This choice: "No. This has gone too far." • Go Back...Chapter #32Like Returning Clothes to their Place by: Nostrum   “No,” you rein her in. “This has gone too far.”
“Oh - so you let me do it, and then you tell me I’m going too far?”
“You asked me to trust you. ‘Trust the process’, isn’t it?” That shuts her up. “I’m not sure if your plan worked or not, but I’m not judging you for that. I even agreed to put on Kelly to make Mikey feel safe. But that’s as far as I’m going – I'm not gonna steal their lives for fun!”
“It’s not gonna be for long! Just a couple hours, going around town!”
“What if someone that knows them meets us? Someone from school? How are we gonna explain Mrs. White that Lindsey wasn’t there when she inevitably steps inside her room?” That seems to catch her attention. “And what about Kelly? How are we gonna explain her dad?”
‘We’re gonna have to explain that to him anyways.”
“Which is why we shouldn’t make things worse. For the time being, let’s return Lindsey home. Maybe we’ll find a way to help Kelly on the way.”
--
Your first order of business is to return Lindsey, and though you argued Claire should do it, she argued it’d be faster if you stayed as Kelly. She even moved back and changed clothes (taking Lindsey off) under the seats for expediency.
You knock the door only to find Lindsey’s father responding. “Yes?”
“Mr. White? I’m here to check on Lindsey – did she tell you about it?”
“She told me something about it. I’m worried, though. It’s been a while and she’s not responding.”
“Sir,” you tell him, feeling your heart on your throat. “It’s alright. She’s just resting.”
“She’s not one to take naps at this hour, young lady. How about I go check and then--?”
“Sir,” you insist, fearing the worst. “Don't do it. It might make things worse.”
“Why would that be?”
“Because I spoke to her about what happened yesterday and that stressed her, and I left her resting. That’s all.”
“Lester,” Mrs. White says, coming to your rescue. “Let her in. She said she’d come in afterwards, and here she is.”
You try to sleep in, but Mr. White stops you nonetheless. “What’s that?”
“These,” you tell him, using Claire’s excuse, “are some clothes she asked me to drop at the recycling bin. I noticed she messed up and it was full anyways so I figured I could return them and tell her that.”
“I can give them to her. I’ll tell her--”
“Lester!” She gives a conspiratorial look at you while dragging him away. “Let the girls talk! You can’t be so possessive over poor Lindsey!”
“After what happened yesterday? If I get the kid that did that to her, I’ll sink him in prison until he rots!”
Jesus, you think as a shiver runs down your spine.
“I know you told her that you’d ask your police contacts for help, but doesn’t that feel a bit too extreme?”
“You find extreme that our daughter appeared on a strange room, with a man she barely met?”
“According to her,” Mrs. White says as she points at you, “he didn’t mean to.”
Fuck! You see Mr. White judging you with his gaze. “What’s that all about? Do you know the boy that took my daughter there?”
“I do,” you confess, “but I know he wouldn’t do it. Both of them were drugged with something they used on the other cheerleaders. I was lucky because I left early, but the kid had the worst part – he was drugged and taken there, apparently to test it. He’s as confused as Lindsey and his mother’s already grilling him because of it. That’s why Lindsey took it so badly.”
“How do you know?”
“I went to talk to him, sir. Trust me, sir – his mother grounded him. And I’m helping a guy who happens to be the boyfriend of one of my friends to uncover everything. If something happens, I’ll keep her and you informed, alright?”
You see him studying you carefully before nodding. “Alright. You keep me informed of everything. And I want to talk to that boy’s mother.”
“Sir, I need to return to my house. Can I see Lindsey and leave this to her before I go?”
“Go and check on her, but I want the address afterwards.”
“Alright,” you mutter without wanting to. You hope he forgets, or else you’ll worsen things for Mikey. At least he doesn’t check you, and you discreetly open the lock while knocking. “Lindsey? You awake?”
You step in, lighting the room before locking the door again. “Hey,” you say, acting as you stretch her. After reflating her, you kneel close, gently shaking her once you notice her reaction. “Hey. You alright?”
She stares at you, spooked. “Kelly? What happened?”
“You fainted,” you tell her. “I was about to leave when I see you pale, and I ask if you’re alright, then you black out. You remember something?”
“I know I told you what happened, and you were taking notes.”
“Yeah - I remember you finished by claiming Brenda and the other guys claimed you were the one who took him there.” (Claire told you the end of Lindsey’s story on the way back.) “And that you called Mr. White to get you home.”
