Heroic Muse
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2014
- Messages
- 787
- Reaction score
- 3,796
- Location
- Baldwin, New York
- Website
- www.ftmcoachjack.com
“Mom? What? No. It’s not that at all. It’s just tonight, something happened, that’s why Rory dropped by.”
“Oh, I don’t care,” Jen said in a light tone that JJ knew was phony. “As long as you’re not doing drugs with him, do whatever you want.”
Rory got up from the couch. “Look, Mrs. Deveraux,” he said, “I get I’m not your favorite person, but I’m really a lot more than just a walking joint of weed.”
Jen turned towards Rory. JJ held his breath, praying this didn’t get too ugly. “I’m not trying to judge you,” Jen told Rory. “If my son still considers you a friend after everything he’s been through, I’m sure he sees so much good in you that he’s willing to ignore what you do when he’s not around. But I can’t forget that from the moment JJ met you, whenever the two of you were together, trouble wasn’t too far behind. So no matter how many other sides of you he sees, as long as you come into my house high or planning to get high, I’m sorry, but I can’t see you as anything but a bad influence.”
“Maybe you need your eyes checked,” Rory said. “You think you know it all, but you got it all wrong. When JJ was messing up, it was all his idea. I just came along for the ride. Yeah, I like to mess around, have a little fun, live a little, but JJ’s the one who was flipping out when he first hit Salem.”
Jen’s lips thinned. Rory said, “Look, I’m not any more crazy about you than you are about me. But I’ll put up with you for one night for JJ’s sake.”
“What is he talking about?” Jen demanded of JJ.
JJ reddened. “I kinda told Rory he can crash here tonight. I thought since Abigail’s out for the night and we have that guest room anyway, it would be okay.”
“Honey, I’m sorry ,but I don’t think that’s a good idea. In fact, I think it would be best if Rory went home now.”
JJ crossed his arms. “Mom,” he said, trying hard to keep his temper under control, “if he could do that, do you think he’d hang around here letting you look at him like he’s a serial killer?”
“JJ!” Jen put her hand on JJ’s arm. “Come over here right now.” She started to drag JJ towards the kitchen.
Rory started to pick up his bag. “Forget it, dude. Let’s just hang in the park tonight.”
JJ turned towards him. “Just wait, will you?”
“I don’t stay where I’m not wanted, man.”
“Just gimme five minutes alone to explain it to her. I guarantee you she’ll see it our way.” JJ glared at his mother.
Bev followed Cole almost to the clearing where she and Rory had been hanging out. She ducked behind a tree and watched.
Rory was long gone. In fact, the clearing was empty except for some guy lying on the ground. Bev leaned forward and saw that the guy had tape wrapped around his wrists and ankles. She couldn’t make out his features, but she didn’t think she’d ever seen him before.
Cole looked over his shoulder, so Bev ducked back behind the tree again. She listened as Cole said, “What the hell happened?”
“That’s what I’d like to know,” the other guy said. “You said this was some easy money. You’d better not have been lying to me.”
“I wasn’t,” Cole protested. “I can’t believe that scrawny little stoner got one over on you. How - “
“Never mind how. I’m gonna have to go to plan B. Get in the woods and find me my knife.”
Cole headed for the woods. Bev jumped back so he wouldn’t find her, then ran back to the tree she was supposed to be standing against. She leaned against it, trying to catch her breath before Cole came back. She didn’t know what to do about what she’d just heard, but she didn’t have time to think about it. He was going to be here any second now, and going against what he wanted was even more dangerous than she realized. She started to take out her phone, but she heard Cole’s footsteps. She shoved the phone back into her purse and made it look like she had been waiting for him this whole time.