Everything Fragile✔

Chapter Twenty-Five - Confessions & Other Scandalous Things

   "Where are you going?" Dad asks, seated on the couch, peering at me over his phone.

   It's been days since dinner at Marina's. Days since I've faced my fear and finally returned to that dreadful place. Days since I told dad's fiance that I practically hated her. Dad's been distant since. I guess he's still angry about how I acted that day. We barely talk, which I don't mind. I have nothing to say to him anyways.

   Francine avoids me like the plague. Like she's afraid that I'll murder her and the thing growing inside her. She seeps back into her room when I step out of mine or she'll scurry out of the kitchen when I want to relax in the living room. I don't mind it either. Seeing her less helps me to feel like everything is still normal. Well, as normal as things can be.

   "I'm going out." I mumble, grabbing a sweater from the coat rack and slipping it on.

   "Hmm, well, make sure you come back early. We have dinner with my boss tonight. There's going to be a lot of important people there and I don't want to be late."

   "I'm not going to that."

   "What? Quince, you have to go. It'll look bad on me if you don't show up after you said you would."

   I shrug. "Well, I have plans of my own and I'm not going to cancel them."

   "Quince--"

   I shut the door on his words. Willow honks the horn of her convertible until I enter the car. It's nice and warm. Mostly because Jennifer sits in the backseat fuming as usual.

   "Yay, Quinny!" Willow shouts over the pop music blasting from the speakers. "I'm so happy you decided to come with us to the party."

   "Me too--" my voice gets caught in my throat as the car jolts forward. I forget that she drives like a mad woman.

   "Me and Jenny have our outfits ready at my place. Yours should be on its way there right now. I told Carter to pick it up for us, if you don't mind. I cannot wait for you to see it. You're literally going to die. Ah, I'm so excited! We're going to be the hottest bitches there tonight."

   For someone who hates Latoya Thompson with a burning passion, she sure is excited for her party. I'm excited too. Excited to get completely and utterly wasted and forget about my shitty life. Maybe I'll dabble into old habits and allow myself to get whisked away by some dazzling stranger. As we pull up to Willow's house, I spot Carter's car and some annoying voice in my head urges me to choose him to be my dazzling stranger for the evening. My life is changing before my eyes. There are only so many things left that feel familiar. Carter is one of them and he wants to restart with me. I suppose a part of me wants the same thing no matter how scary or stupid it may be.

   We get out of the car. Willow is talking, but I'm too distracted by the memories that swarm my mind at being here. I recall sleepovers, study sessions, parties, and sneaking out to get wasted at a bar in Creaksterville. I remember the cleaning lady catching us smoking weed out of Willow's bedroom window and promising us that she wouldn't snitch if we gave her some. Then I remember Willow's mom threatening me. I see her in front of me, slapping me as if I've just insulted her lineage. I suppose I did. Willow did nothing that day. She just let her mom hit me, yell at me just like my dad did--does.

   What the hell am I doing here?

   She slips her hand into mine as if reading my mind. "Don't worry. She went away on a trip. She's never around this time of year, remember?"

   I nod my head. "Yeah."

   It's too cold for her. The air makes her arthritis unbearable. At least that's what she always says, but everyone knows that she has a side piece in Spain who sends her letters every month she's here in Kingston. Willow's dad is barely home either. Always away on business endeavors. At least, we assume he is. The man never lets anything slip. He's a sealed box. He always has been. They're both an enigma of their own, but Willow's mom is the devil reincarnated. I'll never understand how the cold can affect someone with a heart like ice.