“Coming!” he called as he threw on a robe before making his way over to the door, knowing full well who it was. In two weeks, Chris was the only person that JC had gotten to know, so unless it was some stranger, he knew that it was his short boss at the door.
“Whoa, you look like shit,” announced Chris after JC opened the door for him. “Are you only getting up now?”
“I was tired,” JC reminded him. Truthfully, JC had been up half the night wondering how he was going to get more money for Heather.
“Well, I talked to Howie this morning and he gave me AJ’s number and address,” informed Chris changing the subject. He was worried about JC, but he didn’t want to press anything in case JC decided to withdrawal farther. “I figured I’ll tell you now in case you wanted to head over there this afternoon.”
“Thanks Chris,” murmured JC as he took the slip of paper from his friend. “I think I will get cleaned up and then go over there. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Don’t be late,” reminded Chris as he turned away and headed back down the steps.
Closing the door behind Chris, JC quickly showered and changed into a clean pair of jeans and t-shirt before grabbing the slip of paper with AJ’s address on it before taking off to see what he could do about getting his car sold.
*~*~*
“Look . . . umm . . .what was your name again?” asked AJ as he put his arms around JC’s shoulders and stirred him towards his garage.
“JC.”
“Look JC, I don’t know how I can tell you this, but that car of yours is a piece of crap!”
“I know,” sighed JC. “But it’s all I’ve got. How much for it?”
“Nothing, my friend,” answered AJ honestly. “But if you’re in some need for cash I think I can help you out.”
“I need it badly,” admitted JC.
“In that case, bring me a good car, and I’ll get you your money,” replied AJ with a grin.
“But this is all I’ve got!”
“Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about,” grinned AJ. “Bring me a decent car. A Ferrari, a Jaguar, a BMW, a Benz, anything that’s worth money, I then use the parts to build custom cars.”
“You mean you want me to steal cars?!” asked JC in shock. In nine years he never even thought about committing crimes to get by.
“Stealing an ugly word,” replied AJ. “Just think about it as borrowing them and forgetting to give them back. Besides anyone who can afford a car like that, probably thanks us for stealing it that way they’ll be able to collect the insurance on the car and end up buying a newer model. Regardless, if you get caught, I’ve never met you before.”
“I don’t know.”
“Think about it! If you decide to do it, just pick one up sometime and drop it off here at my garage.”
“Thanks AJ,” replied JC, forcing a smile as he quickly walked away from the tattooed younger man. As he drove away JC ran over AJ’s offer in his head.
Stealing wasn’t exactly something that JC ever wanted to do, but then he thought about Heather being forced out on the streets and living like he did.
As his thoughts ran through his head, JC unconsciously began through the richer area of Orlando, which was filled with large homes.
Driving around the neighborhood, it was fortunate that JC was paying attention to his driving as a red Ferrari raced around the corner without looking cutting him off.
As he drove along, he followed the Ferrari as it sped down the street before pulling up the driveway of one of the more expensive houses on the street. He could tell that the young man who had been driving it was cute, with short blonde hair. As well he could tell that the man was well off judging from not only the house and the car but also the expensive suit that he wore.
Making a quick note of the house number and the street he was on, JC quickly sped off, not wanting to be seen around the neighborhood in his old beat up car. The last thing he needed was for attention to be drawn to him before he even committed the crime and he clearly stood out among the rich.
*~*~*~
Quickly entering his home, Lance first made his way upstairs so that he could change out of his suit and into a bathing suit for his daily after work swim.
Lance was still slightly ticked off at Joey for their fight two weeks earlier, but he was even more annoyed at the fact that Joey had yet to apologize to him.
Sure Joey had called a few days after the fight and they had talked for a while but never once during their talk did Joey apologize to him and Lance felt that he deserved it.
So what?! It wasn’t like he needed Joey as a friend anyways. Just that afternoon he informed his bosses that he was quitting their company to start his own and he was only a few months away from being able to sign away his former company top acts. All he needed until then was to find some hot, unknown artist who was willing to sign with him who he could make into a star.
As he dove into the pool, Lance vowed that he would just forget about Joey being his friend. At one point he had thought they would be best friends forever but clearly Joey had changed since they were kids. A pity really, since Lance had enjoyed those times at camp as they played together, but at some point he grew up and Joey remained a kid.
Making a mental note, Lance reminded himself to tell his assistant in the morning to no longer accept calls from Joey Fatone.
*~*~*
“Where have you been?”
“I’m really sorry Chris!” replied JC quickly as he slipped behind the busy bar later that night. “I was running some errands and they took longer than expected! I promise it’ll never happen again!”
“It’s okay,” reassured Chris. “What type of errands were they?”
“Nothing much,” mumbled JC, grateful for the distraction as a customer ordered a drink. What he didn’t want to tell Chris was that he had been out buying a black ski mask and gloves as well as figuring out what was the closest bus route to that neighborhood where the cute, rich, blonde guy lived.
JC planned on busing in as close as he dared and then walking the rest of the way. He knew he should take more time to plan out everything but he wanted this over with quickly so he planned on doing it that night after Kirkpatrick’s closed.
“Is everything okay C?” asked Chris with concern. “You look tense tonight.”
“I’m fine,” replied JC, forcing a smile. Luckily the bar was busier than normal that night so Chris couldn’t ask his friend anymore questions for the rest of the night while they worked and even before the last customer had left when it was time to close, JC had already darted back up to his room and was changed into his all black outfit before placing the ski mask and gloves into a small backpack.
Saying a quick pray, JC was soon out the door before Chris could come up and investigate to what was wrong with him.