Stardust // Reggie Mantle (3)

Chapter Ten

Sitting in the Blue and Gold office, listening to Betty tell a story about her mom and friends in high school, Caia was more than confused. She hasn't even looked at the manual she had been given, and to find out that her mom was super invested in it was strangely jarring.

"Hold up," Josie began, obviously just as shocked at Betty's words. "You're telling me that my mother was a rule-breaking, anti-apartheid activist in high school?" She inquired.

"And that she and my dad were together back them?" Kevin added, building off of what Josie had said.

Caia furrowed her eyebrows, still trying to puzzle out what Betty had said. "And my mom was like head bitch or something?" She questioned. "Crazy."

Reggie looked like he was contemplating something. He finally looked up from his spot, cross legged on a desk. "I don't buy it," he declared. "There's no way that my old man hung out and did, like, cosplay with a group of lame-ass nerds."

Both Kevin and Josie glared at Reggie. Caia scrunched her face at Reggie and punched his arm. He recoiled and gave her a confused look. "Watch it!" She exclaimed. "That's my mom you're talking about!" She finished. She paused and cocked her head. "Also, there's a way your dad was an inner geek."

"No there's not!" Reggie responded, sounding offended.

Caia gave Reggie a blatant once over. "Yes. Yes there is." With that, she turned back to Betty. "But, I have to admit, Betty, I do have a little doubt about this story myself."

"It's true, guys!" Betty exclaimed, emphasizing her point with her hands.

Josie sighed. "And you want us to find out what, exactly?" She inquired.

Betty paused, getting her words together, trying to find out how to phrase what she was going to say next. "My suspicion is that whoever was running the game back then is running it now. Which is why we need to stop them before things get any worse-"

"Wait, what are you trying to say," Kevin interrupted.

"That one of our parents might be responsible for what happened to Dilton and Ben?" Josie inferred, offended.

Betty nodded. "Maybe," she replied. "And that's why you can't tell them that you know about their Midnight Club, okay? You have to be careful, and subtle, when you ask them what they know."

Caia didn't know what to think. She exchanged glances with the other two in the room, and her expression was mirrored on their faces.

She wasn't sure how her mother would react, but she guessed she had to try. After all, she was the most likely suspect out of the parents.

'Cause Caia had no idea what her mother was capable of.

*

After school, Caia cautiously shut the door. She was nervous of the conversation she was about to have with her mother. At least her mother was alone for once.

She set her bag by the door and started to head up the stairs, chickening out. However, she decided to bite the bullet and just talk to her mother.

So she changed her course and made her way into the living room. Anna was splayed out of the sofa, a beer bottle in one hand, a cigarette in the other. The resemblance to Caia's father was striking, and caused Caia to falter for a moment.

"Hey, mom," She began tentatively.

Anna's eyes rolled over to glance at her daughter. "What do you want, kid? Can't you see I'm busy?"

Caia gulped. "Sorry, I just need to ask you something."

Anna took a drag of her cigarette. "Okay, whatever. Shoot."