Accidentally Tasha

Chapter 12

Mom doesn't speak a word to us even after we get home. However, we find Olivia in the kitchen making dinner. Mom doesn't act surprised which means that she knew Olivia was home. Jake and I take turns in hugging Olivia. She then pinches our ears, which really doesn't hurt, and says,

"I heard that you two were being naughty."

Jake and I don't say anything.

"But seriously, you guys, do you know how much stress mom and dad went through?" she asks.

Mom walks out of the room satisfied that assistant mommy will do the chastising for her. Olivia waits for the bang of mom's bedroom door and turns to us excitedly,

"What did you guys do? Mom didn't tell me."

We tell her the entire story, including hitting uncle Lytle, and dad mistaking us for thieves and knocking her bedroom door down. We leave out the part about Jake peeing in her chocolate tin. She doubles up in laughter and can't seem to stop, so much so that I take over her cooking.

"You guys are my heroes!" she manages to say.

After dinner is served and the dining table is set, Jake pulls me aside and whispers frantically,

"I don't think I threw the tin away."

I almost throw up.

"Ew, Jacob. You're disgusting." I say.

"I totally forgot about it! Dad had a gun to my face, remember?"

I wonder what we're going to do. Dad fixed the door and locked it again. There is no way we can enter the room without Olivia.

"I'll distract her after dinner and then you'll take your stuff out." I say.

"Good plan," he says.

As we sit down at the table, Jake whispers, "How do you think six day old pee smells?"

I glare at him and say to the rest, "I think I lost my appetite. I'm going to my room."

"No, you'll sit down with us young lady." Mom says firmly.

Oh crap, she's still mad. I obey her and watch as the others eat. Eventually mom says,

"You disappointed me today."

There is anguish in her voice. She turns to me,

"Do you know how hard it is for me not to know where you are?"

I avoid her eyes and say in a low tone, "I'm sorry, mom."

She looks at both of us for a long time to make sure that we both get the message. Without a word she gets up and heads upstairs. We are left to clear the table and do the dishes, which we do in a matter of minutes.

"I'm going to bed now," Olivia announces.

"Wait!" I say "Can I come with you?"

"To bed with me? ew, Tasha." Olivia says.

"No, not like that!" I say.

Jake lets out a chuckle. I glare at him and fortunately, he gets the message and shuts up.

"I mean, there's something I want to ask you." I correct myself.

"Okay," she says. I follow her to her room. She takes out the key from her bag. I am prepared to be hit by the smell of six day old pee but there's none. I sigh in relief.

"Okay, what do you want to ask?"

I hadn't really thought of something to say.

"Umm, I just wanted to ask whether... umm... "

"Oh my gosh! You already met Ashton, didn't you?" she asks.

"Yes," I say.

"You want to know where all about him! I knew it!"

She grabs my hand and leads me to my bedroom. Jake is standing by his door, pretending to be texting someone. I nod at him to let him know that this is his chance. He looks at me and cocks his head sideways, as if trying to tell me something. Confused, I follow Olivia into my room. She heads to the shelf and pulls out some books. Hidden by their view is a scrapbook I hadn't noticed in all my time here. That really is a good hiding place. She hands it to me. The scrapbook is filled with photos of Tasha and Ashton. They look so happy, so in love. Now I understand why Ashton looks at me with so much emotion. What I don't understand though, is why he started dating Tasha's best friend. That is just seriously messed up. I notice a locket Tasha's wearing in every single photo.

"Hey, do you know where this locket is?" I ask.

"You must have been wearing it when you disappeared. You never took it off after he gave it to you."

"Even after we broke up?"

"Yeah, you used to hide it though."

Man, those two really loved each other. I don't really have anything else to say so I bid Olivia goodnight. I am studying the photos when Jake comes in. I try to hide the scrapbook but he says,

"Don't. I already saw it."

He looks torn, hurt and really confused. He opens his mouth trying to say something but closes it. Finally, he says,

"You know why I don't want Ashton around you?"

"No," I answer.

"It's because I know him. I won't pretend that I'm some sort of saint but... he doesn't deserve you."

"You're saying that because I'm your little sister," I smile.

He manages to smile. "Well, that's true. But you're also an exceptional person, you deserve the best."

"You have to admit that there's bias there." I say.

He smiles and then keeps quiet for a moment too long.

"Don't fall for him again, Tasha. He'll only break your heart."

I've never seen this side of Jake. The look in his eyes is dead serious, and right now there is no trace of the stupid brother I'm used to.

"I'll go now," he says "I can see that I'm scaring you."

After he's gone, I think of Ashton. I think of the first time I saw him in jail. I think of how my heart almost stopped when our eyes met. I think of the one second kiss he gave me. I think of the emotion in his eyes when he talked to me today. I come up with a conclusion that doesn't really shock me.

I like him.