60High School Drama:
Chapter 8
Tyler's POV:
"Hello Tyler," James said jovially as I opened the door. I glared at him as he stepped passed me. He raised an eyebrow at me.
"What's wrong with you?" he asked as he walked into the living room. He saw Chealsey sitting on my couch and stopped, turning to me with a raised eyebrow.
"Did you not take her home last night?" he asked, somewhat surprised. I glanced at her and she was shooting me a pleading look, praying that I wouldn't tell about her dad. I hesitated a moment to long, however, and James was able to pick up on the look. He turned to Chealsey.
"Did you want to go home?" he asked. She hesitated for a moment then shook her head.
"Hmm and why not?" he asked, walking towards her. He positioned himself on the couch, looking relaxed but still staring at her. She shrugged nonchalantly and fixed her gaze on the floor. There was an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes before I spoke up.
"Is there something you wanted James?" He turned a calculating gaze on me.
"You've got a meeting today," he informed me. I allowed myself a small furrow of my eyebrow.
"Not one that I'm aware of." Chealsey was still staring at the floor but I could tell she was listening.
"That's because boss-man sent me to fetch you." I almost allowed myself to stare open-mouthed at my friend.
"Shit," I mumbled, almost letting out a groan. James just smiled at me like he was enjoying my torment. At that exact moment I wanted nothing more than to kick James out and finding out exactly where I stood with the girl on my couch. She sunk back against the cushions as I leaned over her.
"Stay here," I murmured to her. I stopped suddenly when I felt her breath skate across my face. My eyes met hers as I reached towards the side table.
"And do what? For how long?" she asked. I was tempted to lean down another two inches and let our lips touch. I didn't know why but I felt something that I couldn't describe. There was something in her eyes that had replaced the fire that I had seen there the first time I met her, a sort of vulnerability that seemed to the slightly thaw a heart I didn't know I had. It scared me to feel this affection towards someone. I hadn't felt anything but indifference towards anyone since I was about 14. I pulled myself back suddenly and cleared my throat as I stood. I put the gun that I had reached over her to grab in the back of my jeans, making sure my shirt was covering it. I saw her eyes flicker to the hand I had held it in.
"Just wait until I get back. It should only be an hour or two." I saw her give a slight nod and I turned and followed James out the door and down to the parking lot. As he started his car I could feel his gaze on me.
"Oh shut up," I mumbled, leaning against the window to sulk.
Chealsey's POV
I just sat there after he left. I was so confused and didn't exactly know what to make of the whole situation. Here was this guy who I had just met who turned out to be an assassin who is going to kill my father and I'm sitting in his living room somewhat calmly waiting for him to get back from meeting with his mafia boss, I assumed. Yeah ok… wait… what? It just felt like things were going so fast. A day or two ago I was in class with my two best friends (one of which I made only recently). I hadn't talked to Sean since yesterday so I decided to call him. I walked back into the room I had woken up in and found my phone and keys on the table beside the bed. I picked up my phone and dialed Sean's number. He picked up on the third ring.
"Less, are you ok?" he asked immediately. I smiled slightly.
"Yeah I'm alright. Sorry about all that," I said. I hopped back on the bed and snuggled into the pillows, using the giant sweatshirt I still had on as a cover for my legs.
"It's alright but I was really worried about you. You were acting really weird. And who was that guy exactly?"
"Just… somebody I used to know," I said. I wasn't exactly lying; I was just not telling the absolute truth. "I trust you got home alright then?" I asked, changing the subject.
"Oh yeah, it was just spiffy," he responded with a short, sarcastic laugh.
"Did James find you alright?"
"Sure if you call walking into the middle of the food court and yelling for a 'young man named Sean who was with Chealsey.' I swear to god Less I've never been more embarrassed in my life." I laughed until I couldn't breathe. "It's not funny!" he complained. "Then when we got in his car he wouldn't stop talking and to be honest I don't know what he babbled on about. Anyway, I've got to go. Be safe though and give me a call later."
"Alright I will. Bye."
"Bye." I set the phone down on the receiver.
I guess I had fallen asleep or something because when I woke up it was to a load bang. I slowly got up and made my way to the living room. I stopped short and was shocked when I saw Tyler sitting on his couch with his head in his hands. My eyes widened when I saw a stool that had been sitting innocently by the bar smashed by the wall.
"Tyler?" I asked quietly, slightly frightened by his manner. He shot up from the couch and spun to look at me. His eyes looked weary.
