Grievance: Volume 1 Page 4

  “I’ve definitely got something, but you’re not going to be happy when you hear it,” Dax said.

  ***

  Emmitt sat on the edge of his bed, questioning whether he should do this to Hannah. He had to get her away from Sean. It was the only thing he could focus on. He was just about to tell Dax to go ahead when his computer chimed that he’d gotten a new email. Emmitt moved to his desk chair and there was a message from “Careless Citizen.”

  “Did you email me something?” he asked Dax.

  “No. Why?”

  Emmitt opened the email and inside was a photo of Sean taking some pills with a caption underneath: I thought you’d want to know.

  “I’ve got to call you back,” Emmitt said, hanging up the phone before Dax could reply. He studied the date on the photo “07/18/15”, the night of the bonfire. Just seeing it in writing shortened his breath.

  The photo was of Sean standing between two cars, completely unaware of the camera, he held a poorly concealed prescription bottle to his mouth. Emmitt couldn’t say he was surprised. Sean had been pretty messed up after being cut from the baseball team. It wasn’t until Emmitt blinked that he noticed the couple making out in the background. They were more than four cars back and leaning against a tree.

  Emmitt thought he’d taken Hannah to a place no one would see them, but clearly he was wrong.

  EPISODE 2

  The cruelest lies are often told in silence.

  Robert Louis Stevenson

  Chapter One

  Kristen/Emmitt/Dax

  After hours of driving around, Kristen’s autopilot must’ve kicked in, because she ended up parked outside Ellie’s—scratch that—Emmitt’s house. She felt stupid going to him with her boy troubles when he was still trying to figure out life without his sister and even more embarrassed by that fact that he was technically one of her ex’s.

  Their attempt at dating only lasted a couple of weeks, which neither of them ever brought up again. It was the whole best friend’s brother crush, and way too incestuous to ever last. Ellie’s house was the place Kristen ran to when Tristin was tormenting her, and she honestly didn’t have anywhere else to go. His light was on so he had to be up, but she still took a few minutes to replay the sight of Brian and Tristin in her bed. The last thing she wanted to do was cry in front of Emmitt, he had seen enough tears over the past few weeks.

  She should have seen it coming. Tristin barging in on their Skype session, then showing up with the same outfit should’ve tipped her off. Kristen thought twins were supposed to have creepy connections like sensing what the other was up to, but even if that were the case she and Tristin wouldn’t have it. They must’ve offended god and were spiritually separated at birth. She knew Tristin didn’t want her around, but to go as far as to sleep with Brian, proved how much Tristin really hated her. She didn’t even like boys.

  ***

  Emmitt enlarged the photo on his monitor. His intensions were to tell Hannah how he’d felt, but in that moment he just decided to go for it. Maybe he was just being paranoid, but it felt like if he didn’t kiss her right then, that he might not have ever gotten the chance again. Plus, she freakin’ kissed him back, sort of. Emmitt honestly didn’t know what to believe anymore. He didn’t even remember how or why he’d fallen for her, but he’d never forget the day.

  It was Christmas Eve night and she showed up early to help him and Ellie decorate their tree. Her mom didn’t see the point in wasting the money, but Hannah loved Christmas. She looked like an angel that night, covered in tinsel and popcorn strands. From the moment she climbed through his window he kept trying to figure out what was different about her. They’d shared their first kiss under the mistletoe Ellie sneaked above his door. The moment he touched her lips, she became a different person. She was still the same Hannah who dared him to jump off his roof in sixth grade, and later drew penis pictures on his leg cast, only now he wanted to kiss her, a lot.

  It’d been nearly two years, and one failed attempt on Dax’s part to break them up. The bonfire was finally Emmitt’s chance. Two seconds, that’s all it would’ve taken to say ‘I love you.’ Instead they spent it carrying a barely conscious Ellie to his car. If he had told Hannah how he felt instead of kissing her, or had taken Ellie home when she asked, his entire world would be different now.

