My 'One and Only' : Matthew Espinosa

Chapter 18: First Degree

THALIA'S POV

I pull the car into my driveway just as I see the two police cars and an ambulance pulling out. An officer with a stern face sits with my dad as he sits on the porch with his face in his hands, occasionally running his fingers through his hair. I hop out of the car with Cam tailing behind me.

"Dad?! Dad what happened?" I reach him and he looks up at me with tears in his eyes. He pulls me down to where he's sitting and encloses me in a tight hug.

"Your mother..." he lets go for a second and looks down, "she's gone."

I look at him confused, "gone? she's gone?" I start tapping my knee anxiously. "She's dead," he raises his voice and stands up. He walks up to the door slowly and shoves it open and runs up the stairs, screaming and crying at the unfairness of the world.

I sink to my knees on the cold hard ground. She can't be gone.

•••

"Thalia? Thalia? Where are you? Thalia?" my mom's voice echoes through the abandoned wear-house. "I'm right here momma!" I jump out from behind a muggy haystack and catch a glimpse of relief in her eye.

She gives me a warm smile and runs to me with open arms. I jump into her arms with a sense of safety and relief as she holds me tight and rocks me back and forth. "I love you momma," I look up into her big green eyes as she looks back into mine. She carefully sets me down, "I love you too my little bear."

•••

My eyes start to water as more memories flood my mind. Life won't be the same anymore-I don't know how I can handle this.

"Dad wait," Dustin runs in after him, probably prepared to ask millions of questions regarding the so called accident.

Cam walks up behind me and sits down and engulfs me in a big bear hug. "Let it out," he says as he rubs my back softly and I start to cry. We sit there in silence, with only the sounds of my sobs for 45 minutes. All of my energy was put into my tears and I begin to feel drowsy. The last thing I feel is the warmth of Cam's lips against my forehead before I drift off.

CAM'S POV

I sit there with her as she cries. Rubbing her back seems to help a bit so I continue as her grip on the end of my shirt seems to loosen. The sobs fade and I wait a few minutes until I can tell she's fully asleep.

If you're awake, T, then Lord please help me. I bend my head down and kiss the top of her head. I stay here for a few seconds before pulling away to see a slight smile on her face. I quietly chuckle as I scoop her up and carry her through the door.

I pass by the kitchen where Dustin and Mr. Summers quietly talk and once they see me they stop. I look over to see Mr. Summers staring at me with his mouth open. Dustin looks at me and winces as he motions for me to explain to his dad.

"Cam?" Mr. Summers begins to stand. I take a step back and turn to carefully set Thalia down on the couch. "How are you alive? Everyone said you were dead..." I get a strange look of confusion from Mr. Summers as he crosses his arms, "I went to your funeral...what is going on here?"

I open my mouth to speak but Dustin interrupts, "Dad it's a really long story we can't exactly explain. Trust me." he reassures him. I nod as I take a seat on the couch next to T.

"Okay well we're so glad you're alive," he smiles as he sits back down on the bar stool.

"So dad what exactly happened? With mom I mean," Dustin turns to face him. He hesitates for a minute before I realize I might be the reason why he's not talking. "I can leave if you want some privacy," I begin to stand up.

"No, sit. You're welcome to stay as long as you wish," Mr. Summers says still focused on the ground. I relax back into my seat as he continues his story.

I look down and see Thalia's beautiful green eyes flutter open and a smile comes across her face. I bite my lip and look back down at her as she snuggles up against my side. I rest my arm around her shoulder as her dad continues on with his story. The sound of his voice startles her and she pays attention to the words to be said.

"The police say it was a case of first degree murder. Someone's wanted her dead. For awhile."

"Are there any clues to who it might be?" Dustin looks up hopefully.

He replied, "The cops have tested the footprints and it was your mother's blood. Who it was? They don't know. Where they took the body? They don't know. They will figure it out though once they take this back to the office."

"So what do we do?" Thalia's delicate voice startles me as she sits up on the couch and looks at her dad.

"For now, pack your things. We have to go away for awhile, our house is a crime scene." He stands up and begins walking upstairs. He calls back, "and do it quick. the cops want us out of here as soon as possible."

Thalia slowly stretches her arms and stands up as I follow behind her. She begins to walk to her room, "Cam?"

"Yeah?" I respond.

"Can you come with me? I'm scared." A small smile appears on my face as I follow her into her bedroom, my arm wrapped around her shoulder.

As we enter the room, I immediately run for the bed and jump on it, I'm so tired. The soft teal quilt soothes my body and my head sinks into the soggy pillow. I hear Thalia gathering her things into a bag as I close my eyes. Within a few minutes, I hear a zipper that seals her bag and she tosses it towards the door. She shuts the door and I feel a warm body next to mine.

I open my eyes slightly to see the most beautiful girl in the world just inches from me. I scoot closer to her, carefully, and wrap her frail body into my strong arms. She snuggles up to me, laying her head on my chest as the ticking of the living room clock fades out into the sound of nightfall.