Chapter Twenty One
I can feel the weight of the day set in the second my eyes opened this morning. How do I know something's askew? Just trust me I'm right.
As usual, Veronica and I meet in the hallway first thing in the morning. Going into the kitchen nook we see dad standing there reading his newspaper intently.
" Good morning. " She says going straight to the fridge for the milk.
I go for the chocolate instant oatmeal instead. " Yeah morning pops. " I say kissing his cheek as I pass him.
He doesn't respond causing Veronica to look over at me in question.
" Or not. " She says sarcastically.
" You two don't go to the ocean-side bars that the college kids hang out at, do you? " He says after a minute or two.
Giving him a look I say, " we prefer the biker bar by the train station. Cute blondes get more attention there. "
Oh, he is not amused.
" She's kidding. Why would you ask that? " Veronica says giving me a slight elbow to the side.
He holds up the paper, the headline of which reads: E-String Strangler Strikes Again.
" Twenty-year-old co-ed washed up dead on the beach. " He says with a frown.
Veronica takes the paper and says, " scary ".
" Wait. Wasn't this your case? I thought they caught this guy in Oakland two years ago. " I ask reading the article from over her shoulder.
" Well, apparently they didn't. " He says in irritation. " Everyone wanted to believe the Oakland strangler committed the Neptune crimes too. "
Great, because of this mess now he's going to become Sargeant General of all things " us " related.
" It never quite fit. Oh, but it was so important for the mayor and the Chamber of Commerce to put that scare behind us. " He says taking the last drink from his coffee cup.
Veronica gives both me and dad a concerned look. We both remember how much time he spent working on that case. Sleepless nights and long torturous days of being followed by the coeds shot down in the prime of their lives.
" Maybe you two should stay home today. at least until I know more information. " He says sighing and rubbing his face in agitation.
Shaking my head I say, " I have a test in history today I can't make it up ".
" Dad we'll be fine... " Ronnie says giving me that " look ". " We'll stick together and take Vicki's car to school. "
He still looks like he's about to lock us in our rooms until further notice. " I don't know... I still don't like the idea of my daughters out there with a murderer on the loose. "
" Dad we're going to be adults soon. We have to learn to make good choices on our own. " I say looking him in the eyes with confidence. " Just trust that you did your job and we'll be fine. "
He doesn't want to, the look on his face tells me so, but he relents." I guess you're right I just worry so much. Go, have a good day and learn something. " He says shooing us out of the apartment before he changes his mind.
NEPTUNE HIGH SCHOOL QUAD
Later that day Veronica, Wallace, and I head out to the quad, hot dogs in hand. I'm not really that hungry but Ronnie gives me shit when I don't eat.
" People are really freaking out about this E-String Strangler. My mom is scared to drive home alone. I told her this time she can be happy she's not the guy's type. " Wallace says as we head to our table.
Veronica nods in understanding. " My dad barely let us out of the house this morning. "
" Seriously, I've been expecting him to show up at any moment to take us back home. " I say as we reach our destination.
We get to our table and a kid from my computer science, Jackson Douglas, comes over and interrupts our meal.
" I hear you do detective stuff for people. " He says to Veronica, completely ignoring Wallace and me.
She doesn't appreciate it either so she says, " I do favors for friends ".
" I can pay. " He says quickly.
Her eyes light up and the mood changes. " Sit down, friend! What can I do for you? "
" I was hoping that you could find some dirt on my parents. "He says sitting across from us.
A wide grin spreads across Veronica's face. " Why Jackson Douglas, I do declare! " She says in a southern accent.
"You want her to dig up dirt on your own parents? " I ask judging him majorly.
He nods without any shame. " I need leverage. They're crazy strict. They grounded me for two months for smoking up in my room. "
Wow. My dad would have had a nuclear meltdown. I'm talking all privacy privileges taken away. Including the door to my room. I won't ever break that rule.
" Apparently you've never spent time in a black woman's house. Be glad you're still walking. " Wallace says feeling the exact same way.
Jackson rolls his privileged eyes and says, " yeah, well, they act like they were always perfect. And every little thing I do wrong is cataloged so they can rub my nose in it later. "
" Sure you can handle the truth? The Seventies and Eighties were not pretty decades for people. We've all seen the pictures. " Veronica says in warning.