  The tap at his window dragged Emmitt back to reality. He locked his computer, feeling like the world’s biggest jerk for making his situation with Hannah as big as the loss of his sister. They were the greatest parts of his heart and he’d failed them both that night. He rushed to the window, thinking it was Connor, and paused when he saw Kristen's tearstained face looking up at him.

  "Kris, what are you doing here?" he asked as he opened the window, helping Kristen and her bags inside.

  "I don't want to bother you. I just don't have anywhere else to go."

  “You’re not. What’s going on?”

  Whatever it was had her shaking. It couldn’t have been the weather. The heat was still rising from the scorched ground.

  “I—I…” She started. He knew she was on the verge of tears and pulled her in for a hug. Kristen never cried, not in front of him anyway. She latched onto him like her knees were about to buckle and he took her bags and sat her down on the bed.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered with a sniffle. “I didn’t have anywhere else to go.”

  “You can always come here. You know that,” Emmitt said as his phone rang. Kristen pulled away from him, wiping her eyes and he snatched up the phone and turned it off.

  “Do you mind if I stay? I’ll be gone first thing in the morning.”

  “You never have to ask. Do you want to talk about it? Is it Tristin?” He took her crashing into his bed in tears as a yes.

  The two of them were a different breed of twins to say the least. He and Ellie used to have their battles, but Kristen and Tristin would fight until one of them had to be forcibly removed. Separately, they were awesome girls; there wasn’t a single person in school or town who didn’t like them. They just seemed to hate each other so much that it made being in the same social circle volatile.

  Watching her crying into his pillow made him miss Ellie so much. Sure she could be annoying at times, but he liked being her big brother, even if it was only by four minutes. She would lie in that very spot crying about some boy or a fight she had with their mom and he would make silly faces or tell some gross joke to make her laugh, but he knew that wouldn’t work on Kristen, so he turned out the lights, curled up next to her, and let her cry it out.

  ***

  Dax tried to call Emmitt back, but his phone kept going to voicemail. The news of Noelle and Sean was too explosive to just sit on. Who would have thought he would find a story so huge on the first day of school, and he knew he was the only person who had it. Then he got the idea of holding on to it for awhile. It would be the perfect exposé for sweeps, otherwise known as homecoming.

  Plus, there was the very small part of him that felt bad for what it would do to Hannah and Connor. Both needed a good slap across the face. Everyone knew the two of them belonged together. They’d won the fantasy couple polls two years straight and they both had the whole virgin thing going for them, despite what Noelle led everyone to believe. Dax knew she and Connor were a bad match when he set them up. Noelle was a natural shit-starter and Connor needed a little spice in his otherwise bland life. The kid was majorly boring, but too good of a guy to cheat on.

  Dax didn’t take kindly to cheaters, especially after his own ordeal with his ex, Kenny. Granted it was back in the eighth grade, but it still hurt.

  There was also the timing of it all. A big blowup so soon after Ellie’s death would be considered tasteless and Dax didn’t want to start the year off on a bad note. The first rule of creating scandals was having impeccable timing and the second was gaining indisputable proof. What he needed was evidence that wouldn’t get him arrested or expelled from school.

  H
is phone buzzed and he tried to think of an excuse he could tell Emmitt, but when he checked the new message it was from an unknown number.

 

  Back off before you

  find yourself the one

  being exposed Dax :o) Oh

  and next time you want

  to use me as a storyline

  for your vlog, don’t-CC

  “Is that supposed to scare me?” Dax asked with a grin as he put down his phone. “Let’s see if you’ll still feel careless when I make you viral bait.”

  Chapter Two

  Kristen/Emmitt

  The next morning, Kristen woke in Emmitt’s arms, dehydrated from crying. He held her head to his chest as protective and brotherly as she imagined he had done countless times for Ellie. It was so comforting that she didn’t want to move, but she had to get ready for school. There was no way of moving that wouldn’t wake him, so she patted his chest, and he took a deep breath.

