Never Lie

Tyler chased after me but I was in no mood to be bothered really. Colt and he were seriously beginning to piss me off with their little shows of testosterone. It was annoying how even though there was a murder investigation afoot, they were more concerned about beating the other. Colt should at least have been more worried about Ness. He knows how she is with men and how adventurous she likes to be. If she hadn't left the store and then heard the sirens too or got word of what happened. She probably ran off to find out more about it or worse dragged her dad or her mom more into it than they already are. She seemed like she really liked Jared too. What if she heard about what happened to him? She wouldn't just let it go. It's not something Ness was capable of. She always has to dig her heels in till she gets her way. Whatever that is. I continued my brisk walk towards where Ness was last before Colt left her. Tyler had caught up and was walking beside me like he was trying to figure out the right thing to say. He kept glancing over before finally opening his mouth and saying, "Clarissa…"

I just ignored him. "I'm sorry you had to see that back there. Listen, that's not me. I'm not usually the kind of hot-headed guy who just jumps into a fight at any given chance. Please forgive me. I didn't mean to upset you." We finally reached the store and I headed inside, still ignoring him. I wasn't gonna make it that easy on him. I mean he needs to focus more on the problem at hand. I began to search the entire store for Jenessa but I couldn't find her anywhere. Tyler wasn't very much help. He just followed me around like a sad puppy. I was starting to feel a little less angry, and more worried about Ness, but I did feel kinda bad for ignoring Tyler. Not that he didn't deserve it. 

We began walking back to the beach because we had figured Jenessa probably went to meet us with the materials for our castle building. On the walk back though, I decided to cut Tyler some slack and held his hand. He seemed way too happy about it, it was still pretty cute. He began smiling, blushing and even did a little happy dance. Then kissed my cheeks, and my hands and pecked my lips. Which kind of left me longing for more. It was getting harder to stay mad at him. But all thoughts of Tyler disappeared when I finally saw my best friend sitting in the sand. She was busy using a shovel to dig a hole. "Jenessa!!!" I screamed. She turned startled and gave me a look like what the hell is your problem as she stood. I let go of Tyler and ran to her, hugging her tight. "Thank goodness, you're okay." She hugged me back briefly before pushing me away. " Of course I'm okay. But where the hell have y'all been?!" She looks past me at Tyler and then looks around, before I can answer she says "Wait where the fuck is that brother of mine? Not that I'm complaining but we had a sandcastle competition to do or did I just hallucinate?" She puts her hands on her hips as if she's actually mad. "Ness we have something to tell you and actually I'm not sure where Colt went. We kinda…. Tyler cuts me off. It's my fault, I got into an argument with him, and then Clarissa walked off. She didn't want to see it and I don't blame her. I, however, chased after this beautiful little lady." He wrapped his arms around me from behind. "So neither of us saw where he went." Ness eyed the position we were in and I'm assuming my red cheeks because she looked me in the face before smiling. "So you two were in a fight which means now you need to make up" She wiggled her eyebrows at the last part. She was being suggestive and I didn't like it. However, I did feel something in my backside that I probably wasn't supposed to. Tyler had backed up a bit though. He still had his arms wrapped around my shoulders from behind and rested his chin on one. I could feel his breath on my neck as he answered. "Well, I think we're pretty good already. Right, babe?" He kissed my cheek. He was being sweet and I was a little confused about his intentions. But I responded with an "mmhm." Jenessa began laughing her butt off. "You two can't pretend there isn't sexual tension between you. Have you forgotten who you're talking to, Ris? Y'all are definitely going to do it tonight." She smirked. She seemed pretty confident about it. "Shut up, Ness, you don't know what you're talking about." I folded my arms, huffing. "OOOooouu! Someone's totally frustrated right now….If you catch my drift. You might want to do something about that, Tyler." Jenessa said, laughing her ass off. Tyler just softly chuckled. I was not sure how to take that. I don't know if he was agreeing with her or not. Either way, I wasn't about to just give it up like that. She was my best friend but like everyone else, she was beginning to get on my last nerve. Especially since she had me so worried about her and she didn't answer any of my calls. "Enough of this nonsense, we came here to find you and tell you some serious news." Jenessa stopped laughing once she saw the look on my face. I hated that I had to tell her like this but if I didn't intervene she would be making inappropriate jokes all evening. I also was not in the mood to be around people any longer. I just wanted to go lay down in bed alone and have some quiet time to finally just think. To have some peace and consider my next steps. But alas I explained everything that happened in her absence, Hating every moment of it. I even told her about Jared. I tried to get it out in the nicest way I could without completely destroying her. Something like this has never happened before to someone she had dated or well didn't date. This would be one for the friendship handbook. 

After just listening to the whole bombshell Clarissa just dropped on me after I had teased her about sex. I knew she had only done it before with one guy. It's not like she was a virgin but she wasn't as experienced as me and sometimes it was just fun to watch her squirm. Jared and I barely knew each other yet it still felt weird knowing of his death. After hearing what my best friend had just said about the man I just slept with the previous night, I just walked off. Didn't say a word, just left, not even a look back. I wanted nothing to do but forget the whole conversation like it never happened. Ironic how I was digging a hole in the sand before. Seemed like a cruel, universal joke. As I began to exit the beach onto the boardwalk, a buzzing began. Then a ringing with my beloved ringtone glass animals by heatwaves started to play.

