The Degenerates - Under Edit

t h i r t y f o u r

Thunder rattled the windows.

It was a miserable day in Alsbury, and I sipped on my coffee Lila had bought earlier. She had just placed several large bags down on the bed, sifting through the contents, her hair and clothes soaked through from the heavy rain that unfortunately started as she left her car.

"Here," she tossed a donut bag on my bed.

"Thank you," I smiled at her, opening the paper bag and gratefully pulling out the spongy dessert.

"Your dark circles have really lifted," she said from the other side of the bed, "you're looking well."

I hadn't told Lila about Trey's death. It had just passed over a month since, and I had finally started to feel better. Brad's memorial was in two days, and Lila had been running around sorting everything out. The memorial had to be some time after his initial death, with the ongoing investigation and what not. His body still lay in the morgue, but, Lila agreed to symbolise with having an empty coffin – for now.

I had finally stencilled and completed a sign to place outside the manor, the invitations she asked of me were done as a distraction after that night in the warehouse. James's original invitation lay under my pillow.

"Have you heard from James?" Lila asked, flipping her wet hair out of her face, "He's friends with Trey right? I left him some messages you know, just trying to be there for him, asking if he wanted a part in the memorial. He hasn't gotten back to me, I think he's grieving."

Hearing his name stung a little, "Yeah, he was good friends with Trey. But, I haven't seen nor heard from him."

I was itching to get it off my chest, but telling Lila would break her heart all over again. I have no idea what Theo has done with the bodies, and my lies will start to catch up to me unless I have an inkling on what's going on.

"I have all the groceries here ready for the grazing platter, I just know that'll take us hours, so are you free tomorrow to help Sash and I?"

I nodded, "Absolutely, I've been looking forward to piecing it together."

I shifted in my spot, "Have you heard from the foster parents?"

James and Brad were raised with foster parents through high school, but, they were released the moment they turned eighteen, and were headed for university.

"No," she answered quietly, "I sent them a card, and I emailed. I haven't heard anything. You sent the invitations?"

"Yeah, of course."

"It just really hurts me that they want nothing to do with them you know? Brad died. He died. And they want no part." Lila expressed.

I nodded along, "It's horrible."

A silent pause passed between us. Lila sat on my bed.

"You can tell me, whatever it is going on with Trey. You have been so sad, and you were so good to me with Brad."

I shifted uncomfortably, "He's...gone."

"Gone?"

"Out of town." I answered, deciding it wasn't my place anymore. I had learned my lesson from Theo.

"What? Why?" Lila asked, eyes wide.

"The investigation," I said, "People were so horrible to him, thinking he was involved, because of his past and what not. I think he's just waiting it out."

"He's coming to the memorial right?"

I opened my mouth to answer but no sound came out, "I-I don't know for sure yet."