  “You all right?” he asked, sounding half asleep. He squeezed her tight, kissing her forehead and she wondered if he knew who he was holding.

  Kristen nodded and pulled away to look up at his eyes. He was looking right at her.

  “I’m so sorry about last night,” she said, scooting off his bed.

  “Don’t worry about it. Turns out I needed the company,” he said with a stretch and yawn. “I haven’t gotten much sleep since…you know.”

  Kristen felt like such an ass. She never even thought about coming over and staying the night with him. She was too busy in la-la land over Br… Even thinking his name made her clench her fists.

  “I’d be happy to move in if you’d like,” she joked.

  “Stay as long as you need,” he said, rolling onto his side. When he closed his eyes Kristen saw his dark circles more clearly. He really hadn’t been sleeping.

  “Seriously, thank you for letting me stay and for not asking. How can I make it up to you?”

  He opened one eye and raised an eyebrow and Kristen smacked him on the leg.

  “Actually, I do have some stuff I was going to ask Connor to get for me, but if you don’t mind.”

  “Whatever you need, just write it down and I’ll bring it back after school, if it’s all right if I come back. I know you have a lot going on and I don’t want to impose.”

  “Kristen,” Emmitt barked. “Do I need to engrave the window seal for you to believe me?”

  She shook her head and grinned as he closed his eyes. She didn’t want to disturb him, but she couldn’t help but peck him on the cheek. “Thank you.”

  “Whatever, back off before you give me cooties, again.” Emmitt grinned.

  ***

  When Kristen went into the bathroom, Emmitt shot up and rushed to his computer. A good night’s sleep was just what he needed to think of a way to deal with the photo. He hurried to type a reply to the Careless Citizen: How do I know this is even real? You could have photo shopped it.

  He was going to need more than a mysterious photo to prove Ellie’s death wasn’t an accident and he planned on keeping the whole thing hush until he got it. He went back to bed, hoping he could get some more sleep. He had no idea Kristen being there would actually help him relax. Plus, she could get him some much needed supplies. His mom had been pushing the idea of him leaving his room, which he wasn’t ready to do. He knew her too well to believe she wouldn’t use her military training on him.

  He added a few more things to his list and left it on top of Kristen’s bag. His mom wasn’t the only one who knew how to prepare for battle..

  Chapter Three

  Dax/Kristen

  Dax watched his live stream footage, searching for stories that fit his vlog theme for the day. The same janitor’s closet looked untouched since yesterday and would be a perfect broadcast spot to keep him out of the heat. With a few curtains and a tripod, it would be almost impossible to pinpoint his location.

  The halls looked dull, which was bad news for him. If he couldn’t find the stories, he would be forced to open a rumor board. With nothing better going on he turned his attention to Noelle and Sean. Both had arrived with their significant others. Sean and Hannah were whispering to each other near her locker and from the side Dax could really see how sickly she looked. Her eyes were puffy and she was wearing a sweater when it was easily one hundred degrees outside. She didn’t look anything like the Hannah they all knew.

  She was hands down one of the most beautiful girls at Crissana and Sean was an unworthy bastard. Dax never liked him, which probably had more to do with Emmitt’s hatred of him than Dax’s own. Plus, anyone who could accidentally kill a girl and turn around and cheat on his girlfriend this fast had some serious issues.

  Noelle and Connor were working up a sweat at his locker. The two of them took PDA to a whole new level, which used to be hot, but now it was just sad. Dax was jittering in his seat as Hannah and Sean walked by them. He prayed for a glance, smirk, or anything between Noelle and Sean that would confirm that their affair was still on. A onetime hookup was newsworthy, but an affair was history making. The two of them had the potential to bring Crissana to its knees and Dax wanted to be the conductor of the demise.

  Connor also hated Sean, which was very unusual considering he got along with everyone. He was humble, kind, and understanding, but Dax always believed there was a beast hidden under those vests and skinny ties.

