She Can't Be Real

Chapter 3: Untitled

"Stop!" I cried and pointed at a picture.

Jeremie clicked on it and brought it up on screen.

"Can you save that?" I asked him.

"No!" Jeremie snapped, "I'm not wasting any space on my computer on this foolishness!" he shouted, "I wouldn't even expect this from Odd," he added.

"Fine," I snapped, "just send it to my email address or something."

"Not 'til you tell me what's going on," Jeremie said defiantly.

Damn it! I thought, I've been caught.

"Oh forget it," Jeremie said suddenly and I noticed his hands fly across the keyboard, "there, I sent it," he told me.

"Um, thanks," I said.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on?" Jeremie asked and turned to look at me.

"No," I said honestly.

"Get out," Jeremie said simply but it was obvious that he was serious.

"Good Night," I said and left.

"Whatever," Jeremie muttered and closed the door.

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The following afternoon I was in computer class. I had decided to sit away from Jeremie and Odd today. But unfortunately I was stuck beside Nicolas.

"How come you're not sitting with your friends?" Nicolas asked.

"Why aren't you?" I countered.

"Sissi," Nicolas said in one word.

Figures, I thought.

The teacher decided to go do something of the sort. I didn't hear what it was but it only meant to me one thing. I finally had the opportunity to check out my e-mail.

"What you doing?" Nicolas asked.

"None of your business," I snapped as I brought up the picture, "you tell anyone and I'll crack you in half," I threatened in a whisper.

Nicolas gulped.

I sighed.

I can't do this, I thought.

"Just don't tell anybody okay," I whispered.

Nicolas still looking away from me nodded.

I sighed again. Now I felt even worse.

I opened the website I wanted and uploaded the photo. It was a paying site that could find the identity of thousands of people. It was my Dad's account and he gave Mom and I full access to save money. Not that we needed to, but my Dad was real stingy on anything that didn't keep up public appearance.

I clicked search and waited.

It all took less than 30 seconds.

Unknown? I thought incredulously, what do they mean they don't know?

I typed in Yumi Ishiyama's residing in France. Several pictures popped up. But none were of Yumi.

What the hell? I wondered, if she's not Yumi, who is she?

I decided to check on Ishiyama's living in France. I got over a hundred. When I added of Japanese descent, probably born in Japan, I got nine. After looking through I settled on a Mr. and Mrs. Ishiyama with two children. The eldest was Rin Ishiyama a girl and the younger one Hiroki Ishiyama, a boy.

But if this girl is named Rin, I thought, how come she looks just like Yumi?

I searched some more using the auto help because I didn't know how to use computers at this level. Still nothing.

Then I recalled Yumi mentioning an accident.

Worth a shot? I decided.

I checked accidents happening within the family.

The search came up classified.

Damn it! I thought angrily and slammed my fist on the table.

Several people turned to stare at me.

"Oh," I said and quickly removed all evidence of my search and focused on my class work.

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(Normal POV)

Yumi exited school waving goodbye to her friends.

Suddenly a car drove up and stopped right beside Yumi. The brakes could be heard a mile away.

"Get in."

"Dad?" Yumi asked.

"Get in right now," Mr. Ishiyama ordered loudly.

Yumi carefully got inside, feeling the eyes of fellow students on her back.

This is so embarrassing, Yumi thought.

Yumi barely closed the car door when her Dad sped off.

"Dad what's wrong with you?" Yumi demanded incredulously as her father drove like a madman.

"Someone searched an old picture of you at your new school today," Mr. Ishiyama said seriously, "a picture taken before your accident," he added.

Yumi froze.

"I think it's best…" Mr. Ishiyama started to say.

"No," Yumi refused.

"Excuse me?" Mr. Ishiyama demanded, "are you refusing to obey me?"

"No," Yumi said humbly knowing her father's flaring temper.

"Good," Mr. Ishiyama snapped, "you'll stay home tomorrow," he told her, "I'll talk to our investigator and decide what to do from there," he added.

"Maybe we should call…" Yumi started to suggest.

"No police!" Mr. Ishiyama refused immediately completely frightening Yumi, "R…Yumi it's best not to involve law enforcement," he told her calmly, "you'll understand when you're older," he said kindly.

"Okay," Yumi agreed softly fearful of angering her father again.

You don't know how special you are Yumi, Mr. Ishiyama thought, after what happened to Rin I never thought I'd have my daughter again, he thought, I'm NOT losing you.

Mr. Ishiyama continued driving; the rest of the car drive went on in silence.

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Sorry for the late update. Thank you to everyone who's reviewed so far and to those who'll review now.