Chapter 5
"Piper, we are leaving. Are you ready?" I yell.
"Yes, Alissa, calm down," Piper sighs.
"I hate being late for things. You know this. Why must you always be late?" I complain.
"Shut up," Piper yells. "Alright. I'm ready, your highness. Let's go."
"Thank you. My aunt and cousin are expecting us," I say.
"I understand," she says.
Charlie and my aunt were living in a settlement outside of Las Vegas. They had lived closer before, but they made a sudden move last year.
It took us about an hour to get to their house.
"Oh, Alissa, it's been so long," my aunt came running out of the house when we pull up to the house. "And, Piper, it's been even longer."
She hugs the both of us, and yells for Charlie.
"Hey, Ali, Piper. Long time no see," Charlie says.
"Congratulations on graduating high school. Though I heard you had to go to summer school," Piper teases him.
"Yes, some unfortunate happenings forced me to miss the end of the year," Charlie says.
"Ah," Piper grins. "Did they involve a girl?"
"You could say that. Would you like to meet her?" Charlie grins.
"She lives with you?" I ask.
"Yes," Charlie says.
"Wow, Aunt Jane, you're a little lenient," I tell her.
"He is 18 now," she says. "Besides, they are responsible. I trust them."
I raise an eyebrow at her.
We begin walking to the house.
Charlie and Piper walk into the house ahead of us.
"Don't get me wrong," Aunt Jane says. "I know they are having sex. I just think they're being smart about it."
"Oh," I nod.
"So, speaking of sex, you getting any?" she asks.
"Aunt Jane!" I laugh.
"Well, are you?" she asks.
"No," I mutter. "You?"
"Nope," she sighs. "I am taking a break from guys. I keep getting jerks or nutters," she mutters.
"Ooh, that sucks. I did meet this guy. I just, don't know if I want to go for it or not," I say as we enter the living room where Charlie and Piper are now sitting with a girl who I am assuming is Charlie's girlfriend.
"Why?" Aunt Jane asks.
"Why what?" Charlie asks as we sit down.
"Alissa met a man. But, she doesn't know if she wants to go for it or not," Jane relays.
"Why not?" Charlie's girlfriend asks. "I'm Amy, Charlie's girlfriend."
"Nice to meet you," I say. "Well, he's like 20 years my senior. Don't get me wrong. He was nice and hot. I just don't know if I am into that."
"What's his name?" Jane asks. She almost sounds suspicious.
"See, I met him at a Casino. I don't really know his name," I shrug. "I only met him once. And I don't have any means of contacting him, so I will probably never see him again."
"Oh, no," Jane frowns. "Well, maybe that is for the best. I just heard this horrifying story on the news about a woman who met an older man."
"What happened?" I ask.
"She was attracted to him, naturally. They started going out. Her son found out a secret about him. He tried to warn her, and then even his girlfriend was in on it. She tried to warn the mother, too. But, the mother was stubborn. She just wouldn't listen. It got them into a life threatening situation. The girl nearly died, actually they all nearly died."
"Sounds depressing," I say.
"Sounds like the woman was stupid not stubborn," Piper says.
Charlie snorts. "She should have listened to the son. Not that he would say I told you so or anything."
"Sure he wouldn't," Amy laughs. "I think I read that he did."
"Do you ever get the feeling that we're missing something?" I whisper to Piper.
"All the time," she says.
"I just meant right now, but okay," I shrug.
"Oh, well, yes to that, too," she replies.
"Do you guys want something to drink?" Jane asks.
"Uh, iced tea if you have it," Piper says.
"Coffee," I say.
"Cream or sugar?" Jane asks.
"Cream, please," I say.
"Sugar in your iced tea?" Jane asks Piper.
"Yes, please," she answers.
"That will be right out," Jane says.
"So, how has your summer's been?" I ask Charlie and Amy.
"Uneventful," Charlie says truthfully. "Honestly, though, we are both glad for it."
"Really? The summer after my senior year in high school is wild, but I won't get into that," Piper says. "I don't think your mother would appreciate me telling you those stories."
"Well, that just makes me want to hear them more," Charlie says.
I laugh, "You know, Piper met an older man, too."
"Really?" Jane asks as she comes back with our drinks.
"He is just a friend. He lives in the next door apartment. He seems like an okay guy," Piper shrugs.
"Just remember what I said about older guys," Jane warns.
We both nod.
"That was an interesting trip. Your aunt is very… untrusting," Piper says as we make it back to our apartment.
"I know. And that story she told. What was with that? I never heard anything about it. I think that would have been made a little more public," I say.
"True," Piper agrees.
"Well, I am headed to bed," I say.
"Me, too," Piper agrees. "It's been a long day."