Murder Out By Caster Bridge

Chapter four

"What did you do?" screamed my mother.

I couldn't speak. The shock was trembling down my whole body. Had I done that?

As the realization hit, I realized then that what happened at the museum was indeed my fault.

"Weston!"

Ignoring her heated shouts, I dashed out of the door, down the stairs, out of the apartment building's lobby door, and straight down the street. I didn't know where I was heading. I just knew I needed to get away.

Rain was pouring, and I didn't have a raincoat to keep me from getting soaked. All I had on were the same clothes that I had been wearing all day.

I found I didn't need any rain protection.

The rain I found wasn't even touching me and my pounding footsteps weren't wet. It was like I had an invisible force field surrounding me, keeping me dry. I stored the question in the back of my mind for later. Because right this minute, I didn't care about anything. I was just focused on getting far away.

Every couple of seconds I would check behind me to see if she was following me.

When she wasn't, I slowed my pace and came to a stop at a lamppost. As I stood there under the light trying to catch my breath, my eyes narrowed in on the black pickup at the end of the street, looking directly at me with its high beams on. Wasn't that the same one that tried to run me down earlier?

The truck revved.

Panicked, I sprinted off again. The truck followed me. I didn't know if I was going to be faster or the truck. Most likely the truck. But by the time I rounded the corner, I had lost track of it. What surprised me, even more, was the fact that I found myself in my best friend's neighborhood. Did that truck lead me here or did I do it on my own?

Either way, I didn't care.

Seeing the familiar white brick house with the brown picket fence, tire swing hanging off the tree, and the toys scattered in the yard, I couldn't help but smile. And without hesitation, I jogged over and up the stairs to the porch. I had been here a time or two, but only when Hayden said I could. What would happen now that I was here without permission? Would he turn me away?

God, I hope not.

I knocked hurriedly on the blue door with the welcome wreath full of roses hanging from it.

Bouncing up and down on the balls of my feet, I waited for the door to open with anxiousness.

When it finally opened, my best friend stepped out. I couldn't help the blush that heated my cheeks as I noticed that he was in a black shirt showing off his muscles and those same dark blue jeans that he always looked good in. Plus, he was barefooted. And then there was the way his turquoise eyes widened and twinkled from the streetlight made my heart flutter with a million butterflies.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm sorry," I said hurriedly and then looked over my shoulder to make sure she wasn't coming after me or the black truck. When I didn't see her or the truck, I turned back and wrapped my arms myself to try and fight off the sudden cold chill that came over me.

Hayden's eyes narrowed. A twinge of salty anger and betrayal emitted from him. My heart dropped to my stomach and filled me with unadulterated pain. "You're sorry?" he asked, growling, and then slapped my shoulder. "Weston, when I showed up at our rendezvous and you weren't there I tried texting you and calling you. But you never responded to a single message or answered a single call. I thought we had plans."

The slap didn't hurt as much as it startled me. Hayden had never resorted to forcefulness. Or at least, he never had in my presence. Then again, I had never stood him up before either. He was right. There was a first time for everything.

Giving my shoulder a small rub, I nodded guiltily. "I know we did. I never forgot," I said. I then looked at him desperately. "I'm so sorry. You've got to believe me when I say that, Hayden. A lot happened today. I couldn't contact you back because my mother confiscated my phone and then broke the screen all because she didn't want me to have any communication with you. But, please, Hayden, believe me when I say that it wasn't intentional."

"Okay, I believe you, but what are you doing here?"

"I know you told me never to come over without your say-so first, but I... I didn't know where else to go." That wasn't completely true. I could have gone to my cousin's, but to be honest, I didn't want to get mixed up in the drama he always got himself into.

The anger that had been on my friend's face smoothed out. "I'm sorry, too. I should have figured something happened," he said, eyes drifting over my face as though he was analyzing me to see if I was being truthful or lying. "Come on inside." He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into him. Confusion swirled through his emotions which made me look at him. "You're shivering, Weston. But you aren't even wet from the rain. Did you get a ride from someone?"

I shook my head. "No."

"It doesn't matter," he said. "You can explain when you get inside and warm up. I'll even heat some of that warm milk you love so much."

I made a disgusted face. "Please, don't," I begged. "I hate that stuff. I only drank it because my mother hardly ever let me drink anything but milk, water, and sometimes a glass of orange juice. But you know what I would like? I would love some of that fantastic hazelnut coffee or hot chocolate you make so well."

