Six Days in April

Chapter 8: Secrets Visible for All to See

Once Austin realized that Jayden had exited the tram, he knew he had to find a way to exit it too. Not too close to where Jayden had done so, but not too far, either. He needed to keep Jayden in his sight. Discreetly. Getting off the tram was a non-trivial matter, however. He quickly indicated that he needed the tram to stop, and he wondered about whether he could or should jump from the moving vehicle. That didn't sound particularly pleasant, though. By the time the tram had gotten two blocks from where Jayden had left it, Austin felt he had no choice and when the tram slowed in traffic, he opened the double door in the center of the car and jumped off. He could see Jayden, he thought, in the distance. Careful to keep his distance, Austin walked down the street towards where Jayden was talking with some of the working girls.

When he saw Jayden turn towards him, Austin ducked into a store for a moment. Eventually, Jayden and a blond girl went onto a tram going in the opposite direction to the one Austin had taken into the red light district. Another tram for the same route appeared within barely 30 seconds, and Austin boarded it. He wondered if he should have just taken a cab. Given that he had $75 for his monthly transit pass, money per se wasn't an issue. But the advantage to the tram, he realized, was that he could follow Jayden while keeping back far enough that Jayden wouldn't see him.

When Jayden left the tram with the girl (she looked like she was 13 to Austin), Austin watched from the stopped tram as they went to Jayden's apartment building. He made a mental note of the building. Going one stop further on the tram line, Austin got out and walked back to where Jayden and the girl had disappeared. There was a coffee shop across the street with a good view of Jayden's apartment building. Austin went in to wait and watch. It didn't take long (barely enough time before he could drink any coffee) before Jayden and the girl reappeared. Austin was mystified as to what was going on.

After Jayden went back inside his building, Austin walked over to the blond girl. He stood at the tram stop and introduced himself as a friend of Jayden's.

"His name is Jayden?" she asked.

"Yes, indeed it is," Austin replied. "Are you his new girlfriend? Funny, he hasn't mentioned a new one as yet."

"He apparently wants his mum to think I am. It's some of the easiest money I've made in some time. Just to make some breathing sounds!" She chuckled.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I was good enough that he wants to see me next week this time."

The tram arrived, and Joannie said, "Tell Jayden I'll see him next week. I really enjoyed this one!"

"I'll do that," Austin, now perplexed, replied, scratching his head and thinking about the route home. Arriving at home, Austin knew he had some thinking to do. He couldn't figure out what was going on with Jayden.

Arriving back in his apartment, Jayden was confronted by his mum.

"So who's your girlfriend, Jayden?" she asked.

Finally, he thought, the bitch is back to using my name.

"How'd you meet? Why didn't you say anything before?" She continued her queries while puffing away on a cancer stick.

"Mum, don't ask me about my girlfriends. We were introduced by a friend at school. He thought Joannie and me would understand one another, and he was right. I didn't say anything because I didn't want you demanding to meet her. The way you've treated me, I'm not sure exactly why I introduced you to Joannie this time. Now leave me the fuck alone, damn bitch!"

"Watch your tone with me, young man." She paused and Jayden walked by her. "Maybe that school your father pays a fortune for isn't such a waste after all.