In a Forest, Under a Tree Where Many Plans Were Made

Chapter Fifteen

🌲Plans Are Made, But Not the Good Kind🌲

Roux continued to nod and gasp and laugh in all the right places as Jack and Summer told their stories. When they finished, Roux silently stood up and stated she would be back in just a moment.

Sharell raised her eyebrows at her, and Roux nodded, as a way of confirming Sharell's question which she asked simply by raising her eyebrows.

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ROUX'S P.O.V

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Jack and Summers stories sure did sadden me, especially the one about how Kryston blew up. My mum had a friend who had a cousin who lived there. I knew their kid, Carmen, I think her name was. Well, I never actually met her, but we were like pen-pals. She was a real pretty girl, maybe even prettier than Sharell!! Sharell is so pretty though, and I'm eternally grateful for exposing Ivy for what she really was, and becoming my best friend!! She's amazing! She told me in secret she really loved Jack, cuz he reminded her of Charlie. Charlie got deranged at one point: started thinking Shar was cheating on him, which she'd NEVER do! It was probably because Ivy cheated on him in the past. But anyway, we're thinking up a plan to separate Jack and Summer. I can't help but feel Summer is cheating on Jack, even though they act like they're madly in love. Sharell and Jack would be a much better match.

So, we're gonna go asking if she ever had a relationship before Jack, what happened, and if she misses him. HOPEFULLY, they'll break up!!

So I'm going to go get something: an old photo album, which has a few pictures of Carmen. Maybe we'll start up a conversation about their relationships back there, and then the whole plan will just fall into place perfectly. Sharell figured the whole thing out: she's just so clever!

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BACK TO NARRATOR

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Roux returned with a photo album, made of brown leather. It was a little tattered and dusty, but in fine condition otherwise. Roux flicked through a few pages for a minute while Jack and Summer watched interestedly. She eventually found whatever page she was looking for and showed them the pictures. Summer burst into tears at only a small glance.

Carmen.

How could it be, that only a few days before she died, they were chatting and Summer was struggling to hold back laughter? That she had been wishing Jualla would come and rescue her, and that her only fear at the time was that Jack wouldn't be allowed to marry her? How gaily she had chatted with Ju and Lazuli, or Laz. Ju, Laz and Summer: the inseparable trio of friends. But look how far they were away from each other now, even if they had survived. Jack stared at the picture. He hardly knew Carmen, but he knew her well enough to like her. Sharell swapped a glance at Roux.

"Oh... I'm sorry, I was wondering if you knew her... I'd been wondering since Sharell said you were from Kryston. I'll just... Put it away..."

"No... Thank you, it's a- a lovely photo of Carmen isn't it?" Summer said stuttering, wiping away tears.

"Yeah... Hey, why don't we talk about your life back in Kryston- but no, I'm being so insensitive, you obviously don't want to talk about it-" said Roux, catching Sharells eye.

Sharell smiled at herself.

Everything was going great.