Mr. Perfect

Twenty-Four

Marcus

Two months later.

Yesterday,

Amelia flumed on the bed and sighed, "It's been a month Marcus..." she complained.

I kneeled in front of her, holding her hands in mine. "I know, and I'm sorry... but I have to go." Her eyes met mine, "But why?"

"So that my father gets arrested as fast as possible, Angel." I cupped her face.

She sighed, "Am I bad for not wanting him to get arrested?" I understand what she means. She doesn't want him to get arrested so that I don't. I sat next to her, wrapping my arms around her smaller figure, I kissed the top of her head.

"No. No, you're not bad."

She pushed me gently by my chest, "Can't you stay?" before I could respond she spoke again. "Only for today."

As much as I want to... I can't.

I don't want to be away from her, I don't want to be separated from her after I get arrested. But again, I don't want to live my life like this... terrified and spooked at the idea of letting Amelia outside without me on her side.

"I wish I could." I gently spoke.

ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

The bar is strangely empty today.

I still sat on my seat and drank water since I don't drink beer and beer is all they have here.

"Marcus!" someone shouted from behind me.

I turned around to see the source of the voice, he buzzed all his hair off two days ago. His beard is still long though, and his beer belly is tucked in his old blue jeans.

I smiled, greeting him with a hand shake.

He sat across from me and opened a new bottle of beer, "Why don't you work here, son?"

I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck, "I'd like to work somewhere legal." He laughed, throwing his head back and pointing a finger at me. "Good one."

"Jared!" someone called him from outside. 

"Would you check that for me?" my uncle asked, I nodded – ignoring the chill of fear that ran down my spine.

I opened the door and the bell rang as I did so. Louis was the someone. My brother that I haven't seen in months was the someone.

His eyebrows furrowed as he saw me but a slight smile tugged on his lips.

"What're you doing here?" he asked.

I grinned, "Trying to get dad arrested." He snorted, "Come here, man, I haven't heard from you in months... I thought he found you." I chuckled, going to greet him with a hug.

He wanted to go inside and talk to our uncle, but I didn't let him. I had to tell him about Amelia first.

We sat on the sidewalk on the other side of the bar.

"Amelia Collins is missing right?"

"Yeah, how do you know her?"

"She's my girlfriend."

He chuckled confusingly, "What – how... are you okay?"

I nodded, "She's with me."