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sheridanfalls · 5 years ago

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1X02

1x01 |

Tazia rolled over in the bed, Fletcher laying shirtless next to her above the sheets. The room was dark except for the glow of two phones. She gently pushed the blankets off her body as she took her phone of the charger.

20 missed calls.

She glanced back to make sure Fletcher was asleep before slipping into the bathroom. She locked the door and sat in the large jacuzzi tub as she took a deep breath before hitting call on the first number.

It didn’t ring long, “Ana.” The voice was relieved for a moment but layered with something else.

“Hey Key.” Her voice unsteady, “is it true, or did I make a total fool out of myself on National TV for no reason.”

“It’s true Ana, Willa is really gone.”

“How did Mom take it?” She wrapped her arms around herself, keeping her eyes on the door.

Her brother sighed, “Not good, not as dramatically as you, but um, not well.”

“And Dad?”

“He’s been sitting in his den since he got home today.”

“At least Belle is with you.”

“She’s out of town, she’s on a girl’s weekend with some college friends. She won’t have phone service until she comes back on Monday.”

Tazia scrunched her face up, “I’m sorry.” She looked away from the door, “I’m going to come home. I’ll be on the first flight in the morning.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I can sneak into the state pretty undetected. Besides, people will just think that I’m going to rehab. That’s the narrative surrounding me right now, isn’t it?”

“Unfortunately.” He wanted to say more, “You can stay at my place, instead of the ranch.”

“I’ll figure it out, I don’t want to impose on you and Belle.”

“You’re my sister, my other half Ana.”

“Do you think Mom would let me stay at the ranch?”

“Dad will, and she would just have to accept it.”

“I’m going to go and book a flight right now.”

“Ana, please don’t bring Fletcher.”

“I had no intention of doing so. He can hang out in LA for all I care.” Tazia let her eyes drift to the door again, “I don’t want him to know about Willa, I don’t want that as part of my story.”

Keaton sighed, “Willa is a part of our story, if she wanted to be or not. I don’t think you need to share it. I don’t think any of us need to share it.”

“Kara showed up, didn’t she?”

“Yeah, she brought a casserole.”

“Hey Key.”

“Yeah Ana?”

“Is it true we have a niece?”

“Yeah, but that is a whole other can of worms I’m not ready to open. We can talk about that when you get home.”

“Yeah, I’ll text you the details. I love you Key.”

“I love you too Ana.”

***

Belle rested her forehead against Mitch’s, their bodies glistening from the evening activities so far. Every touch felt deeper, filled with more passion then she could remember every feeling outside of this cabin.

Mitch kissed her neck, his fingers feathering down her body. “I can’t get enough of you.”

She moaned at his touch as he pulled her closer for more. Any thoughts, any care for her life outside of the cabin were forgotten as she allowed herself to get lost in the moment. Clinging to Mitch she cried out his name as she threw her head back on the couch.

His put his foot on the floor to regain balance, hitting the TV power button as he did so.

This afternoon pop star Tazia collapsed on live television before performing her latest single. Her manager Fletcher Curtis explained that she was exhausted from preparing for her tour and will take a short vacation before it starts this summer.

Neither heard the TV, just the sounds of their own desires being met as they continued enjoying their limited time together.

***

Georgina Woodward finished taping up the final box in her living room. She just had a few more things to pack up in the kitchen and bathroom. In the morning the movers would arrive, and everything would be loaded onto a truck and brought to Sheridan Falls.

She wasn’t thrilled about the move, but she understood why her husband Mitch wanted to move out of Denver. He was able to work anywhere, and why be in the city when you could just be in a nice small town.

Yet he had arranged for this move to happen when he was off at a conference in Dallas. She could strangle her husband, if she didn’t love him so damn much.

She picked up her phone, hitting the icon to call him, feeling her stomach sink when it went to voicemail, “Hey babe, everything is packed, I’m going to take a shower, get ready for bed. The movers will be here early, I just wish you were here for this. I love you Mitch.”

Running her hands through her dark chestnut hair she sighed, her whole life was packed up in boxes, tomorrow she would be starting a new chapter, it just felt weird her husband wasn’t with her for this.

***

“Hello, and welcome to another episode of Coffee, Donuts, and Crime. I’m your host Kara Greene and I’ve got an update for you on the case of Willa Hughes.” Kara spoke into the microphone, surrounded by the low lights of her salt lamp and a couple of candles as well as the dimmed overhead light.

