Taken By Surprise

by Jessica Frances

  Chapter Twelve – The Night Out

  For the rest of the day, Hugh tries his hardest with the cop, but continually has no luck. I decide to wait it out. If Hugh can’t crack him by the end of the day, then he is most definitely straight and I’m sure to have many weeks giving myself a shot. We now have a name for our prey and it is Officer Johnson.

  He has no wedding ring on his finger and, while I do notice a few glances my way, they don’t appear like the long, wistful ones I’m used to. Because of that, I decide there is a good chance he is dating someone. Actually, based solely on his looks, I’m sure he must be dating someone.

  I have a rule about that. If a guy is taken, then don’t go there. It isn’t really for the noble causes one might think, though. It’s simply that a taken guy is too much drama. You can never let your feelings go anywhere because they are a cheater and that never ends well. Plus, once the girlfriend gets involved, it is just one big mess. I have seen my best friend, Anna, go through it several times. She isn’t a bad person, she’s merely blind to the obvious clues that say they’re seeing someone else. When a guy only booty calls you, takes you to dark, out-of-the-way restaurants and won’t introduce you to friends or family, then something is up.

  At home, I collapse on top of my bed and pull out my laptop from under my pillow. I log on, bypassing all the traps I have set up and wait impatiently for Slayer to come online. I found him online when he tried hacking into my online gaming account and we have been good friends ever since. He taught me a lot about hacking and constantly tells me I am a natural. I don’t know his name or where he is from and we have a deal never to look into each other because, if one of us is compromised, we don’t want to have to be in any position to drag the other one down with us. The only thing I know is that Slayer647 is male and doesn’t have the best spelling or grammar. He also doesn’t have a great home life and, in the end, we have helped each other more than any of our “real” friends.

  I’m nearing the six-foot height, have curves that make guys drool and women envious. I am naturally blessed with clear, tanned skin, my blonde hair is long and natural, which is almost unheard of in L.A., and I have a wardrobe that most women would die for. I’ve had enough fake friends and sleaze-ball boyfriends to last me a lifetime. My family has money and I have lived a life of luxury. So, it’s nice that I have one friend who doesn’t know any of that and still likes me.

  My screen lights up and I sigh in anticipation to see Slayer’s words of wisdom that will hopefully calm me down.

  SLAYER647: Has logged on.

  AMERICAN3.14: Finally!

  SLAYER647: I kno u want me but pls restrain urself!

  AMERICAN3.14: Shut up! I got problems

  SLAYER647: Dont we all hunny

  AMERICAN3.14: Some douche stole money from the bank. They know about the money I took, what do I do?

  SLAYER647: Chill u covered ur tracks fine, u learned from the best

  AMERICAN3.14: I’m worried I didn’t. It was last year and I only just started working there, what if I made a mistake? I shouldn’t have done this.

  SLAYER647: Ur b fine just chill out ok? U did it for the rite reasons ur family needed that money.

  AMERICAN3.14: Still doesn’t make what I did right. They’re saying the person who stole the money is a thief, a criminal. I’ve never thought of myself like that, but it’s true.

  SLAYER647: Your familys busines was goin under. U saved ur family from going bankrupt. Don’t hate on urself over that.

  AMERICAN3.14: You also said I would never get caught.

  SLAYER647: N u havent. Just Chill and this will all be over soon.

  I take deep breaths and try to believe Slayer’s words. He is right. I had done it for the right reasons. Dad had built his firm up from the ground and after the economy crashed his company went into hardship. He had to lay a lot of people off and the stress caused him to have a heart attack. I had never felt so scared in my entire life. I knew I had to do what I could, so I stole a few cents from accounts over a few weeks. It was easy and soon I had over four hundred thousand dollars. I was able to clean the money with the help of Slayer who strangely had a lot of knowledge of how to do that.

  His big skills, though, were expert legal document forges and, while that wasn’t really needed, he was also able to fake a law firm letter to make it look like my dad inherited some money from a long lost relative. It was enough to get him back on his feet and clear some debt. Now, Dad’s on a strict diet, which Mom has made it her main goal in life to make sure he sticks to, and is happy to be rehiring some of the people who lost their jobs. My job at the bank was supposed to be temporary, since I had received several offers from colleges who accepted me; two being Harvard and MIT. I’m good with computers and numbers.

  For as long as I can remember, the IT and any mathematic classes I took were like adding one and one together and getting two. It was always easy for me. I never studied and I never had any real interest in going to college. I, of course, am interested in the lifestyle college students have; the parties, the guys and the time away from family. The truth is, that right now, my family can’t afford it and I pretend that it doesn’t really matter anyway. As far as they know, I love working at the bank and have found a real “calling” there.

