I had no intention of following him outside. I didn’t want to go to dinner. I wasn’t exactly in the best mood after my encounter with Alice. She had completely changed as a person. No longer the best friend I once had.
I wasn’t even sure we were still friends after what she tried to pull tonight. I just couldn’t believe how much she had changed in so little time. She started dating Tommy and turned into this person I didn’t recognise.
As much as I wanted to blame Tommy I couldn’t. He didn’t control her; he wasn’t to blame for her actions. A sigh fell from my lips as Franko appeared at the front door.
“You coming?”. He asked.
“I don’t want to go to dinner Franko”. I collapsed onto the sofa closing my eyes. I was in no mood to be around anyone tonight. I was going to order pizza and watch movies until I fall asleep.
“This cause of Alice?”. I felt the couch dip beside me. “Cause you know you’re better off without her”.
“Maybe”. I shrugged. “Or am I overreacting?”.
“Nah darling she fucked up pulling that shit. Fuckers been using you from day one”.
“No”. I shook my head. “It all started when you came around and she started dating Tommy”.
“You think?”. He frowned.
I nodded. “But it does kind of makes sense now. We’re friends so she thought she’d use me to get close to Tommy because me and you talk and hang out sometimes”.
“Sometimes?”. He grinned.
I rolled my eyes. “I never thought I’d be finishing high school alone”.
“You ain’t alone Aubrey and like I’ve said before you’re better off without her. She ain’t nothing but club pussy”.
“What?”. I made a face.
“Nothing darling now you sure you don’t wanna come to dinner?”.
“No, I’m going to order a pizza and watch crappy tv until I fall asleep but thanks for asking”.
“Don’t wanna leave you own your own sweetheart”.
“I’m fine”. I smiled. “But if you want you can stay for pizza?”. Maybe I didn’t want to be alone tonight or maybe I was scared Alice would show up at my house with hundreds of people.
Okay so maybe hundreds are me exaggerating but still right now I wouldn’t put it past her.
“Aye?”. He grinned.
“If you want to”. I shrugged.
“Aye darling just gotta take care of a few things first. I’ll pick the pizza up on the way back”.
“Okay”. I smiled.
…
I wasn’t expecting to see him again tonight so when he showed up on my doorstep an hour later, you could say I was surprised.
He was stood with a pizza box in one hand and a paper bag in the other.
“You gonna invite me in?”. He grinned.
“Yeah, yes”. I moved to the side letting him past shutting the door once he was inside.
Not going to lie the pizza smelled delicious.
“You wanna get plates or you happy eating from the box”. He asked.
“The box is fine”. I smiled. “What’s in the bag?”.
“You’ll see”. He winked. “Pepperoni alright?”.
I nodded my stomach growling. “Did you take care of what you needed to?”. I asked taking a slice of pizza.
“All good darling”.
I pursed my lips as I turned my attention back to the tv. I wasn’t even sure what was on, but it was better than trying to muster up a conversation.
“I saw Alice”. He spoke.
I turned my head so fast a hiss fell from my lips at the pain. “You did, where?”.
“Hanging around at the old warehouse”.
I rolled my eyes. “You didn’t say anything to her, did you?”. The last thing I needed was him sticking his nose in.
“Nah darling”.
“Was she okay?”. I asked chewing the inside of my cheek. We may not be the best of friends right now, but I still cared about her. I wouldn’t want her putting herself into a situation she couldn’t get out of.
“She’s with Tommy she’s fine”.
“Is she drunk?”.
“Probably”. He shrugged. “We watching a movie?”.
“You pick”. I passed him the remote. Even after everything that had happened between us, I couldn’t help but worry about her.
Franko decided to put a horror on. A Stephen King film, Salems lot. It wasn’t one I had seen before and honestly horrors didn’t bother me. Was he expecting me to be scared? Was this a move?
A sigh fell from my lips I had to stay out of my own head. I picked up another slice of pizza and got comfortable.
We had been watching it for almost an hour, but I had no idea what was happening. I couldn’t concentrate and I think he knew.
“Do you want me to take you to the warehouse?”. He asked.
“What, no, it’s just” I paused. I didn’t want anything to happen to her and I’m not saying anything would, but I couldn’t shake this gut feeling that something was wrong. “Would you?”. I wet my bottom lip with my tongue.
“Aye darling but don’t be surprised if she’s already left”.
At least if I go and she’s already left I would be able to sleep tonight without feeling guilty.
“You care to much Aubrey”. He opened the door to truck, and I got in.
“Maybe you don’t care enough”. I clipped my seatbelt into place and waited for him to start the engine.
“I care sweetheart just not about things that aren’t relevant in my life. There’s a jumper in the backseat if you need it”.
