Chapter 11
---Lizzie---
John and I were walking around central park and discussing our courses at NYU. Well, mostly John was talking and I was listening. Since when am I that girl?
"So I'm hoping to branch into journalism next semester" John was saying.
"My brother-in-law is in journalism," I said, "Well, ex-brother-in-law" I wrinkled up my forehead trying to work out what exactly I'm supposed to call Josh.
"Cool. Hey do you want a hot dog?" John asked as he pulled out his wallet and steered us toward a stall.
We sat under an Oak tree as we ate our hotdogs, "So, where are you from originally?" I asked.
"Seattle. My parents own a restaurant in the city"
"Awesome. I'm from LA"
"Land of the celebrities" He said with a laugh.
"Story of my life, actually"
"It must have been strange growing up with famous sisters" Josh said.
Anonymity was something I'd never had at NYU. Everyone knew who my sisters were.
We got a taxi back to my apartment and John walked me to the door. We agreed to go out to a movie that weekend, then he gently kissed me good-bye – on the lips. I felt like I was on Cloud 9 when I walked into the apartment.
Amanda was sitting on the sofa with wads of tissues surrounding her, her eyes a bright red, “Taylor came by a few hours ago” she said. I wondered what Taylor had done to make her cry then she continued “And Michael and I aren’t together anymore”
“Oh Amanda,” I sat down next to her and wrapped my arms around her. “It’ll be ok”
---Ashey---
I turned up at Josh's apartment on Sunday night to pick up Anna and William as had been agreed. Should I have been surprised when I arrived and he wasn't there? In fact, no one was...
Sighing I got my cell phone from my purse and leaned against his apartment door as I selected his number from my speed dial.
"Hello" Josh replied when he answered on the fifth ring. He sounded happy and confident which only served to irritate me further.
"Where are you?" I snapped.
"Why Ashley" He drawled, "Hi to you too"
I rolled my eyes, "I'm supposed to be picking up William and Anna. Where are you?" I repeated.
"Yeah, sorry about that. We went out to the park and got a little distracted by a clown then we needed Ice Cream... you know kids and that whole screaming for Ice Cream thing-"
"Josh," I interrupted, "They can't talk"
"Oh yeah... Ok, so I was the one screaming for Ice Cream. Anyway, we're on our way back to the apartment now but we're stuck in traffic."
I rolled my eyes and gritted my teeth as he told me where a key was hidden and told me to make myself at home until he got back. Great! Because I don't have anything better to be doing...
---Mary-Kate---
“Why won’t you tell me what’s going on?” I intercepted Zac as he came out of the bathroom, still wet from the shower and wearing nothing but the hotel bathrobe.
“Come on Kay, can’t I get dressed first?” He muttered as he tried to sidestep past me.
“You’ve been avoiding me for days and quite frankly I don’t think you deserve the luxury of clothes”
There was laughter in his eyes at that remark but I glared at him coldly and he soon realized my statement had been serious.
“I met with someone at the Colliseum” He blurted out.
I felt my eyes widening to such a degree I felt they’d pop out of my eye sockets at any moment, “You what?!”
All in a rush he explained everything had transpired and I felt anger boiling inside of me like lava in mount Vesuvius.
He’d gone to the Coliseum yesterday at Dawn. I’d been asleep. The jet lag was still getting to me. He returned before I even knew he was missing.
The man had demanded $5 million for Melanie’s return. Zac said he didn’t personally have that kind of money and the man suggested me and Ashley.
“You know the strange thing?” Zac asked.
“Everything?” I responded sarcastically.
“He said Josh stands to inherit millions”
“What?” I was astonished, “I didn’t know he was from a wealthy family.”
“Come on? Do you know anything about him? Do any of us? Even Ashley? He never talks about his family, we’ve never met them…”
I frowned. Zac was right, my mind drifted to Ashley and I wondered where she was now and what she was doing.
“So what did the guy say about getting the money to them?” I asked.
“He said he’d call about arrangements and not to get the police involved.”
“Yeah right,” I muttered as I picked up the phone and dialed Marcus.
---Trent---
“Dad! This is without the best Ice cream ever! Ever! Ever! Ever! To infinity ever!” Larraine cried as she nodded her head vehemently then spun around in circles, drops of melted Ice Cream flying off her cone and covering her.
I watched her with a mixture of concern and frustration and joy. She would be hyperactive for the rest of the day as she generally was on sugar. She’d go on a sugar high then crash – generally on the floor – in a heap of sleeping child. In the meantime she’d be happy; she’d forget her cares for a moment.
Suzanna joined me on the park bench outside the factory and we sat in comfortable silence and watched as the children danced and sang and consumed great portions of sugar.
“She’s a happy child” She said eventually, a smile tugging on the corner of her lips as her eyes followed Suzanna’s dance.
