Chapter 12. Lies,  and more lies.

Making sure to inform her mother about her outing,  she put her hair up in a bun. The day was already hot enough and she didn't need her hair making things worse.

Today, her best friend hadn't been present at school. This wouldn't have bothered Leilani if Adana had called in sick but she hadn't called or texted. Not a single word.

"You know we could've taken my car and avoided this load of walking," Storm complained. "Do you even know her place?"

Not ready to show her uncertainty,  Leilani huffed and flipped him off. The truth was,  she didn't know where Adana lived. This was where she usually saw her friend disappear down the path when they were meant to depart.

"Yes, I know where she lives," she mumbled. "Now quit your whining and man up."

Storm scoffed. It was a pure coincidence that they both planned on visiting Adana and he was trying to be a gentleman by joining her. When they arranged to meet, he was mortified to learn they were going to walk.

"Are we there yet?" He pulled his jacket off and slung it over his shoulder. "Why does it have to be so hot?"

Ignoring him, a particular surname written boldly on a mailbox of a medium-sized house caught her attention and she released a sigh, grateful that she wouldn't have to admit anything to Storm.

"So I'll knock and maybe Adana will open the door?"

"I know how houses work." Storm said with a hint of sarcasm. "Just open the damn door, it's getting too hot."

Leilani rapped on the door before the little button on the side of the door caught her attention. Great. She cursed and pressed the bell.

"Oh. . . " Helen's voice came out in a strained sigh while the man between her thighs serviced her core. "Yeah, like that. Oh!"

The small ring failed to cut through her erratic breathing and panting.

"You like that," he flicked his tongue and she yelped moving her hips, her hands going to grip his hair.

It had been so long since she had felt this way about a man. She had searched and gone through a few, all in vain. Now,  she didn't think a random cartel owner in a tuxedo was her type but oh god, this he knew how to put that tongue to good use.

"Will you make that blasted ringing stop?" He spoke,  his voice vibrating into her. "It's distracting."

He pulled away causing Helen to whine, attempting to pull him to her but with a shake of his head,  he declined. Though all he wanted was to continue torturing her,  he couldn't bring himself to let her ignore the person at the door.

Helen's brows drew together and her mouth molded into a pout. She threw on a robe. It was almost evening and she preferred wearing something light.

Now standing in front of the door, she breathed out,  patting the robe. That damn ringing resounded again and her earlier anger resurfaced. She gave the door handle a harsh pull.

A girl, her daughters' age with heavy-looking hair in a bun and a boy, sharing the same age-range with hair deemed too long, stared back at her.

"And how may I help you?"

Storm was the first to speak. "Good afternoon ma'am, we're here to see Adana."

Helen found herself trying to blink away her surprise. Two other students coming to see her daughter? It was an alien concept. Did that mean Adana was growing wings to make friends?

Hoping her foolish daughter hadn't spilled any important information to these innocent-looking children, she wore her best welcoming smile and held the door wider for them to come in.

"Please take a seat,  I'll go call her."

She scurried away from the slightly messy living area and turned to rush down to the basement. She had planned to release Adana after the hot cartel owner left this night but these unexpected visits ruined that plan.

The pangs of hunger clawed at the walls of Adana's stomach where she sat. Joints aching and head ringing like a busy landline. The strong beam of light from the room above the stairs caused her to wince, and try to shield her eyes.

"You have visitors."

***

"What happened?"

"Why weren't you in school?"

"You look like shit."

Adana held her palm up,  their voices were making the ringing in her head increase. Staying still when all you wanted to do was collapse and have a long nap was almost impossible.

"One question at a time please," she said in a cracky voice. "And one observation at a time, Storm."

Storm and Leilani exchanged glances and Leilani nodded, agreeing to let him speak.

"First, as I said before,  you look like shit," he said, his eyes darting across her face. "How about we go grab something and talk there?"

"I don't think I have the strength and I'm getting better," she felt horrible lying to them but exposing her mother's moves wasn't an option. "I just need rest, that's all I need, please."

Leilani's jaw ticked out of anger at her friend. She didn't look like she needed to 'get more rest', she looked like she needed food in her system. Shoulder blades that weren't noticeable now stood out and lips now cracked. No. She wouldn't allow her to sit here like this.

"No,  you don't just need rest, you need food too." Leilani almost yelled but at the startled expression from Adana, she sighed. "Please come with us and we'll talk about it over early dinner and maybe ice cream?"

"Fine." She surrendered and closed her eyes.

Storm grinned despite himself and turned. "I'll go fetch my car. It's not far."

"You brought your car?"

"No," he answered one leg still inside the house and the other outside. "A friend took it out,  he's not far, I'll just give him a call and he'll drive it here."

They both nodded and the door clicked. Silence hung between the pair as they waited for Storm's horn. Adana pulled herself to her feet. There was no way she would go out in an old cotton tee and sweatpants.

"I'm just gonna change into something presentable," she said,  "can't go out looking like this."