Gone Without Goodbye

Chapter 11

Mackenzie and Madison walked into the house an hour after Stella confessed everything to Shane.

"Oh, well I didn't know Miss Stella had company." Mackenzie smiled.

"You didn't see his vehicle parked in the driveway?"

"I parked across the street in front of the neighbors house."

"Oh, well anyways, girls this is Shane. Shane this is Mackenzie and Madison."

"You guys sisters? You look alot alike."

"No, we're twins." Mackenzie giggled.

"Oh I thought... wait a minute that's the same thing." Shane chuckled.

"She says that to everyone who says sisters instead of twins."

"You guys, I think I'm going to go upstairs and go to bed." Madison spoke up.

"You okay sis?"

"Yeah, just tired that's all." Madison nodded then headed up the stairs as she said over her shoulder, "Nice meeting you Shane."

"Nice to meet you too."

"Have you eaten? There's still some pizza left, dig in. Although it's probably cold by now."

"I love cold pizza." Mackenzie smiled, grabbing a slice.

"So how long have you girls known each other?"

"About 4 or 5 years now. I've actually known Stella longer than Madison has known her." Mackenzie answered.

"Oh really, how did you two meet?"

"We work together at the New York Times. We are both photographers, but we met in College." Mackenzie smiled.

"Well actually Kenz still works there but I don't."

"Why is that?" Shane asked.

"Because when we asked for time off MacKenzie had vacation time but I didn't since she worked there longer than I had. When our boss told me that I didn't have the vacation time I told him too bad, I had family I had to go see. I left saying family was more important than a stinking job." Stella explained.

"Good for you. Growing up you could always stick up for yourself."

"Yeah, but the only person I couldn't stand up to was my mom. Although there was one time I did and I..."

"You what?" MacKenzie and Shane asked at the same time.

"It was before I got sent away. I stood up to her when we were arguing and she slapped me."

"Awe sweetie, I'm sorry to hear that." MacKenzie frowned.

"Oh well, that was 8 years ago so I'm over it. So Shane what have you been up to besides helping your parents run the deli. I mean I know they opened it up when we were teens but your mom continued to work for my parents. She said she wanted to just in case the deli didn't succeed."

"Yeah but a year and a half after you got sent away business started picking up more so my mom quit working for your parents. The band decided to break up because we weren't going anywhere. I mean we were together since I was 14. We made that decision when I was around 20 or so."

"Oh really? Man you guys were so good. I was so sure you guys would make it big."

"I know but nothing lasts forever."

"Unfortunately. But, excuse me, I'm going to go to the bathroom." Stella smiled and went upstairs.

When she got upstairs she heard Madison talking to someone.

"Yeah, they were eating pizza together...I don't know it looked like it... yeah I came up here and figured I'd call you... of course I'll call you more and let you know how things are going, you know I will."

Stella then decided to knock on the door, "Madi?"

"Got to go, talk to you later bye girl." Madison said quickly then hung up and looked towards the door, "Yeah?"

Stella opened the door, "I was heading to the bathroom and decided to stop and see how you were feeling. You didn't look so good earlier."

"Oh, I'm fine. Just wore out from shopping that's all."

"Oh okay, well sorry, didn't mean to interrupt your conversation with whoever you were talking to."

"It was my friend...Casey."

"You didn't have to tell me who it was but I'm going to leave you alone now." With that she walked out, shutting the door.

Once she got done using the bathroom she went back downstairs.

"Hey sis, I see Shane came to visit. He told me you told him about what happened. You think that was wise?" Aiden smiled some.

"I don't care, I couldn't hold it in any longer. Listen Kenz." She then lowered her voice, "Does Madi have a friend named Casey?"

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

"Just making sure because she was having the weirdest conversation with this Casey person."

"Madison and him always do."

"Him?"

"Yup, Casey is a guy. I swear them two should date, they would make such a great couple."

"Then she wasn't talking to Casey because whoever she was talking to was a girl."

"What do you mean?" MacKenzie raised an eyebrow.

Stella sat down next to Shane and began whispering, "I have a feeling she's behind whoever sent that letter. I didn't mean to eavesdrop but I did. She was in the phone with a girl because she mentioned about someone eating pizza." She motioned her hand to the pizza box, "And she said she would call whoever it was more often and let them know how it was going. Then when I knocked on the door she said she had to go. But she said bye girl."

"Wait, are you sure? I know my sister can be evil but not this evil to danger someone's life." MacKenzie sighed.

"Kenz, I'm not accusing your sister of anything. I'm just telling you what I heard."

"I know." Mackenzie nodded.

"What are you girls talking about?" Shane questioned.

Stella got up, grabbed the letter she got and handed it to Shane, "I got this the other day. That's why I said this might be the last time I get to see or talk to you."

Shane read it and looked at her, "Do you know who sent this?"

"No but whoever sent it will find out I told you and they will come after me. I just know it."

"We won't let anyone hurt you." Shane grumbled.

"What do you mean by we?" Stella asked, curious.

"Well your brother, me, Mackenzie, Benny and Lucas. I'm sure there are a few other people too."

"You are all too good to me." Stella grinned.

"That's because we care too much about you, sissy." Aiden chuckled.

"Oh God, you haven't called me that in what seems like forever." Stella giggled.

"Yeah I know, so I figured I would call you that now."

A few hours later, Shane went home and then everyone went to bed.