What Lies Beneath

ChapterSix

Chapter 6

I can only see an outline of his truck from the darkness swallowing it but Alec walks as if the sun were out.

We drive and I have to tell him the directions the whole way there, but I don't mind.

"By the way, I really am sorry about my mom. She usually doesn't act that bad but that's still not an excuse."

"It's alright, I just want to know what it's about, you know?"

"I can try to ask my dad what's going on and try to get back to you if you want," he offers.

"You know what, that would be great. James has been acting really weird lately so maybe that'll clear some things up."

"Alright cool, so what's the deal with your family? If you don't mind me asking."

"No it's no big deal. It's kind of a long story but I guess it starts when I was younger. I don't remember my dad because something happened to him and no one ever knew what. So I just lived with my mom but the thing is she has had Alzheimer's as far back as I could remember and on good days I would try to convince her to go to the hospital, but she never did. It annoyed me so much to a point where I just gave up on her but it started taking a turn for the worse. She wouldn't talk and wouldn't even be in her body some days, just her staring off into space. It was just really freaky." I look over at him to make sure he's still listening, and I can tell that he wants to hear more.

"So just a couple weeks ago, I find her in this one room of my house that I never went into before. It's weird because sometimes I would find her standing in front of that door, just staring at it for hours. She was collapsed with no sign of anything going on and it freaked the hell out of me, so I caved and called the hospital. They came and found out I had been keeping this secret from them and now they are watching my every move to make sure they don't miss anything else.

"But now I live with James and Janet. So far they seem alright but James is crazy and Janet is one of the greatest people I've ever met. It's kind of funny, she kind of acts like your dad," I add in. He laughs and the dark mood is less restrained.

"Hey thanks, and thanks for telling me that. It must suck real bad."

"Yeah a little bit, but whatever."

We pull onto the street where my driveway is hidden. I feel like I live in the middle of nowhere because you can't even see my house when you pull onto it. The driveway goes and wraps around a forest and the house is in the middle of a semi spiral. It isn't very mossy and there aren't a lot of trees hanging over the wooden house. It looks as if someone took a bulldozer and inconveniently cleared this area out. The front porch is tiny compared to the colossal of a house that I have to live in.

"Thanks for the ride, I'll catch up with you tomorrow."

"Ok and by the way," he stops to make sure he has my attention, "if you need anything at all, I'm not far."

That really means something to me; he would take time out of his life to make sure I'm all right when he has enough to deal with.

"Thanks, I really appreciate that," I say earnestly. I jump out of the car and grab my belongings, sad to leave Alec but looking forward to see him tomorrow.

I walk up the long driveway and make my way to the front door. I take in the strange feeling that always creeps up on me, a silent whisper of you don't belong lingers in the air.

I open the door and try to sneak past James without him noticing but he's in the study and there's no way to avoid him.

"Matthew?"

Shit. I shut the door, "Hi."

"How was your night?"

"It was good, how was yours?" I walk into his study and look at him in his swivel chair.

"Very pleasant."

Awkward silence.

"So, where's Janet?"

"She went home but she will be back tomorrow."

"Ok." I wait for him to say something else but nothing comes.

"Well, I'm exhausted so I'm going to get ready for bed."

"Very well, see you tomorrow."

"Ok."

I go to my room in the right wing, set my stuff down and get in the shower. How does Alec's mom know James? Or Janet? It could be either of them. And what's up with her reaction? Maybe if I ask Janet tomorrow she'll tell me, why wouldn't she? What was her name? Shianna Cayenne I think; I don't think I have ever heard that name before besides Alec's last name. But what's the worst that can happen? I'll just know more about who I live with.

I get out of the shower, still pondering over what to think about. When I go to bed late that night, my final thoughts are on Clara. I know I had only confronted her once but something about her reminds me a lot about Alec, no wonder why they're friends. If I just give her a chance and not completely shut her down like today, who knows what'll happen.

She drifts in my thoughts as I restlessly twist and turn through the night, anxious for tomorrow.