While on our way to Jessica, Frank called me. He asked if I was at home and I told him I wasn't, but I would be back soon.
Not satisfied, he asked where I was and if he could meet me there. His persistence annoyed me, I didn't even know when I told him to just wait for me if he could.
After the call, Shirley asked if I knew him before. "I mean, before you guys met today" she added.
"No, I didn't know him. In fact I've never seen him before, we just met today and he's already interested in everything about me" I lamented.
"That's because he likes you" she remarked.
"Oh, please don't start!" I muttered.
"What? It's the truth, and you know that. When guys like you, they would show interest in everything about you" she said.
"Everything? Like seriously?"
"Well, maybe not everything. But a lot of things" she responded. She had now turned to a love doctor, initially I was the one lecturing her about love.
"Okay, Mrs. Fred" I teased her.
"Hmm, you don't want me to tease you back. It's not going to be funny" she said.
"I know!" I muttered.
As soon as we arrived at the motel, we saw Jessica being escorted out of the motel by a tall guy in cowboy costume. He wasn't wearing any mask though. They were holding each other, but as soon as she saw us she quickly pulled her hands away from his. Was he the guy whose voice I heard on phone? Reade?
"What the... Hey Laura, did you see what I just saw?" Shirley uttered, obviously surprised.
"Yes, I did. And I think it's the Reade I asked you guys about. Do you know him?"
"No Laura, and I don't think the rest know him too. I think he's new around here, or he's probably traveling around and decides to spend some time here" she said.
And just before we arrived at the exact spot they stood, the guy turned and went back to the motel while Jessica walked over to us, "Hey guys, sorry I kept y'all waiting..."
"Yo, it's okay babe!" Suzanna hugged her and so did the rest, one after the other. As if she had been away for ages.
When it comes to my turn to hug her, I held abd dragged her one side. "What... what the hell are you doing, Laura?" she queried, extricating from my grip.
"I should be asking you that, what exactly were you doing with that guy? Was he the one I heard talking to you when I called earlier?"
"Yes, Laura, he's the one and we just met today. He also came for the festival," she bespoke, "you are not the only one that knows how to make new friends on days like this"
Now it looks as if she was jealous, trying to justify her madness with my meeting with Frank. "Look, Jessica..." I wanted talking some senses into her skull but she cut in and told me to keep whatever I had to say to myself, and to make sure I didn't say anything to her mom about Reade.
While she and her friends continued roaming around, I decided to return home. Something I should have done when Frank called me earlier, but I was too concerned about Jessica. As a cousin, I wanted to show her sisterly love. Something we both didn't have, but unfortunately she was too naive to understand.
I headed home, thinking about the whole thing. What if Aunt Vicky later finds out about it, would she be angry with me for not disclosing the whole thing to her? I guess I should just let her know before it's too late, but how would Jessica feel? She would definitely be angry, extremely angry the fact she warned me not to tell her mother.
When I arrived home, I saw Frank's car parked outside the house. And when I stepped into the house, I met him discussing with Aunt Vicky in the sitting room. "Laura? Welcome, he's just about leaving" she said.
"Ohh" Was all I said before walking over to her and sitting right next to her on the armrest of the chair she sat in. Frank's couch was facing us.
"Are you sure you want to sit here? Why not close to Frank? By the way, it's not as if he's comfortable sitting alone, or am I lying, Frank?" she teased and Frank backed her up,
"Of course not, Mam" he said. The two then laughed out loud. I didn't mind them, I just took off my mask and folded my arms across my chest, bored.
"Is everything okay?" Aunt Vicky asked in what seemed like a whisper.
"Nothing..."
"Nothing? And you look sad?"
"Hmm, yeah... nothing to worry about" I huffed, at least for now...
"Well, if you say so" she said and excused herself.
"So," Frank cleared his throat and continued, "I told your aunt everything about my family. She told me she used to hear a lot about our company but never knew she was close to meeting me, the son of the founder"
Seeing how quiet I was, he asked if everything is okay and if I needed cheering up. "No" I muttered and told him I was tired of the festival.
"Tired? This is your first time experiencing it and you are already tired? Come on, Laura... I was even thinking about taking you out later. There would be a night party in the field, you know? And it's always fun to be there" he said.
"Nothing about this festival is fun," I adjusted my butts from the armrest and sank into the chair, "from the walkthrough, to every other thing related to this festival. In fact, I am taking this costume off the moment I step my foot in my room"
"Hmm," he heaved a sigh abd smiled, "you were happy earlier about the festival, so what happened? Did your friends left you again?" he asked.
"Maybe, or maybe someone among them hurt my feelings" I muttered.
"Can you share? I mean, I would like to know what happened" he said.
