Infinite Love

Chapter 20

[Sunday: December 11th]

The girls and I decided to tell our moms about what's been going on. All of it. A, Angela Waters, Karen, everything. We are at Tabby's house with our moms, and we finished telling them.

"So yeah...That...that about covers it" Imogen says

"So, Karen was pushed? And Tyler was..." Sidney asks

"Murdered, yes. Both by A" Tabby says

"And A is the train car guy?" Marjorie asks
"Crazy Joe. Joseph England. You all went to school with him. He's the one who sent us those creepy text messages and you all those gifts" Imogen says

"It was a classic Agatha Christi revenge plot. He was in love with Angela waters in high school, and years later, set about punishing the people who were, in his mind, somehow a party to her death" Tabby says

"The sins of the mothers visited upon their daughters" Imogen says

"Why didn't you tell us what was going on?" Sidney asks

"A threatened us to keep quiet" Imogen says
"We were afraid of what he might do if we didn't follow his rules" Faran says

"After we found Crazy Joe's body, we placed an anonymous call to the police" I say

I see Noa is getting emotional so I grab her hand to calm her down, "We're assuming they found Joe. We're also assuming they assumed it was a suicide" Imogen says

"Why kill himself? After everything?" Marjorie asks

"We think probably because Imogen busted his ass...discovered his identity, where he was living" Tabby says

"Also, maybe...because he accomplished what he set out to do. Test us. Make us suffer" Imogen says

"Punish the guilty. His words" Noa says

"So, now it's time for you guys to tell us the truth, the whole truth...about your connection to Angela Waters" Imogen says

The moms look at each other, "We...were bullies...in high school. Horrible, mean girl bullies" Sidney says

"Angela and I...were in a secret relationship but I denied it and said she was obsessed with me" Elodie says

"I talked Angela into getting a tattoo. Even though I knew she'd get in trouble for it with her holy roller mother" Corey says

"I was smoking...outside of school. And when the janitor caught us, I made Angela say that it was just her" Marjorie says

I look at my mom, "I convinced Angela to skip school. But when we got caught, I put all the blame on her and said she was forcing me to skip with her"

I shake my head, disappointed in my mother, "I wasn't a good friend to her. Angela confided something in me, something I should have helped her with" Sidney says
"Her assault?" Tabby asks

Sidney shakes her head, "But why? Why were you all so cruel to Angela? What was it about that girl?" Imogen asks

"It-It was a different time. Girls were meaner in the 90s" Elodie says

"Angela was...an easy target" Corey says

"It was a game. A-A terrible game" Marjorie says

"What about my mom? What did she do to Angela?" Imogen asks

They all move uncomfortably in their seats and don't answer. Imogen leans forward, "Ms. Haworthe?" She asks
"One Halloween, Davie thought it would be funny to make Angela throw filth at someone's door. And after Angela did it, Davie drove away in the car, and we all just left her there, alone" Sidney says
"So what happens now?" Mouse asks

"We keep talking to each other...so nothing like this ever happens again" Marjorie says

"But otherwise, everything stays in this room" Corey says

"And after tonight, we move on" Sidney says

We all head back to our houses. I can barely look at my mom right now. One we get back I immediately try to go to my room, "Gianna we need to talk about this" She says

I turn to her, "Mom, how could you treat someone like that?" I ask

"Sweetheart, it was a different time..." She starts

"Mom, you drove that girl to kill herself" I say

"I know, we did, and if I could go back and change it I would in a heartbeat" She says

"Well it's a little too late for that" I say plainly

She walks closer, "I know but I want to try and move on, can we?" She asks

"I can't forgive you for what you did, but I can try to move on" I say

She nods her head, "I understand" She says

We stand there for a few moments in silence, "Can I ask you one thing?" She asks

I nod my head, "Is the mystery girl..." She pauses, "...Noa?" She asks

I look at her shock, "Wha...how did you...." I ramble nervous

She chuckles, "Sweetheart, a mother always knows" She says

"But seriously, how?" I ask

We walk to sit on the couch, "Well for one, the way you immediately comforted her tonight when you saw her getting upset and how it worked instantly. How you were looking at her tonight. Plus what you described about the 'mystery girl' before I knew who it was. It all makes sense" She says

I shake my head, "Damn you're good" I say

"So...have you told her?" She asks

"No, I can't...she's with Shawn and they're happy" I say

"You don't know unless you try" She says

I nod my head, "Mom there's something else I need to tell you" I say

She looks at me, "You can tell me anything, Sweetheart" She says

"Okay...umm...The night of Karen Beasley's party back in March, I actually went. My teammates dragged me to the party. But since I don't drink, I was just standing there, bored out of my mind. I don't remember who, but some guy gave me a shot and I took it cause I wanted to have some fun" I say

She looks at me, "I know I shouldn't have but I just wanted to feel like a normal teenager. But after a little bit, I started to feel weird. My head was getting fuzzy and my vision was blurry. I stumbled out of the party before I fell to the ground. I-I saw a shadowy figure before I blacked out. The next thing I remember...I'm back in my room with blood all over my face from the cuts and broken ribs...I don't think I was sexually assaulted...because I was still in my clothes, nothing was torn or missing...but I don't really know" I say as I feel tears form

She pulls me into a hug, "It's okay honey" She whispers
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I didn't want you to be disappointed in me" I say through tears

She pulls away slightly and looks at me, "Honey I could never be disappointed in you, ever" She says

She pulls me back into her, holding me as I cry.