"Don't you have a sugar or caffeine intolerance?"

I shrugged. "That's what my mother claims. Honestly, I don't care about it. I just need something to calm my nerves."

"Okay, I'll get you whatever you want," he said. "Now, come on. It's chilly out here and you are freezing."

I nodded.

Hayden led me inside. His house was gorgeous. It was warm and vibrant and smelled like apple pies. There was also the fact that it always had this serene and peaceful atmosphere that instantly made the tension in my muscles relax. I loved it. I loved that his house had this calming effect on me. It was so much better here than it was at home.

Hayden's arm slipped off from around my neck and I fought the urge to grab his arm and keep it there. It was warm and nice. I felt my cheeks heat up more. I turned my head and gazed at the brown cuckoo clock hanging on the wall. The same one with the broken wing on the bird as it chimed ten times. I couldn't believe how late it was.

A warm hand touching my shoulder made me jump a little. Startled, I turned and my wild gaze locked onto Hayden's beautiful eyes. He gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. "It's only me," he said. "My parents aren't here."

"I remember," I said. "You told me that they were on a business trip or something."

"That's right," he said.

It was then that I noticed he was holding a towel in his hands.

"Oh, I got this for you," he said, draping the towel over my shoulders.

It took every ounce of my willpower not to blush and to keep my heart from beating out of my chest as the urge to kiss him was strong. "Thank you," I managed to say.

He smiled. "You go on ahead and take a hot shower. I laid out some clothes for you in the bathroom. Remember, Weston, you are always welcome here no matter what."

I didn't know what came over me. I just acted on instinct. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him into my embrace as I laid my head in the crook of his neck. "Thank you so much, Hayden."

He wrapped his arms around me and patted my back. "Hey, you never have to thank me. What are best friends for?"

I chuckled. "What indeed," I said, unwinding my arms from around him. "I'll, uh, go take that shower now."

Hayden nodded. "Go on ahead," he said. "You know where everything is."

I walked past him. There were two bathrooms. But since Hayden's room was downstairs, he always used the one across the hall. I know because I used to stay with him when his parents weren't home. I walked inside and pulled the chain. Light flooded the area and I smiled.

After my incredibly warm shower and after I dressed in the sweatpants and the old faded tee-shirt that Hayden left for me, I walked out and headed to the kitchen. Hayden was sitting on a stool with two blue mugs of steaming hazelnut coffee. It smelled wonderful.

"You're looking better," teased Hayden, smirking. "Come and sit down. While you may look well and fine, I know you. You're stressing yourself out."

I sat down beside him. Our knees grazed each other slightly but neither of us moved. I curled my hands around the warm cup and smiled. The warmth was welcoming. And the warm and sweet taste was divine. It was like a taste of heaven.

"So, ready to tell me what happened?" he asked. "You only mentioned that your mother took your phone and broke it."

I nearly spurted my drink out. The vivid memory came crashing back to the forefront of my mind and I blinked rapidly. It caused the memory to crack and break away like glass and to fade into the dark recess of my mind. I turned my head as I lowered my cup. "That's true. I did."

"What happened that's got you so upset?"

The lump in my throat tightened. "My mother and I got into a heated argument."

"Again?" he asked. "What was it this time?"

"It's a long story," I said. "And it's hard to talk about because..."

"Because..." Before Hayden could finish his sentence, bright headlights beamed through the window. Hayden turned his head. "Shoot! It's my parents. They got back early." Before I could open my mouth, Hayden placed his hands on my shoulders. His emotions were strange and unreadable for the first time. It was like he was scared and guilty. That made no sense to me.

"Weston," he said, keeping his voice low. "I need you to trust me and do exactly what I say. Please. I need you to your things out of the bathroom and go hide out in my bedroom closet."

The closet? Really? I wanted to say that but I couldn't. I just looked him in the eyes and nodded. "Okay," I whispered. I crept as quietly as I could to the bathroom and picked up my clothes, slipped into my sneakers, and then snuck back out and darted to the bedroom across from me and closed the door just as I heard the front door open.

I leaned against the wood as I held my clothes tightly to my thudding chest as I looked around.

Suddenly, the knob rattled.

