Moving Forward

Chapter Twenty Two

"Can you get rid of it or not?" I asked blatantly.

"It depends." He folded his arms.

"Depends on what?" He was back on track with the games. I knew it wouldn't have lasted more than a second.

"If you consider my request." His eyebrows were perched and he wore a diabolical grin on his face.

"Are you for real right now?" I folded my arms.

"Yes."

Ugh! The evening couldn't get any worse. I had no intentions on going back near the water nor allow him near me when I return to the beach. It felt like a nightmare that would never end.

"No."

"Ok." He shrugged.

"What was that noise?" Ms Flint asked herself loudly. She was standing in her gallery upstairs.

Then I heard footsteps slowly descending. At the same time, Rion made an about turn and started towards his van.

"I'm going home." He said

"Maliah?" Ms Flint called. "Is that you down there?"

I couldn't see her face from where I was standing. However, when she surfaced, I knew she was going to ask about that stupid mattress again.

"Wait!" I whispered a shout.

Rion faltered his step and turned back towards me with a half smile. That bastard! He knew well what he was doing.

"I'll do it."

"Do what?"

"Maliah?" Ms Flint called again.

"Why aren't you answering the woman?" He asked.

He still wore the stupid grin. I wished my nails were long enough to scratch it off his smug face.

"She's down here Ms Flint."

"Rion is that you?"

"Yes Ms Flint."

I took a step back, edging towards my door. Everything around me spelled chaos. This was the most excitement I had in weeks. Oh lord.

"All right." I swallowed. "I'll let you teach me."

"Great!" He rubbed his ashy hands together.

I scowled. The same time Ms Flint appeared at the bottom of the steps. She was wearing a pink satin robe with flowers, clutching it close to her. Was she naked underneath it? Ew.

I was positive Rion saw what I saw because he cringed a bit.

"What was that noise?" She looked around and saw the unsightly mattress sprawled across her concrete floor. Her breath hitched.

"Uh... uh... Ms Flint, Rion was about to move the mattress for me. He will take care of it." I managed to say quickly.

"Me?"

I punched him on his arm and gritted through my teeth, "I said yes to your stupid request!"

"Oh yeah. I will." He finally said.

"Great!" Ms Flint clapped her hands, revealing a bit of her wrinkly chest. "Well I just go back and do what I was doing."

What was that? The idea of her naked creeped me out. As she footed the steps, I glared at Rion. He had done a number on me for the entire afternoon. I was tired of him.

"Just get rid of it." I snapped and opened my door.

"Wait. Where am I carrying it?"

"I don't know. Figure it out. You're the smart ass here."

He shook his head.

I slammed my door and breathed a sigh of relief.

I had a right to be angry. He forced my hand and almost hung me out to dry with Ms Flint. I just needed the mattress to disappear so I could return to a peaceful apartment without any unnecessary noise from anyone.

"Maliah?" Rion knocked on the door.

"What!?" I couldn't even catch a breath without him intruding.

"Nothing."

There was a tinge of disappointment and hurt in his voice. I didn't care, because he made my life a living hell since I met him. But my mind fought with me. I pulled the curtain and saw him struggling with the nasty mattress over his back. A rash was sure to develop from the way he was handling it.

A hint of guilt bubbled my stomach. But why did I feel bad? I opened my door and peered at him as he threw it over the tray. There was something about him that made me uneasy. I just couldn't put my finger on it.

He quickly tied the mattress to the tray of the van and hopped into the van. I watched carefully as he disappeared from my sight.

...

**To be Continued**