Burn (Virtues & Lies 1)

Even in this post party, dressed down state she looks demure and elegant, and if it weren’t for her worry sunken eyes and pallor, you wouldn’t be able to tell something is seriously wrong.

“No. No way.” Shaking his head, Dad stands in front of her. “You’re not coming.”

“I’m coming with you or I drive myself. Either way, I’m not staying.” Her tone leaves no room for arguments.

“The kids—”

“Francis,” she says sternly. “I am going.”

The look they share is different to any other I’ve been privy to.

“Fine, but I’m not happy about this.”

Shrugging, she walks over to where Fleur and I are standing on the bottom step. When she stops, the softest smile lightens her expression as her fingers run through my hair before she cups my face.

“Freddie’s staying to hold the fort. All right?”

“What? Why? Where are you going?” My questions come out a breathy rush.

“I love you.” She stands taller and straighter, the way she does when she doesn’t want us pushing her.

“What’s going on?” I ask her again, but it’s my father who answers. “Nothing for you to worry about, Princess.”

“Another job go wrong?” I’m not letting them brush this under the carpet, especially not with the look they exchange.

She nods and wraps her arms around his waist. “There’s been an accident.”

An accident? Hot bile races up my throat and I feel like I’m plummeting, like Icarus falling from the sky to his demise. God, not Leo. All of a sudden, I feel like the biggest imbecile for walking away from him. For letting someone else ruin our moment.

Fleur grabs my hand and squeezes so tight that the bite of her nails on my skin breaks me out of my thoughts. “Is Leo okay? Arabella was…is everything…”

Looking between the two of us with narrowed eyes, Mum tells her, “Everything is okay.”

Reaching out to stroke my friend’s face like she did mine, she adds, “Stay in the estate.”

Her eyes focus behind us and they soften a little more.

“You’re going?” Arabella asks her, panicked. “Why?”

“I have to.”

Something is exchanged in the silence and Arabella stands beside me as Christopher joins our parents.

“Like I said, it’s going to be okay.” Mum tells her.

“What if it isn’t?” Arabella murmurs, her voice breaking with her barely held in sobs.

“We’re going to do everything we can. I promise.”

“Why aren’t you answering the question? Where are you going? What’s going on?” I burst out before Mum has a chance to turn away. “What’s happened?”

“Cassie…” Mum starts, but Dad’s phone starts to ring loudly and before she has a chance to go on, he says, “We need to go.”

My insides pulse with frustration that’s quickly leading to anger, and it doesn’t matter how many deep breaths I take or how many times I remind myself that I’m not a sulky child, I just want to scream until the pressure inside subsides and they give me what I need to know.

Kissing Arabella again, her and Christopher exchange words before he drops a last kiss on her hand, right on top of her engagement ring. The same ring my grandfather had given my grandmother for their engagement.

When Mum starts following Dad towards the back of the house, I follow. My mind reeling with all the things I want to shout. All the ways I want to make them talk to me.