Chapter 26: Chapter 26

: Jay and Sam

Meanwhile

Britney was preparing for her girls day out with Lucy and Anna whom she thought was accompanying her. She wrestled with the curls in her hair, sighing softly, when she realized they wouldn't be tamed.

Mckayla trudged into the room sleepily, with a blanket trailing behind her “where are you going?" she asked yawning as she sat on her bed in nothing but her pajamas, wrapping her fuzzy pink covers around her.

"Have you forgotten? Britney asked, turning around to face her, folding her arm, ' I was invited out for a girls day,”

"Oh...I must have slept it off," Mckayla replied scratching her scalp. She shrugged proceeded to get back up, "well I hope you two have fun," she said, about to walk away.

"Wait!" Britney called.

"Agh, what?" Mckayla huffed out wishing she never came in the first place. There were a million dreams waiting for just a pillow away.

"Come with me,”

Mckayla let out an amused snort like it was the joke of the century, proceeding to walk out the door

"Oh c'mon today's Saturday, You can take some time off," she persuaded blocking her path.

Her cousin paused taking a good look at her, "I know, but I want to stay in and relax today, I've earned it," she said as she sat on Britney's bed still sleepy. She yawned once more, her eyelid falling in a sleepy motion.

"Just do this one favor for me,” Britney pleaded moving toward her as she clasped her hands together, "pretty please?" She asked flashing her puppy dog eyes.

"I don't see what the problem is, it's just a girl’s day out," Mckayla groaned, looking up at her

"Yes, but it's with Lucy,”

"So? She’s still a girl."

"I know, but I will feel uncomfortable spending the whole day with her. I told you how she made me feel. I'm sure she will hunt me down especially if she's bringing a friend."

"How bad could she be?" Mckayla asked, crawling into Britney's covers.

"Really bad."

"Got any proof?" Mckayla hummed, fluffing her pillow.

There was a small silence before she heard Britney reply, "No I just feel it."

"Nah. In a court of law, that wouldn't hold up,” Mckayla sighed resting her head on the pillow, slowly closing her eyes and succumbing to her tiredness.

"But this isn't a court if law, you are family, " Britney shot back, shaking her awake, causing Mckayla to sit up with a frustrated groan,

"But I like facts and just because you have a feeling don't mean someone's bad, plus you've been wrong before, the only feeling you can trust is mine," she replied more wide awake than ever. She glanced at Britney, then the bed, sighing deeply. If she couldn't go back to sleep, she might as well eat, "I'm going down for breakfast," she said standing up and heading out the door.

Britney groaned, throwing herself on her bed, kicking it with frustration. She screamed into her pillow when her brain decided to think about what sort if devious plans Anna and Lucy had in store for her. She was not built to last under pressure. She was sure to crack!

After a few moments she calmed down, sighing as she started up at the ceiling. Whatever would happen, would happen.

***********

Mckayla made a quick breakfast with cornflakes and milk and sat down on the couch, fiddling with the remote.

"Morning dear," Aunt Molly called coming down stairs, adjusting her bracelet.

"Morning!" Mckayla replied switching on the tv, before giving her Aunt her full attention, doing a full body sweep, "with, someone’s looking yummy."

Aunt Molly chuckled, trying to suppress her blush, "thank you,” she replied with a slight nod.

Mckayla nodded in reply.

"By the way, where's Britney?” she asked making some breakfast, "I feel like I haven't seen her in forever."

Makayla grinned at his, "upstairs whining about something," she joked.

"Typical of Britney," Aunt Molly responded setting her breakfast on the open kitchen counter, "aren't you not coming by the office?" She continued, glancing at Mckayla's pajamas.

"Nah, I was thinking I would take a break today, this week has just been so stressful for me,” was the reply

"Well, I guess I could allow you to take time off, you've never missed a day,” Aunt Molly replied.

Mckayla smiled as she filled her mouth with another spoonful of cornflakes.

"Any way, I can't take time off, I need to see that next week’s edition of The Close Up is perfect," she said kissing Mckayla on the forehead, taking her car keys from the table, "oh and take care of Britney, I hate it when she whines, " she finished as she opened the door and left.

Mckayla kept eating her breakfast and watching TV. She only got up about thirty minutes later when she heard a knock on the door.

"Aunt Molly is that you? Have you left something again?" Mckayla called out, not wanting to pause her movie but the knock only came out louder.

"Auntie!" she called out but no response came. She groaned as the knock kept on, "I'm coming" she said, setting her bowl of cornflakes on the kitchen counter, before opening  the door, coming  face to face with a lady.

