More Than One: A Novel (17 page)

Rach wasn't back. I walked around the room for a minute to clear my head. I finally threw on some pajamas and got in bed. I closed my eyes and let the events of the day swirl around in my mind. The last scene played and I went to sleep.

Chapter Sixteen

I've been trying to get in contact with Michael for the past couple of days and he won't answer his phone. I can't believe he was that upset about me hanging out with Ash instead of him. I thought he would be more understanding of our friendship, but I guess I was wrong.

              After class, if he didn't answer his phone, I was going to go over to his place and make him talk to me, just like he did me that day in the woods.              

              I went to my last class of the day and sat down in the front. I decided I was going to text Michael before class started. I sent him a text saying I wish he would call me. I felt like I was some maniac calling and texting him so much, but I needed him to understand there was nothing between Ash and me. He wouldn't talk to me, so how could I?

Thirty minutes into the class, I realized texting him was a bad idea. I was checking my phone every five minutes to see if he replied and he hadn't. I couldn't concentrate on what the teacher was saying and this seemed to be an important lesson.

I looked down at my notes and I only had two lines there. What am I doing to myself, I thought. I took my phone, turned it off, and threw it into my purse. I tuned into the teacher and began catching up on what I missed.

              The class was over and I grabbed my things and headed to my car. I opened my purse and grabbed my phone to check for messages. There was none. I tried to call Michael again before I barged into his house; still no answer. This has gone on too long.

              I drove to his place in a hurry. I only had an hour or so before I had to be at work so I had to make this quick. I couldn’t stand the fact of him hating me. Things shouldn't be like this. I know he told Ash that I'm not all there when were together and that I apparently talked about Ash a lot, but it wasn't like that at all. I loved Ash, but it was purely platonic. And I know my mind is elsewhere sometimes, but I explained that to him, I thought he got it. I tried to warn him, but he insisted on letting this go on and now we’re in this situation and he won't talk to me.

              If he was going to end things with me, he could at least have the decency to do it to my face and not have me hanging on wondering. That was just mean.

              I pulled up at his place and got out. I've never gone to anyone's house unannounced, but this was driving me crazy. I went to the door and knocked. I started looking around and then I got nervous. What if he had another girl over here? Would I be able to take it if he did? He wouldn't do that to me, would he?

              He finally answered the door and he had a surprised look on his face.

              “Hey,” he said.

              “Hey,” I replied looking down. ”You wouldn't take my calls or return any of them. I had to check on you.”

              “Yeah, I've been busy.”

              “Doing what? Are you seriously that mad at me?” I asked.

              “No, I'm not mad at you. I've just been busy.”

              My heart started pounding. He hadn't let me in yet and he was blocking the door. Was there someone else in there? I was so upset with him.

              “Are you going to let me in or are you busy right now?” I asked.

              He rubbed the back of his head and then looked behind him. He has been blowing me off and now he is acting like a jerk. What did I do to deserve this?

              “My place is a mess, I haven't had time to clean up...” he started.

              I pushed the door as hard as I could and it flung open.

              “I'll live,” I said pushing past him and walking in.

              I looked around to see if there was anyone there, but his place was empty. I calmed down a little and took a seat on the couch. He closed the door then came and sat down beside me.

              “What is this really about? You're blowing me off and that's not cool. You told me we needed to communicate more and be honest with each other and you are doing the total opposite right now. What is it? Just tell me,” I said.

              “It's Ash,” he yelled and I jumped at the rise in his voice.

              “What about Ash?”

              “Every time I turn around, it's Ash this and Ash that. Ash needs me and I'm so worried about Ash. I understand you guys are best friends and I know he was here before me, I get that. But what about me? I always come second to him. How do you think that makes me feel?”

              I really felt bad at that point. I knew what he meant. It was just so hard to make everyone happy. I was trying my best and it wasn't working.

              “I'm so sorry if I've been putting you second to Ash, but you know it's not like that with us. We've been friends for so long and he has always been there for me when I needed him, it never dawned on me that you would feel this way. I mean, he says I've been neglecting him for you. I just don't know how to please everyone,” I said.

              He moved closer to me on the couch and his face finally softened.

              “I'm not trying to make you choose between me and Ash, but I would like to know that our relationship has some weight or merit. I want to know that I do come first sometimes, that's all.”

              “I get it and I'm really sorry. I just hate it when I think someone is mad at me, especially someone I love. Next time, just tell me. I'm trying to work on being a better person,” I said.

              “Look, I can't blame this all on you. I should have talked to you. And I guess I could have been more understanding, but it was really getting to me and all I wanted to do was be angry.”

              I tried to comfort him. I hated that he felt like this and it was because of me. I was so torn between my love for him and my friendship with Ash.

              “I'm trying my best, so can I at least get points for that,” I said rubbing his cheek. “This is all new to me, you know, having a boyfriend. It's been awhile since I was in a relationship, especially one that lasted. So, it's hard for me to change my routine, but I'm getting better.”

              He touched my cheek gently and looked deep into my eyes.

              “I'll help you if you would like.”

              I nodded and felt relieved we were passed this. I don't know why I was so worried that we wouldn't. I still had my hang ups about him, but I loved him and didn't want to see him hurt.

