Scream
Written by Jill Blotevogel based on the script by Dan Dworkin & Jay Beatttie
Fanfiction of Original Character (O.C.) Brittany Duval (Emma's Twin)
I realized there was a few mistakes in this chapter. I have edited and fixed them all... I hope. Enjoy reading and I'll try to get the second chapter up on Monday. :)
Season 1 Episode 1 – Pilot
"Oh, my gosh, and this delightful wood-pulp-smelling thing is your calculus book," I heard Emma say as I reached the bottom step.
"I don't get why I have to pass calculus to play basketball to get a scholarship to take more calculus," Will stated. Hearing him, I decided to not enter the kitchen for a bottle of water. "Whatever."
"Because, Will," Emma cut him off, "your good looks are only going to get you so far in this world. And if you'd shown up last night like you were supposed to…"
"Hey, I told you, my phone died, and my charger's in my gym bag," Will quickly defended himself. I rolled my eyes.
"Okay," Emma agreed. I pulled my hair into a ponytail. After slipping on my shoes, I left through the front door.
My twin is just too gullible sometimes. I fell into a series of stretches and then started a slow jog down the sidewalk. The air was a little chilly at first; however, by the time I got back to the house I was slightly sweaty, and as a bonus Will was gone.
"… supposed to sleep till noon and rot their brains on video games," I heard mom say as I opened the door.
"Well, maybe I got a defective one," Emma joked. I believe it.
"Yeah," Mom chuckled.
"Apparently, Britt did too," Emma commented as she saw me.
"What?" I asked innocently. "This body takes a lot of work to maintain."
"Really? I'm staying in shape just fine," Emma shot back.
"Wanna race?" I asked. She sent me a glare. "Besides you do exercise, just in a different way."
"So, Mom, how's Clark?" Emma asked, changing the subject.
"That's Sheriff Hudson to you," Mom corrected her as I poured some coffee into a travel mug.
"I'm going to take a quick shower," I stated before running up the stairs.
After I was done, I through on a plain white V-neck tee-shirt, dark blue jeans, and my black leather jacket (that Nina bought me). Oddly enough I haven't heard from her yet. I walked down stairs just as Mom and Emma stood from the table.
Emma and I joined our friends at one of the outside picknick tables. The kids around us were talking about Audrey's video. I smiled a little knowing Nina sent it out. I sat on the table.
"I thought we agreed to trash that video?" Emma questioned as she sat next to Will.
"She was bound to come out one day. Look at her," Brooke scoffed.
"What's the big deal if she is a lesbian?" asked Jake.
"Okay, the big deal is it wasn't her decision to tell the world," Emma reprimanded. Jake scoffed. "Jake?"
"I wasn't the only one on that group thread. And I did delete that video," Jake stated defensively. "After I sent it to PJ. Girl-on-girl is his demographic."
"Riley?" Emma looked at her.
"Sorry. Zoe saw it on my phone," Riley apologized. Brooke and I shook our heads.
"Do you guys even understand the term "viral"?" Emma asked.
"I don't see Nina anywhere," Riley said. I pulled out my phone. Still nothing from Nina.
"You know she did the wide release," Will added. We all knew she did, it was Nina's style.
"Of course, it was Nina," Brooke stated. "She's a spoiled sociopath with no impulse control. I mean, she's probably ditching right now to avoid your good-girl wrath."
"Nina, isn't scared of Emma's "good-girl wrath"," I stated. "Plus, Ty, isn't here. They're probably together."
"You would know," Emma accused. Her and Nina didn't really like each other.
"Em, your little friend will be fine," Brooke stated before an argument with us could start.
"We're not really friends anymore," Emma mumbled.
"Just give it twenty-four hours, okay? Someone will text and drive their hybrid into a tree and we'll have a new headline," Will said rubbing Emma's back.
"Maybe Audrey will Taylor Swift her anger into creative energy for one of her little films," Brooke joked.
"Emma, she will be fine. Okay?" Will smiled. The bell rang and we left for our literature class.
