I know, I know, I said you guys would get an update every Tuesday. I'm really sorry. There was (is) a lot of stuff stressing me out right now, and I haven't had time to write. I'm really sorry. I hope you like this chapter though. Reviews, constructive criticism even angry rants are appreciated.
A lonely road, crossed another cold state line Dear God the only thing I ask of you is There's nothing here for me on this barren road
Miles away from those I love purpose hard to find
While I recall all the words you spoke to me
Can't help but wish that I was there
Back where I'd love to be, oh yeah
to hold her when I'm not around
when I'm much too far away
We all need that person who can be true to you
But I left her when I found her
And now I wish I'd stayed
'Cause I'm lonely and I'm tired
I'm missing you again oh no
Once again
There's no one here while the city sleeps
and all the shops are closed
Can't help but think of the times I've had with you
Pictures and some memories will have to help me through, oh yeah
Dear God, Avenged Sevenfold
"Psst." I jumped. A voice behind me laughed. I turned around.
"You sure are jumpy." Riccio said, sitting down on the bench next to me.
This might seem normal, except for the fact that it was 5am on a Saturday, and San Marco's Square was relatively abandoned except for us. I wondered what he was doing out so early. He probably wondered the same thing. I'd been sitting out here for over an hour. Just…trying to clear my mind…or something.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to keep myself from sounding like I was accusing him. It was kind of nice to have company, it makes it easier to forget about things.
"I work over there-" He gestured to the other side of the square, "In the bakery. Except that I forgot the owners went on vacation this weekend. So I came out here for nothing, really."
"Oh." I said. It was weird, really, knowing that while my life was pretty much shattered, there were people whose lives didn't change at all from yesterday. Everything, for them, was just as it should be.
"And I'm guessing you sleepwalk?" He said. I looked over at him, he was grinning, just slightly. Like he was trying to stop himself.
I swallowed, "Yeah. Something like that."
He frowned, "But really, why are you out here?"
I shrugged. Like I was going to go there. "I couldn't sleep, I'm an insomniac."
"Insomniac?"
"It means-"
"I'm not that stupid. I know what it means. I just don't believe you."
"Well then. That's not my problem."
"Look, I really-I mean really- hate when people lie. It's stupid, pointless, and eventually it'll all catch up to you. And, over the course of my life, I've become very good-with a few exceptions-at figuring out what's a lie and what's not. Especially when the one telling the lies isn't good at it. So please, don't make shit up. It's insulting. If you don't want to talk about it, say that instead. I'm not a goddamn therapist, alright? I won't make you tell me. Believe me; I have better things to do than that." He said it all in one angry breath.
I wasn't entirely sure what to say to this. "Alright then."
"Good. Well, now that that's out in the open-" He paused, "You have breakfast yet?" He asked.
The change in topic was so abrupt, I had trouble comprehending the question at first, Finally I said, "No."
"Ida makes great pancakes. Wanna come over?" He asked.
I don't know why he asked. It's not like we were friends. I'd only talked to him, like, three times. Even if he had dumped his life story on me, it seemed weird to invite me over for breakfast. But, since I really didn't want to go back to Meredith and Robert, I shrugged, "Sure."
Alright. I was surprised. Really surprised when I found out he lived with the people I'd played Frisbee with when- When Claire and I went to the beach. I mean, geographically, Venice is relatively small, but still I don't usually bump into the same people twice. Never mind three times.
"I should probably call my aunt," I said after breakfast. They were probably awake already. I remember the officers saying they'd come back in the morning to take our statements.
"Sure, the phone's in the kitchen." Ida said, gesturing in that general direction.
I nodded, and stood up from my seat at the table.
The phone was blue, and very new looking. I picked it up and dialed the house number. A very panicked Meredith picked up before the first ring was through.
"Charlie?" She was out of breath.
I swallowed, "I'm at a friend's house." Jesus, what was I thinking? I shouldn't even be here. God, she was probably so worried. I'm an idiot.
"Oh thank God, we were so worried, after-after what happened. Charlie, what were you thinking?"
"I just…needed to clear my head… I'm sorry."
Her breathing seemed to slow down, "Well…Come home as soon as you can. The officers are here, and want to talk to you."
"Yeah, I'm on my way." I replied, then hung up.
After thanking Ida and everyone for breakfast, and making sure she didn't want my help cleaning up, I was out the door, walking between Riccio and Scipio.
"How's the PI work?" Riccio asked Scipio. They were walking towards the train station, which was near where I lived. Scipio had some work to do just outside of Venice and Riccio wanted to go to a music store, which according to Riccio "Has every CD ever produced"
"Eh," Scipio shrugged, "We're looking for this woman's husband. He disappeared in late May. I have to talk to this guy about him."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
Everyone was quiet. It was still quite early, just past seven in the morning. When we came to my house, I said "Thanks for breakfast, I'll see you guys later."
"What happened over there?" Riccio asked, nodding across the canal.
I didn't follow his gaze, instead I said quickly, "I don't know."
He raised an eyebrow at me, I remembered his sudden outburst about hating when people lie, but still, I didn't take back or correct what I said.
"Right, see you Wednesday." He replied.
"Yeah." I turned and ran into the house.
"Charlie?" Robert's voice was the first I heard.
I didn't say anything, instead I followed it to the kitchen. The two officers from the previous night, or morning depending on how you thought of it, were sitting at the kitchen table. They had a tape recorder, the kind that cops on old TV shows have, and they each held a notebook. I took a deep breath and sat down at the table.
"Charlie, is it alright if we ask you a few questions?"
I didn't say anything, I just nodded.
"You and your sister worked together right?" The dark skinned one asked.
Worked. Past tense. I took a deep breath, "Yes."
"Did the two of you come home right after work last night?"
I cast a sideways glance at Meredith and Robert. I knew I should tell the truth, that we didn't. On the other hand, they might blame me for not forcing Claire to come home. I mean, it made sense, right? I didn't do anything besides get mad to stop her. "Yes," I said, "We did."
"Do you know why your sister would be out so early in the morning?"
Shit. Damn it, I was just digging myself into a deeper hole. I knew I should take back what I just said, but instead I kept going, "No idea. Sometimes she has trouble sleeping though…Maybe she went out for a walk."
He wrote this down, then looked back at me, "Had your sister be acting strange in the past few weeks?"
"No." Finally, something I could be truthful about.
"Did she have a boyfriend?" The other cop asked.
I crossed and uncrossed my legs, "No." Oh. My. God. I really should back out of this, tell them I lied. This won't help anything.
"Charlie, is there anything else you'd like to tell us?" He asked.
"No." I stood up from the table, "Can I go? I'm really tired."
Meredith nodded stiffly. I pushed my chair in and ran upstairs before I could say anything else.
