The Story of Crystal Lakes (pt 7)

“How are you this morning, lil mama?” asked Pepper Smart’s roommate, Ebony Holland.1

“Having a strange craving for Fruit Loops.” Pepper laughed. “This kid’s gonna be a sugar addict.”2

Ebony laughed with her. “Hey, as long as they have their parent’s good looks, it’s all good.” She then turned to a more serious matter. “Have you told Jay he’s the father?”3

Pepper shook her glorious blonde head. “No, because I know he’ll try to be all gallant and divorce Rachael so he can be with me and the kid, and Rachael always looks so happy with him. Not that I’ve seen them together in about seven months.”4

“Every kid needs their father, Pep,” Ebony sighed, looking at her. “And I should know, I’m nearly twenty-five and I’m living off my pregnant best friend’s mega-rich parents. I didn’t have a dad.”5

“It’s just-” Pepper hesitated, “ I love Jay, you know. And I do want me and our child to be with him as a family. But, you know, I would hate to ruin what looks like such a great relationship.”6

“He cheated on his wife. With you. Their relationship can’t be THAT great,” Ebony reminded her.7

“You’re right,” Pepper admitted.8

But I still don’t want to do it, Pepper said to herself.9

*10

Driving down to the police station, Ella wondered what could possibly be so important. The person (Ella wasn’t quite sure if it was a man or a woman) that had spoken to Ella and asked her to come down had sounded super-serious. Had she been speeding (again), or forgotten to pay off a parking ticket or something?11

She parked right outside the police station, made sure her hair was immaculate (remember, we’re talking seriously upper-class neighbourhood here, and even if you weren’t rich, you were supposed to look like you were) and strode in, feeling nervous. 12

“Hi, my name’s Ella Kennedy,” she said, in the nicest, most innocent voice possible. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the missing persons posters, and they were making her feel scared. “I was asked to come down here?”13

“Ah, yes.” The female receptionist’s face was slightly distorted behind the many layers of bulletproof glass. “Detective Thomas will be out in a minute. Take a seat.”14

Ella flinched visibly at the sight of the metal, definitely uncomfortable chairs. She daintily sat down on it, wondering just how long she would have to stay here. She thought longingly of her chaise longue she had at home. 15

After five minutes a guy came out. “Ella Kennedy?”16

Every minute was definitely worth it, Ella decided. 17

Detective Thomas was very, very handsome. 18

“Yes?” she replied, trying not to sound as breathless as she felt.19

“Come with me,” he said in an almost offhand manner, smiling at her.20

She followed him in a trancelike manner to a small grey room. 21

“Do you know why you are here?” Detective Thomas asked her, looking her directly in the eye. It was slightly unnerving.22

“I’m afraid not… I’m sorry, I wasn’t told your name?” Ella said, removing her Prada sunglasses (she’d found them in a junk shop in the Crystal Lakes Shopping Centre for $5).23

“My apologies, Ella. Detective Seth Thomas.”24

“Nice to meet you, Seth, although it is under slightly different circumstances to which I would normally meet people. So, tell me- why am I here?”25

Seth’s face was suddenly solemn. “Are you aware of the death and possible murder of Daniel Hartridge yesterday night?”26

“Yes, I saw it on the news,” Ella replied, wondering why it should matter to her. Yes, it was tragic that he was dead, but she had never seen him before the news report last night. 27

“You are also aware that all residents and visitors to Crystal Lakes are required to give DNA when they come here?”28

“Yes.” Ella was well aware of this slightly unusual custom- when she had moved here, she had been very confused as to what kind of DNA they wanted. Eventually, one of the officers had simply plucked a hair from her head and registered it under her name.29

“When we analysed the deceased’s DNA last night, it was discovered to have a partial match to yours.” Seth put his hands over hers. “It appears that you two were twins.”30

*31

Elysha strode into the Lounge with a very clear sense of purpose. She looked frightening, even.32

“Good morning, Mrs Clear,” Alice said as Elysha walked in. “Haw are you, this lovely morning?”33

