James had his arm wrapped his sisters shoulders. Her face was blank as she rested her head on his shoulder. She was staring at the pictures on the table and occasionally look over at me. I had told her everything. Both of them took it the same way. I was mistaken and their little sister was dead. Along with their parents. But Carlos was kind of a tech geek and could find anyone, anywhere on a laptop, or even a phone, and that his did. They lived in a huge house on a ranch in Texas. I still was unsure why everyone thought the others were dead but we were going to figure it out.
I sighed and leaned on the table, looking at her pale face. It was becoming too much. She turned her head quick and put it in her brothers body. He wrapped his other arm around her and rested his chin on the top of her head. I wanted to say something, but didn't know what. I looked down and figured the first thing would be to put everything away. Might make it easier. I stood up and started picking up all the pictures. James locked eyes with me and swallowed hard.
"Why?" I stopped and raised an eyebrow. "Why…was I told my parents and little sister was dead? And why were they told Beth and I were?"
"I don't know, but we'll figure it out."
"No need." I turned and watched Carlos walk in. He had a laptop in hand and I grinned at him. Carlos was nuts, but a freaking genius. "Your dad was a chemist?" James nodded and Carlos took a seat next to me pressing some buttons on the keyboard. "Well someone found that really interesting. I did some research on the company your dad worked for. Apparently they aren't too ashamed to sell meth to people." Elizabeth jolted up at this and James gently rubbed her arm. "Your dad found out what they were doing, and what they were using him for, which was to make the meth, and wanted out. It didn't come that easy. They were afraid he'd spill on their secrets but he promised he wouldn't. He just wanted out. So to make sure he was telling the truth, they ripped his life apart."
"What do you mean?" Carlos turned to me and smiled small.
"Well when their dad quit, they followed him. He picked up his wife and then Abbey from ballet. They faked a car accident. Your car was jacked that day wasn't it James?" I turned to James and he nodded. Carlos chuckled. "Not that I find it funny but these guys know how to play the game. Your parents passed your car, completely destroyed. With two bodies in it. Yours and Beth's." Beth looked down and I ran my hands through my hair. "They convinced your dad to pack up everything and leave. They didn't want him in town anymore. So they did." It went very quiet and when I looked up I saw Logan walking out, fresh out of a shower sitting down not caring where he came into the conversation.
"So then…why did they leave these two here?" I turned to Carlos and he sighed shutting the laptop.
"Easy. In case Mr. Diamond spilled, they would have two easy victims right under their noses." I cringed and turned quick opt Beth who shook her head and stood up quick. She walked out, tears already coming out and a few seconds later her bedroom door slammed. "Sorry…I shouldn't had told her that." James and I gave him the same, no you shouldn't have look, but Logan snapped us out of it.
"So now the question is do you want to go see them?" Logan's voice was stern, like regardless of what James said, he was taking them to see their family. The one they thought have been dead for 5 years. James sighed and put his elbows on the table putting his head in his hands.
"Right now." His answer didn't really make sense to the question but I didn't push, just turned to Logan. He sat back, putting his hands behind his head, holding it up.
"Well then…I say we take a little road trip." This got James attention and Logan laughed. "Come on Bro…your family now. Your sister is dating one of my best friends and I consider you a good friend. Even a best friend, so I want to help you and be there for you, especially when you see your parents and sister." Carlos and I were even surprised by this. Logan rarely let anyone close. For a long time it was just me him and Carlos, and we were alright with that. But James must have hit a special spot with him, if he's welcoming him to the family.
"What about Beth? You just saw how she reacted…" My turn to step up.
"Let em talk to her." They all turned to em and I half smiled. "I can calm her down." James nodded quick and I stood up walking out. I realized then I was still only in my boxers and felt a little odd walking out past them. I shook off the embarrassment and went down the hall not surprised to see her door closed tight. I walked to it, raised a fist and knocking. "Can I come in?"
"Yeah…" It was quiet but didn't sound like she was crying. I walked in slowly and smiled. She was sitting in the middle of her bed with a teddy bear on her lap. She was looking down and I had never seen her look so cute. I closed the door behind me and stayed by t leaning against it.
"You alright?" She shrugged her shoulders and I nodded. "If you want to talk about it I'm here." She looked up and smiled.
