Family Secrets

Chapter Three

Six years later, at the age of 21, Maris Snow graduated from WBPA being the top of her class and was the valedictorian for her year, by this time she had long light blue hair. She met a few of her best friends in the academy, however, she met Luke Mathews a red-haired green-eyed ball of pure energy while running to get coffee back to the class, they bumped into each other which caused the coffee to drop to the ground. Then there was Diana 'The Phantom' Rosasco, she has long blonde hair with brown highlights matching beautiful golden-brown eyes and when she was a kid, she was able to sneak around with no one noticing, hence known as 'The Phantom'. The third is the youngest of the five of them, that's Jacob lee Kona he was an arrogant rich kid from LA but he was learning how to be normal slowly, one day at a time. He has brown hair with blue eyes and pale skin, he always wears something black no matter the weather or what it is. Lastly, you all know Cora Jefferson; she went to college for marine biology, she was able to stay in the small town of Woodbridge due to the bay by the town, they were all out for a celebratory dinner that night.

"Congratulations!!" Core said while starring right at Maris holding a glass of wine. They all smiled and took a drink, "So, when do you guys start?" While waiting for their waiter, Cora started talking.

"Saturday, I'm nervous as hell." Maris laughed softly looking back at Cora, "I'm going to the restroom, be right back." Cora got up and walked towards the bathroom, she pulled out her phone and texted Maris.

Cora: Come here, Mari!!! I have a gift for you!

Maris: Be right there, Cor!!

"I got to go to the bathroom, going to freshen up." She got up and walked toward where Ash went.

"Close your eyes!!" Cora smiled as Maris did what was told, Cora walked up to her and placed a box in her hand.

"Open it, Mari!" Maris opened the box to party a bracelet with the name Cora on it. She smiled and hugged Cora tightly.

"I love it!!! Let me guess, you have the other one that says my name?" Cora smiled and held her right hand up showing the other one.

"Alright, we should head back!" They made their way back to the table, a few minutes later Maris's phone started ringing, it was her father. It was weird for her father to call her out of the blew like this but she answered anyway.

"Hey, dad what's up?" It was quiet for a few seconds until he spoke, his voice was shaky and he sounded as if he had been crying.

"Maris I need you to come to New York, there's something I need to give you." Maris just shook her head, she didn't want to go to New York unless she really had to.

"Can't you just send it to me? I'm getting things ready for my new job at WBPD Saturday and everything-" He cut her off his voice even shakier than before.

"No, I need you to come here, please." She stayed silent for a few seconds before sighing and speaking.

"Ok dad, let me think about it ok? I'll sleep on it." Her father said nothing and hung up, she was a bit worried but let it go and by the end of the night, three out of the five were drunk which left Maris and Jacob being the drivers that had to drive them home, Jacob took Diana and Luke home. Cora and Maris shared an apartment together it was just a two-bedroom place with two bathrooms, once they made it to the apartment she helped Cora out of the car and up to their door. She sat Cora down and unlocked the door. Maris took her to the bedroom room and put her in bed placing the covers over her. She then walked to her own room closing the door and walking to the bed, she laid down as an orange cat jumped up onto her.

"Hey girl, I missed you." Neo meowed and nuzzled Maris's cheek before laying beside her. She rolled over and hugged Neo drifting off to sleep. It was Saturday morning, she woke up early to find Cora gone, so she got ready for the day ahead of moaning and groaning from the three of her friends, Maris knew they would be here around eight o'clock so she had to get started on making breakfast. She made the table and the food all-around seven o'clock, then made coffee and by eight Jacob, Cora, Diana, and Luke came right through the door.

"Hi! Good morning you four! Cora, where did you go off too early this morning?" Cora smiled at Luke as she sat down, Maris laughed and she gave them each a plate filled with pancakes, eggs, and bacon, "Oh? Not going to tell me, are we? Well, at least you came home this time." They started eating before Luke spoke up looking at everyone.

"Why are you guys always spoiling us?" He smiled while stuffing his face with eggs and bacon, he took a sip of his coffee as she spoke.

"It's what friends do." Maris looked at each one of her friends and sat down next to Diana, they had all just gotten done when her phone started ringing. When she picked it up, however, she noticed that it was a New York area code, this was a bit odd but she answered.

"Hello, how may I help you?" A man's voice came across the phone, she was a bit worried about how the man sounded.

"Is this Maris Snow, daughter of Michael Snow?" He spoke in a soft tone of voice as if bearing bad news, she knew right away it had to do with something about her father but listened anyway to see if her father was alright.

"Yes, this is she, what seems to be the problem?" She listened to the man while he spoke, fearfully sitting on the edge of her seat, scared of what she was to hear from the man over the phone.

"I regret to inform you that your father Michael Snow was found murdered this morning at the North Cove Marina in New York. We at the New York police department knew your father as both a friend and a wonderful baker, our chief has invited you and three friends to transfer to New York for the time being." She spoke quietly responding to the man.

"Thank you, sir we will take the invitation." She hung up the phone setting it on the table. Still incredibly quiet she got up but collapsed onto the ground due to shock, she thought to herself 'Why am I not crying? What is wrong with me?' Maris was always known to put up a brave face and act like she was ok but this time, it felt different, she wanted to cry and scream. She wanted to let this feeling out but nothing surfaced.

"Hey, hey What's wrong? What's going on?" Cora asked as she helped her up off the ground, she was worried about Maris as she looked at Luke who place his hand on Cora's back.

"My father, he was found dead," she paused for a minute trying to put together her thoughts "in New York." Everyone stood in the room quietly no one knowing what to say.