"Don't you think you should have done something by now?" Miranda asked with her arms folded.
"What do you mean, Miranda?" Mr Walters asked.
"I mean, a week has passed and you haven't reported those people for the damages they caused in the bar that day."
"Why do you bring up that argument every time, woman!" Mr Walters looked pretty upset.
"Because, they almost left you for dead and the place was in a mess. Someone has to pay for the damages you know."
"Look, Miranda, I admit, those people really trashed up the place, but I couldn't report them. As far as I know, Carly also lost her mother. Now imagine this, your sister gets into an accident and then your mother dies on the same day. Won't that be too much too handle?"
Miranda tapped her foot as she stared down at her boss who sat behind his office desk looking up at her. He had a few bruises on his face and a slight bump at the back of his head. All in all, he still looked okay.
"You might have a point though," said Miranda, "but I still think you should have reported them."
"You know I couldn't report to the police. If they got to search this place, they might find out what dirty business goes on and we would have been in big trouble. I can't risk losing my business. We all benefit from it."
"I see your point there. So, those guys are just going to get away with it, huh?" Miranda asked.
"No, let things cool down for a little while longer. Once Carly's sister gets better, then I will be able to do what I do best. Nobody trashes up my place and gets away with it that easily."
Miranda smiled. "Now that's what I wanted to hear."
***
"You didn't tell him, did you?"
Angel stared at Eric and Carly who stood at the edge of the bed looking at her with a kind of expression Angel couldn't quite put together. Angel raised an eyebrow as she waited for an answer.
"Well... we.... ahh...," Carly couldn't even find the right words.
"With the look on your faces, it's quite clear that Mr McDonell doesn't know the whole truth," said Angel.
"It's true, Angel," said Eric. "No one knows the whole truth apart from the four of us."
"You guys are unbelievable! Just because I couldn't talk for a whole week, you decided to twist the whole story around?"
"We're sorry, Angel," said Carly, "we just didn't want to make things complicated."
"Make things complicated! Carly, you just made everything worse!"
Angel's anger was rising to the surface and she knew she was going to burst any moment. Things now looked messy, and Angel felt it was all her fault. She could have avoided all this, but it looked like things went out of hand.
"So, even when giving a police report, you all lied?" Angel asked.
"We all agreed to it," said Eric, "no one was to know the real reason as to why Leo was never there at the wedding."
"And you used my accident as an escape plan, then?" Angel's face was heating up.
"We just had to do it, Angel," said Eric. "If we didn't, we were going to be in a lot of trouble."
"In trouble with who? I want to know because you're already in trouble with me."
"Please, don't ask," said Eric, "you look like you're going to burst any moment and you need to rest."
"I'll only rest until you try to fix this mess."
"What's done is done, Angel," said Carly, "everyone thinks Eric and Leo just went out for a ride and then you got hit by accident. If you tell the truth, Leo might just end up in prison because they might think you being hit was intentional."
"As much as Leo had done most of the damage," said Angel, rolling her eyes, "I'm not that cruel to let him rot in prison. I might as well have dropped the charges."
"But the damage is already done," said Eric, "we can't tell the truth. We could all be in big trouble."
"And imagine what Mr McDonell would have thought if he knew I once worked as a prostitute," said Carly, "he wouldn't have even offered to help us."
"No," said Angel, "I think you're wrong on that. If he truly was a good friend of our late mother, he still would have helped us."
"Now that you have brought up my uncle in all this," Eric intervened quickly, "will you accept his proposal?"
Before Mr McDonell had left, he had asked Angel if she and Carly could move into his house and stay with the family. Angel said she would think about it and she had asked how her mother had died so suddenly on that fateful day.
As Mr McDonell explained the events, to Angel, it was quite clear that Mr McDonell didn't know the real reason why Leo wasn't at the wedding. Because he did say that he had called home and was told that Leo and Eric were gone. And a few moments after calling Angel, the accident occurred. Besides, he didn't pose any question as to why Angel and Carly were along that street that day in the first place. It seemed to everyone, that all that occurred was nothing but a coincidence.
"I have already made up my mind," said Angel, "I think Carly and I shouldn't move in to your house."
Carly and Eric gave Angel horrifying looks. Carly came to sit close to her sister on the edge of the bed.
"What? But Angel...."
"But nothing, Carly," said Angel. "I don't think it's a good idea. As much as Mr McDonell is trying to help us out, living in his house doesn't seem right."
"Oh, really then? Is it that or are you saying that because you don't want to ever see Leo within your sight?"
Angel didn't say anything for a second as she stared at her sister, trying to figure out the right words to use.
"Its not like that," said Angel. "I don't think its right after all that's happened. If we live in their house it would feel completely weird. Just so you know, Leo and Eric aren't strangers to you and I anymore."
"Angel, please think about it for one second," pleaded Carly.
"And why are you insisting? It's not like we have a house of our own. Or do you just want to be close to Leo?"
Carly looked baffled and Eric just stood there without saying a word. Angel noticed the blush come across her sister's cheeks and Angel felt like slapping it off her face.
"Aren't you going to say anything? I already gave my reason," said Angel. "Now you tell me yours."
Carly looked the other way and Eric stared down at his feet. Angel looked at Carly and then at Eric, and then back again.
