Facing Crossroads

XXIV - Red Alert

                                                            Theo

Shay and I were on the roof top, scanning the nearby mansions, observing some families thru their windows as they prepared for dinner.

“So, this is your favorite place, huh,” she said.

“Mm-hmm.” I nodded. “Whenever I draw blank and unable to write anything, I go up here.”

“I have a question for you,” she said, running her hand through her hair. “This whole ‘being nice’ thing, is this part of what you told me before? About you tying to become a better person and you know… not about flirting,” she whispered the last word.

“I always try to be a better person each day,” I replied, leaning forward to her as I looked at her eyes. “But I’m not just being nice to you, Shay.”

She fidgeted, holding my gaze.

“You are important to me and I feel like it’s in my nature to protect you. Protect you from sadness, from the bad people… from any harm.”

She blinked and I could feel she was breathing hard. “You think you like me?” Her tone had this high value of uncertainty.

I shook my head. “I know I like you, Shay.”

A smile crossed her lips as she let out a sigh. “But I’m not sure if we are ready for…” She shrugged her shoulder. “For anything serious.”

I clasped our hands together. Her hand was cold and so I shoved it in my sweater’s front pocket to keep it warm.

“I get it. No rush.” We looked at each other. “I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

“Can you promise me something, Theo?”

I swallowed, suddenly feeling cold. I always tried to hold on to promises but some things were out of my hand.

“What’s that?”

Shay tightened her hold on my hand. She looked like a scared little child. “Please don’t leave the country. I know I’m being selfish asking you this, but don’t leave.”

My stomach churned, not from hunger, but from the solemn reaction she was giving me. Thomas would do anything to make me leave. He was that kind of father.

“I’m not leaving, Shay.” I said. Not if I can help it.

She smiled with contentment and we both survey the neighborhood again. After some minutes, my mother called us out, announcing that dinner was now ready.

****

I took my time as I drove her back to her house. Cheerio kept on barking and would peek his head out the window, letting the wind blew his face. He looked funny and at ease but I was still on edge whenever he moved at the back seat.

As we reached her house, I hit the break and cut the engine.

Shay unlocked her seatbelt and turned to me. Looking at her closely, she looked nervous, a bit uneasy.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

She nodded then ran her hand through her hair. “I have a gift for you,” she said.

“Really?”

Shay nodded again with a smile. Reaching out to her bag, she pulled up a small box and gave it to me.

I was about to open it when she put her hands on it, stopping me. “Open it when you got home.”

“Hmm?” I looked at her silently asking why. “Alright, then.”

Cheerio barked impatiently, his big paw scratching the door.

“Let me walk you to the door,” I said and climbed out of the car.

I heard Shay laughed. “You are so old fashion, Theo.”

I just shrugged my shoulder, giving her a smile. As we reached her house, I stopped on the doorstep, hands on my pocket. “Are you sure you’ll be okay alone?”

“Of course. Besides, I have Cheerio with me.”

I waved a hand, saying goodbye. She really looked beautiful tonight, the isolation I had seen in her the first day we met was long gone. Shay stepped toward me, hands reaching out to my shoulder. I leaned closer, welcoming her embrace.

“Just call me whenever you got bored,” I said as we let go.

“I can’t. I’ll be busy painting.”

Again, I waved a hand and stepped back, gesturing my hand for her to get in. Shay nodded and unlocked the door as Cheerio made his way in haste.

 The drive back home didn’t take too long. My head felt light but at the same time tensed, excitement oozing because of what was happening. I actually never give much thought being with a different girl aside from Sandy but now I realized that I wouldn’t feel this kind of happiness had I not met Shay.

Thinking of it, I knew it was a short time to claim I had feelings for her, but there was no point denying it any longer. With her, I finally felt I belonged into someone’s world, no pretentions, no need to impress, and no need to hide my family background.

As I parked the car in front of the house, I trailed seeing another familiar figure.

“Sandy?” I called out as I shut the car door. “What are you doing here?” This time last year, her presence would make me smile, like a kid receiving a wonderful gift. It was weird that in just a snap, her presence brought nothing but a little frown.

Sandy had the same small smile on her lips. “I just wanted to see you- “

“Hang on.” I pulled out my phone from my jeans pocket as it vibrated, seeing Shay’s name on the screen. “Hello?”

“I think someone broke into the house.”

I swore I felt my heart stopped for the tiniest of moment, hearing her hushed voice.

“Are you safe?” I asked and ran toward the minivan, unlocking it. “I’ll be there.”

And I speed up until I reached her house.

****

“I’m here,” I said over the phone. Getting out of the minivan, I ran across the street and before I could even reach the door, it opened and Shay launched herself into mine, the force made me stumble back.

“Are you okay?” I asked in a whisper. “What happened?”

“Yeah, I’m okay,” she murmured. “My father’s friend is here. They came just ten minutes ago.”

My forehead creased when a bulky man stepped outside. Detalla.

“And who’s this guy?” he asked, his words came out like a bark.

Shay let go and turned to him. “He’s my friend.”

“Friend,” the man repeated, surveying me. “What kind of friend?”

I felt Shay sighed heavily. “The kind you don’t need to know.”

Shay got one hell of balls to say such thing to a man like Detalla. I kept my mouth shut as she did the talking.

Detalla’s eyes went dark for half a second before brushing off her response. “Why don’t you stay with us, Shane? Even for tonight.”

“I’ll be fine, Uncle Freddie. You hear what the guards said. It’s just some guys playing pranks.”

“Someone pranked you?” I asked, taken aback. She lived in an exclusive village.

“When I reported it to the guards, they said there were some guys who seemed drunk and threw a rock at our house. They broke a window. Nothing else happened. They already reported it to the committee. It’s been taken care of.”

Detalla didn’t budge. “You expect me to just leave you here alone after that incident? Your father will haunt me!”

I heard Shay groaned. “I’ll sleep over at Theo’s,” she said, c*****g her head to me.

The man started toward us, moving closer. Now, his eyes were on me, as if he was about to interrogate a career criminal. “And where do you live, young man?”

I said nothing, thinking if it was smart to tell him. He looked past me and walked toward my minivan. “Ha! You have a sticker for Ex-Trimis Village.”

I saw it in his eyes. I saw him branding me as one of his enemies. Living on their enemy’s territory would make you one of them.

“Is it smart to be friends with him, Shane?” he asked as he approached us again.

“I appreciate your concern to me, Uncle Freddie,” she replied, standing her ground. “I really do. But you have to stop this. I am not a part of your life. You’re not part of mine.”

A knot twisted in my stomach as they sized each other up. Shay wasn’t as tall she thought she was and Detalla was a large man. She really was a ball of force and I couldn’t be more proud of her bravery to stand up against him.

I hope I have the same courage. But some things weren’t always as easy as that.

Detalla nodded his head after a while. “Of course, Shane. I understand. Just promise you’ll be safe, hija.”

She nodded her head. “I promise.”

“Well, happy holidays, everyone!” he greeted, eyes lingering on me.