“Sometimes” I agreed, “But she can be so serious. Sometimes it scares me”.
---Josh---
"Look, I'm really sorry about the flat tire" The cab driver said as I hurried to pay him, "And Wow! That traffic! Really bad luck huh?"
"Yeah, sure" I said as I pretty much threw the money at them and hurried got the kids out of the car. Ashley would skin me alive. I was sure of it. It was more then half an hour since she called me. Tonight was to be my last night on earth... I glanced up at the New York sky hoping to catch my last glimpse of the heavens before death... of course it was New York and I couldn't see a thing for the lights. Darn it...
I rushed to open the door, "Sorry I'm la-" I stopped dead in my tracks.
Perhaps I wasn't to die after all for there was Ashley fast asleep on my sofa. I smiled to myself.
Taylor appeared behind me in the still open apartment door, "Well we miraculously managed to catch Michael's flight and he's on his way to Rome. I really do hope this doesn't turn into the disaster it could..." He muttered to himself.
I put a finger to my lips in a silencing motion then pointed to Ashley.
"Oh" He said in a stage whisper. He glanced between the two of us then grinned. "How about I take William and Anna of your hands" William was fast asleep in his baby carrier and Anna who was sitting on my hip was quickly entering the world of Nod, "I'll put them to bed and you can make Ashley a coffee or... whatever" He took Anna from me, "After all. She is a new mother and could really do with all the relaxed sleep she can get. Cheerio"
'Cheerio?' I mouthed to myself as he left the room.
The door closed softly behind Josh and I was alone with a slumbering Ashley. I sighed, not overly sure what to do with myself.
I took a few steps toward the sofa and watched her sleep. She looked so peaceful, so tranquil... so exquisitely beautiful. I shrugged off my jacket and gently wrapped it around her shoulders then sat down in the lazy boy across from her, propping my chin up in my hands.
Won't you save me?
(Lyric Credit: Hanson: Save Me)
---Ashley---
I yawned and stretched, in my mostly unconscious state I thought nothing of the fact that my feet encountered an obstacle I don’t recall being at the bottom of my bed. I certainly didn’t recognize the armrest of the sofa.
I turned over and fell to the floor with a resounding thump.
“What the?” I sat up and glanced around me blearily. The room was dark except for a slit of light shining through a slightly ajar door.
I chill of terror ran down my spine as I tried to recall what happened before I fell asleep, not to mention where on earth I was.
“Ashley” an overwhelming wave of joy coursed through me at the sound of Josh’s familiar voice, “Are you ok?”
The door opened and he walked into the room. Seeing me on the floor he fought the urge to smile, don’t think I don’t know that look.
“Where am I?” I muttered hoarsely as I unconsciously put a hand to my hair and subtly tried to flatten the frizzy mess it had turned into. Not that I cared if Josh saw me looking bad. Not at all…
“Don’t worry about it” Josh said with a smirk as he walked over to me, “I’ve seen you with far worse bed hair”
“Well technically it’s sofa hair” I said with a small smile.
He smiled, “And you’re in my apartment to answer your first question”
“Why?”
He shrugged, “Beats me. I arrived home a teensy bit late and there you were, totally unconscious on my sofa. Nice to see the thought of seeing me is so thrilling you can’t stay awake for five minutes.”
I yawned again, “It was half an hour at least. Besides, you have a really comfortable sofa” I glanced at my wrist to find I’d forgotten to wear my watch, “What time is it?”
Josh glanced at a clock on the wall “Three AM”
“Fantastic” I muttered as I attempted to stand up, my legs still believed they were asleep and weren’t overly willing to cooperate. Josh offered me a hand. “I hate night taxis. They’re creepy”
He was still holding my hand as we stood with little more then a foot separating us, “You could stay here”
His expression was intense as I lifted my eyes to his. I tried, as I had so many times before, to find a way to know what he was really thinking, to read what he really meant.
“Thanks” I said as I slowly eased my hand out of his, “But your sofa isn’t that comfortable”
“I’ll sleep on the sofa. You can take my bed”
I glanced at the floor, inwardly shuddering at the thought of traveling across the city in the early hours of the morning. I nodded; “Ok” I grinned, “Besides, it’s the least you can do considering how late you were”
He didn’t smile though. He still had that same intense expression on his face, “Right” He whispered.
If I lay here
(Lyric credit: Snow Patrol: Chasing Cars)
---Mary-Kate---
Zac and I were sitting on our Motel room sofa, attempting to appear the happy relaxed couple on vacation. I’m not exactly sure who were putting on the façade for. Maybe we were trying to fool ourselves?
This was no relaxing vacation and we were no happy couple.
“That’ll be Marcus” I remarked as insistent pounding sounded at our door.
