Chapter Four

Leah Grayson: age 17.

"Bye, Sandra, I'm going to head off now," I shouted. My voice reached through to the kitchen to where Sandra, my boss, was dumping an arm full of plates into the sink.

I was glad that my shift had ended. There was no way I wanted to tackle all of those dirty dishes. I smirked as Josie donned a bright-pink pair of rubber gloves and was already leaning over the sink-full of steamy hot water, wiping the sweat from her brow.

"Sure, honey. See you on Friday," Sandra replied back.

Plenty of changes had taken place within the first twelve months of me living here. I received a letter from the principal of the high school through the mail, telling me that there was a legal requirement for me to attend school.

I was allowed to continue to live in my apartment, just as long as I had a responsible adult to watch over me. Sandra volunteered, of course. I also continued to work at the diner, but just part-time. Mostly at weekends and a couple of nights after school.

School changed things for me. This time, I was determined to start my life from scratch. I became more sociable and let people in. I now had two best friends: Hannah Winterbourne, and Elija Smith.

Hannah was parked up outside, waiting for me in her red Ford Focus. She honked the horn as she saw me approaching. I sped up, grinning, then pulled open the door and climbed in alongside her.

"Look at you, all dressed up," I remarked.

Hannah rolled her blue eyes. She was beautiful. Her long, blonde hair was like something out of a shampoo commercial. Her makeup was always immaculately done. I felt so lucky to have her as a best friend because she was always helping me out. I would walk around school looking like a troll if it wasn't for her.

"Oh, do you like it?" She gestured to her new clothes. She was wearing skinny jeans and a white, cold-shoulder top, with a design printed on the front of it. "I know it's still winter. But I just don't feel the cold." She shrugged.

"Take me home so that I can change, and I'll tell you all about my day," I persuaded, not wanting to feel like such a tramp in comparison.

"Alright, but don't take all day about it," she warned, firing up the engine.

She drove us the short distance to my apartment. In that time, she managed to cram ten minutes of conversation into two minutes, without getting short of breath.

"Hey, I've been thinking about resuming the search for my brother." I changed the subject.

Hannah paused. She often went quiet when I mentioned Jace. I guess she was afraid that I'd leave town to go and live with him.

"Why? He hasn't exactly come looking for you. For all you know, he could be some selfish jerk who only cares for himself," she argued her point.

I wondered why he hadn't. If he lived here in town, he would've learned that I was asking after him. Surely, he would've reached out to me by now. After all, it had been a year since I found out about him.

"Because he's my brother," I half whined. "I know what you're saying, but what if my parents had abandoned him. I hate to admit it but they left their son all alone here. I need to find him so that neither one of us have to be alone anymore."

Hannah sighed, but it looked as if she understood. "I know, Leah. I just don't want you to get your hopes up. He may not even want to be found."

"Yeah, I know," I mumbled, "but at least I won't be the one who gives up on him."

We drove the rest of the way in silence.

I often thought about Jace. The reason behind him being left here. Why he was never spoken about. The anguish was real. I thought I knew my parents... I really did. But the thought of leaving behind my own child seemed inconceivable to me. I wracked my brains, trying to find a rational explanation but there wasn't one. Mom and Dad absconded from town, and they left my older brother behind.

Maybe that flashback I had on the bus, was a real memory.

"Earth to Leah," Hannah sang.

I hadn't noticed that we'd arrived here already. It jolted me from my thoughts.

"You have ten minutes and I'm not even kidding." She shot me a stern look.

I left her to trail behind me as I exited her car, then sprinted over the small patch of lawn to unlock the front door. I took one step in the doorway and slid on the mail.

"Shit!" I yelled, clutching the side of the wall. My heart pounded in my chest as the feeling of pins and needles tingled in my face.

Hannah howled with laughter, then bent to scoop up the mail.

"It's not funny, I almost died," I over-exaggerated.

"You're such a klutz," she remarked, still grinning.

She handed me the mail, then closed the front door behind us.

"What have we got here? Junk, a pizza menu, more junk...huh? What's this?" I opened the envelope with one finger.

"What are those?" Hannah asked, curiously.

I pulled out what appeared to be vouchers.

"Huh? Two, all day, spa tickets," I announced, reading the lettering.

"Oh, cool," Hannah breathed. "These are to 'Tranquility' here in town. They must've cost a fortune."

"I don't understand. I didn't pay for these. And I sure as hell, haven't entered any competitions," I told her.

"So, we're still going to use them. Free spa tickets, Leah!" She shook me by the shoulders as if shaking some sense into me.

"When do they expire?" She asked.

I search the vouchers to look for any kind of date. "It doesn't have an expiry date," I shrugged.

"You know what I think?" Hannah wiggled her eyebrows.

"What?" I shrugged.

