What the hell did I just witness? There was a time that I really looked up to that man. Arthur Cain seems nothing but cold to me now. I nearly get killed in the woods, and he doesn’t even check up on me? I literally live behind his mansion.
I wonder what having a man like that as a father would be like? I already know what it’s like to lose a parent, but I wonder how it feels if you truly loved them. At one time my mother was a loving, endearing person. Then the drugs took over her life, and she became just like my father.
I stared at Lance, hanging off the stone wall. I wonder what he’s thinking of.
I walk up towards him, on the other side of the stone wall. He seems surprised when he notices me.
“I suppose you heard that, didn’t you?” He says. He looks at me softly, with little expression on his face. “You probably think I’m a monster, right? Whatever, I’m glad.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I say to him. “I just caught the harsh ending.”
He gives me a thin smile. “That’s how many of our conversations seem to go these days.”
“Why is he upset?”
“It’s complicated. I’m not living up to the family name. Basically, I’m not him. I don’t think I want to be. I just want to leave this place.”
“I felt like that before I came here.” I say with a smile.
He looks at me. “I’m surprised with what’s happened to you, you don’t want to leave.”
“Well, when I do, you can live in the guesthouse.”
“Not far enough.” He says. “My dad has this yacht. He taught me a few summers ago how to use it. He let me drive it for a while.” Lance smiles, but it fades quickly. “It was one of our last family trips when mom was still here.” He turns to me with a shy look. “If I had to run, I’d steal that boat. Get far away from here. Want to join me?” I say nothing. Lance nods his head as if he figured something out. “I get it. You’re here for the free education. The ticket to any school you want. Believe me when I say if it comes from my father, it’s not in your best interest.”
I look at him coldly. “I’m not some charity case, I hope you know. I had awesome grades at school before all of this. Before my parents died, I had plans to make something of myself. That’s why I don’t get guys like you. You have everything and want to run from it.”
Lance grabs my hand and holds it. “You don’t get it. This place is- evil. This place is cold. It doesn’t care about your feelings, or your life. My mom figured that out, eventually.”
I thought about asking him more about his mother but don’t want to upset him. Maybe someday he would open to me. I look at Lance in the dim light. He’s tall, handsome, but had showed me a side that I found even more endearing; he was vulnerable.
I place my other hand on top of his. “Your father is right about one thing, clear your mind, and let the answers come to you on who you really want to be. You’re a smart guy, I think it will come to you easy.”
He leans in and kisses my forehead. His soft lips on my skin make me feel butterflies in my stomach. I look at him wondering why he did it, almost hoping he would do it again.
“I’ve already made up my mind.” He says to me. He looks at his watch, and back at me. “You should get ready for the party. You wouldn’t want to make Jaxson wait too long for you.”
“You know about him and me?”
He nods his head. “The whole school does. Social media spoils everything.”
I shyly turn to walk back towards the guesthouse. I look back at Lance. “I think you’re too hard on yourself. I don’t think you’re a monster.”
He sighs. “I don’t think you know me that well yet.”
I walk back to the guesthouse, replaying all the events of the day in my head.
I think about the make-out sessions and fun I had with Chase. I think of the butterflies having the star quarterback gives me at the big game, and all the attention that came with it.
I replay what just happened with Lance.
I don’t have much time to get ready, but I feel like unpacking everything in my journal before I do. I sneak out my notebook from under my mattress and start to write.
I look at my title before I dive into writing more. I have so many emotions running through me that I don’t know what to say first. I start with the title.
The Complicated Story of Lancelot Cain.
Chapter 16
Nathanial Wise opens his front door, gawking at Bryce and Danna as if they’d knocked on his door to tell him about the new revelation. When he sees me, he perks up?
“Sorry, Elle.” He says with a smile, opening his door for the three of us. “Didn’t see you there. Come on in guys!” The party’s at Nathanial’s house. There was something about Nat that bothered me, but I couldn’t exactly put my finger on it. Sure, he pie’d me in the face pretty good while wearing a nefarious smile, but there was something more.
He just comes off fake as hell.
We walk into the massive home. We could hear the music from down the block when we walked to Nat’s house. I had no clue what I would be walking into though. There’s a professional DJ booth, with lights illuminating the dance floor different colors. The floor is packed with people I recognize from different classes, and the football team.
Nat smiles at me. “If you guys need booze, there’s a spread on the kitchen counter.
