JASON'S POV
1:00 AM
A very good slap came to my right cheek and I looked back at her almost immediately. We stood in front of my power bike which was parked opposite the school in front of a bar. Thank goodness it was closed and no one was on the streets except us and the investigators since it's late.
"What's wrong with you both?", A cop said to us from where he stood writing some shit in his jotter. I nodded negatively at him and looked back at Bianca.
"What was that for?", I asked angrily. I didn't expect it. Not from her at least.
"You know how much I hate scary things", she groaned.
"What?! ", I asked, looked around then back at her.
"What if Simon rose up and touched you, would you have slapped him?", I asked purposely trying to scare her and I could tell she was.
"Or if I had left you there you wouldn't have slapped me right?", I whispered, lowering my face to hers.
She was stiff, tensed.
Firstly, I was mad at her for hitting me. I don't know why but I'm really mad.
Probably because it took me off guard or because she didn't appreciate me. It's either of the two. And secondly, I wanted to know how much she's changed. And I guess she hasn't.
Just her body shape changed.
"Why are you doing this?", She whispered. I was sure she was gonna yell, but she whispered, her voice failed her. I looked to her lips since the way she spoke brought her breath on my jaw. Damn. What did I just do?
"Hey you both should head home or do you need the police to take you home?", another police officer asked softly. I stood up straight and looked at the officer. Uh... I know this one ... Officer Carl Marks.
The Cops had arrived earlier, while Bianca had hugged me. Damn, that hug felt so good. Jake and Lily as well as Leilani had called them over.
"We'll just go", I said and he nodded positively and walked away.
"Come I'll drop you off", I muttered taking my helmet and I heard a scoff.
"Why should you drop me off?", she asked. I looked at her. I could tell she's angry at what I had done. I heaved.
"I'm sorry", I breathed.
"Why are you sorry?", she asked raising a brow. I looked into those beautiful hazel eyes, they were glittering with tears. I hurt her again just like I have always done.
"Bianca please....", I said trying to touch her but she moved away. We were always like this, fighting over one thing or the other, it's been two years since we parted and we are still the same.
"I'm sorry", I breathed.
She scoffed.
"What am I doing here...?", she asked like I didn't deserve her time, which is so true. She turned to leave and cross to the other side of the road where the school was and the police officers were investigating.
Then I heard the horn of a truck and I realized it was coming at full speed and Bianca was in the middle of the street.
"Bianca", I called out.
"Miss", the police officers around called out, But there she was standing in shock looking right into the light of the truck.
"Fuck", I cursed, hurrying to her and pushed her away.
A sharp pain hitting my head made me realize I did it too far. I had hit my head on a pole and I realized life was fading away.
"Hey", Bianca called hitting me continuously in fear. Her hands cupped my face, all shaky. Her eyes penetrated mine pleading with mine to stay open.
"Hey", she continued.
"Why do you have to do this to me?", She asked sobbing, her tears dropping all over me.
"Why do you have to always make me cry?", Was the last thing I heard as she was being pushed away by the police officers and medical practitioners who attended to me. Fuck, I saw Bianca cry because of me again. Everywhere suddenly turned black. Maybe I was dead or was going to die, I don't know but I know I want to wake up and settle a lot of things with Bianca.
************
JAKE RAY'S POV
Saturday, 2:45 Am.
My eyes remained on the cop as he scribbled something down into his pocketbook. He had told me earlier his name was Kelvin. I and Lily had gone to the nearest police station to report what had happened and Leilani met us there.
My nanny took my hands into hers comforting me. She must have realized how shaky I was. I looked at her coming in contact with an "it's okay " smile, which caused me to smile back at her. My nanny was the only one who appreciated my existence. My parents are nothing to talk about. They are workaholics and I doubt if they still remember they had me. And whenever they are around, all they do is tell me about how good my elder sister and her husband are making it well across the globe, Totally comparing me with my sister. I still don't know if there's anything I hate more than that. My mom could be caring at times, like when my dad hits me for having 99 out of 100 and she holds his hands from hitting me the more, she then pulls me out of his presence.
