Inseparable

Chapter 5: Spill It

Jackson was exhausted.

He had been up all night trying to comfort Piper after the party. Once she had come back after talking with Autumn, she was so heated that they had to leave.

Once in the truck, Piper had started ranting and crying about her and Autumn's conversation. This had gone on until 3:00 AM.

Work had proved pointless that day. Jackson had attempted to get as much articles edited as he could, but he quickly gave up. He knew he'd be fired if he handed anything in. There's no way you can read five articles and not find any mistakes. He also couldn't recall anything he had read.

He pushed the papers aside to the 'tomorrow-pile' and called it a day.

It was about 4:00 and he wasn't really wanting to go home just yet. Jackson knew that Piper would be home soon and she would want to continue expressing her feelings from last night's confrontation. He just didn't have the energy for it right now.

He texted Dalton and Cody to see if they wanted to meet at the pub for some drinks. Once Piper was off, he'd tell her to come down. That way, if she still had pent-up things, he wouldn't be alone in listening to them.

His phone dinged with the other two confirming they'd meet him there.

“Linda, I'm out of here for today. I'll see you tomorrow," Jackson called, grabbing his coat and out the door he went.

***

“Oh man, was it really that bad?" Dalton asked as he slid beers to Cody and Jackson.

Jackson took a swig off his bottle and nodded.

“Yeah, it was. I mean, obviously I don't know what really happened, but the aftermath of dealing with Piper was more than enough."

“You think she's being over dramatic?" Cody probed.

“Probably, but who knows? Those two haven't seen each other in over five years. All I can say is she was gone awhile and the way Autumn escorted her away to talk…"

“What do you mean?"

Jackson pushed his drink away. “Let's just say that Autumn has definitely changed."

“Well duh," Dalton mocked. “We all have changed; we just haven't been able to see Autumn so she seems more drastic. Plus, did you forget she went to prison?"

Jackson glared at Dalton.

“What? All I am saying is prison will change people on top of just aging in general." Dalton sipped his beer, ignoring Jackson's look.

Cody broke the tension.

“Ok, so how has she changed exactly?'

Jackson thought about it for a moment.

“It's hard to explain. She has an edge to her now, more so than she had after her father passed away. I'm ashamed to say I was slightly worried when she took Piper to talk."

“Afraid she'd be her next victim?" Cody joked, but it fell flat.

“That's not funny," Jackson said, an edge to his tone.

“Come on guys, you don't believe Autumn could be capable of that?" Dalton inquired.

“Well, she did go to prison for murdering her boyfriend."

“Allegedly!" Dalton defended.

“Dalton, we all think she was innocent, but we have to look at the facts and the truth of the matter is," Jackson paused for effect. “is that we don't know for sure, but she's damn more capable of it now then she was before."

Dalton snorted. “Oh, come on. You all have been her friend as long as I have."

“True, and even her best friend suspects her of it. Why do you think no one has visited her?"

“You're biased because her best friend is now your fiancé. And she only believes it out of jealousy," Dalton threw in his face.

“Jealousy?" Cody asked, confused.

“Come on, we all saw it now that we look back. Piper was starting to get irritated with Autumn more and more. Of course she easily believed someone she was starting to resent was capable of such an act."

The table was silent for a moment. Jackson spoke, but very softly. “If you believe that's true, why didn't any of you go and see her?"

Jackson noticed Cody and Dalton's face start to redden.

“That's what I thought," he said. “Anyway, if you want another opinion, why don't we ask so you get a first-hand account." Jackson looked over to the bar where Piper had just appeared and beckoned her over.

“Hey guys," Piper greeted as she slid into a chair and kissed Jackson.

“Jackson was just telling us about your heated convo with Autumn," Cody said, receiving a scowl from both Jackson and Dalton.

Jackson instantly felt Piper tense up.

'Oh great, now she's going to be pissed at me on top of everything else,' he thought as he watched her start peeling her label.

“I didn't mean to-“

“No, it's fine, Cody." She shot a look at Jackson and continued. “I should have known that he wouldn't be able to not share everything with you two."

“Ok, well now that it's all out on the table, do tell," Dalton encouraged.

Piper gave them the same story she had given Jackson. How she had told Autumn off when she was trying to convince Piper that she only wanted her friendship and was innocent.

Dalton was the first to speak.

“So, you don't think you two could ever be friends again because of all of this?"

Jackson looked at Piper and saw how shocked she looked.

“Told you," he mumbled to Dalton.

“Of course not! She murdered her boyfriend."

“Allegedly," Cody butted in.

Jackson took a big swig. He had been waiting for this because he knew that these two were the only one with balls enough to question Piper and get her talking. He didn't dare do it, are you kidding? Jackson had to go home with her, they didn't.

