𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄 → 𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌

00.

June 10th, 1995

1 year ago

The second I entered the kitchen, I gasped in horror.

The empty martini glass slipped out of my weak grasp, piercing the air as it shattered against the cold tile. My heart was thumping so hard in my chest to the point where it began to hurt.

The two pry themselves away from each other at the sound, whipping their bodies in my direction. My father's hair was wild and unruly, which was out of character for him. My eyes finally fell on Maureen, who had always been like a second mother to me. They both shared a bewildered expression as the familiar knot in my stomach surfaced.

"Oh, dear," Maureen muttered, pushing past my father and rushing to clean up the broken glass by my bare feet.

"Adeline, I don't know what you think you saw," my father started, walking closer to me with a stern look on his face. He eyed me carefully as tears began to form in my eyes.

"How could you?" I managed to croak out, barely above a whisper. I was so stupid to think my parents were happily in love, and that they were the epitome of the perfect relationship. Maybe that's both the blessing and the curse of having a famous actress and studio director for parents. They were the best liars.

My father leaned in closer, bringing his mouth right next to my ear. "You didn't see anything," he urged, his voice low. "Are we clear?"

All I could do was nod. My father was always a happy, upbeat man. He was always cracking jokes and could hold an entire room's attention with ease. Never in my sixteen years of living had he ever threatened or hurt me. The worst he had ever done was scare me with props he'd bring home from his horror films.

"Oh, god, what happened in here?" Mom's sweet, sing-song voice rang through the air behind me. I turned to see her lift her sunglasses from her face and sit them on top of her perfectly styled blonde hair that matched mine. Her tanned skin was glistening from the pool as she grabbed a hand towel and dropped to her knees next to Maureen.

"Nothing to worry about, sweetheart," dad said with a wicked smile. "Our little angel here must've had one too many cocktails." I wanted so badly to scream at the top of my lungs about what I had just walked into. My mother was the most amazing woman on this planet. She didn't deserve this from her husband and her childhood best friend.

"Maureen, you don't have to worry about this. I'll clean it up," Mom said, flashing her flawless smile at the woman who just backstabbed her. "Adeline, why don't you go back outside? Sid's waiting for you."

I shot my father and Maureen one last glare before turning on my heels and walking back outside through the back slider. The hot California sun immediately warmed my skin up as my bare feet padded against the patio. I squinted my eyes to get a better look at my childhood best friend floating on her back in the pool, soaking up the sunshine.

Every year, the Prescotts come down and stay with us for a week during the summer. They were from a small California town called Woodsboro, so they always loved coming to Encino for a change of scenery. The gated community my family lived in was filled with other top names in Hollywood, so there was never a dull day in the neighborhood.

"Hey! You okay?" Sidney asked as I slowly submerged back into the water. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

A small lump formed in my throat as the visual of my father making out with her mother replayed in my head. I can't tell her. It would crush her. So I do what my family does best— Fake it.

I put on my best smile and dip myself down until the water reached my chin. "I'm fine, I just accidentally dropped my glass when I was in the kitchen."

Sidney eyed me for a moment as a big grin formed on her face. "Klutz," she teased before splashing me. I gasped and splashed her back, the two of us falling into a fit of giggles as we went back and forth.

In that moment, even if it only lasted for a few seconds, I had forgotten about what I had just witnessed. The betrayal of not only my father to my mother and me, but of Maureen to her husband Neil and her daughter. I looked at Sidney, laughing and carefree, and couldn't even begin to imagine how she would react if she found out.

She had to eventually figure it out, right?

I didn't even know how long it had been going on for. That could've been the first time, or the millionth.

Thinking about it made me sick to my stomach.

We finally stopped splashing and playfully attacking each other, and I quickly went in and wrapped my arms around her tighter than ever. She didn't even hesitate to hug me back.

"Woah," she laughed, squeezing me back until it felt as though our soaked bodies couldn't get any closer. She was a good four inches taller than me at my 5'3 height, so in a way it felt like she was my older sister even though she was born six months after me.

"I love you," I breathed out, leaning my head on her shoulder.

"I love you too, weirdo," she giggled. "Forever and always."

Little did I know that this would be the beginning of the end.