Chapter 5

   I go to my bedroom and put on a t-shirt over my tank top. For some awkward reasons I thought about Judah. His touch and even his voice is mesmerizing and it annoys me that I'm attracted to him. 

   I stare at my reflection and the faint red mark on my forehead. I touch it and it hurts like hell. I wish I could look properly and not get hypnotized by my very attractive neighbor, I won't be having this bruise by now.

I pick up my phone and go back to the living room to watch TV. For some reason, Judah didn't play his loud songs and I'm grateful. 

    My phone rings at once. I look at the caller ID and it's Todd. I sigh and pick up as I press the phone against my ear while I use my other hand to turn down the volume of the TV.

" Serena." He says calmly. 

   I take a deep breath and shut my eyes. He called me a slut and that's the worst insult any one has ever called me.

"I'm really sorry." He says at once. " For everything. For accusing you and saying a lot of shit to you. I was in deep shit and I passed my aggression on to you. I'm sorry."

" What deep shit?"

" It's fine, I'm okay now."

" Come on Todd , you can tell me anything. We're in a relationship, if you've forgotten."

" I know right? I don't wanna bore you with some of my problems after what I did. My parents actually fought earlier , my mom caught him cheating and I was…" He sighs on the phone. 

" Oh my God. Todd I'm sorry."

" No, I should be the one sorry. Please forgive me?"

   With his voice sounding so vulnerable, I just want Todd right now. No matter what happens, my heart can't stop beating for Todd. He means almost everything to me. Despite his attitude sometimes, he stood by me and I love him. Judah should stop getting into my head.

   I've not even known him for four days and he's trying to make me want him.

" I forgive you Todd. It's fine. I understand."

" Can I come over tonight? I mean, I can actually understand if you say no." He says.

   I remember Bree and Summer texted me earlier that they are coming over. 'For sleepover.'

" Todd , I'd like you to come over , but Bree and Summer are hanging at mine today. Sleepover." I tell him and twist my lips hoping he won't get angry. 

" Sure I understand. We're gonna do this some other time right?"

" Yeah. I'm sorry."

" It's fine Serene. I love you." 

" I love you." I tell him as he hangs up. 

   I pull my knees to my chest and rest my phone beside me. I throw my head back on the headrest and think about Todd. I feel guilty remembering the scene when Judah wrapped his arms around my waist and kinda touched me. It felt like I cheated on Todd. Even thinking about Judah should be wrong. He's kinda bad news. Hot guys always end up as trouble for girls and I'm gonna avoid him with everything. 

***

    I switch off the stove after making pancakes. The girls said they were close and I decided to make something. I've never had a sleepover and I really don't know what to expect. Beverly was my only friend all my life. I met Summer and Bree through Todd's frat parties and since then they've been close to me. Most times they always act bitchy. Trying to treat me like a kid. I ignore it and assume that's what friendship is about right? 

   The doorbell chimes as I rush to get it. They look more beautiful than I remember. Summer wears a short leather skirt and a white short sleeve crop top that exposes her belly ring. Her blonde hair is straightened, and it highlights her makeup. Bree wears Jean shorts with a black sweatshirt. Her redhead is nicely tied in a ponytail. Is this really a sleepover?

" Hey guys…" I squeak out. Truth is they make me nervous sometimes. They also have rich parents who won't dare tell them what to do. 

" Hi Serena." They smile at me as they enter. I take a deep breath and close the door as I follow behind them.This is the first time they are visiting since I moved out of my family's mansion.

" Hmm...your apartment looks nice. It's bad we still live with our parents." Summer mutters with sarcasm.

" It's pretty." Bree mutters. 

" What's with the hot neighbor?" Bree asks as she bites her bottom lip.

    Alrighty!

Don't act weird, it's none of your business. Judah is bad news and a perv.

" I don't know." I shrug still standing as they sit.

" He's so hot. Fuck i couldn't stop looking at him. Cutest part is, the boy was shirtless." I roll my eyes at Bree's explanations. I really don't care. I just settled things with Todd and I want nothing to come between us ever again. Not even Judah.

" So what should I get you guys. I made pancakes."

" Thank you , we are not hungry yet. I brought booze and we're getting drunk." Summer says as she brings out a bottle of tequila from her bag. 

" Uh... okay." I mutter disappointedly. 

   So who's gonna eat the pancakes I made? I thought friends eat at their friends place when they do sleepovers. Bree walks to my stereo and connects her mobile to the system. She goes through her playlist as Summer walks past me to get three glasses. She giggles and taps one song. The beat blares through the speakers as she increases the volume.

" We're gonna have fun tonight. Come on Serena." Summer says as she opens the booze. 

   I feel out of place. Is this how people do their own sleepover?  I'm just being weird. I flash them a fake smile and giggle at Bree's weird dancing. Summer pours the alcohol inside the three glasses and passes it to us. I take mine and drink it. Still don't know why I'm planning on getting drunk and I have classes first thing tomorrow morning.

