Remembering Raimondo (Complete)

Need A Place To Hide

We sat in the parking lot for a while. He turned on the AC as soon as he closed the car door, by this point it felt like Antarctica I was so cold. I folded my hands between my thighs. Waiting for him to read my body language, I turned my head to examine the back of his car. Jeff was a neat freak. Not one crumb in his car.

Getting tired of waiting for him to turn off the damn thing, I unfolded my hands and did it myself. I expected him to react the way Raimondo did and tell me not to touch his stuff, but it just snapped him out of his reverie. He put the car on drive and sped past the stop sign.

I looked behind us out of instinct expecting to see a police officer chasing us down for not stopping. But he never showed. I turned back around in time to see him cross a red light this time. Some drivers honked their horns and fat man in a red Cadi gave Jeff the finger.

"Slow down, and-"

If anything could shut me up, it'd be the pain of being punched in the face. My nose still hurt. I shouldn't have left the ice pack.

I frowned and touched my nose.

Jeff ignored me and kept driving fast, he stopped at a gas station. I looked at the meter, the car was full. Confused, I looked at him for an explanation but he didn’t notice and climbed out.

As soon as he entered the station my hands went for the glove compartment. I don’t know why but every time he was near I had the urge to snoop around.

He had a lot of books which i found odd because I didn't mark Jeff for a reader. Pushing them out of the way I peeked through the stacks. There was nothing suspicious. So why did I feel so bummed. I needed to pin him with more. I wanted to see something that would confirm my profile of Jeff. Something that would title him as a criminal and not someone like Zorro who's labeled one but is the exact opposite.

I sat back in my seat with a puff. The compartment open. Staring into it, a yellow envelope caught my attention. Grabbing the envelope from beneath the books i turned it so that the backside was facing upwards. Without hesitation, I ripped the envelope open.

They fell into my lap. Photos. I gasped in shock at what I held in my hands. Moving instinctively and ignoring the fact that I didn't return everything where they were, I opened the passenger door and jumped out. Without looking back, I ran in the direction of my apartment.

He was spying on me. Watching my every move.

The photos were of me and Raimondo on the cab. This morning.

I turned two corners and ran three blocks before stopping to catch my breath.

"He's spying on me," I murmured for the sidewalk to hear. I looked insane towards the people walking by because the expressions they had on while watching me were of sorrow and distaste.

I kept running until I finally made it to my apartment. Ignoring the looks I got from Amira and Eddie as I entered panting I skipped the elevator and went for the stairs.

I needed to see Raimondo. I felt safer near him.

By the time I reached the third floor, I regretted not taking the elevator.

I ran down the hall and began to bang on Raimondo's door.

He opened almost immediately. But I wasn't about to wait for him to let me in, so I barged in like this morning and slammed the door shut.

I paced the room a few times not knowing what to do. What if he followed me back here. He wouldn't think to come here would he. No, he wouldn't. He'd check at my place....