Chapter 14 -- (Joe)
I clutched the manila folder in my right hand down to my side as I strolled down the busy sidewalk toward the Olive Tree Cafe Restaurant to meet Selena. I saw her sitting at one of the tables outside of the restaurant; our usual table. She was holding her cell phone up to her ear. That’s when I heard my phone ringing in my pocket. I pulled it out reading the caller id. It read: Selly Jelly.
It was the nickname I had given Sel after two weeks of meeting her. She used to always seem to have some type of jelly wasted on her shirt or jeans. So it was only right to name her Selly Jelly. But I never told her I left that as her contact name in my phone. The thought of that made me smirk as I answered the phone.
“Turn around, Im coming up right behind you.”
Still holding her cell phone to her ear, Selena turned around. She smiled when she saw me approaching her. She put her phone down just as I ended the call and approached her at the table.
“What’s up.” I greeted her as I leaned down giving her a side hug.
“Yo Joe!” she smiled extensively.
I noticed there was something different about her as I took my seat across from her at the table. “You do something to your hair?”
Selena smiled and ran her fingers thru her hair. “Oh my gosh, is it noticeable? I added a few hair extensions in my hair.”
“No you look nice.” I admitted as the cool breeze feathered thru her long strands of hair.
“Thanks! So did you bring it?” she asked referring to the notes for our Sociology class tomorrow.
I dropped the manila folder on to the table and slid it over to her. “You are such a procrastinator.”
She cheerfully clapped her hands at the sight of the notes. “You are such a life saver, thank you!”
“No problem.” I said noticing the waitress coming out to our table with Selena’s pink lemonade.
“Can I get you something to drink sir?” the cute blonde waitress asked me.
“Coke, please.”
The waitress nodded and walked away.
As Selena reached down into her book bag, she looked over at me asking, “What took you so long to get here? I thought you said you would be here in 5 minutes.”
“Yeah, sorry…I had to stop by the bank for Shane’s brother, Josh.”
“Shane owe’s Josh money again? Geez, will he ever learn?” Selena said rolling her eyes slightly and then wrapping her cherry glossed lips around her straw taking a sip from her pink lemonade.
Those same luscious cherry lips I used to kiss years ago. We found out that we were better as friends than lovers. A friend was just what she was to me now. One of my best friends. I could always talk to her and get a female’s perspective on a situation. I thought that put me at an advantage with the ladies I tend to go out with.
I sat there debating if I should tell Selena about Summer having Shane’s phone. It was just so out of Shane’s character to leave his phone around. But then again…maybe I should just leave everything alone, believe Summer, and don’t say anything. I was looking into the distance in deep thoughts when I heard Selena call my name.
“Joe?” I heard her say louder.
I turned my attention to her and raised my eyebrows waiting for her to continue.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
I nodded with a smile as the waitress brought my coke drink to the table and Selena’s order of fries. “Would you like to order anything, sir?” I wasn’t hungry so I answered no.
As soon as the waitress left the table Selena reached for the ketchup and asked, “So…what’s on your mind? Everything okay with you two love birds?”
I could see the smirk slowly appear on her face as she squirted the ketchup onto her fries.
“Love birds?” I responded with a smile and squinting my eyes from the sun. I sensed some jealousy coming from her. I decided to rub it in her face and tell her how much of love birds we were. “Funny you should say so…she told me she loved me today.” I then reached over the table and grabbed a fry from her basket of fries and took a bite. I could feel her eyes burning into me.
“She what?” Selena asked surprised as she still held the ketchup in her hand.
I continued to shove the fry into my mouth and nodded. I had to admit…I was shocked myself to hear Summer tell me that. Maybe she didn’t mean it.
“What did you do, tell her you loved her so you could fuck her or something?” Selena said nonchalantly as she finally placed the ketchup down and started to dig into her fries.
“I didn’t have to.” I said reaching over for another fry.
Selena glared at me for a second and then started to shake her head. “You know what…I don’t want to hear anything else. You men are so disgusting.”
I chuckled as she began to look over my notes for class that I had brought her. I then thought about Summer again. Why would she tell me she loved me so quickly? She barely knew me. Why would she want to lose her virginity to me so quickly? Was she really a virgin? She certainly didn’t look like one. I took another sip of my coke and paused before asking Selena a very personal question.
“Hey, Sel. I got a question.”