"You should have gotten one extra", she'd always say but can't they believe I'm trying my best. When I had become the first runner-up for the best student in school and Bianca was the best student, my parents had lectured me on how weak I was and how ladies tend to overcome me. When, I had become the second runner-up, that bastard, Jason out of nowhere becoming the first runner-up and Bianca still the best, my bank was closed down, my allowance was cut and I was locked in my room to read. If I behave shitty to people in school, it's all because of what I face at home.
"So, you say your girlfriend had called you to come over?", The police officer asked as I looked at him and I nodded positively.
"Can I have your phone?", he asked.
"Yeah sure", I muttered searching my pocket for my phone and when I finally found it, I muttered, "it suddenly stopped working in that cottage".
He nodded positively as I handed the phone to him. He looked at the phone in silence as he pressed every other button, but it didn't work.
"Urm.... don't you think it's late for this, can you just let him rest?", my nanny asked politely squeezing my hand softly.
"Uh...sure I'm sorry for the inconvenience ", he pleaded standing up as my nanny did.
"It's alright", my nanny added.
"Mr. Ray we'd contact you if we need more from you", he said looking down at me and I nodded positively.
"Umm....what about the others?", I asked.
"They should be questioned too and they are fine", he added with a soothing smile.
"Except Jason who happened to be in the hospital due to an accident and Shyla whom no one has heard from",
he added and I stiffened.
As much as I'd like to ask him what had happened to Jason, I kept shut and nodded positively.
"I'll see you to the door", my nanny added and the man nodded appreciatively. He walked ahead as my nanny followed slowly behind him. She's old. 70 or 71.
I breathed out. Maybe it's gonna be alright, maybe I'm gonna die, no one knows but I know one thing if my parents get back I'm so dead.
********
LEILANI'S POV
I hugged myself tightly shivering from cold and fear. My mom patted my back keeping me relaxed.
"Is that all officer?", my mom asked.
Yea the police officers are involved because we got them involved.
"So who called you over?", the lady asked looking away from my damaged phone I had given her earlier. Elle, that's what she called herself. Younger than most police officers I've seen.
"Simon", I muttered.
That was the truth. Simon had called me. No friend had. There was no way I was going to say it in front of people that hated Simon, that he had called me over. It would totally look like we are close when we're not.
She looked at me suspiciously.
" The deceased?", she questioned and I nodded positively.
"I thought you guys don't relate?", she asked. I expected the question. I bit my lower lip wondering how to explain our relationship and it wouldn't look suspicious.
"Yea.....we were once friends before he started that damn app of his and yes we had each other digits", I said. She nodded positively and scribbled into her pocketbook.
"Why would you answer his message if he isn't someone important to you anymore?", she asked. And that I don't want to reveal. He threatened me with my secret. He told me he wanted me to come to the cottage but when I told him I wasn't going to show up, he decided to use my secret.
"He said something quite important", I muttered and she looked at me curiously.
"And what's that?", She asked, her curiosity not hiding herself. I looked at my mom who had taken her hands off me when I had said that, her eyes curiously piercing into me. I looked back at the police officer.
"He said he had an information on my dad", I lied.
"Your dad?", The police officer asked.
My mom understood what that meant.
"I think it's late and you should get going", she muttered getting up. My dad might be the biggest businessman around but he is a cheat. My mom hearing that, would make her think I heard about who my dad was gonna be sleeping with next and since it's a family issue, the police shouldn't butt in.
"I'm sorry but I'd like to talk to you more miss Rex", she said getting up from her seat. I looked to my mom who already had the door opened for her to leave.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Rex didn't mean to take your time", she pleaded walking towards my mom who rolled her eyes.
"Please don't butt into my family issue", my mom pleaded.
"I was just....", the police officer tried explaining but my mom showed her the opened the door. She kept shut and walked out after saying "I'm sorry for taking your time".
