Chapter Seven
"How can you go out with them?" Came the cold voice.
Maria had expected this. She just was hoping to slip out of the house without needing to face it. She'd already spent over an hour in the bathroom playing with her hair and getting ready for the party. She didn't want a confrontation with Zack.
Maria put her brush down and calmly turned from her bedroom mirror. Her brother was furious. He was almost shaking with anger.
"Zack," she began softly. " I just want to go out and have some fun. Do you remember what fun was?"
"With these people?" His eyes were on fire and Maria felt uncomfortable in his presence. Uncomfortable, even though she knew he would never do anything to hurt her or anyone else.
Maybe that's his problem. Maria thought to herself as she looked at her brother's thin body and tired eyes. Maybe if he could find a way to express himself he'd feel better.
"They don't own the town," Maria tried joking to ease the tension.
It didn't work.
"Not yet," Zack raised his voice. He was in no mood for her humor. "But they will. That's the whole point."
"Claire just moved here a few months ago and she's the one having the party," Maria pointed out. "She also seems to know everyone. She'd be good for you. You'd like her."
"Don't change the subject. You know what I mean." Zack leaned against the wood doorframe and crossed his arms.
Maria couldn't help feeling sorry for him. Zack never got over their mother leaving. He'd stayed bitter and withdrawn ever since. He refused to make friends or ever have any fun. Not even with her.
"They will be there," he pointed out.
"You don't know that." Maria walked to her bed and picked up her purse. She was tired of living in the dark. She was tired of trying to bring Zack into the daylight.
"I saw you talking to him," Zack's voice was low and unemotional.
"What?" Maria turned slowly. The blood slowly drained from her face. "Zack? Are you spying on me?"
"No." He looked down at his feet. "Dad had been worried about you when you didn't come home right after school yesterday, so I went and looked for you."
"I just needed some help." Maria pulled a piece of paper out of her purse. "This is Claire's address. Please reconsider."
Zack took the small piece of paper and watched his sister leave her bedroom. He was still standing in her room as she opened the front door and then closed it behind her.
Zack looked at the paper then crumbled it up and threw it away.
It wasn't right.
He went to the bathroom and locked the door behind him. He ran the cold water and splashed it on his face until he could feel the ice drops slide down his back. He looked into the mirror and saw his pathetic eyes looking back at him.
Nothing. Nothing could wake him from this on going nightmare.
An image of his sister standing in the hallway, comfortably holding a piece of wood that had slipped from its hiding place, was making him sick inside.
He scooped up some more water. He would drown himself in it if he could. Drown today and forget about tomorrow.
Zack reached for the hand towel when he realized there wasn't one resting on the hook where it should have been. He turned around and opened the small linen closet and picked up a small towel to wipe his face. His mouth dropped open as two bold words caught his eye and froze him in place.
Rat
Poison.
Hidden behind his towel had been a small cardboard box of rat poison. With a shaking hand he picked it up and looked at it more closely. Everything inside of him turned off. He was numb and could think of doing only one thing.
Zack retrieved the slip of paper he had thrown away and slipped it in his pocket.
Claire's house was packed.
Her house was filled to the roof with people many of whom Jessie and Jonny had never seen before. There were so many people Jessie could barely move. They were crammed into almost every room except the bedroom. Claire insisted no one was to even think of going in there. Some students from her class decided to sit in the lawn while others sat on top of the hoods of their cars. People were everywhere.
Jessie stood on the end of the living room just in awe of all the people. For something planned last minute, Claire had an excellent turnout. Though Jessie could only name a handful, Claire seemed to know everyone in the room. She moved from one group to the next – radiating with a glow that made her presence unmatchable.
Unreal. Jessie smiled.
Jessie had never been to Claire's house. She knew that it was just Claire and her mom living in the small house. Claire never talked about it. Jessie had secretly wondered what Claire's mom was like. From the looks of the small house, Mrs. Mullins wasn't into knick knacks or color for that matter. The walls were bare and the shelves were empty. Where most people would hang pictures of their kids or family, Jessie only saw a few scattered CDs.
