"With a secret like that, at some point the secret itself becomes irrelevant. The fact that you kept it does not."

― Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants.

Danny held his breath as he waited for Tyler to give the answer to the question he asked. Ever since he confessed his feelings to Cassie, he tried to suppress those feelings in order not to ruin their magnificent friendship, although it was not an easy task. He was with Cassie almost every day, they were the only ones in their group of friends that were in the same university, and so it felt to him like life wanted to punish him by letting him have feelings that he could never act on. He knew that even if a day came when Cassie and Tyler were no longer together, he still would not be able to act on those feelings because he can't betray Tyler. Also, even if he wanted to betray Tyler and go after Cassie, it still would not be a possible task because his love was unrequited. He felt like he was cursed; cursed with a love that he could never have.

"Yes,'' he said, and then sucked in his lips. "I'm going to ask Cassie to marry me," he let out a breath that he did not realize he had been holding in.

Danny felt uncomfortable with the conversation he was having with Tyler, and that discomfort was evident in his facial expression. He couldn't help it no matter how hard he tried. Tyler noticed the look on his face and asked, "You think it's a bad idea, bro?"

Danny shook his head and tried to make his facial expression as normal as he possibly could "It's a great idea," his voice cracked. He swallowed hard. ''It just came as a shock to me, but I'm happy for you guys...you and Cassie will make a great couple, and have beautiful kids, and-"

"Woah, slow down bro," Tyler laughed and then he shut the ring case and placed it back in his pocket "I'm not asking her to marry me anytime soon," he said.

Danny looked furrowed his eyebrows and pushed his head back "When are you gonna ask her to marry you, then? Next month?"

"No," he shook his head "In six years."

Danny thought to himself then I still have some time, but he shook the ridiculous thought away before he could go any further with it. "You're joking, right?" he chuckled and then he folded his arms under his chest. "You're going to propose to Cassie in six years, yet you've already bought the ring?" he asked, trying to make sense of the situation.

Tyler nodded "Six years from now I want to ask Cassie to marry me, and I want her to know that as long as six years ago, I've always known she was the one. I've always been sure. There has been no doubt in my mind that I'll want to spend the rest of my life with her. And if she doesn't like this ring when the time comes, I'll get her a new one, I just want her to know that I've always been sure about us," he spoke with so much passion in his tone and so much promise in each word he uttered.

He did not bother asking Tyler why he specifically wanted to propose in six years, because he had heard Cassie say a few times that she wanted to be at least twenty-six before she got married, and twenty-nine when she gave birth to her first child - a boy.

"Wow," Danny blew out some air. "And how did you know for sure that she was the one?"

"My sister just got engaged, and she kept on gushing about how from the first day she met her fiancé, she just knew that he was the one. She says that there was this feeling of assurance whenever she looked at him. She says she always felt safe in his presence," he explained. "That's how I feel whenever I'm with Cassie. I feel at peace and I know she feels the same way. It feels permanent, it feels right," he explained.

Danny did not say anything, but he was impressed by the way Tyler spoke about Cassie. Danny loved Cassie and wanted her to be happy. He knew that Tyler made her happy and that he would always do whatever he can to make her the happiest person on earth. He was genuinely happy for them, his heart sunk a bit because the way Tyler said he felt about Cassie was the exact same way he felt about her, but still he was happy because he knew that Cassie would be one lucky girl. She was a very difficult person, but despite that fact, she was loved. She had a wonderful army of friends around her.

Danny tapped Tyler on his shoulders "I can't wait to attend your wedding six years from now," Danny smiled.

"Thanks, bro," he said. He looked nervous - like he was going to ask Cassie the question right at that moment. He also looked excited, like he was about to say the short but meaningful words 'I do,' at the altar. "I better get going now, I have practice soon," he checked his watch.

Danny nodded and then he pushed himself off Tyler's car and stepped aside. He waited for Tyler to get into his car, start it and drive off before going inside Phoebe's house. He walked down to the basement which was where he heard the loud noise of Cassie and Phoebe laughing coming from.

"That better be a good joke," he said, as he descended the stairs.

"More like a funny baby picture of you," Phoebe laughed once he came into their view. They were in a room in the basement, which Phoebe had turned into her room. She liked it because it was spacious and it felt private and personal. She felt like it was her own space. She had turned the once boring space into a beautiful room that took semblance to one of those rooms in hotels that you wished you could live in forever.

Danny saw Cassie holding a picture of him and he did not bother checking it because he knew the exact picture they were laughing at. He was six and he had just finished playing with some friends, and so his clothes had gotten dirty. His hair was quite long and dishevelled and he had a lot of gaps in his teeth. His ex-stepmother forced him to take the picture and so he stood with his eyes narrowed, his cheeks puffy and his lips pursed. He posed so terribly to annoy her but it ended up being to his disadvantage because he was the person that had to live with such a terrible picture, not her.