Immediately she left, my mom closed the door and looked at me "seems your dad isn't coming home, if you are too scared to sleep alone come sleep with me", she said and hurried up the stairs. I heaved a sigh of relief and guilt. I never meant harm. I was just protecting my secret, One no one should hear and that was what Simon had lured me with. I'm partly happy he died without posting it in his damn app or my entire family will be ruined. That guy always has his ways to get news. Fuck. Simon. Bayman.
*******
BIANCA'S POV
I hugged myself tighter pulling my jacket closer to my body. I was shivering more than normal out of fear and cold as well as shock. Why would he think of risking his life to save mine? We are nothing.
"Here you go", Officer Matthew offered me a cup of hot coffee. I looked up at him taking it from him not missing the comforting smile he gave me. He is in charge of me, I guess. He is the only officer I've seen around me.
"Thank you", I muttered my voice coming out in a hoarse whisper and I had cried a lot.
He calmly took his seat beside me.
"Do you wanna talk about Simon Bayman?", He asked calmly. I could feel his eyes on me as I sipped from the coffee. I looked around the well-lit hospital waiting room surprisingly with nobody except us both and three nurses behind the reception table.
I looked at him
"What time is it?", I softly asked.
"Urm.....", he muttered looking at his wristwatch, then looked back at me
" it's another day It's 3:30 am ", he said ending it with a sigh.
"Wow", I muttered.
"The doctor hasn't said anything about Jay yet", I said.
He nodded positively.
"He's gonna be fine", he assured.
"You call him Jay?", He asked looking at me suspiciously.
"That shows you are close", he said raising a brow. Tricky officers.
"We aren't close just prefer it that way", I said with a convincing shrug.
He nodded positively and looked away as I gulped from my coffee.
"Let's talk about Bayman how did he die??", He asked. My brain mentally brought the picture of his dead body and I cringed before looking at Bianca.
"He just died no one knows", I said shrugging my shoulders.
"What were you guys doing there?", he asked.
"My friend texted me to come over and I did, then we realized were all tricked", I said with a scoff. I can't believe someone tried to implicate me.
"Then when we tried going out the door was locked ", I said every single thing coming back to my mind.
"How did you get out then?", Matthew asked.
"That's the most surprising part of it, it went opened when we tried it again", I confessed. I was really surprised when
"Lily opened it and ran out, a fight between Jay and her boyfriend led to that though", I said and he nodded.
"When did you guys notice Simon's body?", he asked bringing out a small jotter from his pocket and a pen.
"Jay tried looking around for a way to get us all out and he was gonna ask for Simon's help and we saw his body", I said.
"Who saw him first?", he asked.
"I did, I was gonna help Jay get Simon and I saw his body", I said and I watched him scribble away in his jotter.
"Did you guys check if he was still breathing?", He asked not looking up from his book.
"Yea Jay did", I said.
"You might wanna check on him now?", I heard the masculine doctor say and I got up hurriedly.
"Bianca", Brie called.
Brie??? I looked around and saw her hurry towards me and pulled me into a hug.
"What are you doing here?", I whispered into her.
"Sorry miss I called your home", Officer Matthew said. I had specifically told him I wasn't going home yet, though I didn't tell him Jason was the reason I wanted to wait behind.
"Damn you should have called Bianca", Brie said letting go of me and hitting my arm softly and I smiled.
"I'll check on Jason, you can go home", Officer Matthew offered. I bit my lip at the fact that I won't have to see Jason. I nodded positively at him and "let's go", I muttered to my sister and left.
*********
JASON'S POV
I slowly opened my eyes with a heavy bang happening in my head.
"Jason", a familiar masculine voice called to me. I tried moving my right hand but it was connected to a drip.
Fuck! Hospital things.
I groaned and took my left hand to my head only to realize it was bandaged.
"Are you okay?", A feminine worried voice asked. That voice, one I can't forget. Jane Margaret. I heaved a sigh and hurriedly disconnected the drip off my hand and sat up.
