CHAPTER 46

   For the first time in two years, Dylan allowed herself to weep the loss of her mother. She allowed her heart and body to feel the pain,to embrace the coldness that came with it. She was not ashamed of crying uncontrollably and being held helplessly by Carly. She didn't feel weak like she always feared she would if she allowed herself to break down in front of anyone. For many nights she had cried herself to sleep but now, this time was different. It felt different. She was not lonely and one thing she was sure of is that she didn't want to be lonely again. So, she held on to Carly tightly and wept. Her tears flowed constantly and freely falling onto Carly's back. That minute until a little later when she managed to talk again. 

              "I have never felt so stripped off the sense of life. These two years have been the hardest for me and now to, think that this same person is trying to get close to you so that she can get to me,it makes me furiously angry. I can't let the same thing happen again."

               "Hey, it's okay. Nothing is going to happen. We realized before it was too late."

Dylan shook her head,"What if this was the plan all along? What if she already figured that I would know about her. Kelley is a planner. But what I'm trying to figure out is how she got our highschool photographs,it just doesn't make any sense."

                     "Wait,what?"

  Dylan went back to her pocket and took out her phone. She looked for the photograph that had been taken at the bar and showed it to her. 

                "This one came after another one of both of us when we were in highschool. There was nothing much on it but I am thinking it is the same person as the one who sent this. There was also a note left beside the body only person who would have given me the answers I want with the same handwriting as the first."

                 "Wait, Peterson died?" Carl asked. They hadn't seen him come back to the room. They both looked up in surprise wondering how long he had been standing there. His eyes were puffy as if he had been crying. She nodded slowly.

                    "He was murdered, the same way they murdered my mother."

Her voice trembled as she said that and avoided any of their eyes. She exhaled wearily and at that moment, Carly squeezed her hand. She relaxed. "Anyway, I need to look for the one who is behind this. I have been suspended for a few days so I can't use the resources  at the station. No one is taking this seriously, it's like they are all afraid of Kelley."

                   "Well,I am not and I know exactly how to get her," Carly said. 

                    "What are you talking about?"

                   "I have her number, she doesn't know that we talked about this. She is expecting my call so, I can get you to locate her."

                     "No way sis! You are not going back to that woman. Who knows what crazy things she had been planning on doing to you," Carl said and turned to Dylan desperately. "Tell me you are not considering this."

     She shook her head,"Definitely not." Searching for Kelley had bore no fruits and now she had a direct link but putting Carly at risk would not be an option. But she had just the perfect idea. "But I can."

                   "Yeah, how? She is not going to meet you for a date I am supposed to go to."

                "You are right,but she doesn't have to know you will not be there. You will just have to call her and then stay,I will go."

                  "And that is not risky? Come on, she will kill you the moment she sees you," Carly said hysterically. "No way,if you are going I'm going with you."

Dylan was about to argue but the look Carly had meant she was determined to follow her and was a risk she would not take. Furthermore, she was not even sure what she was going to do when she came face to face with Kelley. How she would even begin to make her confess or give her a clue about her mother's death. There was another thing that bothered her,if Kelley was after her,why hadn't she made a bold move. The messages especially made her doubt that Kelley was behind it. She was not one to go threatening people in the darkness. If she was after you she made it known in the very first place. So,who else could it be?"

                   "I'm not even sure what I am supposed to tell her."

Carly took her hand again without even caring what her brother would think. 

                    "We are going to figure this out together. I will not go to see her,at least not on my own,I promise." This, she said while looking directly into Dylan's eyes. Dylan did not look away, she stared back which lasted for several seconds, more than what was necessary until they both realized that they were not alone and they were not supposed to look at each other that way.

                   "Okay."

                         ★★★

    Carly looked up and met her brother's eyes. He winked at her but didn't say a word. She smiled but turned away. She wasn't sure if Dylan had noticed that. She got up.

                  "I should go now,will you drive me home?" she asked him but before he could reply Dylan offered.

                  "I can drive you."

  She hesitated for a minute. She knew that was an offer she did not want to turn down but there was the issue about their stalker. "Won't we be creating unnecessary risks going together?"

                  "Who knows whoever is doing this already knows all of us are here together. Killing us if that's what they want could happen anywhere any time. Maybe we shouldn't show them that they have much power over us."

                    "Okay."

                   "I'll be waiting for you downstairs." She left them to their talk after bidding Carl goodbye. 

Carly turned to her brother who was now grinning at her. "Don't even say a word!" she warned.

                   "I won't," he replied with his hands in the air.

Carly chuckled, "Good, because there was nothing going on. Just some former friends confiding in each other, comforting each other and nothing more." She didn't even know why she was telling him that. It would take much convincing for him to believe otherwise.

                    "Uh-huh, just former friends. Okay. But I have to say, that friendship thing really worked on her."

                     "Shut up!"

                      "When are you two going to stop pretending?"

                      "We are not pretending. It's just in your head and the moment you realize that,we will all be happy."

                      "Okay, I will just sit aside and watch to see what unfolds."