Zac rolled his eyes and returned his gaze to the television. Fighting the urge to pinch him, punch him or otherwise cause minor bodily harm I got to my feet and walked to the door.
“Check the peephole first” Zac said from over my shoulder.
“Duh” I muttered as I peered through the small hole. Marcus stood on the other side of the door, looking every part the impatient and incredibly handsome detective he was. I swung the door open. “Hi” I smiled my most charming smile. The one I reserved for dealing with the press.
“Hi” He said it in a monotone, barely glancing at me, “You spoke with the kidnapper?” He asked Zac.
For the next half hour the two of them sat in the small kitchenette and discussed in detail the events that had taken place at the Colliseum. I sat on the sofa, watching through the open kitchen door, still fuming over the fact that Zac didn’t tell me where he was going.
He could have never come back and I’d have never known why.
Marcus remark soon broke me from my fuming reverie, “I think it’s time we got proactive in this situation”
---Lizzie---
I yawned as I walked into the kitchen and began making myself breakfast. I glanced down at the street warily but it was clear; no mysterious figure staring at my window. I loved the absence of a stalker.
“Hey Manda” I called, “Do you want me to make you an omelet?”
“Yes, please” Came the muffled respond from Amanda’s room. She really wasn’t good with mornings.
“Are you filming today?” I asked a few minutes later when I took her omelet into her room.
She sat up, tucking her hair behind her ears and accepted the omelet from me with a grateful smile. “Uh-huh, we’ve got this pretty intense action sequence to do. I’m kind of wishing I hadn’t agreed to do my own stunt. What about you?”
I shrugged, “I don’t have any classes today so I guess I’ll just hang around here and study”
Amanda smiled mischievously.
“Uh-oh” I frowned, “What are you up to?”
She smiled and took a bite of her omelet, “You’ll see”
Half an hour later I was dressed and looking gorgeous, I must say. Amanda had offered to do my make-up before leaving for work, which I’ll admit was strange. Over the years she’d gotten great advice from make-up artists and really knew what she was doing. She knew exactly how to bring out my cheek bones and make my eyes sparkle.
“So I’ll see you this evening” She said as she grabbed her jacket and headed for the door, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do”
I smiled, “I’m already doing that. I’m studying”
She ignored my remark as she swung the door open, “Well look at that” She said in a fake surprised voice, “Lizzie, there’s someone to see you”
I glanced up to see John standing in the doorway, dressed in a casual suit with a picnic basket on one arm.
“Have fun” Amanda called as she slipped past him and disappeared from sight.
“What’s going on?” I asked as I stood up and walked over to him.
“Amanda and I did a little scheming” He smiled, “We figured you could use a break from studying. I’ve set up a picnic for us at Central Park.” He offered me his arm, “Care to join me?”
Smiling, I accepted.
Sun is in the sky oh why oh why
(Lyric credit: LDN by Lilly Allen)
---Trent---
I was confused. Confused about Suzanna, confused by Larraine, confused about life in general.
Generally my solution to problems wouldn’t be to go and talk to my little sister but times were desperate.
I arrived at Ashley’s apartment at 7am. Ashley was an early riser and I was surprised when she didn’t answer the door. I was just turning to leave when I noticed her stepping out of the elevator at the end of the hallway.
I raised an eyebrow as she approached me, she was carrying William but Anna was nowhere to be seen “Where have you been?” I asked bluntly.
“Nowhere” She mumbled as she brushed past me and unlocked her door.
“Nowhere? That’s funny. I generally go nowhere during the day, not the early hours of the morning…”
She flicked on the hall light as her hallway didn’t have any natural light and was generally dim. “What exactly are you implying, brother dearest?”
“I can’t speak the words. They’re too horrifying”
She turned and glared at me, “Here. Make yourself useful. Hold your nephew” She handed me William then shrugged off her coat.
I glanced into her bedroom. Her bed hadn’t been slept in and I knew she wasn’t the type to get up and instantly make her bed first thing in the morning.
“Oh my Gosh! What’s with you? You’re like a boarding school matron or something”
I frowned, “Seriously Ashley. Where were you?”
“I was at Josh’s,” Noticing my expression she quickly added, “And Taylor’s”
“You spent the night with Josh?” I raised my eyebrows again.
“No! I spent the night AT Josh’s apartment. He got home late and I fell asleep waiting for him. I was picking up William and Anna and I fell asleep on the sofa so I spent the night there. No big deal, no scandalous soap opera drama. Get off my back!” She snapped.
“Sheesh!” I muttered.
Cause savings what I need
I just wanna be by your side
Won't you save me?
Cause I don't wanna be
Just drifting through the sea of life...
Chapter 12:
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world?
All that I am, all that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes
They’re all I can see
Would I wanna be anywhere else?
When you look with your eyes
Everything seems nice
But if you look twice
you can see it's all lies
Chapter 12 coming soon!