Miserable

7

Jade and I sit on the couch.

James sits down beside me and Rich sits beside mom. Jade's parents sit on the other couch.

"How did you know we were here?" I ask James.

He shrugs. "I saw you both running. Had to assume you'd come here."

I nod slowly. It just seems weird how James would be here.

"Maybe he's a stalker?" Jade whispers. I laugh catching everyone's attention.

"Sorry." I say trying to hold back the next laugh.

"Now why would he do that?" I ask her.

She gives me a knowing smile. I roll me eyes.

"No." I say.

She nods. "Yes. Ask Rich."

What? Rich?

I turn to look at my brother who's also looking at me.

"What did you want to tell me earlier?" I ask him.

He smiles and motions for me to follow him to the hallway while the adults talk.

"James wants to tell you something. But he's still unsure. So I'm gonna say something. Like, a clue, to help him out." He says smiling widely.

I'm confused. "What?"

"He knows who wrote the notes." Is all Rich says before walking back to the living room.

"Wait!" I call out, but Rich is already gone. "That doesn't help. That doesn't even make any sense."

I sigh. Oh well. I go back to the room where everyone's busy talking.

"Joy? Sit down please." My mom says sternly.

I sit down surprised by her sudden change of tone.

"That guy. We figured out who he is and why he's acting like this." Mom continues.

My mouth hangs open.

"His name is Tyron. He was seven when his parents died in a plane crash." She starts. I know where this is going. "He knew that it was our company's plane that had supposedly "killed" his parents. The plane had crashed due to turbulence but he vowed revenge on our family. Why he chose to use you, we don't know."

I take a deep breath. That makes sense. But why me?

James holds my hands and squeezes it.

"I'm right here. Always here for you." He whispers.

The sentence sends chills down my back.

"D-Do you really m-mean that?" I stutter.

He chuckles at my uncertainty.

"Yes."

"Thanks."

And that's all I needed to hear. My sadness melted away and I smiled. I rarely smile now. But because of these new things happening in my life, well, the positive ones, I'm starting to find joy again.

***

For the rest of the week, James started hanging out with Rich, Jade and I even more. Clarence, or Troy, also talked to me often. Whenever he could. Jade and I got closer and I unloaded a lot of the feelings I kept inside. But joyful moments aren't the only 'moments' brewing.

My mom has become a lot more protective and serious. She only lets me and Rich go out of the house when she's there or the school bus arrived.

She also doesn't have time for us anymore so we use our cellphones a lot. But she always checks them after she gets home from work.