Malediction

17 - Same Page

Early afternoon, mum and I had returned home, dumping our shopping down on the lounge room floor where we collapsed.
We had walked around the mall for a good 3 hours and by the time we got home, we realised just how sore our legs really were.

During our adventure, I had forgotten all about my mobile phone, so when I dug it out of my pocket after I changed into slacks, I glanced at the screen.

I had many messages and missed calls, mostly from Skyler and Cara, and then I realised there was a message received from an unknown number unrecognised in my saved contacts.

Curiosity peaked as I lie on the couch, the television white noise around me.
Clicking the text open, I narrowed my eyes.

''Are you okay? I asked your brother where you were and he'd said you'd had an accident. Danny'

My heart stopped in my chest, my lungs stinging.
My fingers lingered over the letters on the screen in response.
Of course he was worried, he was paranoid that his mere acquaintance of me would get me killed.

'I'm fine, I just fell at work, small fracture in my wrist'  I directly replied

I waited for a text back, expecting more questions. Instead, minutes passed, followed by hours. By the time Luke came home from school at 4, followed by dad, I realised I wasn't going to get one.
I wanted to continue conversation with him, occasionally lingering on the opening of a new text when I would stop myself.
Why did I care if he answered me back? Why did I feel the need to continue the conversation? I wasn't his friend, he wasn't mine, was he?

As I had the night before, I had struggled with tasks that were simple, and by the time I found my bed, I was just as exhausted as I had been the previous night.
As usual, Mollie was quick to enter my room, finding my slumped body on the bed, curling up beside me for warmth.
Her company was comforting, and I think that over time, I found myself searching for her through the night more so than the other way around.

I began flicking through movies on Netflix when my door was pushed open, an unexpected face emerging

"Hey you awake?" Luke asked quietly

"Yeah" I called back, seconds later his body appearing, moving towards the desk opposite my bed

"Can I ask you something?" He began, his eyes somewhat nervous

I nodded as I regrettably sat up "Sure"

"Do you and Danny talk much? He came and talked to me today about you"

It seemed I couldn't escape Danny Newscot. Not matter what I did.

I remembered my conversation with mum about revealing to the world that I in fact was befriending the odd brother from school.

I nodded "Yeah we have a lot of classes together, so we talk most days, why?"

He sat at my desk, watching my television "Well, remember when I told you about Andy and me having a secret?" He trailed off, this time capturing my entire attention

In that moment, I knew what he knew, but he was yet to know what I knew he knew.

"Yeah I do, and I think that it's the same secret that Danny and I have too"

Suddenly his eyes turned on me, surprised
"He told you about it?"

I narrowed my eyes on him "Let's be sure we're on the same page here Luke" I scoffed, needing to be sure "This secret, is it about their family, about what happens when they make friends or .."