Page 11 of Ask No Questions

Things Paula, my therapist, had told me over the years were circling in my head. I needed to take back control of my life. That was something I struggled with since I was a child. Mom and Neil decided nearly everything for me. What school I went to, who I was friends with, what activities I participated in, what I wore, what I ate. For so long, I was their obedient robot because it was easier to exist in their world than try to fight them every day.

It took the events of Neil’s party to really wake me up and realize I needed to finally take a stand.

Getting them to agree to me moving here was the first step, but shopping with Mckayla was a bigger deal than she knew. It was the first time I got to pick out my clothes without my mom’s approval. I knew what I liked based on what I saw other girls wearing, but it was liberating to break free of the blazers and tailored clothes and wear cut off shorts and a baggy t-shirt.

My next step was to start conquering my fears. I wasn’t going to allow them to keep their claws in me anymore than my mom and stepdad.

I couldn’t hide away and think the people here will be anything like Morgan, or Derek. I refused to let my nightmares taint this opportunity to start fresh. As far as I was concerned, neither of them ever existed. At least, that was what I was going to keep repeating until I believed it.

It was hard not to blame myself though.

Paula always told me to trust my instincts, and I knew Morgan wasn’t someone to trust. I let everyone around me talk me out of my intuition. That mistake nearly cost me everything, my life. I saw the signs and didn’t get out in time.

I wouldn't make that mistake again.

Trust and honesty. Those were the two things I needed in anyone I was going to get close with. So far, I had Brandon and Mckayla. That was two more people than ever before.

After I finished my run, I was feeling refreshed and ready for the madness ahead of me. I showered and got ready, wearing one of the outfits Mckayla picked out so she could give the okay to wear it tonight.

I should be able to make that decision for myself, and one day I would get there. But until then, I needed some positive reinforcement. Being the new girl and having to blend in was enough pressure, and I didn’t want to make a bad first impression with the people I would be spending the next year with.

I checked out my outfit in the floor-length mirror in my closet. It was quite the difference from my usual stuffy, preppy clothes, but I really liked how the black jeans and embroidered shirt worked together. It was silly, but I felt so free in the loose blouse. Slipping into chunky wedges—I instantly fell in love when I spotted them in a shop window—I felt like a new person. It’s amazing what a new wardrobe could do for a girl! I wanted to run down a hill singing and spinning in circles… well maybe not.

I let myself into the Pages’ house and saw Mckayla on her phone pacing around the living room, so I took a seat at the island. Diane walked into the kitchen and smiled when she saw me sitting there, watching her daughter lose it.

“Hey, Aubrey. I’m glad you’re here. I have already told her, but I’ll update you. Between the Howards and us, we have plenty of chairs and firewood for tonight. Steven set up her iPod to the speakers this morning, so it’s ready to go. Ava’s mom also brought over enough soda and water bottles to get the entire neighborhood through the apocalypse, so all you guys need to get is snack food.”

“Sounds good, so why is she still freaking out?”

She sighed and sat next to me as we continued to watch Mckayla wear a path into the hardwood.

“She hasn’t stopped pacing since she got up this morning. I don’t understand why this bonfire is so different from the past hundred we’ve had, but I think she is going to crack soon.”

A few minutes later, Mckayla hung up from whoever she was freaking out to and looked at us. “This is a disaster! There’s no point in salvaging things. I should just send out a mass text and cancel!”

“What’s the problem now, dear?” Diane looked like she was trying to be serious, but I caught the smile starting around the corners of her lips.

“Nobody is going to show up, that’s the problem!” She groaned and fell onto the couch. “Someone spread the word Ava is sick, and everyone assumed that the party was off, so they all made other plans!”

“Did they actually tell you that, or are you assuming?” I noticed Diane’s smile was growing as Mckayla was going more dramatic.

“I just know it, okay Mom! I should just cancel…” She stopped mid-sentence as her phone started beeping repeatedly. She looked down and froze. “We need to leave now! Tucker McLane just texted me that John Watters heard from Bev Hurst, who talked to Ava that everyone is coming tonight, like everyone!”

She spun when she noticed I hadn’t moved. “Seriously! Grab your keys, we need to go get food!”

She yanked me out of the chair I was sitting in and pulled me out the door toward my car. I waved bye to Diane on the way out, and I heard her chuckling as she closed the door.

By the time we made it to each of the three stores Mckayla said were necessary to appease the guys, girls, vegans, and gluten-free, the sun was already low in the sky, and we were losing the light necessary to set up. With the help of Steven, Diane, and even Matt, we had the chairs placed around the pit with blankets waiting on the low wall separating their yard from the sidewalk. The food and drinks were spread out on the patio table, and the music was playing through the speakers. Steven started getting the fire going just as the first group of people showed up.

I grew nervous as the number of unfamiliar faces increased quickly. I tried to busy myself helping Diane clean up the mess we made in the kitchen, but she shooed me out and told me to go make friends. I wanted to stay where it was safe. Comfortable. I was tempted to find Matt and use him as a buffer, but I couldn’t hide behind him.

This was what I wanted. This was what I moved across the country for. It was time to take the leap. I wandered outside, unsure what to do. I headed across the patio and stepped into the sand toward the fire, feeling more and more eyes on me the closer I got. I tried to look like I knew what I was doing and took a seat a bit away from everyone else.

I glanced around for Mckayla when two unnaturally beautiful girls walked up and sat down on either side of me. The tall modelesque blonde smiled at me like she expected me to know who she was. “Hi, you must be Aubrey! We’re so excited to finally meet you! Mckayla told us all about you, and we’ve just been dying for you to get here. I’m Talia, and this is Alexis. We’re Mckayla’s best friends.”

I smiled at her then turned toward the brunette that looked about my height and had an amazingly toned body that screamed she was a natural athlete. She was just as beautiful as Talia but seemed much less intimidating. She smiled back and nodded toward a group of guys on the other side of the fire.

“I’m glad we found you before someone else got ahold of you. Mckayla is crazy busy being the super hostess, so we’re here to introduce you to people and keep you safe from any of them.” She leaned in close. “She didn’t explain in detail, but Mckayla mentioned you’ve had guy trouble lately, so she thought it would be best if we acted as buffers from them tonight.”