Chapter Twenty-One
It was later in the day, Austin was in the kitchen cooking dinner while I was slowly starting to fix the house. I say slowly as my arms were still hurting, but I refused to stay in this house if it looked as though a tornado had gone through it. I walk over to the mantle piece, picking up the broken photo of Roman, Austin and me. It was taken around two years ago, we had just gone on a holiday up north and the weather was so nice. It was the first day Austin and I actually got along, which is why a photo was taken.
With a tiny sigh, I take the photo out of the broken picture frame which goes in the bin. Before I could dwell more on the past, my phone that was sat on the counter makes a text noise. As Austin was closer, he picks it up thankfully, only able to see the name.
'A text from Jacob" he tells me which instantly makes my eyes grow wide, I place the photo back down before making my way over to Austin. 'Who's Jacob?" He asks as he hands me over the phone, while I click on the message making sure the phone was held close to my chest.
'Just an old friend from school" I say nonchalantly not wanting him to get suspicious, I didn't need him to ask me a bunch of difficult to answer questions!
I take a look at the message where he asked me if I could meet him tomorrow, I know he told me he'd get back to me in a couple of days, I didn't think he meant we'd meet tomorrow. I quickly reply telling him we could meet at the coffee shop down the road, I go there a lot so I know it wouldn't raise any alarms. He instantly replies telling me to meet him at 10am, I wonder what he wants to talk about? Well I know it'll be about Markus, but what about Markus?
'He wants to meet tomorrow for a coffee, considering I have a few weeks off of work why not?!" I smile placing my phone in my back pocket it this time, I'll have to be careful where I leave my phone from now on.
'It's sounds nice, I wish I could join you but I've got to work" he says before turning back to continue with dinner, I think it's best for everyone that Austin can't join us for coffee. 'I hope you're not replacing me with this Jacob guy" he jokes looking back at me for a split second, this does make me laugh where I walk over to him placing my hands on his shoulders.
'I can assure you, you're my only gang related friend" I laugh looking at his face, he rolls his eyes but does let out a laugh.
'And I intend to keep it that way, now hand me two plates" he says while I nod my head moving away from him, this does tell me that he believed the whole friend from school thing.
It was the next morning, Austin had just left for work but told me he'd check in every now and then. This was the first time I was alone in this house since the attack, thankfully, I was meeting Jacob which gave me the excuse to leave.
In no time, I was leaving the house and heading towards the coffee shop. Last night, I got a text from Roman telling me he was worried about me, apparently, I haven't been acting like myself. If only he knew how difficult acting like myself was right now, I replied telling him I was fine but did miss him like crazy. He's been away for coming up to a month in a few days, but it already feels as though it was a lifetime ago. There's a huge part of me that wants him to come home right now, I could sit down and explain everything to him where he could help, I wouldn't have to go through this whole police secret agent thing alone. But then I realise what would happen if he did come home, he would find out Austin and I had to fake being a couple, where Markus might find him and find out we lied and then find out what I'm doing.
Before I knew it, I was rounding the corner to the coffee shop. Do you ever do that too, you start your walk get lost in your thoughts than just arrive at your destination? Sometimes it can he hella trippy! I find Jacob sat outside drinking coffee, a cup waiting near the other seat on the table.
'Hi, I hope you haven't been waiting for long" I smile as I get closer to him, he raises from his chair wrapping me in a tiny hug.
'Old friends normally hug when they see each other" he whispers mid hug which does successfully calm my nerves slightly, I got worried there for a second! 'Oh of course not, I always arrive way too early" he smiles pulling away gesturing for me to take my seat, I smile doing just that while placing my phone on the table.
'So, how are things?" I ask trying to make this seem like a normal conversation, now I knew I had to play the part just in case Markus or anyone was around.
'Things have been going fantastic, I've just returned from a two year holiday, hang on I'll show you photos" he smiles before leaning down to open his bag, he quickly pulls a photo album out laying it on the table.
But when he opened the album, I discover it isn't photos of him on holiday at all. But photos of Markus and other men took from a distance, I have to give him credit this was smart.
'When I was there, I found this man that I'm sure looks like someone we went to school with, I know it's creepy but I had to take a photo" he smiles pointing down to the first photo, it was of Markus talking with two guys in suits that were facing away from the camera.
'Yeah, it definitely looks like him" I say nodding my head, I knew this was his way for me to confirm if he it was Markus or not.
'Oh I don't know if you remember, but in school you would always talk about this resort. You'd always say that one day you wanted to go there, I'm more than certain I found that place, is that it?" He asks flipping the page over, on this side it stood Markus's house, where we had that dinner with him the night of the attack.
'It definitely is, I can't believe you managed to find that place. The only problem is, it has the highest of security where you'll feel like you're being watched the entire time, that's something I would hate so I really wouldn't recommend going there" I say sitting back in my chair, there is quite literally cameras littered all around that place.
'So I wouldn't be able to just check in whenever I wanted?" He asks which at first I didn't know what he meant by that question, but then I realise he's talking about going there and arresting everyone.
'Definitely not, they wouldn't take too kindly if you did that" I say with a little smile, I reckon a lot of people would get hurt if they tried doing any anything like that.
'I love this catch up, I was looking through old school photos the other night after we rang and do you remember, Mark?" He asks sitting back in his chair all nonchalantly, I pretend to think for a second before sending him a nod. 'He's changed so much since I last saw him, have you seen him recently?" He asks where I send him a shake of my head, I was rather happy that I hadn't saw him in that long.
'No not for awhile now, but Andy gets calls from him on the daily" I tell him changing Austin's name, he smiles enjoying I was able to play along so well.
'I'm so happy we've got back in contact Payton, you and I used to make such a great team" he smiles holding up his cup of coffee, I smile taking mine which I hadn't took a single sip from.
'It definitely has, who knows what the future holds" I smile clicking my cup together with his, before taking a sip out of the coffee which surprisingly, was the exact way take my coffee.