Mckayla took an I'm bothered look at her, noticing she looked a bit older than her and Britney,  wearing jeans and a frilly see-through top that showed absolutely everything, including the design and color of her bra. This made Mckayla a little more interested, studying her a little more as she eyed her brown hair with blond streaks put in a neat pony-tail, paired with sun-glasses on her head and the latest Coach purse.

Her feet were graced in golden flat pumps, a huge smile which suddenly disappeared when she saw Mckayla.

Mckayla noticed that her makeup was exquisite and her posture alone brought out the fact that this chick was living the life.

Lucy in turn had taken a good look at the girl before her. She was wearing baggy grey pajamas with absolutely no makeup and her hair was a huge mess. In fact it looked like a large black cat was sleeping on her head completely giving out the fact that she had just woken up which surprised Lucy because no one stays asleep by ten on her watch.

She had chestnut eyes and raven black hair but even through her mess, she was strangely attractive in weird way. Like how she was pulling off this Hobo look. That thought alone made her decide she didn't like hobo girl standing in front of her. It was a mutual feeling, because Mckayla did not like the girl in front of her either.

"Oh hi," Lucy finally began after their mini stare down, faking a smile.

"Hey," Mckayla responded returning the fake smile.

"Sorry, I’m looking for a girl, uhmm Britney. She gave me this address. I'm I at the right house?" she asked not believing that Britney could live in a nice house like this.

"Britney you say?" Mckayla asked still feigning her smile, while examining her, "you must me Lucy."

Lucy nodded, "I guess I'm at the right house then, you know my name but uhmm, I don't know yours."

"Mckayla," Mckayla replied, offering her hand for a polite shake.

Lucy looked at it for a moment wondering if she should return the gesture suspiciously sure Mckayla hadn't bathed yet or even washed her hands. However, in order to sustain the good aura she greeted her reluctantly.

This hadn't gone unnoticed by Mckayla, causing her to grit her teeth in annoyance.

"Mckayla! I've actually heard about you, your Britney's cousin, the talkative one," she said as Mckayla showed her in, taking a quick sweep of the surrounding, desperate to find even one blemish. She didn't have to look hard because almost immediately she had spotted the bowl of the half eaten cornflakes in disgust, as she sat down slowly on the couch.

"Yes, I am Britney's cousin and I do talk a lot," she replied smiling at her sweetly. “"I'll be right down, let me get Britney."

Lucy returned the smile as watching as she headed up the stairs.

Mckayla stomped up the stairs angrily, she could see right through Lucy, literally too.

She opened Britney's bed room door and found Britney doing her last pinch of makeup, turning as she walked in.

"Lucy's down stairs," Mckayla announced

"So soon?!" Britney gasped, glancing at her watch, "B-but, she's an hour early."

"You were right. That woman spells trouble all over her," Mckayla muttered completely ignoring Britney's comment plopping angrily on Britney's bed , "she's spend so much time in high class she probably forgot her roots, " She spat folding her arms, "looking at me like that! I'll dare her!"

"What makes you say so, do you have any proof?” Britney mocked, setting down her brush.

"Cut it out,” Mckayla hissed as Britney chuckled.

"That's it! Babe me up baby," she began glancing at Britney, "I'm coming along."

Britney's jaw dropped, clapping her hands in glee, "you're coming with?" she asked

"I wouldn't miss it for the world,” she replied as Britney got a comb and started brushing through Mckayla's monstrosity of hair.

***

Lucy looked at her watch, wondering what was taking so long. She completely loathed time wasters. She looked up at the clock above her, just in case her time was wrong, not that she thought it was possible seeing as how organized she was. She sighed leaning back in the couch, before flipping through the channels just trying to kill time.

An hour later Britney came down stairs

"I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting," she said, giving her a little hug, which Lucy took unexpectedly not used to the action but having enough energy to smile back and hide her disgust.

"You were one hour early,” Britney continued.

"not anymore," she muttered under her breath still upholding the fake smile,” well, we best be off, then,”

"Oh! Hold on, my cousins accompanying us too,” Britney announced.

"Your cousin?" she asked in dismay

"Yes me," a voice said from upstairs as Britney nodded. Lucy watched as Mckayla came down stairs all ready to go, looking even prettier with make-up on, "there isn't any problem is there?" she asked, innocently when she approached them.

Lucy shook her head hiding her irritation, something told her bringing the cousin was a bad idea, but she couldn't exactly tell her no. “It’s just perfect," she said, clasping her hands together, "the more merrily."

"Good! I thought so too. Then we better go, we wouldn't want to waste any more time would we?" Mckayla asked, as Britney smiled shaking her head, "I have a feeling we are going to have a wonderful Time," Mckayla finished taking Britney's hand and walking out the door.