It was then I realised I was in my pjs and slippers. I was so caught up on Alice I forgot what I was wearing. So, I grabbed the jumper and slipped it over my head and shoulders.
Immediately I was drowning in his scent. Maybe wearing this wasn’t a good idea but oddly enough I liked wearing it. I don’t know why but wearing it gave me a sense of comfort.
“You good?”.
His voice broke through my thoughts, and it was then I realised my eyes were closed. “I’m fine”. I turned my attention to the window hoping the darkness would cover my red face.
“She’ll be all right Aubrey. Tommy wouldn’t let anything happen to her”.
I didn’t believe he would, but Alice could be hard work and if she had been drinking who’s to say she hadn’t wandered off on her own.
“I know”. I spoke. “But I’d never be able to live with myself if something happened to her”.
“She probably doesn’t give a fuck about you”.
“Hey”. I frowned.
“Many times, I gotta say it darling. She’s using you for a free ride along and you’re letting her”.
I rolled my eyes. “I just want to make sure she’s okay and then we can leave”.
“Whatever you say”.
I don’t know what he meant by using the term a free ride along. Too where? For what? I wasn’t that much of an important person. What could she get out of me?
“Do you think the reason she hooked up with Tommy is because of you and I?”.
“Haven’t we already been over this?”.
“Yeah, but-…”.
“Tommy’s only messing around with her cause she’s an easy lay darling. The minute a new piece of skirt comes along he’ll drop her”.
But she wasn’t an easy lay. She was a virgin before Tommy and for Alice to lose her virginity to him meant she trusted him. Maybe she trusted too fast, but I didn’t believe she was an easy lay.
Yeah, she may be a little troubled just now, but I didn’t believe that was her doing. I couldn’t blame Tommy, but I didn’t believe he was innocent in the way she was acting.
Something was telling me he played a part in her recent behavior.
“If I remember correctly Tommy pursued her”. That day in the cafeteria when I got my face busted. He sat beside us; he asked her if she wanted to go to a party. He was the one calling her beautiful.
I couldn’t believe I had somehow forgotten that happened. He wormed his way in with his compliments and his charm and she fell for it. But if he wasn’t doing it for the right reasons then why did he start it?
Somehow, I already knew the answer to that, but I had to be careful how I went about it or even asked the question. I was afraid to even think it but if I was right Alice was in this situation because of me.
“Fuck knows”. He shrugged.
No, he knew damn well that was the truth. I can’t believe I had gotten this all the wrong way round. Alice wasn’t using me and Franko to make good with Tommy. Tommy had pursued Alice so Franko could get to me.
Holy shit. How could I have not seen this sooner? How could I have been so stupid? My best friend had spiraled down this black hole because of me.
Now how do I throw that into a conversation?
The car was slowing down and soon enough he came to a stop. I had never been on this side of town before. There was nothing but run-down buildings and a few pit fires scattered about.
Why would anyone want to come hang out here?
“It doesn’t look like anyone is here”.
“Trust me darling people are here”. He opened his door and got out, so I followed suit. “Stay close”.
Without even thinking I grabbed hold of his hand. I had never been here before, so I had no idea what to expect and yeah maybe I was feeling a little overwhelmed and maybe even a little anxious.
We walked towards the building and the closer we got the more obvious it became that people were in fact here. The loudness of the voices, the laughter.
“Do you hang around here?”. I asked as we stepped inside.
“Used to but now not so much”.
“So, you know the people that are here?”.
“If Alice is here, we’ll find her”.
I didn’t say anything else. I kept close and followed him throughout the building. I was about to give up hope and turn around when I clocked Tommy. He was laughing with Brian when he noticed us.
Was this a place the young members of the club came to hang out? To me it seemed they weren’t allowed near the clubhouse with company. Maybe this was where they took the girls they hung around with.
Who knows. All I wanted was to find Alice and go home.
“Brother”. Tommy grinned. “Didn’t think I’d see you again tonight”.
“Alice still here?”. Franko asked.
“She’s in my tuck sleeping it off”.
“So, she’s good?”. He asked.
“Aye”. He frowned. “Why the fuck wouldn’t she be?”.
“You good brother?”. Franko pulled me behind him as he stepped in front of me.
“Put your cocks away gentleman”. Brian grinned. “No need for a pissing contest”.
I had no idea what that meant but if Alice was okay then I wanted to get the hell out of here.
Tommy grinned giving Franko a nod.
Nothing else was said. It was as if they had an understanding, and the nod of the head was confirming it.
“Tomorrow”. Franko nodded before turning to me. “Let’s go”.
What was happening tomorrow?