I did promise them that I would come and visit. I know I should. I just feel a little strange doing it, especially since I pretended to be their dead daughter not too long ago. How was I supposed to know that I was impersonating my cousin?
All the same, weirdness aside, I did promise them, and they’re reaching out to me. I’m going to have to let go of being nervous and go spend some time with my family. It feels so strange and a little nice to think of having family to go to in the first place.
“It’s just so weird,” I say, taking the letter back. I glance down at it, and can’t help feeling a little guilty for not being more grateful for the invitation.
My guilt is quashed by the swirl of emotions at the memorial. I’ve never been to a candlelight vigil before, and it’s heartbreaking in a different way than the funeral. We’re not seated neatly in plastic chairs, but rather, all standing together, shoulders touching, as we grieve for those we lost.
There’s a community in it. We’re all on the same side, for just a moment.
But it doesn’t last.
The school seems determined to pick sides, and tonight is no different.
After the vigil, many of the students gather in the dining hall. They’ve put out some food just in case, but no one’s really touching it.
The boys and I, along with a few more new friends who have chosen to hang out with us instead of the Victoria and Astor crowd, are sitting at a few round tables pushed together, talking around midnight when Laura comes into the hall.
Blair nudges me, and I look up and catch Laura’s eye. I told my boys all about our conversation, and both Blair and Wills are hoping that she will join us. They feel terrible about what’s happened to Alisha, and like me, they don’t want Victoria hurting Laura further.
Laura turns her gaze to Victoria, and Victoria points at an empty chair not far from her. I watch as Laura shakes her head at Victoria and then comes toward us. Wills slides over to give her space next to me, and I wait until I see my nemesis look our way before I grin at him and kiss his cheek quickly in thanks.
I smile up at Laura and she settles in nervously at my side. I can’t help but shoot a look of contempt over to Victoria, who is shocked and seething.
I know that it’s a small victory, but it’s one that I will savor.
Score one for me. I shoot Victoria a wink and a cold smirk. She scowls bitterly and turns away. Astor is staring at me, as usual, and I meet his eyes for a moment before turning my attention to Laura. There is nothing in Astor’s gaze to imply what his feelings might be, but I really don’t care either way. He made his choice too and now he can sit and suffer with her.
Laura is just the beginning, and we all know it.
A new day is coming to Hawthorne Academy, and it’s my day.
Chapter 6
Blair and Wills stay the night with me. It takes them all of fifteen seconds to move the furniture around the room so the two twin beds can be pushed up against each other. Even if anyone had been paying attention, there wouldn’t have been anything to worry about tonight. It’s hardly a steamy scene they’d walk in on. I just want to be held, and that’s what they do. In the dark and the silence, we mourn together for the last time.
Afterwards, we have little time alone.
The Whites send a car for me the next morning. Blair and Wills help me pack my few belongings and watch as the car pulls away from the school. I shouldn’t be nervous, but I am.
From the way my stomach keeps churning over with endless butterflies, you’d think I’m on my way back to the old foster house, not the mansion I’m set to inherit one day.
When I get back to their home, it looks just as unreal to me as it did the last time I saw it for my father’s funeral. It’s so massive, pristine, and other-worldly to me. I can’t begin to fathom how anyone could live like that and have a normal life.
I guess you just have to redefine normal.
There’s a butler at the door who takes me to the drawing room where my aunt and uncle are waiting for me. Ellen comes to me and I reach my hand out to shake her hand. At the same time she reaches for my shoulders to embrace me in a half-hug.
It’s more than awkward, but I let her give me the kind-of hug, and then step back from her and look at my uncle, who is standing in front of his desk with his hands in his pockets. No hug or handshake from him, and honestly I’m relieved.
“Hi,” I say with an anxious smile. I hoped that I’d feel more comfortable, but I guess we’re all still getting used to the ‘being a family’ thing.
“Hello, Teddy. Thank you so much for coming,” he tells me, and I think he means it. Ellen walks over to him and stands at his side, and I can see that they expect me to come to them where they stand, so I do.
When I’m standing before them, they share a strange sort of smile and then Dane reaches behind him to his desk.
“We know it will take some time for things to be finalized, but in the mean time we’ve talked it over, and we’ve decided to give you this,” he announces evenly, and then he hands me a manila envelope.
“We’d bought a car for Sadie, but then …” He shoots a dark look at his wife, and Ellen looks at the ground.