Lucy gritted her teeth angrily, "just perfect," she muttered. This was going to be harder than she thought.

**************

Meanwhile

Anna, Chris, Beats and Justin were spending the rest of the day together. The boys were actually surprised to see that Anna was a ball of fun.

She was outspoken as compared to Lucy who they were used seeing shying away.

Anna was different, apart from knowing a little about sound equipment she could make the perfect cup of coffee and knew how to dance and cracked a whole lot of jokes.

"You know the first time I saw you, I really thought you were shy," Justin began, hitting into the slice of pizza he was holding.

"Well first impressions aren't always the right ones," Anna replied, with a soft grin, wiping the sauce from her bottom lip.

"So, what did you want to become?" Chris asked sipping some Fanta.

"I wanted to do it all, actually. I wanted to sing, act you know all that, but the good lord didn't bless me with a good voice like Justin over there, “she replied causing them all to chuckle, “but I did believe I would make a great actress though," she said smiling.

"Well we have something in common then," Chris replied with a slight grin, "I think I would make quite an alright actor too," he said.

"You know, you do have talent, “Beats put in,” I aint seem nobody break down like bruh, your dance moves are crazy,”

"I didn't know anybody could twist there body like that," Justin added

"You should have broken some bones are you sure you’re alright?" Chris continued joining the laughter.

Anna chuckled, "you know what I else I can do?” she asked them

"Please, enlighten us," Beats responded quite intrigued.

"I can read palms," she said sitting up, eyeing everyone in the room.

There was an eerie silence,

"No way like psychic?" Justin asked surprised.

"Yeah a little, I guess, want to try?"

"No I think I'll pass,” Justin began leaning back on the equipment,” I don't know about supernatural things, I don't mess with that bro."

"Yeah, I also don't think I'm all for that either. Sounds creepy,” Chris backed settling back into his chair after getting another slice of pizza.

"Oh not at, it's not like witchcraft or anything I just learned to do it. It’s an art, anyone can do it. All you have to do is know what the lines mean depending on how they cross,”

Justin and Chris exchanged look, shaking their heads in unison still not convinced.

"Screw them,” Beats began glancing at Chris and Justin, "They're all chickens, try me," Beats said rolling up his sleeves, before placing his hand in Anna's large palm.

"Okay," she said, with a slight chuckle, moving in to take a close look.

"I see prosperity," she said as her fingers traced a line, "you're going very far in life," she said, "and this line shows that you are on the right path. Your futures quite bright, but you're going to find cross roads soon, and the choice will be yours."

"Cross roads?" he asked, raising both eyebrows completely immersed.

"Yes, but don't worry, you'll be confused for a minute or two but all is confusing when it comes to love. You'll be okay," she said sitting up.

"Love?" Chris asked wiggling his eyebrows at Beats, "ooh la la"

"I hope she has meat," Beats announced nodding his head.

Causing them all to burst into laughter.

"You know what? Go ahead and read me too," Chris said giving her his hand.

"Are you sure?" she asked, starting at him carefully.

"If Beats did it, I can too."

"Now that's a man," Beats replied.

"Okay do key," she said moving closer to him and reading his palm.

She had him just where she wanted.

"I see that you're in love," she says as she traced a line.

Chris covered his mouth, trying to stop a chuckle as Justin patted him.

"Very much in love," she repeated looking at him smiling, ”but here the lines cross," she said.

"What does that mean?" Chris asked anxiously

"Will he be confused too?" Beats asked laughing

"No, the way is quite clear for him," Anna replied, glancing at Beats, "when the time comes, you'll realize that there's someone else out there," she said still looking at his palm.

"I see you knowing what the way is but reluctant to take it," she said, "I see you looking back."

"Is that bad?" Chris asked, his eyebrows furrowing in our concern.

"It’s never a good idea to look back,” Anna replied looking at him straight in the eye, "when you've lost something it's in the past. The only way is forward, moving on, with someone," she said as he lowered his hand slowly, thinking.

"Well, I guess it's my turn," Justin began moving toward her, giving her his hand.

She smiled at him as she looked onto his palm, she paused, her eyebrows furrowing bring his plan closer, "I see sadness, despair and unhappiness, in this line," she said tracing it.

Justin held his breath, starting at her.

"Don't worry that's the line that tells us where you’re from, " she said smiling at him

"That’s my past line?" he asked

She nodded.

He paused for a second thinking about how accurate it was before returning his eyes on his palm, "how about my future?" he asked

She looked back at his palm for a second, swallowing hard, “This line….this line shows mistrust."

"Mistrust?" he echoed.

