FicWad

“Alicia where have you been?” Jamia asked as she watched her friend walk in and close the door behind her.
“Chill” Alicia said with a smile, “I brought us some dinner.” She held up the take out bag, “Bet I know someone who’s hungry.”
“I’ve been worried sick. What did the doctor say?”
Alicia walked toward the kitchen, “Plop yourself down on the sofa and I’ll bring our food in.”
Jamia continued to follow her. “What did he say?”
“Would you sit down? I’ll tell you all about it as soon as I get our food.”
It was clear Jamia wasn’t happy but she did as Alicia said. She could hear Alicia moving around the kitchen. “You could at least tell me what you brought for dinner.” She yelled out.
“Chinese.” Alicia yelled back.
In the kitchen Alicia took out two plates then opened the take out cartons. She spooned a generous amount on each plate. In her head, for the final time, she was going over the lie she was about to tell. The doctor’s voice still echoed in her head. “More tests are needed….”
“Alicia, hurry up.”
“I am.” She yelled back. She took a deep breath, plastered a smile on her face then carried the plates into the other room.

“So why didn’t you tell me about Alicia?”
Ray closed the hotel room door then turned. “What?”
“I want to know why you didn’t tell me about Alicia being sick.”
“I know that tone and I’m about to be yelled at. Can I at least sit down first?”
Christa watched him cross the room to take a seat on the bed. He patted the spot next to him as an invitation. She shook her head and moved to sit in one of the chairs across from him.
“Ray, this isn’t a hard question. And for the record I’ve never yelled at you.”
He smiled, “Okay maybe yell wasn’t the right word. Scolded me. How’s that?”
Christa didn’t smile.
“Does this have something to do with Mikey borrowing you?”
“He wanted me to call Alicia. He thinks something is wrong at home but he doesn’t want you guys to know. I guess Mikey and I just aren’t in the loop, are we?”
Ray heard the hurt in her voice. “I’m sorry, Christa. I guess it looks like I was keeping something from you.”
“You were, but whatever.” She walked to the bathroom and slammed the door.
Ray fell back on the bed. Well, hell she did have a point. Mikey asked her to talk to Alicia and now she was in a weird position. When she came back out she crawled into bed and closed her eyes.
“I thought we were going back downstairs to the casino?”
“I’m tired, you run along.”
“Look, Jamia asked me not to say anything to anyone.”
“No, she asked Frank not to say anything to anyone.” She rolled over.
Ray got up and walked around to her side of the bed. “Babe, I’m not sure why you are mad. I was with Frank when Jamia told him. Alicia doesn’t want Mikey to find out. She doesn’t want to worry him.”
“I understand that. What I don’t understand is why you didn’t trust me. Did you think I would tell him?”
“No, of course not.”
“Just forget about it Ray.” She rolled over to face the other direction.
This time he simply pulled her back to face him. “What’s this all about?”
Christa stared at him, “This is about me feeling like an outsider. Look I get that Jamia told Frank not to tell Mikey. So you weren’t supposed to tell him.”
“Right”
“So Mikey asks me to call Alicia and I do not knowing any of this. She talked to me for a few minutes then said she’d talk to me later. When I tried calling back she didn’t answer. Obviously I’m not trusted by the other women. You can bet Monica knows. Probably Kara knows too, but me. No, I’m the outsider. I’m not trusted by them.” She quietly add, “or by you.”
“That’s not true.”
“Sure it is. Why if Alicia wanted this kept a secret did Jamia tell Frank? Cause they trust each other.”
“Christa, I trust you.”
“Whatever.” She rolled back over.
Ray stared at her back. God, she could be so infuriating sometimes. “I didn’t think it was that big of a deal.”
“Not even when you had a pretty damn good idea what Mikey wanted me to do?”
“Wouldn’t it have been worse if you’d known. Then you would have to lie to him.”
“Well no worries there. Alicia didn’t trust me with any info so I got nothing to spill.”
“You know now,” Ray said raising his voice.
Christa didn’t answer. Ray stood and moved to the dresser to grab his card key. “I’m going to the casino.”
“Whatever” she said softly.
Ray was almost to the door when he realized what he had just heard. He quickly crossed to the bed. She was crying. He lay down next to her and pulled her in his arms.
“Babe, I’m not ever sure why we’re fighting.”
“Cause I don’t want to be an outsider. I wanna belong.”
“Oh, Babe, you do belong.”
Christa shook her head, “No, I don’t. I really don’t.”


