I Look In People's Windows

Chapter 12

TW/mentions of eating disorder

Fearless

I sat up when I heard a key turning in the door. The only thing on my mind was Speak Now. I couldn't sleep last night being so worried about her. My heart sank when Holiday Collection told me she was in the hospital yesterday. I wanted to strangle her but I couldn't do anything with my hands tied, stuck who knows where.

“Good morning Fe.”

“Is Speak Now okay?”

“You really lack manners don't you. And she's still in a coma I'm afraid.”

“How do you do that? Talk so casually about her when you're the reason she's in the hospital. You cut the brakes on her car.”

“I never meant to cut her brakes. I just wanted to give her some car trouble. But cars these days are so temperamental. And anyway, if anyone finds out, you're the one who cut the brakes on her car. Not me. Remember?”

“You're a sick, sick person.”

“Hmm, I don't think so.” She paced back and forth at the front of the room. “I've been thinking lately. I wanted them to figure out that it was you doing all the bad things in the house but not this soon. I'm having far too much of a good time watching them wallow in their self pity.” She stopped pacing, looking at me with a thoughtful expression. “Evermore is really getting in my way so I think I might have to dispose of her.”

“You can't hurt her. Just leave her alone.”

“You barely knew her a day. Why do you care?”

“Because I have a heart.”

“I don't think you do. If you did, you wouldn't have tossed me to the side like a piece of trash.”

“You tried to kill Speak Now and you're calling me heartless?”

“It was an accident Fe.” Her voice was filled with mock sympathy. “And I wouldn't raise your voice at me again or do I need to remind you what happens when you talk out of turn?”

“No. I'm sorry.”

“That's what I thought.”

If I could just strangle her I would do it in a flash.

Evermore

I'd stayed up most of last night trying to make sense of everything that was happening lately. Red had a picture which helped me to piece everything together and I came to the conclusion that the Fearless living with us was an imposter.

As much as I would have loved to tie her up and get some answers on my own, our one on one meetings so far didn't go to plan so I decided to get some help. Knocking on the door, I waited till I got an answer before entering the room.

“Reputation. We need to have a conversation.” My eyes roamed over Lover and Reputation in front of me, already dressed to leave for the hospital.

“Why don't we talk in the car on the way to the hospital. We were about to head downstairs to leave anyway.”

“It can't wait.”

“Okay? What's up then?”

“This is going to make me sound crazy but just hear me out. The Fearless living with us isn't actually Fearless. It's Holiday Collection. I think she took the real Fearless and did something to her.”

“Uhm, Evermore. Are you sure you're not drunk or something?” I suppressed a small chuckle. Lorie asked me the same thing when I woke her up in the middle of the night to tell her about my findings.