Chapter 3

Allie's mind wandered back to Tyler as she sat in fifth period study hall. The buzz and roar of the students around her seemed to fade away as she stared out the window. She was snapped back to reality by the thud of heavy textbooks hitting the table.

"What's up, Allie?" asked Parker. Allie gasped at the sudden intrusion.

"Hi," said Claire sweetly sitting down next to her friend. Parker passed Claire her books from on top of his large pile. Then he sat down next to his girlfriend at the circular table. "Did we interrupt some deep thoughts?" Claire asked.

"Kind of," Allie admitted. She leaned on her elbow and dropped her gaze.

"Were you thinking about Tyler?" Claire prodded.

"Ooooh," Parker teased.

"No, not like that," Allie insisted. "I've been thinking about what he said to me the other day."

When she didn't elaborate, Parker prompted, "Which was-?"

"He said that he could use my help as a Horton…"

"Yeah, what does that even mean," Claire wondered. Her friend had been there when she finished talking to Tyler the other day in the club. However, Claire didn't think anything more of his cryptic request than Allie did.

"Sounds like he wants to use you for your connections," Parker surmised.

"Parker!" Claire scolded.

"No, it's alright," Allie said, "that is what it sounded like. He was really nice though. You know, when we were talking he seemed really cool."

"But then he just randomly says that your royal Horton-ness could be some use to him?" Parker exaggerated.

"Ha!" Allie fake laughed." Very funny."

"But he did find out you were a Horton," Claire stated.

"Yes. And then he said I might be able to help him."

"And then what?" Parker asked eagerly.

"That's it," Allie shrugged her shoulders. "When I asked him what about, he said he had to go, but we could talk later. I think he was embarrassed."

"Hmm," Claire thought. "I wonder why."

Parker narrowed his eyes. "Even more suspicious."

Allie shook her head. "I don't know… it was more like he was new and nervous kinda thing."

"Well, he seems kinda shady to me," Parker stated folding his arms.

Claire scoffed. Allie gave him a look and asked, "Are you just determined to dislike him?"

"Maybe I am," he confessed. "Call me crazy but I don't know if I have a lot in common with this guy."

"Regardless," Claire interrupted. "I think Allie should find out more about him and what he meant before jumping to conclusions." Claire finished talking and looked at Allie, but she wasn't paying attention. It seemed she was staring off into space again. "Allie?" She didn't respond, but looked right past her and smiled. Claire followed her friend's gaze and turned around in her chair to face the door.

Standing in the doorway was Tyler, backpack slung over his left shoulder. Tyler peeked in the classroom and saw that there was no teacher or supervisor sitting at the main desk. Allie confirmed this by waving him over. He hesitantly walked into the classroom. As he approached he became aware that Allie was not sitting alone, and paused in front of Claire and Parker.

"Hi Tyler," Allie said.

"Hey Allie."

When he didn't make an attempt to join them, she tentatively asked, "Do you want to sit down?" She gestured to the empty chair on her right. Claire and Parker didn't say anything in fear of scaring him off. It was like approaching a shy doe.

Allie thought introductions would help. "These are my friends. They're cool. This is my cousin Claire Brady and her boyfriend Parker Jonas."

"Hello," Claire said smiling.

"Hey man," Parker said raising a hand in hello. Perhaps it was their curt non-invasive hellos; perhaps it was their last names that peaked his interest. Nevertheless, Tyler decided to trust them and so he sat down next to Allie.

"Hi," he said now looking at Claire. "I think I met you before."

"Yes, the first day," she said politely although recalling a bad first impression. "I remember."

"So, Brady?" he continued. "I've been to the Brady pub. Any relation?"

"Yup," she responded. "That's my family's pub."

"Well, there you go," said Parker. "You got a Horton and Brady."

"Parker!" Allie and Claire said simultaneously.

"It's alright." Tyler ignored him and turned to Allie. "I may have given you the wrong impression, Allie. I apologize."

"You don't have to apologize," Allie said quickly.

Tyler just smiled and continued. "You were really nice that day. And all I really wanted to tell you was that I wanted to talk to someone who knows this town and knows its people."

"High-up people, you mean," Parker interrupted.

Tyler just turned to face Parker head on. Allie thought she saw a slight scowl. "No," he said, "I mean I wanted to ask if she knew a specific someone."

"Who?" Allie asked trying to get him to turn away from Parker.

"Well…" he hesitated.

"If it's someone who's lived here for a long time, then we probably know them," Claire said.

"Thing is…it's personal."

"Tyler," Allie started. "You can trust us. We won't say anything if you don't want us to." He took a side glance over at Parker. "I can make Parker leave," she added.

"Hey!" Parker protested.

"That's not necessary," Tyler assured.

Claire calmed down Parker with a gentle hand on his arm. Then she tried to help by adding, "Listen, Tyler, I get it.

Claire was always full of energy and optimism. Allie felt so lucky to have her as a cousin and close friend. She could always be counted on to life your spirits when you were down. One smile could get you to think differently about your problems. To realize that somehow what you thought was dire and devastating might not be so bad. That smile was one of he things Parker loved most about her. But Claire herself wasn't perfect. She has her own troubles. She has her skeletons she has struggled to keep hidden away.

"I have things in my past I'd want to keep private. Stuff from when I was way young. Not that I am ashamed or embarrassed or anything…" Claire looked at Tyler. He was taking in every word that she was saying. Claire was thinking of course about her paternity. It was by sheer happenstance that she discovered that Shawn Douglas Brady was not always known to be her father. But Claire wasn't ready to share that with Tyler yet. "I would just rather people not know."

"Yeah," Tyler nodded. "I guess for me though at least some people have to know in order to…in order to find what I need."

"Well people aren't gonna overheard us here," Allie said.

"You know you wouldn't think so being surrounded by nosy teenagers," Parker joked.

"Well, everybody's engaged in their own conversation. No one will eavesdrop," Allie assured.

"Ok. You guys seem trustworthy," Tyler said.

"That's the spirit," Allie encouraged.

"And what have I got to lose?"

"Eh," Parker shrugged.

Tyler scooted up in his chair and leaned into the center of the table. Allie, Claire, and Parker leaned in also so as to form a close circle.

Tyler took a deep breath and said, "Ok, so earlier this year I found out that I was adopted…My parents told me they adopted me when I was six months old…in Salem."

"Here, Salem?" Allie reacted.

"Of course, 'here, Salem,'" Parker said obviously. "Continue, man."

"Well, apparently my birthparents were Salemites. And I was taken in by foster parents, also in Salem. But somehow I was put up for adoption again and that's how I ended up with the Wilkenses. "

"Wow," was all Claire could say.

"So," Tyler continued. "The reason I came here to Salem was to find my parents."

"Your birthparents?" asked Allie, "or your foster parents?"

"My birthparents. Apparently, my foster parents took me in illegally."

"Not surprised," Parker stated. "Stuff like that happens in Salem."

"Although," Tyler thought out loud, "I guess if I found my foster parents they might lead me to my birthparents. According to my mom and dad…the Wilkenses, they knew my name was Tyler, you know originally. But my foster parents had called me something else. Pocket."

"Pocket?" Parker repeated. "What kind of name is Pocket?"

"I don't know, Parker," Claire teased.

Tyler leaned back in his chair. "So, do you guys know anybody who may have adopted a kid under the table for a short time and called him Pocket?" Tyler asked this somewhat sarcastically. He was expecting no answers. That's what he got. The Salem kids furrowed their brows in thought, but remained silent.