Chapter 27

The weekend gets here too timely. We are on the road Andre isn't pleased in any way. He keeps throwing shady glances at me. He is furious, I invited a third party. Someone he can't, to be fair they both can't stand each other. He adjusts his rearview mirror. His eyes dart between me and the intruder. "Did you have to invite him?" He asks. I am about to answer when I am cut short by Quinn, "I invited myself to keep her safe." Andre huff and bites his index finger, "From who?" "Who else?" Quinn breaths. "Are you for real? You've whisked your way into her life for the last four years and you think you know me? I have known her my entire life and I have always protected her from bastards like you." "Are you sure that is what you have been doing?" Urgh! I will go mad if this is how my entire trip will be. "Will you both shut up, I can take care of myself," I say. "Tell that to him," Andre says. I shoot him a dirty look. Quinn smirks. Silence envelopes us, I stare outside as we drive through the highway and the only automobiles we get to overtake are transit trucks. There isn't much to busk in, just plain flatlands that spread across and few inhabited valleys and hills that raise in plain beauty. The highway reminds me of the movie jeepers creepers, I shake my head at the thought, such a horror movie. I give all my attention to Andre, "How far away are we?" I ask. "Three to fours hours away depends if we don't stop." It is too long, my butt cheeks already throb. "We can play a game," Quinn suggests. It comes as a surprise to both Andre hours. That is so unlike Quinn. He just likes to bitch. "What game?" "The most cliche, Truth or dare." "We are in a car, and there isn't much one can do as a dare." "There is a lot and the most bizarre can hitchhike a ride with one of these truck drivers," Quinn says I can see mischief dangling in his dark eyes, he is on a mission to prove something. "Okay," Andre says. "I'll start." Quinn is quick to speak. We stay silent as we wait for him to start. "Cara, " He softly whispers my name and my thought drifts back to our previous night. I lick my lips and smile. He carries forth, "Truth or dares?" On personal issues, I am risk-averse, "Truth." He smiles, "Have you ever fallen in love?" I didn't expect that sort of question. "No," I answer. Andre gives me a weird glance. I turn to Quinn, "Truth or dare?" "Truth." He is quick to answer. "Why are you at La Cooper Towers?" He whiffs, clearly not what he wanted to be asked. "I am trying to amend some mistakes." Andre breaths heavily. "What mistakes?" "Mistakes that are none of your business." Quinn snaps at him. "This is lame, I am out," Andre says. "Okay, we will play without you." Quinn's tone drops of wickedness. "Cara, truth or dare?" He asks me. I will take the risk, I am done with uncomfortable questions, "Dare." Like he knew my response he smirks, "I dare you to kiss Andre." Andre all over sudden steps on the breaks bringing the car on an abrupt stop. The action leaves my body in pain since it was still on the motion. What. The. Hell! What is Quinn trying to prove? "I can't, I won't...." Andre is blabbering, which is unlike him. I am dumbstruck more by Andre's disgust, his face is contoured like a used up toilet paper. The mere thought of him kissing me repulses him, it is clear I can see, and I wonder why? "Chill, It is just a dare," Quinn speaks with satisfaction, he is enjoying this. "Why won't kiss her, do you like her?" Quinn keeps on pushing his buttons. Andre's look transforms as he turns to Quinn, "Shut up! I can't she is...." Andre stops himself. "She is what dude? Hot?" Quinn taunts him unforgiving. Andre breaths out and in, calming himself. I have seen this side of his on several occasions and it scares the hell out of me. He slowly swivels his head towards me, his cold look now is warm a smile dances on his lips. And for the first time, I think of him in a way I have never. He doesn't see it coming as I lean forward and take him by surprise with my lips on him. I barely get to taste him before he roughly shoves me away. His hand is quick to wipe the little evidence of my lipgloss on his slightly chapped lips. "Don't ever do that." He is back to the beast. Quinn is quick to jump on him pinning his head on his steer wheel. "Don't ever push her again, I don't care how long you have known her, I will hurt you." Andre pushes him off, "Get off me, Nickel. You don't know what I am capable of." "I do. You have lied to her yet you knew all along your fathers' company helped in the conviction of her father. I have come across the documents and the floating accounts it helped create for his money laundering charges." The news hit me like a tornado. Quinn lets him go and finally moves back to where he was seated. "I am sorry I was going to tell you, I just discovered that a few weeks ago." Andre acknowledges. I am silent. How could Andre lie to me? "Just drive, time isn't on our side," I state. "I am sorry," Andre says as he starts the car. The rest of the ride is intensely silent. I am glad when we arrive in the small town around four in the evening. Andre and Quinn argue if there's need to book a hotel room which Andre win and decides there is no need. "What was your intention for the truth or dare game?" I ask Quinn as he wheels a trolley in the supermarket. He grabs several packets of potato crisps and throws them inside it. "Truth." He confesses. "Why do I doubt that?" I ask. "Someday you will look back to this day and you will understand it." He says as we near the cashier. Andre is asking around to whereabouts of the black family since they moved from where they used to live. I am more disappointed at him for keeping such information from me. It changes a lot because now I will have to view his family as an enemy and I can not trust an enemy. He is already back, we find him at the parking lot. "I was lucky I have their new address." Andre grins. I don't return the grin, I walk past him and get in the car. The drive takes around forty-five minutes. The destination of our drive is a suburb with posh mansions and extravagant cars parked outside. They sure did put the money to good use. However, my opinion changes as Andre drives into a beat-up mansion. The lawn is unattended, the building looks deserted. It looks like a Hollywood hunted house. "Does anyone live here?" Quinn asks. "I don't think so." I absentmindedly reply. The sound of the engine must have alerted its occupant of the intrusion. An unrecognizable boy walks out. He is dressed in tattered clothes. "Oliver, " A young woman walks out too. I immediately recognize them. They are the kids Oliver and I acquired their identity. They stop and stare at us as we alight the vehicle. It feels like Deja'vu. Andre is the first to talk. "Oliver and Katherine..." The young woman cuts him with a curt response, "...I remember both of you, please leave. You have caused enough damage." She starts to pull her brother. The resemblance they have to my brother and I is so unfathomable, I can not stop myself from getting lost in their looks. "What happened?" I ask. "Our parents were murdered, thanks to that cursed money you gave them. We are lucky we escaped." She speaks. I am confused, who would want to hurt them? "Now we are just as poor with nothing to our names, oh wait...we don't have our names. We have no identity we don't exist, we are ghosts." "We had nothing to do with it.", say. " Get away from us..." She pulls her brother back to their house. What is this day turning into?