"Cavemen made fires. Those fires cast shadows, and those shadows created fear," Mr. Branson said, writing on his chalk board. I was sitting by the new guy so I wouldn't be by Emma. "Men have been obsessed with scaring each other ever since."
I noticed Brooke whispering to the others and guessed it had to do with the new hottie next to me. He looked like Nina's type. Muscular, not too long shaggy hair, great jaw line, and mysterious.
"Brooke, would you please tell us which genre originated with The Castle of Otranto?" Mr. Branson called. I smiled at his slightly jealous tone. Easy, I thought, the gothic genre.
"The castle genre?" Brooke wondered after clearing her throat. I smiled at her and shook my head.
"The gothic genre," new guy stated. I looked at him just in time to lock eyes for a second. Okay, maybe not Nina's type.
"Thank you," Mr. Branson said. "Guys look, I get it. Nobody wants to sit around reading five hundred dusty pages about monks and curses, but nobody's forcing you to watch The Walking Dead."
"Eww," I said quietly. "That show is weak."
"Is The Walking Dead on the midterm?" Jake asked excitedly.
"Zombies are not literature, Jake," Emma chuckled.
"Why not?" the new guy asked. I coughed to cover a laugh. He smiled my way, then looked around the other students. "George Romero, Horace Walpole, it's all the same bones."
"Or the same rotting flesh. Kieran's right. Gothic genre is all over TV right now," Mr. Branson explained. "You have American Horror Story. You have Bates Motel, Hannibal."
"What about Texas Chainsaw or Halloween?" Jake asked excitedly. I chuckled at his antics. Him and I both loved horror movies.
"Slasher movies are not the same," I scoffed quietly. Kieran lifted an eyebrow at me. I winked back.
"Uh, those are slasher movies," Noah corrected as I knew he would. I leaned back to wait for his brilliant explanation. "So, you can't do a slasher movie as a TV series." He paused, but Mr. Branson waved him to continue. "Well, think about it. You know, girl and her friends arrive at the dance, the camp, the deserted town, whatever. Killer takes them out one by one. Ninety minutes later, the sun comes up as survivor girl's sitting in the back of the ambulance watching her friend's bodies being wheeled past. Slasher movies burn bright and fast. TV needs to stretch things out. You know, by the time the first body is found, it's only a matter of time before the bloodbath commences."
Kieran had leaned forward as Noah was talking. Another horror fan perhaps. My phone chimed, and as I pulled it out everyone else's went off. Nina's mother had texted me to tell me that Nina was dead. I almost dropped my phone when I saw the other message about Mrs. Patterson Finding her daughter dead. The PA clicked on and all students were told to report for mandatory grief counselling. Riley laced her arm through mine and helped me walk to the seating area. Tears and mascara streaked down my face. I sniffled sitting next to her, and she sighed sadly.
"Nina Patterson's death is a great shock. Once you've seen the grief counselor, you're free to return home," a woman said over the PA. "Classes will resume tomorrow."
"This Wi-Fi sucks. The cops aren't saying much," Jake complained. Riley sighed again as I shot him an unamused look. "Her mom found her body. The victim of foul play. I need gory details."
"I don't," I snapped at him. He shifted uncomfortably.
"Um, hello," Noah tried to get the counselors attention. "Miss why am I here?"
"That's the "mandatory" part of mandatory grief counselling," Emma explained. Jake looked up from his phone.
"No, but seriously, I feel shock, mild interest, but not grief," Noah said. I wanted to glare at him, but I couldn't. He wasn't her friend. Hell, she loved tormenting most of the school, including his best friend, Audrey.
"Guys, Nina was murdered in cold blood. Do you not even care?" Riley asked. Now that's a good question since none of our friends are crying. Then again neither is she.
"It just doesn't seem real," Emma defended herself.
"Here we go!" Jake smiled. "One of Nina's neighbors tweeted that her throat was sliced ear to ear. The press is all over this. They're playing the whole 'maybe Brandon James in back' angle."
"Brandon James is dead," Emma said through her teeth as I tensed up. I watched as she stormed off. That's when I noticed Kieran was sitting on my other side about a foot from me on the bench.
"Who's Brandon James?" Kieran asked. He looked back at me.
