FairyTale Ending

Chapter Four

This time I left a crisp $50 bill on his counter underneath the salt and pepper shakers.

"You ready?" Johnny asked, his voice close behind me, startling me.

"Let's roll." I grinned, hitching my bag up higher on my shoulder.

*

 Johnny and I were both quiet as we rode, the silence overwhelming. 

I hated silences like this. They made me nervous. 

I had 2 messages from Aaron on my phone, one of them was a continuation from our conversation the night before, but the other was new. 

Lovey, I know today is going to be rough, but just know, that I'm always here if you need to talk. I hope it's not too bad for you /: 

Through the time we had become acquainted, I became very trusting of Aaron. He was easy to talk to, a good listener, and it didn't seem like I was BOTHERING him. Whenever he was responding me, he seemed genuinely happy to be talking to me. 

Today blows was all I sent him before moving on to read my texts. 

One from Scott, asking me to come in early (2 hours early, I might add). I told him that I would be there happily (though I would much rather be sleeping) before checking the one message that had truly caught my eye. 

Chris Matthews. A friend of Kaden's. After he died, a few of Kade's friends had remained in contact with me, though not many. 

Every so often Chris would text me to see how I was, but it had become less and less often that I would hear from him lately. 

Chris was.... dangerous. I guess that was a good way  to pit it. 

He was breathtakingly handsome, with a hypnotic stare and a personality that made you want to chase after him; but he was such a bad influence. 

He had been a senior when Kade was a freshman. Chris took him under his wing, making a path for him. Getting him settled. 

"Hey Liyah. How are you? Do you want to hang out this weekend? I can pick you up." 

Woah. Chris wanted to hang out? A slight smile appeared on my face as I typed in a quick response, telling him I could come over Sunday after 12. 

"What are you all smiley about?" Johnny asked, looking over at me. 

"Just making plans for this weekend." I replied casually, running my fingers through my hair. 

Johnny reached over and took my hand in his, running his thumb over the back of my hand. 

"Can I see you this weekend?" Johnny requested, his voice hopeful. 

Sunday was the only afternoon that I had free.. and obviously if I was with Chris I couldn't be with Johnny as well... 

"Why don't we try for during the week?" I suggested. 

"Sure, just let me know when." He told me with a smile. 

We were almost to my house now, and my nervousness returned. I always got freaked out when I came home; I never knew who was going to be home, what kind of mood they were in, anything like that. It scared me. 

"So who are you seeing this weekened anyway?" Johnny asked casually, in that conversational way of his. 

Do I tell him or not? 

It's not like telling him would be a BAD thing. 

What could he do anyway? Get mad? 

Chris and I were just hanging out. It was perfectly acceptable. 

"Chris Matthews." I finally admitted, running my finger along the edge of my phone. 

No response from Johnny. 

I shot a shy glance at him out of the corner of my eye; gauging his reaction. 

His jaw was set in a hard line, and his hands were gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly. 

He still had said nothing as we pulled up to my house. 

"Are you mad at me?" I asked quietly, not moving from my seat. 

It was a few moments before he spoke, but at least he finally chose to acknowledge me. 

"I just want you to be careful. I don't tryst Chris/" 

I breathed out a sigh of relief. He wasn't mad at me. 

"I'm always careful Johnny." I assured him, though I knew it wasn't true. 

He leaned over the seat, taking my face in his hands and kissing me roughly, his lips hot against mine. 

"See, that's the problem Aliyah.. you're not careful. You chase after trouble." he murmured when he broke away from the kiss.