Moonstruck at Midnight

Chapter 22 - Pivot!

"MY MOTHER USED TO call me Guille," I confessed. "She died when I was fourteen." I took a deep breath. The words came out naturally. "She was shot and killed while waiting outside my school to pick me up one day. I got caught up talking to a friend, and that's when we heard the screams.

"The burst of bullets was so intense that it finally got through the armored windows of the vehicle. It was all so fast. My mother and her security were killed.

"Aaron ran in my direction when the first shots were fired. I didn't know what was happening, but he took me into an empty classroom and started to make a few calls. I've never seen him so agitated. Police and ambulance sirens began to wail in the distance, but he wouldn't tell me anything."

The permanently stationed knot on my stomach untangled itself gently, and the lingering pressure on my chest evaporated into a mist of nothing. The answer was obvious. Talking about my mother's death with someone willing to listen was incredibly therapeutic. And William gave me all his attention.

"More Embassy cars arrived, my mother was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, or so I was told, and I was finally taken back to the Embassy. My father was in the hospital. Aaron was the one who broke the news to me." I took another deep breath and exhaled slowly through my mouth. William's face was solemn, and his eyes had lost the spark that characterized him.

"Where did this happen?" he said, his voice soft as velvet. "Do you know who did it and why?" He had the same questions as me, but unfortunately, I didn't have all the answers.

"Mexico City." I swallowed hard. "There's supposed to be an ongoing investigation. That's what they keep telling me. Every time I ask, I keep getting that same answer." I found it odd they couldn't figure out what had happened after all this time.

"Is—your life in danger?" William asked, offering an uncomfortable look on his face.

"It had to be assumed it might be, you know, after that happened," I said. "We moved to Norway, and I didn't leave the residence much. Hardly ever. And I had a personal tutor because I didn't feel like attending school or doing anything. I was just ... numb and scared to death, so I mostly kept to my books."

William fidgeted in his seat but kept his gaze directed at me. I explained to him that I didn't think my life was in danger, but certain precautions were taken, mostly for my father's peace of mind.

"Is your father still abroad?" He was so curious, and I almost thought it was sweet. Almost. I had to be careful around William. "You live alone, right?"

"My father lives here in New York, but he travels for work often," I explained. "He thought I would appreciate a more independent lifestyle after growing up the way I did. So, we're giving it a try." It felt so good to let it all out.

"I'm so sorry you went through all of that. I didn't know any of this. None of us knew." A frown was stationed in between his brows. "I can stop calling you Guille if it—"

"No, it's okay," I cut him off. "I like it. It's nice to keep hearing it. I can handle it." I could feel William studying my responses. "Just ... don't look at me like that. Like you feel sorry for me or something. Please don't."

"I would never feel sorry for you."

A moment of silence danced in the air between us.

"Thank you for staying," I said with a tight smile. "I know you could be downstairs instead with—your brother. I'm assuming there's a party you need to get back to."

He shrugged. "I wanted to know if you were okay."

Tobias must've been thrilled to be alone with the three girls. Maybe more girls had arrived by then. Who knew? But I was sure at least one of them was anxious for William to return. And for some reason, a part of me didn't want him to go back to his after-party. Imagining him in his apartment with those girls triggered an unusually hot sensation in my stomach. It almost felt empty. But I tried to squash the feeling by focusing on my conversation with him and remembering I was in a relationship with Thomas. William's extracurricular activities were none of my business with big, bold capital letters.