“Ok…I got an answer.” She said without looking up at me.
I hesitated for a second. “Once you lost your virginity, how long did it take you to learn how to … get used to it? I mean…as a female.”
Selena snapped her head up at me. “Excuse me?” she frowned.
“Oh c’mon Sel…we can talk right?”
She continued to frown as she stared at me.
“What exactly are you asking me?”
I suddenly felt bad for even asking Selena such a question. I didn’t want her to look at Summer in a different way. I had the feeling she wasn’t too keen on Summer anyway.
“Never mind.” I answered taking another sip.
Selena sat back and rested her back against the chair as she continued to stare at me. She picked up a fry and pointed it at me before she consumed it into her mouth. “You took another girl’s virginity, huh, Joe?”
I cocked my head to the side. I couldn’t believe how much she sounded like Shane. It was clear that she had been hanging around Shane and I too much. I laughed.
“And then she told you, she loved you?” Selena said looking at me and eating her fries as if I were a movie on a tv screen.
“What? …of course not…maybe…well…yeah.” I admitted shamefully. “But it’s not like that. I like her. I really do.”
“You like her…not love, like she loves you.” Selena confirmed.
At that moment I felt a presence approach behind me as an arm reached around me to grab one of Selena’s fries. It was Josh, Shane’s brother.
It was the nickname I had given Sel after two weeks of meeting her. She used to always seem to have some type of jelly wasted on her shirt or jeans. So it was only right to name her Selly Jelly. But I never told her I left that as her contact name in my phone. The thought of that made me smirk as I answered the phone.
“Turn around, Im coming up right behind you.”
Still holding her cell phone to her ear, Selena turned around. She smiled when she saw me approaching her. She put her phone down just as I ended the call and approached her at the table.
“What’s up.” I greeted her as I leaned down giving her a side hug.
“Yo Joe!” she smiled extensively.
I noticed there was something different about her as I took my seat across from her at the table. “You do something to your hair?”
Selena smiled and ran her fingers thru her hair. “Oh my gosh, is it noticeable? I added a few hair extensions in my hair.”
“No you look nice.” I admitted as the cool breeze feathered thru her long strands of hair.
“Thanks! So did you bring it?” she asked referring to the notes for our Sociology class tomorrow.
I dropped the manila folder on to the table and slid it over to her. “You are such a procrastinator.”
She cheerfully clapped her hands at the sight of the notes. “You are such a life saver, thank you!”
“No problem.” I said noticing the waitress coming out to our table with Selena’s pink lemonade.
“Can I get you something to drink sir?” the cute blonde waitress asked me.
“Coke, please.”
The waitress nodded and walked away.
As Selena reached down into her book bag, she looked over at me asking, “What took you so long to get here? I thought you said you would be here in 5 minutes.”
“Yeah, sorry…I had to stop by the bank for Shane’s brother, Josh.”
“Shane owe’s Josh money again? Geez, will he ever learn?” Selena said rolling her eyes slightly and then wrapping her cherry glossed lips around her straw taking a sip from her pink lemonade.
Those same luscious cherry lips I used to kiss years ago. We found out that we were better as friends than lovers. A friend was just what she was to me now. One of my best friends. I could always talk to her and get a female’s perspective on a situation. I thought that put me at an advantage with the ladies I tend to go out with.
I sat there debating if I should tell Selena about Summer having Shane’s phone. It was just so out of Shane’s character to leave his phone around. But then again…maybe I should just leave everything alone, believe Summer, and don’t say anything. I was looking into the distance in deep thoughts when I heard Selena call my name.
“Joe?” I heard her say louder.
I turned my attention to her and raised my eyebrows waiting for her to continue.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
I nodded with a smile as the waitress brought my coke drink to the table and Selena’s order of fries. “Would you like to order anything, sir?” I wasn’t hungry so I answered no.
As soon as the waitress left the table Selena reached for the ketchup and asked, “So…what’s on your mind? Everything okay with you two love birds?”
I could see the smirk slowly appear on her face as she squirted the ketchup onto her fries.
“Love birds?” I responded with a smile and squinting my eyes from the sun. I sensed some jealousy coming from her. I decided to rub it in her face and tell her how much of love birds we were. “Funny you should say so…she told me she loved me today.” I then reached over the table and grabbed a fry from her basket of fries and took a bite. I could feel her eyes burning into me.
