Incognito NYC

Pg. 5 (&1/9): Caught...

***

I do as father asks me to. He thinks it's funny, though, that I'm friends with a boy, smirking every time I talk about Justin and our adventures. Papa believes that there's something more to our relaxed friendship, but I just brush it off. We're absolute besties, that's all!!

Once I'm done locking the front doors of the shop from the outside, I sneak up to my room and assemble all of my designer things, heading out through the back doors of Papa's store. Usually my dread starts to leak away at this point, but it stayed this time... strangely. I couldn't figure out why. I stopped walking to frown. I felt as though I was being watched. You know, like the feeling of eyes burning into the back of your head?

"What are you doing here Prince?" a voice asks me, words clipped. I jump a foot in the air, my blood turning to ice water. I spin around 180 degrees to match a face to the voice, but I already knew who it was. It was Justin, still wearing his work apron, blonde hair tossed every which way and greased with sweat. One hand held a very full garbage bag. I quickly realize that we were near the large garbage containers right behind NLM. Father must had Justin do all the small cleaning chores to make up for his earlier crimes, and throwing the garbages out is one of them. I miscalculated when he'd do this task. Crap, I think. Caught red handed and no where to go. Shoot!! I should have thought of this problem!

My best friend puts the bag down onto the ground and crosses his arms in front of his chest. I blink, remembering that he asked me a question. I open my mouth to give a hasty answer, hesitating, and closed my mouth. I rip my gaze from his, no answers to be found.

I start to fidget in place. I became squirmy when I get nervous, and he knows it. He eyed my bag. I clutch the strap tightly.

"What's with the get-up?" His dark eyes widen all of the sudden. "Are you going to go... s-skinny dipping or s-something?" Justin's face blushes a bruising shade of red, becoming a shadow across his face as the streetlights flicker on around us. People here where we live like to go skinny dipping (or chunky dunk) a lot; that's absolutely true. And we are really close to the Long Island Sound. But... me? How did... when would I... I just... No. Just no.