"Noah, want to fill the new guy in?" I asked, not wanting to do that myself.
"Uh, sure, he killed a bunch of students twenty years ago. He, um… He cut some others up," Noah said, moving to Kieran's other side. Riley nudged me, so I slid over almost into his side, while she stayed at mine. He shifted his arm from the back of the bench to my side and pulled me the last inch or so into him. Noah showed them a photo on his phone. "This is him. Emma and Britt's Dad got stabbed. He almost died. Brandon had Proteus syndrome, like the Elephant Man. People say he was born a monster, but I think he was bullied and beaten into one."
"I agree, no one is born a monster," I said. Kieran tightened his grip on my side.
"And you know all this why?" Kieran wondered. I tried to grin but knew I had failed.
"I don't know," Noah confessed. "Some guys like sports. I like serial killers."
"Brandon James is his Dallas Cowboys," I stated remembering a previous conversation. Noah smiled at me.
"He was a classic case of the deformed kid who lived in the shed. Mom homeschooled him. Dad was ashamed of him. His older brother, Troy, was the only one who cared about him. Whenever he went out, he wore this post-op surgical mask. They tried to fix his face a few times. Never really worked," Noah explained. There was more to the story, but he was building the suspense.
"What made him start killing people?" Riley asked.
"There wasn't any proof it was actually him, but the cops didn't have a doubt it was him," I said. Kieran looked at me shocked. I was almost defensive of the man that supposedly stabbed my dad.
"Rumor is he fell in love. His brother said Brandon was obsessed. Wrote her anonymous love letters. Made her little carvings. Brandon found her at the Halloween dance. He got up the nerve to talk to her. It went okay at first, but then a bunch of drunk jocks jumped him. They thought they were saving her from a monster. After a lifetime of taking it, something in Brandon snapped. He killed five students by the time he was done. The manhunt ended at Wren Lake. The girl agreed to meet him. No body ever knew who she was," Noah finished the published story. I knew otherwise.
After grief counselling, I went home and curled up in bed. I played old videos of Nina and I, and I also went through our photos on my phone and hanging on my walk. Nina was a first-class bitch. Even back when we were in elementary school. However, she was there for me, and I was there for her. You need at least one person you can always turn to in this world is what she told me. I smiled and we've been best friends ever since even though I don't agree with half the things she's done.
"At this point, we're questioning persons of interest," Sheriff Hudson stated. We were sitting together under a tree to watch the news update. "And we are looking for Miss Patterson's ex-boyfriend, Tyler O'Neill. If anyone has any information on his whereabouts, please, call the hotline number on the screen. Thank you."
"So, Tyler did it? For reals?" Riley asked as Brooke shut the laptop. I clenched my jaw.
"Em and Britt's mom worked the scene. Tell them what you heard," Will said, looking at Emma.
"A neighbor saw Tyler's car parked out front around the time that Nina was killed. There was no sign of forced entry, and his fingerprints were found on a glass in the kitchen. Now, his foster parents can't find him. No body can," Emma said. Glancing at our friends, I realized none of them knew.
"When he dated Nina, they were always at each other's throats, but… how could he do that?" Riley asked. I narrowed my eyes at her. Tyler was her best friend.
"They were together," I stated.
"What?" Jake asked.
"Nina and Tyler. She needed his help to upload the video," I answered. "He drove her home."
"You knew she was going to upload that video?" Emma accused. I just shrugged in response.
"Do you think one keg is gonna be enough?" Brooke asked. Once again interrupting us before an argument could unfold.
"Do you really think a party's a good idea tonight, Brooke?" Emma asked. Brooke looked at her. She already knew I would be there – regardless of how horrible of an idea it was.
"It's a prayer vigil," Brooke scoffed. "People in morning get thirsty."
"You're mom's tight with the Sheriff, right?" Jake asked. He was only looking at Emma. He probably thinks I'm still mad at him for yesterday. "Do you know if they went through Nina's laptop?"
"Our mom just handles the autopsy," Emma answered. Ah, so he's worried about their little side business.
"I can't believe Nina's just a body now," Riley sighed.