  SLAYER647: Henrietta? Stacy? 40yo obese dude? U there?

  Often Slayer will randomly spurt out names hoping to guess mine. He had actually said Rose once, but upon our rule, I never told him he had it right.

  AMERICAN3.14: Sorry, was just thinking. Thanks for listening to me. I owe you one.

  SLAYER647: U kidden me? I owe u lik a 100 times ova.

  That is true. As much as he has helped me out of my problems, Slayer is an expert at getting himself far too deep into situations and needing help getting out. Once, he had decided it would be fun to hack into a government website. He had gotten into so much trouble that I had to also hack into the same site to split their resources, making them start chasing us both. We only just escaped. I didn’t sleep for a month, worrying SWAT was going to break down my door and arrest me.

  AMERICAN3.14: True, you do owe me. How’s your dad?

  SLAYER647: Back in treatment. They hoping he recovers better from this chemo.

  AMERICAN3.14: I’m crossing all my fingers and toes for him.

  I hear the doorbell ring and know Anna is here. It’s our Friday ritual to eat takeout and then, after Anna tries on all my clothes, we go out drinking.

  SLAYER647: Thanx, I’ll take whateva help i can get.

  AMERICAN3.14: Anna is here, ttyl!

  SLAYER647: dont 4get to tell her to pick up some milk on her way home!

  Slayer has a thing for Anna. It’s hilarious actually, since again, he has no idea who she is or just how gorgeous she is. He is merely determined to be in an imaginary relationship and he has decided Anna will do.

  AMERICAN3.14: Will do, I’ll try to get her not to cheat on you too much tonight.

  SLAYER647: Ur breakin my hart here!

  I laugh and then log off, quickly moving my laptop under my pillow before I run down the stairs and open the front door to Anna tapping her foot impatiently.

  “Took you long enough.”

  “Sorry. Is that Chinese?” I stare at the bags in her hands and feel my stomach rumble.

  “Sure is, and it’s going to cost you that hot little black dress for the night.”

  “Deal.” I grab one of the bags out of her hands and open it up, inhaling the fatty smells that instantly assault my senses.

  “I wish I could meet your brothers. They both look so hot.” Anna’s eyes drift to a large family portrait that is on the wall at the top of the stairs as we move up them. The painting had been done four years ago. I never really notice it there anymore. Dad and Mom appear to be the typically proud parents. Mom looks stunning in a beige, fitted dress with her expensive jewelry out on full display. Dad is wearing a suit, which is mostly hidden behind us. He had quite the bulging stomac
h when this was done, but since he has gone on his strict diet, he has lost over forty pounds. The slimmer look suits him much better.

  Doug is on my left in the picture. He looks strong and it’s obvious he has done a lot of sports in his life. He had been into baseball before too many injuries caught up to him. Now, he’s an engineer. He’s seven years older than me and just got married last month to his high school sweetheart.

  Nick, who is on my right side, is nine years older and is a doctor and married to his job. He lives in Chicago, while Doug is living in San Francisco. Out of both of them, I am closest to Doug, but even then, I barely see either of them. I basically grew up an only child since they both were away at college for most of my childhood. Mom is incredibly proud of them both, and while a daughter working at a bank isn’t what she had seen in my future, her worry for Dad distracts her from trying to set me up with the perfect husband.

  Anna and I finish our dinner quickly, both eager to enjoy the night. Anna is a great party friend. Our discussions never run too deep and with her family from money, too, I never have to worry about being taken advantage of. She is simply a person looking to have fun and when we go out together that is what we have. We have two rules with each other, never judge and always go with your gut. I have been out with other friends before and it’s always a bore. They cluster together, giggle and wave at boys, but never approach. Plus, they are unable to go to the bar or toilet on their own. Anna and I are forward and independent. I don’t freak out when she leaves me alone and there is no betrayal or drama if one of us leaves without the other.

  “What do you think?” Anna twirls in front of me, wearing the black dress she had been referring to earlier. It looks like it has been made just for her. Her strawberry blonde hair is up in a complicated bun and it makes your eyes instantly follow her neckline downwards. I doubt any guy tonight will be able to keep their eyes off her.

  “Beautiful.”

  Anna smiles and then holds a red dress up to my neck. I look down and know she has, once again, picked the dress that I absolutely want to wear. If she hadn’t been here, I would have most likely tried on about ten different ones before finding it. It’s yet another reason Anna is great.