Highland Tangle

CARTER #2

Derrick and I walk to our bikes then start riding them once we get them off the locks. We ride them to Derrick's house and once we get there we put our bikes in the garage then walk inside. "Guessing your dad is at the church?" I ask as more as a reassuring assumption than an actually question. "Yes, he texted me that he'll be in meetings pretty much all day."  I nod and grab some Pringles from the kitchen and then we sit on the couch and turn on the TV and watch some SpongeBob as I kick off my feet.

"Can you please get a bowl for your Pringles?" I chuckle, "Um, I'm fine with the can." I say to him and he seems anxious not agitated, I kick off my shoes to relax like normal and Derrick goes off, "Do you always have to all way do that so carelessly!? It's like you don't even care about my house first the Pringles now your shoes!" I look over at him concerned one because Derrick is not one to blow up on people especially me but also they were to of the most simplest things that I always do.

So either heat fed up with me or something's wrong here, "Der, You alright man? You've never been like this." He calms down a bit and looks at me, "Sorry man now that I'm home I'm worried and really stressed about my dad. Remember this morning when they looked worried well now I am." I put my hand on his shoulder, "I know man, me too. I don't know what but something's up with this town. Our parents, the church, the mayor, the police and God knows who else are, I believe, possibly hiding something. I've had questions for some time now but I thought I might be crazy.

"No you're not crazy I've been thinking about it too, there's definitely something going on but what? What could it possibly be?" I get up and start to pace a bit. "Your dad, the PI, could we call him? Maybe he could like investigate this place?" I shake my head when he mentions my dad, "No, I wish but he can't come here which another question I have. Why can't I leave or anyone really? Why was he able to leave? Was he from here or did he move here with my mom, if he was not from here was that why he was able to?"

"Car! Car! Chill man, easy. You're gonna drive yourself mad with all these questions." I know Derrick is right but I can't help it these are the questions that go through my head. "I'm sorry, but these are always in my head." He shakes his head and puts both hands on my shoulder. "I feel bad for your brain if these are the questions that consume it, but I get it." I smile as Derrick reassures me. He knows just how to calm me down and bring me ease.

Derrick and I sit down on the couch and go back to watching SpongeBob and chill out a bit. "Could we maybe talk to your dad about this?" I ask as I watch on. "We don't even know with this is, so until we do we trust only each other."  I nod once again Derrick is right, I love that I have a voice of reason like him. As you saw he has his moments of panic though usually brief they do happen like they do to us all. Regardless, majority of the time he's the voice of reason.

Hours pass and Derrick and I are on the couch when we hear the garage door open and we look at each other, "That your dad?" I ask and Derrick shrugs. The door out to the garage shuts and then we hear footsteps as they walk down the hall. Derrick's dad walks through the archway, "Hey boys, how was your school day?" We both answer, "Good" at the same time. I can see there's frustration in his dad's face. Why? Did that happen cause of the meeting? I wanna ask but I don't think he'll open up to me.

"Everything alright, Dad?" Derrick asks and I just think 'Man, Derrick and I have the same thoughts sometimes he's just the better voice for those thoughts.' Derrick's dad answers, "Yea, it's just some of the meetings didn't go well. I didn't agree with some of the subject matter of a couple of them. But I'll be alright, don't worry about me." I could tell, I believe Derrick could too, that his answer was not believable in the slightest there's more than he's telling but he's not gonna tell us. Why would he? With knowing and not being ignorant about something brings worry.

Though, the unknown is also worry some and you have to ask yourself, What's the bigger demon of worry? What you do know or what you don't know? If Derrick and I start wanting to find answers, do we really want to know? Or is it better to stay ignorant? "If you need any help, Dad, Carter and I can help you." Then quickly he answers back in a concerned and almost frightened matter, "No, No. You and Carter should focus on school and please don't worry about my problems. You boys already have your own worries and problems. Please, don't add mine."

"Dad, Carter and I can-" his dad cuts him off, "Drop it, Derrick. Seriously, drop it. Also, I think it's time Carter wants home." I nod understanding that things are tense and it's late so I say thank you to Derrick's Dad and bye to Derrick then get on my bike then bike home which Derrick and I live only a couple blocks so it didn't take long. I get home and the lights are but there's a car, a red Honda out front empty that I don't recognize and I look inside the house but can't see anyone so I walk through the door and with my mom and step-dad is a lady. Who is she and what is she doing here?

THIS IS THE END OF CARTER'S SECOND SECTION!!

Will Carter and Derrick search find out what going on? If so, what will they find? Who is the lady at Carter's house and what does she want?

FIND OUT IN THE COMING CHAPTERS OF HIGHLAND TANGLE!!