"It kind of always was just a body, but top-shelf all the way," Jake joked. I punched his shoulder – hard. He flinched and rubbed his shoulder.
"Hey, man, have some respect," Will reprimanded. I gave him a weird look. He never defends Nina. At least not with Emma around.
"I have extreme respect," Jake chuckled. "And so, did most of the basketball team, and some of the football team, and a couple lacrosse dudes."
"Okay, stop," Riley interrupted him.
"And I'm sure the Sheriff is going to question every single one of them," Brooke said. "Where were you Monday night, Jake?"
"I was with Will," Jake answered. "Up to no good."
"But you told me your phone died and you were stranded," Emma sounded hurt. I can't believe she actually bought into his lie. This will be interesting – too bad Nina isn't here to enjoy this.
"Oh!" Jake laughed at him.
"I was," Will defended. "Jake picked me up. What?"
"Oh, um…," Emma pulled away from the kisses Will was giving her. "I'll see you guys later."
Brooke and Riley started to whisper to each other as Emma walked off. Probably about the party tonight, while Will kicked Jakes foot. Jake just laughed at him. I smirked.
"What?" Jake asked.
"Ever heard that you shouldn't do the crime if you can't do the time?" I asked Will. "Emma isn't stupid. I can't wait till your in the dog house."
Will glared at me as I left for class. The rest of the day went by quickly and slowly at the same time. I kept either zoning out remembering Nina or expecting her to pop up and say gotcha. When the day was over, I couldn't get out of there fast enough. Once home, I went upstairs to get ready. The red dress Nina said I looked too good in was the choice for the evening. I curled my hair at the ends and applied light make-up (without mascara or eye liner). My outfit was completed with gold and black velvet heels. Emma was looking out the door hole when I walked down stairs. I tucked some hair behind my ear. She shut the door hole confused.
"What's up?" I asked.
"Someone knocked," Emma answered not looking away from the door. She opened it and stepped on the porch. "Hello?"
Only she would say that to an obviously empty porch. She walked back in with a brown box in her hands. I lifted an eyebrow but didn't ask. Mom walked in from the kitchen.
"What's that?" Mom asked.
"Do we know anyone named Daisy?" Emma asked instead of answering. I looked at mom wondering how she would respond.
"Someone just probably got the wrong house," Mom stated. She took the package from Emma. We heard a car horn outside.
"Oh! We gotta go. Will's here," Emma said, walking out the door.
"Everything okay?" I asked eyeing the box.
"Yes. Have fun tonight," Mom smiled. I returned her smile.
"Love you," I said and left.
Will drove us out to one of Brooke's places by Wren Lake. I was uncomfortable in the cab of his truck. By the time we got there, most (if not all) of the guests were already there. We joined Brooke in the sitting room by the front door. Brooke smiled seeing us and held up a cup for me. I smiled and sat beside her while Emma sat on her other side. I took a sip. Cherry Limeade my favorite and Nina's.
"So, Brooke, where's your dad?" Emma asked. After Will returned with her drink.
"Quinn has a lady friend in town," Brooke replied with a sigh. "I have a party, he gets laid. It's the circle of life."
"Parental sex. TMI," Will said, bouncing his leg. He looked like the energizer bunny.
"Calm down. You're like a purse dog. What is wrong with you?" Brooke asked, annoyed.
"I'm sorry. Coach is riding my ass," Will said, leaning forward. I'm sure it has more to do with what him, Jake, Ty, and Nina were doing. "We're supposed to have a scout from Duke at Saturday's game."
"The scout will be blown away tomorrow. So tonight, relax," Emma said pulling him next to her on the couch.
"Well, make me," Will chuckled.
"Get a room for that," I said when they started kissing.
"No, I don't want the cleanup," Brooke stated, slightly gagging.
Then Audrey and Noah walked in. I tilted my head confused. I had invited Noah before, but he always refused. I didn't invite him tonight, so why was he here. Brooke stood up and walked over to them to be the perfect hostess. As she was raised to be.
"Hi, Audrey. How are you?" Brooke asked, and although I couldn't see it, I knew she had her TV smile in place.
