the days until homecoming and the weeks until winter break. Hopefully by then I'd forget all about that horrible night.

I was at my locker after school putting my books away when someone approached me.

"It's Kimora isn't it?"

I looked to see who the voice belonged too. It was Josh Green, Krystal's boyfriend. Why in the world was he talking to me?

"Umm yeah it's Kimora," I shut my locker. "Can I help you?"

"You're friends with Reese right?"

Ahhhh. I see where this was going.

"Listen, I'm just as clueless as you are about their friendship or whatever. Believe me, I wish I knew more but he refuses to tell me anything. And Krystal and I aren't exactly friends so it's not like I can ask her."

"Oh," he looked down. "Well thanks anyway. I just have this feeling in my gut that there's more to the story than what she's telling me."

"Same. I mean Reese friends with Krystal? Nuh uh, I don't believe it. He didn't even bother to tell me about it! I practically had to pry the info from his lips."

"They're hiding something," he concluded. "And I'm almost afraid to find out what."

"Well good luck finding out," I patted his shoulders then walked off. Now that he'd mentioned it I couldn't stop thinking about it. I wanted to know more dammit.

Sadly Reese was more closed off than a clamshell. Sometimes it was impossible to figure out how he was really feeling or what he was thinking.

"I should just forget about it," I spoke to myself. "And focus on homecoming instead."

I called up Alicia.

"Hey," she said over the line. "What's up?"

"How do you feel about a little
shopping?"

"Shopping? Count me in."

Sebastian's POV

"A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep
In dreams you lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep."

"Why must you always force me to watch these atrocities with you?" I complained as Haley sang along with Cinderella. She ignored me and kept singing. I groaned, feeling like banging my head against the wall. Just then my phone beeped with a text.

Charles: some of the guys and I are meeting at the park to scrimmage. Wanna come?

Me: anything to get me out of here. I'll be there in ten

"Gotta go Hales, duty calls!" I laced up my sneakers and grabbed my keys.

"But the movies just started!" She exclaimed.

"Yeah but I should really keep practicing for football next year."

"Fine," she grumbled and I dashed out the door. I debated on taking my car but the park was within reasonable walking distance.

"Yo yo yo wassup," Benjamin greeted me. "Was happening?"

"Please stop," I replied. "For all our sakes."

"Game time!" Jacob tossed the football up. "Sebastian's on my team."

We split up and took our positions out on the open field.

"Hey where's Josh?" I asked noticing for the first time he wasn't here.

"He's gone all Sherlock Holmes on us and is investigating Krystal and Reese's relationship," Charles filled me in.

"Poor guy," Jacob shook his head. "He's so whipped it's not even funny. If you don't feel secure when your girlfriend is pregnant with your child then something is seriously wrong with you."

"But aren't you guys just a little curious?" Benjamin questioned.

Now I was starting to get annoyed. "Not really. I could hardly care about Krystal. Are we gonna play or not?"

"You're right Benj. I say we all vanquish that hoe for good and release our friend from her evil clutches!" Charles pumped his fist in the air. I stared at them dumbfounded.

"How do we get her to spill?" Jacob asked.

"Let's drug her," Benjamin suggested.

"No! No one is drugging anybody. Have you guys lost it?" I couldn't believe the guys were actually going to go through with this.

"You're right. We need someone from the inside," Charles mused. They all looked at me.

"I hate to break it to you but I'm not friends with Krystal."

"You're not," Charles started. "But your girlfriend is."

I laughed. "I don't know how well you guys know Cheyenne but if you ask her she'll laugh right in your faces and tell you hell no."

"That's why you're going to ask her for us."

"I'll pass thanks."

"Oh come on! Aren't you tired of seeing Josh being lead around?"

"I am. But I also think this is stupid. This is probably what Krystal wants! She thrives off attention!"

"But-" Benjamin started to protest. I held up my hand.

"You guys do what you want but leave me out of it. I'd rather watch Cinderella with Haley at this point."

I waved and left them to discuss their ridiculous plans.

Krystal's POV

I finish my fishtail braid and admire myself in the mirror. I look good for a bloated, pregnant, seventeen year old.

My room door opens and I frown. "It's called knocking," I snap at the intruder.

"Sometime I wonder if you have multiple personalities."

"Oh hey Cheyenne," I swivel around in my chair. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here for you to continue the ever popular story about how you and Reese became friends. Everyone's wondering you know."

"Why is my being friends with him such a big deal? Kimora is his friend and nobody bats an eyelash!"

"It's because you're Krystal Parker, that's why. And Krystal would never hang out with anybody who has a lower rank than her."

"I hang out with you."

"Don't push me."

I scoff and roll my eyes. She flops down on my bed.

"So continue."

"Fine," I think back to after that horrible day at the slushy stand...

"Mom I'm going shopping with Rosie!"

