“I’m getting in too deep,” Clarissa thought to herself, “Why can’t I just give him up? He’s going to be the death of me.”
But Clarissa knew why she couldn’t give him up or quit thinking about him when he wasn’t around. He made her feel alive, free, and vulnerable all at the same time. It was an intoxicating mix that made her pulse race and kept her wanting more. There was also the fact that she constantly worried about his well being and if she was going to hear from Julie or Maggie that he had been on the news. Clarissa bit her lip. Could she live with that fear forever?
With a sigh she decided that she was going to have to track Skull down tonight after she got off from work.
“It shouldn’t be too difficult, he may even drop by,” she grinned to herself.
A roar in the distance made Clarissa turn her head. The motorcycle sped by in a blur, but she would know that leather jacket anywhere. That was Skull and he was headed towards downtown, most likely to the AlleyCat Pub. Clarissa grinned as she sipped her coffee.
At seven o’clock sharp Clarissa pulled into the parking of the coffee shop driving her new car. It was a green four-door that looked like it should belong to an old lady, but Clarissa was excited none-the-less. The purchase of “Green Grandma” as she dubbed it meant she no longer had to pay taxi fares or bum rides from Julie or Maggie.
After making sure all of Green Grandma’s doors were locked Clarissa sprinted inside and clocked in.
“You’re two minutes late,” Maggie said.
“I was out buying a car so I wouldn’t have to keep bugging you for rides,” Clarissa grinned.
“Good,” Maggie teased, “because I was going to have to start taking fare out of your paychecks.”
Clarissa stuck her tongue out at Maggie as she tied her apron around her waist.
“You’re in a good mood today,” Maggie laughed.
“Yea, I got a new car,” Clarissa said, telling a half-truth.
Maggie arched a brow at her in question, but Clarissa was saved from having to lie by the bell above the door ringing.
“Hi, how are you today?” she asked, turning to face the counter.
“I’m doing pretty good, Bookworm,” Skull grinned at her.
“What can I get for you today?” she asked, trying to act nonchalant, because she could feel Maggie watching her.
“Frozen mocha,” he said and arched a brow.
Clarissa tilted her head slightly to the side indicating that Maggie was watching them. Skull laughed as she turned around to make his drink. Clarissa’s heart pounded in her chest and she silently prayed that something in the back would need Maggie’s attention. She needed to get Skull to agree to see her again tonight. She needed to get him alone and make him answer her questions, but Maggie stayed rooted to her spot behind the counter.
Skull paid for his drink and then handed Clarissa a few dollars as a tip before heading out the door. Once he was out of site Maggie headed into the back of the shop. Clarissa starred down at the money confused until a piece of paper fell from between the bills.
“I’ll try to stop by tonight,” was hastily written in the same hand writing as the note that had been slipped under her door.
“Don’t just stand there smiling because he tipped you. Get to work, kiddo,” Maggie called from the back.
It was just after midnight when Clarissa clocked out and left. She had successfully evaded Maggie’s questions and made it to the parking lot with a sly grin playing on her lips.
“It’s now or never, G
randma,” she said to the car as she turned the key in the ignition. Clarissa smiled when it started easily and purred under the hood.
She took the familiar route home hoping to avoid the late-night red lights that seemed to last forever. Clarissa wanted to get home and shower before Skull arrived. She knew his note had only said that he would try to stop by tonight, but she gleefully hopeful despite the voice in the back of her mind that was yelling at her. Something was wrong. Things were going too well, happening too easily. The world was about to end or at least come crashing down onto her head any second now.
A paranoid feeling of anxiety began to creep into Clarissa’s stomach as she drove. Something was wrong. Was it her parents? Julie maybe? No, it was definitely Skull.
“Quit it,” she scolded herself, “You’re being paranoid. Quit worrying about him, he’s okay. He knows how to...”
The words never made it out of her mouth, because in the distance red and blue lights were flashing. She swallowed hard and slowed down. Clarissa hoped the officers on duty took it as a sign of respect for their safety, but she was trying to soothe her own worries.
“People get arrested all the time,” she told herself, “It doesn’t mean Skull is involved.”