“She what?” Selena asked surprised as she still held the ketchup in her hand.
I continued to shove the fry into my mouth and nodded. I had to admit…I was shocked myself to hear Summer tell me that. Maybe she didn’t mean it.
“What did you do, tell her you loved her so you could fuck her or something?” Selena said nonchalantly as she finally placed the ketchup down and started to dig into her fries.
“I didn’t have to.” I said reaching over for another fry.
Selena glared at me for a second and then started to shake her head. “You know what…I don’t want to hear anything else. You men are so disgusting.”
I chuckled as she began to look over my notes for class that I had brought her. I then thought about Summer again. Why would she tell me she loved me so quickly? She barely knew me. Why would she want to lose her virginity to me so quickly? Was she really a virgin? She certainly didn’t look like one. I took another sip of my coke and paused before asking Selena a very personal question.
“Hey, Sel. I got a question.”
“Ok…I got an answer.” She said without looking up at me.
I hesitated for a second. “Once you lost your virginity, how long did it take you to learn how to … get used to it? I mean…as a female.”
Selena snapped her head up at me. “Excuse me?” she frowned.
“Oh c’mon Sel…we can talk right?”
She continued to frown as she stared at me.
“What exactly are you asking me?”
I suddenly felt bad for even asking Selena such a question. I didn’t want her to look at Summer in a different way. I had the feeling she wasn’t too keen on Summer anyway.
“Never mind.” I answered taking another sip.
Selena sat back and rested her back against the chair as she continued to stare at me. She picked up a fry and pointed it at me before she consumed it into her mouth. “You took another girl’s virginity, huh, Joe?”
I cocked my head to the side. I couldn’t believe how much she sounded like Shane. It was clear that she had been hanging around Shane and I too much. I laughed.
“And then she told you, she loved you?” Selena said looking at me and eating her fries as if I were a movie on a tv screen.
“What? …of course not…maybe…well…yeah.” I admitted shamefully. “But it’s not like that. I like her. I really do.”
“You like her…not love, like she loves you.” Selena confirmed.
At that moment I felt a presence approach behind me as an arm reached around me to grab one of Selena’s fries. It was Josh, Shane’s brother.
Josh (Shane's Older Brother)
He then pulled up an empty chair to our table saying, “Who’s in love?”
“Nobody.” I said quickly now wanting to change the subject. I reached in my pocket pulling out my wallet to give Josh the money Shane owed him.
“Thanks, Joe. Im going to kick Shane’s ass when I see him. Any of you heard from him yet?”
Both Selena and I shook our heads no.
It was getting late. I wondered why Shane hadn’t called yet if he really were with Summer’s sister. They should be home by now…right?
“So, who is this chick that Shane was with Friday night? Summer?” Josh asked taking another fry from Selena’s basket of fries.
“Hey! Get your own food please.” Selena said with an attitude.
Josh just stared at her with a blank expression and turned his attention back to me.
“No, I was saying it may have been my friend, Summer’s sister. Why?” I asked taking a sip from my coke. “I talked to one of the guys Shane was hanging with and they said they were at the Pub getting drunk when he stumbled outside. They saw him talking to some chick in a black dress and never saw him again.” Josh said with his forearms resting on the table in front of them.
“That could have been anyone. Megan, maybe?”
“Nah…they said she wore glasses and had long dark hair. Megan wouldn’t be caught dead wearing glasses. But they said she was sexy as hell.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Maybe it was my friend, Summer’s sister...her name is Autumn.”
“You mean your girlfriend, Summer?” Selena said.
I smiled sarcastically at Selena as she corrected me.
“Oh…so you’re the one in love.” Josh said with a smirk, looking at me.
Before I could respond, Selena answered, “No, his girlfriend Summer is the one in love. Apparently he took her virginity and she told him that she loved him.”
I sensed a little hostility in Selena’s voice.
“Dude…never take a girl’s virginity…unless she’s the one you’re marrying. Those are always the ones who end up crazy.” Josh warned me.
He then slapped my back with the palm of his hand with a force that was a little too hard for my liking. “Didn’t I teach you and my brother Shane anything?” he continued.
I shook my head at Josh and then turned to Selena saying, “Thanks a lot.”
If I didn’t know any better…I would think Selly Jelly was jealous. I couldn’t believe she just broadcasted my business. She nodded at me as if she were on the verge of laughter.