"Jason", Jane's worried voice called and I looked at her, she looked tired but still stunning. I looked to Officer Carl Marks who nodded positively at me. These two people are all I can receive from my father. Carl, a police officer, and Jane, a lawyer. They had always been there.
"I'm tired I think I should just go home", I said my voice coming out colder than I intended it to.
"That's why you should rest here at least till daybreak", Jane said worry well written on her face.
"Jane I know you're tired let's just all go home", I said standing up.
"Simon Bayman", Officer Carl said and I stopped in my tracks. For a moment I forgot about him. I forgot what had happened in the cottage.
"I didn't allow anyone to question you claiming I'll do that so please spare an hour or less so we can talk about it", he said. I looked at him as he raised a brow at me. I wasn't ready to talk about Simon's death. I made my right-hand shuffle my hair.
"I'll just spare 30 minutes", I muttered and he nodded positively appreciatively. They are like my workers since my dad had hired them for me.
BIANCA'S POV
I don't know what kept me up but I stared blankly at my junior sister as she applied some sort of a facial treatment preparing herself for sleep.
I was too scared to sleep alone so I decided to share her room with her.
I pulled my knees tighter to myself.
"Are you still terrified about Simon's death?", She suddenly asked.
I looked at her and shrugged.
"Aren't you terrified about his death?", I asked in return. She and Simon had something huge some years back. I saw her shrug her shoulders and turned to me sharply.
"That reminds me, why were you waiting in the hospital?", she asked suspiciously.
I pressed my lips together and shrugged.
"I didn't want to go home yet", I said. She raised her brow and hurried to the bed.
"It's Jason, isn't it?", she asked.
"Yea...no....I mean Jason was in the hospital but not actually because of him", I stammered.
"You're sure?", she asked raising her brow higher.
"Yea....", I said looking around nervously then noticed, the day was already dawning.
"What the hell did you sneak out of the house for ?", She asked making me remember I had sneaked out of the house to respond to Lily's message and that is gonna get me in trouble with my parents.
"Lily texted me ", I said biting my lower lip.
"You know you are in trouble with Mom and Dad ", she said and I shrugged.
"You have to tell me in detail what had happened", she said slightly pushing me to the other side of the bed.
" I don't wanna talk about it", I groaned like a kid and she slapped my back chuckling a bit.
"C'mon big girl", she whined making me chuckle a bit. That's the way we are. I was very sure Briella was mean to be my elder sister and I was meant to be the younger cause that's the way we naturally behave and look. She acts like the eldest and I act like the junior one, whereas I am the older one.
JASON'S POV
I calmly listened to Officer Carl's hypothesis.
"....and if things get out of hands every one of you in that room could be accused of murdering Bayman", he said.
Beautiful.
I nodded positively.
"Urm...who called you over again?", He asked.
"Steve", I muttered really tired and weighed down by the possibilities of the situation.
"Who is Steve?", He asked.
"We do technological things together", I said and he penned them down.
"Is he also a student of your school?", He asked.
"Well, no", I said.
"What does he do then?", He asked further.
"Urm...he actually works as a delivery man in an online shopping site and that's where we met", I said.
The day I met Steve, I was at first mad at him for staring lustfully at Bianca but got over it when I realized I could learn more from him and he wasn't after Bianca. He was the kind of 'get rich first, chic later guy
"And you guys exchanged digits?", He asked still scribbling away in his pocket note.
"After coming over a few times we did and I learned a whole lot from him", I said shrugging my shoulders realizing how long it has been.
"When did you last see?", He asked looking up at me.
"Ummm...I think it's been two years or three now ", I shrugged.
"And he suddenly texted to see you?", Officer Carl asked and I nodded positively.
"Don't you find it weird?", He asked. Now I think of it, I realized how weird it is.
I shrugged my shoulders. He nodded positively and looked at his wristwatch.
"Jay umm...I will try to keep you safe and get you not exposed ", he said closing his pocketbook and placing it in his pocket.
I patted my laps nervously, I'm gonna go see Steve, then probably Bianca, If I could. I nodded positively at him and hurried off.