She was alone as she spoke to the camera, as though she were just having a video chat with friends. “As you all know this case as stayed with me since I first started looking into it. Willa Hughes ran away from home in the spring of 2000. Her mother Rosemary never gave up hope that Willa would be found and return home.”

Kara took a sip from her coffee mug, “Unfortunately, this afternoon we found out that for all these years Willa was okay, she was happy, married, and had a daughter. She was also killed in a car accident in Utah this morning.”

Tucking her blonde hair behind her ear she continued as she focused on the camera, “Willa Hughes, for the past almost twenty years has been known as Willow Chase, the wife of Bennett Chase the leader of the Fire Yoga movement. It’s understood that their teenage daughter was not in the car with them. The Hughes family has not made a public comment at this time.”

“Also, this afternoon, Pop Princess Tazia passed out on live television. Social Media immediately began to come alive with theories of substance abuse. Her manager however said it was simply exhaustion.” She took another sip of her drink, “We all know Tazia loves the spotlight, who can forget her feud with Joel Riley after they broke up. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I have a feeling we’ll be seeing far more headlines about Tazia before too long.”

“I’ll be back soon as we dive into a new case, and with more updates about past ones when possible. Until then have some Coffee and a Donut, and we’ll meet up soon for another chat. Bye all.” Kara reached forward clicking the camera off and watching as the file uploaded to her laptop.

She turned the lights up, before she pulled up her editing software. She just had a few things to put in. If she was lucky tomorrow Rosemary would call her up and arrange a new interview. Rosemary was always willing to talk about Willa, she would even brag about Keaton.

Kara felt the memory flash over her for a moment. Keaton close to her, his eyes clear with fire. She could feel the heat rising in her body. He came close to kissing her in the barn that day. She was still sure of it, yes, he’d been engaged at the time—he was married now to the lifestyle vlogger, but Keaton had wanted her.

As Kara went through the motions of her editing she glanced to her phone, seeing multiple text messages from her sister Sharon. She pulled them up, rolling her eyes.

Did you see him?

Do you just want to rip his shirt off and lick his chest?

He threw you off the ranch and told you to burn in hell, right?

Sex with him would probably be the hottest thing on the planet.

She quickly began to type a reply. Keaton was the only one their when I brought over a casserole. He pretty much told me to stay away. I’m sure Rosemary will reach out soon. I have no desire to have sex with Keaton Hughes even if he was the last man on earth.

Before she even put the phone down, she saw that Sharon had replied. She ignored her for now, she had a video to get out.

***

“She’s not going to call you.” Alec Riley looked over at his older brother.

“Who?” Joel took a sip from his pint glass as he glanced up at the tv above the bar.

Alec laughed, “You’re telling me that you don’t expect to hear from Tazia? She’s going to come; Rosemary would never let her live it down.”

“Tazia is a myth, a figment.” Joel looked at the golden drink filling half his glass, “Ana, she’s real, lost in a shadow, needing to be the good daughter.”

“It doesn’t matter what name she is using. She cheated on you with her manager. She’s been attached to him ever since.”

Joel rolled his eyes, “I expect to hear this stuff from Phoebe, not from you. What are you doing following only TMZ on twitter?”

Alec leaned back in his seat, a smirk on his face, “Come on Bro, I’ve been following this ever since you’re dance battle.”

“That didn’t happen.” Joel whined, “We didn’t get into a dance battle. You can’t believe everything you read on those trashy websites.”

“Come on Joel, I really love the mental picture of you and Tazia fighting it out via dance. Like, come on, the picture just paints itself.” Alec looked around, “I can almost hear the music playing, first it would be one of her songs, then your dance hit, the really bad 2000s outfits, I mean come on.”

Joel knew what night his brother was speaking about. It was the last time besides an award show they had been anywhere near each other. For a moment Joel believed that if he and Ana got to talk, that they would clear up everything. Then he saw the way Fletcher Curtis slunk his arms around her on the dance floor.

It might not have been the dance battle that TMZ had reported or lived in the legend of old gossip sites long abandoned. Joel had pulled his back up dancer Chloe out onto the floor. Kept her close, even closer when he felt that Ana was looking. Did he kiss Chloe at one point on the dance floor, yes? When he pulled away did he see Ana locked in a hot and heavy kiss with Fletcher? He sure as hell did.

