Disclaimer: Not mine; title's inspired by Happy Birthday.
A/N: Y'all are really lovely with all your kind words. This is just a hobby right now but I'd love to write an actual, honest-to-goodness book one day. You guys actually make me think that it could happen. Thank you so much for your wonderfully kind words and I hope you enjoy this next installment!
It is a bit shorter than last time, but Jared and Kim get lots of face time so i hope you enjoy that aspect, I always get nervous writing scenes between the two of them because I worry that it's not genuine. We'll see what happens when stuff actually happens between them. :P Anyway! Enjoy. :)
-S
Chapter 15: An Unhappy Birthday to Me.
"Do you know why Cecilia Hartgrove would report you for breaking and entering, and trespassing on the property?" Office Matthews asked abruptly as he turned the recorder on again.
"I-" I stumbled for a moment, the instant switch of topics surprising me; it was so sudden that I thought that I had imagined the whole exchange we'd had prior about Cullen.
But then Officer Matthews gave me a solid glare as if he was hoping it would convince me to continue speaking normally.
"I don't know. I'm fairly certain it was a mix up." I managed and he nodded before continuing on with the questioning.
We carried on for a good half an hour and he seemed to have gotten everything he needed from me.
He stood and then motioned for me to lead the way out of the room. As I passed him, he grabbed my arm just below the elbow.
"Don't make me regret helping you." The words were whispered and menacing and I nodded vigorously before managing a shaky yes.
He let me go then and even opened the door, his face nonchalant and completely innocent.
Jared was still seated at the desk but upon noticing our entrance into the room, he stood.
I gave him a tentative smile before turning my head slightly behind me.
"What happens now?"
"Now, we keep you here for the night unless you pay bail or the charges are dropped."
With that he pushed me forward but before we could pass Jared, he stepped out and easily maneuvered between Officer Matthews and I.
My hands were cuffed again and held securely in the officers grasp so I couldn't turn to see the exchange behind me but it was abrupt and short and Jared stalked past me, his shoulders high and tense, his hands buried in his pockets.
"Jared! Wait!" I called after him, but he didn't seem to hear me.
I watched him walk straight out of the room and a part of me shrunk at his departure. I tried to follow him before realizing how terrible that would seem. Still, I felt very small at his sudden disappearance. I wished I knew what he was thinking; it felt like the longer I knew him, the less I understood how to read him.
"Keep moving." Called the officer from behind me and reluctantly I kept walking, hoping that wherever they took me, Jared would be able to find me.
The cell I was placed in was dank and smelled vaguely of metal. I leaned back against the concrete wall and closed my eyes. I was lucky enough that the room was empty and it was just my babysitter and I, a guard that looked barely 20 carrying a baton and reading GQ.
But there were more important things to think about, or should I say people.
What was with all the secrecy? If my parents had gone to see this Dr. Cullen, whoever he was, surely that was all protocol and I should've been taken to see them.
But instead, I was kept in the dark and everyone, including Detective Lucas seemed unwilling to shed a light on me.
Cullen, Cullen. The name felt subtly familiar but I couldn't think of a single place where I would have heard it. He certainly didn't work in La Push; I would've known him for sure, at least by reputation.
Nothing came to mind. Well, I'd go see this Cullen tomorrow. It wouldn't be difficult, if he wasn't working, then I'd just have to find out where he lived; but one way or another I was going to find him.
I must have dozed off while I was thinking against that wall because a short while later I felt myself being shaken awake by Officer GQ.
"Miss Connweller?"
"Yeah?" I asked sleepily, hiding a yawn in my shoulder.
"The charges were dropped, you're free to go." He seemed apologetic so I offered him a smile before shaking my head slightly to let go of all the drowsy.
I got up and he quickly unlocked my hands and I rubbed my wrists. The poor things had gotten so much abuse today. There was a red line against them where I'd leaned against them when I fell asleep.
I pulled the sleeves of my sweater down before stepping out into the dark hallway and then follow the policeman down the hall and into the central atrium.
Jared was nowhere to be seen.
Picking up my stuff and waving goodbye to Officer Matthews who had the good grace to give me a nod, I stepped out onto the street.
Night had fallen onto Seattle while I had been detained and I looked around the street before me but it was deserted. We were at an incline and a few blocks away, I could see the city lights in full color, the buildings flickering.
A tough wind blew hard across the square and I shivered.
Detective Lucas's warning from earlier seemed slightly more appropriate now. It certainly was a bit eerie but I straightened my shoulders and mentally scoffed.