"Your silence tells me there is more to all this," said Angel, with an eyebrow raised. "Do the two of you still meet?"
Carly played around with her fingers and Angel noticed. Carly had always done that whenever she was nervous and was trying to hide the truth.
Angel let out a sigh and sunk down deeper into the bed covers.
"I think I don't have to say much since you already gave me your answer. I think I'll just rest now," Angel yawned.
"Angel, will you just-"
"Listen to you?"Angel finished the sentenced. "I'm tired of listening. Eric's right. I need some rest. So, may you please leave?"
Carly looked at her sister, but Angel turned her face the other way and closed her eyes. Before Carly could protest, Leo came closer to her and held her shoulder.
"I think we should leave," said Eric, "I think she's had enough to handle for one day. Let's go."
Carly didn't say a thing as she nodded her head. She slowly got up from the bed and went out of the room with Eric behind her who closed the door.
After Carly and Eric had left, Angel's eyes flew back open and only herself knew how much rage was stirring inside her. All she needed was rest and to get better soon. And maybe, just maybe, she would give Leo a piece of her fist.
***
Leo stared at his watch as he waited in the packing lot. His car was packed in between two ambulances and he had a clear view of the entrance of the hospital. He saw Carly escort Eric to his car. Eric got into his car and drove off. And Carly stood there until Eric's car was out of sight. Carly rushed over to where Leo had packed the car. Leo unlocked the car door and Carly quickly went in the car.
"Hey, how are you?" Leo asked.
"Angel's mad," said Carly with a sulking look on her face, "how would I feel?"
"What happened?" Leo asked as he rolled his eyes.
"Apparently, she's so smart enough that she figured out that your family doesn't know the real reason why you weren't at the wedding that day. And she has a hunch that the two of us are still seeing each other."
"And she is mad just because of one little lie? Your sister is way too serious with such things."
"To my sister, this lie might just complicate things. And she feels hurt because we used her accident as an escape plan."
Carly paused for a while as she leaned into the car seat and breathed out deeply. There was silence for a while as Carly stared up at the car ceiling.
"Somehow, I think she's right," said Carly.
"Right about what?"
"The lie we just created. It might affect all of us in the future."
Leo looked straight at Carly with an eyebrow raised.
"Don't tell me you're supporting your sister on this."
"I don't support it, but she did raise a good point. Later on, the truth will eventually come to light and it won't be pretty."
Leo put his hand on Carly's shoulder. "No. Thats not going to happen. I'll be the one to make sure that the truth isn't revealed to anyone."
"Thanks, Leo," said Carly as she gave him a smile.
"So, I was told my dad came here. What was it about?"
"He asked us if it was necessary for Angel and I to move in and stay with you guys," said Carly in a low voice.
"Wait, what?" Leo looked completely confused. "But why come and live with my family?"
"He's trying to keep a promise he made to my mother. Maybe he thought us coming to live with your family was a good idea. He's just trying to help us out."
Leo didn't say anything as he tried to process what Carly had told him. For a moment he stared out of the car window, deep in thought.
"Whats wrong, Leo?" Carly asked. "Don't you think it's a good idea or you don't agree to it?"
Leo turned his head to look back at Carly who was staring back at him waiting for an answer.
"I....," Leo hesistated, "I don't think it's a good idea."
Carly was dumbstruck. For a moment she shook her head and gave a little laugh.
"OMG," said Carly, "do you know what, that's exactly what Angel said as well."
Leo didn't say anything as Carly continued laughing. Leo raised an eyebrow.
"And why the heck are you laughing if your sister didn't agree to it?"
"I just realised that I'm so dumb not to have realised this sooner," said Carly in between laughs.
Leo shrugged his shoulders. "And whats that?"
"You and my sister still hate each other."
There was silence in the car as the two stared at each other. And then all of the sudden, Carly burst out laughing again.
"It's not funny, Carly," said Leo, looking serious.
"But it is. Even if my sister doesn't show it, she still hates you. And that look in your eyes when I told you about us living with your family, was so clear. If the two of you ever got to meet, you would be two angry wild cats trying to tear each other apart."
"That's not true. I don't hate your sister," Leo protested.
"Then why do you think its inappropriate that Angel and I come live with your family?"
"Because it would feel completely weird."
"Is it just me or are you and my sister getting the same scripts from the same book? She also said that."
"Don't say that, Carly."
"Then what should I say? You're acting like a total bum just like my sister. And you say that my sister is serious, now look who is serious now!"
Leo became frustrated and didn't say anything else. He looked at Carly and he felt so stressed out.
"It wouldn't be a bad idea if you came and stayed with us. But your sister might just get in the way of things. And besides, my family has no idea that we all know each other already. So playing pretend, is going to be difficult."
"Ya, I know, Leo," said Carly as she placed her hand on Leo's knee. "That's what my sister is afraid of. Playing pretend won't be easy."
Leo smiled a little. "Don't worry everything is going to be alright."
Carly smiled back and gave Leo a peck on the cheek. Carly hugged him and Leo also put his arm around her.
As they stayed like that for a while, Leo couldn't help but wonder what would happen if Angel ever did agree to live with the McDonell family.