"Someone's going to break your trust,” Anna said running through the line, "someone you love, someone you trust is going to betray you."

Justin shivered at this, watching her closely, "this one shows pain, just after the mistrust line,” She continued, "that signifies, that after that trust is broken you will be in intense pain," she said shaking her head. She paused for a minute, Justin noticed the slight shake in her hand.

"What...what's wrong?" Chris asked staring at Justin's outstretched palm.

"There’s another mistrust line," she said biting her bottom lip. "It's farther than the first but, it will be equally as painful difficult times await you," she said.

"Wait!" she said before Justin could pull out his hand, "this line, this last line signifies light,"

"Light?" Beats asked, "What does that mean?"

Anna smiled, "it means strength, and happiness, "she said looking up at Justin

"You will be happy in the end, I see love and it’s. It’s much closer than you think," she said

"Love? Me?" Justin asked, now completely sure this whole thing was fake as he pulled back his hand.

"Not just any kind, the real thing,” She replied folding her arms with a smirk.

Chris patted Justin's arm.

"That line that goes around the rest showing company, even though trying times are ahead of you. You will always have someone to help you along the way. Till you find your happiness," she finished.

"Well that's enough to think about for one day," Beats began.

Anna nodded, "y'all well be okay," she said "how about coffee?" she asked getting up.

“Please!" Beats replied as she laughed and left the studio.

"Well, she's one in a million," Beats commented after Anna had left

"Yeah, definitely is,” Justin replied glancing at the door for a second before they went back to work.

They remained at CR the whole day. Just practicing and having fun until Justin finally recorded the perfect track and they could finally go home.

**************

Meanwhile.

Lucy's get away was not going according to plan. Mckayla was defensive of her cousin, bouncing back any question Lucy had asked and what she deemed inappropriate.

She was indeed talkative and a machine gun. For the youngest in the group she was definitely the fiercest thing Lucy had encountered. She had always though she was stubborn but Mckayla was the hardest headed girl she had ever met.

They had decided to take a manicure and pedicure and some massages after a stressful day of shopping and watching movies at the cinema.

"So...Britney what is it you said your mother did again?" Lucy asked as they all sat side by side getting pedicures.

"Didn't I tell you she worked at a firm,” Britney asked, not even sparing her a glance as she sighed leaning back, thanks to the double massage she was getting.

"Oh yes you did, a manager right?"

Britney nodded. That explained the big house she thought.

"But you didn't tell me what she does,”

Britney paused for a minute

"She works at a marketing advertising agency," she lied.

"Mmm marketing?" Lucy asked

Britney nodded.

"How about you?" Mckayla suddenly asked, shooting the question back to Lucy.

Lucy chuckled, "well I'm Justin's assistant."

"I know that, I meant your mother,” Mckayla replied turning her head to get a better view of her, "what does your mother do?"

Lucy paused for a minute, she had told Justin her mother and father had died in a fatal shooting, she had to back up her story just in case.

"I don't have a mother. She died in a fatal shooting alongside my father," she said gulping softly.

“Sorry to hear that, what happened?"  Britney asked, a sadness in her tone. Failing to imagine how much Lucy had gone through when that happened. Her eyes swarming with pity, glancing momentarily at  Mckayla who was browsing the internet on her phone, quite bored as if she wasn't the one who had asked the question, or care about the intensity of the answer.

"It’s okay. If you don't want to say anything," Britney added comforting, realizing it must be uncomfortable for Lucy to speak about it.

Mckayla looked at Lucy and saw she was nervous as well, putting her phone down to listen to whatever it is she had uttered.

“A fatal shooting?" she re asked

"How did that happen?"

Lucy swallows hard, giving Mckayla a hard glare.

Britney swatted Mckayla's hand in a hard pat, motioning to her to stop acting that way and actually act like she did have a heart.

"Don't answer that question," Britney said speaking up, throwing Mckayla a glare.

"no it's okay," Lucy replied knowing that she did look nervous and not wanting look suspicious, "uhmm, they worked at Westfield bank in Manhattan,", she began, "one day robbers came and took them hostage while trying to rob the bank. Someone contacted the police, making the robbers angry and they started shooting. Five hostages died that night, my parents were part of them," she said faking a tear

.

"It’s okay," Britney said patting her, "I'm so sorry to hear that."

"I'm fine, it was a long time ago," Lucy said, “even though it still makes me cry," she added trying to sub the tears that rolled down her cheek.

"What where their names?" Mckayla asked, titling her head to the side, curiously.

What was wrong with this girl? Lucy thought, didn't she have any sympathy? She kept thinking as she wiped the tears from her face.

