The Hidden Truth

Chapter Thirty-Seven: A New Playmate

After returning home from my business trip we swing by Sara’s school to pick her up. While I was gone Justice had access to my car to transport her back and forth along with making sure that the household ran smoothly while I was away. When she comes strolling out of the building I notice that she’s not alone. With her is a girl who stands about a foot taller with simi long dark auburn hair. The two girls appear to be talking and giggling about something. 

When they arrive at the car, the two of them climb in and Sara seems to be oblivious to the fact that I’m back after spending two weeks away. Despite that I’m not pleased about the situation I continue to keep my mouth shut the entire ride back to the house. I would have rather she asked me first if it was okay to have a friend come with her but for all I know she probably asked Justice and he gave her the go ahead without informing me. It didn't matter because as soon as we enter the house and the girls disappear from sight, I turn to Justice and ask, “So, how long has that been going on?”

“She asked me a few days ago if she could have a friend over and I said sure. At the time, I thought it was going to be a one time thing. Apparently this girl is tutoring her, or so that's what Sara says.”

“That didn’t look like a tutoring relationship to me!” I spat pointing up towards the bedroom where the two girls had vanished to, before dropping my hand and asking, “Is her homework at least getting done?”

“I check her bag every night after she falls asleep and from what I can tell it appears to be.”

We both knew there was a difference in her sleep pattern and for him to specifically say after she fell asleep, I knew that he waited until she could no longer feel or hear him in her room before he rummaged through her things. So I allowed the girl to stay for awhile and I started to prepare dinner.  About an hour later, Sara comes down the stairs and into the kitchen as she asks, “Do you think Ashley could stay the night if it's alright with her parents?” aming her question towards Justice.

“You have to ask Michael.” he says while staring at me.

Immediately I wanted to respond with a simple ‘No!’ since I wasn't happy about her bringing someone to the house that I didn’t know.

“Please, It's only for one night and my homework is already done.” she begs me.

I didn’t want to argue nor disappoint her so I answer, “I guess it will be alright but there will be some ground rules that you two have to follow. First of all neither one of you leaves the house unless you are accompanied by one of us and second she sleeps on the couch.”

Unfortunately Justice didn’t like my provisions because as soon as Sara dashed off to her bedroom once again he turned to me and askes, “So where am I supposed to sleep then?”

“You will be in my room for tonight.”

“And what about you?”

“As long as that girl is in this house I won’t be sleeping.”

“Michael, you can't sacrifice yourself like that.”

“I can and will, end of discussion!”

Justice sighs hard shaking his head. He knew that he couldn’t change my mind no matter how hard he tried.

Soon it was dinner time and I called the girls down to eat. Both of them came storming down the steps and into the kitchen where I had placed their plates at the opposite sides of the table. I didn’t trust this girl at all and I wanted to make sure that my sister knew that from the start. As soon as Sara noticed that there were only two plates on the table she sighed and sat down by one and told her friend Ashley that we had already eaten. I knew from the disappointed look on her face that she got my point loud and clear. The truth was Justice and I planned to eat our dinner after the girls had finished their food.