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Chapter Twelve
I didn’t want it to feel awkward with Jay, so I’d planned to talk to him when I woke up in the morning. Unfortunately, because I’d fallen asleep without setting my alarm, I didn’t have time. I had a morning class that I had to attend, and he was still sleeping. After class, I went to the bakery in the dining hall and picked up the biggest cinnamon rolls they had. It was a peace offering to break the ice.
“Hello?” I answered the phone as I was on my way home.
“Brooklyn? It’s Carrie Yates,” Carter’s mom greeted.
“Hi, Mrs. Yates.”
“I’m sorry I’m just getting around to calling you back. There’s been a lot to do planning Carter’s… funeral,” she explained, her voice merely a whisper.
“I understand. I just wanted to call and check on you. Kim told me about the update…” I let my sentence trail off because I didn’t want to be insensitive.
“Smoke inhalation! I knew she didn’t drown. My baby was a phenomenal swimmer. If she didn’t stop competing, she could’ve been in the Olympics! She wouldn’t have drowned. I told you. I told everyone. I knew she didn’t drown.”
“I know. You were right. I’m glad you trusted your gut.”
“Did you speak with the boys?”
“Um, well, they aren’t exactly talking to me,” I started, unsure of how much she knew and how much I should tell her. “The cheerleaders made up some stuff about me and long story short, none of them are speaking to me. But I didn’t do what they’re saying I did. I was at the party, but I was in the basement for most of it with a classmate.”
“Aiden Black.”
My eyebrows shot up. “How did you know?”
“I shouldn’t be talking to you about this.”
My heart rate accelerated. “Oh…”
“There’s a lot of things being said, but I trust my gut. I know Carter didn’t set a boat on fire and I know you didn’t have anything to do with her death.”
My eyes pricked with tears. “I didn’t.”
“I know.” She paused. “But someone did, and we intend to get to the bottom of it. Will you be at the wake on Friday?”
“Yes. I’ll be there. I’m coming straight from class.”
“Will you say a few words?”
I was quiet for longer than I intended. “Okay.”
“She would’ve liked that,” Mrs. Yates whispered before clearing her throat. “I have business to attend to, but I will see you on Friday.”
After we said our goodbyes, I sat in my parking spot for a minute or two, reflecting. It was a good thing that the Yates family believed that I wouldn’t do anything to Carter. But the comment she made about not talking to me about what was going on was distressing.
And I still haven’t heard back from Kim!
I called Kim’s burner phone and when I didn’t get an answer, I called her actual phone number. She answered on the second ring.
I made a face when I heard her voice. “Kim?”
“Hey! How are you?”
I looked around my empty car in dramatic confusion. “On the fucking edge of my seat. How are you?”
“That’s good to hear,” she replied robotically. “I’m fine.”
“Did you…go yesterday?” Something in her tone made it evident that I shouldn’t say too much on her line.
“Yeah, class went well,” she answered. “I’m on a lunch date right now, but can I call you when I get back to campus?”
I lowered my voice. “Are you okay? You sound off.”
“Yeah, I’m just so hungry. I ordered a burger and I hope they don’t burner it. I’m famished!” She let out a forced laugh that made me uncomfortable.
Burner it? Her burner phone?
“Kim…?”
“Okay no problem. I’ll give you a call tomorrow.”
“Okay…” I was unsure of what to do or say next. “Talk to you soon.”
“Bye!”
She hung up before I could tell her goodbye.
The whole conversation made me uneasy. I put the car in drive and sped across campus to Jay’s apartment. With my bag in one hand and the cinnamon rolls in the other, I had a hard time maneuvering my way in. Maybe if I had been paying closer attention, I would’ve seen that Jay’s car wasn’t parked outside.
I let out a loud, dramatic sigh.
I needed to talk to my best friend, and he wasn’t home. Besides the fact that we needed to work out our own situation, I needed to tell him about the conversation with Mrs. Yates and Kim.
“Is he avoiding me?” I wondered aloud as I placed the cinnamon rolls on the kitchen counter.
When I turned around and saw the flowers still sitting in the trashcan, I wondered if Jay noticed that I threw them out.
Or if he cared.
I needed to sort out my feelings for Jay, but it was so complicated.
I went to the office to finish my journaling that I’d started the day before. But I was quickly sidetracked when I noticed Carter’s belongings in the second crate. Pulling out her book of words, I smiled.
Now this is the Carter I knew and loved.
I opened the black leather-bound notebook, remembering the days she’d spend writing the finished drafts of her poems, quotes, and random missives. All freshman year she said she was going to have it published. But by the end of sophomore year, she had abandoned her passion to focus on being a cheerleader.
Dedicated to my parents, my big sister, and The Trifecta, I read silently with my eyes watering.
I never knew about the dedication. As I read the work that was between the pages, most of the pieces I remembered. When we were roommates, I would proofread for her. If she completed work when she was back home, she would
