The Secret

Chapter 13

I walked into my apartment and Ryder was laying on the couch surfing through the channels. The gifts from his birthday were still sitting on the table unopened. I closed the door and stood in front of him folding my arms. Ever since that night on his birthday, Ryder had been acting strange. I knew it had something to do with whatever Daniel's mom did to him and E. Also I haven't seen E since that day and that was strange. I looked over at the unopened presents and sighed. 

"Aren't you going to open those?" I asked him and he finally looked over at me. There were bags under his eyes and his dark hair was longer than usual. He's been moping around the house and everytime I asked him he didn't know why. It was scary if you ask me.

"I feel like I opened those the night of my party. But I can't remember what is inside those boxes. It's like a part of my memory is lost. I don't even remember eating the cake, which was my favorite. Is that weird?" he asked me and then yawned. He didn't wait for me to answer. "Maybe I was just so drunk that I don't remember. Maybe it's just nothing."

"Ryder," I started grabbing the remote from him. I was tired of him doing nothing around him, his cooking wasn't even the same and that was a big problem. I would tell him what happened even if he didn't believe me. "The night of your party Daniel's sister came and froze the party so she could have a little chat with me. She talked about sacrifices and other things. She unfroze time, Daniel came, we left the party and went to his house. We met his family and his mom did some crazy voodoo making you think you stayed at the party instead of what actually happened," I finished and took a deep breath in. I tried to rush the words as fast as I could.

Ryder stared at me for a long time before laughing. By the time he was finished there were tears in his eyes. "I thought I was crazy, but you-" he started laughing again and I stomped to my room and slammed the door. Of course he wouldn't believe me, his mind has been altered. This was the first time he has laughed in the last couple of days. He doesn't even talk about Veronica any more. My phone started to ring and I picked up angrily.

"What?" I snapped.

"Who do you think you are talking to?" Rebecca snapped back. I wasn't in the mood for her daily check ups. I felt like she was my doctor but she was more annoying. I would tell Grace about Daniel but I wouldn't tell Rebecca. That just screamed bad idea. 

"I'm sorry Rebecca. Is there anything that you want?" the apology wasn't sincere and I knew that she knew that. But I didn't care, I had more problems than Rebecca.

"I have one question for you."

"And what is it?" I asked. Something told me that this conversation wasn't going to end well.

"Have you figured out his secret yet?" she asked and I could tell she knew the answer already. 

"No."

"Aura, I'm ending the plan, you are obviously a waste of time and I should have known that you wouldn't get the job done. I don't want you talking to Daniel anymore. It's over," she announced and my heart started to beat faster. Not talk to Daniel? I couldn't see that happening at the moment. How could I just stop? Those three days were nothing compared to a lifetime without him. Talking to him became way more then just gaining information, he was my friend and I couldn't just give him up. 

"I'm sorry Rebecca I can't do that," I told her and she screamed into the phone. I held it away from my ear until she was done.

"Yes you can and you will! You never wanted to be part of this plan, you just wanted Daniel for yourself just admit it! You've been stalling and trying to make him like you but guess what, he doesn't! And he never will, get that through your stupid head," she yelled and I rolled my eyes. She was so dramatic. I didn't even know about Daniel until she mentioned him the day in the bathroom. That felt like an eternity ago.