by Raven Crow
“I’m not crying.” Pen coughed.
She quickly wiped her face before she swung her legs back into the car.
“Hey you don’t have to talk about if you don’t want to I was just worried about you is all.” I begged for her eyes to look up at me.
“I’m definitely going to lose this shitty job for sure now.” She snapped.
She finally looked up at me. Her face was still so beautiful even with the smeared eye makeup running down her cheeks.
“Aww, you’ll find another job in a second no problem. Shit I could even help you if you need?” I suggested and secretly hoped she’d take my offer.
Parts of me were still reeling over the fact that she was right here in front of me. Where was her boyfriend? Why wasn’t he here to help her out of this situation? This shit-hole was no place for the likes of Ms. Penelope Smith, ex-dance club captain, and my high school crush.
I had to act quick.
She seemed on the edge of driving off, destination unknown, I could not lose track of this woman again.
Her big brown eyes darted around her dashboard. I grabbed at her knee finding her soft hand, and I slightly squeezed it.
“You are right, Sax I should follow my guts and get out of here. I don’t need this job. I mean—I need a job but I can do better than this shitty club. I need to do better for my grandma.” She scrambled. She finally looked up at me, and our eyes locked. “I think I will take you up on your offer.” She paused. I started nodding my head wildly. “I need your help, Sax. Will you help me?” Her cute nose winkled up a bit, which made me have an urge to kiss it.
“Anything you need just ask I will do what I can, Pen.” I promised her and I meant it. Every. Single. Word.
Chapter 5
Jo
Spring had hit this place early. The blossoms were fully opened on the trees that hung down low enough that I had to duck to go under the branches. I caught a whiff of the sweet, scent of them while I passed through the soft, blossom filled, limbs.
There wasn’t much in the backyard other then two huge pink blossom trees and the softest blue tinted grass. The yard was completely surrounded by a dark, brown fence making it very private. I liked privacy.
The house was beautiful I won’t lie. This whole situation was unreal. A huge, beautiful house in a dream neighbor, oh yeah it’s free too. I don’t know why my father hadn’t taken us here more often. Who was this guy to my father anyhow? He had never mentioned him to me before now. He had never really said much last night after we got home. I’d march into the house right now and try to get the answer I wanted but my dad was already gone when I got up this morning. He simply left a note saying that he was getting his work stuff settled.
The grass felt amazing on my bare toes as I curled my feet up in it. I had on my pink, short-jumper and I wore my hair back in a ponytail. I was planning on doing some organizing once our furniture arrived, until then I was going to explore the neighborhood.
Truthfully, I wanted to bump into the man from last night’s dinner. Gio was his name. He was gorgeous. But he never even spoke to me. He must have a girlfriend, I bet. The whole thought was stupid. I couldn’t possibly be his type either way.
“It’s really warm today, isn’t it?” A firm voice sounded from behind me. I turned to see Gio standing in my backyard. “I am pretty sure that I haven’t ever been in this backyard, not even as a kid. It’s not bad, a bit boring but not bad. So did you get a chance to get settled in yet?”
I felt my heart as it sunk into my belly. He was even more handsome then last night. He was wearing a white tee-shirt, jeans, and black, boots. His hair was pulled back behind his ears. I could even smell him and he smelled of some scent I’d never smelt before but it was yummy.
“I was waiting on our furniture to arrive first before I could fully get settle in.” I choked out some words finally. “I don’t think that I properly thanked you for last night. So thank you for the dinner and for showing us home.”
“Please it was nothing; I live right down the street. Plus, I didn’t have anything to do with the meal, that was all Beth a chef she’s great. My dad sent me over to check on you and your dad. He wanted to make sure you were getting along all right.” He answered all casual like he’d only been sent to do a job.
“Yes, we are getting along fine I guess. You can pass on the info to your dad. Thanks for coming by.” I added.
I turned to walk over to the house. I fought to find more to say to him to keep him there but I couldn’t think of one word.
“I could show you around the town if you wanted. I’m sure that would help you feel better about the move.” Gio’s voice seemed hyped up.
“Yes—yes that would be great! I will grab my shoes. Give me a minute.” I jumped at a chance to keep him with me for longer.
I put my shoes on and turned to find Gio standing right behind me. He was taller than I had expected. I found myself lost in his saucer-size, brown eyes for moment.
“My dad said to help make you feel comfortable and he thought since we are around the same age I’d know how to do that.” He smiled which forced a smile from me. “How old are you, Jo I’m twenty-four by the way?”
“I’m twenty.” And somehow my answer made me feel stupid.
He scratched the back of head with a huge smile on his face.
Did he think I was childish or something, his smile confused me?
“Girl you can’t even legally drink yet.” He chuckled at me.
“I sure the hell can drink.” I blurted out.
“Not legally though. I can’t even take you to the bar without getting in trouble.” He added.
“Oh yeah, so you were going to take me to the bar?” I smiled then laughed.
He shook his head before he placed his hand on my shoulder.
“No I’m not going to take you to a bar. Not just yet at least, I was thinking maybe we’ll start off light by going for a stroll around the neighborhood first.”