I was going to be fine; I was right outside of a police station for crying out loud.
I just reached into my bag when I heard someone move behind me.
I flipped around, phone held slightly above my head ready to strike but it was just Jared.
Well not quite just Jared. He was leaning deliciously against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest showing off his biceps delightfully. His face was shadowed but a stray moonbeam lit up a spot directly over his heart and it was so beautifully poetic that I almost asked him if he could stay there so I could sketch it.
Something told me, however, that this was not the time.
He stepped forward and I felt my breath catch as he came the light, and it pooled so gracefully over his neck, tingeing his hair a decadent midnight blue.
"Hey." I intoned softly, suddenly unable to look him in the eye. I didn't even know where to begin.
"Hey." He responded dully, but there was nothing vibrant about his voice.
I shifted awkwardly, pulling my bag higher on my shoulder, casting about desperately for something to say.
"Where's Nina?" That was what I'd come up with? Seriously? I was a bigger idiot than I thought possible. I could've said anything. I could've thanked him, I could've asked him how his day was. I could've explained what was going on, but no, I asked about his girlfriend.
"She went home." I must have looked as surprised as I felt because he started to elaborate.
"I sent her home, I mean, I figured you wouldn't want her to, you know, see that-this." He ended lamely, gesturing to my hands, but even I got what he meant. Nina was not exactly the most discrete person in the world.
"Thanks." The word felt so lame and imperfect. But I had nothing else.
"Sure." Seems he was having a similar problem.
"I guess I should call Frank." I said and he nodded mutely and I dialed the number.
Frank said he'd be there, momentarily having returned to Seattle directly and that he'd just been around the corner.
I stared at the floor and Jared stared somewhere over my left shoulder and we stayed that way until Frank pulled up and Jared moving down the steps quickly snapped me out of my reprieve.
I moved down the stairs, carefully navigating in my heels. I felt a bit lightheaded and I dearly wanted to curl up and sleep. And maybe have a burger.
Jared was seated inside once I got in. I pulled the door close and motioned for Frank to continue. He reached past me lightly and flicked the switch that raised the partition.
Apparently we were going to talk.
"What's been going on, Kim?" His voice was annoyed at best but I could see he was making an effort not to just yell at me for lying to them-him all day.
I stared at the floor, unsure of how to proceed.
But just as I was about to start, my stomach gave a loud and indignant growl at having been starved for so long and I gripped it in embarrassment.
Jared cracked a smile at this.
"Have you eaten anything?" I shook my head.
"Nope, sorta got caught up." I snorted at my incredibly lame pun but it seemed to work because the tense, uncomfortable atmosphere shattered as Jared joined in my laugher.
He shook his head before lowering the partition and asking Frank to stop for food. He looked back at me and I mouthed 'burger' to which he responded with an enthusiastic grin.
We sat in companionable silence until we reached a drive through, only breaking it to give our orders.
I contemplated how much I should tell him, but settled on hoping he wouldn't bring it up again. Still, I supposed I owed him some sort of explanation.
It wouldn't be right to leave him with nothing.
We sat quietly munching on our food which Frank had passed through the partition and then after we'd finished, I checked my watch.
There was still a good forty minutes until we reached La Push and so I took a deep breath.
It was time.
But he beat me to it.
"Hey, Kim?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for lunch, you didn't-you didn't have to do that." I smiled at him, and shrugged, I didn't really want to get into that.
"I guess I owe you an explanation." I began, my voice soft.
He looked exceedingly more interested now, placing his soft drink on the ground and leaning forward, forearms rested on his knees.
"I-well, Mark is my mother's store, I wasn't trespassing, I swear. It was my father's secretary who-who-"A great yawn almost split my face in two and I quickly covered my mouth with my sleeve.
Before I could start up again, he looked up at me determinedly and I paused to listen to what he had to say.
"Kim? Maybe you should just sleep for a while, you look tired." He was-he was wonderful. There were no other words for it. I'm sure anyone else would have demanded an explanation after I'd dragged them around the city and then gotten arrested on top of it, it wasn't the greatest of impressions.
I nodded, smiling faintly, unable to shift my eyes off of him. I didn't want to waste what was probably the last bit of time I'd ever get with him.
But all the same, I felt wonderfully full and a nap sounded incredibly compelling. Another yawn widened my mouth and I chuckled sheepishly after that.
