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The two of them remind me of different stages of Gia’s guilt when she’s done something and turns to me with her tail tucked between her legs, needing help but not sure how to proceed. I rub my hands on my forehead, and my cool fingers help me think.
If I have to put on my big-sister pants and be the voice of reason, then so be it.
I sigh, trying to tame my anger. “I get that it’s scary, facing everyone after what’s happened, but the longer it’s drawn out, the worse it’ll be.”
“I’m not ready to go home yet, though,” Lily says, and Warren pats her comfortingly on the shoulder.
I think for a minute. I’m not going to force her into a situation that may cause her more harm than good, but staying hidden isn’t an option. Part of me thinks the two of them arerelievedI caught them. “Maybe you don’t have to go home yet, but this has to end. Staying here, hiding away, isn’t going to solve anything. The least you can do is call your parents and let them know you’re okay.
They’re worried sick about you.”
Lily opens her mouth to interject, but I know what she’s going to say and address it before she can say anything. “No, you don’t have to tell them where you are just yet. But make sure they know you’resafeand that you’ll come home when you’re ready. Your dad probably won’t give up until he knows exactly where you are, but, Warren . . .”
I trail off, looking at Warren’s stricken face. Even though I’m upset with him, I feel bad for him for a moment. “Warren, I think you should talk to a lawyer.
Maybe both of you. I’m not sure if you’ll be in any trouble for harboring Lily and lying to detectives when asked about her whereabouts. You both knew what was going on and never said anything, and I’m not sure if there are any ramifications for that, but . . . better to be prepared than blindsided.”
Warren and Lily exchange wide-eyed glances. I doubt either of them has thought of that before.
“Um . . . yeah . . . maybe I should call my parents,”
Warren stutters, picking up the defrosting pack of peas on his way out of the room.
“Oh, shit, this is all such a mess,” Lily groans, running her hands through her hair. “You’re right, Siena, I should call my parents. But they’re going to be so pissed.
So pissed.”
They will be, as will countless other people. But they deserve to know she’s okay. Whether she wants to go home afterward is up to her.
“I guess I should rip the bandage off, huh?” Lily asks, giving a pitiful, humorless laugh. “Siena, would you—I know it’s asking a lot—but would you stay with me while I call them? Or maybe I should video-call them, so they don’t think I’m being forced to make a call.”
What would Officer Liu think if Lily called him with me standing beside her? Probably that he was right all along and that I’ve kidnapped her and forced her to make the call. I shiver at the thought.
“I’ll stay here, but don’t get me on camera or mention my being here.”
“Okay.” She nods. “I’m not going to mention where I am, just that I’m safe, that I ran away to get some time to think, and that I’m not sure when I’m coming home. Yes, that’s what I’ll say. Dad’s going to ask who I’m with, and I’ll just say with a friend, and that I’m safe.” She’s talking to herself, her eyes glazing over as she runs through the scenarios in her head. “I’m going to grab my phone and turn it on for the first time since Warren’s party. Oh, shit, I don’t even want to see all the notifications. I’ll be back.”
She disappears from the room, then it’s just me and the soundtrack in the background from the television. I stare at the chair I was tied to, then pick it up and carry it back into Warren’s closet room, closing the door behind me. I never want to see that chair again. I open a random drawer and throw the skipping rope in for extra measure.
I never answered Jason’s text before, and even though he’s driving and shouldn’t check his phone, I know he’s probably worried. I don’t want to tell him about Lily over text, so instead I hint.
Yes, I’m fine. But you’re never going to believe what you see when you get here.
Cryptic. I’ll be there soon.
“Okay, I’m ready,” Lily says as she reenters the room, holding up a cell phone. “Well, I’m notreallyready, but as ready as I’ll ever be.”
She sits on the love seat, and I sit on the bigger couch perpendicular to her. I can reach out and hold her hand if need be, but I won’t be in the camera frame.
“Warren turned off the location tracking that night, so they won’t be able to see my location when I call. I’m sure my dad could track me if he’s at work, but he’ll be at home with Mom today. Unless something’s changed with his schedule.” A few hours ago, he pulled Jason over for nothing, so who knows if he’s home or not.
She takes a deep breath to gather her courage, then presses the button to turn the phone on. We wait a few moments in silence, then the beeping starts. Countless notifications come in so fast that it’s making Lily’s phone glitch, so she turns the sound off. It continues vibrating as it loads all the messages and voicemails Lily’s missed.
“I can’t look at them,” Lily says, placing the phone face down on the table while it continues vibrating. She sits on her hands and looks forlornly at her phone. “I’m such a coward,” she whispers, and I lean over and give her forearm a supportive squeeze.
“You’re doing the right thing now,” I reassure her.
She nods and takes a deep breath. “Okay, let’s do this.”