Danny narrowed his eyes at Phoebe and then he noticed that she looked different. She had cut her hair to her shoulder level. She had on as short and tight white dress that had small red sneakers drawn all over the dress, she painted her nails red to match the shoes. "You shouldn't have cut your hair, Phoebs, you look even worse than you did before," he joked.

She mimicked his words and flipped her short hair. He laughed and shoved his hands into his pocket.

"So...what did you and Tyler talk about?" Cassie asked nosily, her face was basically under his nose. Danny turned to look at Phoebe who smiled widely at him, like a child. She was bursting with joy and he wondered if she would be able to keep the secret. She was incapable of keeping anything from Cassie. It came as a shock to him that Tyler trusted her enough to share a secret that she would have to keep for six years.

"Guy stuff,'' he said, casually.

"What does that even mean?'' she pouted and then she sat down on Phoebe's bed.

"I guess you'll never know,'' he said.

"Ou, before I forget," Phoebe said, while she was rummaging through some drawers "Cassie, ask your mum which dress I should wear, the red or the teal one," she said.

"I swear you're my mum's real daughter," Cassie laughed "and Danny's her real son. When Danny and I were in University last semester, I swear he talked to my mum at least three times more than I did," she laughed ''weirdos."

"We have a special bond," Danny smiled.

"Well I'm jealous," she pouted. "I feel like you're cheating on me," she said.

"I am," he winked.

"So...what are we doing today?" Phoebe asked, still looking through her drawer.

"What I'd like to know is what you've been searching for," Danny said.

"This cute guy gave me his number, and I don't know where I put it,'' she whined and then she shut each drawer and went to join them on the bed. "I think I'm gonna be alone forever," she playfully cried into Danny's shoulders. "Unless," she rose her head up "You and me become a couple," she smiled at Danny and puckered her lips. "I've always thought you're good looking," she said, with wide gleaming eyes.

"You and I," Cassie quickly corrected, and then she continued watching the hilarious scene that was going on before her eyes.

Danny carefully pushed her away "I'll pass on that offer," he said.

''Are you sure?" she asked and then she moved closer to him until there was no space between them, and then she grabbed his ripped arms. "I'm a pretty good girlfriend, ask Tucker. I even know how to make fried chicken, so I think that puts me in the wife material category. Huh? Huh?' she nudged his shoulders. She was like an annoying child begging for more candy on Halloween.

"Don't worry Phoebs I can share Tyler with you," Cassie offered.

"I already tried to seduce him, he turned me down," she sulked and then she turned back to Danny "we'll make a super cute couple," she pressed.

"This is the weirdest conversation ever," Cassie laughed and then her phone buzzed. She checked it to see that it was a picture sent by Courtney; the event planner.

It was a picture of three nice throw pillows stacked atop each other, the pillows richly captured the beautiful Indian culture. They were beautiful and had exquisite embroidery on them. On the first pillow was an elephant embroidery that was done in silver embroidery thread. The pillow itself was red and then the one below it was gold and the last was a shiny blue colour. The embroidery on the last two pillows was not visible because they were covered by the first pillow, but she assumed it was the same design as the first because apart from the colour the pillows were exactly the same.

This is what I want the cake to look like, I want to make sure you're okay with it. Courtney wrote underneath the photo.

It's perfect!!! Cassie replied and then she closed the message tab. She was about to lock her phone screen but she noticed she also had an email. She clicked on it to see that it was from the Freetown police department. She swallowed hard and then she read through it. Her application had been accepted. She booked to see Brady the next day, which meant that in less than twenty-four hours, she would come face to face with him. A part of her wanted to cancel the appointment and forget about asking Brady for help, but another part of her actually wanted to see him. She was curious about what he looked like, she wondered if he had gained weight, if he had lost some, or if he stayed the same. She wanted to hear his voice again and listen to his advice. She wanted to be in his presence.

"So what do you think, Cassie?" Phoebe asked.

"About what?" Cassie asked and then she placed her phone on the bed.

"Movie and bowling," she replied.

"Sounds good," Cassie nodded.

Whenever it was just the three of them hanging out, they preferred to go simple rather than wild. They would always either go out to eat, go to see a movie, go to an arcade, or whatever they felt was simple and would give them the opportunity to actually talk and have a nice time together. Sometimes, whenever they felt like going a bit fancier, they would go on a cruise or drive far out of town to go sightseeing. When the whole group was together, they tended to go more to parties. Sometimes they hung out together doing simple things, but then Tucker would know about a party going on somewhere which he would hear about from his brother's girlfriend's best friend's cousin's boyfriend or something of that sort.

