Chapter 4 Foggy Reflections

Anna wore her gift almost immediately. A luxurious pajama and bathrobe set. Designer logos and all. Even matching slippers. The Mishra family was well off, though no one really knew the depths of their wealth. You see, the circle of elites in Seawood accepted them because it was obvious they had wealth, but did not acxept them like the rich elites who had nested here for generations. Marissa was like Anna in that way, always slightly outcast. Anna clung to Marissa a bit tighter.

Krish urged Judy to go home and change. A bit later Krish bid the girls goodnight after assuring the nurses would carefully monitor the room. Marissa lovingly chided her father that they were almost 25 now, and he still invoked the right to worry. Soon, it was just Anna and Marissa alone in the room.

Anna sat there in silence, it was probably three in the morning. The TV showed some courtroom drama as Marissa made gentle braids in Anna's hair.

"Is Maddie okay?"

Marissa tutted her tongue but said nothing. Anna lifted her head, "Did Honor really leave her?"

Marissa looked down and still said nothing but her expression said it all. Anna begged until Marissa relented, "Okay. Please be gentle with Maddie. Maddie said someone texted Honor some bad photos."

Anna frowned, "I don't understand. Photos of what?"

Marissa hesitated briefly, "Of Maddie."

Anna closed her sore eyes, "Doing what?"

Marissa's silence explained enough, but Anna refused to believe it.

"No. There's no way. Maddie isn't like that."

Marissa hedged, "Maddison is sometimes like that."

Anna denied it, "No. This is different. Sure it's only been a few months... but Maddie and Honor."

Marissa resumed stroking Anna's hair, "Anna, I don't like to talk about things like this, especially about my friends. I really don't know. I do know someone sent those pictures to Honor to ruin Maddie's special day and your special day. That makes me mad with concern. It was mean and vicious. "

Anna agreed, and knew who. Anna glanced at Marissa, "It was Faith."

After tutting her tongue again, Marissa sighed, "You can't say that because of what she said in the bathroom. Faith is protective of her older brother."

Anna explained what she saw on the TV. The pairs searched online until they found the clip. The serene Faith smiling at the back of her brother. Marissa squinted at the image on the phone.

"You're right. She does look ... content? Proud?"

Anna sighed, "She looks like she's trying to not appear too pleased with herself."

Tilting her phone, Marissa attempted to get a better look and quickly gave up, "Let's save that worry for tomorrow. Are you sleepy?"

The two chatted briefly before falling asleep. Anna curled in Marissa's arms. Anna didn't dream that night but woke up to Judy tidying up the room. Marissa had already left and it was morning. Anna slowly sat up and looked around. The Hospital room seems so much more sterile than it had before. She looked at her mom and asked, "Do I really have to go home?"

Judy glanced at her daughter, "Honey, what happened to you was awful. I can't imagine. But... yes. They need this room for other patients who are sick."

Protesting the daughter hid under the blanket, "I feel sick." But before she could protest more she heard her phone ping. Maddie's unique tone chimed. Anna instantly was on her feet fumbling for her phone. Dozens and dozens of missed messages from so many people. Judy cautioned her, "You might want to settle at home first."

Anna ignored them all and went straight for Maddie's text. The first since the previous night.

Mads: I need to talk to you. I know this is selfish but I need .my friend. Are you still in the hospital?

Anna typed furiously on her phone. Each letter determined to show support. She would be there for Maddie no matter what. After responding she asked her mother, "Change of plans, I need to see her."

"I'm not sure that's the best idea "

Anna insisted, "No. I'm going."

There was no use in fighting it. Her mild mannered daughter in all things except the Baileys. It concerned Judy a bit but she smiled, "Of course."

After Anna was discharged she went directly to Maddie's place. She didn't live with the Bailey family, but had her own Penthouse apartment in downtown Seawood. Anna barely greeted the doorman who recognized her. She didn't marvel at the opulence around her. She rode the private elevator, wringing her hands with anxiety over her friend. Anna debated telling Maddie she already knew what happened. But the option to share was immediately removed when Anna stepped off the elevator.

Maddie was a wreck. Before Anna could say a word, Maddie started talking swiftly. She told Anna everything. Everything had been planned out so perfectly. Maddie explained they had planned the whole event, Jaxon and her. That they were meant to have Honor and Jaxon propose to Maddie and Anna. Together because they were like sisters.

Laments and sobs, all mourning the careful planning that went into each detail. It very much seemed like the event being ruined was the primary cause of Maddie's upset. Maddie explained how Jaxon had worked for weeks and weeks. How it was supposed to be a surprise for Anna... and how it was ruined. Maddie finally shared someone had sent photos of Maddie in her penthouse with another man to Honor just after they sat down at the event.

That's what Honor showed Maddie instead of proposing. Maddie sobbed insisting it wasn't true. Someone had fabricated it. How he left her without another word and wasn't answering her calls or texts. Honor's entire family had not been seen since. Anna was dumbstruck. She refused to believe if Maddie had indeed planned everything that she'd be also be sleeping with another man.

Anna asked if Maddie had any copies of the phitos, and Maddie only could sob that she didn't. But Anna knew someone who did. Anna asked, "Is there any way they could be real? I mean we're they older photos?"

"No. No way. It looked like me Anna. It looked like my apartment!" Maddie's shoulders quaked with despair. Anna peered around the apartment, "Did it look like it came from outside?"

Maddie nodded, trying to remember, but then nodded again. Anna asked her to show here where the photo could have been taken from. With all the super sleuthing young women could do it was a matter of mere minutes (with the help of Maddie posing on the bed) until they were confident where the images were probably taken from.

Anna pointed to the apartments that could have seen into the room, "Maybe they took photos from up there and compiled them."

