chapter 2.30

Luci

Suddenly, Jackson turned and saw Winter who looked as if she was about to spit venom. What was her problem? But before I could ask, Jackson was on it, trying to cheer her up by honking her nose.
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I couldn’t hear what they were saying. I didn’t have to. I could see everything. It was like fog lifting in the morning.
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Winter liked Jackson. That’s why she has been hell-bent on getting that legacy back for his family. And what was worse.

Jackson liked her.
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Jackson

After I honked Winter’s nose, she seemed to break out of her pit. I asked again, “Hey...are you okay?”
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She stammered, “U-Um...yeah...uh...sure. Why do you ask?”
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“I don’t know. Your face. It looked like you wanted to mow someone down or something. Did you hate the band? It sucked, didn’t it?”

“No...God no, Jackson. I really liked it. I thought it was amazing, actually.”

I squeezed her shoulder like I always did in our office aid job when something was bothering her. “Okay...as long as you’re not lying to me. I wouldn’t want to keep making a fool of myself like those people on Sim Idol.”


Interrupting our conversation, Luci exclaimed, “Oh, God, Jackson. I just remembered!”
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Crap. I guessed I kind of ditched Luci for a minute there. “What’s up?” She looked totally freaked out.

“I might have left the water running in my apartment. You know we had such a freeze last night. I better get back there and check on it.”

“What?” I blurted. “You’re joking. You can’t leave, goofball. The party just started.”
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Face growing cold, she glanced over at Winter and said, “I can’t stay. Sorry.”
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“What the hell, Luci?” I asked. “That’s totally messed up. Have your landlord check on your water.”

But then Luci and Winter sort of had a whole conversation with their eyes that made me uncomfortable. I had no clue what was going on between them. I didn’t really know they knew each other. Luci was my friend who I invited to this party.
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Throwing on a smile, Winter said, “Luci, don’t go. Of course you should stay. The Llama Kings have another set to do. Right, Jackson?”
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I nodded, but Luci only glared then walked off.

Running after her, I said, “Hey...what’s wrong? Did I upset you? Please tell me, Luci.”
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She only shook off my hand and said, “I’ve got to go.”
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Then she flew up the stairs.

I watched as she left, wanting to go after her, but knowing I couldn’t leave the party. I’d have to call her later.

Girls. Were all of them psycho?
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​Winter

So, little Miss Minion had a super huge crush on my hubby, but Jackson only had eyes for me. I knew he wasn’t that stupid to be blinded to my charms.

He just needed a little encouragement. My little Jackson was a knight-in-shining-armor to a fault which was very good for me.


But with Luci gone, that made it all the easier to unveil my findings about Lana’s travesties.

Going up to him, I asked, feigning concern, “Is everything okay with Luci? Why did she leave?”

He brushed his fingers through his hair and sighed. “I don’t have a clue.”

Taking his arm, I said, “Well, since you have a little more time on your break, I have something I’ve been wanting to show you.”

Eyebrows knitting, he asked, “What is it, Winter?”

Uh oh. Was my hubby bothered by Luci’s sudden abandonment? Well, it was time to flush that little hussy out of his mind once and for all.

Patting him, I said, “It’s upstairs in my room. You’re gonna love it!”

Once we entered, I put the files about Lana in his hands.

“What the hell are these, Winter? I don’t want them.”


Pulling him over to the couch, I explained, “They’re from the investigation company who has been gathering evidence against Lana. I think you’ll want to read them.”
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After reading through for a while his face went from angry, to puzzled, to baffled, to elated in the span of two minutes. He laughed. “Where did you get this, Winter? Is it for real?”
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“Of course. When I read about Lana gaining your family’s legacy, I became suspicious and asked for my father’s help. He uses an investigative company in protecting himself and they gathered all of this evidence. We are about to give the files to the FBI. I just thought I’d let you know before we did it.”
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He didn’t say anything for a long time which made me feel like ants were doing jumping jacks in my stomach. Then he shook his head. “You’re amazing, you know that? I-I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you for this.”
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Raising my eyebrows coyly, I said, “Take me to dinner?”
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Luci

All the way home on the bus, I lectured myself about going against my self-imposed rules on dating. No getting involved with someone until AFTER college.

And besides. Why was I getting all hot over a dumb guy anyway? And a Richardson to boot! I mean...Jackson has never liked me as more than a friend. On our past few “dates,” I tried to show him how I felt.


But he’d always pull back. It was embarrassing. I’d have to drum up something to say to try and hide my cheeks which had to be turning red.
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And then he kept on asking me to do things. Like we went for coffee again at Simbacks. Had such a great conversation, even in the cold.
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But no more. I was done with Jackson or any other boy for that matter. It was time to get back to changing the world for the better. How long had it been since I’d gone on my last protest? Jackson was told he couldn’t and so almost every day I had off from work, I spent with him. A huge reason why dating was a no-no to me.

Feeling much better about my decision, I unlocked my door, except it fell open. Shoot. I’d forgotten to lock it. What a ditz I’d become. My head so full of Jackson, I was floating in the clouds instead of paying attention to my life.
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Suddenly, a sharp pain squeezed my throat, making me squeak.

Heart beating out of my chest, a malicious voice hissed in my ear, “You better not make a sound if you want to stay alive.”
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