Danger Love Ahead

Chapter Twenty-Five: Plans

(April's version) 

"I didn't know you were back in the team, honey," Mom commented at the wheel. True to his word, Brandon did not return. My mom was there a few minutes later and helped me to the car, gushing about cheer leading. Kenny wasn't too interested in the topic and sat with two earphones in his ear.

I was semi-sprawled on the backseat, still holding the ice-pack to my ankle. My muscles ached and I felt so grimy at the moment that I couldn't wait to invade our shower back home. 

"No one told me I was a cheerleader," I said aloud.

"It didn't really occur to me to tell you.." Mom trailed off. "I mean, you were a gymnast back in London. They didn't have a gymnastic team here so you tried out for cheer leading."

"What was I doing in London?" I asked. No one even mentioned London either. Mom's expression turned cautious and I knew we were treading on painful ground. There was a barrier up all of a sudden. A painful memory.

"I was a lawyer," she answered. "I traveled...a lot. Kenny hadn't started school yet so it was easier to take him around with me. As for you, it would have been harder for you to keep making new friends. You were educated in an all-girl's school situated inside the walls of a convent."

"Nuns..." I remembered the dream I had in the hospital. The little girl in the nun's outfit. That was me. But what did Halloween symbolize? "What happened on Halloween?" I yelped at the loud sound of screeching brakes. Mom had slammed her foot down suddenly and the car roared to a stop in the middle of the street. Horns blared around us and motorists complained in not so nice ways.

"MOM!" Kenny shrieked, yanking the ear phones from his ears.

"Sorry," Mom whispered starting the engine up again. I didn't ask anymore questions after that. The drive home was quiet except for Kenny's grumbling. It occurred to me that no one spoke about dad. Was there a divorce? Or had he passed already?

It wasn't long before mom pulled into the driveway.

"April, there's something I need to tell you," Mom began hesitantly, her eyes beseeching mine in the rear-view mirror. "I didn't ask your permission...I didn't even think twice.."

"Spit it out, mom," Kenny drawled, earning a scowl from yours truly. 

"I gave away your diary..."

silence 

"WHAT?" I blurted out after her words registered in my head. She winced guiltily, desperate to get her apology across.

"The detective paid me a visit. I told him everything that we've suspected. Even your suspicion about Brandon but I also made it clear that Brandon would never want to hurt you...well, I had to because he obviously suspected Brandon. I showed him the diary and the unmatched handwriting. He sealed it in a small plastic bag and he asked if we needed any security or if we had any security issues..." I nodded, waiting patiently for mom to finish her story. Kenny had left already with the house keys and was probably rummaging the fridge at the moment. "I assured him that nothing has happened so far. He agrees with us that the culprit is someone from Graham and if found, can't be trialed as an adult. Maybe juvenile or counseling, I don't know. They don't have any witnesses...who can recognize the suspects. The public latrine was deserted and because it was a school day and a working day, not many people were around that area."

"So there are no witnesses....at all?" I asked.

"There were motorists who noticed a blond girl stumbling on the footpath," Mom gave me a knowing look. "They did notice a few others behind you around your age. But no one paid close attention, I guess. They just wrote you off as delinquents." I nodded.