"Good, thanks. Um, you know Noah," Audrey replied, unsure how to respond to Brooke.
"I have a little place just like this in the Hamptons," Noah joked.
"Okay… That's funny," Brooke fake giggled. "um, okay, food and drinks over there, and suits in the cabana if you want to swim."
"But suits are completely optional," Jake stated as he walked up. I smiled at his one-track mind.
Audrey pushed past him annoyed as Will, Emma, and I stood up. Audrey stopped waking as everyone stared at her. She looked unsure for a moment and then she pulled herself together.
"I'm the one who kissed a girl," Audrey stated loudly. Then grabbed a bottle of Tequila.
"Um, you know, star of the viral video," Noah tried joking about it. "Hey, look, she's kissing a girl! Right? Uh, we'll be outside."
"She's got a bottle of tequila and something to prove. I predict live girl-on-girl action by 10:00 p.m.," Jake mused, excitedly.
"You're a pig," I stated. He just smiled and looked out the back door.
"Hmm. I can't believe she just showed up," Brooke said, unhappily.
"She didn't. I invited her," Emma admitted.
"Feeling guilty, Sis?" I mocked. She glared at me. Kieran chose that moment to walk in.
"Did you invite him, too?" Will asked. His voice was dripping with jealousy.
"Oh, no, this one is all me," Brooke commented. She walked over to flirt with him. I went for a refill. Then I went into the living room. A lot of people were seated around the coffee table by the fireplace. I leaned against the mantle.
"I'm just saying. It's crazy that we were talking about slasher movies in language arts, and then Nina got slashed," Riley said. I took a drink to cover a sob and blinked back my tears.
"Well, technically, she was already dead when we started that conversation," Noah added. I gripped my cup tighter and it caved in the middle. "So, there's no direct correlation."
"Dude, she's scared. Let's not negate that," Jake stated placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm not scared," Riley scoffed. I was just about to walk away, when Kieran spoke up. I didn't even know he was here. I assumed Brooke would have him alone by now.
"Maybe we should be afraid. Bunch of drunk teenagers at a party by the lake where your homegrown killer died. It's like a natural slasher setting," he said, then oddly toasted his beer, before drinking it. I decided it was time for me to leave from there. For once I didn't want to talk horror settings.
"… maybe it's better off she's gone," I heard Will's voice from the back porch. That son of a bitch. I started walking to the door.
"Will, are you saying that you're glad that she's dead?" Emma asked, appalled.
"No," he said with a nervous chuckle. "I'm just saying our lives will be a little more sane now."
"Yours will certainly be less complicated," Brooke snipped.
"Talk bad about Nina again, and I'll break your jaw," I seethed, seeing red. Will looked at me shocked. Emma looked like a few of the pieces finally clicked in her head. She scoffed and then walked off. "Thanks, Brooke."
"You holding up okay?" Brooke asked, eyeing my cup.
"Yeah, fine," I responded and left. I walked to the green house to be alone, only I wasn't. "Hi, Kieran."
"What? Oh, hi," Kieran said as he turned. He smiled when he saw me.
"Odd seeing you here. I thought you were into the slasher talk," I said, covering my unease with a sip from my cup.
"You're the horror fan from what I hear, and you left the conversation before I did," he stated. I blinked at him shocked. "Yeah, I saw you."
"Fair point," I said, looking back over my shoulder. "Want me to go? You must want to be alone if you're out here."
"No," he replied quickly. I looked back to him. "I'll make an exception for you."
"How gentlemanly," I mocked. I had half a thought to leave, but didn't really want to deal with everyone. He smiled at me, and I walked slowly to stand across from him. Leaning against the waist high shelf (except I'm short so it was pressed against my mid-back), I smiled back.
"I'm actually avoiding Brooke," he admitted.
"Ah, so we are both avoiders then," I chuckled.
"Who are you avoiding?" he wondered.
"Everyone," I answered blinking the tears away again. "Nina was my best friend and most if not all of the people here are... they're happy she's dead. Um, anyway, why did you move here?"