              “I love you so much Jamie. You know that right?” he asked.

              “I do and I love you, too. I'm glad we worked this out.”

              “Me too.” he said and kissed me on the forehead. “I was about to cook something to eat. You hungry?”

              “Yes, I am. I have to be at work in about a half an hour. I won't have time to pick anything up. What are you cooking?”

              “Instant noodles,” he said laughing.

              “Chicken or beef?”

              “Which would you prefer?” he said.

              “Beef.”

              “I'm really not making noodles. I'm going to whip up something a little classier than that.”

              “Okay, you do that and I'm going to watch some television.”

              He got up and went to the kitchen and I looked around for the remote. He wasn't kidding when he said he needed to clean up. He had mail and papers everywhere, clothes on the floor and take out on the dining room table. On one of our bad days, this could have been me and Rach's dorm room.

              I pushed aside some mail and found the remote, but one of the letters caught my eye. The handwriting looked so familiar to me. I looked toward the kitchen to see of Michael was coming. I heard the sound of pots and pans clattering in the kitchen and I knew it was okay for me to snoop around.

              I grabbed the letter and noticed the senders name was an A. Thompson and the address underneath her name was from Rome. I gasped and dropped the envelope. The letters that were being put under my door were being delivered by him.

              I had good reason to be suspicious of him. I knew he knew more than he led me to believe. It was starting to make sense now. The reason why he couldn't tell me where he was from and what he did for a living. Why when we suggested that someone was delivering the notes for this
A
person, he looked away and didn't say anything.

              I picked the letter back up and flipped it over. It had already been opened. I pulled the contents out and unfolded it. Just like I thought, there was another envelope inside with my name on it. There was also a note with Michael's name. I unfolded it and read what it said. Abigail Thompson was the woman's name. She was asking about Ash's health amongst other things. She wanted to know if Michael was okay and about his living conditions. She asked if he needed more money to be sent to him.

              I was astounded. Why was everyone keeping secrets from me? He said he wanted to help me, but he was lying, he was never going to help me figure things out. I'm so stupid for believing anything that he said. I should have known that this thing with him was too good to be true. And I should have been more worried about the fact that he wouldn't share anything about his life with me. That should have hit me upside the head; red flags should have been flaring, but it didn't.

              I was so caught up in the fact that he loved me and he was so nice to me. No one has ever made me feel the way he did and now I find out it was all a lie. He was using me.

              I heard Michael coming around the corner and I didn't care that he would find out that I was going through his things.

              “How do you feel about....” he was saying until he saw me holding the letter.

              “What is this?” I asked holding up the envelope.

              “What are you doing going through my things?” he asked snatching it out of my hand.

              “Well, apparently half of that is mine. One of the envelopes has my name on it.”

              He sat down and put his hands over his face.

              “Look Jamie, let me explain.”

              “Why should I? You've been lying to me this whole time. Why should I believe this time would be any different? Has anything you told me been the truth? You told me you loved me, was that a lie too?” I asked.

              “No Jamie, you know that the feelings I have for you are real.”

              “Then why all the secrecy? Why all the lies? We talked about this. I told you everything I've been going through and you said you didn't know anything, but that wasn't true.”

              I folded my arms across my chest to try and hold it together, but I was on the verge of a breakdown. First, I find out that Ash has been lying to me, and he's really a clone and now this. I wondered what Rach would tell me, that she’s a witch or something else mythical. Who can I trust?

              “Okay, I know how this looks, but I want to explain and this time I will tell you the truth,” he said.

              I leaned back and closed my eyes. I still didn't trust that he would be completely honest with me, but I wanted to hear what he had to say on the subject.

              “I'm listening,” I finally said.

              “Before I say anything, you have to promise me that this will stay between you and me.”

              “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got it; danger, secrets, whatever. Just talk,” I said fuming.

              “This is serious Jamie. I could get into so much trouble if they find out that I'm telling you this.”

              “Who are they? And who am I going to tell, seriously?”

              He took a deep breath.

              “I work for a scientist. Actually I work for Ash's father.”

              I opened my eyes and focused on him. I knew this conversation was going to leave me totally confused.

              “Ash's father is a doctor and a scientist. I was going to school when I met him and he offered me an internship with him and his partner Dr. Lewis. Abigail Thompson, the one who has been sending you the letters, was the one who referred me to them.”

              “So, why was this supposed to be a secret?” I asked.

              “Because once I was in deep enough, I found out what they were doing was considered illegal, but there was no way for me to get out by then and even more, I didn't want to.”

              “What were they doing?” I asked, even though I knew the answer to my own question. Ash swore me to secrecy as well and I wasn't going to break my promise to him.

              “They were doing research. Research that could change the way we think about the longevity of our lives.”

              “I don't get it.”

              “The research was on clones,” he said and grinned.

              I guess he wanted me to take that all in, because he didn't say anything after that. What he didn't know was, I've already had the reaction he was expecting a couple of days ago with Ash. Before I could say anything, my phone rang. I looked at it and quickly realized I was later for work. It was Keisha. I answered the phone and told her I would be there soon. There was no way I was leaving until I got more information.