"I forgot you were here," he mumbled as he sat back down. I tentatively took a few steps towards him.
"What's wrong?" He sighed running a hand over his face and sat back.
"Nothing. How are you doing? Are you ok?" I held back a smile at how awkward he sounded being concerned for someone else, it just didn't suit him. I walked to the opposite end of the couch and sat, tucking my feet under me.
"I'm fine but you're clearly not." I countered.
"What makes you say that?" I didn't bother to respond, I just pointed to the crushed stool. His eyes flickered in that direction before moving to rest in front of him again.
"Don't worry about it," he mumbled before getting up and moving towards the bathroom. "Go to bed and we may talk in the morning," he said, closing the door behind him.
"I'm not tired," I mumbled crossly, somewhat upset because he was being so difficult. I made my way back to his room and plopped down on the bed. I knew in the back of my mind that I would have to go back home eventually but I didn't want to go back. I knew I wasn't being logical in that I was living with an almost complete stranger and what was worse… I knew I was getting at least slightly attached. With that disturbing thought I drifted back to sleep despite the fact that I had thought I wasn't a bit tired.
Tyler's POV
I leaned over the sink in the bathroom and went out only when I was sure Chealsey was in my room with the door safely closed. I ran a hand through my already disheveled hair. Things were quickly spiraling out of control and I needed to find some way to stop it. I looked around the apartment and spotted quickly the little lenses I had missed before. I cursed myself. Of course they would have my apartment bugged, just to make sure I didn't do anything stupid. Sure enough telling Chealsey what I really was and who I worked for was a very stupid idea. I ripped the cords from the wall and threw them in the trashcan. I sank down onto the couch and laid my head back.
"We expected better from you Tyler," that voice rang out to me from the darkness.
"What are you talking about?"
"The daughter of the man you are supposed to kill is, at present, sitting in your apartment. She's seen the guns and I have it under good authority that she knows exactly what you've been told to do." My lips tightened as I was given this information.
"And you know this how?" A screen slowly descended from the ceiling washing the room in color. There were six separate angles from six separate cameras, all watching my apartment and sure enough I could see Chealsey laying on my bed talking on her cell phone.
"You've wired my apartment?" I asked, enraged. The man behind the desk simply folded his hands in front of him and raised an eyebrow at me.
"Obviously we were right in doing so. You've told her about the Organization. You know what that means Tyler." I stood suddenly.
"No. I'll not kill her nor will I let you. She wants to help. She doesn't care about her father being killed and she doesn't know anything about the Organization; she's no threat." I argued. There was a long moment of silence before he spoke again.
"Fine, if that is the case I will evaluate her. You'll bring her here in two days and we'll sit down for a nice little chat. If I decide she's sincere then she will be joining the organization." I felt the color drain from my face.
"But I—"
"You brought this Tyler. You have two options concerning the girl and unless you plan to kill her you'll bring her here. Dismissed." I stood in front of him a moment longer before turning on my heel and storming out of the room. When I got to the front of the building I saw James standing next to his car. His expression darkened when he saw me. I approached him but just as he opened his mouth to speak I pushed him against the car.
"Why the fuck didn't you tell me?" I all but yelled at him.
"Tell you what?" he asked, calm as always.
"Were you the one that did it? How much more did you get paid?"
"What are you talking about Tyler?"
"The fucking wires in my apartment. You set them up there didn't you? You're the only one from the organization that's set foot in there." I had two fist fulls of his shirt in my hands and I could just imagine the bruises he was going to have on his shoulders the next day.
"Tyler be reasonable," he said softly. "The organization has nearly unlimited resources and they don't trust anyone. Anyone could have gone into your apartment while you were out to plant the wires and you'd never know. Why on earth would they have me do it especially when I'm likely to tell you?" I knew reason when I heard it but I was furious and he was the closest one to take it out on.
"Tyler, let go of me." I slowly dropped his shirt and stepped away from him. He stepped away from the car and just stood there watching me.
"Fuck!" I yelled, slamming a fist into the side of the car. James' eyes landed on the dent and he shook his head.
"Get in the car and I'll take you home." I opened the door to get in but not before hearing James say "I hope you realize you're going to pay to fix that."
Two days. I had two days to prepare Chealsey for a meeting with the Organization. I didn't want to take her, I didn't want to get her involved but the alternative was even worse and for some reason I didn't think I would be able to carry it out.
A/N
I know this is super short and kinda sucks cuz nothing really happens but its better than nothing. Hopefully I'll have a revised chapter out at the beginning of next week.