"Uh… my mom and stepdad died six weeks ago in a car accident. So, living with my real dad seems marginally better than a state home," he said looking into his beer.
"Saying 'I'm sorry' is a little cliché, but… I can't think of anything appropriate to say," I stated looking at my shoes. "Loss is loss and it sucks all around."
"No perfect life?" he asked. I still didn't look up.
"No, and I wouldn't want one," I replied. "A perfect life is tiring. You have to have high-end clothes, a great house, everyone's your best friend, your make-up must always be on point, an amazing flawless family, and a kind good-looking boyfriend. Nothing worries you because you have to be happy all the time."
"You don't have that?" he wondered.
"My best friend was murdered, I'm single, my dad bailed when I was nine," I replied. "Sis, thought she had the perfect boyfriend. Until she found out he slept with the deceased."
"Necrophilia's a problem," he joked. I couldn't help it, I laughed and cried. "You okay?"
"You have a dark mind," I said between sob-laughs.
"Oh, you… you have no idea," he said, and I saw his boots enter my sight. I lifted my head to look at him and felt trapped. The shelf behind me and Kieran too close in front of me. A shiver went down my spine. "Do you like your friends? Other than Nina."
"What?" I asked, confused. "I mean, are you supposed to like your friends in high school?"
"I hope so. I could use a friend, right now," he replied leaning down. His arms now resting on either side of me on the shelf. I licked my bottom lip nervously.
"We can be friends," I stuttered, unsure of what was going through his mind. He smiled and stepped closer.
I opened my mouth to say we should head back to the party, but closed it at the look in his eyes. His smile shifted into a smirk, and then his lips were on mine. I froze in shock. Kieran was kissing me. I moved to pull back, but I had nowhere to go. His arms wrapped around me, and he lifted me to sit on the shelf. I gave in to the comfort of having someone hold me and kissed back. My legs fit comfortably on either side of his hips. One of his hands moved up to the back of my head, while mine tangled in his hair.
"Oh, sorry," I heard Emma's voice from my left. Kieran pulled back a little, clenching his jaw.
"Nice timing, Sis," I said sarcastically. Kieran still held me and combing my hair with his fingers.
"Sorry," she said again before leaving. I sighed and looked down. My dress's skirt was pushed up to the tops of my thighs. This would look bad to anyone walking in. I ducked my head in shame.
"Um…," I mumbled not sure what to say. Then I heard yelling. "What was that?"
"I don't know. Let's check it out," Kieran replied lifting me off the shelf. He took my hand in his.
We ran outside and heard splashing. Not wasting any time, we ran down to the dock. Then silence. I looked around wondering if this was some stupid joke, when the splashing started again. I moved forward, but Kieran stopped me. He handed me his jacket and then throw his shirt to the ground before diving off the dock. Dark mind with a hero complex seemed to describe him at the moment. Emma joined me on the dock as everyone else was still running down the hill. I heard Jake laugh as Noah was climbing the dock ladder. Oh, no, I have a bad feeling Jake's involved.
"Hey, come here," Emma helped Noah, while I went to Kieran. "Just breath, okay?"
"Thank you," I whispered to Kieran as Emma throw a blanket over Noah. Some guy held out a towel for Kieran. I grabbed it from him and helped Kieran put it around his shoulders. He dried off his face.
"Yo, kiss him, Emma. Breath of life," Jake called laughing.
"Jake, shut up," Emma snapped angrily. I was shocked my sister had a backbone.
"He could have died!" Riley exclaimed pushing Jake's shoulder. She must have a crush to act like that.
"Hey, he was the first one to pass out. It's Wren Lake tradition," Jake defended, laughing.
"Since when?" I asked. He stopped laughing and looked at me. "What you want to be an ass so it's 'tradition' to place someone on the lake?"
"What was that, that grabbed me?" Noah asked. He was shaking.
"Nobody grabbed you, Spaz. We just dropped you off," Jake stated. He wasn't enjoying this anymore, and wouldn't make eye contact with me.
"You were stuck on fishing line," Emma said, untangling it from his ankles. I looked up at Kieran to see if he was shaking, but he looked fine. Wet but not cold.