"No, I don't wanna talk about it"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah!"
Frank tried to lure me into escorting him to his friend's house, but when I frankly told him I wasn't going he reluctantly agreed and then drove there alone.
After leaving for his friend's house, I went to my room and took off my costume. I was done with the festival already and had made up my mind that I wouldn't be going for the party.
Jessica's thought kept pacing 'round my mind as I laid on the bed, she was so careless about her life. Whatever happened between her and Reade, I hope it shouldn't end in tears and remorse.
The kind of life her mother allowed her to live was that of a wanderer, all in the name of freedom. I wouldn't call that freedom though, 'cause it exposes one to more harm than good.
Buzz...
My phone vibrated and quickly began ringing. I checked the caller i.d and found out it was Naomi. I smiled and unhesitatingly picked the call, not forgetting to clear my voice first.
"Hello" I uttered.
"Hi Laura, how have you been?"
"Fine, how about you? How things?"
"Fine Laura, everything is just fine. I hope you are enjoying your new home there?" she asked.
"Hmm, Cornfield is a nice place but..." I paused and thought about how she would mock me if I tell her I was already bored.
"But what? Is everything okay?"
"Nothing, I mean... yeah, it's a nice place!" I huffed.
"Okay Laura, but is there something I need to know?" She said.
"No, nothing. I just don't like the festival, it's making people go crazy"
"Ohh, I thought you guys are having fun?" she said.
"I thought it was going to be fun too, but reverse is thr case. At least to me, others have different view about it. They seem to like it despite all the craziness!" I bellowed.
"You don't have to get angry, they are probably used to it already. Just don't celebrate with them, okay?"
"Okay Naomi"
"Alright. So, about working with us here..."
"Not again Naomi, we've already talked about this. I can't. But whenever I decide to change my mind, I will let you know. Okay?"
"Alright, I get it" she muttered.
"Hmm, was that the reason why you called? I mean, to remind me about that work?"
"No, I just called to check on you. By the way, my brother's friend is currently in your side. He's planned well for the festival, he's so into stuff like this. I heard he's staying by a motel until the festival is over" she apprised me.
By hearing the word MOTEL, the thought of Jessica and Reade bounced into my mind and I felt sour in my tongue. The last place I would ever set my foot on in Cornfield is the motel, not now and not ever.
For that reason, I didn't ask Naomi more about her brother's friend. And after the call, I went downstairs and looked for something to eat for lunch. Jessica had some leftover pizza in the fridge, I brought it out and... it was still smelling good. Thus, I took a cut and returned the rest.
After eating, I went to my room and slept. When I woke up earlier I found out it was already quarter past six in the evening and the house noisy. In fact, the whole street was noisy. I looked through the window and saw people playing with fireworks and throwing knockouts on one another.
What the f*ck?
I went to the bathroom and washed my face before going downstairs. Jessica and her friends sat in the sitting room, eating and gisting. They didn't even realize I was present until Fred said something funny and I giggled.
"And here comes the," Jack stood to his feet, probably about making jest of me, "should I call her the r queen of the town?"
"No!" Fred squealed.
"Why call her that?" Suzanna chimed.
"If there is any queen here, it has to be me. I am the queen of the town, the queen of the festival, and the queen of..." Jessica said as I chimed in,
"The queen of Reade?" The whole sitting room was quiet, all eyes were now on me and Jessica as glared at me and I stared at her. "What? Or are you not his queen?"
"Guys, I am coming!" she stood from the couch she sat in and walkover to me. "Laura, we need to talk" she grabbed my hand and dragged me to one side of the house, "What the hell is wrong with you?" she asked.
"What? I was just... kidding, you took that serious?" I tried to cheer her up.
"Kidding?" she scoffed, "No you were not, and I won't warn you again to never talk about Reade. Not with me, my friends, or anyone. Whatever happened between us is none of your business, I am not a kid and I can take care of myself. Okay?"
"But Jessica..."
"Don't touch me!" she warned me and then returned back to her friends.
"Is everything okay?" I heard Shirley asking, "Where is Laura?"
"Everything is fine, we just had a little talk. She would be out soon" Jessica said and continued, "So guys, are you all ready for the party? I can't you hear you, don't tell me you are tired already. The festival isn't over yet, remember?"
I was still shocked by how foolish and stupid she was, she was so careless and that made me wonder if really she knew what she was doing. Well, I guess it would be better if I let her be. That was the life she chose, forcing her to change would definitely lead to unnecessary conflict.
I didn't come to preach to her or force her to change her life, I also didn't come to disturb her peace. If that was the life she wanted, so be it. I thought to myself and then walked back to the sitting room, although by then they were already out... leaving the whole place messy. Eww!
