The Duskwood Mysteries

Part 4

Lilly: Tam, I've made arrangements for you to stay with me. Tell Jessy this was always the plan. I love her but she's mental.

I smirked at my phone, reading the message that I'd just received from Lilly.

"What's so funny?" Dan asked from the driver's seat next to me. I saw Jessy look confused through the rear view mirror. She had taken a 2 minute break from talking so I could check my phone, but I could tell she was anxious to start talking again.

"Just thinking about when I told my boss to stick his job up his ass." I laughed. Dan and Jessy joined in

"What made you pack up and leave tam?" Dan asked, seeming genuinely interested. Considering I hated this guy when I first spoke to him, I had grown quite fond of him, but he was rarely serious, so I bit my lip, thinking, before I answered him.

"I didn't realise it, not until you guys bought all of the excitement into my life," I winked at Jessy in the mirror, who giggled "but I've been unhappy for a long time. My parents kind of disowned me years ago, so I moved to another town, but I never fit in there. I dunno, I just couldn't think of anywhere I'd rather be than in Duskwood with all of you." I smiled, scrunching my nose in embarrassment as I heard how cringy that sounded.

The car was silent for a moment as my friends took in my words. I felt my face reddening. 'Maybe I am intruding on their lives' I thought. Then Dan grabbed my hand.

"If you're ever unhappy, and I mean ever, you call me and I'll be there in seconds. No one should have to be sad and alone."

My heart swelled and, as Jessy placed her hand on top of ours, I felt like it would burst.

"You'll never have to feel alone again, Tam. You have us now. Oh that reminds me! I HAVE to take you to the ice cream parlor in the town square, it's the cutest place it..."

I smiled and nodded as Jessy chatted away and Dan threw in jokes every now and again. I had been on my own for so long, I thought I'd struggle to be around people this much, but I just felt happy.

"Where are you staying Tam? We can drop your bags off before we meet the guys for a drink." Dan asked, just as we passed the Duskwood town sign. I felt a shiver pass over me.
Of fear, excitement or anticipation, I wasn't sure. The place just had a strong impact on me.

Jessy jumped in then.
"She'll stay with me! I can set up the sofa bed in the living room! We can have sleepover parties and go for morning jogs together and-"

"Actually, I've already made plans to stay with Lilly, she has the extra room so it made the most sense." I blushed, rubbing my neck. I had always been terrible at lying to people I cared about. I saw her sag back into her chair and turned to face her. "We can still do all of those things Jessy, and if I'm not living there, the sleepovers will be even more special." I grinned at her and she eventually smiled back.

___________

We pulled up outside Lilly's apartment about 20 minutes later and Dan helped me get my bag and suitcase out of the back. I noticed he was still limping, but he'd told me a week or so before that crutches were for assholes and he'll be fine, so there we go.

Looking up at the apartment building, I could tell that Lilly, or at least her family, were well off. It was super fancy. Way fancier than I was used to, I felt a sudden surge of anxiety.

I won't fit in here.

But Jessy linked arms with me and led me inside, chasing the thought away.

A door man opened the door for us, dressed in a black hat, black trousers and a crisp white shirt. He looked like he was in his forties, but was definitely a handsome older man. He lifted his hat to us as we passed by.

"Good to see you Jessica, back up and about are we Daniel?" He asked, smiling kindly.

"Joe, please call me Jessy, I have told you a hundred times." She rolled her eyes, but smiled back.

"I'm good, thanks. Up and running again." Dan smirked and nodded to the doorman, Joe.

"I haven't met this one before, do you have a new friend?" Joe looked at me, then winked at Jessy, she blushed, again.

"This is Tammy Langdon, the one that helped with finding Hannah. She'll be staying here so you might as well get to know her. Tam, this is Joe, he's worked at Lilly's building longer than she's lived in it." She chuckled.

I held out my hand, to shake his. He took it and shook, firmly.

"Good to meet you Tammy. Congratulations on finding poor Hannah, you're a hero. Have a wonderful time staying with us, I'll be keeping an eye out so you'll feel quite safe. Tell Lilly I said hello, you three."

We got into the lift and went to the fourth floor, before Dan knocked on the door directly in front of us.

When Lilly opened the door, I was so excited, I pretty much attacked her, grabbing her around her waist and squeezing tight.

I heard her laugh. "Hey, Tam."

I mumbled a hello, but could feel the tears burning my eyes.
I adored Jessy, she was my best friend, but Lilly had become the sister I'd never had. We had a deeper connection than I'd ever had with any friends before, she was the only one who had known all about my struggles with my anxiety, the reason my family didn't speak to me anymore, how much I hated my old life.

This beautiful, blonde bombshell in a My Chemical Romance tee, skater skirt and converse, was my family in a way that no one else had ever been.

A sob escaped my throat before I could stop it. Damn.

"I didn't get tears." Jessy grumbled from behind me.

I let go of Lilly and stood properly, wiping my eyes.

"Sorry, it's just a lot of emotions in one day." I chuckled.

Dan asked Lilly where to put my bags and she led us to an adorable little room with nothing but a walk in wardrobe and a bed with a beautiful, black, metal frame and headboard. I felt so lucky in that moment.

"Right, let's go and meet the guys." Lilly said, hooking her arm into mine. Jessy hooked hers in to the other arm and squeezed. I rolled my eyes and laughed. Her jealousy was adorable and I was here for it.

We went downstairs, said goodbye to Joe and got into Dan's car.

"Where are we meeting everyone by the way?" I asked from the front seat. Dan had insisted that it would be my seat for the foreseeable future. Charming asshole.

Lilly and Jessy beamed at me from the back, as I turned to look at them for an answer.

"The Aurora." They answered in unison.