“This girl is not like that.” I reassured both Selena and Josh.
Josh smiled, “Well I gotta go. Tell Shane’s punk ass to call me A.S.A.P.” Josh said leaving Selena and I alone. But not before stealing another fry from Selena’s basket of fries.
Selena shot him a cold glare as I gave him a dap handshake saying my goodbyes.
I took a few more sips of my coke drink, and decided I should to go home and call Summer to make sure her sister was okay and to see if Shane was around. “I should probably be going.” I said standing up from my chair.
“Leaving so soon?” she asked looking up at me.
“Yeah. You can just bring my notes back to my place when you’re done with it.”
“Can I just give it to you in class tomorrow? Im meeting up with a friend of mine tonight. We are going to hit up that club on 45th street for some drinks. You should come!”
“Nah. I’ll pass. Just bring my notes to class.” I responded.
Selena then made a whipping sound effect with her cherry lip glossed lips.
I smiled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I think the no-longer-virgin girl has you whipped!” She then began to giggle as she stuffed her mouth with the last few fries she had left.
I chuckled and started to walk away. “Whatever, Selly Jelly. Have fun tonite!” I walked away with a smile on my face.
Did Summer really have me whipped already?
----------
“Nobody.” I said quickly now wanting to change the subject. I reached in my pocket pulling out my wallet to give Josh the money Shane owed him.
“Thanks, Joe. Im going to kick Shane’s ass when I see him. Any of you heard from him yet?”
Both Selena and I shook our heads no.
It was getting late. I wondered why Shane hadn’t called yet if he really were with Summer’s sister. They should be home by now…right?
“So, who is this chick that Shane was with Friday night? Summer?” Josh asked taking another fry from Selena’s basket of fries.
“Hey! Get your own food please.” Selena said with an attitude.
Josh just stared at her with a blank expression and turned his attention back to me.
“No, I was saying it may have been my friend, Summer’s sister. Why?” I asked taking a sip from my coke. “I talked to one of the guys Shane was hanging with and they said they were at the Pub getting drunk when he stumbled outside. They saw him talking to some chick in a black dress and never saw him again.” Josh said with his forearms resting on the table in front of them.
“That could have been anyone. Megan, maybe?”
“Nah…they said she wore glasses and had long dark hair. Megan wouldn’t be caught dead wearing glasses. But they said she was sexy as hell.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Maybe it was my friend, Summer’s sister...her name is Autumn.”
“You mean your girlfriend, Summer?” Selena said.
I smiled sarcastically at Selena as she corrected me.
“Oh…so you’re the one in love.” Josh said with a smirk, looking at me.
Before I could respond, Selena answered, “No, his girlfriend Summer is the one in love. Apparently he took her virginity and she told him that she loved him.”
I sensed a little hostility in Selena’s voice.
“Dude…never take a girl’s virginity…unless she’s the one you’re marrying. Those are always the ones who end up crazy.” Josh warned me.
He then slapped my back with the palm of his hand with a force that was a little too hard for my liking. “Didn’t I teach you and my brother Shane anything?” he continued.
I shook my head at Josh and then turned to Selena saying, “Thanks a lot.”
If I didn’t know any better…I would think Selly Jelly was jealous. I couldn’t believe she just broadcasted my business. She nodded at me as if she were on the verge of laughter.
“This girl is not like that.” I reassured both Selena and Josh.
Josh smiled, “Well I gotta go. Tell Shane’s punk ass to call me A.S.A.P.” Josh said leaving Selena and I alone. But not before stealing another fry from Selena’s basket of fries.
Selena shot him a cold glare as I gave him a dap handshake saying my goodbyes.
I took a few more sips of my coke drink, and decided I should to go home and call Summer to make sure her sister was okay and to see if Shane was around. “I should probably be going.” I said standing up from my chair.
“Leaving so soon?” she asked looking up at me.
“Yeah. You can just bring my notes back to my place when you’re done with it.”
“Can I just give it to you in class tomorrow? Im meeting up with a friend of mine tonight. We are going to hit up that club on 45th street for some drinks. You should come!”
“Nah. I’ll pass. Just bring my notes to class.” I responded.
Selena then made a whipping sound effect with her cherry lip glossed lips.
