ANIMA

23. Grudge?

Kenzie

Recent events have been a lot to process. It has been both eye-opening and frustrating. Eye-opening because it explained some of Mark’s behavior towards me, though I still don’t understand why he would treat me like that when my adoption was his idea. Frustrating because I understand Serena even less now than I did before I knew she was my birth mom.

I expected a lot of changes as a result of the truths that were revealed but nothing really has. That’s not completely true, somethings have changed. I am more at ease with myself and who I am ever since I was reunited with the Malachis. Their love and support has been a refreshing change of pace and I am confident that no matter what happens between me and the Kings, I will always have the Malachis. I even spoke to dad about changing my last name back before I start my college applications.

To be fair I haven’t gone back to the house since I left with Tom and dad so I haven’t really seen if there have been any changes on the Kings’ side. Though I see Cassie around campus, I have been screening Serena’s calls and Mark and I never speak unless absolutely necessary.

I feel I see more of Cassie around than I did before. Sometimes I catch her staring at me like she is trying to bore a hole into my head. It must be frustrating for her, she probably wants to spill everything to her minions and have the rumor mill go crazy but that would be exposing her own secrets as well.

One of the best things to come out of this is that I have been spending more time with Tom. We spend a lot of time reminiscing about the old days and making new memories as well. It has been great having my brother back.

Because we hang out a lot I have also been spending a lot of time with Mason, like a two-for-one deal. I don’t mind it, despite his recent troubles he has been fun to hang out with.

Just yesterday he took us to a concert film showing and sang along to every song, it was hilarious. He is not at all as stuck up as I thought when he was dating Cassie.

I think it is the Tomas effect, he tends to have that effect on people. The ability to put anyone at ease.

It’s a Friday afternoon and we are all gathered in Mason’s room. Tomas opens the door, checks the hallway and then closes the door behind him.

He looks rattled.

“Dude are you okay? You look like you just saw a ghost.” Aiden says.

“Is it Mayfair? Did the investigation turn up something?” Mason asks, motioning for Tomas to have a seat.

“Huh? No, I saw Mayfair earlier. She said their investigation concluded that there was no foul play in the selection of the scholarship recipient. They will not be taking my scholarship away or filing charges.” Tom replies.

“What has you rattled then?” I ask.

He takes a deep breathe, takes out his phone and shows us.

“You are the company you keep. You hang around cheaters, liars and criminals. What does that make you, Tom? – ANIMA”

Attached are pictures of him with dad on campus, the two of us at an animal shelter and him and Mason in a kitchen. It looks like the last  picture was taken through the kitchen window from the backyard at Mason’s house.

“What the actual hell?” Mason exclaims.

We all check our phones.

Nothing.

“I think I am the only one that got this one. I didn’t hear anyone else’s phone go off when mine did.” Tomas says, still looking shaken.

“I think it was meant for you alone. You are the only one present in all the pictures and no secret was exposed this time. More of a warning or…a threat.” Ava says.

It’s disturbing just thinking about some creep following us, following Tom around as far back as last week.

“I am starting to think whoever is doing this has some personal grudge against me.” Tomas comments.

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