Loverboy

by Jaszczak, Trista

  She lets out a deep breath, as if she had been holding it in for a while. “I guess it’s just best to go on with life right now and not really think about them.”

  I nod. “It’s okay to keep moving forward. You can’t let them control your life.”

  She nods.

  “Hey,” I softly say. “We got one; we’ll get the other.”

  She looks over and smiles. “I hope so.”

  - 9 -

  Charlie

  By the time we make it back to my apartment it’s both later and colder than we expect. I pull my jacket around me as Nick fumbles with the keys to unlock the security door. As he opens the door, we both run inside, letting it slam and lock behind us.

  “Cold?” He asks.

  “More like froze,” I tell him as we start up the stairs. “What happened to fall?”

  He smiles as he begins to unlock the door to my apartment. “Winter can come quick,” he says, stepping in before me to turn on the lights and have a quick look around. He gives me a nod and a smile as I walk inside.

  “I’m just going to brush my teeth and change,” I tell him, slipping down the hallway.

  He gives me a nod as I can only assume he’s set off to change himself. I end up brushing my teeth twice and rinsing more than the recommended times with Listerine. Even then, I can’t shake the dirty feeling in my mouth. Or all over my body for that matter. I brush my hair out and tug it up and into a messy bun before running down the hall to my bedroom. I throw clothes here and there in search of something both comfy and warm. Yoga pants, a tank top, and a cozy open sweater seem to be my best choice. I pull them on and give myself a quick glance in the mirror to make sure that I don’t look too terrible. Despite the circumstances, and what I’ve gone through, I am supposed to be dating him, right?

  When I return to the living room, I see Nick has changed into a pair of sweat pants and a sleeveless tee shirt. He’s standing at the balcony and staring contently out the large window of the balcony doors. For the first time, I can very visibly see his tattoo. I quietly make my way over to him and gingerly touch his tattoo.

  “You should be proud to show it off,” I tell him. “It’s beautiful, with an even more beautiful meaning.”

  Without a word he spins around and throws his arms around me, nearly knocking me off my feet. I can feel that his warm body is beginning to shake as he squeezes me into him.

  “Nick,” I say, “what’s wrong? Did something happen?”

  I can feel him shake his head in reply as he pulls me to him tighter.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask. I feel his chin now rest tenderly on my head as his body continues to tremble. “Nick, really, what’s wrong?”

  I step back a few inches, enough for me to look into his eyes, and I can now see they’re red and streaked with tears. A chill runs down my spine as I bring a hand up to his cheek, wiping away at a stray tear.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask.

  “I haven’t felt like this since,” he pauses and brings his hand up to my collarbone where I still have a visible mark. “My sister.” I can feel his finger tip shake as he tenderly traces where the large cut line once was. “And, tonight, when I saw your reaction and I saw him. I feel like it’s more personal now than ever.”

  “But, Nick,” I start.

  He shakes his head. “I didn’t plan any of this. Between you and me,” he tells me.

  “It just happened,” I say. “Something good that came from something really bad.”

  He nods. “I just feel that I need to protect you even more,” he says. “I’ve gotten really close with you over this month, and I know that I have fallen for you really hard.”

  “Well, you know I have, especially since the last thing on my mind was finding someone to date,” I admit, smiling.

  “So hard, that I can say that I love you, Charlie,” he says, letting out a deep breath and running a hand down his face.

  I feel taken aback for a moment and take a deep breath. I look into his eyes. There’s no denying just how sincere he is. At the same time, there’s no denying just how I feel, too. I finally smile and lean in to wrap my arms around him. I feel his shaky arms move around me and hold me securely. I reach as far as I can, moving my lips next to his ear. “I love you, too.”

  I feel him let out a long sigh as he pulls me in closer. “I’m sorry,” he tells me.

  “For what?” I ask.

  “Crying.”

  “When I’ve been crying on you for how long?” I ask. “That’s nothing to apologize for,” I tell him, pulling away slightly.

