Beautiful Apparation (Tony Perry FF)

fifty-eight

It's a slow today at the shop. I am supposed to have an appointment at six, that was an hour ago. I guess they chickened out, or forgot. Why waste your time making an appointment if you're not going to show up? People these days aggravate me.

As I sit in one of the tattoo chairs, Jeff approaches me. He looks upset, most likely with me. I've missed a ton of work lately, and I can't help but be half ass at my job. My life has been shit, and Jeff knows it.

"We need to talk in the back," He gestures.

Talking in the back? That's how you know it's bad.

"Why can't we talk out here?" I sigh.

"Do you want to make a scene?" He warns.

Oh yea, I'm in real trouble now. I get up from the comfy seat and follow him. Once we reach our destination, he lets out a long sigh. I'm the one who should be stressed here, not him!

"I've been patient Audrey. You know that. Corey has been filling in for you way too long. You need to step it up, otherwise you know what I'll have to do."

I nod my head. "Sorry I've been such a pain. You're a good guy Jeff. If I were you I would've fired my ass a long time ago."

"You're a friend too, ya know. Get better." He walks out of the room and leaves me here to ponder.

I'm glad. That was a shorter lecture than I thought it was gonna be. I've been wanting someone to sorta blow up at me. Jeff woke me up. If I don't start doing what I'm supposed to be doing, then I'd be exiled from here. I don't want that. I don't want another reason to be upset.

>>>

I get home and realize Tony is gone. Where he is? Not sure. That's another thing I should probably ask him. Where the hell does he go when he's inot here? I used to wave it off, but I want to know now. Not in the jealousy type of way, but I'm genuinely curious... and worried. ,

"Is he gone?"

I didn't have to turn around to know it was Kyle. I have to get him out of here, before Tony comes back.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, already knowing the answer. I've heard it too many times already.

"You don't get it, I want you to go home. How many more people do I have to get rid of in order for you to understand? Lynn perhaps?"

I didn't hesitate to push him up against the wall. I'm surprised I can touch him. I caught him off guard for sure. "If you put a hand on that girl I will-"

"You'll what Audrey?" He smirks, getting out of my grasp. "That dagger is long gone. You and I both know it. There's nothing you can do to stop me. You can only stop it."

Before I could respond he was already gone. He's not going to get away with this, that's why I'm going to start packing, now.

>>>

Six boxes in is when I hear Tony's soft voice again. I get up from the floor, folding a final shirt into my suitcase.

"Where were you?" I ask.

"What are you doing?" He refers to the boxes.

"You didn't answer the question Tony. I can't go on like this anymore. No more lies. I want to know everything."

He sighs, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I was looking for... my dad."

His dad. Tony never said much about him. Yea, he died but Tony never thought that'd he be able to see him again. Is this where he goes literally all the time?

"Why didn't you ever tell me? I would've understood."

"It was... personal," He sighs. "Sorry. I also felt stupid."

"You're not stupid." He really isn't, just an intelligent guy, who occasionally does stupid things.

"I told you my thing. Now why are you packing?" His tone is worrisome.

"Kyle came. I'm leaving. I have to go back to San Francisco."

"No you-"

"He's going to kill Lynn if I don't go!" I snap. "I'm leaving. There's nothing else I can do."

"I thought he was gone."

"Well he fucking isn't. Whatever you tried didn't work, but this will. You can either help me, or  leave me alone. I don't want to deal with this shit any longer." I continue to throw random things in boxes again.

"How do you know he won't bother you once you're out there?" He argues.

"I don't know! But if I don't leave, another person could die. It could be Vic, Jaime, Mike, or even Corey! I'm not going to be the reason anymore. I'm sick of it. All my life I've been wondering what the hell I wanted to do. I want to help people, this is how I'll do it."

As I am putting my shirts into a suitcase,Tony grabs my arm. "You're not going anywhere."

"Don't be so selfish." I get free of his hard grip.

"Stop being so negative," He pleads. "Want to help people? Then get rid of Kyle. How? I don't know, but we can figure out something. I know we can."

That's what he said the first time. There wasn't any other option. I had to leave. It was the last thing I wanted to do. I've gotten too comfortable here. Wanting to get it over with, I begin to pack again. This time Tony didn't stop me.

>>>

I warned Lynn. Of course she took the news as a champion. If anything she was sorta flattered that Kyle made her a target. She really doesn't get it, maybe it's better that way.

We're currently on our lunch break. Instead of the food court, we went to this Chinese restaurant a couple of blocks away from the mall.

"I don't want you to leave," Lynn says.

"He can't stop you from visiting. It's about Tony. He can't stand the fact that I'm happy."

She sighs, "Are you okay?"

"No." I shake my aching head. "I've been trying to get a hold of my realtor but she won't pick up for shit. Her line is either busy or it goes straight to voicemail."

"Where are you going to live?"

"With my mom, just until I could find a place of my own. That's going to be hard with the ridiculous amounts of money they want out there. I can barely afford the place I'm in now."

She shrugs. "That's the middle-class. I'm gonna go over tomorrow, to help you pack."

I nod my head. Whatever time I had left with Lynn, I wanted to cherish it.

Later on that night, leaving her was the hardest thing to do. I didn't know if I was going to see her tomorrow. No idea. Kyle could slit her throat as she walked into the parking garage, or even worse, do it in front of me.

I prayed that'd she'd be okay as we parted ways. That was the first time I did in months.

---

it's about to get realllyyy good!