- AHMED -

"I really hope we didn't get Audrey in trouble," Irina said once we'd pulled out of Molding the Way's parking lot.

I placed my hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure it'll be fine."

Irina sighed. "Her boss looked so mad." She sniffled. "And I wish she hadn't been so harsh with GiGi."

"I'm sorry, Irina," I said after hesitating. "I feel like this is my fault—"

"It's not," she interjected. "It's not your fault, Ahmed; it's mine. I was the one who insisted we come here. It was my decision to try and find out if I had a sister." She exhaled. "Mission accomplished, I guess."

I turned my attention to the road in front of us, dull gray speckled with strips of white and yellow that sped past at a steady rhythm. My eyes fell from the windshield, landing on that same solitary blond hair I'd seen Thursday on Irina's dashboard. "Hey, Irina?" I spoke up.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think maybe GiGi knew something about Glenn Clather's death?"

"If she didn't, I'd say she at least knew who he was. And honestly, at this point, I'd say anything is possible." Irina shook her head. "...She just kept calling me that name—Lane."

I hesitated. "Was that...was she the girl you thought you remembered earlier? The blond one who always gave you skittles?"

"It's gotta be. Lane and my sister knew each other. I'm convinced of that, but...it does make me wonder. If GiGi's been stuck in Molding the Way all these years, where's Lane?"

"Maybe she's in Molding the Way too. I mean, we never checked. And we don't even know if we can take anything GiGi said seriously."

"Ahmed, I don't know. Yeah, she's probably clinically insane, but what if all the things she was screaming were just...memories? Really foggy, chopped up memories of something awful that happened to her?" Irina gulped. "What if she was remembering the day she lost it, the thing that caused her to snap?"

"I wish it was that easy." I sighed. "And I wish we'd had more time with her." I lowered my head as we drove on for a bit, eventually looking out the window and spotting the familiar ivory porch of the Heavenstate home—my home. When Irina parked, the two of us stepped out of the car and strolled up the pavement to the front door, where I fished out my key and nuzzled it into the lock.

I slid open the door, and Irina followed me inside.

"Ahmed, there you are," Katherine greeted us the moment we walked into the kitchen. "Oh, Irina! How are you, dear?"

"I'm well, Mrs. Heavenstate." Irina nodded. "How're you?"

"Well, I've been better. That's for sure." Katherine fanned herself with her hand. "I'm trying to put the finishing touches on the funeral service for Glenn and Caroline tomorrow. James is out running errands, and I just can't seem to stop worrying. This whole thing's got me all over the place."

"I know what that's like." Irina's voice grew low.

Katherine sighed. "Can I get you two anything? Some water? A coke maybe?"

Irina shook her head. "I'm fine."

"Same here," I echoed.

Katherine smiled briefly. "Right. Well, if you change your mind, I washed all the glasses this morning, and they're in the cupboard closest to the fridge. Water and sodas are in the pantry." She turned and walked briskly from the room, hurrying off to whatever task awaited her.

I turned to Irina once Katherine had left. "You sure you don't want anything to drink?"

Irina shook her head again. "Right now, I'm just trying to make sure my brain doesn't explode. This's been the craziest day of my life."

I moved closer, slipped my arm around her. "I'm sorry. I know this can't be easy for you." I stroked her shoulder. "Wanna sit for a minute?"

She nodded slowly, shivering as we left the kitchen together to grab a seat on the living room couch.

"I—I can't believe this," she trembled. "I don't even know what question to ask first, but...I have to talk to my mom." A single tear condensed at her eye's base. "I'm just so scared of this—all of it."

"You don't have to face her alone, Irina," I offered. "We can go together if you want. I mean, this is really insane for me too. And maybe, with both of us there...we can help each other through it."

She turned to me slowly, teardrops threatening to rupture and gush down her cheeks. But slowly, tremulously, her lips parted and bent upward into a quivering smile. "Thank you, Ahmed," she almost cried. "Thank you."