  Sean and Noelle didn’t even acknowledge each other, but he did see Connor’s quick glances at Hannah, who was trying not to be seen glancing back. Dax was just about to give up when he noticed papers falling in the stairwell.

  It was Kristen and Brian. Most people couldn’t tell the difference between KT twins, but Dax had screwed up enough stories to learn their individual tells. Tristin often wore a scowl and her wardrobe was edgier than her sisters, who was a definitely trend setter usually cheery. Only today she and Brian both looked like hell. Her hair was flat, while his shirt looked as if it’d been slept in. However, it was Kristen’s pushing him away that caused Dax’s eyebrow to raise. “Trouble on Lover’s Lane?”

  He watched as Brian tried to help her collect her things. She clearly didn’t want his help.

  “I should’ve sprung for the cameras with the mikes,” he said, watching their body language.

  ***

  “Please, just let me help you,” Brian pleaded as Kristen collected her things. Having him so close, made her chest collapse. She just wanted to be left alone, or as close to alone as she could get, but instead he was there, drawing everyone’s attention to the fact that they were no longer together.

  Yesterday he was the guy she loved and now he made her nauseous. All the stress was going to irritate her ulcers and she didn’t even have her pills. Sure, Tristin may have manipulated him into sleeping with her, but he should’ve known. Kristen was nothing like her sister and the fact that Brian slept with her had to mean that he liked Tristin’s version better, and that was unforgivable.

  “Kristen, please, just hear me out,” he said, blocking her from going upstairs. “Please?”

  She couldn’t look at him, not without crying, and she refused to let him see her tears. When Kristen turned to go downstairs, Tristin turned the corner. She was sandwiched between them and was now definitely going to be sick. Her stomach churned, thinking of the two of them together, in her bed of all places. Kristen sprinted down the stairs and bulldozed through the crowd heading for the bathroom.

  Once inside, she headed right for the handicap stall, where she dropped everything and covered her mouth before anyone could hear her sobbing.

  ***

  Dax was all smiles as he watched the standoff between Tristin and Brian in the stairwell. Between their scowls and the way Kristen bolted, there was most definitely a story there. Brian eventually turned and went up the stairs without speaking to Tristin, who looked honestly disappointed to see him go.

  Chapter Four

  Kristen/ Connor/Dax

  Kristen tried
to eat her lunch in peace, but could feel Brian watching her from across the cafeteria. He was sitting with Connor and Noelle, but his chair faced her.

  She gave up after a couple of bites of her salad and was getting up to throw it away when Tristin came over and sat her cell phone and prescription bottle on the table.

  “I thought you might need these,” Tristin said with an uncomfortable air of concern. “I covered for you last night, but the parentals will be expecting a call if you stay out another night.”

  She had no right to act concerned after what she did. Kristen was so furious her hands were trembling. What was Tristin planning now? Did she poison her medication? Or used her phone to hack into her email again? Kristen knew Tristin wanted her gone, but she always believed there were limits to her madness. That obviously wasn’t the case anymore.

  Kristen stood, grabbing her tray and in a flash of rage she shoved it in her sister’s face. “Stay the hell away from me,” she yelled.

  The room fell silent and Kristen looked around at the stunned faces and camera phones aimed at her. Her wide eyes met Brian’s, who was out of his seat, as she ran for the exit.

  ***

  “What just happened?” Connor asked Brian, watching Tristin’s friends rush to her side. He moved Noelle off his lap, and noticed Brian’s tortured face as he collapsed back into his chair.

  “I messed up,” Brian said as he buried his face in his hands. “She won’t even talk to me.”

  “I’ll go check on her,” Connor said.

  The buzz of gossip filled the room. Kristen had never snapped at her sister in public before, even when she might have deserved it. Connor waited to see if Brian wanted to go instead, even though he was already inching out of his seat. Brian finally nodded and Connor headed for the exit. He noticed Hannah glance in his direction when Sean wasn’t looking and decided to stop at their table.