Maddie shuddered and instantly pushed a button to close the blinds, "Stop Anna, it's no use. Not only that. What about you? I should have known it would have been too much for you. I knew if I didn't help, Jaxon is stupid and probably would have asked you by putting a ring in an Arby's sandwich. And you ended up in the hospital!" The sobs started again.

Anna rushed to Maddie and consoled, "No. No I'm fine. Listen. I think this is Faith's doing." Maddie sniffed, staring at Anna.

"Honor's sister?" .

Anna hesitated, she faltered. So she sat Maddie down to tell her everything, "Remember, I tried to tell you outside..."

After Anna told Maddie her entire face shifted from self-grief to disgust. Maddie's own twin brother... but Anna continued about the entire night. About Marissa and Faith in the powder toom. She told Maddie about what Dylan said and then about what she saw on the TV. Anna quickly found the clip her and Marissa poured over.

Maddie dropped the clip to her wide screen television in the bedroom. Both women watched in awkward silence as Anna soaked Jaxon, and Maddie broke down as Honor walked away. It was after, when Anna paused it on those particularly clear frames Maddie saw the same thing Anna did.

Maddie looked at Anna and hissed, "She DID do this!" Maddie's shame turned to rage. Anna had seen this before in her best friend. For all of Maddie's wonderful qualities Anna could share, there were equally proportional issues. Maddie's rage was one of them.

In 11th year of school, as Jouniors at the Academy, Anna witnessed Maddie's rage snap at another student. Maddie had just gotten a new car. Several girls were out taking photos with it. Maddie saw them and demanded they stop, that was her car. They didn't listen. For whatever reason, them posting photos for clout on Maddie's car made Maddie more angry than Anna imagined she could get.

Maddie held that grudge for months until it was Junior Prom. Pettiness drove Maddie, who made sure all three were too embarrassed to come back the following year. Anna hasn't been able to go to the dance, but heard tales even years later at the cruelty Maddie brought down upon them. Maddie explained they were meaningless rumors and blown out of proportion. Anna realized for the first time since then - she was scared of Maddie when she lost her temper.

Anna moved as she imagined a good friend would, trying to calm Maddie down. But like a switch, the grit of teeth and grimace of Maddie's face vanished as she focused back on Anna. The sudden change was disquieting.

"I'm... I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have shown you...", Anna hesitated. Anna could only imagine if Maddie did anything over photos with her car, what the woman would do if Faith sabotaged her engagement.

Maddie almost snapped but that calm returned. Unsettling and unnatural, "No. You did good. You're right she did this. " Maddie turned and once again her expression changed. Maddie gathered herself and spoke to Anna, "I'm sorry. I've bought all the tickets to the pity train when,"

Maddie gestured to the high definition screen finally acknowledging Anna's form from the previous night unconscious and covered in high definition confetti, glitter, and ick. Anna squirmed a bit, 'Yeah."

Maddie asked, "Did Jaxon really cheat on you or did she send you shit like this too?"

Anna repeated to Maddie what she saw Jaxon do and what Dylan said. Maddie looked doubtful at the incredulous words, "Since when did Dylan have problems talking to women?"

Anna had to admit, "I mean it is Dylan. He talks to them but they don't like what he has to say."

Maddie groaned, "I don't even know why Jaxon is friends with him. What a fucking moron "

Anna sighed, "Yeah. Which is why I can't help but wonder ..."

Maddie hitched her eyebrow up. Even after hours of crying and then having contorted her face ... Maddison Bailey was stunning. Her features were smoother and more supple than Jaxon's but the similarity was strong. Same beautiful brown hair. Same deathless whiskey brown eyes. Though white, her skin carried a natural sort of glow. Maddie bragged made her look "exotic". Her skin was practically poreless. Anna marveled how now at Maddie's worst she still was so much more lovely than her own haggard appearance.

"You don't actually believe Dylan, do you?"

Anna shook her head, 'No. I guess part of me wants to. I've always had a crush on Jack. I... I thought things were going well. Then that happened and it was like..."

Anna tried to explain. All the charming goofy things that she had thought were Jaxon being so smitten with her now seemed more like he actually couldn't even be bothered. Anna tried to explain that for years she watched Jaxon wine and dine all sorts of women. When he asked her she thought he was joking. Yet he wouldn't refuse. He'd take her hand when they went out. Texted her sometimes, but she always felt if she texted him it waa a bother. He earely called her. He sent her photos and memes. He started just showing up proclaiming they were dating now. He didn't try to woo her.

Anna explained that she felt it was different somehow. And over the last six months that she felt he didn't do all those things because he knew she already liked him. She tried to explain it all. How he never seemed to be wowed when she looked smoking hot, or how he didn't seem to be interested in spending time with her overall. She explained she never really felt like he was present but almost usung her to juat unwind. Even the gifts seemed half-assed in retrospect.

Maddie listened to her best friend go on and on about her bother until she had enough, "Tell you what. I'll just go find out. You're going to make yourself sick again. You know. He was about to propose. Jaxon gets weird with things. Maybe he freaked out for a moment. "

Anna responded, "I asked him in the car and he pretended he didn't know anything. "

Maddie reasoned, "Well yeah. If he was trying to do something stupid then of course he'd deny it. Doesn't mean he was going to do anything. "

Anna refuted this, "What if you saw Honor doing that?"

Maddie's face turned stern, "Honor would never. He's devoted to me. My brother's a moron sometimes, but Honor ..."

Anna agreed, the comparison was unfair. The girls turned their attention back to the screen...where Faith sat in still-capture with her phone facing the camera a smile on her lips. Anna gasped. On Maddie's top of the line screen she could finally see the screen of Faith's illuminated phone. They were text messages with photos, too blurry to see much beyond the highly pixelated blurr of a woman's chest.