Ridgewood Town

Chapter 6

Jeanette

June 23

Tuesday, 8:23AM

"Has she always been this weak?" a voice came from the other side of the room. Sitting on one of the chairs, her eyes focused on her phone.

The town's gossipmonger, Ana Ricotta. The only girl who always makes my blood boil. Not that I really hated her, but she was effortlessly annoying in ways I couldn’t describe.

She was talking about Sophia who is now lying on the couch, the only couch available in the office. She suddenly collapsed while giving her eulogy, making everyone worry. I was watching her when her face suddenly went pale, her eyes fixed on something in the crowd. When I tried to look at where she was staring, I couldn't see anyone nor anything that could give her that fright.

Maybe she can't stand a crowd of people? As far as I know, she has been hiding in her home and I've only seen her rarely at school.

"No. Maybe she was exhausted," Peyton answered Ana’s question. He was the one who carried Sophia after the scene. Sophia looked so out of her world at that moment. Dad was fast and motioned me to help. I drove them to the town office since it is the only building that is near the cemetery. Now we’re piled up in this tiny room; Peyton, Ana, Redhead and I. This redhead guy is a new face to me, so I never knew his name. He was with Peyton a while ago and was dragged into this mess. Pity!

"She looked pale a while ago. It was like she saw something in the crowd." The redhead was right. I noticed it too, but nothing was wrong with the crowd at that moment. When Peyton carried her to the car, she was sweating bullets and whispering words incoherently. She's calling out to Luis. That was the only word I could read from her mouth.

I wonder what scared her. She seems brave, so I am removing stage fright as one of the reasons.

"Maybe, Taylah?" Ana’s voice once again flew into the air. I rolled my eyes.

What does she think she is? A kid who still believes in ghosts? I feel so stressed. I need a good fight right now.

"Wow! That's so creative of you, Ana." I made my voice as sarcastic as I can be.

"I'll take it from here, Jean," Peyton looked at me from the window sill. "You can go home now." He's using that authoritative voice again, which we both know never really works on me.

Before I could stop myself, my left eyebrow raised at him. I made sure he was looking at me by tapping the door frame behind me. My dad told me to help them and I took them to one of the rooms in the office. And now he's shooing me away just like that.

"She's my friend's girlfriend, too. I should be the one looking out for her. I think Luis will feel safer if she's with me."

"If I were to be asked, you're the dangerous one in this room, Garinder." She didn't hide the disgust in her voice. Ana raised her brows at me, taunting me to fight her with words. Just as I have been waiting for it.

"Why are you even here, Ana? You aren't even friends with Sophia or Peyton. I don't see any reasons for you to be here." I saw her frown but didn't say a thing. "Oh, have you run out of gossip to write? Should we wait for a photo of Sophia on your page later? What a rat you are, huh?"

She bit her lower lip and glared at me. “I don’t intend to write rumors about Sophia. She looked like she needed a friend. That is why I’m here.”

“She doesn’t need one like you. You might even write rumors about her or share her secret on your page. Isn’t that what you always do?” She stood up from her seat and started walking my way. She was about to jump on me if it wasn't for redhead standing between us. He immediately caught up to her and held her right arm.

"Ana, hold your horses. You don't want to be in jail this time. Jean was just kidding. Right, Jean?" Yeah. Another jail time for this gossipmonger. Troublesome.

"Oh, it's okay redhead. Let her come to me. I won't back down." I told him and it made Ana scream in annoyance.

"I hate you!"

She was about to push the redhead at me, but Peyton was too fast and grabbing him away, making Ana collide with me. Her body slammed hard on me and I lost my balance.

And that really hurts. Ana is small and petite but she's heavy. It felt like I was hit by a bag of rice. I came crushing to the floor with my head hitting the door frame, hard. I felt my world shake and my eyes became blurry in a few seconds. I blinked a few times and my vision came back.

Laughter then echoes in the room. They all came from Peyton, who was still holding the guy. Redhead seemed to be looking more worried about what had just happened before his eyes.

"Are you guys, okay?” He slapped Peyton on his shoulders. “Hey, stop laughing. You should go help Jean."

My head hurts a little. Ana was luckier. She collided with my soft body while I had to be the one to head right through the floor.

"Stop fighting now. You’re making me laugh hard. Sophia needed us the most right now. Right, Coover?"

Redhead, who was still focusing on whether he would help us or not, nodded. So, he goes with the name Coover. Nice name, suits him.

He walked to us and helped me sit. He went to Ana who was sitting on the floor, who is now mumbling curses. I try to fix myself and check my head for bumps.

None. Yey!

I was busy giving myself a pat when my line of sight travelled back to Peyton. I saw something flash before his eyes as he was looking at the two people talking beside me.

I knew it.

"I'm genuinely concerned about Sophia, okay?” Ana once again tries explaining herself, with her voice breaking. “She was staring at me a while ago and her eyes were making me feel scared. She seems to be scared of something. I don't know what her deal is, but I want to see her well." The sudden change in her tone calmed my anger. I may always spark fights with her, but I know I still care for her. Even after what she had done.

Alright, let her be. Just this once, Jean. She has been your friend once, anyway.

"Fine. I'm sorry too." I stood up, holding the door knob for balance. Pointing at Ana, I spoke my mind. "I just don't really like you around me."

"Why does it have to be me? I never wanted to be around you either."

"Come on, guys. Stop bickering around each other. This is not about us. Sophia hasn't woken up yet." Right? She has been sleeping for a few minutes now. I wonder if the burial is done yet. Dad told me he'd call if they are about to bury the casket. I haven’t said my goodbyes yet. Even if I don’t want to.

"What do you think about Luis' disappearance?"

Again.

"Seriously, Ana? Luis wasn't a fan of disappearing acts on magic shows. If that's what you want to know."

Before she could answer, a low groan distracted us. Sophia’s eyes fluttered open. Her eyes seemed off. No. She seems different.

“Sophia!” Peyton aided her when she tried to get up.

Sophia was just looking at us, confused. Ana and Coover immediately got up and greeted her. She was just listening but her mind seemed to be wandering, her eyes I couldn’t even read.

Loud knocks surprised me. I opened the door and a couple who were in their fifties greeted me. I immediately recognized them as Sophia's parents when I saw the resemblance. Besides, Mr. Chase is a famous painter and he is the first one that I could tell apart.

“Is Sophia here? Sophia?” the lady asked as she tried to locate her daughter in the room.

“Mom?" Sofia called out. "Mom, I’m here.” She raised her hand so her mom could see her easily.

Sofia’s mom immediately went in and pulled her daughter into a hug. They were talking when Mr. Chase suddenly thanked me. He also called out to Peyton and they talked for a while. After a few minutes of checking up on her, her mom bids us goodbye. She thanked us and gave us a sweet smile.

Sophia, who is now calmer, walks towards me and hugs me suddenly. My body became tensed and I contemplated if I should hug her back or not. I decided not to.

“Thank you for helping me.” Her voice is soothing. She broke the hug and gave me a smile. A smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.

She walked out of the room and walked out with her parents. Peyton might not have noticed the sudden change, but something seemed off. I can’t pinpoint it right now, but I know there is something I should be worried about.

Ana walks towards me and we both watch Sophia walk away.

“You notice it too, right?”

I looked at her and nodded.

There’s definitely something going on with Sophia. I’m sure of that. But what's more, with Luis' girlfriend should I find out?