No Happily Ever After

Chapter 8

Christmasbreak steadfastly approached. On Tuesday morning, her classmateswere abuzz with numerous sources of excitement. For one, everyonewas excited about the prospect of two weeks off school. ExceptCailyn, of course. She had nothing much to look forward to exceptfor endless time spent under her dad's watchful eye. She knew shecould invite friends over if she cared to. But after the chillingincident concerning Jennifer Tide's Likebook profile, she still feltuncomfortable having friends come too close to her father's secret. Many of her friends were still slightly distant with her anyway, as aresult of the foul mood she'd succumbed to for several weeks afterdiscovering her father's secret.

The otherexcitement was the gossip about the shocking arrest of Zoe Locke. Most people didn't even know exactly who Zoe was. She'd always beenso quiet; she'd simply blended into the background. Once news of herarrest had reached the Faraway High grapevine, Cailyn realized shedidn't know of a single person that had regularly socialized withZoe. She had no idea where Zoe even lived. She didn't recall everseeing Zoe's parents at any school function, or if she had anysiblings. In fact, it occurred to her she didn't even remember Zoeparticipating in any school event ever in their long educationalcareer together.

Word was that Zoe'dbeen caught red handed burglarizing the home of the Bar family.Cailyn found the whole thing as sad as it was shocking. She suddenlywished she'd been nicer to the girl; tried harder to include her orget to know her. She suspected this whole thing was a cry forattention from a lonely girl.

Benjamin Bar, asalways, had nothing to say about the matter. But the rumor millsuggested she'd been injured while escaping and was presently in thehospital. She would be arraigned the following day and everybody wassaying she'd end up in juvenile detention. Cailyn was just assurprised as everyone else. Zoe Locke was the last person anyonewould expect to be a criminal.

Just went to showhow one never could tell what goes on behind closed doors.

And finally, theother thing that had everybody so amped up was the field trip. Sheand her classmates prepared to leave and be bussed to the FarawayMuseum of Natural History and Nature Preserve. The trip was a partof the long series of study in their science classes leading up tothe big science fair that would occur in the spring. They were tolearn about nature, dinosaurs, biology, and the earth that day. Intruth though, no one cared particularly about the museum or point ofthe trip. They were all simply happy to have a half day out ofschool. They were only a few days out until winter break began, andeveryone had lost steam on their studies. Cailyn in particular wasecstatic to get a change of scenery.

Mr. Pure had almostrefused to let her go on the field trip. If he'd declined, shewould've been forced to spend the day at his office. So she'd beggedand pleaded for the permission slip. She swore she'd stay with hergroup and be in absolutely no danger. She was so sick of being aprisoner, as though she were being punished for his crimes. Sheaccused him of being paranoid. Finally, he'd relented, repeatingfirmly that she was to stay with the group.

Cailyn satexcitedly pressed against a cold window pane, staring out at the snowcovered roadways as the school bus bumped along toward the museum. Asmall smile played on her lips and she existed in her own privateworld inside her mind. The noise and banter of her classmates behindher all disappeared. She forgot all about her father and AliahJoiner. She desperately needed a break from everything. She justneeded a little time to herself, to clear her head.

She broke herpromise to her father, almost as soon as they arrived at thepreserve.

Everyone filed offthe bus, through the fluffy blanket of snow, and into the giganticmuseum. Standing bundled in groups in the atrium under a sky lightthirty feet above, and surrounded by signage and displays, theylistened to their teacher. Cailyn found it hard to concentrate asshe peered around, wide eyed, at a huge dinosaur statue that loomedtwo stories high in one corner of the atrium. In another corner wasa big reconstruction of Mt. Rushmore. And lining the silver paperedwalls were giant framed posters depicting every possiblemanifestation of weather; from rainbows to monsoons.