I nod, petting Spark who's purring on my lap. I've been thinking the same thing too. It looks like Mara Jones, or Clarissa Garnett, definitely left a few clues behind, voluntarily or not... I didn't tell Ben and Kelsi about the actual magic behind the map or the circles. I made it sound like Sylviana's map was just as it is, with the cemetery and the docks popping out. I didn't say a word about the circle in my room, either. I have a feeling Spark hid the map on purpose, but from whom? Nathaniel, or... Liam? Anyway, maybe I shouldn't trust anyone so fast. They already doubt me and watch my every move...
"So, what now?"
I glance up at Ben, but he already looks a bit excited.
"What?"
"Aren't you going to go there? To the docks? Or shall we go see the Jones’ first? I think we should give them a heads-up, but they are rather... open to visits."
I look at both of them, looking ready to go and follow my every move. I am a bit baffled.
"You are still going to accompany me? After what I told you?"
"Why not?" asks Kelsi, looking confused.
"I mean... you don't have to follow me anymore, no? The werewolves know me now, Nora and Selena probably agreed to let me go anywhere, and with Liam Black being my... well, my fated mate, Ben, you probably don't have to watch me anymore, right?"
He slurps his fruit juice slowly, looking at me with a little frown.
"Mara, why do you think we came to get you?"
"...Because Selena asked you to?"
He rolls his eyes and ruffles his hand through his hair.
"Little witch, I may be a poor bodyguard, but I'm a very good friend. Kelsi and I got ready in like ten minutes to come and get you. You barely gave us any news since last night, I was a tad worried. Mara, I may not show it, but I do worry about you. And Kelsi. You know, I don't really have to sleep on the couch of your apartment, they rented an apartment for me in the same building. I also insisted they don't change your designated bodyguard wolf, aka me, for someone else even if I got an earful for losing you a couple of times. Because I really do consider you my friend. It's fun to hang with you chicks, and to play detective looking for answers too."
His answer makes me smile. I always forget because Ben doesn't express himself often, but... at least he's here, and staying around. I appreciate that. I nod slowly. Kelsi too is rubbing the ends of her sweatshirt sleeves together, and blushing a bit.
"Me too, Mara... I know I probably wasn’t the friend of the year, but... I really want to help you too."
I glance at her, a bit unsure. I sigh, still having this picture in mind.
"...Are you sure we are done with secrets?" I ask.
She gasps, and looks down again, hesitating a bit. Then, she glances toward Ben, biting her lower lip. He is back to eating his meal like an ogre, although there isn't much left on the plate. I don't think he cares much or listens anymore now that he said what he wanted to say. I sigh.
"So it was really you?"
"...Which one did you see?"
"Can I borrow your phone?"
She nods and hands it to me. I remember the name of the magazine and the ad, so I quickly find the picture. It actually looks like there was a full campaign, the same picture appears repeatedly all over the search results. I hand it back to her, and her expression immediately sinks.
"So... I was right? That model is you, right?"
She frowns and nods, but immediately closes the window and puts her phone back into her pocket. She seems upset... Kelsi shakes her head.
"Yeah... This one was taken a couple of years ago, I had forgotten it. I didn't really mean to hide it from you, I just... wish I'd forgotten about it. Like, all of it. I hated that... I hated being a model."
"Wait, who is a model?" asks Ben, his mouth full.
Kelsi glances at him, and from our expressions, it takes him a full minute to get it. He starts coughing, almost spitting out his food.
"You?" he asks Kelsi, laughing. "You're kidding, right?"
I glare at him. How much of an idiot is he? Even if she covers herself in oversized, ugly clothes and hides behind those glasses, Kelsi is obviously pretty. She is taller than me by half a head and rather thin too, her legs look like chopsticks... His expression falls, he stops laughing.
