Over My Dead Body

VIII. Picture Perfect

~*~ Dedicated to @LoriannaWilson for her lovely comments ~*~

I woke up the next morning with my eyes still sore and red from crying. I had to get myself back together. I couldn't afford these little breakdowns I randomly had. I needed to be strong in order for this thing to work. I needed to collect the little pieces of my shattered heart and put them back together. Getting angry and breaking things wouldn't get me any closer to my revenge, finding Anthony would. I needed to stay focused at all times. No more breakdowns, I promised myself, but I almost knew for certain that I'd break that promise. But I would try my very best to keep it.

My alarm told me it was time to get up and face the day. If the sound of a beeping alarm wasn't enough to give me a crappy morning mood, my phone decided to start ringing too. I groaned as I picked up.

"Hello?"

"Alessia? You up?" the voice on the other line asked. I was pretty sure that it was Jayden Thorne, my personal hell, if you ask me. He always finds a way to tease me or to disturb me whatsoever. He irritated the crap out of me.

"No I'm fucking sleep talking on the phone," I answered sarcastically.

"Aren't you all sunshine and rainbows in the morning." Yes, it was definitely Jayden.

"Cut to the chase, will you? I'm not in the mood for your bullshit right now."

"I ran out of eggs and I really wanted to bake some pancakes. You don't happen to have some eggs for me, do you?" He asked. I couldn't believe this guy! He called me at 8 am for eggs?

"I think I might have some in my refrigerator, come and get them," I sighed, trying to hide my irritation. I really wasn't in the mood for a discussion.

Jayden lived in the same apartment building as me, like right next to me, so it didn't take him to long to get here. As soon as he knocked on my door, I opened it and let him in.

"Wow, you look stunning in the morning," he said and winked at me.

"Shut up, Jay, I just got out of bed. Wait here, I'll go get your eggs" I said as I walked to the kitchen to get the eggs.

When I came back, I saw him standing at my desk. He was looking at something. When I realized what he was looking at, I stormed at him and grabbed the papers from his hands.

"That's personal! You shouldn't be looking at this!" I yelled at him.

"Anthony Jerde, who's that?"

He still had the nerve to question me about this. How dare he?!

"He's none of you business! I think you should go," I said as I handed him the eggs and pointed at the door.

"Thanks, you saved my breakfast."

"Just go."

When Jayden had closed the door behind him, I sighed in relief, still holding onto Anthony's file.

That guy is unbelievable.

I placed Anthony's file inside my drawer, hiding it from curious eyes like Jayden's. I looked beside my desk and saw the shattered pieces of the box. I sighed as I started picking them up. I frowned as I realized there was something I didn't recognize among the shattered pieces. It was a picture, more precisely, a photo. Adrenaline immediately rushed through my veins. This was the very first clear clue I've had about Connor's death since he died. I smiled brightly, glad to have found this picture.

As I was examining the photo, I started to recognize the place where the photo was taken. As soon as the address of the place kicked into my memory, I got dressed and ran to Jay's apartment. He definitely owed me a favor for the eggs. It would take some persuading to get Jayden to go along with me. I didn't posses a car and the photo was too far to walk. I could ask Malia, but I knew she was busy on Saturdays, so I didn't bother asking her. I raised my hand and knocked three times on Jay's door. After a few seconds, the door swung open.

"What took you so long?" I asked, raising my eyebrow.

"Hello to you too," he answered sarcastically, "missing me already?" he said as he cast me one of his cocky smiles.

"You wish," I punched him, "I need a favor."

He sighed. "What is it?"

"I need you to drive me to this place," I said, holding up the photo so Jayden could see the place I meant.

"No way in hell I'm going back there! Are you out of you mind? There are some dangerous men out there," he said.

"Pretty please? It's really important to me!" I begged, putting on my best puppy eyes.

"Alessia, people don't go there without a reason. What's yours?" he asked curiously.

Could I tell him? Did he need to know the real reason why I wanted to go to one of the most dangerous places of San Diego? Could I trust him? Could I trust him with my darkest secret? Only Malia knew about Connor. I've never told anyone else, cause I didn't have any reason to share his death to others. Was him helping me worth the risk? I did needed his car to get somewhere, seeing as Malia was too busy to drive most of the time. I decided to just risk it. Jay was a good guy, I thought. It wouldn't hurt to tell him, I thought. This would be worth it, I thought.

"I'll explain on the way," I promised and dragged him with me to the parking lot, where I knew he stationed his car.

"Guess I'm driving," he chuckled as he put his seat belt on.

Off we go, to the first lead I got about my beloved Connor. I hoped this wouldn't be a dead end. I prayed this would get me somewhere, even if it wouldn't be far, it'd be somewhere.

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Two chapters today! Isn't that great!

Wonder where Jay and Alessia are going? Stay tuned to find out.

Lots of Love,
Take-It-Or-Leave-It.