"Ok have fun and make sure to put on sunscreen. You know how easily you burn." She intercepts me in the foyer and hands me a bottle. I quickly lather it on then I'm out the door.

Usually someone drives me but today I take my hot pink convertible with the words Krystal printed on the back plate and adjourned with shiny gems. I pull up to Rosie's house and honk twice.

She comes scurrying out the door in a outfit similar to mine that consists of a fringe crop top and high waisted shorts with Juicy flip flops.

"Hey," she greets sliding into the passenger seat.

"Rosie how many times have I told you that those sunglasses are a nope?!" I snatch the frames off her face.

"But-"

"Ah ah ah I don't wanna hear it. We'll get you a new pair at the mall."

She nods like a bobble head and I shift into drive before speeding off. We arrive in less than ten minutes and start hitting the stores.

"Look, aren't these shawls so cute!" Rosie exclaims holding up the colorful pieces of fabric.

"They are a must have."

We pay for them and decide to stop at the food court, our arms ladled with shopping bags.

"I think I'll order the Caesar salad with chicken strips and a kiwi mango smoothie." I scanned the items on the menu.

"OMG look hottie at 3'clcok!" Rosie squeals.

"Who?" I asked deciding over my choices.

"It's Reese Mendez!"

I whipped around and there he was in a pink dolphin tank top and black khakis. His hair was messily pulled back with a bandanna.

"Look he's staring at us!" She actually clapped with excitement and I resisted the urge to smack my forehead.

To my horror he started to approach.

"Hey Krystal. Hey..." He trailed off.

"Rosie," she supplied.

"Right, Rosie." His gaze returned to mine. "Make sure nobody cuts you in line this time. I would hate to see you lay the smack down on another poor soul."

"Shut up loser," I hissed turning my back to him. He stayed rooted in place. When I glanced back to glare at him I found he was already looking me over and my neck prickled.

"Say, how would you girls like to take a trip to the beach? Me and my buddies are meeting there and you're dressed for the occasion."

"A trip to the beach sounds like fun!" Rosie agreed. I scowled at her.

"No thanks, we have plans," I said snootily.

"No we don't," Rosie counters and Reese shoots me a smug look. I make a mental note to kill Rosie later.

"Fine." I agree and she cheers.

I am so going to regret this.

After we get our food we leave the mall and Reese whistles when he sees my car.

"Nice. So, where are the keys?"

"Oh hell no, you are not driving my princess."

"You don't even know the way," he argued.

"The answer is no."

"Give him the keys Krystal pleaseeee!" Rosie begs. What is up with her today? She's like, totally defying me!

"Fine!" I all but scream and chuck the keys at his face. He catches them.

"If you even scratch my princess you're dead."

"Got it. Now let's boogie," he gets in the drivers side and Rosie and I buckle up in the back since I refuse to sit next to him.

About twenty minutes into the drive and we're on a long stretch of road. Rosie unbuckles her seatbelt and sits on the top of her seat.

"What the hell!? Do you want to be thrown out of the car? Get back down!"

"Just watch!" She yells over the wind and grabs her shawl. She flips it behind her and let's it blow in the breeze while yelling wildly.

"Woohoo! Come on Krystal try it!"

"Yeah Krystal unless your too chicken," Reese smirks and that does it. I unbuckle my seatbelt and join Rosie, grabbing my own shawl and letting it fly behind me. The wind whips through our hair and I cheer along with Rosie.

It's actually...pretty fun.

My phone alarm goes off interrupting my story.

"Oh would you look at that? It's time for my daily spa treatment. We'll have to finish this another time."

"You got lucky this time," Cheyenne stands up.

Yeah. This time.

Reese's POV

"Hey Val," I sit criss cross in front of his grave.

"It's been awhile. I had to make a two hour drive just to get here, but for you, it was worth it."

The graveyard is mostly deserted, there are only one or two people here today.

"I'm kind of in a rut," I speak to his grave. "Well I guess you can call it a life crisis. I'm pretty fucking lost right now. I feel like I'm sinking, and no matter how much I try to reach the surface, I keep drowning."

The wind whistles in response.

"I wish you were here right now," I buried my face in my hands. My eyes sting and I blink back the tears. I refuse to break down again.

"Seeing that body at the lake, it was like reliving everything all over again. How the police found your body after you'd been supposedly 'run over.'"

My stomach churns and I stand up, screaming at his grave.

"Why'd you have to go! Why'd you leave me in this hell by myself! You're supposed to be here with your girlfriend and fucking kid! With me! Why'd you get mixed up with those guys! You had a perfectly good life and you wasted it!"

I collapse on my knees, my voice hoarse. It's useless. He can't hear me.

He's dead.

Gone from this world.

Deceased.

I pull out an orange from my pocket and place it on his gravestone. Then I pull out a stack of notecards and place them next to the orange.

