Not Everything Is As It Seems (Reconnected, finishing in progress)

Curve Ball

I woke in the morning to a pressure on my knees that was causing an unbearable tickling sensation to spread through my body. I erupted with laughter, trashing around trying to get whomever was tickling my knees off of me, but they were sitting on my legs. I eventually rolled over getting them free only to fall off the side of the bed and land on the floor with a thud. The intruder... Scratch that, intruders! Were laughing so hard they were gasping for air. I swear I heard one of them snort!

I threw a pillow that fell with me at them and curled up in a fetal position hoping to go back to sleep only to have the girls hit me repeatedly with pillows.

A smile found its way to my lips as I jumped up ripping a pillow from Ray's hands and belted them back laughing and giggling like a child. 

After tearing around the house beating eath other unmercifully we fell to the kitchen floor laughing so hard our stomachs hurt.

"Good morning!" I breathed out once I'd caught my breath. 

The girls giggled and replied

"Good afternoon sleepy head" almost at the same time.

I looked at the time on the microwave and sure enough it was 12:15pm.

"whoops" I muttered. "how long have you guys been awake?" I asked with yawn

"only about 20 minutes before we decided you should be awake too" Jaz replied with a cheeky grin still staring at the ceiling.

Ray yawned and chimed in "omelette anyone?" jumping up heading for the fridge.

"Hell yeah" Jaz and I replied getting up to help. 

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"Well that was yum" Jaz said,  putting away the last clean dish while Ray wiped down the last of the toast crumbs off the bench. I washed the remaining soap suds down the sink and turned off the tap. "Sure was" I said taking the tea towel from her hanging it from the oven handle.

We decided to have a movie day as we were all too hung over to do anything. After watching the Twilight Saga from Twilight to Breaking Dawn part 1 it was about 7pm when Jaz stood up from the couch and stretched.

"We should head off, thank you so much for last night and today. I had so much fun." She yawned pulling me up of the couch for a hug.

"Now! Really?" Ray questioned in a shaky voice. She looked scared again. I reached out to her and pulled her in for a hug as well.

"Yes now, I have an assignment to finish it's due tomorrow." Jaz laughed at Ray's objection to going home but I knew it wasn't because she wanted to stay. It was because she was afraid to leave. What had her so frightened I didn't know but I hoped to find out on Monday. I would put money on it being something to do with the date or the phone call Mike got the other night. I felt frustrated that I didn't know, that something had her so wound up, she didn't even want to go home. What could have her so fearful?

Ray laughed it off adding "I was having so much fun is all" trying to hide her terror. But I saw through it. I really needed to talk to her. Hopefully I could help her.

The girls got their things into Ray's car ready to leave.

" So how far is your house from here Ray" I asked curiously. I knew Jaz lived a couple of streets over but I realized I'd never asked Ray where she lives.

"Just in the next suburb over. About 10 minutes down the highway." she almost whispered. I could see the fear in her eyes as well as hearing it in her voice. I got a strange pang in my heart at the tone of her voice. I felt protective of her and wanted so badly to take away whatever had her so frightened..

I think she realized I was on to her so she added "I hate the highway at night, it's creepy." trying to justify the fear again with a nervous smile.

"Well why don't you just stay here again, we can go to school together. Just wash your clothes from the weekend and chuck 'em in the dryer. Bob's your Aunty - clean clothes for school." I suggested hoping she would get the hidden excuse I'd made for her to not go home as well as a chance to talk alone.

Her eyes lit up for a second before looking at the ground defeated.  

"I have to take Jaz home"

"Darn right, oh I forgot my charger" Jaz called as she raced back inside to get it.

Taking the opportunity to be alone I quickly explained my idea.

"I know something is going on that's got you scared and I would bet my last dollar it has something to do with Mike, Trey or both. I want to help you. Drop off Jaz then come back here for the night so we can talk. I have something I need to talk to you about as well."

She looked at me with gratitude and relief, opening her mouth to say something but closing it again as Jaz came racing back from inside the house.  

"Found it" she announced triumphantly blowing me a kiss, then jumping in the passenger seat of the car. Ray caught my eyes giving me a nod letting me know she was coming back.

"I'll see you in 20 then. Are you sure it's ok?" she asked 

I rolled my eyes. "Buggar off will you and I'll wash your clothes when you get back."  

"Thanks" she smiled getting in the driver's side and starting the car.

I got the double meaning to the thanks and immediately felt better knowing she would be ok tonight and I would finally find out what had her so frightened. I was sure we could figure something out to help her. I mean how bad could it be?

'OMG,'  I thought out loud. The bastard dumped her again I bet. I can't believe he would do it AGAIN! No wonder she's so down. I obviously mistook fear for a broken heart. Poor girl. I will have his head for this.

I watched her pull out the driveway and drive down the road until another car pulled out from the side of the road as Ray passed and blocked them from my view. All I could see was the black car's rear end. Even though it was dark I could see the license plate. I found it amusing that the plate read GOLD on a BLACK car. That dude must be colour blind.

I walked back inside trying to think of what you say to a broken hearted person. When I heard a car pull up in the driveway. 'wow, that was quick' I thought. I looked out the front door expecting to see Ray but instead it was Mum and Dad's car.

I waited until they had unpacked the car before I told them about Ray staying the night. 

We were sitting at at the table drinking coffee and talking about our weekend, how beautiful the wedding was, how boring the drive was, how badly dad snores when he's had a few ectc., etc.. I told them about my weekend leaving out bits and pieces I didn't think parents should know about their little girl. eg. 'Hey guys yeah, so I tried Ice and then I lost my virginity, cool right!?' Nope I really didn't think that would sit right.

I was washing up the coffee cups we had finished using when mum asked,

"it's getting late love, what time were you expecting your friend Raychel?"

I looked at the microwave 8:58pm

"She was dropping off Jaz, she only lives 10 minutes away so I would have expected her here an hour ago" I answered with a furrowed brow and pursed lips, deep in thought. I had been so preoccupied catching up with mum and dad that I hadn't noticed the time.

"I'll give her a call" I called over my shoulder as I raced up the stairs. I felt really sick in the pit of my stomach. Where the hell was she!?

I picked up my phone which was still turned off and held down the button till the white apple symbol appeared on the screen. I had missed calls and messages from Mike again. I dismissed them, I could deal with them later.

The thing that caught my eye was the missed call from a number not yet saved in my contacts and a voice mail message from it.

The ache in my stomach intensified and my heart rate took off in overdrive. My hands were sweating and shaking. I had no idea what this message was about or who is was from but my intuition tells me life is about to throw me a curve ball.

Edited 27/08/21