And then she's gone.

secrets

'Wai-wait. What? Elise never told me she had a stepbrother! Her dad died! Her mom was left all alone... I've seen her like that all my life!'

Jules put his head in his hands and sighed. 'After Elise's dad died, her mom was alone, you're right. But around a month later, she met my dad. They fell in love, and married.' he shook his head. 'It took him six months to realise that she never got over her last husband. So, they divorced. It was only a few months later that you met Elise. She wanted to keep it a secret from everyone, not just you. It was embarrassing for her to have lost two dads. She blamed it on herself.'

'But why would she keep it from me? I knew everything about her, and vice versa.'  I whispered, my voice wobbling. He ran a hand through his hair.

'I think she was going to, she told me she would. I don't know what changed her mind.' 

He sadly smiled. 'She told me a lot about you, you know. I mean our conversations were mostly about you, and how happy she was having someone to understand and love her, like her mom never did. She always told me we were going to meet.'

A tear ran down my cheek. 'I miss her so damn much' I whispered, and he scooched closer. 'Me too.' he said, putting his arms around me. I rested my head on his collarbone. He smelt like pine and snow. His body shook along with mine, our sorrows blending into each other.

Wren. why oh why are you hugging the enemy?

I jerked away from him. He nodded, yes, he could hear It.

He's Elise's brother.

How does that make a difference? You are such a wimp, it doesn't matter! Just get rid of him already.

Jules?

Yeah...

What do I say?

You don't want to get on It's bad side, just ask for more time. We can figure it out together.

Okay...

Give me more time.

You have him right next to you! Why can't you just do it now?

I need to get closer to him, then maybe it'll be easier.

Be more confident

I mean, It WILL work. I promise.

Fine. I give you a week. Finish him off.

Right.

'You realise your It wants to kill me, right?' Jules said while taking my hand, a mischievous look on his face.

'Hadn't crossed my mind.' I giggled.

The sound of a door slamming sounded in my ear. I looked over Jules's shoulder and gasped.

Lana stood there, a confused look in her eyes. She turned on her heel and ran through the door, as if she caught us doing something wrong.

I lurched to my feet and tried to run after her, but Jules pulled me back. 

'What's wrong with you? Let go!' I shrieked, but he sat there, holding me back with a calm expression on his face.

'You like Lana, don't you?'

I stammered; 'no! Why would you think that??'

He chuckled. 'You don't give a shit about anyone, Wren. you wouldn't care if anyone else saw us, would you? You would just say 'screw em.'

My stomach sank. He was right. shit.  I did feel butterflies around her, and I did care if she saw me with Jules and thought we were together! I bit my lip and nodded. Jules leaned back, satisfied. 'Go get her, then.'

I lurched to my feet and ran through the door, looking for caramel-gold curly hair that had appeared in my dreams one too many times.