My heart pounded harder. Was it Hayden's parents? Were they coming in here to tell me to go home? I didn't want to go back to that awful place. I wanted to stay here with Hayden. I wanted his warm presence, not this icy panic.

I quickly used my magic and made the closet door open and ran quietly in there and hid against the wall. I used my magic to shut the door just as the door to the bedroom busted open and Hayden said, "See, Father! I told you! There was no one here! I told you! I was having two cups of coffee by myself. God, you and Mother are so paranoid."

"Well, we don't want that troublemaker friend of yours in this house," said a stern baritone voice that was too deep to be Hayden's. That must have been Hayden's father. I hadn't met the man, but the emotions I was getting from him were intimidating. I didn't want to get on the man's bad side. And wait... Was he talking about me?

"Father, you and Mother both need to quit calling him that."

"We will when you never see him again," the man said before I heard the bedroom door open and then slam close.

I breathed out slowly and buried my head in my knees. I tried to calm my breathing, but it was no use. I was in a dark enclosed space and my claustrophobia was acting up. Suddenly, the clothes hangers above my head were rattling. My magic was out of control again.

Calm down, I thought to myself as I squeezed my eyes shut.

Suddenly, warm, comforting, familiar hands firmly gripped my shoulders. The air rushed back in as Hayden's emotions washed over me and made the panic that had been consuming me wash away. The blackness in my vision vanished as I opened them to see Hayden's concerned face.

"Breathe," he whispered calmly. "Just breathe. That's it. Nice and slow."

I took in deep breaths. My eyes never left him once. I never wanted to look away. His turquoise eyes were so beautiful and mesmerizing. I could look into them forever.

"Are you okay?"

And the moment was ruined when he spoke. I darted my eyes away, feeling my cheeks burning. I took in a few more deep breaths before nodding. "I'm better now," I said. "Thank you."

"No, don't thank me," he said. "I forgot about your anxiety."

"It's not your fault. Is it safe to come out of the closet now?"

A small laugh escaped from him as his hands rubbed my shoulders, causing an electric feeling to travel through my body. "Yeah," he said. "But I also have a better idea. Let's get out of the house since the rain has stopped." He opened the closet door and turned on the light above us. He grabbed a black sweater. The same black sweater I had left for him and then grabbed a small blanket from the top shelf.

"And where would we go?" I asked, dropping my clothes as I stood up and stepped around him.

He flashed his infamous lopsided grin. That meant trouble. "I have the perfect location. And before you even ask, I cannot tell you. It's a surprise."

"Come on, Hayden," I said, annoyed. "You know how much I hate surprises."

"Oh, I do know that," he said. "Last year's Halloween party was proof of that."

"Okay, first off, that was your fault. You were the one who dressed up as Michael Myers. What was I supposed to do when a person appeared behind me dressed in a white mask holding a knife over their head?"

"I don't know, but that girlish scream that came out of you was the most priceless thing I've ever heard. I am never in a million years letting you live it down."

"Ha, ha," I said, punching his shoulder playfully. "How about the time I placed a rubber snake in your punch?"

"Don't even go there," he said, grinning. "Though, that was a good prank. But as much as I enjoy reminiscing on old memories, what do you say we head on over to my surprise? You can think of it as a birthday surprise if it helps you."

I cracked a smile at that. "Depends on the surprise," I teased. "Besides, if it comes from you, though, I'd probably like it. Especially, if it gets us out of here. I don't want your family to come in and shout up a storm. But how do you plan on us getting out of here?"

"Same way I always do when I don't want my parents to know where I am," he said, smirking. "We're going out the window."

I cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Don't give me that look. You aren't afraid, are you?"

"I'm not afraid. Let's go."

Once out the window, the two of us were laughing as Hayden threw an arm over my shoulders as I held the blanket he handed me. I wondered where he was taking me. After heading down the street, he ducked through an alleyway to avoid car headlights.

After walking a bit longer, Hayden then led me through this little patch of woodlands until we came to this little opening. We had to crawl on our bellies to get through. Once on the other side, Hayden helped me up.

I stared in awe.

We were in a small meadow with lilacs and lavender growing in a perfect circle around neatly cut grass as evergreen trees surrounded and stretched as far as the eyes could see. And there were even fireflies dancing. The glow of the crescent moon beaming down made specks of silver lights flake like snow falling.

"Hayden, this is..."

"Lame, right?"

