Sealed Lips ✔️

Chapter 24

Jake:

"Yeah, he is. They asked me all about Fice. I didn't spill everything, but I told them he threatened us, and we nearly ended up freezing to death in that freezer. He made us turn against our friends, made you run away, and all that," I explain to her.

"Okay, so you didn't mention the suicide letters?" she asks, her expression serious. I hold her hand in mine.

"No, but Beth, I think we need to. Maybe just tell our parents. I mean, think about how Lily's parents must feel. They know nothing except that their daughter committed suicide. Beth, we know Lily had no solid reason to pin it on us. This could be a setup by Fice," I urge.

"I know, but it's also possible that it's real. After all, I was the one who posted the article about her when she was at the Triangle Tree," she says as if grappling with the weight of reality.

"Beth, she didn't know that. At least you weren't the one who humiliated her in front of the whole school."

"Yeah, she found out, Jake. I can't remember how."

"I remember. It was a big drama when she found out. Is that why she gave you that makeover?" I ask, cautiously probing, afraid to bring up past pain.

"Yes, exactly. The reason I wanted to join the Nitches, the day after I published the article, was because Briley used to talk about how she wanted to be a part of the Nitches. She'd never leave our friends, so I wanted to join for her. You saw how that turned out..." She gazes down at our intertwined hands.

"But wasn't Marco the one who told Lily? Yes, because if I remember correctly, he was also working for the paper, he hated you, you hated him, and he wanted to impress Lily."

"You're right. It was him, yeah... Fice. Jake, don't you think that maybe Marco indirectly pushed Lily towards this? I mean, he probably told her that she should get back at us, maybe he motivated her in a twisted way?" she suggests.

"It's possible, but we can never be certain. Beth, I think Fice, or, Marco, made it all up. Just to get us in trouble and to have something to hold over us. What else does Marco have on us?" I wonder aloud.

"Well, we know Fice is unhinged and ruthless. It's in his DNA. He's just like Roger. So, he probably wanted revenge because I ruined his dad's plan of marrying my mom," she concludes.

"That's crazy," I say.

"Exactly. Fice is crazy," she says.

"You know that song that was playing on the radio station Fice told us to listen to? It kept repeating the word blue and the car that crashed into us was blue. Coincidence? I think not. But why would he give such useless info? I think the number of the station, 12.6 FM, has to be some kind of clue, but I don't know what it could mean. I've tried figuring it out, but I can't."

"Yes, it could be. We have to figure it out. I just...I can't believe it's him," she says and attempts to pull her into a hug with my hand that's already holding hers, but she flinches.

"What's wrong," I ask.

"Nothing," she says and looks down. She leans in for a hug to distract me, but I say, "I can see there's something wrong Beth."

She looks deep into my eyes and sighs, "Fine. I hurt my arm very badly."

"And?" I say when she keeps quiet.

"My leg too. I didn't want to tell you because I really don't want you to worry about it, it's nothing."

"Beth, the least I could do for you is worry..." I say but she cuts me off.

"Exactly, you don't owe me anything Jake, that's why I didn't want to tell you."

"You don't get it. You prevented me from dying by stopping the blood from pouring out. Marco took a picture of you like that and now everyone saw it. I know that's not your comfort zone at all. I owe you everything," I say and put my hand on the side of her face that's not resting on the pillow.

"I did it because I care for you Jake," she says. I lean my face closer to hers.

I kiss her softly and she moves her one leg over mine. I hold her tightly as she pulls me closer to her. She starts to run her fingers through my hair as I kiss her deeply.

Someone opens the door and we slowly move away from each other.

"Bethany I'm sorry to announce that unfortunately, you have to leave. Jake has to rest."

I look at Beth and she's smirking at me.

"Bethany, nurse Mary will take you to your room. Where's your crutches?" the doctor asks.

"I don't want to go," she confesses to me. I gently take her hand and press a kiss on her cheek. "I don't want you to leave either. But Beth, please, try to gather more information about him," I say.

"I will," she assures me, a smile gracing her lips.

She rises from the chair, retrieving her crutches. She appears a bit uneasy, hopping with just one. Once at the door, she turns back, her hair falling in her face. "You don't owe me anything," she states and then leaves the room.

Bethany:

Just as I'm about to walk into my room with Nurse Mary, she stops me. "Bethany, stay out here. We just have to wait a minute," she says and I'm confused.

"For what?" I ask because my one leg gets tired from carrying all the weight.

"We hired a PI to investigate Marco, or Fice as you call him. He went through all of Marco's recent calls, messages, and activities. He found that you were the last caller on his phone and it was recently, what was it about?" Mary asks.

"Sorry, but I think I should be talking to the police about this. It's kind of personal."

"FBI agent, Caroline Johnson," she says while she shows her badge. Oh goodness.

"Oh, okay, sorry. So you and the PI are working together on this case?" I ask.

"Yes we are and we have some information that we need to share with you and Jake, but I will inform the both of you when the doctor comes," Agent Johnson says. "Now, give me an answer Miss Andrews."

"I called him to tell him to remove his Instagram post. He posted a picture of me, um, in my bra holding my shirt when I took it off to cover his head," I say awkwardly.

"Okay, yes we saw."

"Did you find anything?" I ask.

"Miss Johnson, you can come through," the doctor says and we walk to Jake's room, once again.

"Okay, I do not have a lot of time so I'm going to make this quick," FBI Johnson says while I go and sit next to Jake on his bed.

"The personal investigator and I searched him from head to toe. We forced the truth out of him and we got our answer, in a legal manner of course. I hate to be the barrier of bad news but he was proven innocent."

"What? I'm sorry but this is bullshit. I saw him," Jake says with anger in his tone.

"We tested the DNA in the car and it was him who caused the crash, therefore he will be seen in court in a week."

"A week? Why can't he just go to jail?" I ask.

"Everything could be a setup. He could've done this just to be with his dad in jail, or to help him escape so we are trying to put the puzzle together. We found some interesting information that proves he didn't send those messages to you," she says.

"What do you mean?" Jake asks.

"Marco is not Fice. He has been proven innocent."