Scattering Lilac Ashes

Chapter Ninety-Two

As promised to Elise, Lila sent a message to Twisted Bitches'r'Us, letting her know that she'd made it home okay. Though, truthfully, while she was physically okay, mentally she was spiralling.

She immediately went upstairs, still having not said a word to her parents. She didn't have any capacity to think of anything to say to them at the moment. She didn't even unpack her bags, instead preferring to lie in bed with the covers up to her neck. She also sent a message to Asher, wishing him a safe flight, and he opened it but hadn't responded by the time sleep overcame her.

It wasn't a restful sleep by any means. In fact, Lila felt as though she'd been suspended in a half-asleep state for the whole eight hours that she remained in bed. Her mind had been ticking and whirring, alive with questions she had no hope of knowing the answers to. Why had they left so suddenly? Why was Marlene going? Why didn't they tell Asher until they were leaving for the airport? Why for a week? Why Vanuatu? She knew nothing about Vanuatu. Was it even a safe place to go to? Marlene had said that there wouldn't be any reception – so he wouldn't be able to send her any messages or call her. What happened to Gabriel? Was he staying behind? She hadn't seen him in the car...

Then, of course, there was the palpable, all-encompassing feeling of disappointment and, frankly, sadness at the fact that they weren't able to do the things that they had planned to do together. A tiny piece of her (well, maybe it was mid-sized) had hoped that if they kept hanging out... Asher would make up his mind. That maybe they'd be able to start the new term as boyfriend and girlfriend.

Lila finally opened her eyes just as she internally chastised herself for sounding like a sappy idiot. But, as tears sparkled in them, she couldn't really fault herself for feeling that way. She was a sappy idiot.

"Knock, knock," a gentle voice called through the door. It was Clare.

"Come in," Lila replied unenthusiastically. Clare cracked open the door, taking a peek into the room.

"I thought you'd be bouncing all over the walls," Clare commented, scuffling in.

"I had been," Lila said glumly. "Until Asher's Dad took him on a surprise trip to Vanuatu."

"Lucky," Clare replied enviously, sitting heavily next to Lila on the bed.

"Maybe for some, but Asher was really pissed."

"Why? I'd love to go to Vanuatu."

"They only told him as they were picking him up to go to the airport. We... made plans for the rest of the holidays. Bought tickets for stuff, even. But his Dad told him he had to go. His Dad was... kinda scary, actually."

Thinking back on it, had that version of Ivaan been the version that had met with Tabitha the night she disappeared?

'Stop it,' Lila reprimanded herself, pulling the blankets tightly around her shoulders. 'You have no evidence for anything like that. He was just mad that Asher was fighting not to go.'

"That kinda is a dick move, to be honest," Clare nodded sagely. "I mean, they couldn't even tell him at least a day in advance? Rude."

"Yeah..."

"Guess that means you have a bunch of free time now," Clare grinned, turning to face Lila. When she caught Lila's expression, however, her grin faded.

"Damn, you're really upset about this."

"I am," Lila admitted quietly. "I'm happy he's having a holiday with his Dad, but... I can't help but be miserable about the... things we were supposed to do."

"Things?"

"Well..." Lila's face grew red, her eyes lowering to the floor. "They were kinda dates."

"Kinda?"