I chuckled, knowing he was joking from the amusement and wonder in his emotions. "Yeah, sure, it's super lame," I teased back.

He stuck his tongue out at me. "You were going to say incredible, weren't you?"

I couldn't help but giggle. "Actually, no, because incredible is way too mild to describe this. I don't know what adjective describes it. Perfect. Beautiful. Wonderful. There are so many."

He smiled and took the blanket out of my hands and spread it out on the grass. "No one has ever found this place," he said. "I discovered it one day by accident and have used it ever since when I have bad days. I'm sorry I have never shown it to you. I didn't want you to think I was girlish or stupid. I have a reputation to uphold, you know?"

"Of course you do," I mumbled to myself before rolling my eyes skyward. I then placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a small squeeze. "Hayden, I don't think this is stupid. It's beyond beautiful. I've seen nothing like this before."

"Aw, but you didn't deny it was girlish," he teased.

"Well, it depends on what you consider to be girlish," I said. "This would be for anyone who has an eye for beauty."

Hayden laughed.

We then stretched out on the blanket and gazed at the starry sky with the big glowing moon beaming down on us. The storm seemed to have passed

"I'm glad you showed me this place," I said, turning on my side and gazing at Hayden. "I wish we could have more of these kinds of moments. Just us and no one else. It's incredibly nice. I want to spend every day like this with you."

Hayden turned his head towards me, turquoise eyes twinkling in the moonlight. "I know what you mean. But if my family catches me out here who knows what the consequences would be."

"You don't have to explain that to me, Hayden," I said. "I'm in the same boat as you are. I ran out on my mother. To be honest, she doesn't understand me. She barely has time to talk or listen to me anymore. I've disappointed her in multiple ways. And this time is the icing on the cake. So, you don't have to say anything."

Hayden smirked. "How are you so understanding?"

Heat radiated from up neck up to the tips of my ears. I was blushing madly. How was it possible that Hayden could do this to me? A part of me knew I shouldn't have these thoughts and feelings for him, but I did and I do. They've been happening since our teens and I never dared to tell him the truth. Besides, I didn't want to ruin what friendship we have.

Shaking away my intrusive thoughts, I shrugged. "I suppose it's some kind of gift."

Hayden chuckled. "More like a gift you already have." He reached over and placed a hand on top of mine. It was warm and just that simple touch banished all of my worries, doubts, fears, and problems and washed them away until I forgot about every single one of them and was only focused on what was in front of me. There was that same calmness flooding into my body. I wasn't entirely sure if the feeling was mine or Hayden's or maybe a combination of the both of us. It didn't matter. I was already drowning in it.

"Tell me what happened," he said almost hypnotically.

I gazed back at the starry sky. "A stupid accident at the museum that got me into a heck of a lot of trouble," I confessed.

"The museum?" he asked. "What were you doing there instead of at work?"

"Well, I was feeling off," I admitted. "And I just... I ran into the museum but then got blamed for the faulty sprinkler system going off." I couldn't admit the truth that it had been me since he didn't even know about my magic.

"Whoa," he said. "How did you manage to get blamed for that?"

"Two words," I said. "Zelda Goodman."

"That makes sense," he said. "I've met Zelda Goodman a time or two. I know how much of a bratty witch that chick can be. Did you hear what she did to her last boyfriend?"

I shook my head.

"Okay, I'll tell you," he said. "So, get this. Zelda had the nerve to find him and his new girlfriend at the coffee shop."

"I hadn't heard of this. What did she do?"

"Oh, well, she stormed in all high and mighty. People said it was like she owned the place. Anyway, she walked up to their table, grabbed her ex's coffee and dumped it all over his head, and even splashed his girlfriend before she just walked away."

"Not surprising," I said. "Zelda, I swear to you, is the devil in disguise. I heard this rumor that she cheated on him with her boyfriend's best friend."

"Oh, it was no rumor. Several people including her boyfriend caught her in the act. And he ended their relationship like last year's Christmas dinner."

I shook my head, laughing. It didn't surprise me to hear the story. I knew how much of a troublemaker Zelda could be. And she only got away with it because both of her parents, even though they're divorced, were rich.

"But you know," he continued. "I find your situation kind of amusing because I cannot picture you getting yourself in trouble for anything. You're too good for your own good."

