Part 8 (2/2)

'Probably the end for him. Hed be barred from the Academy, and everything he and his parents have worked for would be wrecked. He shrugged. 'And me? Well, I know wed both be in deep trouble. Wed probably have criminal records, to say nothing of all the c.r.a.p that would pour down on us. Right on top of the exams and uni entrance, we dont need that. We might even be banned from sitting for the d.a.m.ned finals.

'Sheeeeesh. I knew you were protecting someone. My head was doing the moral rumba. I mean, poor Davo, that was a true b.u.mmer, and yay Seth for trying to help even if it was a little misguided; but I was also furious with him for taking such a stupid risk! The rumba ended with me hitting a figurative wall. 'But what I still dont get is what this has to do with JoJo?

Seths voice was stark; incredulous. 'Come on, Willow youre smarter than that. Surely youve worked out by now that it was blackmail. The b.i.t.c.h was blackmailing me.

Blackmail! I flopped back and pulled my knees up under my chin and dragged the towel closer around me. Call me thick, but I still wasnt getting it. 'Blackmail? For what? Money? Why would JoJo need money? She had everything she ever wanted and more.

'Blackmail? Maceys bottle hit the slate with a crack, her voice cold. 'That scheming, saline-enhanced s.k.a.n.k! She had your b.a.l.l.s in her freaking Birkin bag?

For once Maceys scathing humour didnt have the usual effect. This was serious. Ignoring his sister, Seth pulled back in his chair, his eyes hidden in the shadows; his voice miserable. 'She didnt want money. JoJo wanted power. She just made sure that I was always there whenever she wanted me.

'Wanted you? Was that my pathetic whiney voice?

'Christ, Willow! Was it very bad to find joy in the disgust in his voice? 'Not in that way! Yeah okay, we hung out together for a while way back probably Year 9. Didnt last long. We didnt do anything. She tri- He shook his head. 'It doesnt matter. I guess even back then I didnt like the way she used people, manipulated them to do what she wanted.

I suddenly felt heavy, like I was catching each of his words, and each had a different emotion attached. Sure, there was relief, but I wasnt sure JoJo deserved his discretion, and that frustrated me, saddened me. And then there was the confusion. 'But what was all that adoration stuff and the whole pallbearer-at-the-funeral thing?

'Playing the game. Seth sighed. 'In return for her silence, I sometimes had to pretend to be hot for her if she was trying to make someone jealous, or cover for her. Do homework. Heaps of stuff. Most of it stupid and pointless. I hated it, but the s.h.i.+t that would pour down on Davo, if I didnt, would be worse. I just couldnt do that to him. And then when she died, well well, I guess I was so relieved it was over that it was easier just to play out the game. I figured thered be fewer questions that way. Last thing we expected was that shed keep the pressure on from the grave.

'Correction, brother dearest from the comfort of Willows bedroom.

'No, I began with a frown. 'No, JoJo isnt behind this. She started it but someone else is pulling the strings now. The question is, who? But even as I said the words, a niggle of memory was tiptoeing into the spotlight only to frustratingly disappear before I could capture it.

Seth nodded. 'Ive been trying to figure it all out. What I want to know is how other people guessed she knew about Davo and me. Because why else would they want her phone? Are they trying to find out what we did?

'What? I swear my eyes did a three-sixty in their sockets. And for ten seconds I actually wondered if I should rea.s.sess my infatuation with Seth Pentecost. I mean, could I really be in love with a guy who was so clueless? Okay, call me shallow, but as my eyes travelled over him head in his hands, looking so vulnerable I decided the answer was 'yes. 'Have you even been living on the same planet as the rest of us for the past week? I shot back. And yes, despite my lovesick state, my voice was a tad sharp. His head snapped up like it was on a string and I was controlling it.

'Your point being . . . ? His voice might have been calm, but the tone left me in no doubt that he wasnt feelin the love at that moment.

Too bad. I wasnt letting him off the hook that easily. 'Surprise, surprise, pretty boy. This isnt about you. You think that whole performance tonight was about you and Davo? Throwing perfectly good drinks at a screen? You and Davo? Oh puleese . . . I saw his mouth open but I cut him off. 'Okay, okay, I admit I didnt see it clearly till now, but its obvious! Its what JoJo meant when she told me to look for the phone. She said Id find plenty of clues. Oh come on Seth; think about it. Everyone wants it because JoJo was blackmailing all of you! Or most of you, anyway.

'Incredible . . .

I ignored Macey and focussed on Seth. Its funny watching someone elses mind work, and scary if it doesnt work as fast as youd expect. 'But, he said, frowning, 'none of the others have said anything.

'Oh duh. Like they were going to? Come on, Seth, who did you tell about you and Davo? Whos going to admit to the dirty thing if they dont have to? That was the whole basis of JoJos success! No one was game to tell anyone so she had a whole scheme happening. She could play you all off against each other.

'That is so wild, muttered Macey. 'So wild Im almost envious. She was a master puppeteer. Im thinking I should have given her more respect.

