“How about if we send James to accompany you?” Mom says. “That would make me feel better.”
“Mom, you need James. What about the creeper? Aren’t you still scared about that? Have you heard from him since I’ve been gone? You’d tell me, wouldn’t you?”
“We did actually get another note from him. It said something again about me being a whore and how he is making plans. We don’t know what that means, but yes, I’d prefer to have James here with the girls. We’re keeping them pretty much under lock and key.”
“Mom! I have seen that guy from the picture before. I just realized it. The day I was at the mall and locked my keys in the car. While I was waiting for Nanny to bring me the spare set, I watched those protesters over by the beach. You know the ones that are protesting over the development being done. They have those horrible little fake graves with animal’s names on them. I think he was one of them. I remember thinking he should be more worried about his own white skin burning to a crisp in the sun.”
James says, “You’re right, he has been there. And around Malibu. The people who work at the yogurt shop recognized him too. We matched that photo to his driver’s license, and Garrett has had some people tail him off and on. So far, we haven’t been able to connect him to the letters though. And we’re still looking for other possible suspects. Garrett doesn’t want to focus only on him.”
“Mom! James!! Why didn’t you tell me all this?”
“We didn’t want to worry you, honey. We’ll tell you if you need to worry.”
“Okay, so what about this summer? About our plans?”
“I just don’t know, Keatyn,” Mom says.
“Mom, I don’t want to face my friends. And I might as well tell you now. I’ve been thinking about not going back to school. Like I might decide to be tutored again. Or do online classes or something.”
“Why wouldn’t you want to go back to school?”
“Just everything that’s happened. It’s not just what happened with Cush. It’s Vanessa and RiAnne. It’s just everything.”
“I don’t think you should run away from your problems. You need to be tough and work through them,” Tommy says.
Jeez, he sounds like Brooklyn.
Mom makes a hmmm sound, and I hear everyone whispering in the background. I hear something about the creeper and not having to worry about me. Mom finally says, “If it weren’t for what happened with Brandon, I’d probably make you come home. I miss you. But I think I might agree that putting a little distance between you and your friends isn’t a bad idea. So, if you promise to check in twice a day and email us an itinerary, and always answer your phone when I call you, I guess the answer is yes.”
“Yay! Thanks, Mom. I love you.”
“Keatyn, I’m serious. I’m giving you an awful lot of freedom. Do not disappoint me.”
“I won’t. I promise. Tell the girls I love them, and I’ll Skype them soon!”
“Be safe!” everyone says.
“Love you too,” Mom says. She’s quiet for a couple seconds. “I still can’t believe you slept with Brandon and didn’t tell me!”
“Goodbye, Mom.”
Wednesday, July 27th
My horrific ends.
2pm
We got back yesterday from our tour of some of Europe’s greatest surfing spots. We really had a great time. We surfed some killer waves, many of which were way too advanced for me, but Brooklyn had no problems with them. He just seems to keep getting better and better. On the water he is in his element. It’s like he belongs on a wave, and it’s really where he seems happiest.
And I’m happy too. We’ve relaxed and chilled.
There’s nothing like surfing and lying on the beach for a month to help you forget about reality.
But now that we’re back at the house here in France, I’m really pretty excited to get back to the real world.
At least to dress up again. To do my hair all up.
For the beach, I packed very light. Bikinis, sweatshirts, and a few sundresses that I could roll into a ball and fit in a backpack. We stayed at a couple nice resorts, but overall, it was very casual. And I literally lived out of a large backpack.
For a month!
Which I need to check into, because that just might be some sort of fashion record.
For hanging with Damian on tour, we’ll be in bigger cities, which means I need good clothes, fun clothes.
So as soon as we got back to the house, I excitedly hit the swag closet.
Brooklyn finds me surrounded by clothes.
“What are you doing?”
“Finding some cute outfits to pack. I wasn’t planning on being here all summer. I didn’t really bring very many clothes.”
He eyes the three pieces of luggage I have sitting on stands, and he cringes.
“Do you have to take the Vuitton luggage?”
“Yes. When you travel with good luggage, people treat you nicer. You should always dress nice when you travel. It says something about you.”
“Like I waste my money on conspicuous consumption because it makes me feel better about myself?”