Beyond the Reasons || JUSTIN FOLEY

Twenty-Four

NEXT DAY
JENSEN HOUSEHOLD
IMOGEN'S POV

Justin, Clay, and I sat in the kitchen with my parents and we explained to them that none of us are fans of Gordon Lightfoot, and using him was just a code that we used because we knew that they had access to our phones. All of us have a lot to talk about. The fact that we caught onto them, and the fact that we lied, but things like what they did are why we lie. I understand they want us to open up to them and build trust, but... completing giving themselves access to our phones was not the way to do it.

"So just to be clear, you're not fans of Gordon Lightfoot then?" Dad asked.

"I didn't even know who he was before this, Dad. We didn't know you'd start... singing his songs." Clay said which was true.

"Alex Standall is obsessed with this song... 'The... Wreck of Edward Fitzgerald,' or something..." Justin said.

"Edmund Fitzgerald... It's a classic..." Dad corrected.

"Uh, okay, but the point here is that you've been lying to us..." Mom said.

"Um... well, I wouldn't say lying... more like... withholding some information for the greater good..." I said. My parents looked at me and they did not look amused by my explanation.

"What about you? You lied about putting those tracking apps on our phones, and you paid for all that security and those drills. Or did you forget to mention that while I was strapped to a gurney?" Clay asked and I looked down at my hands because this got real awkward and then I looked back up.

"Wait... you guys helped pay for that traumatizing drill? Dad..." I looked over at him and he sighed. I left him a voicemail that day because I thought I was going to die only to find out that they helped fund that?

"Clay... Imogen, we never meant for that to happen. We were trying... We thought somehow those things might help keep you safe..." Dad said.

"Dad! I left you a voicemail that day... I thought I was going to die! I was terrified. I thought every single gunshot was real, I thought every bang on the door was someone trying to get to me. I still have nightmares about that, and you thought they would keep us safe?" I asked. I didn't want to make them feel guilty, because I could see the guilt all over their faces, but I don't think they realized how terrifying that 'drill' actually was.

"Look, we're your parents. If you won't tell us what's going on in your lives, we still have to know somehow." Mom said and I sighed.

"But completely cloning our phones to yours wasn't the way..." I said.

"Yeah, what about just asking us?" Clay asked.

"We ask all the time! I think you know that's gotten us nowhere..." Mom said and Justin looked at the both of us with a look of, remember why we're having this talk and Clay sighed.

"That's... fair..." Justin said.

"Okay, so.... new deal. If you're really worried about my safety, about keeping me alive, then we have to trust each other again. We have to talk." Clay said. Honestly, I know we're doing this to get them back on our side to make the investigation go away, but I think Clay means what he's saying, because... I actually agree with him and think we should talk with our parents more.

"We'd like that," Dad said.

"Although, at this point, it seems that you know more of our secrets than we do of yours." Mom said and Clay sighed.

"Okay... I'll go first. I started having hallucinations again... and I think they're triggered by my trauma over what happened with Bryce and the fact that Monty got killed in jail. Even my trauma with Jeff is catching up to me..." I said and my parents looked at me.