Museum Threats

"Remember to at least stay four feet away" I command to Kayden

If my dad actually spills something useful to me I need Kayden to be within hearing distance.

"Yeah, and record everything" he says mockingly as he holds up his phone

"Okay, lets do this" I say as my heart rate starts to increase from nervousness and my palms start to sweat.

Remember, Aspen, show no emotion.

I fix my posture and walk confidently into the museum.

I quickly spot my father standing near an old airplane model.

I walk up beside him and he greets me without even looking at me.

"Aspen, you're late" he says as he continues to admire the aircraft

"Technically I am right on time, Henry" I say in a mature tone so that he knows I mean business

He turns to look at me and smirks.

"You look nice, shall we walk?" He gestures his hand towards a dimly lit tunnel that displays a multitude of historical artifacts

"Please" I say as I lead the way to the tunnel.

"What did you want to talk about?" He asks as we enter the tunnel

"Getting straight to the point, are we?" I question as I thoroughly pretend to admire the artifacts so that he can't see my tired facial expression

"Answer the question, Aspen" he demands in a fatherly voice

"Did you actually send someone to look over me?" I ask him with an amused tone as I smirk at his baffled expression

Anyone else would think that he isn't phased, but I'm not anyone else.

He swallows nervously before responding.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, are you okay?" He asks carefully but I slightly chuckle which causes him to look at me in confusion

"You didn't answer the question and asked me a question to get the attention off yourself" I say which makes him stop in his spot

I stop too and turn to face him.

"It's a yes or no question, Henry" I say with my smirk unwavering

He suddenly smiles and chuckles amusedly.

"You probably think that you're being so intelligent right now," he says with a mocking smile

Does he really think that I don't know what he's doing?!

"Where did you learn these useless things, school?" He questions which makes me roll my eyes as my smirk falls

Is that seriously the best he has?

"Where did you learn to avoid questions, by avoiding my mother's?" I question emotionlessly as I place my hand on my hip

I see his facade fall as sadness and regret flash in his eyes.

"Yes, I sent someone to look over you" he finally responds

Took him long enough to admit it.

"Why?" I ask him in a demanding tone

"Because I know nothing about you anymore" he says but shows no sense of sadness or emotion

I can't believe he's lying to me right now.

Wait, why am I even surprised?

I decide to play along and see how far I get.

"So you think that sending someone to follow me, in a black van, is a better idea than talking to me?" I question him

"I tried talking to you when I invited you to talk at that restaurant but you just got up and left" he says

"Yeah, because I was about to strangle you for asking me such a stupid question" I say remembering that day when I saw Charlotte drive up

I guess I show some type of emotion because he suddenly smirks.

"You know that girl that picked you up was very beautiful" he says casually which makes my eye twitch

What the hell is he doing?!

That's not what I came here to talk about!

"I didn't know you were into blondes" he says which makes me ball my hands into fists behind my back

Relax, Aspen.

Don't show any emotions.

I take a deep breath before relaxing.

"She and I are not dating" I say with an emotionless tone so he doesn't target her

"Just admit that you're spying on me so that you can find something to threaten me with" I say

"And why would I do that?" He asks with a smirk

"Because you seem pretty desperate to have me come work for you" I say which makes him freeze

He doesn't talk to me for ten years.

But weirdly enters my life as soon as Charlotte and I make improvement in our relationship.

"You don't talk to me for ten whole years, but as soon as you do you're asking me for something," I say as he looks away from me

"When you lived with Mother and I you always said how incompetent I was and how I'd never get anywhere in life without you," I say remembering all the times he'd tell me these awful things

"Yet, when you need my help you expect me to drop everything and help you with whatever you need like a little bitch" I say with a hard tone

"So don't tell me that you weren't furious about your only daughter rejecting your offer to join one of the most deadliest gangs in America" I say.

I decide to take a break and take a deep breath.

"But it doesn't stop there" I say as he continues to look everywhere else but my eyes

"You decided to spy on me and find something, or in this case someone, that I cared about the most and take them away from me so that you could force me to do whatever you wanted in hopes of letting them go" I rant

I guess I struck something inside of him because he quickly turns to face me and glares at me.

"I guess you're not as stupid as you were back then" he declares but I just look at him with a bored expression

"But I did find out that you and that blonde girl dated," he says with a evil smirk when my breath hitches

Shit, that's a dead give away.

"You might want to ask her about her life, she isn't who she says she is" he says

Is it possible that what he's telling me is true?

Wait, what am I thinking?

Of course it's not.

Charlotte would never lie to me.

But she revealed that she lied to me before we broke up.