"That's not true," I said. "I just don't like getting into unnecessary trouble. I mean, in the fall I'm going to be going to college and finally going to get out of this town. But now, with this over my head, what if I somehow messed up my chances? What if this is going to be on my record?"

"I don't think it will be," he reassured. "I mean, I don't understand. You barely have the nerve to kick one of those malfunctioning vending machines. I can't see you pulling off a sprinkler prank."

"That's what I tried to tell the police and my mother and Mr. Newman. They wouldn't believe me. One minute I'm raging mad at Zelda for stealing my notebook..."

"Wait," he interrupted. "The notebook we write our secret messages in?"

"The very same," I said. "You see, that's what I was doing last night. I had this new message and was going to share it with you, so I wrote it down and then was going to finish checking it over on my break at work, but I never got the chance because..." I paused. Should I mention seeing a truck?

No, that would only cause him to worry more.

"Because what, Weston?" pressed Hayden.

"Because... I wound up at the museum, ran into Zelda, and the rest is history."

"I'm sorry."

I leaned my head against Hayden's shoulder. "Truth be told, I don't want to do this. I don't think I can manage not talking to you every day because once I go back home I will have no way to talk to you. I could sneak out and see you, but you get busy, too. I just... I can't go a day without seeing you."

"I don't want to not see you either." Something twinkled in his eye before he looked at me seriously. "Let's run away together. We are both adults. We can do whatever we want."

I laughed. "More than anything I wish we could. But we can't. We have to think financially and neither of us is there yet. My college life may be in shambles and I have no idea how to fix that before the fall. I don't want to bring you down because of my troubles."

"Hey, you could never bring me down. Besides, you are incredibly smart you'll figure something out. You always do," he said and then pushed himself up and crossed his legs which made me follow and do the same. I watched in fascination as he pulled out what looked like a metal pen that was teal-colored and spiraled around it with what looked like seaweed. "Okay, I have the perfect birthday present for you?"

"It's not a pen, is it?"

Instead of making a joke, he frowned. "No," he said, seriously. "Look, I promise to explain, but at this very moment, I need you to trust me more. Do you?"

"You know I do."

He grabbed my left hand and the end of the pen-looking thing had what looked like a small crystal. It even burned in the moonlight with a sea-green color. "This is going to burn and sting a little, but I need you to bear with it, okay?"

I nodded.

The crystal hovering over my palm discharged with a strange heat as if it was a tiny torch. He was careful as he began to letter his initial into my palm, aligning it with the lines naturally in my hand.

I bit my lip as I felt the burning and stinging. It was like being scolded with a hot metal brand.

When he was done, he placed the metal-like pen in my hand and held out his hand. "Now, draw your initial."

"What if I mess up?"

"You won't," he said. "I trust you with my life."

I lettered my initial on his palm as best as I could. He didn't seem fazed by the heat or the pain. What I saw in his eyes wasn't pain at all. It was something that resembled something entirely different: blissful happiness.

As soon as I finished, he grabbed my hand that he drew on and linked our palms together as our fingers intertwined. A pulsing sea green and bright blue light surrounded our connected hands. I looked at Hayden surprised. He had magic. I knew what magic felt like. I had it. This was warm and pure and so much like Hayden.

Hayden gazed at me with a giant smile. "We are bonded now. It's kind of like a blood bond. This bond cannot be broken by anything or anyone," he said and then released my hand and flipped my palm back over. His initial burnt sea green before seeping into my skin until the natural pale color returned. "When you feel alone or scared, just trace my initial on your palm, and you won't ever feel alone."

"How does that work?"

"It's hard to explain."

He didn't have to explain it. It changed nothing. I couldn't help but fling myself at him and embrace him as if the world depended on it. I buried my head in his shoulder as my arms wrapped around his shoulders. I just held him. I must have startled him a little because he tensed, but then his shoulders relaxed as his warm arms wrapped around me.

"Thank you, Hayden," I said. "I can't bear to lose you. I can't. You've been with me through thick and thin."

"And you have been there for me."

We both pulled away reluctantly and gazed into each other's eyes as we kept our hands connected by our thighs. There was a magnetic pull happening between us. I could feel it. Just looking at him was like we were the only two people left on the planet.

"Listen," he said softly. "I want to tell you the truth about me. I know you are curious."

He was right. I was curious. I now knew he possessed some kind of magic.

But then, in that same moment, I knew ruin was about to happen.

And I knew everything was about to change.