He looked calculative but I tried my best to ignore him, reiterating that whatever he was thinking was his business and I really didn't to worry about it. I popped my stilettos off, rubbing my feet a little. They were a tad sore.
Jared had been sitting next to meet while we ate but he started to move to the opposite seat so that I could have more room to sleep.
"Wait!" I called out and he froze, looking at me in surprise.
"You don't have to move, I have enough room." He looked me over dubiously but then settled back down.
I felt selfish but even though he was a good foot away from me, his weight on the seat felt comforting and after today, I needed the proximity.
"Thanks." He was looked at his hands, long, strong fingers gripped tightly.
I placed my hand over his and I felt him tense beneath me.
"I promise, I'll tell you everything tomorrow, at least everything I can." He looked at me in shock, forgetting about my hand, which was still resting on his.
"You will." He said it quietly but I could hear the doubt.
"I will." I confirmed before giving him a light squeeze and slowly lifting my hand back. It was unfortunate but it had to be done.
I then leaned back and fell asleep, surreptitiously watching him from underneath my lashes.
I woke up to Jared's hand lightly shaking my shoulder.
"Yeah?" My voice was thick with sleep and I cleared my throat.
"We're at your house, Kim."
"Oh." I sat up quickly and closed my eyes as I felt the blood rush to my head. Jared chuckled before giving my shoulder a final squeeze.
He stepped out of the limo and I followed, gripping my bag in one hand and our trash in the other.
He had already pulled out my painting supplies and I noted with approval how gently he handled the easel.
I stepped over to him.
"Thanks for pulling everything out for me. I could've-"
"Kim, you paid for everything today, the least I can do is help you get your stuff inside."
I smiled at that before taking a breath. I'd never had a friend over before, I wasn't certain of the protocol. I tested the word as I watched him lift all my stuff in ease. It seemed to fit him, at least on my end. I wasn't entirely sure what he thought of me.
Jared seemed to be perfectly comfortable taking the lead and he lifted my stuff, leaving nothing for me to carry but my own bag and moving it all easily to the front door. He didn't even seem to be bothered by it.
My front door loomed large and suddenly I wondered if my house seemed obnoxious to someone who hadn't grown up it in. It was a bit big I supposed.
He made no comment though, I saw him sneak a peak through the open blinds.
I unlocked the door and flipped on the lights and he let out a low whistle.
But he thankfully didn't say anything just moved everything into the hall before taking a look around.
I just stood there, feeling like an idiot but completely unsure of what to say.
He turned back to me and I got ready to ask whatever question came next.
"Where are your parents?" That I wasn't expecting. But he certainly appeared expectant so I hurried forward with a reply.
"They're out of town." That was basically a complete truth, I reasoned, but part of me felt guilty. Tomorrow, I reminded myself, tomorrow I would tell him everything.
"So you're home alone?" He asked, suddenly looking concerned but I nodded.
"Don't worry, we've got an insane security system. I'm perfectly safe."
He nodded at that before glancing at his watch.
"Fuck it's 12:30." He observed and I saw him step away. But then he seemed to realize that he should give me an explanation.
"It's my curfew." He offered before opening the door and stepping out.
"Oh, I'm really sorry, if you get in trouble, I'll take the blame." I replied apologetically but he waved me off.
"Nah, don't sweat it, mom's pretty chill but I should get home."
"Of course."
I didn't want him to go, I wanted him to stay but of course that wasn't an option. The silence of the house felt almost oppressive as I watched him walk away from me.
But he turned just as he got to the edge of the front steps.
"Tomorrow?"
I looked at him with surprise. I didn't think he would actually enforce that.
"Yeah, tomorrow." I smiled before waving. He smiled and shoved his hands back deep into his pockets and climbed into the limo; I watched them drive away before closing the door.
Turning to look back at the large empty house behind me, I suddenly felt like I would've been better off if I'd stayed in the limo.
At least I had tomorrow to look forward to, though. I was tired and quite frankly not up to any more investigating tonight, I needed to sleep and get myself back in order before I could be of any more use.
Setting the alarm on the house and double checking the security records to make sure nothing had been breached I was pleased to notice not even a deer had crossed onto our property.
Walking up the stairs and flicking off the lights, I sang a loud and ridiculously rousing round of Happy Birthday.
"Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear Kimmy-" I flung my arms wide as I reached the top of the stairs.
But there were no parents waiting for me, no birthday cake and, most certainly, no presents.
I didn't feel like singing anymore.
Happy birthday to me.