"Thanks." I smiled back. She bit her bottom lip and hugged the bear around her chest. "My dad got me this. It was the first time I ever got in a fight with James. I think I was 10." She looked down and shook her head. "Anyway, we were on summer break and he ripped the head off of one of my favorite dolls. I was so mad. I cried and screamed and tried hitting him, but our mom separated us. She sent us both to our rooms and I overheard her talking to my dad on the phone about the fight. When he came home that night, he had this bear. I loved it automatically. He sat with me and asked why I th9ought James ripped the head off. I said it's because he's a poopy head." I chuckled and she smiled. I walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, giving her space. "He said although that may be true, he was doing it, because he was jealous that I would rather spend time with my dolls then play outside with him. I guess even form an early age James has always wanted to be around me. Protect me. After that day, we were inseparable. He even let me hang out with him and his friends when he was in high school. Every date he went on, I had to approve of the girl first. But the thing I remember most is that when my dad gave me this bear, he said no matter what happened in life, I would always have my brother. I would always be able to fall and guarantee he would be there to catch me."
"Smart dad." She smiled half and looked back down at the bear. "Elizabeth…would you like to go see them?" She didn't look up. She didn't need to. I saw the slight nod of her head and a small sniffle. I reached out for her and she pushed into me fast crawling on my lap and hugging around my body.
James and Logan, with the help of Carlos, finding where they lived exactly, planned the trip and decided to leave that night. It would be a 5 day trip, that all of us were willing to make. I couldn't shake this feeling that once we got to Texas, something bad would happen. Call me paranoid, but I was so crazy about this girl that any chance of danger even just a sliver, was too much and I was reluctant.
When night actually fell and both James and Elizabeth packed up, and we were getting to step out the door. There was a knock. James dropped his bag quick and swung the door open. It was Max. I groaned on the inside and put an arm around Elizabeth's neck pulling her into me. I heard her sigh as she rested on my chest and wrapped her arms around my waist.
"Max! What's up?" Max's mouth fell open a little looking at me, Carlos and Logan. Logan grinned at him wide and waved.
"Uhm…I was just coming over to check on Elizabeth…but I can see she's in good hands." I held her tighter to me and didn't stop staring at him.
I still blamed a lot of her pain on him. I mean it was his brother.
"Yeah she's doing okay." James sounded a little annoyed and reminded myself to ask him about that later.
"Are you guys going somewhere?" Before James could answer, Logan moved next to him and smiled big. Logan could be such a dick sometimes but I loved him for it.
"Yes we are if you don't mind we'd like to get going." Max swallowed. He acted tough with his tattoos and piercing, but was a pussy when it came Logan. Max nodded and Elizabeth sighed. She pulled away from me kissing my cheek.
"Is I tokay if I say bye?" She wasn't really asking any of our permission because I knew she would do it anyway. And of course, she pushed between Logan and James and grabbed Max's hand and walked him out on the grass, pretty far away from us.
The four of us, grabbed the bags and walked to our big SUV. I watched still as I tried helping but failed making Logan just shoo me away. Elizabeth was smiling and so was Max. As long as they weren't yelling and he didn't make her cry, I didn't care.
I felt someone get next to me as I leaned against the car and he sighed.
"That kid is really starting to fucking tick em off." I turned and raised an eyebrow at James. He smiled and shook his head. "Every single fucking day Kendall. He was there. Bugging me, asking, begging me to convince her to forgive him. You have no idea how many times I had to resist to say fuck off." I laughed and he crossed his arms over his chest. "And the note he wrote her, making her feel guilty and shit…dude needs to just let go. It's never going to happen." I looked over at them and he was holding her face saying something I couldn't understand.
"Do you think she would be better off with a guy like that?" I couldn't believe I asked her brother that. Of course he would think so. He would rather have her date a lion before being with me. He's made that very clear to me before. But that's not what I heard. Instead I was shoved. I almost lost my balance and turned to him quick. "Dick. What the fuck?" He put his hand sin his pockets and raised his eyebrows.
"I don't think I need to remind you what hell she went through at the hands of his brother. There is no one in this entire world I can see my baby sister with, besides you." Logan and Carlos came over, hearing me call him dick and I smiled.
"That means a lot James." He smiled but stopped. I turned and of course I could just tell Max was begging her to stay while she tried to tell him she had to go. I turned to Logan and he grinned. "Let him know he's done talking to her will 'ya?" I heard both Carlos and James laugh and Logan walked over. Max turned to him and let go of her quick. In one quick movement he picked her up behind her knees and threw her over his shoulder.
"Logan!" She hit his back and he waved to Max.
"Thanks for the visit Maxi!" He turned back to us and was grinning. I heard her sigh and she waved.
"I'll call you when I get back Max."
"Doubt it." I turned and both James and Carlos were smiling at their thinking a lot. Logan set her down and she turned quick to me. I raised my hands in defense and she narrowed her eyes and put her hand son her hips. She pushed me out of the way after staring at em for a few seconds and got in the middle seat. From the inside as I watched Max walk to his car I heard her.
"You guys are poopy heads!"