The Obsession, page 7
“Any of those include breaking into my house?”
It’s sounding more and more like I was right—they all talk about me. They must, if they’re swapping plans behind my back.
“Um…Dustin said that was Seth’s idea. So was kidnapping you. Those are obviously exaggerated and whatever.”
My stomach burns but I keep my cool. I won’t react in the way I’d like to. Which would involve making a very big scene and perhaps throwing her coffee cup. “I love you guys, but I don’t need saving.”
“I hear you.”
“Do you?”
She sighs, clearly caught in her half-truths. “Come on, if the roles were reversed, you’d want to do something to help us.”
“Fine, but they’re not and I’m telling you that I can handle it.”
“All right, I get it.”
“Was Seth with you two last night?” I ask.
She opens her mouth, then closes it again. Her dark eyes flick to her coffee cup like it’s suddenly fascinating.
I sigh. “That’s a yes.”
“He was, but only for about thirty minutes. He was on his way back from football with his brother and dropped in.”
Cute. He didn’t “drop in” on me.
“Right. Anything else I should know?”
She shakes her head. “Nothing.”
I think she’s telling the truth.
“Tell me about Ellie. If you want—I don’t want to upset you,” Rosa says, probably eager to change the subject.
“Well, it was awful.”
“She just fell?”
I nod. “I didn’t see her until she was falling. My scream alerted a few people. One was a nurse who was able to help until the paramedics arrived.”
“She fell down the stairs? Maybe she lost her footing.”
“No, over the wall. She was at the top of the stairs, the ones by the bookstore. She must’ve been leaning over and lost her balance.”
“And Blue? You’re really okay with this person loitering on your personal account.”
She makes it sound like a statement, not a question. No point arguing.
“Yes, I am.” Oddly, my conversation with Blue was the first I’ve had where I didn’t feel like I had to hold back. And he heard me. “It’s fine. They’ve commented, like, once.”
“Okay, I trust you know what you’re doing, Connie.”
“Excellent, because I do. You know this isn’t the first person to migrate to my private account. It’s fine. Ooh, I think our pancakes are coming.”
Rosa glances over her shoulder. I can feel the million things she’s holding back.
These two weeks were supposed to be carefree—just hanging out, no drama.
But that’s already ruined.
“Thanks,” I say to the waitress, realizing in my rush to shut down the conversation about my tragic life that I didn’t get the details. They’re not kidnapping me. They’re not ransacking my house.
So what is the plan?
“Rosa, what’s going on? What does Dustin want to do?” I sigh. Just as I’m settling into time alone, my friends decide it’s intervention time.
“I thought you were past this?”
“I don’t want you guys to do anything, but I still want to know what you were thinking. If the other ideas are as entertaining as the first two…”
I need to know, in case they decide to go ahead without my permission.
“Okay, no blaming the messenger…but Dustin thinks your mom shouldn’t have left you alone or at least should’ve had someone stay. Jules is angry—guess she’s seen some pretty messed-up stuff.”
“That’s a nice way of saying you think I’m going to be murdered in my sleep.”
Dustin’s protectiveness is getting a little weird. He’s always been like this, since we were little kids, but it’s not like he’s never been home alone before. Granted, not for as long as I’ll be.
“Did you tell him I’m not three?”
“No need to get defensive, Connie, he’s worried about you. And you asked. Jules isn’t helping. She means well, but he’s now convinced that something bad is going to happen. He wants to stop your mom from vlogging.”
She watches me carefully, reading my reactions the same way she used to when Dustin first asked her out. Dustin was my first boyfriend. Rosa still hates that fact—even though we were five, and my kindergarten paper veil didn’t exactly make it a real wedding.
I shrug, feigning indifference.
I have zero feelings for Dustin. At least, not the kind Rosa is worried about. His protectiveness is more brotherly than anything else.
“Nothing bad is going to happen.”
My neighborhood is safe. Huge wrought iron fences, an overenthusiastic neighborhood watch. Cameras, alarms, security lights on every house.
Rosa shrugs, unapologetic. “You’re my best friend. I worry about you too. Doesn’t it scare you being alone at night? I hate it.”
“Not really,” I say, omitting the fact that I was petrified last night. Letting yourself fear things that haven’t happened yet is the fastest way to premature gray hair.
“You don’t have to pretend with me. I’ve seen you scream bloody murder because a spider ran across your bed.”
“That’s completely different. The danger is real with a spider.”
Rosa doesn’t usually push like this. It’s like Jules’s concerns are infecting Dustin and now he’s passing them to Rosa.
“All right. He was thinking about getting Jules to intervene, was asking if she could do anything legally. Which she can’t since it’s your mom and she gets to decide what’s best for you. He even asked about emancipation so your mom can’t make any decisions for you, but I figured you’d say no to that.”
“Correct.”
I still want a relationship with my mom.
And honestly, I’d be terrified that, if forced to choose, Isla might pick the money over me. She’s the only one who truly understands.