I placed them onto the fridge door and stuck a magnet over them to keep them in place.

"You must have a secret admirer," she announced. Her eyes were wide and filled with amusement. "Who else could it be?"

"Don't be ridiculous, I'm only seventeen! What kid our age can afford to pay for two spa vouchers?" I reasoned.

"It must be an error or something," I explained. "I'll just contact the spa and straighten the whole thing out."

When I saw there was no contact number on the voucher I huffed in irritation. "I'll have to call in on my way home from work because there's obviously been some mistake."

I couldn't see any of the boys at school going all out like this. None had shown any interest in dating me whatsoever, much to my disappointment. They only seemed to want friendship from me and nothing more. It had started to make me feel insecure too.

Like, am I not pretty enough or something?

"Hey, what's this?" Hannah held a small rectangular card in her hand. "How weird? It's just got the letter 'Y' on it?" She shrugged, then made a face as if to say 'Meh, so what'.

I reached out to take it, turning it in my hand.

"What a pointless piece of crap," I commented, throwing it onto the pile of junk mail.

Hannah sank down into my sofa while she waited for me to shower and change. Realistically, it took longer than ten minutes for me to get ready but she didn't complain.

My wardrobe wasn't as elaborate as Hannah's. I donned a plain old pair of jeans, a baggy t-shirt and a pair of faded denim sneakers that I bought in last year's January sales.

Week after week, I saved most of my paycheck. It wasn't a great deal of money, but it was enough to buy food. After last Christmas flew by, I expected that the anonymous landlord would want to start charging for rent. Buying myself luxuries like new clothing was something I couldn't afford. But he didn't. I hadn't even received a utility bill through the mail. I dreaded to think about how much debt I'd accumulated over the year.

"How do I look?" I asked, giving a twirl.

Hannah giggled. "You look fine."

"I look hobo chic, what're you talking about?" I scoffed.

"C'mon, I'll treat you to a new pair of jeans," Hannah offered. "Those ones are almost threadbare."

I looked down at my attire, realizing that she was right. They had seen better days. But I flashed her a humble smile, not wanting to accept handouts from her.

"I can't expect you to do that. I'll raid a thrift store for bargains before I'll accept your money."

She gave a groan in disapproval, dragging me along, back to the car.

"Not this again," she grumbled. "I really don't mind."

***

"Leave that on, I love this song," Hannah spoke, swatting my hand away from the car stereo.

She cranked the volume up so that the music blasted out loud through the speakers. I laughed hard as she drove us through the streets, singing along to Katy Perry's 'Hot And Cold' at the top of her lungs.

We drove straight over a dip in the road. The unexpected motion flipped my stomach as the car was momentarily airborne.

As we reached the parking bays along the edge of town, Hannah brought the car screeching to a halt. The two of us received disapproving scowls from some of the elderly residents who scurried out of the way; probably worried that we were gonna mount the curb and wipe them all out.

"Ignore the fossils," Hannah commented. "They're still stuck in the era of the horse and cart."

"Don't be mean." I giggled. "You're supposed to respect your elders."

We exited the car and Hannah locked up, then positioned her brown tassel bag on her shoulder.

"I do." She scrunched her nose. "I'm always reaching for groceries from the top shelves."

My natural response to her sarcasm was an eye roll.

"So what did you want to talk to me about?" She changed the subject.

We paused at the edge of the road to let a car pass.

"I've been feeling anxious lately," I admitted.

We crossed the street alongside a few other people who were also headed our way.

"Each time the mailman posts mail through the door, I'm scared it'll be a huge utility bill that I can't afford," I told her, noticing her left eyebrow arch as she shot me a side glance.

"Didn't your landlord mention anything about bills?" She asked.

"No, and when I asked Sandra about it, she just tells me not to worry. But how can I not worry? It's been a year," I asked her, hoping for some realistic advice.

Hannah curled her hand around the crease of my elbow as we walked. It was still bitterly cold outside, but at least all the snow had melted away. All the Christmas decorations had been taken down and packed away until next November. I was glad in a way. Even the second time around, Christmas didn't feel the same.

"Look at it this way, if the landlord said you can live in his house, rent and utility bill free, then take full advantage of that. Didn't Sandra say that you were doing him a huge favor? My uncle Carl had a place up in Hawcroft. He hardly ever stayed there. Never rented it out or anything. Then this one Christmas, he and my aunt Marie decided to vacation there with my cousins. But as soon as they turned on the boiler, the pipes burst. The whole house was flooded out and everything was ruined. My dad said he should've set the timer to allow the heating to fire up once a day. It cost a fortune to fix."

"Well, when you put it like that..." I muttered, having thought about it.