"I'm looking at the movies that are showing today, and none of them look good," Danny said with his phone inches away from his face. He used his thumb to scroll down the screen and then back up, and he shook his head.

"What movies are showing?" Phoebe asked.

"The only one that looks decent is called Visit from the past but it's a horror movie and I don't think I can bear the embarrassment of you screaming in the cinema," he said.

"That was only once, and I was young then,'' Phoebe defended herself.

"That was two years ago," he shook his head. "Everyone kept on staring at us, and it was because of manners that they didn't tell you to shut up."

"It was terrible," Cassie joined in. "There was even this little kid laughing and pointing," she remembered.

"I was the only normal person in that theatre, the rest of you are sick and have secret killer tendencies. I'm scared of you both," she pointed her fingers a both of them.

Both Danny and Cassie laughed, but they let her off the hook. They had already teased her enough.

"So just bowling then?" Cassie asked.

"Looks like it," Danny said. "Or we can also have dinner," he suggested.

"Yeah," Cassie said "I kinda owe you guys for ditching when we were supposed to have lunch,' she said "dinner's on me," she said.

"Of course it is," Phoebe said. "I would like to know why you ran out that day, but I know you'll just lie to me the same way you lied about why you have bruises on your face," she said, with a little bit of attitude laced in her tone.

"You're right. So don't ask," Cassie snapped, but then she felt guilty after seeing how hurt Phoebe looked, and so she added, "But thanks for worrying about me. I'm fine, I promise," she said.

"I wouldn't be a good best friend if I don't worry, the same way you wouldn't be a good best friend if you don't throw me a surprise birthday party," she winked.

"At least pretend to be oblivious about that," Cassie rolled her eyes and groaned. "I swear, this is the last party I'm throwing for you," she said.

"That's what you think, my love," she said and then picked up her purse from her vanity. "Let's go, baby," she said to Danny in a slow deep, seductive tone and then she dragged him up.

" This has to stop," he laughed and then he stood up.

"Help me get up," Cassie said, and then Danny pulled her up and then she stretched to get her phone from the bed.

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Cassie sat down on the passenger side of Danny's car while Phoebe sat at the back. They talked as they waited for Danny to finish paying the bill. He ended up paying, he adamantly refused to let Cassie pay.

"So, Phoebs," Cassie turned around to look at Phoebe. "Were you serious about what you said today? About Danny," she pierced her brown eyes deep into Phoebe's green ones.

"About me liking him?" she asked "no way!" she exclaimed. "I mean, he's a great guy and he's good looking, but no it was only a joke," she assured her. "Besides, even if I was serious, I know it wouldn't work out. He's way too in love with you to notice anyone else," she said.

"What?" Cassie said in a shocked tone "do you think he still has feelings for me?" she asked she rose her eyebrows.

"Of course he still has feelings for you,'' Phoebe said, "I have seen the way he looks at you whenever you're not looking. He's always worrying about you, always wants to be around you. But I can tell he tries to push his feelings aside because of you and Tyler."

"I feel bad,'' Cassie looked down "I don't want to hold him back," she said.

"It's not your fault that you're gorgeous and amazing," she placed her hand on Cassie's shoulders and rubbed it. "I think Danny just needs to find someone else that he can be passionate about, I'm sure he'll find someone soon. If you want, I can seduce him and get him off your hands," she wiggled her eyebrows.

"No, leave Danny alone," Cassie warned "you're too corrupt for that sweet soul," she said.

"I'll try,'' Phoebe winked 'but you have to admit that it's fun," she said.

By the time they were done talking, they saw Danny coming out of the restaurant and approaching them.

"Gosh, I'm exhausted,'' he said, as soon as he got into the car. ''I think the weight of the bowling ball tore my ligament," he complained.

"Don't worry babe, I'll give you a nice massage once we get home," Phoebe teased, in that same seductive tone.

"Cassie, please make her stop," he pleaded and then he started the car.

"No way," she laughed and then she fastened her seatbelt "I'm actually enjoying this," she said.

Danny groaned and then he drove to Cassie's place since they were closer to her house than they were to Phoebe's.

The roads were usually quite empty at night in Freetown, and so it was a very smooth drive. They drove under the beauty of all the street lights. The air was quite cool, unlike the heat that burned their skin and commanded sweat out of their bodies in the day time. The breeze wafted around them through the open windows. Night time was the perfect time to admire Freetown. It was a mundane and simple-looking town in the day but at night it completely transformed. Oh, such great wonders lights can do once darkness has blinded the world.