“What did Jules say about all of this?”
“You want to know?”
From her reaction, no, but I nod anyway.
I dig into my syrup-drenched pancakes, bracing for whatever’s coming next.
“She said you could cut legal ties with your mom but that might make things…worse.”
“How?”
“Well, if you couldn’t live at home, you’d probably end up in foster care. Unless your dad took you in, but he’s not exactly on the scene. And your grandparents aren’t well enough.”
I swallow thickly. “You guys really mapped this out.”
“I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad.”
I stab another piece of pancake, wishing I’d asked for even more syrup because, my god, I need the sugar rush. “I’m not. But I’d appreciate if it stopped.”
I’m kind of mad at Jules too. She should’ve shut that conversation down.
“Your phone keeps going off. Need to check anything?”
Not really, but I feel like I need a distraction for a minute. I pick it up and try to hide the smile.
Blue is back in my DMs. I bite my lip and open the message.
A football girl nice!
I pause, now fairly certain that this is a guy I’m talking to. It feels like he’s balancing between keeping it friendly and trying to see if he can get anywhere by flirting. I can’t quite figure him out.
“Everything okay?” Rosa asks.
“Yep. Just Isla.”
Now I’m lying to my best friend. Though to be fair, she hasn’t exactly been open with me lately.
Think I’ve finally picked up the rules
“Is she at least having a good time?”
“Um, yeah, seems like it. They just got to the first college,” I mutter. That part isn’t a lie. I know their schedule.
There are a few! Who’s your team?
Whoever has the cutest players
Same
I laugh out loud and Rosa looks up.
Covering my mouth, I set my phone down and pick up my fork. “Mom’s already driving Isla up the wall,” I say. It’s a totally believable excuse for me laughing.
“Hey, don’t look behind you but this guy has been staring at us for the last five minutes. No, don’t look!”
I turned instinctively but saw nothing because she startled me. “What did you expect me to do when you said that?”
“I expected you not to look!” She glances back. “We’re both taken. Move on.”
If he’s looking at both of us, then he’s probably not a vlog viewer—I’m infinitely more comfortable staying put.
“Ignore him,” I tell her, stuffing pancake into my mouth.
After we leave a tip and get up, Rosa grabs my hand.
“Green T-shirt. Cute but not as cute as Dustin and Seth. Be casual.”
“Did you think I was going to dance past him and stare?” I mutter, grabbing my phone and keys.
As I turn, I keep my stride straight, peeking only once when we get close.
Huh.
He heads toward the bathrooms, but…something about him feels familiar.
I shake it off because I can’t place him, and Rosa and I head to our cars.
“Remember to call Seth and find out what his revised plans are for you guys,” Rosa says.
“Will do. Movies later?”
“We’ll be there.”
“For real this time?”
“Ha ha. I won’t bail on you again.”
I wave her off and get into my car. The sky that was a striking blue this morning is now buried under thick clouds. A sharp chill cuts through the air. I should’ve brought a hoodie with me.
Rain is in the forecast, along with a brief storm this afternoon. We’re on the cusp of good weather, but Mother Nature always has to be dramatic first.
I put the car in drive and head home.
It’s only when I’m nearly back that I realize why the diner guy looked so familiar.
He kind of looked like my old friend. Grayson.
9
I arrive at the movie theater and park close—better for when we leave in the dark. My eyes skim the face of every person who passes me, searching for Gray. It couldn’t have been him. Even after losing touch, I know my oldest friend would have told me if he was back. And why would he come back? No family lives here, except an aunt in the next town over.
Seth is standing by the front door, scanning the parking lot. Gray’s look-alike vanishes from my mind. Seth spots me and walks over, his easy smile free of tension.
We met earlier for pizza at his place, but with his family around, we couldn’t really talk, not that he seemed in a rush to anyway. I let it go because I really don’t want any hostility, especially not while I have so much freedom to enjoy.
I get out of my car and meet him halfway. Overhead, dark clouds threaten a miserable drive home.
“Hey,” I say, hugging him, because right now I couldn’t care less who sees us.
“You good?” he asks, hugging me back just as tight, and I feel safe again.
“Yep. Glad you’re here.”
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I think I know who it is but leave it. No one knows I’ve been talking to Blue.
“I’m not ghosting again.”
He’s done it twice—though the second time was Rosa’s fault.
Seth nudges my arm. “I’m teasing. Were you okay last night? We didn’t really get to talk.”
“Yeah, fine. I read a lot and had an early night. So basically, I’m thirty.”
Seth laughs and we walk toward the movie theater together before the skies lose their battle with the rain and open up.
I take my phone out and film the movie posters by the door. Seth side-eyes me, knowing exactly why I’m taking short videos, but I pocket the phone and pretend nothing is happening. Just a few shots of the popcorn and candy, my seat, a selfie. Thirty seconds max. Mom will have to deal with it. I’m not spending the night figuring out what to record next.
The buttery scent of popcorn makes my mouth water.