"And anyway, you're one person. How much electricity and water can one person use? I bet it's cheaper for him to let you live in it, rather than pay someone to keep it maintained. At least he knows you're taking good care of the place," she pointed out.

I thought what she said made sense. Between school and working in the diner, I was hardly home.

"Yeah, you're right. I just panic about money. Dad used to take care of all that stuff. Now I wish I hadn't taken it all for granted," I shared, knowing I could admit anything and she wouldn't judge.

"Hey, if ever you feel like it's weighing you down, tall to Eli. He's like a walking calculator," she passed an affectionate comment about our hot nerd of a friend.

The mention of Eli brought a rush of heat to my cheeks.

We wandered around the few shops that made up the center of town, arm in arm. We were earning ourselves some funny looks from onlookers, but I was used to it by now. I can tell you this much, the looks were whole a lot worse, whenever I linked arms with Eli.

"Where do you need to go first?" I asked Hannah. "If you want to try on some clothes, I might take a walk over to the spa. Find out why they sent those vouchers."

Hannah returned me an injured look. "Now why would you go and do a dumb thing like that? If you were dying of starvation, and you found a hundred dollar bill lying on the ground, would you use it to buy food or would you hand it in to the police?"

"What?" I answered back, scrunching my face. "That's different."

"How?" She argued, letting go of my arm to shrug. "You're putting on a brave face but the cracks are showing." Her bare truth stung as she spoke.

"Take the handouts, however little or large they are. Don't think of it as charity or pity. You're seventeen for crying out loud. You lost your fucking parents. Let life cut you a break for once."

I chewed the inside of my cheek as I let her words sink in. "They are addressed to me, aren't they?" I justified my reason for keeping them. "So, there would be no harm in using them, would there?"

Hannah threaded her arm back around mine.

"No, none whatsoever," she answered, giving a smug smile. "Don't feel guilty about taking all that are handed to you. If life wants to dish out dollars, you wanna fleece that bitch for all its worth."

I jerked back as if seeing a whole new side to my friend. "God, I pity the guy you eventually marry."

Hannah chuckled. "So do I, because he'll be stuck with me forever."

"You never know," I added. "You might have several marriages. Not everyone stays together nowadays."

"Nah, not in this town. There's no such thing as a divorce around here. Once you find the one, it's a death till you part sort of deal," she revealed, sparking my interest.

"What? No divorce? Well, what if you decide you hate the person you marry? Hell, what if he cheats?" I rounded on her with my finger pointed.

It was a valid question. I wouldn't stay with a guy I didn't love. Nor would I be so forgiving if he cheated.

Hannah huffed with what I assumed was defeat.

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes.

"You know what? Maybe I do need some new jeans." I realized. "But you're not paying. I think I can afford to treat myself for a change."

I needed new underwear too, but I wasn't going to say that out loud. My once white bras had turned fifty shades of grey in the wash. That was embarrassing. Especially when I had to change for gym. I was in desperate need of an underwear cull.

"I have an idea." Hannah pulled me into a boutique that looked rather pricey. "Why don't you try something new for a change?"

She picked up a fitted top and a mid-length skirt, then held them together to check that they co-ordinated well.

"Hannah, I don't know... I don't really suit skirts." I cringed, thinking that this was a bad idea.

She rummaged through the rails pulling out garment after garment before turning to me and dumping the items into my arms.

"Go try these on, whilst I look for something for myself," she urged, pointing towards the changing rooms.

I realized that she wasn't going to take no for an answer, so I trundled reluctantly to try on the mountain of clothes.

Fitting room mirrors were designed to make you feel fat and frumpy. I decided it was the truth. It was like standing in the hall of mirrors at an amusement park. One mirror made me look taller, the other one plumper. I wasn't sure about leaving here with any purchases, but I was more than convinced that I'd be talking a whole load of insecurities away with me.

I also had to check this wasn't a two-way mirror by placing the tip of my fingernail against it. The reflection of my nail didn't touch my actual nail, so I knew it was legitimate. I saw that on a cop show once and ever since then, it had left me paranoid.

The clothes Hannah chose were rather nice. They were her typical style of girly. Whereas, my lack of confidence had me tending to choose clothes that covered me up. I had to admit, they didn't look too bad. Maybe it was time for a wardrobe overhaul. I'd saved up enough to treat myself, so why not?

I grabbed everything, flung it across my arm and slid the curtain to one side. Hannah was over by the cash register, talking to the cashier. They both shared a furtive look as I approached them, which made me wonder what they'd been talking about.

"I actually love these, Hannah. You have great taste," I smiled at her, impressed with the choice.

"Of course I do." She rolled her eyes as if to say 'duh'.

The lady behind the counter started folding the items and putting them into the fancy paper bags. She threw in a scoop of perfumed balls before placing a label over the edge to seal each bag. She placed a gift receipt inside the last bag, then handed them to me.