"What are you talking about, Henry?" I ask him with an emotionless tone but I feel tears build up in my eyes as I think about Charlotte and I's breakup

He pulls a folded paper out of his pocket and hands it to me.

"When I saw you get into a car with her I did my research" he says casually

"And damn were the results interesting" he says with an entertained voice

I look at him with a confused expression before unfolding the paper only to freeze in my spot.

It's a photo of Charlotte with her full name at the bottom.

But that's not what caught my attention.

The name 'Thunder' was written in red ink at the top right corner of the paper with a question mark.

I laugh as I fold the paper back up and hand it to him.

"Who wrote that, you?" I question with an amused tone

"Choose not to believe me all you want, but all secrets will be revealed soon" he says before walking out of the tunnel

Wait, why does that sound so familiar?

I think back to when Hayden threatened me and said that.

Come to think of it I haven't seen him recently.

"Wow" is all Kayden says as he approaches me

"I swear, he gives me a headache" I say as I rub my temples

"Want to get some ice cream?" He asks

"Please" I reply as we walk out of the tunnel.

-

I moan out in delight as the deliciousness of my cookies and cream ice cream melts on my tongue.

I see Kayden gesture with his hand for someone to sit with us.

What is he doing?

Next thing I know Carolina and Charlotte are approaching our table.

Seriously?!

How did I not see this coming?!

"Hey, Aspen and Kayden" Carolina says in a bubbly tone as she sits beside Kayden

The only spot left is next to me.

"Is it okay if I sit here, Aspen?" Charlotte asks me but I continue to look at my bowl of ice cream

"Do what you want" I say and take a bite of my ice cream

She clears her throat before sitting down and eating her ice cream.

"So, Aspen, What have you been up to?" Carolina asks as a conversation starter

"Nothing" I reply with a monotone voice

"Charlotte, what have you been up to?" Kayden asks her

"Nothing" she replies in the same tone as me

"It's not working" I hear Carolina whisper yell to Kayden who's literally right next to her

I sigh and look up at them.

"Guys, I appreciate you trying to help us, but now just isn't the time" I say as I look at the both of them

I feel Charlotte's intense gaze on me which causes me to turn and look at her.

When our eyes meet I swear I see her breathing falter.

As I continue to stare at her I feel my heart start to beat against my ribcage with an incredible force.

I start to notice how dull her eyes look and how tired she appears to be.

I quickly turn around and look at my ice cream so that she can't see my blushing cheeks.

I hear Carolina and Kayden whisper to each other but I can't decipher what they're saying.

"We'll be back, we're going to go get another ice cream" Kayden says to me before Carolina and him scoot out of the booth and walk away

Wow, real subtle guys.

I feel Charlotte slide out of the booth and sit across from me.

"Aspen, look at me" she says in a gentle tone but I continue to play with my, now melted, ice cream

"Please" she begs as her voice crack

I bite my lip, out of nervousness, as I slowly lift my head so that our eyes are connected in an intense gaze.

She goes to grab my hands but I move them into my lap.

"Aspen, I am so sorry for what I said to you" she says with glossy eyes

"It was a mistake, I was just sleep deprived and took my annoyance out on you" she continues

"I will do anything for you to forgive me again" she says as she admires my face

I press my lips together and ask her the question that's been on my mind the entire time.

"No offense, but when was the last time you took a nap?" I ask her with a serious tone

"Four days ago, I think" she says in a confused tone

"Four days?!" I exclaim

"Charlotte, that's not okay" I say in a gentle tone

"I know" she says with a guilty tone

I sigh as I reach out and grab her hands. I flinch slightly at the strong electric shocks I get.

I think that Charlotte felt it too since she shivers.

"Do you want me to forgive you?" I ask her already knowing the answer

"Of course I do" she says as if that's a dumb question

"Then get some sleep" I say

"I can't, there's too much that needs to be done and I'm constantly stressed out by everyone in that house" she says, listing off reasons

"Then how about you stay at my house? I'm sure my mom won't mind" I suggest

"Are you sure?" She questions carefully

"Yeah, we have a guest room. You can stay in there for as long as you need" I offer

She smiles at me but it doesn't reach her eyes.

"Thank you, I appreciate it" she says gratefully

"No problem" I respond

She goes to get up but I stop her last second.

"I'm sorry for ending things like that, I should've just talked to you" I say which makes her smile again

"It's okay, you only reacted how a normal person would" she says before grabbing my hand and placing a kiss on it

She lets go of my hand and gets up from the table just at Carolina and Kayden return.

Charlotte and Carolina walk out of the restaurant as I stand up from the booth.

"You guys are as subtle as a spotlight on a criminal" I say to him

"You can thank me later" he says before leading the way out of the ice cream shop.