The music was so loud the walls vibrated. Jessie had only heard eight's music in commercials being sold in sets with corny titles like 80's Groove or Yesterday's Here.
Jessie got bored and decided it was time she located Jonny before he got into any trouble. Just as she turned the corner to head into the kitchen, she ran into the two people she disliked more then anyone else at school. Ivy Himes and Brooke Shaw.
Figures. Jessie stared down Brooke's ice blue eyes and waited for one of the girls to speak. She didn't have to wait long.
"Jessica?" Ivy smiled with a glint in her brown eyes. Jessie hated the way Ivy said her name. " Jessica? Is that really you? We didn't recognize you. You're usually more butch looking."
Brooke laughed loudly and it drew the attention of other bystanders. Jessie kept her anger in check. She refused to let anyone get to her, especially Brooke and Ivy.
"Out of my way," Jessie's voice was low and firm.
"Why?" Brooke challenged. She ran her hand through her curly blond hair and tossed it back as she smiled. She was enjoying the attention she was getting at that moment. More people seemed to lean in to find out if there would be a fight. "Are you going to beat me up? Use your karate on me just because I'm standing in the kitchen? It is a free country, Jessica."
"Careful," Ivy warned. "She might have her daddy call the Secret Service and they'll make you disappear."
"Oh!" Brooke pretended to be distraught as onlookers snickered.
"Excuse me." Jessie started to walk around when Brooke and Ivy cut her off by stepping into her path.
"Come on Jessica," Ivy sneered. "Make me."
I would love to be the one to teach you a lesson. Jessie silently fumed to herself.
"Jess?" Jonny called from the other room. He turned the corner and nearly ran into Jessie. "There you are."
"Why, Jonny!" Brooke smiled innocently as she twirled some of the curly hair in her little finger. "I didn't know you were here!"
"I didn't either!" Ivy's eyes were glued onto Jonny's. Jonny just grinned slightly and his eyes went from Jessie to Ivy and then stopping abruptly when he came across Brooke.
"Yes, well, here I am," Jonny replied slowly as his face fell slightly. His eyes were about to burn a whole in Brooke's head and Jessie looked at the girl trying to figure out what Jonny was staring at so intensely.
"Save me a dance!" Ivy practically begged as she leaned in closer to him.
"Sure, no problem," Jonny said softly as his eyes squinted in concentration.
Brooke became self-conscious under Jonny's blue eyes and brought her hand up to her nose. Jessie watched in delight as Brooke's self-assured smile slid right off her model perfect face.
" What?" Brooke folded under the pressure and the people around her were also glancing at her curiously.
" I don't know." Jonny said simply. " Maybe it's just the lighting in this room or something but your nose . . . "
Jonny never got to finish his sentence. Brooke shot down the hall with Ivy close behind her.
They're probably going straight to the bathroom. Jessie watched the two girls clumsily worked their way through the crowd. Jessie looked over to Jonny and noticed his self-satisfied smile as he looked down at her.
"What do you want? A medal?" Jessie shot at him. Jessie felt the heat rise in her cheeks. Did he think she couldn't have handled that herself? Did he really think he was doing her such a big favor?
Jessie suddenly felt crowded and needed some fresh air. A house filled with people was one thing, but the size of Jonny Quest's ego was another all together. There certainly wasn't room for both in the same small house.
"Air!" Jessie stepped out in the cool night and welcomed the cool breeze. Jonny followed close behind her.
"Are you mad at me? I was just playing around." Jonny replied. He silently watched her back. He was being ignored and he knew it. Without a word he watched her pull a piece of paper from her jeans pocket. She unfolded the paper and walked over to the back porch light to look at it.
"Can you believe the turn out?" Claire rushed outside after them. She was still glowing with excitement.
"I'm impressed," Jonny shook his head and smiled at Claire.