I laughed and he removed his hand from my shoulder. He started to walk towards the gate of my backyard. I followed.
“So how long have you lived here?” I asked.
My eyes uncontrollability roamed his body; I couldn’t help but stare at him. He was so damn hot and nice and apparently funny too, how could I resist?
“I was born in France, actually and I moved here when I was four years old. I’ve been here ever since.” He answered with a quick glance over at me.
“What, you were born in France? That is so cool. I would have never moved to America if I was born in France.” I rambled. He looked over at me strangely.
“Really, I love America. I don’t even remember France or what it was like to live there to be honest with you. I would go there to see where my family came from one day though.” He answered and I noticed that he had little dimples as if this guy couldn’t get any cuter.
We rounded the edge of my backyard fence and we came to a wooden area. It looked overgrown and wild, like a hidden paradise. I heard a stream nearby.
“Is there a stream back here?” I asked as I jetted off towards the sound. He followed behind. “Wow, there’s stream right in my backyard.”
“Yup there’s a stream and a pond just that way.” He answered while he pointed.
I looked and spotted the pond. There were swans and ducks in the pond and tall flowers surrounding it.
Suddenly he pulled out his cell phone as it buzzed. He typed out a message and then he put his cell back in his pocket.
“So do you have other things that you need to be doing because you don’t have to waste your time with me. I’m fine I’ll find my own way around.” I explained.
I felt like he probably had just been being kind by showing the “new girl” around for his dad. What if that was his girlfriend texting him? I hadn’t even considered that he’d have a girl, of course he would he’s gorgeous no way he is single.
“Nah—I have nothing else I’ve got going right now. My friend is just textin
g me is all. He can wait though.” He said with a smile.
Then his cell phone rang. He grabbed it out of his pocket and looked at the screen.
“Your friend is calling now he must really want to talk to you.” I said before I chuckled.
“Sorry I’ll be just a minute, Jo. I don’t know what Sax wants but he will keep calling if I don’t answer now.” He explained before answering his cell.
Chapter 6
Gio
I already felt kind of stupid and now I had to take a phone call right in front of Jo too. I wasn’t able to get out any of the right words I wanted to use today. Like I didn’t even think to tell her how beautiful she looked.
“Yeah what, Sax what do you need?” I pained through my cell phone.
I turned my body away from Jo but I knew that she could still hear me.
“I will just be over here by the pond.” Jo said and I heard her walk away.
[“Gio are you there? I can’t hear you.” Sax muffled through the phone at me.]
“Yes I’m here. What was so important that you couldn’t have just texted me?” I stressed.
I looked over my shoulder and I couldn’t see Jo anywhere so I turned around to face the pond.
[“I have a question that is too complicated to write out in text.” He stammered.]
I kept looking for Jo while I walked towards the pond.
“What’s the question, Sax? Out with it I’m really busy right now.” I begged him to hurry.
[“Why are you busy, busy doing what, Gio?”]
“I’m showing Jo around the neighborhood right now.” I answered.
[“Jo, who’s Jo, wait…where are you right now?” His tone changed.]
“Jo is this beautiful girl that my dad is the godfather to.” I said while I looked around to make sure she wasn’t standing nearby. “I’m showing her around because he asked me to. I’m at Becker’s Pond by my house, why where are you and what was too complicated to write out in text?” I stressed again.
I approached the edge of the pond before I started to check the surrounding shore for Jo. I was unable to spot her through the tall cattails and water flowers by just looking so I started to walk around the pond.
[“You’re on a date right now, how sweet. I need a favor for a friend of mine.” He asked.]
“What—no I’m not on a date, Sax. Very funny! What kind of favor and what friend?’ I grew curious.
I kept walking while I continued to look for Jo.
[“Do you remember Pen Smith from high school?” He said in a high pitched voice.]
“Who’s Pen Smith? Nah, I don’t remember them.” I said before I finally spotted Jo. “There she is.” I accidently said aloud.
[“Penelope Smith, she was the dance club captain. She’s has blond hair, big, brown eyes and she’s a knock out. Do you remember her now?” He asked in an agitated tone like I had forgotten his birthday.]
I put my phone on mute. Jo seemed to be staring at something in the pond.
“What are you doing, Jo?” I yelled to her but she didn’t turn like she couldn’t hear me. “Jo can you hear me? What are you looking at?” I asked.
Once I was close enough to her I noticed that she was staring at something in the tall grass alongside the bank of the pond.
“It’s a body isn’t it?” Jo gasped.
I stood next to her and looked into the tall, grass for myself. At first it appeared to be a moss, covered rock but as I looked on I saw it wasn’t a rock but a human body.
“Yup that’s a body all right. Damn!” I coughed.
The most horrific smell started to climb inside of my nose causing my stomach to turn.
“I can’t believe there’s a dead person behind my house. Is it a female?” Jo gasped.
“I think it is a female.” I answered.
I guessed by the pink and purple colored clothing the body was wearing that it must have been a female.
I took the phone off of mute.
[“Bro are you there? Ok I’m hanging up.” Sax said in a taxed tone.]