“Yeah, whatever,” Elysha said rudely, dismissing Alice with a wave of her hand. “Where’s Kari?”34

Across the café, Kari spotted her. “Goddamn, that’s Elysha!” she exclaimed, and ducked into the toilets right next to their table.35

Crystal raised her eyebrows at Donna, who shrugged. “I only know as much as you do.”36

“Act natural,” Belle muttered. “Elysha can get VERY nasty. Seriously.”37

Will said quietly, eyeing Elysha, “She’s coming. Are you ready for this, guys?”38

“Good morning, ladies… and gentleman,” she said frostily, regarding them with a toss of her coiffed head. “You wouldn’t happen to know where my daughter is, by chance, would you?” She gave Crystal a nasty look.39

“Kari, you mean?” Belle said, twisting around in her chair and giving Elysha an innocent look. “She was in here a few minutes ago with Adam Gilmore.”40

“I think they said they were going to Big Juicy, or Kryptonite, or somewhere,” Will said, sounding convincing. 41

“I’m sure,” Elysha replied coldly, looking at Will with a look full of contempt; his arm was still around Crystal’s waist. “Were Kari and Adam sitting with you?” 42

“Yeah, we were all discussing the big Mitchell-Gooderson wedding. You know, the one that, like, everybody in town got invited to. It’s gonna be pretty good.” Donna had never met Elysha before in her life (in person), but she’d seen her in lots of Crystal’s pictures she had from university. Also, she was very good at acting like she knew Elysha; there was a reason she’d been great at Drama in high school.43

“Well, then. If you see her again today, any of you, tell her she still has a lot of packing to do.” And with that, Elysha strode out of the restaurant, and everybody present that had been anywhere near Elysha’s baleful presence (even the people at the next table) let out a sigh of relief. 44

“Big Juicy and Kryptonite are on the other side of town,” Belle explained with a laugh. “Let’s just say that Elysha won’t be back for a while.”45

Kari crept out of the bathroom, looking around warily, and then joined in with the laughter already coming from their table.46

*47

“Seriously, Miranda,” Samantha Darcy said into her bright pink mobile phone, yawning. “You know I’m still on University Standard time, which is generally four hours behind everyone else’s. It wasn’t THAT long ago that you were at the Academy, either. So what gives? Why are you calling me at 12:00 in the afternoon? You, like, woke me up.”48

Miranda laughed at her friend from the other side of the phone. “Just because we used to sleep in till, like, one in the afternoon back when we were at the Academy, doesn’t mean we still can. We’re supposed to be adults, remember? Anyway, never mind your disrupted beauty sleep. I want to know if you interested in free tickets into Starstruck tonight?”49

“That V.I.P club, the best one in the whole of Crystal Lakes’ nightlife district that’s right in the middle of it?” Samantha gasped, suddenly feeling wide awake and forgetting that she usually woke up an entire hour later. “How the hell did you get free passes into that place? It’s so exclusive.”50

“My cousin Denise is dating the owner of the place,” Miranda laughed, feeling proud of herself. “We have lifetime passes. She made him get us the lifetime passes because, you know, they’ll probably break up, and there’s a pretty high possibility of that. Denise generally keeps her shoes longer than she keeps her boyfriends.”51

“Well, there’s no way I’m skipping out on this party. All for partying all night and sleeping in till four in the afternoon,” Samantha proclaimed boldly. “Just like we did in college. We’ll be the coolest people in all of Crystal Lakes.”52

“Plus, guess what? Crystal Depp has come back to town, so who knows? She might make an appearance as well tonight,” Miranda told Samantha, sounding excited. “We might get to meet Crystal Lakes’ biggest celebrity.”53

“Wow, really? Lucky us,” replied Samantha sarcastically; she had always been on Jackson’s side when it came to what was known throughout the town as ‘the scandal of Crystal Lakes’. “I’ll come to pick you up at six, and you’d better be ready.”54

“Yes, I certainly will. See ya.” And with that Miranda hung up the phone, with a victorious smile on her face. 55

*56