'So youre saying, Seth began slowly, 'that everyone is looking for JoJos phone because they need to kill their own secret. Thats why everyone is so uptight?

I nodded.

Macey opened a bottle of mineral water. 'Makes sense. And thats why everyones been crawling all over Willow. They all think because she was the last person to see JoJo that she has the phone. Pete too.

Her words were matter-of-fact; her shrug was brief, cut short when her head tipped back for a long swig. Those words should have been innocent, supportive. But they hit like an arrow. My head swung to Seth who was looking just as clueless as before until his eyes narrowed. No, it couldnt be, could it? Was that why Seth suddenly seemed interested in me? Was he just scamming to get the phone like everyone else?

OMG, it suddenly made too much sense. Why after all these years would Seths feelings change? And why had I thought he was different to the others? Better? Suddenly it was like I couldnt cope with the chilly night air anymore. My body felt frozen. Freezing from the inside out. 'You know what? I, um I have to leave. I jumped up, s.h.i.+vering even in Seths jacket, which was now itching me like it was some kind of poisonous thing and I was allergic. I tossed it and strode to the French doors.

Behind me, bottles skittled and I sensed movement.

'Willow? It was Seths voice I heard first, and his bare feet slapping across the slate behind me.

The rustle of silk told me Macey wasnt far behind him, but I couldnt stop; couldnt turn around. I had to get out of there and think. Get out of there before I totally shattered into a million pieces.

Chapter Eight.

Coward. Wimp. Needy. Drama queen. All those words could have been used to describe me and there was no way I was going to dodge them, because they were true.

We could throw in selfish as well, because thats another emotion I was feeling as I kissed Gran goodbye the next morning. She hadnt raised an eyebrow when Id crashed at her place the night before; hadnt asked questions, just let me skulk off to bed like the pathetic fool I am.

She was used to it, and this morning her eyes told me she understood, as did her smile and hug. But there was no way I could tell her that, this time, she was wrong. This time was way beyond needing time out; this time was about hiding and licking my wounds.

Now it was time to face the monsters head on.

Climbing back into Maceys car, I checked my messages before heading off. Nineteen in total. Eleven were from Macey and most said the same thing. Inbox me immediately!

Six were from Seth. I hauled in a deep breath to skim those. They started with variations of, Whats going on? and ranged to We need to talk!, and ended with, Picking you up at ten.

As soon as I read message eighteen, Seths last text was no longer cryptic. Eighteen was an e-vite. Demi was inviting me onto her family yacht to celebrate what? Sunday? Middle of the holidays? Our new bosom-buddy friends.h.i.+p?

Yeah, right . . .

Message nineteen was the only one I read without my heart racing. And that spoke volumes about my mental state, because it was a message from my dentist to remind me I was due for a check-up. And Im a complete dentophobe!

Typically, there were none from my parents.

At home I headed straight for the kitchen. I hoped Suzy would have some coffee brewing, but instead I stumbled into my own warped version of the Brady Bunch. Surprise number one.

'Hey, w.i.l.l.y-Babe! Hot java on the way! Did you have a good night? Suzy made great Spanish omelettes you want some? Dad got up from the table to grab an extra plate and shove a mug under the coffee-machine spout.

Mimi cradled her own mug, and she was actually smiling. Steam wafted from the huge fluffy omelettes, spilling over with cheese and vegetables, that filled a platter in the centre of the table. The aroma was heavenly and my stomach growled, but it was the other hunger that took precedence. How many times had I wished for just this simple, family scene?

It was amazing. Everything as Id pictured it in my mind. The kitchen was really clean. Thursdays burned cheese was finally sc.r.a.ped off the stove, and everything else looked s.h.i.+ny. Go Suzy! Make that ditto for Carlos. Out through the huge gla.s.s doors, the pool was no longer green it actually sparkled, and I could call off Sea World who were coming to trawl for lurking crocodiles . . .

It was great, but it also revived all the old resentments. What was wrong with me? Why couldnt I just accept the good things every now and then? Why did I always let them get to me? Because they did.

Which highlighted surprise number two, which, if I thought about it, was anything but a surprise. And also the major flaw in this cosy scene: there were no police sitting there taking notes and holding Mimis hand. Id been out all night and I hadnt let them know. And for one wild moment Id actually thought they might have been worried. 'So the sniffer dogs and choppers are on the way?

What can I say? It had been a wasted wild moment. Mimi blinked at me, then her eyes s.h.i.+fted to Dad who shook his head in confusion. The old emptiness welled up inside me and again I tried not to let the loneliness of being the odd one out get to me. But you know? It did. Youd think after seventeen years Id be used to it, but I wasnt. In fact, I thought it was getting harder. Maybe I knew more now, and maybe that knowledge just brought more pain.

I mean, I am a product of the two of them. Part of each one. Youd think that would forge some kind of connection, right? Youd think. But it didnt, and I just could never get my head around why they were so connected to each other and yet there was such a total disconnection with me.

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