“Bro I’m here. Can you come down here to Becker’s Pond right now you need to see this?” I demanded.
[“What is it I really can’t get away at the moment plus I still need to go do two more runs?” Sax started telling me his schedule.]
Jo started edging towards the body. I grabbed her wrist to stop her. She turned and looked at me and I shook my head.
“Come right now, Sax this is more important!” I said before I disconnected the call and put my cell phone back into my pocket. “Stay back, Jo you don’t want to tamper with the crime scene. I don’t want you getting blamed for this. Cops don’t like gypsies you know?”
“I’m not a gypsy though. I just wanted to get a closer look. She looks so young, like she looks my age, its creep.” Jo choked while she looked at the body.
I grabbed Jo’s other wrist and carefully guided her away from the pond.
“Come on over here and don’t look at it anymore.” I stressed. She looked at me strangely. “So where are you from Jo, where did you grow up?” I asked and her brow shot straight up.
“Huh, you want to know that right now?” She scoffed.
“Well yeah, why not right now?” I said.
Truthfully, I didn’t want to think about the body a few feet away from us.
“I grew up all over the US. We traveled all the time so I don’t really consider any one place the place I was raised.” She answered.
I caught a whiff of her perfume and welcomed its pleasant scent. Her skin was pale unlike mine and she had fate freckles on her arms. Everything about her was beautiful to me.
“Well I wish I could have done some traveling by now but nah I’ve been stuck here for the last twenty years. It must have been hard on you to have to go through all the moving though.” I marked and then I smiled. She grinned back.
I tried my hardest not to let my eyes wander down her body but I lost the battle. Her legs were, long, slender and her skin looked silky, smooth. I wanted so badly to reach out and glide my hand down her leg. She also seemed pretty tall as she came to my shoulders in flats and I was six feet even.
“I got used to moving around; no it wasn’t hard on me. I would ask you what it was like growing up here but I think I already know the answer to that based off of the dead body over there.” She said and then she burst out laughing.
Her smile, her laugh and her everything made me happy to watch. I laughed along with her. She seemed to have a great sense of humor and I appreciated that she didn’t freak out about the dead body like most females might have. She seemed rather calm about the whole situation. Who knows this girl just might be a gypsy after all.
“Yeah I guess things here can get pretty exciting at times but this is a first Jo. I promise there are not usually dead bodies in the neighborhood pond.” I stressed with a smile.
“That’s the first dead body I have ever seen in person, how about you?” I admitted to her.
“Yup, that’s the first for me too.” She added.
I heard something behind us so I turned to see Sax approaching, he seemed to be with someone.
“Who’s that? Do you know them, Gio?” Jo asked and I nodded.
“That’s my best friend, Sax Danes. I’m not sure who’s with him. I guess we’ll find out together, Jo.” I replied.
Chapter 7
Pen
I don’t know why I decided to go along with Sax Danes, a man I didn’t actually remember from high school. Maybe it was my complete desperation to get some cash that led me on this path. And it didn’t help that my car decided to not start making my choice easier. Too many things piled up on me today and now I’m here, in a field, heading towards Becker’s Pond were I used to play as a kid. What kind of job could he possibly have for me to do that I would actually be able to do? Why did I say yes and simply go along with him, Sax works for the Gardier tribe.
“Why exactly did you take me here, Sax I don’t want to go swimming or a
nything like that?” I asked.
“Why not?” He said before he paused and I looked at him blankly. “Just kidding, this isn’t the job don’t worry and no we’re not going swimming. Maybe another time, though. Gio asked me to come down here so I came. I see him over there; let’s go find out what he wanted me to see.” Sax answered as he took the lead. I followed him towards Gio and a girl I didn’t recognize.
I had never talked to Gio Gardier in person before but I knew of him all too well. The man was mean, tough, and somehow very funny at the same time. At least that’s what I had heard about him over the years, that and the fact that more than half of the women in Greenville, over the age of sixteen wanted to marry him. Yeah I will admit that Gio was a pretty, damn, good looking gypsy but he wasn’t my type. Gio seemed to want power and a lot of it and being that he’s the King’s son he will get lots of power one day. I’m fine with just enough and maybe a little extra cash but you can keep the power and all the responsibilities that go along with it.
Sax on the other hand was completely adorable. I couldn’t believe that I had missed him back in high school. I did miss him though and it was probably because of Sergio. Sergio took up all of my thoughts during high school and a great deal after too.
“I am very grateful to you, Sax for helping me out of a bad situation today. I don’t know what I would have done otherwise.” I said.
I forced myself to expel my thoughts of a bad past relationship. I needed to continue to push myself to make different steps this time around.
“Are you kidding me, Pen I’m happy to help you.” He replied with a cute grin.
“Thanks for getting here so quickly, Sax.” Gio said to Sax as we approached them.
“No prob, this is Pen Smith, Gio.” Sax replied and Gio nudged his chin into the air at me. “Why are we meeting here, Gio?”
“Hey Pen, this is Jo Butler she’s new here. Jo, this is Sax and Pen. Ok now that everyone knows one another’s name let’s get to it.” Gio instructed.