  “I feel ridiculous, though,” he admits.

  I smile. “But, why?”

  “Because men really don’t cry,” he jokes, taking a minute to run his hands down his face again.

  I nod. “Real ones do.”

  He smiles wide. “I think I’m going to go wash my face.”

  I nod. “Okay, I’ll start pulling some movies out,” I tell him, and head off to, what I like to call, my movie closet.

  As I shuffle through the various shelves of Blu Rays, DVDs, and the even old VHS tapes, I can hear the water running in the bathroom. I slowly drop to my knees and begin digging in the lower shelves for The Goonies and a few other classics I’ve grown to love. After all these years you would think that I would learn to alphabetize my movie collection and make things easier than digging through over 1,000 cases in search of the exact ones I want. My idea of organizing my massive collection was turning the large hallway closet into, literally, a mini Blockbuster of sorts. I hear the bathroom door and his footsteps come down the hallway.

  “What are you doing?” I hear him ask.

  “Looking for my movie,” I say, as I feel the door move back farther.

  “How many movies do you have?” He laughs.

  “It’s my guilty pleasure, okay?” I laugh. “I told you, I really am a movie nerd.”

  I can feel him squat down behind me as he pushes up my tank top to touch the tattoo that has now been exposed. “This really is beautiful. How many hours did it take?” He asks.

  I glance just over my shoulder. “Almost forty hours of laying in the chair,” I say.

  “Brave woman you are,” he says, his eyes now returning to their normal shade of green. “And, on the back too.”

  I nod. “Yeah, it did hurt. But, I needed the space.” I laugh as I finally pull out The Goonies.

  “Do you regret it?” He questions, tracing his finger along the wings as I adjust more to show him the skin ink.

  I shake my head. “Never will.”

  “Plan on getting any more?” He now runs his finger down the bird’s body and to it’s talons.

  “I think this will be my one and only,” I admit. “But for the time and money put into it, it’s enough.” I glance back at him. “Ready for that movie?” I hold up the blue case for him to see.

  “So,” he says, taking the case as he helps me off the floor, “this is The Goonies?”

  I nod. “That would be The Goonies.”

  “And, it’s not a chick flick?” He asks.

  “Read the back if you doubt me,” I tell him, making a face.

  “Alright,” he says, “I believe you.”

  I give my tank top and sweater a quick adjustment before taking the case back from him and trailing into the living room. “You want some popcorn?” I ask.

  “Sure,” he says, “but, you better make it. I might very well blow up the microwave or burn the popcorn.”

  I laugh. “It’s popcorn; it’s easy,” I tell him, digging in an upper cabinet for a plastic wrapped bag of microwavable popcorn.

  “Yeah, easy for other people,” he says, leaning on my open bar counter.

  “How can you possibly burn popcorn?” I ask, peeling away the plastic and tossing it into the garbage.

  He shrugs. “Cooking it too long, I assume. I never know when to take it out; most of the time, I’m not even paying attention.”

  I laugh. “Well, since you’r
e supposed to listen for the popping to slow down, you need to pay attention,” I say. “C’mon, it’s not that hard.”

  “Want to bet?” He asks. “You ask my mother. She can tell you just how many microwaves I’ve blown up.”

  I smile. “Come here,” I tell him.

  He walks over and begins to watch as I unfold the bag of popcorn and lay it flat in the microwave. “The trick is just listening for the popping to stop. I just put in some random time and listen,” I tell him, dialing four minutes into the microwave and pressing Start.

  “And, what happens when you’re just a shitty cook?” He laughs.

  “Well, you’re learning, and pretty soon you won’t be a shitty cook,” I say, as the butter begins to simmer and the popping begins.

  I see him listen intently to the simmering and popping noises as a few minutes in they begin to slow and ease up. He smiles. “Now, I think I may get it.” He laughs.

  I smile and hit the Stop button as I open the microwave and pull out the steaming bag. “See? All you have to do it pay attention to me, and you will be cooking circles around me in no time.”

