CHAPTER ELEVEN: SECRETS IN EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY (Draft 1)

Cherry slowly closed the door behind her, leaving an ecstatic Silver behind her. She sighed and muttered to herself, “What did I just agree to?” 

She was pretty sure hacking into confidential files was punishable by law or something, but what could she do? Silver had her mind made up and was too stubborn to let it go. 

She took a deep breath and tried to put herself in Silver’s shoes. She would have done the same if it was her parents that were killed. 

She turned and began to walk down the hallway when, suddenly, she bumped into someone. 

“Watch where you’re going sis!” It was James. 

Cherry rolled her eyes and tried to walk around him when he blocked her way. She groaned, “What do you want James?” 

He smiled innocently, “Whatever do you mean, Cherylynne?” 

“If you’re going to act clueless, just let me go. I’ve no time for your shenanigans.” She growled. 

“Okay, okay, you got me,” James stood up straight and put his hands in the air, as if he was surrendering himself to the authorities, “I just really wanted to know what you and Silver have been up to. You two have been spending a lot of time together recently.” 

Cherry’s eyes widened and she glanced at the wall next to her, which was full of picture frames of Silver and Tim from when they were younger. She bit her lip and answered, “It’s nothing really, James. We’ve just been getting to know each other.” 

That wasn’t a lie. Throughout the past week or so they’ve each revealed so much about themselves and their family. In Cherry’s opinion, it allowed them to grow closer and develop their new friendship. 

James looked skeptical, “Interesting. And what does she know about you?”
 

‘Oh God!’ Cherry thought, ‘He’s never going to let me go now!’ 

“Well,” Cherry bit her lip again, “She knows about Rose. And that she died the night our parents disappeared. But she doesn’t know how she died...” 

James winced as he thought back to that fateful night, “Okay…” 

“And–” Cherry broke off in the middle of the sentence. 

“And?” James inquired. 

“Uhm… I think she knows that Scarlet, Violet, Sage and Crystal aren’t the Gemstones’ real names.” 

James stood frozen for a while. He groaned, “Cherry! There’s a reason we changed their names!” 

“I know, I know–” 

“It was for their safety!” 

“I get it–” 

“What are we going to do now? What if they find us?” 

“Oh, for goodness' sake, JAMES!” 

James, who had been clutching his hair, stared blankly at Cherry, who had, in his opinion, very rudely interrupted his rant. 

“James! Silver can keep a secret, okay?” 

“And how are you so sure?” James scolded. 

“Because even Tim doesn’t know that we're–” 

Cherry gasped and clasped her mouth before she revealed Silver’s plan. 

James looked at Cherry sternly, “Tim doesn’t know you're what, Cherry?” 

“Uhm…” she scratched her nose and maundered, “Tim... doesn’t know that... uhm... Silver already started... uhm... planning his birthday surprise!” 

James continued to stare at his sister suspiciously, “If you say so.” 

With that he walked away and went into his and Tim’s room, taking one last dubious look at Cherry. 

Cherry sighed. She didn’t know whether she should be relieved or afraid. Did her brother know she was lying? Or did he fall for it? Either way, she almost spilled Silver’s secrets. "I should be more careful," she muttered to herself. 

 

Tim was on his bed, reading a book, as he always did, when James entered the room. He looked up at James and smiled, “Hey! Did you ask her?” 

James nodded grimly as Tim sat up excitedly, “What did she say?” 

James frowned severely, “She told me two things: A) They’ve just been getting to know each other, and B) She’s planning a surprise for your birthday.” 

Tim looked doubtful, “Silver never plans anything for my birthday. She just gets me the latest mystery novel. That’s it.” 

James grumbled, “I knew Cherry was lying!” 

“You did?” 

“Yeah! Her nose always gets itchy, and she avoids eye contact!” 

“Really?” 

“Yes! I didn’t want to think much of it because your birthday was coming up!” 

Tim frowned thoughtfully and pointed out, “If it was my birthday surprise, why did you just tell me about it?” 

“Because I knew she was lying.” James whined. 

Tim sighed, “Well what do we do now? We don’t know anything!” 

James bit his lip, “No, actually. We do know something!” 

“And what would that be?” 

“We know that Silver is hiding something from you. And we know that Cherry knows it!” 

“Hiding something from me?” 

James nodded, “According to Cherry, Silver can keep secrets. And she’s keeping one from you. All we have to do is find out what it is.” 

Tim groaned and flopped himself lazily onto his bed. 

 

The Gemstones lay in bed, Sage and Violet fast asleep. Blue was sitting up on her bed, stroking Fluff, who was asleep on her lap, and sadly looking out the window, gazing at the stars. 

Scarlet opened one eye and, assuming everyone was asleep, she kicked her covers off, and climbed down stealthily, hoping not to awake any of her sisters. Nevertheless, she gasped and jumped quietly when she saw Blue, who was still sitting up, staring at her suspiciously. 

She smiled awkwardly and whispered, “Hey baby sis, what are you doing up?” 

Blue frowned and whispered back, “I’m only 15 minutes younger than you. Besides, at least I’m IN bed and wearing my pjs. You, on the other hand, are acting sneaky and wearing an all-black outfit.” 

Blue smiled wickedly, “Are you planning on sneaking out?” 

Scarlet laughed nervously, “What? Nooo…” 

Blue smirked, "You are! For who? Friends? A BOY?" 

Scarlet noticed that the expression on Blue’s face suggested she was not convinced. She sighed defeatedly, “Fine! I AM sneaking out. For friends... But PLEASE don’t tell anyone! Not even Violet or Sage!” 

Blue nodded loyally, “Of course not! But where are you going anyway?” 

Scarlet smiled sadly, “I wish I could tell you sis. But until I come back, could you cover for me?” 

Blue raised an eyebrow, “Cover for you? How long do you plan on being gone?” 

“Not long… but just in case!” Scarlet pleaded. 

Blue groaned, “Fine, fine! I’ll cover for you!” 

Scarlet sighed, relieved. “But–” Blue warned, “Be back before sunup!” 

Scarlet nodded diligently before climbing out their bedroom window, leaving Blue to wonder where on earth she was going. 

Blue shook her head and dismissed it. Everyone had secrets, and everyone had the right to keep them - even if it's from your own quadruplet sisters. Even though James and Cherry did not believe in that, she knew that Scarlet, Violet and Sage had their own secrets which they did not share with her or each other. She smiled sadly and continued to gaze at the beautiful night sky, after all, she had a few secrets of her own.