Everything Started Here With You

Patience Is Virtue

"...I'm a little twisted, so I even received counseling when I was back in middle school. The doctor told me there's a 79% probability that I might be a sociopath..."

Shery
-- Itaewon Class

Tagging along with friends who I never seemed to get along with most of the time wasn't one of my best ideas. Jasmine stuck to me like glue every time Jade put her down. We didn't talk much. Just sat around Isabella's house doing random things. I knew I had to ask them about Lexi, but I didn't know how. Who knows what they'd do if I suddenly wanted to know her whereabouts from three days ago?

"Guys..." I started cautiously. Everyone but Jade turned to me. She suddenly got up and claimed she had work to do. It was fine with me. No telling who she was working for at this point. Isabella looked at Natalia who only shrugged. I pursed my lips and waited to hear her car leaving. When I was sure she was gone, I went to the window and saw that her car was indeed gone.

"I know the both of you are Lexi's dearest friends," I said. "She tells you guys things I had to figure out on my own. So..."

"Get to the point, Sha'Kera," Natalia urged.

"...I know Lexi is an agent. Or at least she works under someone who sends her on daring missions," I confessed. "I knew about it for a while now, but I was able to confirm it...Saturday."

"I knew it!" Isabella exclaimed. "There was something about you, Sha'Kera. Lexi told us you arrived Wednesday and only visited once, but you seemed to be avoiding her afterwards. Is this about her messing up?"

"Unfortunately, yes. If I don't figure out where she went after leaving...I might as well quit my job. I don't plan on doing that anytime soon."

"Well...what do you want to know? Are you going to rat her out and have her taken away from us?"

Natalia looked like she was going to jump on me if I said yes, so I had to choose my words cautiously. Who knew how much they knew? I could say the wrong thing and they decide to lie to me. I don't want that. Especially when Jackson is counting on me to get the information. If I can just figure out her plans that night, maybe, just maybe, I might be able to get to the drive before she does.

"I'm not going to rat her out." I leaned forward in my seat. "Lexi took a vital piece of infor--vital pieces of information about the gangs around here and in New York. It's more than just that. If the government gets a hold of it...we're all going down. All of us involved and the people we associate ourselves with. That means Lexi.

She's more related to whatever she has in her clutches right now more than anyone on the list. Besides Asher. Don't ask about that. Soon, if Lexi comes clean about it all, you'll know why knowing where she was that night is important. If you know anything, please tell me."

I sounded like I was actually begging them on my knees to tell me what they knew. It wasn't my best, but it was getting me somewhere. Isabella looked like she actually believed me. Natalia was deep in thought like she hadn't been listening to a word I was saying. Ugh, was I going to have to force it out of them? If so, I'd love to find out their worst fears.

Isabella finally looked up and sighed. I bit my lip in anticipation. What was she going to say?

"Saturday...Asher asked Lexi if she wanted to go on a date. Or rather have dinner with him. She has a secret identity at the station. Crystal Roberts. Asher's dumb, so he doesn't know about it. Not unless he's just ignoring it." She sighed. "I don't know the exact time she went, but I do know around ten she called saying she was heading that way and wanted me to come to her house afterwards."

"Did you go?"

"No. I called her when I thought the dinner was over...but Luca picked up and said she wasn't feeling well."

Hmm...what was Luca up to? Is that why she slept through Sunday? Maybe. What about Natalia? She's being super quiet.

"We should probably go," she suddenly blurted. "Not to try and get away from you, but we promised Lexi we'd look after Jasmine and she gets cranky after sitting for too long."

"But, what about--"

"Later. I'm free later today. I can talk then. If you ever need to know something, I'm your girl."

Before I could say anything more, they got up to get Jasmine. I sat there for a few minutes before realizing where I should be right now. If Lexi was heading there now, then she would be looking to take the drive back. I can't take that chance. She couldn't get away with it this time.

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"He's not here. I checked inside already and they've been gone for a while." I glanced out the window at the female guard who slowly walked by the car. "I don't think Asher knows and I don't want anyone telling him."

"What if Cameron tells him?"

"He won't. Asher...wouldn't believe him anyway."

I was tempted to get out of the car to talk to the women, but I knew once I did Kera would be after me. I couldn't have that right now. Especially when she didn't trust me after meeting my friends. It's not my fault their wives hate her. That's why I couldn't be a woman. Too many things they have to worry about. Plus, I'm fine with the ability to badmouth a woman and not get hit by her. Not unless that woman is Kera.

"Well, where were they heading?" Sha'Kera asked.

"I checked up on her house and Rylie was there--" I started.

"Rylie? As in the pop star Rylie?"

"Yes. She said Lexi had gone with Asher to get tags and a collar for her dog. They came by, but didn't say where they were going after that."

"Oh. Makes sense. She's gone now?"

"Could be. Luca was pulling in just as I pulled out. No telling what he knows already."

We sat in silence for a few more minutes. Luca...A sadistic, self absorbed narcissist. Almost like any other White male in the area. All they care about is money and power. If they can't have either, they hurt people. Sometimes even take matters into their own hands. That includes going against their spouses wishes. He could have the drive right now and no one would suspect him.

Lexi wouldn't do anything about it. From everyone else's point of view, she was the perfect representation of how women of Palm Springs should act. She wasn't too nice or too stuck up. She cared for the people around her. No one complained about her in any place she's worked. If there was any tabloid article about her, it was all fake. Everyone knew she would dare cheat knowing she'd be caught in a heartbeat.

Who could possibly have it at this point?

"Could we pinpoint where Asher is heading right now?" I asked suddenly.

"Sure. Just ask Cameron. He'd call him up," Sha'Kera replied. "You know, he almost had the drive yesterday. Said something fell under Asher's couch when he was getting his suit, but he got a call before he could look for it."

"Every true story must have its slow people..."

I started the car.

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere."

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Happy Holidays to everyone. I know I'm a day late for Christmas, but you just can't help but get distracted. I got what I wanted, but you know...I'm still kind of bored. I won't be updating next week, but come the new year and I will be.

I'm returning to school...I hope so anyway. It'll take up a lot of my day now that I'll have to sit in a classroom and pay attention. I get out early, because I only have 3 classes, so it won't be that bad. I will take next weeks to type of new chapters. I cross my heart on it.

⚜Author-nim⚜