Secrets

Chapter Fourteen- Bad memories

It had been a few weeks since the coffee shop. All had died down a little and the shocks of the last few months seemed to be in the past. For now, Lauren's twin Lucie was still on the loose and we had to try and move past all the betrayals Molly had done. My heart swelled when I thought of my little sister, and how although I thought I knew her, I really never did.

I walked into my office building heart in my chest, hair in a bun, glossed lips, suit on and ready to roll, I knew that if I wanted to start a fresh in this town, I needed to get a job, settle down in our house and just show everyone we aren't Laurens little puppets. Jade had gone back to work at the local college, dealing with business administration, Jess had gone back into the city to finish up her jobs notice and then she would be back, her and Myles renting their own place.

I was starting with a big company in the middle of the town, they dealt with all the education systems in the surrounding areas, nervous was a complete understatement. I was shaking by the time I reached the receptionist and she looked over her oval glasses at me, bright pink lipstick, white hair and gold pearl earrings, she was so tanned her lips looked like they didn't belong on her face "Who are you here to see?" She asked, chewing gum and picking the front desk phone up ready "Ah, I am here for my first day- I was asked to come-" I started saying and then I heard the one voice that made my insides shudder "Flo!- It's ok Miriam, she's with me!" I turned around in utter shock to see Roberto standing there, arms outstretched and brown eyes twinkling, goatee beard looking as ragged as his hair, same brown long coat and tanned boots. 

"Roberto?" I barely managed and he grinned "So good to see you Flo!" he added and I wanted to run "Er, I had an interview with someone named Thomas-" He cut me off again "Yes, Thomas is my apprentice, he deals with all the things I don't have time to! Come, come." He said and I grabbed out my phone "Ooh, no! it's a strict no phones policy, Miriam, would you please?" He said and my heart banged "Sorry, no phones?" I added and he smiled "Uh-huh, company policy!" He sung and Miriam hobbled towards me, coral suit clinging to her slightly crouched over form, she stuck her hand out and I passed my phone to her "Thank you, You can pick it up on breaks" She said in a monotone voice and hobbled back towards the desk. I looked up to see Rob smiling "This way" He said in a confidence but eerie voice. My mind was swung back in a memory.

*Twelve year old me, I was waiting by the park for the others, I was standing by the hedge, not wanting to go into Loggie's without the other girls and I heard a laugh, Lauren's laugh, it was the most contagious but creepy thing I had heard "I love that I get to have you all to myself" she cooed and my heart leapt Loz had a boyfriend? I had to know who! she knew everything about us, we knew very little about her, that's the way she always wanted it. I snuck forwards quietly my denim skirt making a whooshing sound so I held on to the hem as I got closer to the red metal gate I heard them more clearly "If anyone knew I was with you" I heard a male voice, one I knew really well "Roberto?!" I whispered and stood in utter shock, listening to kissing sounds. I ran home and ran to my room, slamming my door "HOW COULD SHE!" I phoned Jade and Jade was in shock "She so knows you fancy him!" Jade said and then there was a knock on the door, Rob came through the door so I hung up on Jade "Rob? erm, what did you-?" I asked my heart beating, he looked crazy, he's eyes bulging, he walked towards me "I don't know what you think you know Flo, but, me and your friend, we are just friends to!" he said and I was shaking "Liar, she told me about you!!" I said no confidence in my voice what so ever and he grinned "We both know that isn't true, now be a good girl and listen carefully, If you tell anyone else about what you heard, I will kill you, Lauren and all your little posse, is that understood? I will not be made to feel like a pervert." He said anger lacing his voice.*

I followed Rob through the door to the office, and sat down at a long oval table, surrounded by five black chairs "Uh? Five chairs?" I asked and he grinned "I have a few new starters! Its training day!" He grinned and watched me closely "How is your Mum? she's been my best friend for years but I haven't heard from her in ages, it's like she's avoiding me, wouldn't happen to know why?" He said, pulling out a chair and sitting down eyes like a hawk "Any idea's at all?" I went cold, goosebumps forming on my arms "No, erm, why would I?" I said looking down and he coughed "Good, good." he pulled out a stack of papers from his brief case and starting fiddling through them when the door knocked "Ah Jess! come and sit down!" He grinned wider and I looked up "Jess?" I asked and Rob cut in "Jess here has transferred from her job in the city. Welcome aboard Jess!" He added excitedly and my heart pumped faster then another tap at the door "Jade!" I stood up "What's going on Rob?" I asked "Jade, your supposed to be at the college?" I added and Roberto grinned gleefully "Unfortunately, the college couldn't assist Jade, but since I am in partnership with the college, Jade has been referred here! You will all be working in the same office, how great is that!" He grinned widely and the other two looked confused to. 

I called Lee on my break from training, training consisted of Roberto staring at us all and smiling weirdly whilst talking us through fire exits and what we would be learning on this internship. I explained to Lee about Rob and he breathed "What! Chloe, considering all that's going on, you have to tell Jess and Jade!" He sounded so worried I felt guilty. "Lee, I can't he said he would kill us all!" I said and he sounded exasperated "Chlo, there is someone going around killing you all anyway if you have noticed, I don't think this will make a difference, besides how will he even know!" We chatted for a bit and said the I love you's and I handed my phone back to Miriam. I wandered up to the training office and noticed Roberto, Jess and Jade had gone and panic flitted in me, I went to run down the stairs to ask Miriam if she had seen them but Roberto poked he's head out of a door at the end of the corridor "Here!" He said and I breathed a sigh of relief as I walked towards the door. 

Inside the door was a medium sized office, one big desk, three computers and phones, a book case and the office overlooked some of the town "This is your new office, I will leave you to settle in, then this afternoon I will come back and we can fill in some paperwork!" He said and grinned. Once the door shut I looked at Jade and Jess "I need to tell you something" I said and explained what had happened before with Lauren. They both looked gob smacked and then looked serious "Do you think its him?" They said in unison and I shrugged "I have no idea!" I said but as I looked up behind jessie's head my heart practically stopped, I screamed and made both the other girls jump "WHAT!" they said and they both turned around, when they see what I screamed at, they both screamed too. A clown was pressing its sharp teeth against the door and just as we stopped screaming the mask was ripped off "Sorry girls!" Rob said running into the office, little office prank, to get you in the mood for the company halloween party!" He said. He handed us all flyers "Harlow Halloween haunted woods festival" Was written on the front with big blood stained letters "enter if you dare!" It said with the face of a clown with sharp teeth and woods behind it and then underneath "Sponsored and arranged by R.L education systems". We all looked up and he grinned "Happy haunts girls!"