"It didn't feel like fishing line," Noah said lifting up. "It felt like someone was pulling me down."
"Noah? Noah?" Audrey called. She pushed through the crowd to him. "Oh, my God."
"I'm okay. I'm okay," he said. It sounded like he was trying to convince himself rather than her.
"Your friends are great, Emma. Thanks for the invite. Come on," Audrey said helping Noah.
"Well, great, parties over," one of the guys in the crowd stated.
"We need to find a ride home," Emma told me.
"Trouble in paradise?" I asked. She tried to glare at me but I saw the tears.
"I'd gladly drive you home," Kieran said. I turned surprised. I thought he had already left. "Thanks."
"Are you sure? It might be out of your way," I replied. Trying to not stare at his naked chest.
"Even if it is, I don't mind," he smiled. I bit my lip.
"Well, I'll go get my shoes," Emma said, going up to the house.
"What are you thanking me for?" I wondered. I went to follow Emma, but he grabbed my wrist. I looked back at him and he jerked on my arm. Bringing me into him, i had to tilt my head back to look at him.
"Keeping my jacket clean and warm," he replied. A chill ran down my spine causing me to shiver. "Put it on. You're cold."
"Oh," I said breathily. Then what he said registered. "No, no. I mean… I'm fine. Besides you've got to be cold, Mr. Hero."
"I'm no hero, and I insist," he was smirking again.
When I didn't immediately reply, he took the jacket from me and helped me into it. He pulled his shirt on and it clung to his wet skin. Damn, how many drinks did I have. We walked together up the hill and into the house. Brooke was talking to Emma when we entered. Her smile faltered when she saw his jacket on me. I saw Jake laughing with PJ.
"I'll be right back," I said, walking over to Jake. "What the hell were you thinking? Stop, PJ, I know you helped him."
"It was a joke, Britt. I didn't think you would get mad about it. I mean, he's a nerd," Jake chuckled.
"And my friend," I stated.
"Since when?" PJ asked.
"Since freshman year when we got paired together for an Edgar Allan Poe assignment. Why do you think Nina never tormented him?" I asked.
"Shit, Britt, I... I can't even pretend to feel guilty," Jake smiled at me. "You know you love me."
"You're a jerk," I stated. "But yes."
He smiled brightly at me and leaned down to kiss my cheek. i stuck my tongue out at him. I then returned to where Emma, Brooke, and Kieran were standing. Emma looked amused, while Brooke was smiling at us, and Kieran had a dark look in his eyes. One that reminded me of when Jake's pissed at someone. Kieran then lead Emma and I to his truck. It was a single cap black Chevy Silverado.
"I'm not riding in back," Emma stated crossing her arms. She knows how I feel about riding in the center seat.
"Why would you? It has three seats," Kieran said confused.
"I'll ride Bitch," I said. Kieran tilted his head at me. "Middle seat."
"Oh, why wouldn't you?" he wondered. I didn't answer him and climbed in. Emma looked shocked.
The ride was mostly silent, the only noise filling the cab was the rock station he was listening to. It felt a little awkward, especially since he's already kissed me, and I had no idea why. When we reached the house, Emma jumped out and ran inside. I shook my head at her lack of manners. She was so predictable. I wasn't sure what to say to Kieran though.
"I'll see you at school then?" I wondered. Then wanted to slap my forehead.
"Seems likely," he responded amussed. I chuckled a little.
"I think I might be drunk," I joked. "Thank you, for everything tonight."
"My pleasure," he smirked. I blushed and started to shrug off his jacket. He stopped me. "Return it later. Why's my dad here?"
"Sheriff Hudson's your dad?" I asked shocked. "I mean, never mind. I don't know why he's here though. Um… any way, goodnight and seriously thank you."
"Any time," his smile returned. I bit my lip and slide into the passenger seat. He grabbed my upper arm. I turned back to him, and he kissed me. "Goodnight."
