Vines crawled over the red brick wall of the house, snaking this way and that. They hung on to each other for support, the way an elderly couple holds one another. The vines spiraled up and up, until they were nothing but a tangled mess. A series of complicated twists and turns, not different from my own situation with so much going on.  

        I was disappointed that I had missed this part of the house the day of the party, this small area almost invisible. Surprising how this secluded garden awakened more spirit in me than the packed party. Perhaps, silence is sometimes more relaxing than the melodies of music. 

        Now, I sat in one of the two lawn chairs sprawled across a patch of grass, my bare feet welcoming the cold from the soft grass. I lounged in a neon pink chair with a series of oddly shaped sunglasses printed onto it. Some were crimson, while others were buttercup yellow. A few were heart-shaped, a strange contrast to the ice-cream shaped ones around them.  

        The sun was just setting, the glare of sunlight softening until it was a pleasant tickle on my arms. From my perch atop a small rise, I could just make out the hues of pink, orange, and yellow, the colours seeping together like paint spilled by a toddler. If only I could create something like that with my own hands. For once I would like to form something pleasant; give something life, instead of bestowing shadows upon every person I met. 

        What is wrong with me? Ever since this whole accident, negative thoughts have been appearing in my mind, threading their way through the folds of my brain. Recently, it has gotten worse, my worthlessness set like a looping video in my head. However, it was probably normal. I mean, I must be sleep deprived, with so much on my mind. 

        Clenching my jaw, I pushed away this whole matter, before I ended up unconvincing myself. 

        A soft breeze tugged at my hair, tiny strands flying around my face. I closed my eyes, cherishing the wind on my face. It was mid-summer, but it felt as if it was well into autumn, the chilly breezes ever present. In our little town, weather was as unpredictable as the dogs here. Courtney used to have a dog before, and I swear, that dog had a different mood reserved for every day of the week. 

        Anyways, similarly, the weather was like a rigged voting system. Even if the weatherman confirmed that it would be a sunny day, a rain storm would present itself. I'm surprised these weathermen don't quit their job. There's nothing they can do about mother nature's choices. 

        "April?"

        Starting, I turned around in my seat to face the source of the voice. 

A tall man stood just at the entrance to the garden. He had broad shoulders, and a chiseled jaw, his skin sagging a bit from age. His hair was graying at places, but he still held a hint of youth in the way he walked towards me. 

        As he came closer, I realized that he was smiling politely, his eyes crinkling at the corners. 

        Just like Mason's. 

        Oh dear god... It's Mason's father. 

        Dr. Collins and I had only arrived about an hour ago, and she had informed me that Mason's dad was in Ivana's room, talking to a psychologist about Ivana's frazzled state. The poor girl was in such deep shock that she wouldn't let anyone except for her dad enter the room. 

       Feeling as if I had nothing to do with myself now that I was at someone else's property, I had changed into a pair of jeans and a flannel, a courtesy of Mason's mom. Ever since I had washed up and eaten a bit of cereal, I had been sitting here. 

        A small splash jerked me out of my thoughts. Looking to my left, I realized that Mr. Collins had seated himself at the edge of the small pond beside a cherry tree. 

        Oh, and he was... skipping stones?

        When he saw me staring, he chuckled and said, "Sorry 'bout that. This is rather a hobby of mine."

        At hearing his jovial laugh and friendly tone, my tensed shoulders sagged with relief, my guard completely shattering.  

        I had a feeling I could trust him.  

        I smiled back at him. The expression felt strange on my lips, as if they were not accustomed to this stretch. 

        "So," he continued on. "You've probably figured out that I'm Mason's and Ivana's dad."

        I nodded, saying, "Yeah, you guys look alike."

        He laughed, "Yep, we get that a lot."

        He wore red pajama pants with a white t-shirt which had tiny imprints of mustaches all across it. Somehow, his outfit completed his jolly persona. 

        "You like skipping stones?" I asked, the question forming almost instantly as I remembered my favourite childhood activity. 

        All those hours of watching stones leap across the water, sending ripples wherever they landed. Now that I thought about it, people were very similar to skipping stones. Sometimes, whenever or wherever they land in your life, people emit a surge of ripples so strong that it takes quite a while for the waters to calm. However, no matter how hard you try, a trace of them still remains, hidden in the depths of the waters.   

        "Can't say it's my job. So yeah, I guess I like it," Mr. Collins answered, shrugging. "It's just sorta calming. You know?"

        I nodded, relating with him on a spiritual level. After a bad day, the touch of stones on water had always managed to soothe me, the activity awakening a lightness within me.

        "You know how to skip em'?" Mason's father asked, raising a curious eyebrow.  

        "Yep. I used to skip stones all the time," I answered, standing up. 

        My feet took me to the edge of the pond of their own accord. Squinting up at me, Mr. Collins moved over to make space for me to sit beside him on the smooth blades of grass. 

        I lowered myself onto the ground, crisscrossing my legs as my fingers reached for a small, flat stone beside me.

        Without warning, I brought my arm back, and threw the stone into the water, watching with a sort of satisfaction as the stone traced familiar paths over the surface.    

        "Bravo!" Mr. Collins cheered. "You know, it took me at least 2 weeks to learn how to do that. I wouldn't let Mason go until he taught me how to skip stones."

        Laughing, he shook his head. 

        Mason. My mind had made it its personal goal to hold onto any thought of Mason, my brain latching onto that small mention of his name.

        How was his life before we met each other? Did he sit in this very spot ever since he moved, skipping stones? Did he go to the park every evening with Ivana? Was he more of an indoors or outdoors person? Did he have people like Courtney trying to get in his good graces at his old school? Did he have a girlfriend? Maybe he had a better friend than me?

        As if my sorrow was written on my face, Mr. Collins set aside his own stones, and turned to me. 

        "It's Mason, isn't it?" he asked, offering a sympathetic smile. 

        I looked up at him, not bothering to hide my surprise. How did he know?

        My wide eyes apparently answer enough, he said, "He's on all of our minds. We're really worried about him."

        He sighed, rubbing his temples. 

        I felt a pang of guilt. All this wouldn't have happened if Mason and Ivana hadn't come after me. They would still be safe and sound, relaxing at home. This whole thing was so messed up. I had dragged Mason and Ivana into this labyrinth of tragedies with me, without any warning of what might lie ahead. I hadn't realized how much it all affected their parents until just now.

        How could I be so ignorant? 

        "I'm so sorry," I whispered. I knew these words were nothing compared to what I had done to this lovely family, but, it was all I had to offer. 

        "It's not your fault, April," a small voice said from behind me. 

        Startled, I tightened my grip on the stone in my hand, the surface cold against my palm. 

        My eyes widened as recognition dawned over me before I even turned around. 

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Author's Note: 

Hello! Chapter 30 is up!

Also, I know that this chapter was posted rather late. I am really sorry for that. Just know that even if I don't update for a while, I will never give up on this book. Never. So, please bear with my procrastination. I will try to update as soon as I can. Thanks for all your support. It truly mean a lot. 

Mason's father seems like a friendly person. However, despite all the love from the Collins' family, will April be able to make a place for herself in their life? Not to mention her ever present dark thoughts. How long will they rack her brain for?

Will she be able to escape her aunt and truly learn the feeling of freedom and love?

Well, those are some things to think about. We'll see how it all turns out for April and Mason in the future chapters.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and have a great day! :)

- Anika