Carly laughed,"Dylan is never going to take me back,I know that for a fact. So stop obsessing over our failed relationship. She is probably allowing me closer because of this thing that is affecting both of us at the same time."

                   "Whatever you say sis,say hello to my little buddy and the folks. Tell them I'll drop by on Sunday."

                       ★★★

        Carly joined Dylan in the car and sat in front with her. She fastened her seat belt and waited for her to drive. The first few minutes passed by with silent. It wasn't uncomfortable though. Each of them seemed to be content thinking about whatever issues that were going around their heads until when Dylan decided to break the silence.

                "Thank you," she stated.

                  "For what?" Carly asked even though she was already guessing what she was going to say.

                 "Everything,for today it felt good to talk about it with you. I don't know why but I trust you Carly. It hasn't happened with anyone else for a really long time," she paused then glanced at her for a few seconds while still driving. "I know you didn't come back for me or because of me but I am really glad you are back."

  Carly smiled,"Always. I'm really happy to hear that, believe me. I didn't think you would even want to look at me."

Dylan replied with a nod instead but took her eyes off the road again and met Carly's. Carly couldn't read what her face said and she was surprised when Dylan reached out for her hand. This time on her own without struggling. She squeezed it briefly before pulling away. The light contact however was enough to send electric shivers through both their bodies. That and the gaze into each others eyes. They seemed to remind them of the days they used to look at each other like that and ended up in bed together or the gym locker room in the evenings. 

                     "I'm sorry."

                     "For what?" It was Dylan's turn to ask.

                     "For everything I did and continue to do, putting you in situations such as this one."

                      "This is not your fault at all. It's just some sick person obsessed with our relationship. I mean, what I think is that this person doesn't want to see us together. Either someone who was really  happy to see us break up, someone who was really against our relationship or someone who wants either of us."

   Carly furrowed her eyebrows,"But we are not even together anymore."

                   "Yes,but we are still talking. Maybe they are afraid we are going to get back together or something."

Carly scoffed,"That's just ridiculous."

                     "Yes it is."

     They were silent for the rest of the journey until they reached Carly's house. They had both kept glancing at each other without talking, sometimes apart and at other times at the same time. She hadn't been sure about how Dylan felt about them but that ride made her begin to question. Maybe Carl was right. She had known that he was on her part but didn't want to believe it was the same with Dylan until this ride happened. There was definitely something going on in her head, something she maybe wanted to say just like her but unable to say it. Maybe they did need to stop pretending not to enjoy each other's company and broach this subject head on.

                     "How is Teddy?" Dylan asked as she walked her to the door.

                     "He is doing great. His surgery is scheduled for ten days from now,"she replied with a sigh. 

                       "It's going to go well. If he is as brave as you are and I am guessing he is,there is nothing to worry about."

                    "You think I am brave?"

                   "I know you are. Remember I was with you for around two years. It's a pretty long time to know that much."

                    "Well,thank you."

                     "Of course."

                   "I should go inside now or my parents will come to confirm who it is that I am not inviting inside. Or would you like to come?"

                    "No, maybe some other day. It has been long since I saw your parents but I don't want them to start making conclusions like your brother already is."

She laughed,"Carl is just being Carl. Don't mind him."

                    "I know." They stood together undecided,none of them making any move or saying anything else but staring at each other. "I am gonna go now,see if I can try to figure out something about this." Dylan said but didn't move. Carly stood there wondering if she was waiting for her to go inside the house first. They moved almost at the same time, each turning to go to their various directions, Carly towards their house and Dylan back to the car. She took a few steps then stood and turned back. There was no way she was going to feel better just leaving like that after the emotional moment they had shared at Carl's apartment. She didn't want to go to the house without at least trying something.

                      "Dylan?"

Dylan turned to her, almost as if she had been expecting her to call her.

                      "Yeah?"

   She moved back towards her,"I know I should probably not ask this and you can refuse if you don't want but...," She stopped right in front of her and looked her in the eyes. "I want to hug you, can I?"

 Dylan's eyes shifted restlessly on her body but mostly her eyes trying to read her emotions to see if the question was genuine before finally nodding,"Yes."

 She wasn't sure why she was making it look like a big deal because they had been in each other's arms some minutes ago but then that was different. Dylan had been vulnerable and now that she was back to normal,as normal as it could be, she didn't want to risk making her uncomfortable. So when she agreed, she smiled and literally flew into her arms. She buried her head against her chest and closed her eyes enjoying the closeness. She didn't realize just how she had missed that until their body made contact. Sparks were ignited even though it was just a hug. As she wound her arms around Dylan's waist, she travelled back in time, back to the days she had always done this and now she wanted to stay right there forever.

The moment she felt Dylan's hand touch her back, she knew she would lose control so she pulled away but kissed her lightly on her cheek.

                "I'm sorry,"she said softly fearing that she had taken it too far.

                 "Don't be, it's okay,"Dylan whispered looking directly into her eyes. "I'll see you soon. Take care, okay?"

                  "You do the same." 

And with that, she took a step away and headed inside the house before she could do anything more.