“Joel, Joel, Joel!” Alec snapped, about ready to slap his brother in the face.

“Sorry, I spaced out.”

“You never got over her, did you?”

“You never get over your first love.” Joel let a smile cross his lips as he thought about the first time, he an Ana kissed, it was the night before Willa ran away.

“I’ll take your word for it.” Alec shook his head, “Remember, I’m the heartless one who has never been in love, while you’ve written some of the most annoying love songs ever. Seriously, if I have to go to one more wedding and hear Summer Dance again I might kill you in your sleep.”

Joel rolled his eyes, “At least I’m not the one who sings it.”

“Thank God for small favors.” He sighed, “Well, it’s late. We should get back to the ranch.”

Joel tossed some cash onto the bar, “I can’t wait until we have the ranch set up and going. It’ll mean less trips into town.”

“Yeah, coming into town is totally the worse thing ever.” Alec froze as the door opened, in she stepped with her pitch-black hair, precious moment eyes, and full lips.

“Alec, you coming?”

“Yeah, sorry.” He followed his brother outside, glancing towards the window once more.

“Who is she?”

Alec shrugged, “No idea.”

“Let’s go.” Joel pushed him towards the truck. “We have an early morning.”

“Remind me why I agreed to be your foreman?”

“Because I’m a spoiled popstar with money to burn, and willing to pay you, give you a place to live in my giant house, let you swim in my indoor pool, oh and because I’m your brother.”

“I liked it better when you called yourself a spoiled popstar.” Alec took one more look towards the bar, wondering who the raven-haired beauty was.

***

Fletcher reached across the bed, pulling a pillow against him, breathing in its scent before realizing he was alone in the bed. “Taz?”

The morning sun was starting to come through the curtains. He threw the sheets aside and went to check his phone, at that moment that her phone was gone. He looked at this screen.

Had to go to Colorado. I need to see Keaton, twin thing. Do. Not. Follow. Stay in NYC, manage the whole passing out on live TV thing. Thanks.

He groaned. Every damn time she went back to Colorado, which thankfully wasn’t often he had to calm her down. Anytime she had been around her mother she would come back spiraling. Though he wasn’t as worried about her dealing with her mother, it was just a hassle. It was that Joel fucking Riley had texted her after the incident on TV.

He pulled open a drawer, pulling out a pair of sweatpants a t-shirt before he found the number, “Why the fuck did you let her leave?”

***

She hadn’t packed anything, she just got on the first flight she could. While she’d been waiting for it to board at JFK, she reserved a car at DIA, and put together a curbside pickup order for Target.

Her hair was pulled in a simple braid, she had no false lashes on, no makeup at all. She wore a pair of jeans, and a CU hoodie. She just looked like any average woman flying out. She had her purse of course, which she had filled with the few things she could think she needed.

In all honesty, she couldn’t recall the last time she had packed for herself, and since she had no idea how long she would be in Colorado, she didn’t know what to pack. So, while on the target app she ordered the basics of what she might need for a couple of days, including a basic black dress, everything was done under her real, legal name.

After she’d picked up her order at Target, she drove through the mountains to Sheridan Falls. She pulled over to the side of the road, taking a moment for herself. She had to decide now, did she go to Keaton’s house or her parents?

The dread in her stomach told her what she knew. Going straight to Keaton would be cowardly, she would have to go to the ranch first. However, her parents reacted would determine if she stuck around or went to spend the night at Keaton’s.

She started the car, pausing for a moment as a familiar voice hit her ears. Of course, it would be this song as she entered Sheridan Falls. Joel, he’d left her. Just walked out one day, and then a scathing song about her, accusing her of cheating.

Tazia felt cold as she remembered how it felt when she realized her was gone. And then the day that song came out, the music video dropping. She wouldn’t have to see Joel if she didn’t want to.

She did have to see her mother no matter what.

Might as well get it over with as soon as possible.

***

Keaton locked the front door of his house. He hadn’t slept much, but he had finished painting Belle’s office. He moved down to his truck, realizing that a moving truck was blocking his driveway. Sighing he moved towards the street, “Excuse me, you’re blocking my driveway.”

“Sorry bud, we’ll be out of the way in a minute.” The mover insisted.