“I think we should get back in touch with her."

“You're not serious?" Piper responded, disgust in her voice.

Dalton shrugged his shoulders.

“I am. I don't believe she did it. She was knocked out by the true killer and got set up, I think. We have known her our whole lives and we turned on her when she needed us most. Plus, it's a small town. She has no one."

Jackson waited patiently to see Piper's reaction to Dalton's suggestion.

“Or so she says. There's more than you know that happened between those two and she still won't admit it."

“Oh? Like what?" Jackson asked. It was starting to sound like Piper was leaving out some important information. Apparently, so did the other two because they all leaned in. Piper's face grew red.

“Piper, spill," Jackson demanded.

“Mike knew what you two were doing and I think he called her out on it when she tried to break up with him."

Jackson grew hot. He looked over and Dalton and Cody, whose eyes were locked on him now.

“Excuse me?" he asked.

Piper wouldn't make eye contact with him. She stared at her drink and said, “Mike knew that you two were hooking up behind his back. He told me a day or two before the party."

Jackson couldn't help but let out a laugh.

“He what?"

Piper's face reddened.

“Well, he asked me if I knew anything about it that is."

Jackson got a hold of himself and put an arm around Piper.

“Oh, babe. That's not true. Nothing happened between her and I while those two were together. Who told him that?"

Piper's voice was barely audible. “I don't know."

“Well, I have to say that Autumn is telling the truth on this one. Nothing ever happened after we broke up sophomore year."

Jackson looked up and noticed Dalton looking at him skeptically.

“Nothing?" Piper asked, finally meeting Jackson's eyes.

“Nothing."

“Well yesterday she admitted that you tried to kiss her once and she-“

Jackson laughed again.

“Yeah, when her and Mike first started dating, I kissed her, but that was it. I wasn't over her yet, but that was a long time ago." He noticed Piper starting to retreat into herself. “I have you now though babe. I love you and we are going to get married. There's nothing left between Autumn and I."

Jackson lifted Piper's chin and kissed her lips. “I promise."

She smiled back at him and cuddled closer. Cody started making gagging noises.

“Knock it off," Jackson joked, throwing an ice cube from his water at him.

“If Autumn was telling the truth about that, there's no reason to think she hasn't been telling the truth about everything," Dalton said.

Jackson noticed he had been quiet during the exchange. He didn't like how Dalton always had to speculate about everything.

“Maybe," was all Piper had to offer.

This was the opening Jackson needed.

“Well, what do you say? Do you think you can offer an olive branch to Autumn?"

Piper shot him a venomous look.

“I'm not saying you guys go back to being best friends. I'm just saying to maybe hang out altogether and see how it goes. You know you've missed her and she obviously misses you. She has no one, Pipe."

“Yeah, and then I wouldn't feel like I'm betraying you two when Cody and I go see her."

“What?" Jackson asked, a little too sharply.

“I already told you. She was one of our best friends. Cody and I want to visit with her and catch up. Make amends for not going to see her in prison and go from there."

Jackson knew that him and Dalton were on the same page, but he didn't know he had already planned to go see Autumn without talking to them first. But then again, Dalton wasn't engaged to Piper.

“Dalton, are you-“

“Listen," Dalton interrupted. “I abided by your feelings because we all were unsure about everything. Then too much time went by and it felt too late to go visit. Piper, you need a girlfriend again. We love you, but girls need girls. So, with this new light shed about you thinking her and your man were hooking up, I think you need to revisit the idea."

Jackson waited for Piper to answer. He knew she was struggling inside with what to do.

“Fine."

“Fine what?" Jackson prodded.

Piper let out an exaggerated exhale. “Fine, I agree. If you would like to meet in a group and do something, I can start with that since we will all be there."

“Cool. I'll go see her tomorrow when I stop by to help out Ms. O'Meere and bring it up."

“I can't promise anything though," Piper said, sitting back into her chair. Jackson knew she was pouting.

“I think that's great. Either way, it may help you move on past this hatred you've had all these years."

Piper gave Jackson a skeptical look,

“I'll go grab us another round," Cody offered. Dalton followed to go place an order of fries.

“It's a big deal, babe. I think this is a good step," Jackson whispered to her as he stroked her leg.

“Maybe we may even figure out what really happened that night too," Piper articulated as she got up from her chair.

“Is that why you agreed?"

Piper simply smiled at Jackson and kissed him. Before she pulled away, she leaned in and murmured, “As long as she knows you're mine and doesn't try to get you back, I'm sure we will be fine."

With that, Piper walked to the bathroom, leaving Jackson speechless.