"From mom. She writes you these little notes and even though she thinks I don't know, I do. I have no idea what they say. Maybe when you're free you can read them."

I stand and head back to Marcus's car.

And I swear as I'm driving away I hear a voice whisper to me.

Thanks little bro.

Cheyenne's POV

"So, homecoming," My mom collapses on the sofa next to me.

"Yep," I reply monotonously flipping through channels on the tv.

"I remember my first homecoming," she sighs dreamily. "I went with your father. Every moment with him was magical. He was the perfect gentleman."

"Gee, I wonder what happened to his so called gentlemanliness," I mutter under my breath.

She ignores my comment. "What are you going to wear?"

"A dress. Some heels. Jewelry."

"I have an idea," she grabs my hands. "Let's go homecoming shopping! We're long overdue for some mother daughter bonding time! And you can tell me all about your cute boyfriend." She winks.

I stare at her. About one hundred remarks come to my head, and all of them are very, very mean. But she looks so happy, and I can't remember the last time she ever looked so...free. And I did promise her I would try harder.

"Sounds like fun," I manage to say.

"Ok. Let me just get my purse." She jumps up and I turn off the tv with a sigh.

She's way more excited than me.

~~~~~~

"Nuh uh," Mom shakes her head. "That dress screams prostitute."

"Not to mention I can't breath," I wheeze out. "Unzip me quick!"

She rushes to my aid and I take a gulp of air. Ahhhhh, so much better.

"Next dress. Here," she shoves it at me. I don't know who's more scarier when shopping, my mom, or Rozae's sister Janice.

Dress after dress she rejects.

"Nope."

"No way."

"Too pre-school."

"Are you going to homecoming or a seventeenth century ball?"

"My eyes!"

"I'm going to forget I ever saw that."

After trying on hundreds of dresses I was ready to give up. "My feet can't take it anymore," I cried slumping onto the dressing room bench.

"Just try on this last dress. I think it's the one," she held out the hanger.

"Fine," I took the dress and disappeared behind the curtain. When I tried it on I automatically knew it was perfect.

The dress was around the beginnings of my knees, so it wasn't too short and it hugged my body, just enough to highlight my curves. The color was a deep navy blue, the top part a flowery lace flowing into an elegant lace sleeve. It was the only sleeve, leaving my left shoulder bare, giving it a hint of sexiness.

I stepped out and my mom gasped.

"You look beautiful Cheyenne! Some silver pumps and you'll be like the stars in the sky."

"Thanks," I twirl around.

"Sebastian will drop dead when he sees you!" She gushes.

"You think?"

"I know."

~~~~~~

We convene at the mall food court after buying my shoes for some much needed grub. She orders us cheeseburgers, large fries, and chocolate malts.

"A burger has never tasted so good," I said after my first bite.

Mom stuffs her face with fries. "You said it. So, tell me about Sebastian."

I was actually getting pretty tired of explaining the full story, so I gave her a quick rundown. We met, I initially hated his guts but realized I misjudged him, we became friends, grew feelings for each other, and then started dating.

"He sounds like a good guy," she nods. "I'd love to meet his family. Oh! That gives me an idea!" She clears her throat and I automatically tense up.

"I was going to surprise you, but I guess nows a good time as any to tell you."

"Please don't say you're pregnant!" The thought alone was enough to make me lose my appetite.

"I'm not pregnant," she rolls her eyes. My shoulders sag in relief.

"Then what is it?"

"Your father and I have been planning it and for winter break we've decided to go on a family trip to Aspen!"

I blink.

"It'll be great, you'll get to see the mountains, go skiing, and we'll have prime family time!" I mentally roll my eyes at the last part of her sentence.

"Mom, please stop with the family bonding or whatever, I said I'd try but you're pushing it."

"You're right, sorry," she pats my hand. "Anyway you should invite Sebastian and his family so we can all meet!"

I choke on my fries. What did she say?

"I don't think so."

"Cheyenne, we're going to have to meet his parents eventually."

"Can't you just invite them to dinner? Why must we take them on a ski trip?"

"A dinner is boring, this will be much more fun. Just ask him alright?"

"I will only ask him on one condition."

"Which is?"

I slam down the sticky note Krystal gave me. She examines it.

"Pricy. But it can be done." She smiles.

I hope Sebastian's family says no.

Otherwise we're in for a long winter break.

Ahhh I just love the sweet, sweet feeling of finishing a chapter you were struggling with. And believe me I struggled with this.

Tbh, I had no idea what Cheyenne's perfect dress would be, so I just described my own homecoming dress I wore last year. I hope you got somewhat of an idea of what it looks like.

Writing Reese's POV made me really sad. WHY'D YOU HAVE TO DIE VALENTINO, WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY *cries in anguish*

And ok, who honestly believes Krystal and Reese are just friends? It's not totally impossible right?

Right?

Geez it's like no one believes me these days. *shakes head and storms off*

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