The Inheritance Book 1

Ch 69 Guilt Gone: Kellyn Stanley [Sunday Afternoon, End of Week Three]

Kellyn hung up the hallway phone. Talking to her family filled her with warmth, peace and happiness. The first few days at Trecorin, hearing their voices and the background sounds of their chaotic life at home had made her miserably homesick, but now it was just comforting. Only two more weeks and she would see them all again!

"I thought that was you." Mirabelle appeared around the corner, mouth full of her beloved Lifesavers. She had on her skimpy siren-red bikini, and a towel over her arm. "Calling home again?"

"Yes. My mom and grandma took my little sibs to the zoo, and they wanted to tell me all about the monkeys, and the lions, and the giraffes, and--"

"Stahp! I'm already drained. How can you stand listening to little kids blah blah blah."

How can I stand listening to your crunch, crunch, crunch, Kellyn laughed to herself.

"They're my siblings. I think they're adorable."

"Children. Eww!" Mirabelle shuddered, then held up her towel. "Let's go swimming. We've got an hour before dinner."

Kellyn wasn't really in the mood to swim, but there was no use protesting. If Mirabelle wanted her to go, she wouldn't take no for an answer. Austin Carter would likely be outside around this time, and Mirabelle was probably hoping to catch a glimpse of him. To Kellyn, he was so sketchy, but Mirabelle didn't seem to notice or care.

"Okay. Just let me go change."

Kellyn secretly wouldn't mind catching a glimpse of Sione's bare chest out at the pool. The sight of his big bulky muscles did things to her. But she had no chance with him. Elizabeth was so drop-dead gorgeous, he hardly even noticed that Kellyn existed.

Mirabelle followed Kellyn into her room and plopped down on the bed. Kellyn rummaged around in her top drawer and found her blue and white suit.

Now, how to hint to Mirabelle that she needed privacy to change? She stood there for a moment, hoping her friend would get the message.

"What are you waiting for?" Mirabelle asked. She flipped through Miss Em's DVD collection, which Kellyn probably wouldn't have for too much longer now that she was better.

"Um. I'm gonna go change in the bathroom really quick." Kellyn pointed her thumbs at the door.

Mirabelle snorted. "Why? I'm not Hannah. Not trying to look at you naked."

"I know. It's just--uh, nevermind." Feeling shy and insecure about her lack of curves, Kellyn turned to face the corner and hurriedly slipped into her swimsuit. She grabbed the hummingbird beach towel from one of the chairs.

Halfway down the stairs, Kellyn stepped a little too hard and felt a jab of pain in her hip.

"Ow!" she murmured under her breath.

"What's wrong?"

Kellyn explained that though she was about 97 and a half percent recovered from her injury, if she moved wrong, her hip reminded her of that remaining two and a half.

"You're so lucky that all you had to worry about was your hip. Trust me, I would have much rather been in your shoes than what I had to go through out there. You'll be fine," Mirabelle said with a smirk. "And anyway, being in the water will help."

"True."

Kellyn would never mention it, but her feelings were still a little hurt for a few reasons. One, Mirabelle had not congratulated her in any way for being named Star of the Week. Two, Mirabelle had never apologized for bumping into her and causing her and Miss Sarah to fall off that log. And three, she had never once since the fall asked her how she was doing.

Was Kellyn perhaps being a bit too touchy and sensitive? Absolutely. It was one of her greatest faults. She had to keep reminding herself that Mirabelle had risen from the ashes of trauma and a horrible background. To survive, she had been forced to grow a tough outer shell. She couldn't help who she was. Kellyn just needed to let things go and be more understanding.

They took a sharp left at the bottom of the stairs to go and check Miss Haversham's office to see if the scores had been posted yet. Sure enough, the board had been updated:

Sione 695

Jarrett 625

Hannah 595

Kellyn 580

Averi 545

Graehm 535

Mirabelle 520

Elizabeth 510

Bryce 495

Kellyn braced herself, thinking Mirabelle would blow up in another rage over what she was sure to argue was stupid and unfair judging. Kellyn had already gotten an earful about it earlier. But instead, they went on outside without a word.

It was another beautiful day in the mountains. Fresh air. Cool pines. Fluffy white clouds against a bright blue sky. The birds chirped in the treetops.

Mirabelle remained eerily calm and quiet as they marched along the cobblestone path, through the flower garden and past the pavilion.

They were alone at the pool. Sione, Jarrett and Elizabeth were way off in the fields with the horses. Austin must have been busy shoveling or raking or weeding somewhere else.

They spread their towels out on their usual lounge chairs. When Kellyn dipped her toe into the pool, Mirabelle suddenly burst out laughing and shoved her in.

Kellyn swam to the surface and wiped her eyes. "Hey!"

In the distance, they both heard it. Clanking and straining of heavy chains. The sound reminded her of that one time her dad had wrapped big chains around a tree trunk in their front yard and attached the other end to his truck, and ripped that tree out of the ground after about 5 yanks.

Treading water, Kellyn braced herself again. Not for Mirabelle's anger this time, but for the pterodactyl-like screaming that often accompanied the clanging. She held her breath and waited. When it didn't happen, Kellyn finally exhaled.

Mirabelle jumped off the diving board, and swam over to her. "Just so you know, I am not mad anymore about the contest. I realized that once Hannah's ass is out of here, everything will be so much better. Me and you won't have to fuckin' stress about her and have to fuckin' deal with the awkwardness of the whole situation. Right? And once she's gone, that's less competition for us. There's still two weeks left. I swear to you, I am gonna kill it, and at least come in the top three."

Kellyn smoothed back her wet hair. "Yes! I'm happy to hear that! It's great to see you all upbeat and positive."

They didn't bother rehashing the "strange noises" discussion. It would be like people who lived next to a train track fussing every time a train passed by.

Mirabelle shook the water out of her ears. "I mean, I still think that my embroidery was way better than that worthless cat painting and that lame turtle statue, and I totally should have won. Fuck! Even your little cross-stitch was better than both of theirs! But I have to let it go. The main thing is the bitch is leaving! That changes everything!"

"So true!"

Kellyn had liked Hannah at first. But now she realized that she had been deceived. Hannah was a total fake. She had shown her true colors multiple times. And with the latest issue, she'd absolutely crossed the line. Mirabelle had been right all along.

What a relief Kellyn would not have to deal with two-faced Hannah anymore. Guilt gone! Not only that, but Mirabelle would be less angry and irritated. The last two weeks at Trecorin were going to be so much more fun.