[chapter thirty-three]
Disclaimer: If you've heard of them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please. ;-)
This story is gonna be darker, and deal with serious, sometimes disturbing
issues. Just so everyone knows. Okay? Okay.
**
~Faye's POV~
I haven't slept that good in days, I muse as I sit on Jimmie's couch, wrapped
in one of his absurdly large sweatshirts and a pair of his basketball shorts,
sipping contently on a mug of coffee.
I curse under my breath as the doorbells shrills and I get up to answer it, knowing Jimmie is still in the shower.
"Hi Faye." Chad says with a smile as he steps inside, trying not to hit me with his motorcycle helmet.
"Hi Chad. How are you?" I ask, stepping back to let him in and closing the door.
"I'm great. How…how are you?" He asks guardedly, not meeting my eyes.
Ah. I see.
"He told you, didn't he?" I ask quietly and Chad blushes a little.
"Faye…really…if there's anything I can do to…"
I cut him off with a wave of my hand. "Thanks, Chad."
"He had to tell someone."
"I know. It's okay." I answer, giving him a small smile. "Can you tell me something?"
"Sure." Chad says, letting out a breath as he relaxes visibly.
"Do you…do you know why Matt left? Where he went?"
"Um…Robbie said he got a reference call about him - someone calling from a Modified team in Washington." Chad admits, shifting from foot to foot.
"Why did he…"
"I'm pretty sure it's because he knows if he comes within a 20 mile radius of you or this town, he knows Jimmie or I will have him killed." Chad says seriously, looking me straight in the eye. "That's why."
I heave a sigh of my own. "Thank you." I whisper before turning to yell up the stairs. "Jimmie! Your date is here!"
Chad laughs and about a minute later, Jimmie comes bounding down the stairs, his own helmet in his hand. "Hey man."
"Hey, bud." Chad echoes. "Ready to go?"
"Sure." Jimmie grins and I can't help but smile. "You okay here?" He asks me lovingly.
"I'm good." I smile as he runs a thumb across one of my cheeks tenderly.
"You be here when I get back?" He asks with apprehension and I smile softly.
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Music to my ears." He says, brushing my lips with his own. "I'll be back soon."
"I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you."
"Ugh. I think I'm ODing on happiness. Can we go?" Chad jokes and Jimmie slaps him upside the head lightly.
"Shuddup." Jimmie fires at him, yanking on his helmet.
"Bye Faye." Chad says, pulling me into an impulsive hug. "I meant what I said." He whispers in my ear before they disappear through the front door.
It's good to have friends.
Really good.