All The Same (kellic)

16. Surprise surprise

sorry for the short chapter

***

I don't know why Officer Martin is taking my mother and I along with him. He called the other officers to meet him there soon if he'll need any back up. I suppose he's probably taking me along to negotiate with Vic, because I know him well enough at this point. Or do I?

We arrive at the Fuentes' house. The exterior looks dead and cold, the warm inviting feeling washed away from the walls. I'm still in shock. How could I have been so stupid? Tenvin C was there, right in front of my face this whole time.

"Wait here," Officer Martin says to my mother and I. Mom hasn't said a word this whole drive. I stay slouched in the backseat, chewing on the inside of my cheek.

Officer Martin gets out of the car and closes the car door behind him. He walks up the little pathway to the door, where he knocks three times. I watch him do that again, but this time the door opens a bit. Officer Martin takes the gun out of it's holster and disappears inside the house.

This is when Mom speaks. She says in a sad voice, "This boy's brother was a victim of your father's gang."

I look at her, shocked. How much shock am I going to go through in one day? She's looking out the window, but I can see from the rear view mirror that her face looks suddenly older, lines etched into the skin.

"He was?" I ask stupidly.

"Yes," Mom says, "The injured boy's family was in the court when your father was put on trial. This Vic boy wasn't."

"Oh," is all I say. What else should I say to this? For some reason, I had a feeling my dad had something to do with it.

Mom doesn't say anything else, so I stay quiet as well. I turn my attention back towards the house, and see Officer Martin walking out of the door towards the car. Once he gets to the car, he opens my door.

"He isn't here, but he left you something," Officer Martin steps aside as I unbuckle my seat belt and get out of the car. I follow him up the walkway and into the house, my knees wobbly.

Inside is even worse than outside. There isn't any life in this home anymore, as if it had been stripped away like the wrapper on a candy bar. Vic's sweet mother isn't in the house and the curtains are all drawn.

I follow Officer Martin into the kitchen, where a green envelope is sitting on the table. The officer doesn't even give me any gloves, just nudges me towards the table.

I pick up the envelope and open it. With the knowledge that Vincent is Vic, I feel even more sick and disturbed as I open the envelope and shake out the letter. I catch it before it falls on the table and unfold it.

All it says is:

Surprise

***

Mom and I eat supper in silence. The police are now searching for Vic more than they were before. They have a suspect, making it easier for them to find ways to look for him.

I feel horrible for developing a crush on Vic. Was it all fake on his part? I'm assuming it was. I don't think he ever wanted to be my friend, and I should have listened to the rumours and stayed away from him.

After finishing my food, I say a quick good night to Mom and head downstairs to my room. I go into the bathroom, stripping myself of my clothes and turning on the water to take a shower.

The water is steaming hot when I step in, but I don't care. I feel weirdly dirty and gross. I trusted Vic and he stole my best friend. I still want to believe he isn't the one behind all of this, but there's nothing else I can believe.

I turn off the water and hop out of the shower, drying myself off and putting on my pajamas. I am so tired and I just want to sleep. Now that the police are handling things, I think I can try to sleep. I need rest.

I get in bed and turn off the lights. The house is quiet and dark, and I wonder if Vic is watching me. That thought makes me sick to my stomach and I shake my head, trying to rid myself of these thoughts.

Just as I begin to relax by thinking about cute golden retriever puppies eating peanut butter, there's a weight on my bed. My eyes snap open, but I am unable to move since I can feel a body on top of me, holding me down.

I'm too surprised to react. An all too familiar voice says, "Don't scream," as a hand covers my mouth and a chemical scent fills my nose, knocking me out.