The Cover-Up [3]

(Olivia)

Sitting at a table for two in Nadine’s with Ron has me feeling anxious. My parents never let me go out just like that, and when they do, though I feel liberated and free, I can still feel the authoritative gaze of my religious parents hovering over my shoulder. Being out with Ron, granted he’s just Ron, is nerve wrecking. He’s not the worst looking guy in the world, and he looks my age. What if someone from the church sees me and tells my parents I’ve been hanging out with a boy? What if they ask about it?

God knows what my parents would do.

“I hope she gets through to him...” Ron says, releasing me from my cage of thoughts. “Sometimes I think she’s the only person who can.”

I agree. Malory and Kyle aren’t enemies –they never were. It was merely a misunderstanding that they both refused to settle that lead to more and more misunderstandings, until it was purely ‘hatred’.

I nod, saying, “They tick each other off a lot but... they won’t kill each other. There’s more to both of them than just the desire to be bullies. They’re both smart, and work extremely hard. They’re always busy, always doing something to keep themselves occupied. I wonder if they both do it for the similar reasons.”

“I think Kyle’s just doing the best he can,” Ron says. “He’s definitely not one to give up. He’s not one to lose determination easily. And when his uncle is gone he’s basically left with nothing to do anyway. All he has to do is keep up with the school work –which he’s way ahead of. That’s just my take on it. I think keeping himself busy is his way of reminding himself he’s alive.”

In that way, he’s a lot like Malory.

I twist my closed lips to the left side of my mouth before they part to sigh. We need a change of topic before this gets depressing. Then I remember the concept I’d thought of earlier that week. “Hey, you know as the understudies...”

“Mhm?”

“We’re supposed to be practicing just as often as the actual leads,” I tell him. “We should probably find a way to do that. I understand how your parents are, so if you have to organise the schedule or whatever, I’m fine with that. I’ll let my parents in on the rehearsals schedule with you as well. I doubt they’ll have a problem knowing it’s for school. I don’t think I need to be worried. And we have time, anyway. There’s no need to rush.”

He scoffs. “At this point, the whole fact that Kyle and Malory are the leads is making me depressed. Malory is trying. Kyle hasn’t shown up for the first two rehearsals, and he already has such little experience in the field of the performing arts –there could be a chance he has no experience at all. It’s depressing. You and I might as well just beg for the parts instead. It feels like we’re going to end up on stage in their place already, anyway.”

I grin. “I think you might be right. I want to believe you but at the same time, I think we should have some faith in our beloved chaos-duet.”

He chuckled at that, sipping into his juice. “We’ll still work on our own rehearsal schedule. Whatever happens between them won’t affect the show. They’re lucky they have reliable friends.”

I laugh and nod in agreement.

We fall into a comfortable silence. I watch Katy as she disappears to the kitchen with a full tray and reappears empty-handed a few moments later. She looks around the restaurant to find that nobody needs to be served for the while. She walks over to us with a relieved sigh and a grateful smile.

“So you’re the best friend of that Kyle Davidson kid Malory keeps going on and on about,” she says, in acknowledgment of Ron. “It’s an honour to finally meet you.”

He laughs at that, switching his glances between Katy and me. “How often does Lloyd talk about us?”

His phone suddenly rings and we all look down at the number appearing on the screen as the device lies there, vibrating on the table.

Malory is finally calling.

He answers and puts the call on loud speaker.

“Malory? That you?”

“He’s fine. I’m fine. We’re both fine.” Malory answers.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

“Oh, you saw him? Oh thank God.” Ron says, relaxing his tense shoulders to slouch in his seat.

“Are you okay? Where are you?” I ask.

“We’re at Nadine’s if you want to stop by,” Ron pitches in. “Say Hi, Katy.”

“Hi, Mal!” She says, cheerily.

“Hi, all of you,” Malory says, sounding tired. “I can’t come. I asked the taxi to drop me right at the main road so I’m currently walking to my house.”

“Stay on the line until you get there so I know you make it home safe,” I say, quickly.

I just can’t bear the thought of Malory getting into trouble... again.

“I’ll be fine, Olive. I promise,” she insists. “I’m almost there. I have to find my keys so I’m going to have to dig into my bag. I’m hanging up. Kyle is fine. He’s alive. He’s okay. He’s just under the weather... that’s all.”

“Fever or something?” Ron wonders out loud.

“Poor boy’s got it bad,” Malory says, and I could visualise the grimace on her face.

“Shit...” Ron mutters as he turns to me, “You think we should all go see him? Tomorrow or something?”

“No!” Malory answers quickly.

“No?” Ron asks.

“No, it’s fine,” she says, “When I went to see him I helped him out a bit. I even passed by a nearby drug store on his behalf. Don’t worry about him. He’ll be fine. I’ll keep checking in on him. Ron, can you text me Kyle’s number?”

“You don’t have it?” Ron asks her, taken aback.

“When would I have ever asked Davidson for his number?” She asks him, melodramatically.

He nods once, “Good point. I’ll send it right now, then.”

“I’ll see you guys soon,” she says. “I’m at my front door. Bye.”

“Bye!” Katy says.

She is going to have to tell me everything.

“Bye, Mal,” I say to her. “I’ll message you later!”

She hangs up and Ron immediately messages the phone number to her.

We sit back into our seats, huffing in relief.