  “Well,” he starts, passing me the popcorn bowl, “it might help that I do have a better teacher now.”

  I feel my cheeks flush. “It’s just popcorn,” I tell him as I dump the entire bag into the red and white popcorn tub.

  He shrugs. “Ever smell burnt popcorn?”

  I nod and laugh. “I have all brothers, remember? I’m pretty sure their total of blown up microwaves will beat yours.”

  “See,” he points out, “it’s not just me.”

  I laugh as I wad the popcorn bag into a ball and toss it into the trash. I click the kitchen light off as we both trail into the living room and nestle into the couch. I reach for the remote and click on the TV. It’s set on a local station, and a news alert is on with bold letters at the bottom stating ‘Breaking News.’ The dark haired news anchor is standing outside, wrapped in a tan coat, with police lights flashing all around her. I give the screen a closer look. It’s about Loverboy, and even before this I have come to realize that I will be constantly seeing headlines about these men on the news. It was something that I was going to have to accept until both men were apprehended. But, this was something that I never expected. The headline flooded the TV:. Bodies of the 7th, 8th , and 9th Loverboy victims have been found. My eyes become glued to the TV as I stare in disbelief.

  I feel Nick’s hand come down on top of mine and the remote. “Charlie, you don’t have to watch this.”

  “I know.” I say. “I just. I can’t believe it. Three more.” I look over at him with a gaping mouth and questioning eyes.

  “I wish I had an explanation for this,” he says. “I wish that anyone in this city who’s gone missing returns home safely. There’s no excuse for this.”

  I nod and fix my glare back on the TV. “It’s being reported that all three women were found lying next to one another. Nude, but perfectly clean. It’s currently also being rumored that among the bodies were notes from Loverboy.”

  I give my head a shake. “Why?” I ask. “I just want to know why this shit happens?”

  “With good comes evil,” Nick says.

  “But, this is,” I point to the screen. “Shit like this surpasses evil. How can people do this?” I say, dropping the remote into my lap and placing my hands over my face.

  I feel Nick’s hand come down on my back. “It’s not fair that anything like this happens to anyone. And, it should never happen in the first place.”

  “Then why does it?” I say. “That’s three more innocent women, probably in their late teens whose lives have been cut short, because two men are insane.”

  “You know,” he says, rubbing my back, “we did get one.” He reminds me. “Maybe his partner has gotten the scare of reality that he’ll be caught soon too.”

  “So, he goes and kills all the girls that he’s holding?” I say as I look up again.

  “He may feel the need to be getting rid of evidence and clean up his trail,” he tells me. “You know it’s not going to be long before his partner is talking.”

  “But, all these women,” I say.

  He nods. “I know. And, there’s been worse, and there will be more killers out there,” He tells me. “Jack the Ripper, the Green River Killer, Son of Sam. The world has its crazies. I wish it didn’t, but it does.”

  I rub at my eyes and look back at the TV; a story like this will be running all night. And, I can’t help but to think how excited the reporter probably is that she got to report headline news. I shake my head. “Find him, Nick. Find the other guy,” I say, turning to him.

  He leans in and wraps his arms around me. “I will.”

  “I just want him behind bars with his little friend,” I say. “Then, nothing like this will be on the news.”

  “Why don’t we just watch the movie? Like we planned.”

  I pull away and stare at him.

  “I know it won’t make you feel better about tonight, but it may take your mind off things for a while,” he says. “And, you said so yourself, it is your favorite movie.”

  I take a moment to think, and finally give in by clicking a few buttons on the proper remotes to get the movie started. I lean back into the couch and let out a long breath.

  I feel Nick’s hand come down on my knee. “Stop thinking about it, you. Focus on what’s in front of you.”

