I immediately regretted following them. All they wanted to do was spy on the house and that woman where the money was buried. I had to hold back the bile in my throat when I stared at this woman. I don't even know what it was about her, but every time I saw her I felt sick to my stomach. I didn't even know what we were here just spying on this chick. It's not like she knew where the money was and we had to stop her from getting it. I looked over and Michael and Lincoln were conversing to themselves as usual, probably making up some ridiculous plan.
I looked over at Tbag and he was gawking straight ahead at the upstairs window. I didn't even have to look to know what he was looking at, but I turned my gaze in that direction. Of course this was the woman's bedroom and she was picking out an outfit to get changed. Seriously, who gets dressed with the window curtains wide open for everyone to see in? Tbag bit his lip and clenched my fists tightly as she started to take off her robe. Thankfully, she stepped away from the window so we could no longer see. I relaxed my hands and looked at the fingernail marks I put in my palms.
"You know Michael is not going to let you touch her," I said smartly.
Tbag looked over at me and smirked. I glanced sideways at him and just rolled my eyes. The fact that he wanted to touch this woman bothered me just as much.
"Correction he won't let me kill her, but ah touching is another matter entirely."
I looked at him with disgust causing him to chuckle.
"Come on you can do better than that T."
He started to move towards me. I followed his every move with my eyes. He stuck his tongue out at me that way he usually does.
"You don't have to be jealous Laneykins. If you wanted my attention, all you had to do was ask."
Tbag quickly hooked his arm around my waist pulling me into him. I put my hands on his chest trying to push away from him.
"Please, I'm not jealous of that," I said pointing back up towards the window.
Tbag shook his head like he didn't believe me and went in to hold me again. I back up a few steps towards Michael and Lincoln. I looked over at the brothers and Lincoln was sitting on the ground messing with some electrical wires. I raised my eyebrow at Michael wanting some sort of explanation. He simply shrugged his shoulders and told me not to worry about it. Tbag had turned his attention back to the other house and was watching that woman again. I rolled my eyes, but perked up at the sound of a faint car engine.
Tweener was back.
I was pretty proud that it only took him about an hour to get all of the stuff that Michael needed. And hell yes I was prepared to rub it in their faces that Tweener was able to get something accomplished. I sprinted back to where he parked the car and nervously got out of the driver's seat. I smiled at him, but he only weakly returned it and moved over to the trunk. Something was definitely bothering him. I opened my mouth to say something, but immediately closed it when I heard the other guys behind me. I hoped that they didn't notice his hands lightly shaking.
"Did you get everything?" Michael asked.
Tweener didn't answer; he only nodded his head. God, something was really bothering him. We made eye contact briefly and I kept looking at him worried.
"What happened?" Lincoln asked darkly.
Both of Tweener's and my eyes went wide.
"What? Nothing… nothing happened," Tweener tried to explain.
Lincoln shoved Tweener against the trunk and I took a step forward defensively. Lincoln angrily asked again what happened.
"It's just someone else came into the store while I was there and I was able to tie him up in the back with the owner, but…".
"But what?" Tbag growled.
"I think he suspected something because he dialed the police before I hit him."
My mouth dropped and Michael, Lincoln, and Tbag all started shouting at Tweener simultaneously. I walked forward so I was standing the closest to Tweener.
"Did the call go through?" asked a worried Michael.
Michael repeated the question, and Tweener looked like he was about to break down.
"I don't know, maybe." He said before all hell broke loose.
Michael and Lincoln both started yelling, and Tbag looked like he could pounce on Tweener at any moment.
"I knew we couldn't trust him to do anything," snapped Tbag.
I couldn't take it any longer. I stood right in front of Tweener with my back into his chest.
"Shut up! It's not his fault." I yelled at Tbag.
Tbag glowered at me and even though I scowled back on the outside, I was trembling on the inside. Usually, when Tbag gave me a look like that it meant I was going to be hurting later on.
"Of course you start defending him the chance you get, you're his little bitch."
"HEY! Don't talk to her like that!" defended Tweener.
Somehow, the arguing and yelling switched from being mad at Tweener into a fight over me. I looked over at Michael and Lincoln who were just watching the show unfold before them .
"Get over it Tbag, she actually wants to be with me," Tweener stated proudly.
"She has no idea what she wants. Tbag seethed. "This game is far from over."
Game? Since when did my heart become a competition? I partly felt like this whole thing was my fault, that I somehow led both of them into thinking I loved them both.
"It can't be a game when someone has already won." Tweener stated.
Anger started boiling up inside and I pushed myself away from Tweener. He looked at me with a shocked face and I clenched my fists at my sides. Tbag stepped closer to me.
"Apparently, not."
"Stop it Tbag! This isn't a game to me, and I AM NOT A PRIZE TO BE WON!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.
I didn't give anyone a chance to answer before I stormed in the opposite direction. Who did they all think they were treating me like I was just some trophy they could show off with? I had feelings too, and yes sometimes they conflicted with each other but they were still real to me. When I had angrily paced far enough away from the others, I had settled myself down on the ground. I brought my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms snuggly around them. I lowered my head so my chin could rest on my knees. I could feel the hot tears starting to burn my eyes. Maybe tagging along on this whole journey was a bad idea. I didn't even think it through before just jumping in because that's what felt right. I had left my job, my family, my best friend, everything for these few people that I had known for a short period of time. (I had given my heart to one of them). And was it even worth it? Even if the guys did somehow manage to avoid getting caught, I could never go back to the way things were. My dad would never accept me back after everything I have done. I'm not entirely sure that I ever wanted to go back. Not with Melanie gone, and I would have to blame myself every day for her death. It was as if all these thoughts and emotions came crashing through me, and they exploded out of me because of Tbag and Tweener.
I heard the grass rustling behind me and I saw a pair of feet standing right beside me. I didn't even have to look up to know that it was Tweener. He sat down beside me and I still didn't look or say anything to him. He picked at the grass for a few moments until I finally stole a glance in his direction.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
I didn't say anything, but slowly nodded my head. I really didn't want to talk about my outburst, but I knew that I had taken Tweener by surprise.
"You're wrong though," he said.
I looked at him with a confused look, and he stared at me with a smirk on his face. Apparently, that was the reaction he was hoping for.
"You are my prize. The greatest prize I am ever going to get. Our time apart was the loneliest I had been in a while. I knew that I would spend the rest of my life trying to find you if that's what it took."
I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. I had to stop and try to gather my thoughts because my heart was racing so fast. I finally scooted over closer to him.
"You have no idea what the means to me. I've really missed you."
I leaned in and rested my head on Tweener's shoulder. He leaned in to me and we laced our fingers together. This moment was why it was all worth it. Being with Tweener now and for the rest of my life was mostly the reason I did everything that I have done. We decided to head back to the others, and walked hand in hand back to the car. It felt like my hand belonged in Tweener's. Tweener could do this magical thing where he stroked the inside of my palm with his thumb and it made me melt every time.
We reached the car and Michael and Lincoln were staring at me with worried looks. They were afraid I was going to freak out on them. I didn't see Tbag at first, but I eventually spotted him sitting with his back to us. No doubt he was watching Tweener and me so for the time being he was too upset to try and talk to. I squeezed Tweener's hand a little tighter.
"So, what's the plan?"