I smiled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I think the no-longer-virgin girl has you whipped!” She then began to giggle as she stuffed her mouth with the last few fries she had left.
I chuckled and started to walk away. “Whatever, Selly Jelly. Have fun tonite!” I walked away with a smile on my face.
Did Summer really have me whipped already?
----------
(Summer)
I never thought I would find myself on my hands and knees cleaning up blood from Shane’s now slaughtered body, Autumn and I had to do. ‘It’s the only way to remove his body from our apartment without our neighbors watching us carry a full dead body around.’ I could hear Autumn’s voice ring into my ears.
With my hair tied up into a high ponytail and feeling sweaty from the harsh scrubbing to our hard wood floors, I stood up holding the bottle of hydrogen peroxide in my hands and tightly twisted the cap closed. I wiped my sweaty forehead with my forearms looking at the now spotless floor when I heard a knock at the door.
I just stood there for a second wondering why would Autumn be knocking on the door? I didn’t lock the door when she left to tote Shane’s chopped up body parts in a black trash bag down to the dumpster. I heard another knock on the door and finally decided to walk up to the door taking one of my yellow rubber gloves I wore off my right hand to open the door knob. I was slightly startled when I saw an unknown female standing at the door.
She smiled as she looked at me. “Hi. Summer Lovato, right?”
I looked at her puzzled wondering how did she know my name. “Yes?”
“Detective Mandy Cyrus…remember me?” she said introducing herself.
I hesitated for a moment trying to remember her. I had no clue who she was and I had never seen her before.
“No…Im sorry… I don’t remember.”
I could tell she was taken by surprise a little. She continued to smile as she looked down the hall and back at me. She pointed her finger toward my neighbor, Nick’s door, down the hall.
“Remember the other night when I met you over at your neighbor’s apartment..Nick Mathison?”
I knew nothing of what she was talking about. Then it finally dawned on me that she must have met Autumn. Not me. I looked down the hall to see if Autumn was anywhere in sight. She wasn’t.
I decided to play a long with her. “Oh…yes. Of course. Uhm….what can I do for you?”
The detective gave me a quick glance up and down. “Can I come in? I just have a few questions to ask you.”
I turned around to make sure there was no sign of Shane’s remnants in the apartment. When I saw that the coast was clear, I slowly opened the door and allowed the detective to come inside.
Before closing the door, I took one last look in the hall to see if Autumn was anywhere insight.
She wasn’t.
TO BE CONTINUED …
With my hair tied up into a high ponytail and feeling sweaty from the harsh scrubbing to our hard wood floors, I stood up holding the bottle of hydrogen peroxide in my hands and tightly twisted the cap closed. I wiped my sweaty forehead with my forearms looking at the now spotless floor when I heard a knock at the door.
I just stood there for a second wondering why would Autumn be knocking on the door? I didn’t lock the door when she left to tote Shane’s chopped up body parts in a black trash bag down to the dumpster. I heard another knock on the door and finally decided to walk up to the door taking one of my yellow rubber gloves I wore off my right hand to open the door knob. I was slightly startled when I saw an unknown female standing at the door.
She smiled as she looked at me. “Hi. Summer Lovato, right?”
I looked at her puzzled wondering how did she know my name. “Yes?”
“Detective Mandy Cyrus…remember me?” she said introducing herself.
I hesitated for a moment trying to remember her. I had no clue who she was and I had never seen her before.
“No…Im sorry… I don’t remember.”
I could tell she was taken by surprise a little. She continued to smile as she looked down the hall and back at me. She pointed her finger toward my neighbor, Nick’s door, down the hall.
“Remember the other night when I met you over at your neighbor’s apartment..Nick Mathison?”
I knew nothing of what she was talking about. Then it finally dawned on me that she must have met Autumn. Not me. I looked down the hall to see if Autumn was anywhere in sight. She wasn’t.
I decided to play a long with her. “Oh…yes. Of course. Uhm….what can I do for you?”
The detective gave me a quick glance up and down. “Can I come in? I just have a few questions to ask you.”
I turned around to make sure there was no sign of Shane’s remnants in the apartment. When I saw that the coast was clear, I slowly opened the door and allowed the detective to come inside.
Before closing the door, I took one last look in the hall to see if Autumn was anywhere insight.
She wasn’t.
TO BE CONTINUED …
© 2011 CelebritySuperFan
7/29/2011
7/29/2011