CHIPPED

Chapter 2

"Why are you leaving, again?" Aspen asked me. We sit in the airport, awaiting my plane. My hands are shaking as I try to keep the truth from her. The less she knows the better.

"Australia. It's just a business trip, nothing serious." I respond, lying to my fiance. Rushwood told me I had to lie or I'd suffer something far worse than federal prison. I'd like to live through the night at least.

Aspen grips onto my warm hand. Her hand is freezing against mine. They were most likely cold because of the low temperature outside, but my hands are clammy and sweaty. Aspen seemed perfectly calm and I was having a heat stroke. How was I supposed to hide how nervous I was when everything had gone wrong in the past 72 hours? I had a feeling Aspen didn't remember anything from election night. If she had really been in peril, would she have even been sitting beside me in this moment?

"Aspen," I cautiously address the matter, "Do you remember coming to visit me in my office on election night?" Her head had been resting on my shoulder until I asked the question. The question didn't sound as odd in my head.

"No. Come to think of it, I don't remember much about that day at all." She looks into my eyes with worry. "I don't remember going to visit you, though."

I didn't want to worry her, so I lied again. "Um, no. I guess not. I suppose one of my co-workers just sounds a lot like you." I made my lie as lighthearted as possible so she wouldn't ask further questions.

Her red hair is up in a messy bun, with pieces of her hair falling out at the sides. She wears a black v-neck shirt and jeans. I'm in a business suit until I leave her sight. My story has to be believable. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to tell her the truth.

My parents knew the truth. They came to see me the night I was locked up. Not a loving word was said in my defense. In fact, I don't remember what insignificant things they said to me while I was behind bars. I can't blame them, I've never given them a reason to have faith in me.

My flight number pops up on the screen, alerting me that I need to be boarding the plane. Aspen squeezes my hand. I know she's brilliantly smart and knows I'm not telling her everything, but she lets me go when I stand up. A quick kiss on the lips is all we leave with. I can only imagine what she must be thinking.

Aspen knows of my delinquent behavior from years past, and she stood by me while I was in federal prison. When I was miraculously released in three days time, I had to falsely inform her that I had been wrongly accused and they were letting me free.

Oh, if only that were the case.

I met Aspen when I was young and rebellious. I suppose now I'm just older and still rebellious. It was a cool winter night at a party I was forced to attend. Looking back now, maybe I would have never met Aspen had it not been for my mandatory attendance. Once again, my parents had their ways of coaxing me into things I had no intention of doing.

Aspen had asked me when the party was supposed to start, and I informed her that we were already 30 minutes into eating all of the horderves. Her sparkling green eyes seemed amused with my remark, for some reason. I wasn't being funny.

"I take it you don't like these parties?" She asked. Her long, blush colored dress swept across the marble floor as she took in the scenery. The mansion was cold and uninviting, but it was decorated with some expensive items.

I shrugged, "I only come to steal a few things and leave."

She seemed even more interested in what I had to say at that point. I can't imagine why. I had just admitted to stealing priceless items from upper class officials.

"Well, I'm Aspen North. And you are?" She extended her pale hand towards me. I reluctantly shook it, wondering who she was going to tell later about my random slip up. I should probably give her a fake name.