Whenever

Chapter 8

So I went to Crane the next day to have a meeting with the Federal Agents. Well, that's what Krantz said to me when he called and told me to be at Crane at nine a.m. sharp on Saturday morning.

So, you know, I had to wake up at 7 to get ready and leave at 8 to get there by 9.

God, what I do for these people. Wasting my precious beauty sleep.

What he wanted me there wasn't really all that important, in my opinion. It was actually more of the finding-missing-criminals variety.

What else is new?

Then I went home and was hoping to see Rob. But that didn't really go according to plan.

- § -

The next week I went to school. I didn't hear from Rob once. I even stopped by the garage that he works at. He wasn't there.

I wondered where he could have been. Gary said that he had to go somewhere on short notice, but he never said where, and Gary wouldn't tell me.

Huh.

I started to feel bummed out. I mean, a week!

What could he possibly be doing?

Or who?

Okay, Jess, don't think that way. He would never cheat on you. Remember? He said those three little words. The ones you wanted to hear for a long time.

And, okay, he's been acting a little weird lately, but its nothing major.

Well, that's what I was trying to make myself believe.

I came home on Friday and dumped my crap on my bed. Then I decided to call Rob again.

Okay, I know I sound like a clingy girlfriend, but, seriously, I haven't heard from him in a week. There's gotta be something wrong with him. And I aim to figure it out, too.

So I called him. His mom answered the phone.

"Hi, Mrs. Wilkins," I said. "Is Rob there?"

"Oh, sweetie," she said, "you just missed him."

What?

"Oh. Well, can you tell me where he is? I haven't heard from him in a while." Wow, did I really sound that desperate?

She sighed. "Honey, I'm not going to lie to you. Rob told me specifically not to tell you. I don't know what's up with him or what he's been doing lately. I've tried getting it out of him, but he just won't budge."

I was having a hard time processing the information given to me. "Wait, he...he told you not to tell you where he is? What could he possibly be doing that he doesn't want me to kno—"

I cut myself off.

No. This could not be happening. He wouldn't do that to me. He just wouldn't.

But it sure sounded like it. I mean, he didn't want me to know where he was. I haven't heard from him in what seems like forever.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Wilkins, I have to go. And thank you. You've been a big help." In making me realize that your son is a two-timing son of a bitch.

But I didn't say that. I didn't think she'd appreciate that.

She sounded funny when she replied, "Sweetie, I know what you're thinking right now...and I know that Rob would never do that to you, honey. My son may be a lot of things, but he's not a cheater. He lo—" She cut herself off.

"He what?"

"Oh, dear. I'm not supposed to say that either. I'm sorry, honey. It's just...just give him time. I'm sure he'll come around."

I sighed. "All right. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

And I hung up.

I was trying to process the information I was given. I was really confused.

What was going on? What was with Rob? Was he cheating on me or not?

If he wasn't, then what the hell has he been doing that he doesn't want me to know about?

I sighed, frustrated, and flopped back on my bed.

You know, its not just that I think he's cheating on me...its also that I had just given up my virginity to him.

So if he broke up with me...well, lets just say, I would be more pissed off at myself than at him, because I trusted him enough to...you know.

Why can't men just be loyal, like dogs?

I looked outside and noticed it was starting to get dark. The perfect time to go for a run, clear my mind.

I went over to my closet and pulled out some sneakers. Then I went over to my dresser and pulled some shorts on and a baggy tee shirt and an old sweatshirt over it.. Then I pulled my hair up in a ponytail and grabbed my iPod from my desk. Then I finally put my sneakers on.

I told my parents I was going out for a run and that I would be back later. They said okay, but to take my cell phone with me. So I did.

I ran down my street, instantly realizing that I was extremely out of shape. I was breathing heavily all ready and sweating.

I shook it off and kept going. I would fall into sync soon enough.

Then I had an idea. I would run by Rob's house. See if, maybe, he was there. But I wouldn't get my hopes up, in case he wasn't there.

About a half hour later, I was at the end of his street. The wind was blowing the stray hairs that were not in the ponytail all over the place and was creating goose bumps on my legs. Perhaps I should have worn sweat pants.

I was afraid to see him, actually. Maybe not afraid, but apprehensive.

I started walking down his street, since I wasn't really in the mood to run anymore. Then I saw him come out of his house as a car pulled up in front.

I quickly hid behind a bush so he wouldn't see me, but so I could still see him.

The person in the car got out and I noticed they were in a uniform. Almost like an...

...FBI uniform.

Holy shitaki mushrooms.

Rob was talking with the FBI agent. I could tell he was getting angrier by the second. He really didn't want to be talking with them.

I inched up as much as I could, trying to hear as much as I could.

"Why can't you guys just leave her alone for once in her life?" I heard Rob shout. It wasn't really that hard to hear him.

He was talking about me, I could tell. But why was he confronting them...or vice versa. Why didn't they just come to me like they usually do?

The FBI agent was much more controlled than Rob was then. He spoke quietly, but I still caught a few words. Words like "distracting her from her work".

That was exactly what Krantz had said to me. Well, more or less.

So, what could they possibly want with Rob?

"All right," I finally heard Rob say. "Okay. I'll do it. Just as long as you guys keep your end of the deal. I swear, if you do anything to her, I will tell her everything. And there won't be anything you can do about it."

The agent nodded and got back in his car. I briefly noticed that it was Allan, a.k.a., Special Agent Johnson.

He drove away, leaving Rob staring angrily down the road.

That was when I decided to come out of the shadows.

I walked up to Rob. He didn't even notice me; I'm getting pretty good at the whole stealth thing.

And let's just say that he was pretty shocked when I tapped him on the shoulder.

His eyes went wide. He didn't say anything for a few moments. Then he finally said, "M-Mastriani? What - what are you doing here?"

I folded my arms across my chest. Defiantly, I said, "I decided to go for a run. I've had a lot of things to think about lately. Mainly, why I haven't seen you in a week."

He just stared at me bewilderedly. "You didn't see that, did you?" he asked apprehensively.

I knew what he was talking about. His little interaction with Allan. "Yes, I did. And I heard some of it too. Now, before you go all 'why-the-hell-are-you-stalking-me?' on me, I want to know what the hell that was all about."

He just stared at me. "I'd tell you if I could, Jess. You know that." And he tried to kiss me.

I turned my head, pushing him away from me. "Not until you tell me."

He stood up straight and said, "Well, I guess we're not going to be kissing for a while then."

"You're really not going to tell me, are you?"

He shook his head. "Mastriani, what's going on with me is more than what meets the eye. When its all over, I promise I'll tell you what happened. Right now, though, I just...I can't."

"What do they want with you, Rob? Why are you talking with FBI agents?" I demanded.

He just looked away. And when he brought his head back straight, he couldn't even meet my eyes.

That's when I got mad. "You know what? Fine. Hide this from me."

And then I ran back home.

A/N: So...ya like? Well, I hpe you guys did. I really do. Now alls you gotta do is review! Please.