Sin City: a Vinnie Hacker Story

29- Are You Ready For It

The next day you still hadn't heard from him and you went out back to find Bryce. You were sitting on the bench that you and Vinnie had a picnic at a week ago, scrolling through your phone when Bryce came and sat next to you.

Bryce: "Still not any better?"

You: "He hasn't talked to me in 2 days now."

Bryce: "I just talked to him last night and he said he was going to call?"

You: "Yeah, well I appreciate the effort but if he wanted to talk to me then he would call."

Bryce: "I really thought he'd come here to see you because after our talk he left a few hours later and didn't come back."

You don't know if he thought that would make you feel better but all it did was send your thoughts into overdrive.

Bryce: "Do you want me to have your dad check into it?"

You: "No!!! If he's involved in something he shouldn't be then I don't want my dad to know, please."

That night you were laying in bed looking through pictures of you and Chase that you still hadn't deleted.

You made it to the few photos you'd taken of Vinnie, but realized you didn't actually have any of the two of you together.

You couldn't help but let your thoughts wander back to the basement. Your first kiss. Your first time together. Falling in love. It sounded bizarre to say or even think, but that month in the basement was a simpler time. Things were so much easier

You were still lost in thought staring at a picture of Vinnie you'd taken the last night you'd hung out when things were so good. You scrolled back down and selected all of the photos of Chase and uploaded them to your backup. You didn't know if you'd ever want to delete them permanently, but you couldn't stand to see them in your camera roll anymore. Avani peeked her head in with a smile:
"Heya, whatcha doing alone in the dark, crazy girl."

You: "Just wishing my boyfriend would call me back already."

Avani: "I thought you were going to talk to him?"

You: "He wasn't there and I haven't heard from him since."

Avani: "I know what you need. A distraction. How about I stay over?"

You: "Actually, can we go over to your house instead?"

Avani: "We could go for a swim if you want? Or watch a movie? We just gotta keep it down because my parents are already in bed."

You loved being at Avani's house more than your own. Even though her dad worked for yours, her house was a normal family. Yours always felt like it was drowning in secrets and plotting.

You: "I don't feel like swimming, but a movie sounds great."

Avani: "I'll make the popcorn. You go to my room and pick out some polishes and we can do pedicures while we watch."

You: *hugging her*
"You're the best friend in the world."

Avani: *giggling*
"Girl, I already know."

The movie was almost over but you both had stopped paying attention a while ago. You were painting your toes and listening to her talk about Anthony:
"I'm sure you know how that is. I mean you have probably the hottest boyfriend on the planet."

She burst into laughter and covered her mouth quickly as she added:
"I mean next to mine. Whoops."

You: "I don't know how things got so complicated. It was so good in the beginning."

Avani: "How did that even happen? Like one day you were still depressed and the next you've run away with some strange boy I'd never even heard you mention."

You: "I didn't run away with him."

Avani looked confused so you took a deep breath and told her everything. How you were snatched at the gravesite and how you woke up to a stranger watching you and you got close. Her reaction was clearly shock and awe:
"Vinnie kidnapped you and now you're dating him?"

You: "No, someone else who worked for my dad grabbed me, Vinnie was just in charge of guarding me while I was down there."

Avani: "Babe, you know I support whatever makes you happy but doesn't that ever feel like... I don't know... wrong to fall in love with the guy keeping you hostage."

You: "He was just working for the man who kept me hostage... my dad."

Avani: "YOUR DAD?!"

You: "Please you can't tell anyone. I am going to handle it eventually, but right now keeping it a secret is the only way I'm allowed to keep seeing Vinnie."

Avani: "How can you trust Vinnie if he works for your dad?"

You: "He doesn't anymore. He gave it all up to help me and get me out of there."

Avani: "Maybe we should turn to my dad? If he knew-"

You: "Avani... Your dad was in on it."

Avani looked absolutely horrified as you continued:
"I know it's hard to wrap your head around, but I'm handling it. Please trust me and just keep this between us."

Before she could respond, her phone went off and Anthony's face lit up on the screen:
"He's just calling to tell me goodnight, but I'll be back okay? We can finish this talk then."

You: "Hey it's ok. I promise. I'm ok."

She scurried off to the other room and you pulled out your phone and scrolled to Vinnie's number. You had promised yourself to give him space if he really needed it but you at least needed to hear his voice one time and tell him goodnight. You were shocked when the phone picked up on the first ring:
"Baby, listen. I'm sure there's a reason-"

Your stomach dropped when you heard the voice on the other end of the line interrupt:
"Awe... trouble in paradise already?"

You: "Jaden? Where is Vinnie?"

Jaden: "Hey now, you've reached the man of your dreams, let's focus on that."

You: "You are a nightmare now tell me where Vinnie is. NOW!"

Jaden: "He's... well... he's a little occupied right now answering to the boss."

You: "I swear to God if you are holding him hostage, I will make you pay!"

Jaden: "Hey, he came here all on his own."