“We can help you,” I say, even though I have no idea how I would help beyond my emotional support.
“I’m okay, Mena. Really. Just … forget I said anything.” Her voice has taken on an edge, and I know that pushing her now will shut this conversation down permanently. So I nod, waiting a few extra seconds in case she changes her mind. When she doesn’t, I thank her again for the ride and climb out of the car.
Sydney and I watch as she drives away, offering her a wave. When she’s gone, Sydney is curious.
“What was that about?” she asks.
“I’ll tell you later,” I say.
Sydney turns to face the massive house. “What has Lennon Rose gotten herself into?” she asks.
“We’re about to find out,” I murmur.
There are beautiful plants set all around the porch as we get to the front door. I wonder if Lennon Rose put them here, a reminder of the beauty of the Federal Flower Garden. I’ll probably never go back there. Too bad. It was one of the few places that I enjoyed visiting with Innovations Academy.
“Here we go,” Sydney says. She uses the large, attached handle to knock. A hollow sound echoes behind the door.
We only wait a moment before we hear the clicking of locks, and then the heavy door pulls open. Inside, the house is darker than on the porch and it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust.
And then suddenly, as if she’s just appearing, Lennon Rose stands in front of us. Her ponytail is down, her blond hair flowing over her shoulders. My breath catches.
But it’s Sydney who leaps forward to hug her.
“Oh, Lennon Rose!” Sydney calls, gathering her into her arms. Lennon Rose squeezes her eyes closed like she’s overwhelmed too. They hug desperately in the entryway, and my heart just about bursts to see them together again.
“I’ve missed you so much,” Sydney says, tears streaking her mascara down her face.
They cling together for several moments before Lennon Rose sniffles and straightens out of her arms. She smiles at both of us, wiping her cheeks, even though they’re not wet with tears. Sydney and I, however, are a mess.
We take a moment to get ahold of ourselves. Lennon Rose presses her lips together sympathetically.
“I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you at the game,” she says in the same sweet tone we remember. “I didn’t want to draw attention to us. But I knew you’d come find me.”
“We’ll always come for you,” Sydney says. Lennon Rose steps aside and invites us in. She watches us as we enter, studying us.
The foyer itself is grand, and my eyes feast on the stimulus. Wood floors and patterned wallpaper, a massive staircase with oversized windows along the wall. Paintings are hung in gold frames, and I imagine everything in here is expensive. On one side of the entry is a room with a thirty-foot-high ceiling and a grand piano, almost like a ballroom.
Lennon Rose closes the front door and locks it. She leads us down the hallway a bit and opens a set of doors. The room is beautiful. A library or study, I’m not sure, but it has tons of books, a brown leather sofa, and a desk. We take a seat as Lennon Rose stands in front of us. Sydney is still shaking.
Lennon Rose is different. We used to constantly worry about her, but she’s clearly gained some confidence. I’m happy for that … but it only deepens the mystery of what befell her at Innovations Academy. And now that I know she’s safe, she’s alive, a new sentiment bubbles up—hurt.
“You disappeared,” I say, my voice betraying my pain. “We didn’t think we’d ever see you again. What happened to you? Why haven’t you … Why didn’t you let us know you were okay?”
“What happened to me?” Lennon Rose asks, and then smiles. “Everything.”
That’s not exactly an answer. I glance around, trying to figure out what’s going on. Lennon Rose is in a mansion in the same town as us. There’s no way it’s a coincidence.
“Are you here to find information about the investor?” Sydney asks, picking up on my thoughts.
“It’s a long story,” Lennon Rose says. She sits in a chair across from us. “But first, tell me how the other girls are. I’ve missed them. Are they here too?”
“Uh …” I furrow my brow. “A few of us are here, yes.”
“A few?” Lennon Rose repeats with concern. “What do you mean? Is Valentine here?”
My heart sinks. “No,” I say, and the word is a whisper filled with grief.
Lennon Rose’s expression clouds over. “Why not? What happened?”
