Chapter 3

So Close, Yet So Far

SCOTTY'S POV

"I found the two jail breakers." I walked up to the limo. I saw the tired faces of Jacob and Naima. Everyone else was strapped and ready to go. Our driver Alex looked hot enough to be cooking. A sheet
of sweat covered his worn out face.

I felt a sudden jolt of guilt.

I looked at the two behind me. Casey and Stefano were chatting blissfully. Thia walked alone.

I slowed to catch up with her.

I walked by her right. A smile was plastered across my face. I turned to hide it although I saw her grin.

I saw Stefano look at me glaringly.

I decided to ignore it.

Thia looked up at the limo.

"Looks like their all ready."She took a seat by the window.

And like a new hidden instinct. I ducked to sit beside her.

I saw the distinct glares of Paul, Casey and Stefano.

I decided to ignore them, again.

I turned to face Thia as Paul found a creative way to wake Alex up.

Paul shook the driver's seat causing Alex to scream something about dead bunnies.

I saw Thia suppress a smile.

I felt the sudden urge to hug her tight.

I fought it off.

"So, where'd you go wandering to?" I asked. It was more of a demand than a question.

Luckily, she laughed it off.

"I think you should let Stefano explain."

The limo finally budged.

By the sound of his name Stefano quickly pulled his head up like a German Sheppard Pointer.

He cleared his throat. "I saw my ex-girlfriend and hid."

He said it so faint that it was barely audible.

But Paul and Pia heard.

The two broke into simultaneous laughter. The kind you'd see a young couple would do.

It instantly reminded me of the comment Stefano had said in the morning.

Stefano glared at them as Paul paused his laughing although Pia seemed like she had no intent to stop.

"How'd you fight her off? Or did she just run because of how stupid you looked." said Pia.

Thia hid behind her hands. She looked like she was laughing.

There was my sudden urge again.

Her cute face appeared from her hands. She was still giggling.

I thought about how she made me feel.

Her smiles made me melt more than I already was from the heat.

Stefano smirked.

"I had help from my new girlfriend though." He heaved his chest in the air and smiled broadly.

What girlfriend?

Thia immediately stopped her laughing.

Stefano's smile was too big for his face. He turned to Thia then winked. He was obviously getting to somewhere.

"Thia, my new girlfriend, got me out of it." The entire limousine fell quiet. Even the car itself halted to a stop.

"Sorry, my bad... There was a speed bump." was Alex's excuse. I couldn't help thinking that he was listening though.

It even interested me.

"Wait. What d'you mean?" I asked Stefano. He was still smiling. It annoyed me now.

Thia was the one who answered. "He said I was his girlfriend so his ex would get jealous. It's no biggie." everybody stared at her. "Right?"

She hid behind her hands again. Although I knew she wasn't laughing.

I stared at both of them disbelief. What else happened at that time lapse?

Thia seemed to have read my mind. "No, we aren't together or anything. He just said it to get rid of her."

Stefano's Jack-O-Lantern smile shrank.

"What was her face like?" It was Lauren who asked. She was always asking random questions at the wrong time.

Stefano seemed pleased. "I think I did the trick. Well, of course with the help of my lovely assistant."

He flashed his teeth at Thia. She rolled her eyes.

"Not going to happen." Thia said almost immediately. He turned to Lauren instead.

This time, Lauren was the one who seemed pleased.

The limo made a quick turn and stopped.

I saw the peach colored mansion emerge.

I made sure I got out of there as soon as possible.

Thia followed.

"What's wrong?" She smiled at me.

She noticed that I stayed completely quiet right after Stefano's sudden explanation.

She gave me a playful push. "Thinking 'bout your girlfriend?"

I chuckled. I never had a girlfriend. Well, I never had a serious one anyway. I had one at the age of ten. But it was just one of those games...

I repeated my exact thoughts. "I actually never had a girlfriend."

She stayed quiet.

For a little bit.

"Oh," She paused. "I don't know if I should say sorry or not."

I chuckled again. "It's quite refreshing actually." She gave me a weird look.

"I'm waiting for the right girl." I said.

She nodded her head slowly. "I see."

'I already found her.' I thought as I glanced toward her direction.

She didn't drop the subject though.

Neither did I.

"Well, you are thinking of a girl, right?" Her smile widened.

"She's actually right beside me right now." I said it soft, almost a whisper. Faint enough so no one could hear.

"Sorry?" She said. She hadn't heard.

I felt my face flush.

"Nothing. I said nothing."

There were two ways of how it could end up. She could think of my crush as really cute.

Or, she could think of it as creepy.

The second option was more likely.

Luckily, Thia dropped the subject.

We finally reached the front door.

I fished for my key.

I unlocked the door and managed to get in without making myself end up looking like a fool.

I didn't look behind me but I could feel Stefano's glare bore into my back.

It stung.

I took Thia's dress to the kitchen counter.

It cost me my whole wallet.

It was entirely my fault though, I insisted on paying.

Naima turned the T.V. on. She switched it to MTV.

Paul immediately saw it.

"Put it on the News." said Paul.

"No, MTV." said Naima.

Here we go again.

THIA'S POV

We spent our night watching reruns of Dawson's Creek.

Soft spot James got hooked to the plot as quick as Casey got
hooked into fried Oreos.

I sat idly on the sofa. Stefano sat by my right and tried to get as close to me as possible. Luckily, there was Casey to pull him out of the couch.

Scotty sat by my left. He barely spoke.

He told me that he wasn't much of a crier.

That exact same time James melted into a breakdown, Scotty chuckled.

But he was a laugher, all right.

We got to the end of season two before James had to be dragged upstairs to get to bed.

His waterworks upset the neighbors.

It was an obvious choice. No more reruns for James.

I quickly fell asleep after the incident.

By the time I woke up they had finished the third season.

I got to my feet but nearly tumbled atop Scotty.

His swift hands caught me before anything else happened.

"You alright?" His voice was filled with concern. I furrowed my eyebrows.

My head hurt.

"I-I'm fine." I lied. I was a terrible liar and Scotty knew it.

"You're not fine." He swung me up. Picking my feet off the ground. He had me in front of him his hands were tucked underneath me. He was smiling.

"I really am fine. You don't have to carry me up." I tried to say. But he was as stubborn as I

was.

He refused to put me down although my kicking and complaining should have got him off balance.

He must have been strong. And steady. And...

He felt warm and inviting.

I thought about how it felt like to be carrying a 90 pound fifteen year old up the stairs.

He didn't seem to mind.

He actually looked like he was enjoying this.

I let him have his way. I felt too sick to do anything anyway.

I sighed.