“Exactly...” She grabs her forehead, confused. “How long?”
“I didn’t want to scare your parents, so I told them you were taking a nap--”
“Kelly, I don’t take naps at this hour.”
“I didn’t wanna scare them!” you hiss, looking at the door. “Your dad’s hounding me for information! What if this is because of what those guys used on you!?”
“Don’t,” she pleads, terrified of the idea. “If my dad knows I was drugged--”
“He knows.” You see Lindsey’s pouting cheeks glow bright red. “I mean – after what happened to you, I’m gonna go home and ask Dad to take me to the hospital. You should do the same – this isn’t good.”
“Dad’s gonna kill me.”
“I’m surprised he didn’t kill you because you went to Mackenzie’s,” you argue. “Listen - I have to go, since I don’t wanna worry my dad, but I told your parents I was gonna drop some clothes into the recycling bin inside the strip mall while looking for smelling salts. So glad you don’t need them, but I’ll keep them just in case.”
“Good.” She grips your arm, shaken but relieved. “And thanks.”
You hug her, patting her back. “That’s what friends are for.”
--
You’re nearing close to Kelly’s home when you tell Claire to wake her up. You still feel self-conscious about wearing her, and you’re not too proud of snatching some pics either. (And the less you think about the lewd nudes you took when Claire slipped your phone in, the better.)
You’ll test your plan on her. It’s very simple - you’ll blame whatever Jimmy used for the memory loss and your activities) while suggesting you’ll look for the perps. (Claire strongly suggested it and spent the whole trip convincing you.)
“Kelly?” your sister asks as she wakes up. “You alright?”
“Wh-what!?” She straightens, looking at you both. “What happened!?”
“You don’t remember anything?”
“Just that I met you guys, and then--”
“You fainted, right?” Claire leads her through her confusion with the rehearsed story. “This isn’t good. I thought you were doing fine.”
“How can I be doing fine?”
“I know this must sound weird, but after David told me you fainted, we tried to wake you up and we noticed you acted fine. You even insisted on it.”
“That can’t be. I couldn’t--”
“Anyways - David asked if he could take you to talk with someone--”
“Ashley and Mackenzie,” you “clarify”.
“Right! And not only did you agree, but he told me you even asked him to bring the guy that caused all this ruckus!”
“Mikey?”
“Yeah, him! Anyways – I asked him to leave me with a friend while you guys went there.”
“And then I took you to the McDonald’s on the strip mall near the highway,” you tell her, taking over the story.
She shakes her head in disgust. “I couldn’t have done that.”
“I noticed something was wrong when you kissed Mikey in front of Ashley and Mackenzie.”
“I did what!?”
“But that’s not all. Ashley asked me to talk to Lindsey, so we went there, and you offered to take my notes, but then Lindsey fainted. Then you asked if we could find some smelling salts and I took you around to check for a pharmacy--”
“Alright,” she tells you, asking to stop. “This is bullshit. I couldn’t have--”
“Ashley and Mackenzie talked to you, Kelly. It’s not just Claire and me. We're thinking it’s possible whatever those guys used is still on your system. After visiting Lindsey again, we agreed to take you to your house and that’s when you fainted again.”
“That sounds impossible.” She checks her phone, noticing the hour. “But it already happened, and it’s happening again. If it weren’t because you’re helping me, I’d swear you guys are the ones doing it.”
You feel Claire’s terrified gaze on your spine and the fear in her voice. “Nonsense! What would we gain from it? Besides – the moment David noticed you were acting weird, he called Jess and told her everything! She’s also worried. We all are.”
“Yeah, figures.” She relaxes, staring at the roof. “You really have to find the guys who did this. I feel I’m going mad.”
“Imagine Mikey and Lindsey,” you tell her. “You’d do well not to talk to him; I noticed he’s also kinda confused. Plus, his mom’s pissed off; don’t go to his home either.”
“Yeah - his mom can be pretty controlling. He’s told me.”
“Anyways, we’re close to your home. Tell your dad things got a bit worse and to take you to the hospital.”
“And what about you?”
“We’ll find a way back home. It’s still early.”
She looks down, then back to you once you park. “Stay for a while. I’ll tell Dad to get you to your home.”
As she leaves, you stay close, waiting for her to be away from earshot. You’re about to ask your genius sister for ideas, but it’s her who asks you, one step short of panicking.
“What do we do now?” You have the following choice: 1. Continue |
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