He nods enthusiastically. " I can handle it. "
" Now, as for the small matter of compensation. " I say to make sure she doesn't forget.
We're interrupted by the sound of a string quartet playing Birthday by the Beatles. So original. We all watch as Madison Sinclair arrives at the table filled with all of her 09er friends.
She gasps in delight. " I love my parents! " She says as she hands out flyers. " All right. Come to my party. No need to bring gifts. "
She gasps outrageously again as a waiter arrives with a large birthday cake. " Happy birthday to me! "
Madison, horribly coy and entitled, blows out her candles as all watch in disgust.
" The rite of fall. Madison Sinclair's birthday. " Veronica says as we try to ignore the spectacle.
Jackson haunches his shoulders. " Best party of the year and I can't go because I'm grounded. "
" Her parents must looove her. " Wallace says sarcastically.
Veronica huffs. " If they really loved her? They would've gotten the real Beatles. "
Chuckling I finally see Eli enter the quad. I take the last bite of my hotdog and dust my hands off. " Screw Madison, I see a man I want to kiss... Smell ya later. " I say leaving them to go lay one on him.
" I missed you all day. " I tell him when we break apart.
He grins and takes my hand to lace our fingers together. " Let's do something after school. "
" Okay. " I say not caring what he has planned.
Things are better than ever between us and I just want to be around him all of the time.
" Oh before I forget, from now on it will either be me or Felix taking you back and forth from school and work. " He says reaching into the side pocket of my bag and taking my car keys.
Trying to grab them back he throws them over to Felix who puts them in his pocket with a grin. " Hey! What is this? "
Eli laughs but quickly tries to cover it up. " Sorry querida there's a serial killer running around and I need you to be safe. So from now on, you have PCH security detail until this guy is caught. "
" So I'm not allowed to drive now? " I ask ready to blow a gasket.
I fold my arms and take a step back from him. This is some BS if I ever saw it. First my dad now Eli? Do they really think I'm dumb enough to go to college bars by myself?
He uncrosses my arms and pulls me back into his embrace. " Sorry, babe I know it blows. " He says biting my ear lobe a little making goosebumps form on my neck and shoulders. " Just think of it as having your own personal chauffeur. "
" That's not fair. " I say pulling away still tingling. " I can't be mad at you when you do that. "
He grins and says, " why do you think I do it "?
" Fine! I guess can deal with this situation since I know my dad won't do a damned thing to stop you. He didn't want me to come to school today. " I say in defeat.
Shaking his head he says, " finally we agree on something... Your safety. "
" Yeah, yeah. " I say as the bell rings signaling the end of lunch. " I'll see you after school. " I say kissing him before heading inside to my locker.
The Neptune Boardwalk
I honestly didn't expect him to bring me here being that he's such a badass and all. He just keeps surprising me at every turn. We haven't even done anything sexual yet and his patience with me knows no bounds for sure. I know I'm ready for the next step but is he?
I mean we all know the male species are driven by their hormones so the logical answer should be yes right? All of the old movies dad forces us to watch sex is literally the first thing a dude wants to do with the girl he likes.
" What do you want for your birthday babe? " I ask as we walk hand in hand sweetly.
Kissing the side of my head he says, " I just want to spend the day with my girl ".
" Who are you and what did you do with my badass biker boyfriend. " I say checking his temperature.
Seriously, between earlier and now he has been so open about his feelings.
" He's never too far away querida... Is it so hard to believe that I would want to spend my birthday with you? " He asks stopping to look at me.
Smirking I reach up and give him a surprise kiss. " A little. I thought for sure you'd want to hang with your boys. Doing what bikers... Ya know, do for fun. "
" I can do that any time. I'm trying to convince your sister to help set everything up. Me and you never get alone time, like real alone time so I was thinking maybe taking a trip to San Diego? They have a huge music festival coming and- "
I give him an unbelievable look. " Festivals are usually two or three days. There is no way my dad is going to let me go off with you for the weekend. "
" Don't worry about all that, I got V handling it. For a price as usual. " He says shaking his head.
Of course, he'd enlist her to help us get laid. I can't deal with how they both talk and scheme behind my back but whatever. " Okay, I'll hold my breath until that happens. "
" You do that querida. " He says pulling me into his side once more. " Let's go get something to eat. "
Author's Note: I'm just doing some editing and hopefully I can have something up for you all by tmw.
