A Dangerous Wave

24

"It's not his gun." I say through gritted teeth. "It's mine. He just got it for me for my birthday. You know that."

"I don't fucking care about whose is it! I want to know why you still have it!" Then it clicked.

"Why were you going through my stuff?" Tina doesn't say anything. "Answer me!" I yell and she flinches.

"I-I ran out of condoms and I knew you have some." She stutters. I let out a deep breath.

"Never go through my stuff again! Do you hear me?" I say harshly to her.

"Why!? Do you have more guns hidden in your room?"

"Of course I don't. But I want privacy, which I guess I can't get!"

"And I can't get my best friend's honesty?!" Tina argues back at me. "You told me you got rid of this thing. But here it is!" She gestures to the black 9mm metal gun on the counter. "Tell me why you lied." She demands.

"I didn't tell you, because I knew you would be against it."

"No shit!" She exclaims.

"But I don't feel safe enough not to have it." Tina's eyes soften at me. "I have this constant fear that he's going to come for me. And my hallucinations of seeing Ricky don't help one bit. I still have nightmares, Tina." I point to my chest as I say that. "There are still nights, when I wake up with sweat dripping down my forehead and tears going down my cheeks. And sometimes I even wake up screaming."

"I never hear you." She says quietly.

"Well, you're a heavy sleeper." I explain to her. "Even though we moved across the damn country, I still feel like he is coming for me. I don't exactly feel safe. It's not like I ever did. And if I know Rider at all, I know he's pissed beyond measure at my stunt." Tina extends her hand and grabs the gun from the counter.

The picture in front of me of Tina holding a gun makes me tense. I don't like her holding something so dangerous in her hands. I don't want her to. She then takes a few steps towards me, holding my gaze the entire time.

"Then you better have this with you the entire time." I grab the gun from her hands. "Don't have it locked in your drawer."

"But -" Tina shakes her head at me.

"No." She says sternly. "If you don't feel safe, then have it. That doesn't mean I am okay with you having a gun, but it's better than knowing my best friend doesn't feel safe walking the streets."

I hug Tina around the neck and pull her closer to me. I am glad she understands me. And I cannot be happier with her being my best friend.

"By the way, we are going to a party tomorrow night." I mutter into her shoulder. We break the hug. "Some guy invited me and said I can bring friends." A smile stretches across her face.

Tina was about to say something but there is a knock at the door. Tina and I look at each other and then to my hand, which is holding a gun.

"You go answer." I say to Tina and she does so. I quickly put the gun in my bag. While I struggle with that, my eyes catch the initials engraved on the gun.

R.O.

"Hi, I didn't know you are coming." Tina says and I go out of the kitchen.

"Yeah, I didn't either."

"Liam? What are you doing here?" He turns to me and smiles.

"I just wanted to see you. Are you up for a quick date?"

"Um ... sure."

"I'll go get ready, because I am meeting Chris and Beck in an hour." Tina says and goes upstairs.