Keaton wasn’t so sure as he walked around the truck, but they were almost empty. The team of men moving quickly to bring stuff into the old Windsor house.

“I’m so sorry.” A female voice came from behind him, “I’m trying to get them out as soon as possible.”

“It’s okay, they’re almost done.” Keaton turned to her, she was probably his age, with red hair lit by the son, “I’m Keaton Hughes.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Georgina Woodward, my husband Mitch and I are moving in. Unfortunately, he’s out of town right now.”

“Oh, that is a shame. If you need anything my wife Belle and I are usually around. She’s out of town this weekend, but she’ll be back Monday.”

“That’s so very nice of you.” Georgina kept her eyes on the movers, “I hope your not in a hurry?”

“Actually, I’m not.” He confessed, the last thing he wanted to do was deal with his parents and sister. “So, no need to rush them if you don’t have to.”

“Okay, thank you, still it should only be about fifteen minutes more.”

Keaton nodded, “Thanks.” He was already moving back towards his house.

***

Mitch nuzzled Belles neck as she poured a cup of coffee. She turned the TV on, “Do you want sugar?”

“You know what I want” His hands slipped along her waist.

Belle giggled, “Mitch, I need to at least get some coffee first.”

“Fine.” He sighed as he pulled away and began to fix his own. “Oh, did you see this yesterday?”

Belle looked to see what he was referencing, “What?”

“That pop star just totally passed out on TV She was probably high as a kite.”

“Wait, no, that’s not why.” Belle put her coffee mug down, “I have to go Mitch I’m sorry.”

Mitch reached for her, “What, why?”

“That missing woman they found, that’s Keaton’s sister, and that pop star who fainted in front of that news report, is also his sister.”

Mitch dropped his hand, “Go. It was short, it was sweet, next time will be longer.”

Belle felt the knot in her stomach, “Yes, next year.”

Mitch watched as she left for the bedroom, next year would be far too long. Belle would just have to be surprised to find out he was her new neighbor.

#Season One #Episode 1x02

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sheridanfalls · 5 years ago

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1x01

“Ana, Ana,” the desperate voice of her mother shook the young teenager out of her sleep.

“What?” Her voice hoarse from hours of singing the night before with Joel Riley, she sat up, pushing her blankets away.

Her mother threw the curtains open before turning to look at her youngest daughter, “Where is your sister?”

Ana rubbed her eyes, “I don’t know, the barn.” She shrugged pulling her pillow against her and laying back down.

“She ran away.” The words came out in a growl that instantly alerted the young teenager that sleep would not be anywhere on her agenda anytime soon.

“What, how do you know that, why would she?” The questions flew from her mouth as she watched the way her mother darted around the room.

Her mother ran a hand through her strawberry blonde hair, “She left a note. Your father is talking to the police. Did Willa say anything to you about running away, about leaving?”

Ana searched her mind for anything she could think of, “No, but have you checked her diary, she was always writing in it.”

“Yes, of course,” was the last thing her mother would say to her for weeks as she left Ana alone in the room, the morning sun starting to rinse the floor.

Tazia blinked as she woke up in the back of the limo, she could feel the chill throughout her body, she got this way whenever she remembered that dreadful morning when she was fourteen. Most days she could put her runaway sister behind her, but for some reason Willa had been in her dreams far more often, in one way or another.

“Don’t tell me you’re having more nightmares.” Her agent, Fletcher Curtis sighed as he looked up from his phone, “I told you to talk to Dr. Floyd about them and they would go away.”

Tazia rolled her eyes wrapping her gray cardigan around her body, “Dr. Floyd just wants to drug me up.”

“What you need is a vacation.” He continued to tap away at his phone, “Are you ready to perform today?”

“Yes.” It was one of the few things she still felt confident in, performing. She could get out on that little stage, in front of the studio audience, the harsh afternoon talk-show lighting and the cameras beaming her into the homes of people looking for some company in the middle of the day.

“Good, we’ll get you a coffee and then you’ll be good to go.”

Her body was still chilled as she looked out the window of the city traffic. A city full of strangers. Was Willa out here, was she living the life she wants, the one she had to escape Sheridan Falls for?