"Why thank you!" Claire bowed.
"No sign of Michael or his friends," Jonny pointed out.
"The night is young," Claire replied. She looked over to Jessie and noticed Jessie reviewing the printout. " Do you think there's some kind of connection?"
"If there is I haven't found it," Jessie sighed.
Jessie looked at the black and white print out of the family photo. It was Maria Ellison's family taken almost ten years ago. At the top of the photo was Mr. Ellison. He had a large smile and thin mustache. He wasn't a bad looking guy. Probably average, but next to his wife he was almost painfully plain. Mrs. Ellison was almost perfect. Jessie could tell where Maria got her good looks
At the bottom of the picture were the children. Not one but three kids, two boys and a girl.
When Jessie heard that the Ellison family had been in the news, she knew that there had to be an article in the newspaper. The report she found was not what she'd bargained for. It was about a suicide. About Thomas Ellison committing suicide. Jessie was in disbelief. Thomas had just turn eight years old the day before.
I know young people are capable but it just doesn't seem right. Jessie began to reread the article.
Boy's
Death Ruled Suicide
Oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Ellison, Thomas Ellison, age 8, was
found dead in Perry Park on Sunday.
"Ellison committed suicide." Said Jeff Phillips, Detective
Sergeant in charge of the case.
Though very young, Detective Phillips says that all evidence
gathered at the scene points to Ellison committing suicide.
Ellison was a troubled young man. His friends and family have
given statements that Ellison had been withdrawn and had even shown
violent behavior in the last month.
Classmates are grieving and friends are struggling to understand.
One boy said Perry Park was Ellison's favorite place to play.
Ellison is survived by both his mother and father, along with
two younger siblings, twins Maria and Zack Ellison.
Maria has a twin. So, where is he? Jessie wondered to herself.
"If Thomas were alive today, he'd be a senior. In fact, he'd be in Randy's class," Jessie whispered.
"What?" Jonny looked at her curiously.
"I'm just thinking out loud." Jessie folded up the sheet and slid it into her jeans pocket.
Something happened inside the house and there was loud cheering. Claire tilted her head and smiled.
"I better go inside," She replied after the applauding ceased. Claire started towards the door when Jessie stopped her.
"When's your mom due back?" Jessie asked.
"Next week," Claire smile's seemed strained. " Don't worry. I won't get in any trouble if mom finds out about the party."
Claire opened the back door and shut it without saying another word. Jessie knew that living with at the Quest Compound was different then living in a regular house. She and Jonny would never dream of trying to get away with a party while their parents were away. Even if they could get past all the security their dads were too smart not to figure they were up to something.
So why am I bothered by Claire's
response? Jessie put her hands in
her back pocket and looked down. Most
people would think they were lucky if they had this much freedom or lucky to
have friends who did.
Jonny walked over to her and looked down into her face without saying a word.
"What?" Jessie stepped back.
"I could ask you same thing." Jonny smiled.
Jessie knew that smile. It was the same one he had after he made Brooke ran away to check her appearance. The smile that seemed to say, "You owe me."
"Whatever you're thinking, you're wrong." She stated boldly.
"I'm just trying to remember a time you ever barged in on me as I'm barely coming out of my shower." He was still smiling. He was enjoying this. The statement actually caught Jessie off guard. He was challenging her to admit she had wanted to walk in on him for other reasons.
His ego is something else. Jessie looked at him in disbelief. Who does he think he is?
"Please," she took a step forward and looked up with her glaring green eyes. "There is nothing I would WANT to see on your little pre-pubescent body, thank you very much. So get over it."
Jonny smiled and closed the distance between them. He was close enough that he could smell her shampoo and see goose bumps on her bare arms. He was about to speak when he was interrupted.
"You guys!" Claire hissed from the window of the kitchen. "You guys! Michael and his friends just showed up!"
Jonny and Jessie glanced at each other uneasily. Without a word they headed back into house.