Costco Kisses

Condo-monium

The drive over to Danielle's location was awkward to say the least. Chloe and John sat in the front with Charlotte in middle back giving them directions to an undisclosed location. This also meant I was stuck in the backseat with Tajon, trying all I could to lean into the window so I wouldn't have to look at him.

I know it was dumb but I couldn't look at him or I knew it would be too much for me. I could feel tears brimming in my eyes at the thought of having a conversation with him right now. Leaning against the glass, I wanted to break the glass and fall out of the car. That would be less uncomfortable than this.

Charlotte's directions were long winded and confusing and I could tell Chloe was getting frustrated when John reached his hand out to rub her shoulder in condolence. I could also tell that Charlotte was nervous from her shaking knees and the picking she was doing at her fingers.

I wanted to reach out to her as John to Chloe, but I couldn't bare move. It would bring too much attention to me, I just wanted to fade into the seat and be there already instead of sharing such close corners with Tajon.

Even though I was almost certain that he was not a killer, he still had caused me so much pain in the past weeks. At this point whenever I heard his name it was a painful reminder of my broken leg, and worst of all, my father's death. At this point I had even forgiven him for cheating on me but that was the least of the trouble he caused.

It was at this point, fully submerged in my own thoughts, that the car pulled into a small cul de sac with manufactured looking condos surrounding us. I don't remember which turns we took to get there but suddenly doors were opening and everyone was folding out of the car. Charlotte noticed I hadn't opened my door yet from the middle seat and squeezed my hand with her warm grip in reassurance.

I wasn't sure what I was going to ask Danielle when we saw her which was pretty stupid considering the whole reason we were here is because I wanted to see her but I assumed that when I saw her I'd know what to say.

Danielle, although being described as a bitch by most others, and I had a nice bond actually. When Tajon and I were dating and he would drag me over to Charlotte's just to sit on their couch we always ended up making dinner together or just bonding over how ridiculous Charlotte and Tajon were together. I don't know what it was about me that made her not hate me but I was glad for it, and worried that she was in some sort of trouble as we neared the door Charlotte was walking straight towards.

We must have looked like an odd group as we walked pointedly toward the mohagany door, Tajon and I in the back as far as reasonably possible from each other, Chloe and John looking at each other worried as Charlotte, petite as possible, lead us to an unsuspecting person's door.

With two knocks the anxiety set in all throughout the group, no one knowing exactly what to expect to be behind that door.

"Can I help yo-" A man in a blue button down and kakhis opens the door and answers in an irritated voice. He is cut off by the realization of who is at his door. His eyes scan over the small crowd and there is a sense of understanding among everyone involved.

"Mr. Sullivan??" Chloe exclaims at the sight of their former vice principal. I just stared blankly at Sullivan's shocked face. So many alumni on his front porch, well technically I was still going to that school.

"Yo, what the fuck is going on?" Tajon asked from next to me and I looked at him genuinely for the first time today without dread. Sullivan looked suddenly panicked and moved to quickly shut the door but Charlotte shoved her foot in as a door stopper.

"Don't even try fuckwad," She said pushing the door open and walking straight into the condo, no concerns for privacy. I wasn't sure to follow until Chloe and John filed in, I followed in suit.

The place looked straight out of an Ikea catalog, obviously he had taken lots of inspiration from the sets on the Ikea floor. Things looked barely touched, dust covering the coffee table and mirrors. Either this guy was a stickler about his home or he didn't ever come here.

Chloe, John, Tajon, and I followed Charlotte as she walked around the condo, opening doors and closets. Sullivan followed her worriedly, closing the doors she left open as she ransacked the place.

"Danielle?? Where's he hiding you?" Charlotte asked, moving away from the main room and to the kitchen. Sullivan followed closely behind her.

"You know I can call the cops on you right? You are all trespassing!" Sullivan exclaimed and I could tell he felt like a little man losing control of everything. "And you! I don't ever want to see you again!"

A point toward Tajon had all of us shocked.

"Oh my god! You're E.S.! Eric Sullivan, this all makes so much sense," I finally spoke up, feeling all the pieces fall into place in my brain. The thread connecting all the stories was Eric Sullivan. But what did he have to do with Danielle.

"Ok, while you chit chat I'm going to go find Danielle," Charlotte said, sprinting up the carpeted stairs. John, stood by the open door, closed and locked it slowly. Sullivan put his fingers to his temples in frustration.

"W-Wait you know me?" Tajon asked and sat down on Sullivan's oddly stiff couch. "I mean other than from school?"

"Look I can have you arrested you know? You know better than to come here and disrupt the peace," Sullivan pointed viciously toward Tajon. I felt like I needed to get involved.

"Hey, back the fuck up okay?" I started, moving inbetween Tajon and Sullivan. "We can talk like adults here or you could keep acting like a child and ruin everything-"

"YOU ARE THE ONE TRESSPASSING!" Sullivan cut me off and I shut my mouth in shock at his forceful words. Almost subconciously, Tajon grabbed my hand from where he sat on the couch, I couldn't tell if to protect me or for me to protect him. I gripped his hand back.

"Dude- chill the fuck out," I said in as calm of a voice as I could, I was starting to feel sick of being the rational one. "We're just here to pick up our friend and then we'll be out of your hair."

"Ugh- fine, but I don't want him in here," Sullivan once again targeted Tajon who seemed clueless to what had happened between them.

"What did I do?" Tajon asked as I ushered him out the door with John, Chloe opting to stay in the house as a form of strength in numbers in a situation with such an odd power dynamic.

"It's fine, I'll find out what I know but for now just stay outside."

I walked back into the house, deserting Tajon outside, looking like a lost puppy. Chloe stood closer to the door and I carefully sat in the stiff armchair across from Sullivan's irritated stance.

"Can you tell me what happened the night of the 17th?" I asked, making sure to pick my words carefully in case this all blew up in my face. Sullivan scoffed lightly and crossed his arms. I looked over to Chloe for reassurance and she was looking at Sullivan with a nasty glare.

"You think I would talk to you about that? If you want a peep out of me you'll have to get a lawyer," He scoffed out and I never wanted to strangle someone like I did in that moment.

Right as I was about to get up and act on my impulse Charlotte walked down, a drunk and confused Danielle trailing behind her. Instead of getting up to wrap my hands around Mr. Sullivan's throat I changed my route and went to Danielle's side, helping her out of his house. The looks that Chloe, Charlotte and I gave Sullivan could kill.

Once we were out of the house we were bombarded by questions from the boys but we just kept moving toward the car. Danielle paused by the steps up to Sullivan's condo and threw up in the bushes before we got her into the car, her laying in the back seat.

Chloe got in the drivers seat and John in the passengers as Danielle slept on the backseat. Charlotte whispered something to Chloe and they pulled away from the condo, I assumed they were taking her to Charlotte's house.

This left, Charlotte, Tajon and I stranded at Eric Sullivan's condo.