Soda Pop

Chapter 56- The Truth

I was avoiding Brett. Not answering his calls, responding to text messages, or even his letters. I had fallen off the face of the Earth according to him. When he knocked on my front door, my mother told him I had gone to the store, or some other fib.

Eventally, I got tired of avoiding him. I missed him. So on one particularly starry night when he threw a pebble at my window with surprisingly good aim for his lack of coordination at sports, I was actually a little relieved when he showed up.

However, he could have gotten my attention by simply texting me that he was outside my window. That would have sufficed.

"What are you doing here?" I whisper-yell.

"Oh fair Casey, do me the honor of joining me in a moonlight bottle of our finest bubbling grape juice."

I have to admit, he looks pretty hot dressed in a tux. I saw him in a tux at homecoming, but my arm throbs just thinking about that night.

"Oh really? Is there fine dining too?" I play along, not showing any sign that anything is wrong.

"Of course, only the finest Goldfish crackers for my Lady," He bows.

I close my window and try to make myself run down the stairs and into his arms.

I bury myself into his chest, inhaling his scent. "I'm sorry I've been avoiding you."

I feel my lip quiver as he grasps my shoulders and pulls me tighter. "It's okay, I forgive you. But why we're you avoiding me? Well- not just me. Della and Courtney have been worried too."

"I'm sorry, I just-" I stop myself.

"What? Is there something we need to talk about? If it's something that happened at the party please tell me. Did someone say something to you? Did I say something to you?"

I nod my head, looking down at my Jimmy Choo shoes. He lifts my chin to meet my eyes. I quickly say something in an attempt to change the subject. "How did you throw that pebble three stories up?"

He let's out a slight chuckle. "I didn't, he did."

He nodss towards the sliding glass door near our patio. My brother waves to me, a smile growing on his face.

I turn back to Brett, and notice the way he is looking at me. His eyes are illuminated by the moonlight, and he looks at me as if I am the only girl in the universe. And it isn't difficult to imagine a future together. This is why I am in love with him.

"Casey?"

"Hmm?" He snaps me out of my fantasy.

"What did this person say to you? At the party I mean?"

There is no avoiding it. I have to say something eventually.

"Well. This person was very, extremely drunk. Not unlike everyone else at the party, but this particular person said something that really shocked me. It just took me awhile to process."

"What kind of shocking thing?" He grabs my hand and squeezes it.

I inhale deeply, and try my best to get the words out. "Well... This shocking news. It could land this person in jail. The police have looking for this person for months, not realizing who they are actually looking for."

He shifts a bit, but doesn't get scared away. "And who is this person?"

"I think we both know who it is," I whisper so quietly, it's almost inaudible.

"Can I have 3 clues? Just to be sure."

"Well, first off, it is a male. He is really uncoordinated. And..." I let myself trail off.