Mckayla wasn't buying any of it. Full stop.

Nothing of whatever she was saying. Her journalistic side could tell when someone was faking a story, she had heard it many times before it was impossible to fool her.

"Mckayla!" Britney snapped pushing her, giving her the ‘can't you show even just a little bit of sympathy’ look.

"It's fine Britney. Their names where Jay and Sam," she said smiling sad.

"Here," Mckayla said giving her a tissue from her purse. That's should stop the snot

Lucy took it with a small thank you.

They spent the rest of the evening there before Lucy drove them back home. She hugged them good bye before leaving, with a a dry, "I hope we do this again."

The girls found their mother/Aunt at home apparently, she had been spying on them through the window and told them they were lucky it had been a girl they had been with and not a boy.

They didn't have the heart to tell her they were grown enough to have boyfriends.

They kissed her and went upstairs each exhausted.

***********

Lucy reached her apartment and walked in, finding Anna in the kitchen. "You look exhausted, "  Anna commented with a slight chuckle as Lucy took a seat beside her.

"I am exhausted, “she replied, "how did your day go?" she asked.

Anna smiled, "it was perfect, the boys and I had so much fun. I think Chris is warning up to me," she said.

"That’s good," Lucy replied, widening her eyes. At least someone had a good Day, "remember you have to earn his trust first, Chris is a hard knot to untie, you have to be extra careful." she warned, pouring herself a glass of water.

"I know, but I think I'm in the right direction, we had so much fun today," Anna replied with a slight, giggle and dreamy look in her eye.

Lucy sighed, "I'm glad to hear that your day went well," she began, "mine on the other hand.." She trailed off shaking her head.

"What happened?" Anna asked, setting a dinner plate in front of Lucy.

Lucy picked up a fork, "we spent the whole day with Lucy and her meddlesome cousin, "

"Cousin?"

"Yeah and I honestly just don't like that girl, she's talkative and defensive, ruined all my plans, "

"She sounds interesting,” Anna replied.

"She’s an evil little which, she kept asking about my family,” Lucy replied rolling her eyes.

"Your family? What do you say?" Anna asked, raising both eyebrows as she took back her seat beside her, immediately indulging in the food.

"I had to back up the story I told Justin, but the little bitch asked what really happened you know the details."

"So what did you say?"

"I told her about the bank robbery,”

"You did what?" Anna screeched eyes widening, “that was a bad move!" She finished, dropping her fork

"I was cornered, I had nothing left to say, I couldn't find a good lie,” Lucy muttered running her tempo.

"so you told the truth, " Anna scolded looking at her in disbelief.

Lucy shrugged.

Anna shook her head, “I pray to God this doesn't back fire, because our plans could be ruined." she said looking at her with completely fury.

*****

Meantime

Mckayla entered Britney's room ready to blurt something out when Britney stopped her, "what?" Britney asked.

"Why so hostile?" Mckayla asked sitting beside her.

"Really Mckayla?" Britney hissed folding her arms,

Mckayla shrugged still confused.

"Your behavior today was horrible. You made Lucy feel uncomfortable and she probably now has a bad spot for us"

"Oh please I couldn't believe a word she said, she's a bad liar, " Mckayla scoffed brushing it aside.

Britney looked at her cousin in disbelief, "Do you have any proof?" She mocked once again.

Mckayla smiled slyly "actually, I do,” she replied moving closer to her, causing Britney to frown slightly. Not expecting that answer.

"I couldn't believe her crocodile tears so I searched Westfield Bank Robberies in Manhattan,” she began causing Britney's eyebrows to furrow,

"Only two came up. I checked for Five Dead in back robbery and I was left with one that happened fifteen years ago, “Mckayla continued, her face glowing as if she had just uncovered the story of the century.

"So that means Lucy told the truth," Britney replied, with a slight roll of the eyes.

Mckayla shook her head in further excitement," but get this, all the hostages that were shot dead were males," she said.

"So?" Britney asked, still not following but slightly suspicious.

"The robbers where later apprehended by state police and see what's interesting is...” She trailed off grabbing her phone, swiping through it.

"What?" Britney asked, actually starting to feel the excitement rumbling through her.

"Among the robbers where a couple, and what was the name of Lucy's parents again?" Mckayla asked raising a cunning eyebrow at her cousin.

"Jay and Sam" Britney replied, in a question like way.

"Well this couples name was James and Samantha, they were sentenced for life and are still imprison," she said showing her the phone.

"No....no way" Britney said as she looked at the pictures, "they do look alike, Samantha and Lucy,” she complimented.

"I know" Mckayla said smiling, feeling more than proud of herself.

"But why did Lucy lie?"