Over the years her mother Rosemary had gotten mad at her for not using her celebrity to bring Willa home. The last time she’d been at the family ranch had been about a decade before, not long after Joel had left her. It was a bad time all around and she could still smell the floral scents of her mother’s garden from the porch as she recalled it. The moment she told her mother that if Willa had wanted to come home, she would’ve.

“You know what you need, a vacation. I can get your schedule cleared for a couple of weeks. We’ll go to Hawaii; I can get that great house that you liked the last time we were there.”

“That sounds great.” It didn’t though, sure going to Hawaii sounded amazing, but another vacation with Fletcher sounded suffocating. Each year since Joel left her, her circle got smaller, and now it felt as though it was only Fletcher.

***

Keaton Hughes carried the suitcase out to the car parked in front of the house steps. His wife Isabelle was behind him with her purse as she followed behind, “Just make sure you have plenty of gas, that your phone is charged, I know service is spotty where you’re going, but check in once in a while.”

She smiled at her husband, his blue eyes full of love, “I will Keaton, it’s only a couple of nights. I left a lasagna for you tonight, and a bag in the freezer for you to dump in the slow cooker tomorrow.”

“You’re the best wife.” He pulled her close, breathing in the scent of her floral perfume before kissing her goodbye, slowly, memorably, knowing that life could change in a moment.

Isabelle pulled away, a smile on her face and her eyes closed before fluttering open again, “I love you Keaton, I’ll text you when I stop for gas.” She kissed his cheek as she clutched her keys in her hand, “I’ll see you Monday morning.”

He breathed in, “I know babe, I love you, Belle.”

She blew him a kiss before getting in her car, buckling in and driving away after the quick press of a button. She could see her husband in the rearview mirror, she loved him, he loved her, soon they would start to try for a family, but first she had to do something one last time. One final weekend away, time to close the door on her past, and fully embrace her future.

He stood by the steps, watching as she pulled out of the driveway, his eyes on her car until was down the street. He turned to go back into the house, he had a few repairs he planned to do while she was gone. He wanted to get her office painted, she’d been talking about setting up a permanent backdrop for her YouTube videos.

Making a stop in the kitchen he took the lasagna out of the freezer so it would thaw a bit before he threw it in the oven. He went out to the back yard and straight to the shed. He grabbed the can of paint he’d chosen, and the tools he needed. He pulled Spotify up on his phone, rolling his eyes when he saw the suggestion that he listen to the Best of Tazia.

He found what he wanted as he moved through the house to the office. The music filled the room as he started to move somethings out of the way to create the space, he believed his wife was craving. He paused the music and flipped phone into camera mode, “Hey YouTube, Keaton here. I know you’re like where is Belle. She’s on her yearly spa trip with her friends from college. I thought this would be the perfect time to redo her office. Since she’s the youtuber, not me I forgot to start filming before I started. Oops.” He chuckled, feeling awkward. He didn’t like the spotlight, that was for Belle and his sister, not for him.

He moved around the room taking footage, “I’ve started to move some stuff out of the way, but I wanted to give her a space special for her. So, I’m going to go and paint this wall back here, rearrange the furniture and maybe decorate a little.” He shrugged as he put the phone down across the room and started back to work.

Keaton was lost in the work when the doorbell rang, so much so that he didn’t hear it until it rang again. He moved through the house, his stomach starting to drop when he saw who was on the other side of the glass. He would recognize the figure of Detective Huff for as long as he lived. His hand shook as he opened the door, “Hello Detective, what can I do for you?”

***

“Great, I want to be able to open Memorial Day weekend. I need to be able to have those cabins installed by then.” Joel Riley spoke into his phone as he moved around his living room.

“I promise it will be done Joel.” The voice told him, “We’ve got the first three in production so far. That leaves six more. We’ll get these three out as soon as possible, we know it’s not the ideal time of year for an installation, but we’ll do all we can and at the very least get you ready to have the website and promotional material.”

“Thank you so much Bill, I appreciate it. I really want to see the Riley Ranch thrive and I wouldn’t be able to do this without you.”

The voice on the other end chuckled, “Well, thankfully you had a lot of good structures to start with. We’re just helping fill in a few gaps. I’ve got to run and pick up the kids from school but call on Monday and I’ll give you a progress report.”

“Great, thanks, bye.” Joel put his phone down on his baby grand piano, letting his fingers dance over the keys. He’d been stuck on the song he was writing; it was supposed to be for some pop star. Though the label wouldn’t tell him which one. They probably didn’t even know, it would get demoed around and then someone would fall for it, while others would regret not picking it.