   A new song plays next and I recognize it to be saweetie's rap music. I can't feel my head after three shots. I'm not the alcohol type but yet I choose to impress them. If I say no, by tomorrow they will be talking about my 'childish' attitude to the guys. 

……

   It's already late. Bree and summer are passed out as I scurry past their drunk bodies. I go to the kitchen and microwave the pancakes I made for them. Now who's gonna eat these? I go to my room and go to my ensuite bathroom. I brush my teeth and tie my hair up in a loose ponytail. I go back to my bedroom, but I stop by this sinful familiar window when I see something. 

   Judah's bedroom window is opposite mine and I can actually see him properly from here. He's shirtless, cigarette stuck in his mouth as he operates his phone. It's nightfall and he looks annoyingly cuter. What has gotten into me? I thought I wanted to stay far away from Judah and everything that has to do with him.

   I badly wanted to stop staring at this inked man, but I couldn't move. I watch him run one hand down his messy hair while the other pulls out the cancer stick from his mouth. He flicks the ash of the cigarette on the ashtray. I hold my drapes to close my window, but perfect green eyes look up at me.

   His eyes watch me and then he smirks. I roll my eyes and close the drapes at once. 

***

   "Hi Phoebe. Hello to you Michael." I say as I sit down. 

  Michael smiles at me, including Phoebe. She opens a file with one hand as she types on her computer.

" How was class, Serena?" Phoebe asks with her focus on her file.

" Good. Thanks."

   She nods and sighs as she sits on her swivel chair. She finally looks up at me with a genuine smile.

" You said your father's best friend was Francis Ryland. And according to you they've been childhood friends." Phoebe says.

" Exactly."

   She nods and opens a file.

" According to my research Francis Ryland cut ties with your father over six years ago."

" What?"

" Yes dear. They stopped being friends two years ago. Francis relocated to Cuba and he's been there since then. And then I found out , he's dead. He died last month due to Cancer."

    Strange. And maybe she's right. It's been a long time since I saw Francis Ryland. I think the last time I saw him was when I was seventeen. He came over to our house for dinner and it was fun. That was the last I think. 

" We want to ask you some questions about your family's heirloom Serena." Michael states as I swallow.

" Alright."

"Who owns it? The blue diamond?"

" It was my great grandfather's, and it was passed down to my grandfather, and then my father." I replied. They nod.

" Research says there are three other diamonds that look like your family's black diamond. One's in London , India , Africa, and then yours. What's the importance of it?" Phoebe asks. 

   I look at her and then Michael. Why should I tell them? 

They are detectives and in charge of my family's case and they shouldn't know a thing about my family's heirloom. I didn't even tell Todd about it.

" Look Serena." Phoebe says and stands up as she sits on the desk. 

" We're here to help you catch these assassins who murdered your family. And we can't help you if you won't help us." Phoebe says. 

   I sigh and tuck my hair behind my ear.

" I don't really know a lot about diamonds. The red diamond, like I read on the internet, belongs to a royal family in Egypt. It's a property of goddess Helena and it's said to be on her forehead. People aren't allowed to worship this goddess except the royal family. I don't know about ours. Like I said my great grandpa passed it to my grandfather. That's all I know." I say.

" And the diamond's worth is about one billion dollars. That's a lot of Serena. We believe whoever killed your family is after one thing. And that one thing is your family's heirloom. They won't stop until they get it and maybe take your life after." Michael says. 

   Fear runs down my spine as I look between Phoebe and Michael.

" It's the truth Serena. But don't worry , you're under the protection of the force. We won't let anyone hurt you or harm you. But you have to be careful and be watchful. Don't tell anyone about your heirloom." Phoebe says and I nod.

" Whoever killed your parents because of your heirloom is close to your family. And I believe they are watching your every move too. And I'm pretty sure they are gonna come for you when the time comes. Don't trust anyone , Serena." Michael says. 

" The man named Jacob we talked about was your father's assistant in his company. Did you know that?"

" I know nothing about my father's business."

  Phoebe looks at me and smiles and then she continues. " Well, we interrogated him and he said that the phone call was about business. That your father told him to get his paperwork done or he shouldn't come to work tomorrow. Does that ring a bell?" Phoebe asks and snaps her fingers. I nod remembering what dad said.

" We also asked him about your father's partners and he mentioned one person. Albert Winston."

    Albert Winston is Todd's father. He's my father's partner in business and they are kinda friends. But my parents weren't aware I had a boyfriend even before they died. I feel guilty. 

" Yeah. I know Albert." 

" The day your parents was murdered he was the last person who came out of your family's mansion. We checked the surveillance cameras and Albert was the last person who walked out that evening. And the rest of the footage from there was jammed. Nothing showed , just white." Michael says as Phoebe stands up. 

   Todd's father visited?