Forever
Chapter 3
Jimena stomped up to the little café where she was meeting the other girls. She was still furious from the fight she had with Collin the night before. Why was he so possessive? He was so overreacting, she wasn't in any real trouble, and even if she was it wasn't anything new. He never even bothered to listen to the whole story, he didn't understand her duties as a goddess.
The night before, she was going to go meet him at Planet Bang, and she had every intention of going. She was finishing of look with glitter when the phone rang. Her grandmother was out of town with her brother and wouldn't be back for a few weeks so she was home alone so she answered the phone.
"Jimena? Hey," the voice said over the phone
"Collin? Weren't we meeting at Planet Bang?" now that she thought about she shouldn't have been so stupid, so easily tricked.
"Can you meet me at the park instead?" after a pause he added, "I have something I want to show you". Also now that she thought about it she should have realized Collin would never ask for that, he knew she now hated the park since her incident a few weeks ago.
"I don't know-"
"Please?" Finally with reluctance she agreed and went to the park.
It was empty there, and the air was stiff. Not even the normal homeless people were under the benches; she took a seat and waited. The moon was barely out and Collin was nowhere in sight. It was then a voice a voice interrupted her, a voice she hated with a passion.
"Lonely goddess, all by herself" Jimena twirled around to come face-to-face with Karyl, a sly grin on his face but he looked ultimately bored. He was sitting on a thick tree branch above her with his left leg bent where he was resting his left arm; he was twirling a flower in his right hand.
"Where's Collin?" she became suddenly fearful, not for herself but for him
He raised an eyebrow, "Who?"
She glared at him, "What did you do to him?"
He tossed the flower aside and jumped down so he was eye-level with her, "I wouldn't waste my time". A wicked laugh interrupted Jimena's comeback and they both looked to the direction from where it came.
"Great job, Karyl," Morgan cheered, "You got her!"
Jimena looked at a very confused Karyl
"I did?" he asked
"Yes!" Morgan laughed at Jimena, "Stupid goddess". Jimena felt a hand on her back; she whirled around now seeing Tymmie. She smiled cunningly and waved. Jimena's heartbeat in her ears but she wasn't afraid, something was off. Like she wasn't in any real danger, like they didn't want to hurt her.
"Was there a meeting I missed?" Karyl said dumbfounded, "When was it decided we we're going to attack her and why didn't I know about it?" But bright lights stopped whoever was going to answer; Jimena shielded her eyes.
"Jimena?" Collin called out, "Get in!"
She didn't need to be told twice she quickly sprinted into the passenger seat and jumped in. Collin told her how he got worried when she didn't show and was driving to her house when she saw them, she told him how one pretended to be him to get her there. That was when they started arguing, he told her not to be that stupid, how she could have died, etc.
She walked into the café to see Serena and Vanessa sitting already, she quickly walked over to them.
"Hey," Vanessa held up a peace sign as Serena scooted over to make room for Jimena
"So what's up?" Serena asked immediately, Jimena wasn't surprised at how Serena knew something was wrong. She was a mind reader and on top of that Jimena's best friend.
"I had a run in with the three stooges," Jimena quickly retold the story of how they tricked her to come to the park, "and I don't know, it just seemed not dangerous I guess" she finished
"Maybe you we're cocky," Vanessa smiled but Jimena had the feeling she was only half kidding
"Maybe it was their plan to have you think it wasn't dangerous," Serena guessed
"But it seemed so," Jimena searched for the right word, "Sloppy, I guess. I mean so unplanned, disorganized. It was like a pathetic childish attempt, something don't seem right about it"
"But since when have Morgan, Karyl, and Tymmie been smart," Vanessa pointed out, "I mean face it: Cassandra was definitely the brains of their operations" Jimena laughed and nodded, "you have a point"
"Perhaps we're out-of-their-league now," Serena smiled
"So if we don't have to worry about them," said Vanessa, "then who now? I mean I'm not in any rush to face any more regulators". The table grew suddenly quiet as they all silently mourned Catty.
"I have an idea," Serena broke the silence in attempt to bring up the mood, "How about we go to Planet Bang tonight, just the three of us, and then have a big sleep over? With popcorn, cheesy romance movies, and a bunch of candy?"
"Can't," Vanessa took a sip of her coke, "I'm going to talk to Kendra"
"Oh," Jimena let out a whistle, "Tough". Kendra was Catty's adoptive mom, she still didn't know Catty was dead.
"What are you going to tell her?" Serena asked
"The truth," Vanessa shrugged, "What else am I supposed to say?"
"Well I have to get going," she stood up suddenly, "I'll see you guys later" with that she didn't wait for a good-bye and left.
"Guess I'll get going to," Jimena stood up but Serena grabbed her arm
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, why?"
Serena sighed, "I heard you and Collin fighting last night," she admitted.
"Oh," Jimena nodded and sat back down
"I just…wanted to check if you we're okay"
"It's fine," Jimena waved it away, "We always fight"
"Not since you guys started dating"
Jimena nodded sadly remembering them screaming at one another, "Look, I'll go see him"
Serena smiled and nodded satisfied with herself, "Good choice".