I quickly went inside. Mom didn't ask any questions. She just sat on the couch and looked lost in thought. The next morning, I woke in a daze. Hoping yesterday was a nightmare. Only to be disappointed. Mom dropped us off at school and Emma went in. I hovered outside. Knowing I'd see Kieran at some point, I tried to think of what to say to him. Nina would know, but she's not here to tell me. Then I noticed Sheriff Hudson talking to Noah.
"I hear you have a particular interest in Brandon James," Sheriff Hudson said. I walked closer.
"I have a lot of interests," Noah responded.
"You mind stopping by the station tomorrow morning before school, answer a few questions?" he asked Noah.
"I also have an interest in Brandon James," I stated. The Sheriff looked at me. "Is that a crime, Sheriff?"
"I'm aware, Brittany, and no it isn't," he answered.
"Will do, Chief," Noah answered with a wrong-handed salute.
"Okay," Sheriff Hudson walked off. I crossed my arms.
"See you in class?" I asked.
"Yeah," he replied walking inside. I waited a few more minutes, wondering how Sheriff Hudson knew about Noah's extra-curricular activities.
When I entered the corridor, I saw Noah talking with Riley. I then saw Will try to talk to Emma. She just slammed her locker and walked away from him. I looked around for Kieran but didn't have any luck. Brooke walked up to me.
"Kieran?" she asked.
"Not what you think," I replied. "He's… I'm not sure. I just need to give him his jacket back."
"Trust me. I don't want him. It was fun pissing off Jake though I think you did a better job. Kieran was upset with the love yous and kiss," Brooke commented. "I need the details."
"What details?" I asked.
"Nina isn't here for you to talk with. I am," she replied. "Guys aren't your strong point."
"I know. I think he knows too," I replied. "Besides it's nothing. He just gave us a lift home."
"I'm here when you're ready to talk," Brooke smiled at me. "Plus, hottie is totally into you. I have a feeling he's not going to back down from getting you, if you catch my drift."
"Brooke!" I hissed. "Get your mind off sex. Besides, I doubt he's interested in long term so he can 'get' someone else."
When I saw Kieran in class, he didn't say anything and left before I had the chance to return his jacket. I didn't see him again after that. Emma said she had to do something when school let out and left. I didn't mind. Having the house to myself for a while sounded great to me. I relaxed into the couch with hot chocolate and a good book. I was pulled out of the story when the front door shut. I turned to see Emma with tear stains on her face.
"You okay?" I asked, getting up.
"Like you care," Emma snapped.
"I care," I responded. "You know that."
"Sure, you do. Will and Nina. Don't try to deny knowing. You have a wonderful way of showing you care," she looked like she was going to cry again.
"You wouldn't have believed me," I said. "and you know it."
"I know," she admitted. "You could have tried."
"Why so you could get mad and call me a liar?" I shot back. "Or start something between Nina and me? No thank you. You didn't like her. I get that. So, don't try preaching to me about all the shit she did that you don't approve of."
"Sorry," Emma said softly. I realized I was crying again. "You really miss her, don't you?"
"It hurt less watching dad walk away without looking back," I answered sniffling.
"What do you mean? He left in the middle of the night," she watched me closely.
"I know. I was up. I begged him to stay. He didn't. Hell, he didn't even slow down," I said, remembering that night. "That's not what we are talking about though. I miss Nina. A lot. But we aren't talking about me. Are you alright?"
"I told Audrey about the video. About my part in it. She hates me," she said, sniffling a little.
"Sis," I thought for a moment. "She'll forgive you."
"Then I got a weird call from an unknown number. He said he was going to lift the mask off my perfect life," she admitted. Perfect life, I thought.
"Well what do you want to do about it?" I asked, deciding to try and help her with this stranger.
"Nothing yet. I'm going to bed," she said going up to bed.
It had to be a coincidence. My conversation with Kieran couldn't have anything to do with Emma's unknown caller. It just couldn't. I looked out the front window and frowned. No, I won't over think this. I got up and put my mug back in the kitchen. I then went up stairs and after taking a long hot shower, I crawled into bed. I lifted my phone and finally responded to Mrs. Patterson. Asking if she needed anything and to not hesitate to call me. I fell asleep crying to a video of Nina and I singing karaoke.