I could feel myself drawing nearer to her, one of my hands already wrapped around her shoulder and the other sliding slowly across the couch's knotted threading toward Irina's right thigh, the one closest to me. Before I knew what was happening, my lips were parting, my palm was resting on her soft skin.

Her eyelids were lowering, as were mine, and I could feel the heat of her face inches from my own. I bent forward, slowing my pace as I leaned—

Irina gasped, pulled away suddenly, stood to her feet in a moment. "Ahmed," she said almost instantly. "Ahmed, I um...I don't...I..."

I just sat there, iced in place, my neck craned forward, my arms now limp on couch pillows rather than gentle skin. I looked up at her sheepishly as I felt blood rush to my cheeks, the room air frigid by comparison. 

"Irina, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have—"

"I—I think I should go," she cut me off, turned, dashed out of the room.

"Irina, wait!" I leapt to my feet and chased behind her.

She sprinted through the living room door and past the kitchen, nearly crashing into the dining table as she hurried away.

"Irina, please! Irina!"

DING!

The jingling of the doorbell froze me where I stood while the pitter patter of Irina's hard-bottom flats grew fainter and fainter.

DING! The doorbell again.

I turned, began trudging uneasily to the door, trying my best to see who was outside.

Sweat still peppering the back of my shirt, I twisted the knob and pulled the door open.

"Mr. Rhymes?"

He chuckled. "Ahmed, please. Call me Landon." He reached a single hand forward and patted me on the shoulder. "Is your dad in?"

"James?" I sighed, lowering my head. "No, he's out right now—why?"

"I just needed to talk to him about some...personal things."

"I can leave a message if you'd like, or—"

"No, no, that's quite alright," Landon waved his hand dismissively. "Mind if I come inside for a bit? It's burning up out here."

It's fifty degrees—this is November, not July. I nodded slowly. "Sure."

He smiled. "Got anything to drink? I'm parched."

Seriously? "...I think Katherine said there's soda in the pantry. I'll go get you a glass."

"Actually, could you make it two? I'm sure my better half is thirsty as well."

Better half?

I barely had time to ponder it. The moment the words left Landon's mouth, a petite blond girl stepped into view and angled her head to the side, resting it on Landon's shoulder.

I scratched my head. "I'm sorry, but who are you?"

"Shelby," she piped up, extending her hand to shake mine vigorously. "Shelby Bark."

Was she standing on the porch the entire time? Why didn't she say anything?

"Shelby and I have been dating for about six weeks now," Landon explained.

"I work on most Sundays," she added, "so you probably haven't seen me at the church. But I'll be there tomorrow. I just got my shifts switched." A smile spread across her face. "I love Pastor Hall's sermons. What a talented tongue he has."

I nodded slowly. "Well, I guess you guys should come on inside. I'm sure James'll be back any minute." I led them to the living room, all the while looking over my shoulder, wishing desperately for Irina to reappear.

Shelby and Landon took seats on the couch, at the same edge where I'd been only minutes before.

"I'll bring you guys some drinks. Water or soda?"

"Coke for me," Landon answered.

"I'll have Coke too," Shelby announced. "Thank you, Ahmed."

I headed to the pantry to retrieve drinks, rummaged through the cabinet for two medium-sized glasses. I rinsed the glasses in the sink and added four blocks of ice to each, then filled them with fizzling Coca-Cola.

When I returned to the living room, I placed the drinks on the coffee table trivets for Landon and Shelby. Breathing in, I stole another nervous glance around the room.

Awkward silence hung in the air until Shelby asked where the bathroom was. I pointed her around the corner and through the kitchen, and she thanked me with a wave as she strode past the étagère standing next to the hallway's edge.

I trekked back to the living room and leaned against the wall opposite Landon, my eyes sailing to the ceiling as I exhaled a labored sigh.

Finally, after more of that all-too-familiar thick and crushing stillness in the air, EdgeWay's treasurer broke his silence.

"Was it something I said?"

I gulped, turning to him briefly before glancing away.

"Come on, kid. What'd I do?"