  I had to admit it was one of the harder things I have done. Thinking about those three poor women, all of whom were probably younger than me. I had known what they had been through. Their final moments before death had certainly not been happy ones. I could feel the tears poke at my eyes when I realized that it could have very well been me. I remain focused on the TV and the movie. I take in each moment of the Fratelli’s police chase as they dart through Astoria and pass each kid on their way. I can nearly feel myself breaking down until they pass Chunk and he smashes himself, his pizza, and the strawberry milkshake all over the window. Maybe that’s all that I needed. I start to laugh. So hard in fact, that I snort.

  I hear Nick laugh next to me, more than likely at me and not the movie. I cover my mouth and remain focused.

  “So,” he says. “Did the kid not see that coming?”

  I give my head a little shake as, for some reason, I fight a little more laughter.

  “And, you just find that hilarious,” he says.

  I nod. “That’s right, I do,” I tell him, now bringing myself under some control.

  “And, just how many times have you seen this?” He asks.

  I shrug. “Way too many to count.”

  I glance over at him as he smiles and gives his lips a lick.

  “And, you could just watch this over and over,” he says.

  I give him another nod as the main characters are all together and they’re currently trying to put the penis back on the statue upside down. I let out another loud laugh, this time controlling myself enough not to snort. I hear Nick let out a loud and comforting laugh as I feel his hand on mine suddenly. I glance over at him as he smiles, and he motions for me to lean in closer to him. I feel my face heat up as I adjust myself on the couch to place my body against his. His arm falls around me, and immediately my head finds that perfect spot on his shoulder to settle in to. It’s not even half way into the movie that I feel my eyes become heavy and I eventually let myself drift to sleep.

  * * * * * *

  It’s the loud bang on the door that finally catches my attention. I let my eyes open, and see that the TV and Blu Ray player have both been turned off. The light above the stove has been turned on for a little light to see. Nick is off the couch, but the running water in the bathroom tells me exactly where he is. The knocking happens again, and without thinking I pull myself sleepily from the couch to unlock the door and open it. I’m greeted with such a force that I’m blown to the ground. I feel the back of my head and elbows hit the hardwood in such a way that it stuns me more than hurts. I shake mys
elf from the shock and sleep as I realize that there is a man on top of me. I stare up and realize he’s wearing a black ski mask. He grins through the hole around the mouth. I open my mouth to let out a scream, and before I can his hand clamps on it hard. Immediately, I begin to cry, wiggle, fight, and squirm. His hand comes down and meets my face hard, and I let out such a loud whimper that can be heard through my entire apartment. I hear the bathroom door fly back and footsteps dropping heavy on the floor as they become closer. I hear one loud click, and I know Nick is ready. I feel the man climb off of me, and I gasp for air as I try to crawl back on the floor.

  “On your knees!” Nick calls out.

  Without hesitation, the man in all black drops on his knees.

  “Hands on the back of your head!” Nick says as he steps closer to him.

  I can’t help but to feel relieved as I realize it’s all over. I run my hands down my face and feel that my cheek is beginning to throb. I look up, and Nick already has him and he’s pulling his hands behind his back.

  “Look, I’m sorry, Man,” I hear the guy say in a familiar voice.

  “You can tell that one to the judge,” Nick says as he reaches for the mask and begins ripping it from his face.

  I look up and my mouth drops. “Jason! What the hell are you doing?” I scream.

  “Charlie, I…”

  Nick doesn’t let him finish as he gives him a shake, and I now see that Nick now has his hand cuffs and he’s tightly latching them to Jason’s wrists behind his back.

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Jason?” Nick asks, kicking my apartment door shut.

  Jason looks up at him, but doesn’t answer.

  “Do you realize what the hell you’re doing?” Nick asks.

  Again, Jason only stares.

  “You sit your ass right there,” he says, pulling out his phone. “Get comfortable.”

  Nick makes his way over to me and begins helping me off the floor. He begins talking to the police department on the phone as he silently but gently inspects the throbbing spot on my face. He swipes his finger across his phone when he finishes, and turns back to Jason. “What the hell is wrong with you?” He asks, as he rushes to turn on a few lights.