Where She Lies

Chapter 15: Glass Hearts Shatter Easily

I stand in my doorway infatuated with the pieces of paper like I have been for the past ten minutes. Looks like I'm not going to any of my classes today. Not that I'm a skipper, I really don't want that image, but my mom was just kidnapped. Also, I'm starting to think that interrogating Quinn is going to take longer than I originally thought it would. I clench my jaw into a firm line and shove the papers in my pocket. I guess I'd better start now. I dig out my phone and think about dialing Quinn, but I decide against it. I think I'll just start my investigation when I get back, and believe me, I'm not planning on being as nice as I had intended to be. I put my phone back in my pocket and jog outside, not even bothering to shut the door as I leave. What's the point? The drive home is a quiet, angst filled one. I continuously drum my fingers on the steering wheel. I hardly notice when it beings to rain, but as it starts to downpour it catches my attention. I sigh and click the turn signal on as I turn left and onto Trevor's lane. Once I stop in his driveway I make sure that the doors are locked before heading inside.

"Hey Kimberly." Quinn smiles at me as I round the corner.

His smile turns into a look of confusion as he notices that nobody followed me inside.

"Where's Trevor?" I simply ask.

"He went for a walk about five minutes ago, why?" Quinn continues to stare at me quizzically.

"Good," I snap and push past him, "Follow me."

I hear him suck in a breath as if he wants to protest or question me, but he doesn't. Instead he simply follows me into my current room. I stop in my tracks and whirl around to face him, causing him to almost - almost, run into me.

"Kimberly," He finally works up his nerve, "Where's your mom at? And what's this about?"

"She was kidnapped." I frown and pull the note out of my pocket.

Quinn's eyes widen as he takes the paper and analyzes it in that weird way that he does.

"Do you have any idea as to who took her?" Quinn looks up from the paper and moves his gaze down to mine.

"I'm not sure, but this one person has been signing their letters E. And I'm sure you noticed that."

"Letters," Quinn raises a brow, "As in more than one?"

I chew on my lip nervously and sigh.

"Yeah. When we were at Heather's house I took a piece of paper that I found in the doorway. It turned out to be signed by E as well."

"Kimberly," Quinn stiffens, "I told you not to mess with anything."

"I know, but you shouldn't be one to talk right now. You have some explaining to do, mister."

Quinn sighs and hands me back the letter. He walks over to the bed and flops down on it while running a hand through his hair. He shifts his head just a fraction and looks me in the eyes.

"Where do you want me to start?" He asks.

"Tell me about your past and about Listette. I know she isn't dead, Quinn." I fold my arms over my chest.

"Oh," He sucks in a breath, "So you did look it up. I shouldn't have said anything about her being dead. I should've figured you'd look it up. After all, you're the one with the glass heart."

I ignore the comment about having a glass heart, whatever the hell that means, and I press on.

"Yeah, I looked it up. Could you please start to explain now?" I snap.

A new expression crosses his face due to my tone, one I haven't seen him wear before, shock mixed with hurt. Maybe I'm just imagining it because it left just as quick as it came.

"Okay," Quinn nods, "Well, back in high school Wyatt still was like my mentor. Trevor and I were best friends just like we are now, and Andi was one of my good friends due to being Trevor's cousin. I don't know why, but Listette really liked me, and I mean really. Esmee didn't talk to me much, but when she did she was nice. She was more shy than her outgoing and very snobby twin sister. Listette was the captain of the cheerleading team, yeah, seems like a stereotype, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," I force a small smile, "Go on."

Quinn clears his throat before continuing.

"Listette would always go partying and at one of those parties I guess she just got involved with the wrong people. She started doing drugs and getting high. I felt bad for her, but she was lashing out and acting worse than she ever used to. One day she dropped out of school and left Esmee behind. She got involved with gangs, even more drugs, and a lot of other things. I'm pretty sure that whatever she did and still does she works alone. I went with you that day to college because I had a feeling she might know about you. She wouldn't have a motive to hurt you, not unless she was tricked into believing one."

"Who would be able to make her want to hurt me?" I gauge the look on Quinn's face.

"My brother." Quinn scowls.

"I've always had my suspicions about Wyatt, and you know that. I just can't figure out what Wyatt would be guilty of and why he would do something sinister. I can't picture him as being a murderer. Wyatt was smitten with Anna, I just can't see why he'd kill her. Then again, I can't be sure. If he killed Anna then he could be the one killing the others. But, if that isn't true, why would Wyatt want to hurt me? If it is true, well, I don't really need an explanation for that. He could know that I suspect him of being guilty. Plus I find it really weird that he gave you a death sentence. I know he isn't very fond of you anymore, and I don't know why, but I don't get why he'd want you dead." I spout out my thoughts that I've been keeping pent up inside.

"Believe me," The expression on Quinn's face turns grim, "He's guilty of something."

"Can you tell me why he hates you so much?" I'm surprised when I find myself whispering.

"No," Quinn's words are sharp, rushed, and cut right through me, "The less you know about my family's past and about Wyatt the better. If you ever run into him you wouldn't be able to keep the nervousness out of your voice if you knew why. You already might be nervous around him, but trust me, you can't know. Not now."

"Then when can I know?" I frown.

"You can't. Not now. Not ever. I mean it Kimberly."

Quinn stands up and walks past me to the door. As he passes me I notice the look in his eyes and it's like a lightbulb turned on in my mind. Maybe he's more worried about me learning about him, than he is Wyatt.

"Hey Quinn," I turn around and he pauses with the door halfway open, "What did you mean by saying that I have a glass heart?"

He turns to look back at me and the ghost of a smile appears on his lips.

"It means that you reflect everything away from you. You like being independent. You block the view to your heart from everyone by reflecting to them what you want them to see so that they don't bother you. So that they don't notice that behind that reflection you actually want someone to help you. You think you can do things on your own, but you know that sometimes you can't. That glass heart of yours can shatter very easily, but yet it's not easy at all. It's nearly impossible, yet it's very possible. I don't see why anyone would want to shatter a beautiful glass heart though. After all, there aren't very many people like you, Kimberly. That's what I meant. That's how you have a glass heart, Kim."

My breath gets caught in my throat when I realize just how right he is.

"Where are you going?" I shake my head as if that'll clear away the foggy feeling.

"Out." Quinn gives me a sad smile before closing the door and leaving me alone in the middle of the room.

I'm not going to give up on you, Quinn. Not now. Not ever. Never.