Highland Tangle

DERRICK # 3

  I was hanging out my house and it's 2:35. I hear my dad car go into the garage. As I lay on the couch, my dad walks into the living room with Faith. Faith like Faith from school. I sit up incredibly confused and almost dumbfounded. "Dad, Why is Faith here?" I ask now curious of his answer. "I have to get back to the church for a meeting but Faith can tell you but only if see wants too." He says then goes back to his car and leaves. Faith and I just look at each other as I get up off the couch.

  "Hey there, Derrick. Let me fill you in." So Faith tells about the events last night from entering her home to the church and everything in between. "Geez. Your dad really does that??" She nods trying not to cry again. "If you have to cry, it's okay." I open my arms for a hug. Faith walks over and hugs me. I hug back as she starts to cry on my shoulder. I can't believe her dad hits her and her mom. What a monster. "Thank you, Derrick." She says with a raspy and hoarse voice cause of the crying.

  "Can I get you some water?" She nods, then let go and go get a bottle of water. She drinks it then puts it down on the coffee table. "Thank you, Derrick." I smile her and bow my head down, "You're welcome." We sit on the couch, "I was gonna go hang out with Carter soon. Would you wanna come?" Faith rolls her eyes, "Him? Why him?" I look at her with a gentle smile, "Yes, him. Come on you said and I quote, 'Alright, I'll give him a chance but if this goes wrong I blame you.' So now's the time to honor that."

  "Fine, you're right. I'll give him a chance. Like I said if it goes wrong I do blame you." I chuckle at her words and then say, "And like I said, I'll keep Carter in check if he gets out of line." She nods and then "So I have a bike but if you want you can ride my sister's I don't think she'll mind." With that we go to the garage and get our bikes then once they're out I close the garage door then go out the side gate.

  "You ready to go? Is the bike okay?" She nods towards me. "Yes and yea it's perfect." I smile and then we ride off to Carter's house. After riding for about 5 minutes or what felt like 5 minutes, we reach Carter's house. I get off my bike and then walk up to Carter's front door. I knock on the door while Faith stays with the bikes in the driveway. Carter opens the door, "Hey Derrick, I'll get my bike." He closes the door then comes out about 3 minutes later with his bike and goes to the driveway.

  "Why is Faith here?" Carter asks so Faith and I look at each other. "I invited her to hangout with us so that you two can hangout and you two can get to know each other." He nods softly as I speak, "Nope, absolutely not." I sigh and Faith rolls her eyes. "Carter, come on man! Give her a chance." He shakes his head and his expression is contentious and displeased. "Come on, Carter. Please, I'm sorry. I was rude and harsh to you." Faith says in apology to Carter. "Alright. Fine I'll accept it but I don't have to like it."

  "Carter, Don't be a petty puss." Carter and I both look at her. "Don't be a what??" Carter says then "A petty puss??" Derrick questions. "Yes, A petty puss. It's what I say when someone is being petty." I look at Carter then back at her,"Alrighty then. Shall we ride to the park?" I ask. "Yea, that sounds good," Carter says. So we head for the park on our bikes and look at each other. We check on each other every so aoften to make sure that each of us are good.

  The park is quite far but also a good distance. Like too far to walk but since none of us can drive it's perfect to bike. Once we reach the park, then we station our bikes on the bike rack. We sit at a table with Carter on one side and Faith next to me on the other. Carter then says, "So something is off with you two. What's up?" We look at each other then I say, "What do you mean?" "Faith came with you so im assuming, correct me if I'm wrong, that means that she came from your house cause I don't think either of you know each other's houses.

  "Well I do now, but you're right we came together. Marcus brought me from the church." Before Carter can answer, Faith starts telling him everything included everything at her house with her Dad. "Wow, Faith, I'm so sorry," says Carter. He then takes some time to process after apologizing. I always find people apologizing when they didn't do it interesting. Like is it out of politeness or guilt? Maybe Guilt by proxy? "I overheard something interesting while I was in Foster's office. Mr. Kirby said 'What if she found out something!' but he yelled it at Foster."

  "What if you found out what?" Carter asks then Faith shrugs her shoulders. "So Mr. Kirby is hiding something? Why would Mr. Kirby be hiding something that he would be worried enough for Faith to learn?" I questioned. We all look at each other and think.. "Well this kinda confirms what Carter and I thought. The church is hiding something and we think others in the town are too." Faith asks, "How long how both of you been thinking about something up with the town?"

  Carter speaks first, "For me, it was about when my dad left and moved to Utah after the divorce was when I started." After Carter then I go, "When my mom died and was murdered, that's when." "Do you think the people in town would have had something to do with it?" Faith asks me. I think for a bit then answer, "I do, I think they are somewhat responsible." After I answer Faith then a man with a top hat that covers his face and stroll on path of the park. He approaches us detouring off the path from his stroll. "Howdy there, kids," says the man.

  "How are you, sir? What's your name?" asks Carter. "Well I'm Ethan. I run the newspaper called The Highland Tangle." Ethan seems very sophisticated. "The wolf lives right here. In this village...Among you. It is one of you." Ethan says then strolls away and we all look at Ethan as he strolls away. "Was that a Sarah Blakley-Cartwright quote?" Carter asks us and we shrugs our shoulders. "What does he mean by that?" Faith asks. I answer, "I don't know..." I paused and look his direction, "...but we're gonna find out."

THIS IS THE END OF DERRICK'S THIRD SECTION!!

What does Ethan mean by his quote? Will Faith & Carter get along?

FIND OUT ON THE COMING CHAPTERS OF HIGHLAND TANGLE!!