Andy’s POV
I pushed him away from me and he wouldn't meet my eyes. He was still shaking but his face was forming back to its usual stone mask. I wasn’t ready for him to go back to the silent rock that he was. He’d just revealed crucial information about his past, something that I didn't think anyone else knew. I needed to know something more.
“Jinxx, tell me what happened to you,” I said gripping his shoulders. He shook his head.
“Don’t tell a living soul. Go eat like nothing happened, tell them I’m checking on CC, I’ll be back soon,” He said. He stood, turned around and went back down the hall. I wanted to punch something. I should have forced him to tell me. I stood and padded down the stairs, trying to look as if I was normal. As I came down the stairs the smell of frying bacon invaded my senses, my mouth watered. I hadn’t had a home cooked meal in what felt like centuries. I walked across the clean white carpet of the living room and into the kitchen. My dad was standing at the stove, with pancakes piled around him. Jake, Ashley and my mom sat at the table together. They were talking like they had known each other for years.
“Grab a plate, Andy,” My dad said holding out a plate with one hand while he flipped a pancake with the other. I scooped up some food, not only where there pancakes, but eggs, and bacon as well. My stomach moaned and my mouth watered. I piled my plate with as much as I could handle. The bacon sizzled and curled up at the edges. It was the first thing that I shoved into my mouth when I sat down. It melted in my mouth. I poured amber syrup over top of the golden edges of the pancakes. As I shoveled them in I had a moment to realize that they had chocolate chips infused into the center. The eggs were light and fluffy. For a moment I was so involved in my food that I forgot to breathe. I looked up to see my mom laughing and rubbing her temples good naturedly.
“You were worried about us being polite, Andy jeez,” Jake said. I swallowed hard.
“Sorry,”
“Oh, Andy it’s okay. You guys are all walking skeletons, eat everything but the kitchen sink for all I care,” my mom said.
“Watch out Mrs. Biersack, we just might take you up on that offer,” Ashley chided and my dad laughed.
“So, your friends have been telling us a bit about where you’ve been all this time. Living in the woods, eh?” my dad said from the stove.
“Yeah,” I said, my gut sinking with guilt. I suddenly didn’t feel so hungry anymore, but I kept eating just to finish off the plate.
“Well once you clear your name you gotta show us the place,” He said. His tone was so light hearted. It was like we were talking about my first apartment or something. I expected them to be much more condescending.
“Speaking of clearing your name, the boys here tell me that you guys are trying to catch the serial killer,” my mom brought it up so casually. I nodded.
“We’re going to try to break into the school and take some security tapes to see if they’ve been tampered with. I hate to ask but we need someplace close to the school that we can use as a base of operations. We were hoping we could set up here,” I said, I saw no reason not to cut straight to the chase. My parents looked at each other and I saw Ashley crossing his fingers under the table.
“Can you assure us that no one will get hurt in the process?” My dad said carefully.
“Of course, we won’t do it while people will be there. No one will get hurt,” Ash chimed in before I could say anything. I flashed him a look. We both knew that we couldn’t guarantee that, there were security guards all over that school, we would have to get past them somehow. Which gave endless opportunities for someone to get hurt. Ashley and I met eyes and he gave the most subtle shake of his head. I bit my tongue, I hated lying. My eyes shifted to Jake, he was holding his breath.
“That will be okay then. Just keep yourselves safe,” My mom said. Jake tried to let out his breath silently but if came out in a woosh of air across the table. There was a silence that entailed that there were things that wanted to be said, that were not being said. For sake of someone’s emotions, or keeping peace. Luckily Jinxx entered the room and broke the silence. I looked up at him and he looked the same as he always did. I would have been able to pretend that our encounter in the hallway hadn’t happened. Except for the fact that he met my eyes when he entered. He was making sure I hadn’t told anyone. Then Jinxx turned and smiled politely to my dad who handed him a loaded plate.
“How’s CC doing this morning, Jinxx?” My mom asked.
“He’s actually doing really well. I might go give him some food once I’m done. He’s awake and talking, I think he feels a lot better,” Jinxx said looking mighty pleased with himself.
“Oh, well you did a great job,” My mom said cheerfully.
“Jinxx do you mind if I go talk to him? I’ll bring him some food,” I said. Jinxx squinted at me suspiciously.
“What do you want to talk to him about?”
“I want to try to talk to him about the school, so we can plan how we’re gonna get in there, using this house as a base,” I replied.
“Just don’t get him too excited. He probably isn’t ready for intenses strategic talking yet. If you get him too worked up you’ll bust his stitches, and I’ll make you clean up the mess. So yes, talk to him, just be soothing. Also make sure when he eats you have a bucket so if he starts to feel sick you have someplace to put it,” Jinxx instructed. I nodded. He stood and began to select small bits of food for me to give to CC. My mom got up and brought me a small trash can.
“Give this food too him, but make sure that he goes slow, and if anything goes wrong yell for me,” Jinxx said.
“Okay,” I replied. The rest of the band watched on as I took the plate in one hand and the trash can in the other hand.
“Good luck, we’ll be up later if it goes well,” Jake said. Ash made a sound of agreement as he stretched back in his chair, his hand on his stomach. Once they slept off their food comas they’d be up to see me.
I rounded the staircase and made my way up. I quickly realized that I didn’t know which room CC was in. So I made my way down the hall kicking doors open until I found the right one. It was the door closest to the bathroom. Probably a good idea. Laying in the bed was CC, propped up on pillows and nodding off to sleep. He looked better than I’d last seen him though. His lips were pink and his face had some color to it. His groggy eyes opened when he saw me come in. The blinds were open on the windows bathing the room in a golden glow. The bed was in the center of the right side wall when I came in, and the windows were on the far wall. I recognized as our guest bedroom. With white walls and golden blankets the room almost looked like a scene from Lord of the Rings. CC squinted at me as I came in.
“Andy?” He questioned.
“Yep. How ya doin?” I said.
“Is that food for me?” He said ignoring my question entirely.
“Jinxx says you have to eat slow and stop if you feel sick, but yep it’s for you,”
“Thank god, I’m famished. To answer your question I’m feeling much better,” He said. I put the plate of food on his lap. I watched him closely as he nibbled on the end of a piece of bacon.
“Wow, this is great! Who cooked this?” He said with a grin.
“My dad,” I said, and I watched his eyebrows crinkle.
“So, we made it to your house and I was too sick to remember it?”
“CC, you were entirely unconscious before we left the woods,” I teased smiling at him.
“Well that explains the black hole that is my memory,” He said shrugging his shoulders. I couldn’t help but smile at his constantly amiable nature.
“So what’s up with you?” He said.
“How much do you know about the layout of the school?”
“I can draw it for you,”
“Do you know enough to talk us through getting in and out without being there to see it for yourself?”
“Yes, but I’m still bummed that have to miss out on all the fun,” He said shaking his head, “Stupid body, getting sick at the wrong time,”.
“I’m just glad you’re alive man,” I said patting his shoulder.
“Well my friend, based solely upon how good this food is. I can say that I am also glad that I am still alive,”

Notes

Hey guys!! Sorry about the abrupt ending, but I can't even believe I got a chapter up today. I hope you all enjoy, and please leave me a comment and let me know what you think.