Simpler Things

Part 7: Probably not the same person.

                I was quiet the rest of the day. I've never felt so anxious. I was terrified. Who else would end up dead because of me?
              I walked to the parking lot. I decided it'd be best to stay inside the school, instead of being outside. Alone. I finally pushed through the doors. Charlie was sitting in the drivers seat, blasting Queen. I opened the door, slipping my backpack off, he turned the music dow. Turning the key, the engine turned over. I slowly breathed. Charlie looked over,
"What?" I looked at him, suprised,  and responded,
"Oh nothing, rough day." Understatement of the year. A psychopath was killing people as if it's a game of chess. They are just pawns to him. But what does that make me?
               We passed the police tape as we pulled in. I looked over at the base of the tree. They had taken the body, probably to do an autopsy, but the grass seeds flattened where it once had been. Opening the door, I made my way to the house. I rummaged through my pocket. Charlie came up behind me, dangling our house keys. I remembered leaving them in the car. He smirked as the door clicked open. I kicked off my shoes and headed upstairs. Finishing algebra, I unfolded the note. It haunted me. Like all of this was my fault. I breathed heavily, trying to slow my ever escalating heart beat. Should I tell his to the police or F.B.I? It'd be the right thing to do, right? I slipped my cell phone out of my backpack. 1 new message. I clicked the screen and my mom's contact came up. Suddenly my fear drained.
I'm just leaving work now. I'll be home to make dinner, remember Kyle's coming over at 7.
              Kyle. Ew. He's nice, and all, but the only person I could ever see my mother with was my father. Call me stubborn. My ring tone let off. Another message had come in,
Oh and I have a suprise!
           I silently prayed that it wasn't more granny clothes from Costco. I texted back,
Can't wait :)
          I didn't think I was a stereotypically teenager, I mean, I tried to stay positive. Be nice, all that crap. Sometimes it didn't work though. I looked around my room. It's still the same room. It's always going to be.
My mother's car pulled in half an hour later. I walked out in slippers to help her with groceries, but there weren't any.
"What are you going to cook for dinner?" I said. She rolled her eyes,
"Well its nice to see you too." I barley let her finish,
"What are you going to cook for dinner?" She looked over,
"Lasagna, it's Kyle's favorite. Amd don't you want to see my suprise?" She said, too enthusiastic. I said,
"Sure. Please tell me your not preg-" she cut me off.
"No. No, no, no, that train has left the station." She laughed to herself. She walked around the car and opened the back door, revealing a cork board. "I thought you could pin up some photos or something," I looked at in disbelief. How... stereo-
"What do you think?" I smiled. It was perfect.
"I love it, thank you." She smiled, and hugged me. After she went inside I pulled it out of the car. It was about 5 feet by 3. Pretty big. Now I could really become a private investigator. I looked back over at the willow tree. It seemed to smile at me.
                   Kyle came at 6:59. Exactly. He was dressed in a dress shirt and work pants. He slipped his shoes off in a orderly manor. They we a shiny black leather. He kissed my mum on the cheek and shook Charle's hand. He didn't know how to great me, so he just awkwardly petted my shoulder. Which was very awkward. My mom brought the lasagna out of the oven, setting it on the place mat. We all sat around the table. Is this what my family is going to be like now?
"So, how's school?" Kyle asked Charlie and I.
"Good," he replied. I said,
"It's okay." He looked over and smiled, his teeth weren't nearly as straight as my father's.
"You'll never guess what," he said, grabbing my mother's hand,
"My sister's getting married. The wedding is in a month."
My mother smiled,
"Cara, really?"
"Yes, and I'd love if you all could come." Um. What?
"I'm sure we can, but let's talk about it after dinner." There will be no talking. I don't know this person, why should I go to there wedding?
I looked over at Charlie, he forced a smile. We shared the god given gift of facial communication. We're only 4 years apart, we've always had each other. Years of practice came in handy for these kene moments.
Um... do you know a 'Cara'? 
No. Maybe.. Delevingne?
Okay... well, I don't want to go-
Free food.
What?
Just think: free food.
Why should that change-
Free. Food.
And I did think. I rethought and rethought again. The only thing I was looking forward to was, maybe, free food.