"I...I just wasn't expecting company today is all," I tried.

Landon sighed. "You sure that's all that's bugging you?"

"I'm—I'm fine," I insisted. "Just got a lot of homework is all, and...and I should probably get back to it."

Landon chuckled. "Now I know something's bothering you. Homework? On a Saturday? Come on, kid. What's wrong?" He patted the couch cushion next to him. "Have a seat. I promise I don't bite."

I drudged over to the couch, my hands quivering at my side as I moved nearer and nearer to Landon. I finally eased into the space next to him after what felt like an eternity.

"Alright, spill it. What's up?"

"It's just...I mean..."

He laughed knowingly. "It's a woman, isn't it?"

I felt my face flush.

"Look, bud, it's nothing to be ashamed of. We've all been there."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, right."

"Hey, come on. I've had my fair share of trouble with the fairer sex." He rested his arm firmly around my shoulders. "And I know what it's like to be completely shut down when all you were trying to do was have a good time. I get it, Ahmed. And it's not a bad thing; it builds character." He smiled at me, but it wasn't a comforting one. In fact, it was just the opposite. I didn't know exactly why, but sitting there on that couch felt downright creepy.

Shelby returned from the bathroom moments later and smiled at me and Landon from the living room doorway. "And besides," she added with a musing breath, "with as cute as you are, I don't know what girl would be dumb enough not to kiss you."

Ice shot through my veins. "K-kiss me? Who said anything about—"

DING! The doorbell sounded yet again.

Landon and Shelby paused, and I stood the moment they did, grateful for a chance to make an exit. I practically ran to the door and flung it open.

"James?" I puzzled.

"Hey, Ahmed." He smiled. "Sorry to make you come to the door. I forgot my house key this morning."

"James, is that you?" Landon called.

"Landon?" My adoptive father turned and headed for the living room, and I followed.

He walked through the doorway, and Landon stood to greet him and shake his hand. Shelby curtsied and introduced herself as well. I could feel my legs going numb beneath me, prickles of sweat slithering across my thighs.

"I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long," James said, his eyebrows sinking bashfully. "Running some errands for the funeral's really kept me busy—but on the bright side, we've finally settled on a good price with the florist." He hesitated. "I assume you're both planning on attending the ceremony tomorrow?"

"Ceremony?" Shelby queried. "What ceremony?"

"The one for Glenn and Caroline," Landon half-whispered in her ear. "Remember, dear? I told you about it just yesterday."

She nodded after a moment's pause. "Oh, yes, of course."

James smiled, as did I, but mine was far more forced than genuine.

"Well, James," Landon addressed him, "I'm glad you've made it home. I was hoping you'd have a moment to discuss something in your private study."

The way he emphasized the word private really bothered me, but James didn't seem to mind.

"Of course, Landon. Right this way." James led Landon and Shelby from the room, the latter swaying her hips slightly as she strode out of sight.

I breathed a sigh of relief the moment they left and plopped down on the couch. I leaned my head back against the cushioned pillows and closed my eyes, listened to the subtle stillness that surrounded.

My eyes fluttered but didn't open, something vaguely resembling sleep seeming to tug at me from beneath my eyelids when—

ZZING! ZZING! ZZING!

A zinging buzz vibrating against my thigh, I let out a groan and reached inside my pocket to check my phone.

My eyes grew wide the moment I spotted the notification, and I sprang to my feet. As I headed to the front door, I heard Katherine coming down the stairs.

"Ahmed?" she asked, spotting me as I fumbled feverishly with the door's lock. "What's wrong? Why the rush?"

"I need to go. I'm taking my bike to the hospital."

"What? Why?"

"I just got a group text. One of the guys on the basketball team, Dylan—he's in the emergency room. He was attacked during a break-in."

Katherine's hand rose to her throat. "Oh, my," she whispered. "This is...this is just awful. And I—oh, this is awful!" She turned quickly and scurried from the foyer. I could have sworn I saw a tear streak down her face as she retreated from the terrible news.