You Can't Lie Anymore

Chapter-51

Its been 3 days since we last talked. Today Carter will be buried in the graveyard. The police didn't find anything suspicious, and termed it as a suicide due to mental breakdown. We didn't return the journal or the laptop, and is in my room in my closet for no one to find.

I took out the 2 last things that belonged to Carter, and kept it in my handbag.

Olivia was told everything we knew, by Ryan who had visited her yesterday with the journal and the laptop. We decided to get rid of the two things to keep his secret the way it was forever.

I kept the handbag on the back seat as Ryan drove towards the destination. Adam was brought in by his parent's, and though he was fine now, he still needed rest.

We stood with our families as we bid Carter the last good bye.

After making sure Adam was fine in the back seat with me, Olivia and Ryan sat on the front of the car.

He drove the car over to the bridge which was mentioned in Carter's password.

The laptop was thrown into the water flowing under the bridge, and the journal and burnt there on the spot before throwing it in the water as well. We made sure no one else would know what we knew.

The 2nd Sunday Picnic didn't take place after what happened with Carter. None of us could breath in a place which reminded us of him. And thought the last memory I had of him wasn't quite good, I forgave him, forgetting the bad he did, so that I remembered only the Carter that would bring smiles to our faces with his innocence.

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It's been a year since Carter died. And things have changed among us. We meet at school, but we don't talk. None of us does. Even when we are together, we just sit in silence. Carter's death and the whole curse changed our lives forever.

The four of us sat in the lawn of the school in the break.

"I'm tired", Ryan said.

"Of?", I asked.

"The small talk", he said.

"Guys we are going to see the stars today", Olivia said out of nowhere.

"Oli", I tried to refuse.

"She is right, we need to", Ryan said.

"We are refusing to accept the fact that he isn't among us", Adam said.

"I think it's a bad idea, it will bring all the memories back, and even though a year had passed it seems like tomorrow, I can't do it", I said as I got off the ground and moved towards the parking.

In the evening a heard the door bell ring. And before I knew what happened, I was ragged out of my room by Adam and Ryan as Olivia brought a bag with essentials. Adam carried me in his arms as I was left helpless.  Ryan opened the back door of the car and I was placed gently inside it, Olivia cam to sit next to me, as the guys got in front of the car.

It took an hour of us to reach the camp site. I didn't say a word through out the drive as I still had the pen in my hand, with which I was doing my assignments in my room, and the worst of it was I was in my pajamas.

Olivia handed me over a kimono and I draped it around myself, as we got out of the car. We set the tents, and lighted the bonfire as Ryan took out Carter's telescope from the back of the SUV. He was done setting it up in 10 minutes. All of us sat around the fire reminiscing the memories of the last time we visited it. It was difficult, to be here. But being here with the 3 of them allowed me to accept that Carter isn't coming back. And I guess the others accepted it as well. We saw the stars and the constellations that Carter was crazy about.

When I felt I couldn't hold my tears I excused myself and decided to take a walk.

It was a quiet, peaceful night and I was completely engrossed in trying to wipe my tears while I walked when I realized someone was following me.

I turned back to see Ryan behind me.

"Crap! I was about to use my ninja technique on you", I said and he chuckled. I tried to cover up the heavy voice with a giggle.

"You don't need to", he said and moved a step closer to me.

I remain still where I was, while Ryan kept coming towards me. When the distance between us decreased too much I decide to moved a step back. Then he took another intimidating step towards me. I was trying to read his face but I wasn't sure of what I saw. I took another step back only to hit my back to a tree.

Ryan slowly leaned in and I knew what he was thinking when he looke at my lips, and then my eyes. Ours lips were feather apart when I placed a gentle hand on his chest pushing him back slightly.

Confusion flashed in his eyes as he moved back.

"Ryan, I can't, I'm sorry", I said

"You like Adam, don't you?" he said.

"I don't ........"

"Don't lie, you don't need to", he said as he looked at the ground.

"When did you realize?", he asked.

"When he had the accident and he wasn't conscious, I made a promise to myself that if there was even 5% chance of him being in the future, I want him to be with me", I said while I looked at him. For the first time, I couldn't read his emotions.

"I love you Ryan, I love every thing about you, the jerk joke as well,  but only as a friend. I won't feel the way for you as I feel about Adam.", I said.

"I know", he said an looked at the ground again.

  He continued after a minute, "Anyhow there are a lot of fish in the sea", and he chuckled.

I hugged him and he hugged me back.

"You need to tell that dumb ass ", he said.

"I'm not sure..."

"If he feels the same way about you? Well he does", he said.

"How do you know?"

"Really? Don't tell me you haven't seen his possessiveness for you", he said.

"He is like that to every one", I said.

"Well then think about the promise and go for it, you'll never know otherwise", he said, "Lucy not every one is lucky enough to be right next to the person they love. You've got a chance to make that happen, don't let it go".

His words had an effect on me. I don't know how, but I knew what I had to do.

We walked back to the camp site where Olivia and Adam were waiting for us with marshmellos on a stick of wood placed on the bonfire gently. I went to Adam and stood right next to him. Something came over me, and the next thing I know is that, I bend down to look directly into his eyes. My eyes next went down to his lips and then back to his hazel eyes. I kept my hand on the back of his head, and leaned in to kiss him. He froze for a moment, before holding me from my waist and turn me down such that, I my back landed on his thighs, without breaking the kiss.

"Oh, get a room, you two", Olivia said after she clapped her hands in joy, while Ryan hooted.

We looked at them, breaking from our kiss.

"I love you, Lue"

"I love you too", I said.