Web of Deceit

Love and Sappiness

Laughing, I call Stacia to come back downstairs. AJ decided to stay for a while longer. That means we need to go to the hardware store to pick up a few things and go to Target and Wally World. I want to swing past the cafe and get coffee and sweets to make it through the rest of the day. "Stacia!! You okay," I asked. "Stacia?" I head toward the stairs to see if I can hear anything from upstairs.

AJ is right behind me. "Back up nosy," I tell him. I start up the stairs and hear Stacia yell, " here I come." I continue up the stairs. I heard something in her voice that I didn't think I liked. At the top of the stairs, I see Stacia coming out of the bathroom and wiping her face. "Uh uhn, what is wrong with you? You were okay before you walked up here calling ol boy."

"He doesn't like the idea of me staying in the house with AJ here. I told him that AJ is leaving tomorrow, but-" " Yeah, he's decided to stay longer. Should I call Aayan? Cause I really need my support system right now. I can't have him being in his feelings about all of this," I tell her. "Girl no. I get why he's mad. I definitely would not be okay if this was him, but he knows why I'm here. He drove me to get my car this morning. I don't get why he's trying to switch up now. All aggy like a damn weirdo," argues Stacia. "Pause, why is AJ staying? He is supposed to go home to Cali and his fat a*sed friend. Him being here is gonna cause problems with me and Aayan."

"You still have not explained why you were up here cryin and sh*t Stacia," I state. "Looks like ol boy ready to be broken. I already told him if he hurt you, I would break him with a smile.A punto de joder y averiguar." " Whoa there the bold and the reckless, I'm fine. He just put a mirror to my hypocrisy. Aayan and my issues will not affect my ability to be here with you. Do-" " Hell naw, sis. You know that's not how we roll. I want you here, but I will not come between you and Aayan. You finally look like you are falling in love. I want that for you. You deserve happiness Anastacia," I say. I wipe my face, just realizing that I am crying now too. I grab Stacia into a hug. "Call Aayan back. Let him know that AJ is staying for me. If he kicks up a fuss. Tomorrow we'll gas you up and send you home to the city," I murmur into her shoulder. As I pull away, I look her in the eye. I want to see that she understands I am okay.

"Girl, I am not leaving, but I am going to call him after we get back from that cafe. I wanna see this Young Tyson Beckford. Plus you have me craving chocolate conchas. You know those are my favorites." Stacia spins me around and tells me to get down the stairs. "Let me find out you turning into a sap and sh*t all pregnant. Let me handle Aayan and you keep AJ out of my face...mmkay," she says with a kiss on my cheek. "Sap, chica, I am the realist you have eva met!! Don't play me," I argued on the way down the stairs. "Real pregnant," Stacia laughs.

"What's so funny," AJ asks at the bottom of the stairs. "Nothing," Stacia is quick to reply. " You're so nosey, yo." "Man, whatever. Are we ready to head out or what," AJ retorts. " I wanna get back and get started on that basement. Em, do you want carpet or to resurface those floors down there? It looks like it would look good either way. I'm thinking you should do a combination. Composite flooring and Berber carpets." "AJ, I don't care as long it doesn't end up a dark, leather bachelor pad with a big a*s wet bar. I want to section part of that open space into a bathroom and closet space. There is already a bedroom," I tell him.

We head out the door all bundled up against the cold and snow. "You need lights up," says Stacia from behind me. "I'm on it," whispers AJ. "Ol Scrooge a*s over here is gonna get into the spirit if I have to drag her there." AJ's phone rings as we head to my truck. I toss him the keys as he answers the phone. "Armando Sandoval," he says, answering the phone. "Yes, I am her son." I groan wondering what Maribela could have done now. "WHAT!" AJ shouts into the phone. "How can something like this happen," he demands. I stop as I climb into the car. AJ waves me into the car. As impatient as I am, I don't wait for long before AJ simply hung up the phone. I turn to him as I put on my seat belt. "What happened," I ask quietly. I am almost afraid of the answer. "That was an officer at the county lock up. She tells me that the prisoners had a fight and that Maribela escaped during that distraction. They have people searching for her. As her next of kin, I am their fir-" "Wait, are you telling me that Mo-Maribela escaped county lock up?" I interrupt. " How is that even possible?"