Finding Amity

Chapter 29

Cruise, Pippa, Isaac and I now all stood around in the kitchen of Isaac's house, tentatively sipping on bitter coffee and thinking. Isaac tried to send me home, but I protested. We had spend the night helping Isaac clean up his mess, and now as the sun rose, we tried to face the situation clear-headedly.

My brain told me that good people don't stumble into this kind of situation, and reminded me that I might not know these people as well as I had once thought. My heart told me that I should help my friends because I owe them that at the very least.

"Cant you just tell me the basic plot points?" I whined.

They had refused to explain what they were being blackmailed with, just that they had done something a little bit bad, someone got hurt, and that their lives would be over if it got out. Apparently this guy, whoever he is, has been threatening since the start of the year, but only for small amounts of money.

They still refused, each of them shaking their heads solemnly.

"How does this person know you did it?" I questioned.

"He has... evidence. A screenshot from a message between Cruise and someone else." Pippa explained. "It incriminates both of us."

I nodded, before turning to Isaac. Dark circles hugged his eyes, he looked like he hadn't slept in days, but they only got the message last night. "So it doesn't incriminate you?" I asked.

"No." He muttered, his stormy eyes refusing to meet mine or anyone else's. "But this is my fault."

"Its all our faults-" Pippa started.

"You don't really think that!" He snapped. "You blamed me since we got the first message."

My mind flashed back to the heated argument I witnessed one of my first days here. "We both made a mistake and it's coming back it haunt us.". I can't imagine how hard it's been for them.

"The girl you said got hurt," I started. Cruise and Pippa glanced up at Isaac as he tried his best to shrink into his hoodie. "Was there really no way of knowing your actions would lead to whatever happened to her?"

"Does it matter?!" Isaac shouted. "She still got hurt because of us, foresight or not!"

"Answer the fucking question." I hissed, Pippa's eyes gleamed with pride, whilst Isaac straightened his shoulders.

"No." Pippa answered for him. "It was a freak accident."

"Did you know what was going to happen before it happened, and not try to stop it?"

"You know us, Amity. We'd never do that." Cruise sighed.

"Did you continue... whatever it is you did, did you continue after she got hurt?"

"No." Pippa replied.

"Okay."

I placed my coffee cup down on the bench and walked out to the living room. I sat down on the worn leather couch and pulled out my phone, opening my bank app.

I had never thought about touching this money. Carrie had her share of wealth, and offered to cover the remains of my tuition. My parents had invested in her small business years ago, and she considered my student fees an investment in me.

The money just sat in my account when I turned 18. I could have bought a house or travelled the world or started a charity. Instead, I left it in my account as the last remnants of my parents. I could never feel like I deserved it, and it was just a cruel reminder of what I'd lost.

I sighed, then walked back into the kitchen. All three of them stared at me, awaiting some explanation. I looked down at my phone and clicked on the "transfer" link. This was stupid. I knew this was stupid. But that wasn't going to stop me.

"What's your account number?" I asked.

"What?" Isaac shot back.

"Your bank account." I shot back, growing frustrated. "What is the account number?"

"Even with your help we can't possibly get the 25,000. It would be near impossible." Pippa complained.

"I have it." I said. "I have the 25,000. I'll pay it."

They continued to stare skeptically.

"How do you-"

"Don't ask." I cut off Cruise. I moved to Oregon to get a fresh start, away from the pitiful glances and "I'm sorry"s from people who barely even knew me.

Thats what I was giving Pippa, Cruise, and Isaac. A fresh start.

Pippa stepped forward, placing her hand on my bicep and guiding me to the laundry room. She closed the door behind her.

"Amity, I don't know how you have that kind of money, but I can't ask you to do this."

It was simple. They needed money, I had money. Paying off their blackmailer wouldn't even make a dent in my inheritance.

"Someone is blackmailing you for something that isn't your fault." I reasoned. "I've noticed the way you bite your nails after buying something and the thrift store tags on your clothes. I've noticed how unevenly Cruise has cut his own hair and that he only seems to have one t-shirt and one pair of jeans. And I know that Isaac has a part time job and goes here on a scholarship, and I could see the way he stared at the furniture he destroyed. It doesn't take a genius to know that you three don't have that money."

Pippa stared at me, tears brimming in her eyes. He fists clenched together and for a second I thought she was going to punch me. Instead, she wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tightly.

"Thank you." She whispered as I hugged her back.

I've never had a best friend before, but I'm glad to have Pippa as my first.