Joel sighed, picking the up tv remote and turning on Afternoon America. Not really paying attention to the show he started to clean up and organize the papers from his meeting. He listened as the star of a sitcom discussed the very special episode that would air later in the evening—he hadn’t even realized they did special episodes.

Moving into the kitchen he started to sift through the cabinets trying to find something to eat. He grabbed a few things to start putting together a lunch when breaking news on the TV caught his attention.

***

Tazia took a deep breath as she walked onto the sound stage, the lights were low now during the commercial break. The live audience on the other side of the rotating stage. She wore light blue jeans, a Kelly-green t-shirt, and her long golden-brown hair pulled back into an easy ponytail. Simplicity was the look she was going for with this album, this song, back to basics what her idea for the upcoming tour. She didn’t want the pyrotechnics, she didn’t want the large set pieces, she wanted to perform and enjoy the energy from her audience.

“We’ve got breaking news this afternoon.” Tazia heard just as the stage had started to revolve towards the audience and cameras, as the show host did her best to play news anchor.

“This morning in Utah, Bennett Chase, the leader of the Fire Yoga movement was killed in a car accident along with his wife Willow”

Tazia looked towards the monitor that had the graphics that the audience at home saw on screen. She felt her stomach drop as soon as the picture came up. “Willow was really Willa Hughes, a Colorado teenager who ran away from her home in 2000. Her disappearance made national headlines as her mother Rosemary begged for her to come home.”

“Bennett Chase and his wife, are survived by a teenage daughter.”

Anything else that was said, Tazia couldn’t hear. Yes, they, searched for Willa, every day for 3 years. They finally had to stop when the post card arrived from her. It was her handwriting, the front said Greetings from Oregon, but the post mark was Alabama. She begged her parents to let her go, insisted she was happy.

That was the first time Tazia felt the shadow of her sister start to lift over her.

She always held on to the thought that Willa was alive. She was happy, wherever she was.

Now though, on the television monitor in front of her, she couldn’t hold on to that anymore. She couldn’t hold onto much as her body crashed to the ground.

***

“Oh shit.” Joel watched the report, Willa had been his babysitter when he was younger, the older sister of the first woman he’d ever loved. Then his eye caught what was happening in the background.

It couldn’t be, could it? Ana, or as the world knew her Tazia on TV finding out her long missing sister, was dead.

He could see her shaking as she reached out towards her sisters face on the monitor, and then as she collapsed to the ground, and the entire feed cut away.

He knew what headlines would be trending in a matter of minutes.

They would all be wrong.

People assuming that she was high on drugs.

She had always insisted that Willa wasn’t part of her story.

She had two lives, the one where she had an older sister, and the one where it was just her and her twin brother Keaton.

He picked up his phone, her number was still the first one in his contacts. He hadn’t spoken to her in well over a decade, but he was one of the few people in the world who knew, who cared, who know Ana and Tazia.

It probably wasn’t the same number anyways. He told himself as he hit the call button and took a deep breath. It rang several times before going to voice mail, “Hi, you’ve reached the private line of Tazia, please leave a message.”

“Ana, it’s Joel. I just heard about Willa. I’m sorry. I’m here for you if you need me.” He looked back at the television, excuses were already being made for her, “If you come back to Sheridan Falls, you can stay at my place. I know it’s not easy with your family, and I promise you’ll have privacy.”

Sighing he hung up, hoping she would be the one to hear the message, no once else. Though who knows, was he even listed in her phone anymore?

***

Isabelle finished filling her car with gas, she looked at her phone sitting in the cup holder and turned it off. If Keaton couldn’t get a call through to her this weekend, then he would believe she was off with her old sorority sisters.

Not that she was ever in a sorority. Her college didn’t have a Greek system. Keaton didn’t know that though.

He didn’t need to know where she was, who she was with.

She promised herself this would be the last time she did this.

Next year at this time she and Keaton would be pregnant, they would be expecting a child.

At least that was her plan.

For now, though she had to do this one more time.

She continued down the highway, listening to a podcast, but not really. She knew this route by heart as she took the left turn towards the cabin, she would spend the weekend in. The road seemed open around her, before the forest wrapped around her, deepening with its pine and juniper trees before arriving at the Woodward cabin.