I picked it up without checking the caller ID. I didn't think about it. I was already feeling so confused and I figured it was my brother, Colt. "Hello!  What do you want, idiot brother." Silence on the other end and then "Well is that any way to greet your new boyfriend. Mistaking me for your brother. Tsk Tsk, come on now Nessy." I gasped. No, it couldn't be. "You're….you're dead, there's no way. It's impossible." He lowly chuckles. "No sweetheart, it's totally possible. Listen, I'll even prove it to you. I am very much alive. Why don't we meet where we last saw each other. Under the pier. You remember, don't you? I'll be very offended if you tell me you don't remember this hot bod, darling. I remember the sexy little dress you put on, just for me. So, I'll see you in, say, thirty minutes, work for you? How about an hour?" I had no words, I couldn't believe what was happening. I had just been told he was dead and now I'm hearing that he's alive. How is that possible, unless Clarissa and Tyler were pranking me but Clarissa wouldn't joke about stuff like this. She was way too serious when it came to death and things of the heart. She didn't like to play with people's emotions too much and she'd never take it that far. So maybe they ID the body wrong. It could happen, couldn't it? It was times like this when I could really use my dad's opinion but he was always busy working, dealing with adoring fans, or just more focused on anything but his family. Mom was always too busy to care how little her husband paid attention to any of us. He was always so doting on her. *Long Pause* "I'll see you there." He hadn't said a word the entire time she had gotten lost in thought. She got scared he had hung up. "Okay darling, can't wait. Don't be late or else." He chuckled and hung up. Well, that was kind of a creepy way to hang up a phone call but whatever. I decided to grab something to eat first and then head over. If we decided to hook up again, I didn't wanna do it on an empty stomach. Just have it gurgling and growling the entire time. It would be embarrassing. By the time I reached the spot under the pier, I grew a little anxious about it. What if he was just using me for something I had no idea about yet. He didn't seem to be there yet and few people had walked by and given me odd looks. I just leaned against one of the poles under there and went on my phone to look occupied.  I checked the time. It was almost one in the afternoon. I looked back at my recent calls and texted the number he had called me on. I asked him where he was and if he would be at the spot soon. He did give like an hour for me to get here. I had only used about forty-five minutes of it. So I still had some time to kill. It was kind of my fault for arriving early. I got no response. I decided to just scroll through social media. Then suddenly someone yanked me up into their arms from behind. I went to scream but my mouth was covered. I was scared for my life and was kicking and trying so hard to get free. "Relax baby, it's just me." He said, spinning me around to face him. "Jared, oh my god, you fucking idiot, you made me think I was getting kidnapped. " He laughs. "Well would getting kidnapped by me be so bad? I mean, think of all the dirty deeds we could do. All the nasty things I'd do to you." He says, wiggling his eyebrows. "Pervert." I say playfully shoving him, attempting to get down. But he just pulls me in closer and kisses me. At first, I played hard to get but eventually, I leaned into the kiss. I could feel his smirk of satisfaction and something else more prudent. I pulled away before it could get too heated. I needed to know what the hell was going on and why people thought he was deceased. It's not every day you find out that your hookup is playing dead? Or does he genuinely think they messed up on identifying the body? "Jared." I smiled at him. "Yes, Dearest." He smirked, attempting to pull me closer once more. "I didn't come here to hook up with you, again. I want to know what is going on." He sighed. " Yeah I know that but I saw you and I just couldn't resist. You are quite tempting." He smiled this time showing teeth and I swear I saw a hint of a fang? Poking out and slightly grazing his lip. I shook my head thinking that I must be hallucinating and also his commentary was just so cheesy. When I looked back though, it was gone. I must be finally losing my shit. Well after finding out he was dead and then not probably fucked up my brain. "Well, you can learn to resist these charms." I flipped my hair. "We really need to discuss this. People think you're dead. My best friend and your friend, what's his name, think you're dead." His face grew dark for a moment. Then he gave me a sympathetic look. "Okay dearest, I promise I will explain but not here alright?" I quirked an eyebrow but said nothing. If he wanted to discuss this elsewhere, why should I complain? He was going to explain it and the faster we got there the better. I just nodded and with that he looked around, finally placing me on my own two feet. He slinked his arm around my waist and began to lead me off the beach. He took me to a different hotel than the one I had been staying in. I assumed it was his room. He let me shower first since I still have some sand on me from messing around on the beach earlier. While I showered, he fetched me some fresh clothing. Soon I was dressed and he asked if I had eaten. I said that I had but he still insisted on grabbing a snack before we left. Then we were in his car, headed to who knows where. I sat there thinking about how in the movies this would definitely be a very bad decision. I essentially am riding in a car with a stranger who is supposedly dead and have no idea where he is taking me. He could one hundred percent be taking me somewhere to murder me. This wasn't an okay thing to do and my dad would be pissed if he ever found out, But for some reason, I felt like I could trust him. And I always liked to stick it to my dad, being the rebellious teenager and all. He never paid enough attention anyhow so fuck him, who cares. If I get murdered he won't even notice. Probably not even for a while or til someone told him. Like my mother of course. She would be sure to add that to the list of things he would miss out on. He would miss out on his only daughter's funeral for his time-consuming job that was all glitz and glamor. 

We sat in silence in the car for a while as he drove. Or maybe I was just so into my own head and thoughts that I just hadn't noticed if he said anything. Or he just figured I didn't want to make small talk. I didn't want to sit in silence any longer though. So I turned on the radio and stared out the window wondering how my life had come to this.