Should I Love You?

Chapter 20

  I watch my dad walk in. He sits across from me.

"Shouldn't you be at school?"

"I have work at 9..." I check the time. It's 8:00.

"Why'd you call me out? Does my daughter want to have a relationship with me?"

"I need money..." I say.

"Oh? How much?"

"492,800."

He stares at me. "What did you do?"

"Ask your son that. My brother got mixed up with dealers before he died and now they're saying I need to pay off 500,000, which is how much my brother owed before he died. I need it by next week. Or they're gonna kill everyone I care about. I can't let those people die."

I hear my phone ring. I check and see that it's Ian. I decline it.

"I'm not rich. Besides I have those hospital bills I need to pay off. I can't help you Cazey."

"Please. Any amount will help me?"

"After you yell at me in the hospital... You come begging for money. You're shameless."

"I'm protecting the people I love."

"I don't have money for you."

He gets up and walks away.

"You were never there for me when I needed you. I don't know why I expected anything now."

I grab my bag and run out. I get in my car and drive to work. I go in and see Jason. I check and it's 8:50.

"If we both pick up 12 hour shifts for this week we might have 600 on our next paychecks. It's still not enough... Everyone's gonna die because of me." I say.

"Should we ask people for money?"

"Yeah let's go round asking everyone to loan us 500,000... That's not suspicious." I sigh.

I go inside and clock in. At around 3:00 Opal and Jen come in.

"Cazey... Why weren't you at school?"

"I won't be there for a week."

Maybe I should distance myself... That way it won't hurt... Maybe if I stop being friends with them... He won't hurt them. I feel my eyes water.

"I think we should stop being friends." I say. Looking down. "Um... I'll break up with Ian too." I say.

"Cazey..." I hear Opal say.

"Jason! Take their orders." I say.

I run to the back. I feel my tears stroll down my face.

"Are you okay?" A coworker ask me.

I nod. "I'm just going through alot..." I say.

"Do you wanna go home?"

I shake my head. "I have to try and save them." I start helping in the back.

"I don't think that was smart." Jason says. "We'll figure it out."

I shake my head. "I threw away my pride. I even asked my dad... He said no. I explained to him the situation. He said no." I say.

"They said they aren't leaving till they talk to you."

"Then they're gonna stay here till 9."

Once 9 hits I clock out. I notice Opal and Jen are still here. Gosh. I even took a break in the back. They just won't leave me alone. I leave the store. I feel someone grab my arm.

"Cazey. Talk to us. What's wrong? Let's us try and help you." Opal says.

"You guys..."

Why am I hiding this? It's not my fault my brother did this...  Gosh I'm acting like I'm in a drama. Author help me tell them.

I'm sitting in my room. I tell them the whole situation. I even show them the pictures.

"Let's go to the cops." Jen says.

"What?" I say.

"There's no way your getting 500,000 by next week. Even if you do pick up more hours. Your dad won't even help. Cops." Opal says.

"What if they find out and try to hurt you guys?" I say.

"That's true and it's not just us. Even Jason's girlfriend is in trouble. Kyle and Luke are too. Gosh they do research." Jen says.

"Not enough. They even put Sydney in here." Opal says, laughing.

"I asked if they would lower if I let them kill her. It was a no." I say.

"Gosh. It's horrible. Your basically protecting Sydney." Jen says.

"Hey!  Let's all pinch in. Opal has a job and I get allowance and you can't say no because our lives are in danger. Let's ask the others too. Maybe we can get an extension if we have half. We're showing that were trying to get the money, we just need more time." Jen says.

"When did you get so smart?" I say.

"Ask the Author."

We laugh.

"I'm upset. Instead of asking for help you tried to break up with us. That's not cool." Opal says.

"I was hoping if I wasn't close to you guys they wouldn't hurt you."

"So You'll have how much by your next paycheck?" Jen ask.

"Including mine and Jason. 7,200."

"So we need 492,800 by next week. 242,800 to get half." Jen says. "Opal and I will check how much we have saved up. Then get back to you. Oh also... We don't wanna explain this to Ian... Talk to him... Please."

I nod.

I give them both a ride home. I hear my phone ring. I answer it.

"Hello."

"Meet where we did yesterday... Let's talk."

I sigh. I end the call and drive to the restaurant. I pull in the parking lot. I go inside. I sit across from them. Seeing Jason is here too.

"So... You told your friends." They say.

"Well... Their life is in danger. I think they deserve the right to know."

He laughs. "Are you gonna tell your little boyfriend? His friends? What about Jason's little girlfriend?" He smiles. "You even begged your father for money." He shakes his head.

"You what?" Jason ask. "Why would-"

"Is there a problem with her asking her dad for money? He didn't give it to her anyway."

"How do you know this?" I ask.

"We bugged you and all your friends." He says. "By the way. Don't go to the cops. That would be stupid. Ill have to kill everyone before the week ends. I don't wanna do that. I wanna see how you manage to get this 500,000 by next week."

"If we get you half. Will you give us an extension?" I ask.

"I might consider it..." He stares at me.  "You don't look pretty when your angry..." He smiles. "Your brother really made your life difficult."

"I won't take your shit much longer."  I mumble.

"Dont make me higher the price, sweetheart." They get up. "I wouldn't get your hopes up for an extension." They walk away.

I sigh.

"Why would you ask your dad?" Jason ask.

"I guess I'll have to beg him." I whisper.

I get up. I don't get any sleep tonight either. I called my dad again. He agreed to meet me again.