Chapter 13: Skipping Out

Daniel was sitting in his class impatiently. He kept looking at the clock waiting till 12 noon. He then looked at Brenda and she smiled back at him. It was a busy morning for them both. The instructor had given them a rather large assignment that was due Monday. Having it be Friday, he felt like his hard worked weekend was for nothing. It'd always come down to this garbage, homework for the weekend.

The bell rang and everyone got up and left for lunch break. He put his arm around her and they both left together. His old friends were looking at him, whispering amongst themselves. He heard one of them mention Esther and he made a noise. "I heard him too," Brenda said, "Don't worry about Esther. She's dead." "I'm only worried because a month has gone by and her body hasn't turned up," he explained to her. "Your mother said she broke her neck though," Brenda told him as they reached their neighboring lockers. "She could've misallocated her kick and broke something else," Daniel replied, "like her arm or shoulder." She shook her head and smiled at him.

"I sound paranoid doc," he joked as they walked to the cafeteria, "Can you help me?" "I think you need some fun in your life," she told him and kissed his cheek, "like blowing this place off and going with me to hang out for the afternoon." He grinned at the idea. "We'd get so busted for that," he admitted, "we'd get caught." "C'mon Danny, I'll watch your back," Brenda said, "you have to trust me on this." "It depends what you have in mind," he said, giving in a little. "Well…let's go to the mall," she said, "they have a movie theatre and lots of things to do." He thought it over and smiled at her.

They both snuck out the back, chuckling uncontrollably. They both ran to the bike rack and unlatched their bikes. They then quietly snuck off behind the park. As they biked off, Esther was passing by on the bus watching them. She seen them both laughing together as they disappeared through the trees. Remembering how hostile Daniel had treated her, she felt a surge of anger she thought was gone suddenly break surface. He was still alive and well, and apparently had a new girlfriend. It just couldn't be possible. She thought of the possibilities as to where they'd be going. Change of plan. She then smiled and decided to stay on the bus. She'd follow them instead. The detective could wait.

She peeked inside of her purse and checked the 357 magnum as it glistened by the reflection of the daylight. She remembered she had still 6 rounds in its 8 round chamber. But she still had 1 full reload that she'd taken from Joe Bando's truck. She'd waited for this for a long time.

"Sorry Detective," She said as she got off the bus, "Our date will have to wait." She weaved her way through the parking lot where the cars were littered all over. She kept her eyes on them, even though hundreds of people were coming and going through the mall's façade. She spotted them going into the main entrance and grinned. She looked around cautiously, then crossed the driveway and entered after them. She couldn't risk being spotted so this would have to be quick.

Daniel and Brenda were both walking ahead of her, talking up a storm. "You ever had a girlfriend?" Brenda asked him, catching by surprise. "Uh, no," he stuttered out. She smiled at him. He nervously laughed, not knowing how to react. "Have you?" he asked jokingly. They both chuckled and she grabbed his hand. His nervousness had increased a bit, but relief had also settled in. He didn't want her to think he was square. He gathered up his courage and pointed at a movie poster.

"Do you want to see…Face Stomp?" he asked her. "Face Stomp?" she asked. "Yeah, I heard it's pretty good," he added, "It's almost like a grindhouse movie. Y'know, karate, guns, swords. Like a John Woo movie." "Sounds interesting," she said, "you sure they'll let us into Face Stomp though?" "Oh hell yeah," Daniel said to her, "It's PG-13 or something. We'll be alright." She started laughing, messing up his hair. He thought he'd swung and missed, until she took his hand and started off towards the theatre.

"Hi dude," Daniel said, "um, 2 tickets for Face Stomp." The guy smiled and typed it into the register. "My boyfriend here's the best," Brenda said as he dug for the money. He was stunned at first, and then he smiled all confidently and handed over the cash. She hooked her arm around his and they entered together. Esther was not far behind them. She stared up at the theatre, seeing the movies. She'd overheard them and was ready for anything. She smiled and went towards it.

"Face Stomp, please," Esther asked pleasantly

"Daniel, I'll be right back," Brenda said, setting the popcorn down, "Save my seat for me, K?" "You got it," he said, smiling coolly. She hugged him and he held her back tightly. He'd never felt happier in his whole life. Through the pain of losing his father and almost getting killed, he'd never thought he'd ever be happy again. It was a hard process that he and his family had gone through. Even though it was passed, it still hurt the Coleman's very much.

Esther was meandering down the hall, looking at the theatre numbers as they increased. Right before she arrived at Face Stomp, she spotted Brenda leaving the auditorium. She quickly ducked into a dark corner and watched Brenda pass by unknowingly. She glared at her, knowing that this time she had no one to answer to for hurting her. If she was lucky to just "get hurt".

Brenda was in the washroom digging in her bag for her make up. Esther came in quietly and leaned against the doorframe. Brenda had no idea she was watching. Esther kept her eyes fixated on her and snapped her fingers. Brenda turned to Esther and froze. Esther stared at her and held her finger up to her lips. Brenda's mouth quivered and she backed away from the mirror. Esther kicked the doorstop and the door shut. The maintenance sign swung back and forth on the door handle as the locked clicked. Brenda spun around and saw Esther looking at her, leaning against the door with her arms folded.

"Brenda," Esther sneered at her, "So, you're Daniel's new girlfriend?" Brenda backed up and gasped and shook her head gently, pointing at her. "Esther…" Brenda said, feeling herself trembling all over, "Oh my God, it can't be." Esther held her hands out and shrugged. "You stay away from Daniel!" Brenda yelled to her as Esther reached arm's length of distance between them. "No, I don't think I'll do that," Esther said, as she slugged Brenda in the side of the head. "Ow, Christ!" Brenda yelled, holding the side of her head. Esther shoved her back into the wall and Brenda let out a whimper as she slid down it. Esther held her right fist up and was about to hit her again, but she stopped.

"I'm sorry," Esther said, holding her arms out, "I don't want to harm you. I want us to be friends. My fight is with Daniel and his stupid family. Come here." Brenda sat there, quivering. "Come HERE," Esther said in more sternly.

Brenda slowly rose up and crept up to Esther, who stood there staring blankly at her. Brenda approached Esther who pulled Brenda over to her, holding her tightly. Brenda knew that the Coleman's were all still in danger. She'd have to do something. But what would that be? She was terrified beyond any rational thought.

Esther looked into the mirror and smiled at herself in it.