“Kelly where have you been? I was just getting ready to go out looking for …” Her words trailed off as she noticed the boy at Kelly’s side.
“Sorry, Mom. I would have called but I forgot my cell phone.” She reached down and unhooked the leash from Frank’s collar. He took off for the kitchen and his waiting food bowl. “Uh, Mom, this is Luke.” She said when she stood back up and saw her mom staring.
Monica tried to regain her composure. “Hello Luke. I don’t always sound like a raving lunatic but with all that’s been going on I was a bit upset when Kelly didn’t show up for dinner.”
Luke nodded, “It’s my fault. I took her for a drive.”
Monica was confused, “A drive?”
Kelly nodded. She didn’t want to share with her mom where Luke had really taken her. She knew the old deserted house he had showed her to was special to him. It was a place he went to hide out. A place he went to draw and listen to music.
“Oh” Monica tried to gather her thoughts, “So Luke do you go to school with Kelly?” She was hoping this boy wasn’t as old as he looked.
“Yeah, we have art class together. I also have World History with Kara.”
“I didn’t know that.” Kelly said smiling at him.
Monica noticed the smile. “So you’re Kara’s age?”
“No I’m Kelly’s age.” He said brushing his black hair out of his eyes. Monica noticed Kelly smile again as she looked into his eyes.
“So you took Kelly on a drive and you’re her age.”
Crap, Kelly knew her mom was upset because she knew he wasn’t old enough to have a license.
Luke said in a low tone, “ Yeah, I drove.” Luke realized too where this was going.
Monica shook her head slowly, “Without a license I guess.”
Luke nodded.
“Hey, Luke” Kara said passing by them. Luke gave her a nod. Kara continued on down the hall.
“I’ve got to be going. Nice meeting you.” He said to Monica before turning for the door. Kelly followed him.
Monica went in the direction Kara had gone. She found her in front of the TV.
“Who’s Luke?”
“Some kid from school.” Kara said without looking away from the screen.
“No, I mean who is he? Why was Kelly with him?” Monica stood in front of the screen so Kara had to look at her.
“Why are you asking me? Ask her.”
“Kara” Monica said narrowing her eyes.
Kara sighed, “He’s in my World History class. The guy’s pretty smart but for the most part just sits in the back of class looking bored. That’s all I know.”

Kelly walked Luke towards his car. He stopped and lit a cigarette.
“I’m sorry about my mom.” Kelly said softly.
Luke shrugged, “She’s okay. I can understand her not liking that I drove you somewhere.”
“She doesn’t know why you picked me up in the first place.”
Again Luke shrugged, “No big deal.”
Kelly stood looking down at the ground.
‘Why do you do that?” Luke asked
Kelly looked up, “What?”
“Stare at the ground like it’s got all the answers.”
“I don’t” Kelly said then realized he was right.
Luke stared at her for several moments. “I really hated you for a long time.”
Kelly was shocked, “Hated me? Why?”
Luke took a long drag of the cigarette, “Cause you were with the dick head.”
Kelly didn’t know what to say. She finally asked, “So do you still hate me?”
Luke shook his head, “No, I realized you really didn’t know he was a douche.”
“You make it sound like I’m stupid.” Kelly said angrily.
“Not stupid, naive.”
Kelly frowned, “I’m not naive.”
He snorted, “Yeah you are Sunshine. You are.”
At first Kelly was angry at his words but then she realized he had just called her Sunshine. She liked the way he said it.
“Well I gotta take off. My brother is probably havin’ a shit fit cause I have his car.” He threw the remainder of his cigarette down and crushed it with the heel of his boot. “Take care.” He opened the car door.
“Thank you.” Kelly said suddenly.
“What for saving you?” He said sarcastically.
“No, for showing me where you go to draw.”
He remained silent. Kelly turned to walk back to the house.
“Hey.” He called out.
Kelly turned back to him.
“Things get too much for you let me know. You can use my hiding place.”
“Thanks Luke.” Kelly said with a small smile.
Luke looked at her a moment before answering softly. “Your welcome, Sunshine.”