Chapter 21

Nothing is more wretched than the mind of a man conscious of guilt-Plautus

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The sky is blue. Whenever I gaze at it, it reminds me of freedom. But right now Justin's eyes held me captive and robbed my breath away. I put the menu in front of my face to shield myself from him. I took a huge gulp of air to my lungs and picked through to see him. He was a few tables away, his chair facing mine. His boredom could be felt, his anger tangible. It doesn't matter how far he sat, I can read Justin like a book from anywhere.

"Honey, are you ok?" I completely forgot about my parents. That's what Justin does to me.

"I am fine." I answer my mom, still concealed by the menu. My mom's red painted nails grabbed the top of the paper, and tried to tear it away. I clutched it like my life depended on it.

"MOM," I shouted when she didn't let go. When I picked through, my mom had her face twisted to the back, seemingly searching for my cause of my distress.

"Cassandra Alexa Davis!" my fathers voice boomed, turning people's faces to us. "Put the thing down." he ordered. My dad is a good guy, but I don't want to get him mad so I tentatively put the paper down on my lap.

"I was just interested in the food." I gave them a toothy smile. I don't know why I thought I could fool these people in front of me. They knew me my whole life. My mom gave me 'Are you serious?' look. I smiled at her and scooted my chair a little so that my dad's big frame could cover me.

"I love the soup." I slurped. "Mhhh!" I appreciated it, even though the food was cold. My parents just continued their conversation and I signed in relief. I texted Isa that I found Justin here and I discreetly took his picture from my chair, pretending to search for network connection.

"Can you put that thing down for today?" my mom gestured to my phone. Why do parents insist we stay away from technology? What can we do with our free time? Talk?! But my mom is trying her best to bring us together so I put the phone down before she took it. The waiter came and we ordered our main course. My father ordered a wine with a sophisticated name. Before I can relate my preference, my mother did it for me.

"Sprinkle water for her," she smiled at the waiter. I huffed in response. It can't be that bad if I drink a glass of wine with them when I am almost 18. Justin suddenly got up and made his way towards our table, probably to go to the bathroom. I submerged my upper body under the table until I saw his polished shoe pass by. When I emerge, my parents had a puzzled expression.

"Tying my shoe." I whispered with cheeky grin. My shoes don't have lace, they're short heels.

"Are you ok?'' my mom asked once again. They must be confused as to why I am acting like this.

"I am fine mom." my phone lit up with notification. It was from Isa. My parents had already indulged themselves in conversation so I read it.

Who is he with? I can see a blond woman from here, her back to me. I think that is Tamara Black-His mom. In front of her sat Christian Black, facing me. I could make out his frown lines from up here. I saw him a few times and kill me if he didn't have a permanent scrawl attached to his face. I saw several people 2 women at the either side of Mrs. Black with black and brown hair, and at the right side of Mr. Black is a man I can't recognize from here. To his left the chair was empty, missing Justin's presence. I subtly took another picture and sent it to Isa.

Justin came after I finished my meal and started dessert. I don't know what took him so long and Mr. Black isn't impressed at his son's antiques either, glaring at Justin when filled the empty seat. Justin looks frustrated. He kept fidgeting and staring at his watch. I can relate to that. I hate family dinners myself, not that's a simple expression. I despise them.

Day 11

Another day of waking up early to stalk. But our target has changed. It's Tiana we are following. Isa told me about yesterday's mission with Sam. Tiana didn't do or go anywhere out of ordinary, but Isa is hell bent that we would find some dirt on her. We figured the people who were dining with Justin were the Allard's. Leo's family. The one who sat next to Christian Black is Ethan Allard- Leo's father and the two girls surrounding Tamara Black were Julia Allard and Lena Allard. Leo's mother and older sister respectively. Even though not present, Leo had another older sister. Alice Allard. She is a delinquent, the black sheep of the family.

"What are you planning to find about Tiana?" I asked Isa. She spared me a glance.

"Anything." I doubt we could find that. Tiana is an ordinary teen girl. Her car was pink. She dresses up in pink. She is one of those girls who is trying to be so perfect but their insides are rotten. 'Aren't you the same.' Inner me decided to chime in on my private conversation. I blocked it out.

We got to school following Tiana; she didn't make a single stop.

"Should we bug her phone?" I asked Isa when we getting to class.

"If it comes to that, yes. But let's give it time." I don't even know when stalking people and hacking their phones became normal for me. But that didn't change the fact that I feel completely comfortable doing so.

***

You don't need words to communicate with the one you love. I heard that somewhere and it is true. Justin and Tianna have been staring at each other for the whole time since this lunch break started. And it's driving me crazy with every minute that passes. At some point Tiana grabbed her lunch and made her way to where Justin sat. She isn't going to do what I think she would do. Right? Yep she did it. Tiana Julie sat next to Justin in the vacant seat reserved only for me. Few murmurs were heard and kids in table howled. Justin casually threw his hands at her shoulder and lined in to kiss her cheeks; his lips lingered there for a few seconds. More than necessary. I felt my anger coiling my stomach. I clutched it to reduce the pain but nothing changed. I clenched my teeth together, grinding them.

"Cassi," Penny's eyes had worry reflected upon them. I took a deep breath counting to ten in my mind that subdue my anger, but I avoided Justin and Tiana so that this episode does not occur again.

"Isa. Do something!" I pleaded with her with my eyes. Justin was slipping between my fingers. All we worked for. Tiana sitting in her chair cements the relationship and makes it public.

"I will." Isa fumed in anger, her eyes not leaving the couple. "I will Cassi. You just wait and see." That really subsided my worry. I trust Isa.

"Cassi." I heard my name being called, and it belonged to James's, who was at our table. It took me a minute to regain control.

"Yes." I answered rather rudely. I am in no mood to talk to him right now. James was taken aback with my harsh tone, but he continued nevertheless.

"I wanted to give you biology notes. You were dozing off today." he said sheepishly. His gesture would have melted my heart but not today. I am too pissed off to be grateful.

"Send it to me." I answered. James was right, I was dozing off these days. Getting up early was tiring and the fact that the lesson was boring didn't help at all.

"Ok." James got back to his seat, which is with Dana. He had a sad expression in his face, and I was overwhelmed with guilt.

"He likes you." Isa purred. "He is cute and thoughtful." She developed dreamy eyes. I grunted in response.

"He asked her out, but she said no." Penny decided to comment.

"He did?" Isa gasped. She turned my body so I could face her. "Look at my baby, already grown up and breaking hearts. I am proud of you." Isa hugged me. "Now back to business, I want to go inside Justin's house." she said.

"What?" Sam asked.

"I have lots of recording machines left. I want to make good use out of them."

"Where do you get those things anyways?" Penny chewed her burger.

"My dad." Isa whispered. I didn't know she still had contact with him. Last I heard, he was arrested. Before I questioned, she continued. "It doesn't matter how I got them." she doesn't want to talk about it, I gathered.

"How are you planning to get in?" Sam asked.

"I am not jumping someone else's fence, Isa." Penny warned. Even if we want to jump in his face and act like spies, we can't. Unfortunately we aren't fit enough.

"I will think about it." Isa said. Her mood was gloomy because of the mention of her dad.