"Thanks for shopping here, have a nice day." The cashier spoke, leaving me standing there cluelessly.

"But, I haven't paid for these." I referred to the bags of clothes.

I turned to Hannah with a scowl. "Did you pay for all of this?" I accused.

She held her palms up defensively. "No, I swear."

I pulled my purse from my bag, dipping my fingers inside to pull out some cash.

"How much does it all come to?" I asked, embarrassed.

My situation at the counter had grabbed the attention of other shoppers in the store.

I saw the perplexed frown manifest across the cashier's brow. She glanced at Hannah as if she could help her out. My gaze snapped to my friend, wondering what the fuck was going on.

"Oh no, honey, there's no charge," the cashier dismissed my offer of payment.

The cashier's dark eyes flared wide, glancing around the store at the small audience that gathered. Her nervous disposition left an unsettled feeling within me.

Why was she acting so strangely?

"What? What do you mean, there's no charge? You're giving me all this stuff for free?" I stuttered in disbelief.

Was there a prize for being the millionth customer or something?

"You have a nice day now," she repeated, flashing a faltered smile.

Hannah grabbed the bags off the counter and pulled me out of the store. I managed to catch a glimpse of the cashier over my shoulder. Witnessing her clutch at her chest as if she had begun to hyperventilate.

"You have a real gratitude problem, you know that?" Hannah sneered with sarcasm.

I winced as a taxi cab honked his horn, trying to hurry the car in front. The town was heaving with people jostling past each other on the streets. We could barely hear ourselves think out here, so I had to raise my voice over the noise.

"I don't get it, how come I didn't have to pay for all that stuff?" I couldn't help the concern in my own voice.

None of this made any sense. I know one thing for sure, there's no such thing as something for nothing. There had to be a catch.

"Do you promise me that you didn't blow your entire allowance on these clothes?" I asked Hannah again.

She flinched back having taken offense.

"Hey, I'm not lying, Leah. Someone charged it all to their card. That's what I was told while I was waiting for you." She explained.

"Huh? Someone bought me these?" I spat out shocked. "So, it wasn't exactly for free, someone actually paid?"

Hannah nodded. "Yeah, but that's not all." She clutched the bags, awkwardly. "You can basically shop there anytime you want and the bill will be taken care of." She cringed as she waited for my response.

My brain refused to process this information. I collapsed against the window display, struggling to make sense of it all.

"Who would do that?" I asked, finding the whole thing unfathomable. "First, I get spa vouchers, then free clothes. Who's doing all of this and why?"

"Don't torture yourself thinking about it. Just enjoy it while it lasts." Hannah sounded upbeat.

We began walking back to the car. All my thoughts were trying to rationalize what just happened. Until one thing sprung to mind.

"Oh my God, I know who's doing this," I announced, feeling a light switch on in my heart.

Hannah cast me a doubtful look. "Oh yeah, who?"

"My brother, Jace," I told her. "It makes perfect sense. Who else could it be?" I reasoned.

Her features crumpled with sympathy, and I knew what she was thinking. She thought I was wrong. She thought that I'd never find him, or worse, that he didn't want to be found.

"Don't get your hopes up, Leah." She took the bags in one hand and rubbed my shoulder in support.

She didn't understand and that wasn't her fault, but I was going to prove to her that she was wrong. She would see. Jace was doing this. I knew he was. This was his way of taking care of me. At least now it felt like I wasn't entirely alone if he was out there keeping an eye on me.

"I won't.' I returned her an encouraging smile. 

The drive home was rather silent. We didn't discuss it any further. The vouchers and clothes were easier to accept if I thought they were from my brother.

Hannah dropped me off outside my apartment. School was starting again on Monday, and I still needed to finish off a few pieces of homework.

I closed my front door then dumped the shopping bags on my bed. As I started to unpack the bags, it suddenly dawned on me how expensive all the items must've been. I took out a floral maxi-dress, holding it up so that the material straightened out. That's when something small and white, fluttered to the floor.

Bending down to pick it up, I noticed what it was. It was a small, rectangular card like the one I found earlier. I turned it over in my hand and stared at the bold letter 'O' that was printed on one side.

I hurried over to the kitchen and rummaged through the pile of leaflets and junk mail. It was lucky that I was in such a rush because I would've thrown it straight into the recycling box. I found the other card and held them both up in comparison. They were exactly the same, apart from the letters.

There must be some sort of connection, but what?

I knew that this wasn't a coincidence, but I couldn't for the life of me, figure out what these cryptic clues meant. My detective skills weren't exactly on par with Sherlock Holmes, but I was convinced that Jace was trying to tell me something. Maybe he was in trouble and couldn't come out of hiding. I would have to wait and see what came next.