It was quiet outside as she breathed in the clean air, whatever worries she had, were now gone. This was where she was meant to be.

She grabbed her bag and jogged up the stairs, she didn’t need to knock on the door as it opened. She gasped when she saw him, as if she hadn’t expected him to be here again. “Mitch!”

“Belle” He pulled her into arms, kissing her with the hunger of a year apart.

She was breathless against him as he pulled her into the cabin. His fingers in her hair, clinging to each other.

“I missed you.” He growled as he kicked the door closed before his lips tasted her neck.

Her eyes fluttered shut, “This isn’t fair.” She confessed, “I don’t feel alive unless I’m with you.”

“I know baby.” He cupped her face in his hands, his green eyes searching hers, “This weekend is ours, let me show you how much I missed you.”

She didn’t respond, she didn’t have to as she felt him lift her up as he kissed her, carrying her to the bedroom.

***

Keaton stared out the window. He couldn’t remember ever feeling as cold as he did right now. He hadn’t expected this kind of news. He was at the family ranch. Waiting for his parents to return, to hear anything from his sister.

The sun was setting, washing everything in orange. He saw the dust of a vehicle coming up the driveway.

He didn’t recognize it. It wasn’t anyone in the family, none of the ranch hands, it wasn’t one from a family friend he recognized.

Yet as it got closer his stomach grew heavy. He realized who it was.

Kara Greene, a true crime podcaster who had been obsessed with Willa’s story. About a year or so ago she had come to Sheridan Falls to investigate. Keaton had found her bothersome at the time. One thing he agreed with Ana about was that if Willa wanted to come home, she would.

He braced himself before going out to the porch, “Do I need to get the shot gun?”

“I just wanted to drop this off for your parents.” She was taking a casserole out of her car.

He sighed, “I’m sure they’ll appreciate it.” His mother would, his father probably not.

She brought it to the steps of the porch, reaching it out to him.

“Thank you, Kara.” He looked down at black sharpie directions for reheating. “I have no comment about anything today.”

“Not even the meltdown that popstar had when the news broke.”

“What are you talking about?”

Kara shrugged, “It was the weirdest thing, Tazia was about to perform this afternoon, and the news broke and since it was a live show she’s seen in the background, gravitating to the monitor before she collapsed.”

“Weird.” He gulped, “Goodbye Kara.”

“I’m not the enemy Keaton.”

“My parents had been doing okay until you came around, pulling Willa back out from the shadows. God my sister can’t even come home because she’s been in Willa’s shadow all these years.” He snorted, knowing it was insane considering she was a star in her own right.

“I just wanted to bring her home.” She shrugged her shoulders, as if it was that simple.

“She will be soon. But Kara, stay away. If Mom wants to go on your podcast to discuss this, she can. But wait for her to call you.”

She nodded as she went back to her car, “I’m sorry it had to be this way.”

“Me to.” As the words left his lips, he wasn’t exactly sure if he meant Willa dying, being found, or something else.

***

Fletcher sat by Tazia’s bedside and looked at her missed calls. Her brother Keaton had called about two dozen times, starting before she collapsed on live television. But he wasn’t the call that worried him.

Joel Riley.

He’d been just as famous as Tazia back when they were younger. He’d been engaged to her as well. Until Fletcher did what he could to be rid of the young man. A few well placed photographers and Tazia was convinced Joel cheated on her. She left him, and Fletcher brought the ring back to the young man and told him that Tazia was with him now.

For the next two years the music world watched as the two of them battled it out with appearances, songs, concerts.

Then Joel just went away.

No new music.

No new appearances.

No new albums.

He could be the subject of a YouTube remember when video.

Tazia made no mention of him ever, and since Fletcher usually had her phone, he knew they weren’t in contact.

“Willa?” Her voice broke as she woke up.

“Tazia, it’s Fletcher, are you okay?”

“Willa is gone.” She cried, in the haze of sleep and whatever drugs she’d been given.

“Willa?” Wasn’t that the name of the woman in the breaking news report?

Her breathing was uneven, “My sister.”

Fletcher stared at her. That couldn’t be. He knew everything about Tazia. Sure, her family didn’t really seem to like him, but he’d made her a star. No way did she have a sister he didn’t know about.

#Season One #Episode 1X01

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