We already booked our movie tickets online, so we get straight in the line for snacks. I look out for Rosa and Dustin.
“They’ll be late, you know them,” Seth says, and turns to the girl behind the register. “Hey, a large popcorn, a box of M&M’s, Twizzlers, and two Cokes, please.”
Neither of them is known for punctuality. But Rosa messaged as she was leaving, and she lives pretty close.
“Thanks,” I say, taking the bucket-sized sodas.
“Come on, let’s get to our seats. They’ll find us.” Seth doesn’t wait for me to agree, striding toward screen five.
I look back at the doors before jogging to catch up with him.
We find our seats near the back. The theater is huge, bright, and nearly empty—a quiet showing of an old movie since there isn’t anything new we all wanted to see. I prefer it like this, fewer people crunching popcorn in my ear.
Seth takes a long sip of Coke and leans back in his seat as the commercials play.
“Did you talk to Dustin?” I ask. “Rosa left around the same time as me.”
“Nope. Don’t you need more footage?”
I gasp, putting down my drink, because yes, I do. I grab my phone and film myself reaching for popcorn, then switch to selfie mode to record a few bites and a nod. I pan over the seats and screen while it’s just an ad.
Seth sits rigid beside me, irritation turning him to stone. No way am I asking if he wants to be in it. His clenched jaw already gave me the answer.
“Sorry,” I mutter, stashing my phone. “All done.”
He nods and an awkward silence thickens between us. Wonderful. Well, I can ignore that and pretend too.
“So, Rosa told me about last night.”
“I really don’t want to talk about it, Connie. In fact, can we not mention your mom unless it’s absolutely necessary?”
“All right, I’m sorry.” Ugh, why did I just apologize? He’s the one who’s been discussing my family behind my back.
I turn to the screen and pretend the first trailer is riveting. Beside me, Seth starts to thaw, those bunched shoulders relaxing. He sighs, shifting in his seat before finally resting his hand on my knee.
It’s his version of an apology, and I’ll take it because I don’t want to spend the night fighting.
I steal a glance his way and he looks back, smiling as he offers me a Twizzler.
That means things are good with us again. He’s right, though. We need to stop talking about my mom. Lately our relationship feels like a tightrope walk.
“I don’t want to see that,” I say, nodding at the screen, where a woman is being stalked by her new neighbor.
Seth squeezes my knee. “I’ll protect you from the bad guy.”
Dustin and Rosa finally arrive and I sit up. My smile fades when I see the anger in Dustin’s face. He starts toward the seat next to me, but Rosa cuts him off, dropping into it first.
I look past her at Dustin as he shakes his head, settling in with the popcorn between his legs. Usually, they use the small table attached to their seats, like Seth and I have.
“You okay?” I mouth while Rosa rummages in her bag.
He shrugs and turns away.
“What’s up with them?” Seth whispers.
“No clue.”
Clearly, they argued. Keeping up with these constant falling-outs is exhausting—we’re all walking on eggshells.
I lean toward Rosa. “Are you okay?”
“Fine, Connie,” she snaps, so sharply it almost cuts me in half.
She’s convincing no one.
I sit back, exchanging a grimace with Seth. Tonight is going to be a blast. He shrugs, handing me more candy, and I gratefully take it, shifting focus to the movie. Their argument isn’t my problem.
I settle in, ignoring the frost to my left and the chill to my right. The movie isn’t exactly giving fluffy, positive vibes either—I can already feel the paranoia creeping in.
Once the credits roll, we dump our trash and head to the foyer. From the whispers I hear in the foyer, most people found the movie creepy. No surprise—the stalked protagonist resorting to murder probably felt that way too.
“Want me to follow you home?” Seth asks.
So he’s not coming back with me. “No, I’m good, but thanks.”
“My mom’s doing her drive-by in about thirty minutes anyway,” Dustin adds, checking his watch.
“I need to get home. Do you want a ride or not, Dustin?” Rosa asks. She barely moved during the movie, blinking maybe twice.
She was fine when I left her this morning. I swear I can’t keep up.
Dustin slowly turns his head toward her. “Yeah, I came with you.”
“I’m going that way, Dustin,” Seth says. “I’ll give you a ride.”
“Great, see you guys later.” Rosa lifts her hand as she’s turning around but doesn’t look back.
Dustin watches her go, his expression darker than usual. Whatever happened, he’s furious.
“So…what happened? Why’d she look ready to murder you?” I ask.
“I’m honestly lost this time, Connie. We were talking and then suddenly she was annoyed with me. Wouldn’t say why, just that I should know. Well, I don’t, so please enlighten me!” His voice tightens with frustration.
“Don’t sweat it. I’ll talk to her,” I say, looking up as a heavy drop of rain lands on my nose. It’s a miracle it hasn’t started pouring; the clouds have looked ready to burst all day. “We should go, the rain is starting.”
Seth leans in and gives me a kiss, handing me the leftover M&M’s.
