Beyond The Know

Lock and Key

Alexa wasn't comprehending the thought of moving away. She knew that her brain was lagging behind, that it was going to catch up and hit her at the most unexpected time.
She went to school as usual, and spotted Lottie by the gates. She was waiting for someone, but Alexa couldn't guess whether Lottie was waiting for her or Parker. She went with the latter, and was about to walk straight past her, when Lottie tugged on her school shirt sleeve.
"Alexa, I need to-" Alexa pulled her arm back, angrily.
"Go away, Lottie." She huffed.
"Alexa, I'm sorry. At least Clara's alright-" Alexa's face twisted in fury.
"Alright? You think Clara's alright?" Lottie seemed surprised.
"Your mum...she told me that Clara got a fine, but that was all." Alexa took a sure step towards Lottie. She couldn't believe the ignorant mush her mother had been feeding her. She narrowed her eyes, looking straight at Lottie.
"Clara isn't alright. She's dead. I saw it, Lottie. Your jealousy got a girl killed." Lottie's became teary eyed, blinking in shock. The words "dead" and "killed" had attracted attention, and people were watching their argument, including Parker.
"What?" Lottie breathed.
"You heard me: after you went and informed my mother that we were friends with her, the Garrison only went and killed her for it." Lottie was shaking her head, utterly distressed. People were whispering about what they'd just heard, soaking up the gossip.
"Why can't you just stop letting your crush on my brother control you? It's ruined a lot of things, you know." Alexa asked, disappointed. Lottie gasped at the sudden, public announcement of her one source of existence. People turned to stare at him, but he blushed faintly, looked down and turned to walk away with Aaron.
Alexa stared Lottie down, hoping that she'd regret what she'd triggered. It hadn't all been her fault, granted. But Alexa didn't want her causing anymore trouble, and later regretting it. But Lottie wouldn't ever be seeing Parker again after a few days.
Alexa walked away and entered the school, and the chatter resumed amongst all the other cliques. Those two days went by in a blur. Alexa had a routine. She would go to school, and attend the archery club all lunchtime. She'd then go home, talk to Jules and Parker, and carry on negotiating what to pack. On the last day before they had to leave, Aaron and his younger sister, Jessica, came to sleep over at the Hunter's house. They knew about the relocation, so there wasn't anything to hide. They sat in a circle in Alexa's bedroom, whilst their parents were at a meeting of the Council.
"Parker cries like a complete baby!" Alexa laughed.
"Do not!" He protested, hitting her with his pillow.
"You should have seen him, guys. He was like, "WAA! WAA!" And then he does this hiccupy thing that goes on forever-exactly like a baby." Aaron and his sister were laughing, and Parker was doing his moody pout, which only made them laugh harder.
"Well, at least I don't call Mother "cow". That was actually really funny- she's been too scared to talk to you since."
"Well, she deserved it, by the sound of things," Aaron replied, then frowned, "I'm really hungry, is there anything to eat?"
"Sure," Alexa said, "come on, you can choose the next snack." She got up, and Aaron followed her to the kitchen. Alexa knew that he was trying to hide how downcast he really was, but his shoulders slumped when he walked.
"Aaron, are you OK?" Alexa asked him, when they got there. He was looking down and he gave a huge sigh.
"No. I'm not. You guys are leaving tomorrow, and I don't know what I'll do. I know it's for the best, but still...I really don't want you to leave." He whispered the last part. Alexa felt bad; he was her friend too. He'd always been there, and she didn't what life was going to be like without an Aaron there. Her and Parker were going to miss him so much, it hurt a little.
She turned around and hugged him, hard. He was clearly surprised, but he hugged her back.
"Are you really stupid enough to think we don't hate leaving you?" She said as they parted. He laughed and grabbed a few packets of popcorn and a box chocolates. Alexa peeked up at him from behind her lashes, contemplating whether to tell him the truth about why she was leaving. He was reading the slogans on the food packets with a frown.
"I'm not leaving for my own good, you know." She was barely whispering.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He replied.
"I mean...I'm not getting out of here because of me. I have to get out, for everybody's sake. I should be safe; I'm a Benefactress! But I'm endangering other people because of it. Clara, my best friend from half my lifetime ago..." She sighed, "I'm afraid I'll hurt people for being who I am."
Aaron had a melancholy expression; gloomy and despairing. It was sort of funny, he looked like a kid. Alexa couldn't help but smile, and Aaron cracked a smile too.
"What?" He asked.
"Your face, it was funny." She giggled. He mimicked an astonished expression; hand on the heart and all. There was a sudden knock on the door, and Alexa walked to the door. She looked through the small window beside the door, and groaned loudly in irritation.
"Who is it?" Parker shouted across about ten rooms.
"Lottie." She replied. She unlocked the door, stepped out into the front porch and closed the door behind her. She turned to Lottie with folded arms.
"Isn't it nice to see you?" Alexa smiled sarcastically.
"Look," Lottie held up her hands, "I know you hate me, and I get that you want to kill me right now. And I'm so sorry, Alexa. I didn't realise how amazing a friend you were, and I can't even believe what my jealousy led me to do..." Alexa opened her mouth to let out a witty retort, but Lottie hastily continued.
"But I don't know what you expect me to do. I've tried apologising, staying out of you and your brother's way. But you still seem to think that everything is somehow my fault. I don't know if you remember, but I wasn't the person who sentenced Clara to death. Nor was I the person who pulled the trigger. Can't you see that? If you'd never met her, wouldn't you do the same? I know you, Alexa Hunter. You would have blabbering to your mother at the first chance you got. Don't you care about how I feel? I've caused the death of an innocent girl, just because I had the power to do so. I caused her death." She took a deep breath, and Alexa realised that she was painfully correct. She'd been punishing Lottie for almost a week, and hadn't ever stopped to think about how Lottie was feeling. Lottie turned to walk away, but Alexa caught her by the sleeve of her mauve jacket.
"Stay." Alexa said, but it was more a question than a request.
Lottie smiled at her friend, and walked into the house with her. They padded into the lounge, where Aaron, Jessica and Parker where watching How Not To, a show that broadcasted failures of the general public. Parker spotted them first, and stood up immediately. Alexa spoke before he could tell Lottie to get out.
"She's staying. Unless you want a repeat of the conversation we just had."
Parker opened and shut his mouth several times in confusion, but finally rolled his eyes and slumped onto the sofa beside his friend. Alexa sat beside Aaron, because he had the food, and Lottie seated herself beside Alexa. Jessica sat on the floor, painting her nails. Alexa had asked her how she was allowed to wear so much makeup once, and Jessica had replied,
"Why are you not allowed to?" Which had taken Alexa by surprise.
Throughout the evening, everybody warmed up to Lottie, even Parker. Jules had arrived a few hours after Lottie, and told them that their mother was 'taking care of affairs of the council'. Ha, more like cackling at the deaths of non wealthy teenagers with potential, Alexa had thought. She didn't remember falling asleep, but she did remember gently drifting away; cosy and excited for the day to come.