It did not take time for Danny to near Cassie's lush neighbourhood. It was very quiet there. Most lights in the houses were switched off, it was safe but the silence made it seem dangerous like something unexpected could happen in that still calmness. It held the eerie air of a graveyard, almost like only people's spirits resided there. Cassie hardly ever saw her neighbours but she knew they were there. Everyone there lived their lives like they were saints, although they were all far from being that. They enjoyed acting righteous and like they were better than others. They minded their business only because they did not want people to call them nosy. The women acted classy because they did not want to be the topic of gossip. The kids that lived there acted well-mannered whenever they were in their neighbourhood because their mother's told them to, out of fear that other mothers will say that their kids are better behaved. As for the men, all they had to do was get richer, and buy more expensive cars to make their women happy. The only thing that was real about them was the diamond necklaces around their necks and the gold watches strapped around their wrists. Everything else was fake, they all restrained themselves. It was a prison that they built for themselves, and although they knew how to escape it, they choose not to because they all loved the attention that they got from people who don't know what it's like to be buried underneath wealth.

Danny pulled up in Cassie's driveway. The lights in her parent's room were on, so she could tell that they were home. She saw them a few days ago, but she felt like she hadn't set eye on them in weeks. They were always busy. When she was younger she felt like she was being punishment for being privileged. She got the money, the luxury, the comfort, but she hardly ever saw the people that provided all that for her. It was almost like a mystery to her like the money just appeared and before she could turn around to say thank you the source had gone out to make some more money. She felt neglected back then, it was only when she grew older that she learned to appreciate her parent's hard work. She knew that every single thing they did, they did to make her and Caleb happy. They did it out of love, they worked hard because they wanted her to be happy. That was just the mindset they had. All they knew how to do was work and be successful, lack of success was not an option. They had already been cemented into that lifestyle and behavior, there was no going back for them. Cassie inherited that trait because she was also very thirsty for success. She wanted so badly to be the one to solve Avril's case, she just had to do it, and she had to keep on going. Nothing anyone can say or do will deter her, it was like she was under a hypnotic spell and will not be fulfilled until she has followed the instructions of the hypnotist.

"Thanks for the ride Dan," Cassie kissed him on the cheek and then she pushed open the door. "Have fun with you girlfriend," she teased. "Bye Phoebs," she stretched to hug Phoebe and also gave her a kiss on her cheek before leaving the car and shutting the door.

She turned stood to watch them leave. She saw Phoebe climbing to the front seat and she saw laughed at Danny's expression. He looked like he was about to cry. He looked to Cassie for help but she only laughed at him and waved and then he drove off in distress. He regretted not dropping Phoebe off first, even if it wouldn't make sense to drop off the person that lived farther away first.

Once Danny's car was out of the way, Cassie noticed a car parked opposite her house and she saw Joseph leaning on it and staring at her. She rolled her eyes and then she crossed over to meet him.

"Why are you here?" she asked.

"I'm elated to see you too," he smiled, widely.

"Did you find Avril's box?"

"Forget about the box," he said and then he shoved his hands into his pocket and brought out a photo. He outstretched it to Cassie and then she took it.

It was a picture of a younger version of Joseph and Avril's parents. They looked to be about twenty years younger in that picture. They had wide smiles on their faces, they looked like they had just won the lottery. Avril's mum was carrying a baby that was wrapped in a pink blanket.

"Is that Avril?" Cassie smiled and then she placed her hand on the baby.

"Of course it's Avril," he answered in an annoyed tone ''but that's besides the point I want to make. Look at the date on the photo."

Cassie did as she was instructed. 02/03/95 was the date written under the photo.

"My mum does this thing where she writes behind every photo we take. She says she always wants to remember what event a photo was taken at, and what made that event special," he explained.

Cassie turned the photo around and then she was a little note written in purple ink that had been smudged a bit. The back of the photo had patches of brown on it, she could tell that it wasn't stored in a place where it received love.

The first day our baby girl came home from the hospital, was what was written behind the photo.

"Avril was born January 26th," he said. "She was born in Freetown hospital. She wasn't born premature and so there was no reason for her to have spent over a month in the hospital after she was born. My mum has pictures of when she was pregnant with me, but she says she never took any when she was pregnant with Avril because she hated how fat she got," his words rushed out of his mouth, he was frustrated.

"You think Avril was adopted, don't you?" she asked.

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THANKS FOR READING, LOVES.

I'M SO SORRY ABOUT THE DELAY. I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY BUSY, I HOPE YOU ALL CAN UNDERSTAND. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER. PLEASE LEAVE A VOTE AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK <3