Fanatical “Take it easy with those boxes! You break it you bought it!” Stella hollered going inside. John got out of the car he looked around his new neighborhood “Uhhh where would you like these boxes of art pieces?” John went to answer when Stella came out the door “I said put those upstairs!” she was haughty. John looked in the next yard he saw a head peeking up. She had brown hair, a broad forehead, and she looked about seventeen. John waved she ducked out and ran toward her house. About a few hours later Anthony, Flea, and Chad had came over to see their new home. John and the guys were outside in the backyard “Get a load of this…there’s the same girl spying” John pointed “Man she’s cute” Chad said “How’d you know she doesn’t have buck teeth or something?” Anthony joked, “She looks only seventeen why’s she keep peeking in my yard?” “Probably for her parents the rockstar from hell just moved next door…” Anthony laughed, “I’ll be sure to notify my parents about that” she said in a hasty voice “She speaks…why don’t you come on this side of the fence?” she looked at John to verify Anthony’s invitation “Sure” she went to the gate John unlocked it “So who are you anyways? Besides the neighborhood peeping tom?” she sat on a rock next to Chad “I’m Casey Decker my dad’s company sold this house I’ve been watching the crew move you guys in since yesterday” she was a little nervous “Well I’m John this is Anthony, Flea, and Chad” “Hi” “So how old are you?” Chad asked offering her a drink “No thanks I’m only fourteen” “Well that answers my next fifty questions” Anthony and Flea laughed “Steerike” they hit his shoulder “I should get home…do you mind if I come over tomorrow and get to know you better John?” “Sure I don’t see why not you seem like an okay kid” she smiled running out the gate. Everyone looked at Chad “Can’t believe you just tried to hit on a kid” they laughed going inside. “So you made friends with the next door neighbors?” Stella asked “Without me?” “No, I told you just their daughter” “Oh that sounds fun!” she shoved at him “Don’t worry she’s fourteen” Stella suddenly felt embarrassed “You really want to hang out with a fourteen year old kid?” “Hey she seems cool and doesn’t seem like she has many friends so why not make a difference?” Stella started laughing “You? Making a difference? That’s a laugh” John looked offended “That’s so not funny I care about other people” “You mean besides you?” she laughed again “I care about you” “Yeah only when I give” “Hey it’s better to give than receive” he reminded her “Hoho” Stella said climbing into bed “Just as long as she doesn’t get too attached to you I suppose” “Probably won’t she’ll realize how boring we are and just drop it” “We? More like the you minus me is boring!” John just rolled over and went to sleep. John was playing guitar when Casey came over “You know I am a big fan of yours I didn’t want to say anything yesterday I mean that seems so cheesy” “Hey it’s okay I mean how many people actually notice the guitarist? What with Anthony in lead?” she smiled “Well I noticed you and that says a lot you’re awesome” John decided to change the subject of his fame “So you play guitar?” “Nah my mom didn’t think it was classy enough so she signed me up for cello and violin the boring instruments” “The trick is to make them fun do you write your own songs?” “Sometimes but I mostly have to play mandated stuff” “Oh yeah that sucks” the phone rang “I’ll be right back” John went into the kitchen and answered it. He came back and Casey was on the computer “See Stel left that on” “Stel?” she asked “Yeah my fiancée” “Ohhh is that you when you were little?” “Yeah that’s my grandfather and grandmother I was only three years old” “You were so incredibly cute” she looked at the clock “Oh I have violin I have to go…” before she left she turned around “…my parents are throwing a huge bash Saturday I’d really like it if you’d come it’s going to be a bunch of rich stiffs that my parents are friends with it’ll be really boring” “I dunno Stella has to go to New York…” “So you’ll be all by yourself? Come on I promise you won’t be bored too badly you’ll have me to talk to” she struck and innocent smile “I’ll consider it I mean…” “Great thanks!” she rushed out the door. “John you came!” Casey said throwing her arms around him “Thank you so much” “You’re welcome” she put her bow next to her violin “I got you something…” she took his hand and led him into an office. She handed him a gift “Go ahead open it…” he opened it. Inside the box was a small silver guitar with aquarmine stones encrusted into it “I made it myself” she smiled “This is real nice…thank you” “So you wanna go for a drive?” “You can’t drive” “No silly but you can this party is so overwhelming…” “I have an idea how about we go to my backyard and talk” “Really? You wouldn’t mind?” “No of course not.” Casey told John all about her life “A lot people my age are scared to be my friend because I’m rich and advanced for my age” “Well I’ll be your friend” John said “You don’t have to you’re just being nice” “No really listen if you want I’ll even teach you guitar it’ll be our little secret” he winked “Sure that would rock…oh you’re so sweet” John thought she was going to hug him but she kissed him instead. He slowed her down a little and held her face he finally let go “Casey…I’m engaged” “I know…but that will be our little secret right?” “Yeah” she went to kiss him again “Whoa…slow down I’m thirty-three and you’re fourteen there’s a giant difference” “Please don’t refuse me John don’t be scared of who I am” she kissed him again. John had kept his word and taught Casey guitar one day Casey brought her cello over. “I was hoping we could compose something from your guitar for my cello recital” “Cool” he said she tried to put the cello between her legs but it slid and hit the floor “Damn! John could you help me with this I can’t seem to position it right to play” she smiled. He swallowed bending down he grabbed the cello she opened her legs. He placed one hand on her knee and went to put the cello in place. He dropped it when Casey pushed his hand all the way up her dress “Oh John…” she whispered she climbed off the chair and pushed him to the floor. “I want you John do you want me?” she asked kissing his neck “Casey why’d you do that? You remember what I told you I’m engaged to Stella” “Yeah I remember but I also remember you kissed me…didn’t that mean anything John? Sure felt like it did besides I’m not going to tell anyone I just want so much to be made a woman please John make me a woman…” “You did what?” Chad asked “Well she was putting a lot of pressure on me” “She’s fourteen John! What if she blabs to some of her little friends?” “She doesn’t have any” John said “Except Ol’ Johnny Fru” Chad laughed “It’s not funny she made me have sex with her like she was telling me either have sex with me or I tell everyone we kissed” “You kissed her too?” “No! She kissed me and made it seem like I kissed her! God what’s next?” “Who knows…she’ll meet some guy and forget all about you” “I dunno” the phone rang “Hello?” “Hi John it’s me just wanted to call you and check on you” “I’m good look I have a friend over so could we talk later?” “Aww John can’t Chad wait? Come over and play my parents are gone for the weekend and I’m all alone we can have their bedroom” John just closed his eyes “Look Chad and I have important business okay?” “Awww okay but call me as soon as he leaves okay?” “Yeah” he hung up “Come over and play?” Chad asked, “Don’t ask!” “I think she might have a problem John” “Ya think?” “Well what are you going to do?” “The only thing I can do…” “Go over there and settle this by playing dolls and drinking tea?” “No! talk to her like a rational adult” “Hey she might talk the talk but girl can’t walk the walk” “OH believe me she can walk the walk of a woman” John said “Wow well you goin now?” “Yep” “Good luck.” Casey smiled to see John had come over “I knew you wouldn’t let me down” she pulled him inside and began kissing and groping him “God I missed you I missed you inside me…” she opened his pants and put her hands inside “…Peekaboo, mmmm he’s nice and hard” “Casey we have to talk…” “Shhh after when you hold me” “There won’t be an after…” “Oooh all night? I’ve dreamt about it…” she began to undress he grabbed her hands “No! Casey what I’m trying to say is there won’t another time we can’t have sex again” “Why not? Look Stella will never know about us I promise” “It’s not just Stella it’s our age difference I’m a man…” “God I know it” “And you’re a kid that wouldn’t look right to a lot of people” “So who cares what others think?” “Well I’m a role model and it’s against the law” “What are you saying John?” “I want us to go back to being friends” “Okay if you feel that’s best” “I do…” “John?” she was upset “Yeah?” “Make love to me once more please so I can let you go” John didn’t want to “Sorry but I can’t” “You know sorry isn’t what you said at first…” he looked at her “Are you threatening me?” she started giggling “I would never do that John” he walked out the door. Stella came back from New York she was online talking to her friend on instant messenger. When Casey popped on the web: Guitarchik_03 says: Hello John I thought I’d catch you on the web. What’cha doin? Looking up porn? Stella looked funny at the screen name she started typing: Capricorn_82 says: Uh sorry this isn’t John. Who are you? Guitarchik_03 says: A good friend of John’s who are you? Capricorn_82 says: His fiancée Guitarchik_03 says: So good to meet you Stella I’m your neighbor and John’s good friend Casey Decker Capricorn_82 says: A little past your bedtime isn’t it Casey? Guitarchik_03 says: I’ve been up later than this just ask John J Capricorn_82 says: What’s that supposed to mean? Guitarchik_03 says: Oh Stella don’t be so naïve I think we’re both old enough to know what I mean…well tell John I said goodnight Guitarchik_03 has logged off Stella was a little upset “John!” “What?” “I told you not to let that teen girl get too attached to you” “Yeah she and I barely see one another” “That’s not her story” “She call?” “No she was on the internet she said you know about her staying up later than nine” “She and I talked a lot while you were gone.” John got ready to go downtown with Stella when the phone rang “I got it” he picked up “Hello?” “Hi John…” “Casey?” “You’re good listen I have this big recital and I really want you to come” “I can’t Stella and I are throwing a party…” “No! That’s not acceptable since when is she more important? I have a surprise for you tomorrow and I want you there” “John I’m ready to go” Stella called “Look I’ve got to go” he hung up. Chad came over to John’s to see the door was open. Chad came in “John?” he ran into Casey as she was leaving “Casey?” “What are you doing here?” she hissed “John’s my friend I came to see him” “Well it’s obvious he isn’t home” she went to leave when he grabbed her “I know what you’re doing to John and you will stop” “Oh really? Are you going to make me?” “Anyway possible…” she licked her lips “Chad give it up I don’t want you I want John and I have him” “He belongs to Stella” “Did Chad did belong to Stella he doesn’t anymore” she tried to leave again Chad jerked his way “Listen grow up and stay away from my friend you’re going to get him in trouble” “I’ll make you deal Chad…you let me go I’ll do you a few special favors” “I don’t want anything from a kid” “You did before…” she shut the door. She pulled away she took off her blouse then unhooked her bra “You like what you see?” she smiled “Put your shirt back on” “Or what Chad? Put it on me” she threw it at him going to the sofa “Lets get this over with I don’t want John to walk in” Chad walked to the sofa “You know you have this alternate universe created where things suit you?” “It’s not a lie John loves me and I don’t want to disappoint him but if I have to do you to keep you out of our hair I’ll do it” “I don’t want you…John doesn’t want you in fact he wants to stay away from you and there isn’t a slut alive that can keep me quiet!” she slapped him across the face then grabbed her blouse and left. It was time for Casey’s cello recital she looked excitedly out in the audience for John but he was nowhere to be found. She played the song she had written for him but he never showed up. “John I have to talk to you…” Chad said pulling him aside a moment “Sure hang on…” they both saw a cab pull up to the house. Casey stepped out “You bastard!” she trotted across the grass and slapped John across the face “Where the hell were you?” everyone stared “What are you doing here Casey?” “What am I doing here? GETTING YOU YOU SORRY BASTARD!” “Look just keep your voice down all right don’t make a scene” John tried to calm her down “DON’T MAKE A SCENE? IT’S REALLY HARD NOT TO CONSIDERING YOU BROKE MY HEART AFTER YOU SPENT TWO NIGHTS MAKING LOVE TO ME!” everyone just had their mouths drooped open “I don’t know what you’re talking about Casey” “Oh you do! So where’s the whore you said you’d leave for me? Huh?” Chad seized her arm “I think you should get home little girl” “Don’t touch me! EVER AGAIN! You said if I’d sleep with you you’d talk to John for me” she was in tears at John’s surprise “He meant nothing to me John I love you and I’m willing to forgive you if you just leave with me now” Chad was pulling her away John followed. She went to scream when they pulled her into her yard Chad covered her mouth “How dare you come to my home and start all this bullshit” John spat she pulled away from Chad “It’s not like it’s all a lie” she growled “Maybe but I’ve done everything I can to tell you that I don’t love you and I don’t want to be with you I love Stella she’s my soulmate and you’re just a kid” she was done and she knew it “Fine you two will be sorry I’ll make you both so damn sorry!” she ran into her house screaming. Anthony and Flea held a small meeting at Anthony’s house “Did you two or not?” “For the last fucking time you two we didn’t do anything to her well I didn’t” Chad said they looked at John “You guys don’t understand she’s manipulative she manipulated me and used me” “She’s fourteen the court won’t believe that” “Whoa Anthony! Who said anything about the court here?” John stopped him a moment “Well naturally she promised you two would be sorry so I think she’ll turn you in classic Alicia Silverstone duh! Watch The Crush and Swimfan it’s all there her cocknbullshit story and how it ends” he suggested “Either that she plans to target Stella next” “Not if I can help it…” Casey was standing at the end of the driveway when Stella looked out the window shade. She saw her coming to the door. Stella was getting ready to leave when she let Casey in “I have to tell you something about John if you would just listen” Casey demanded “You know John isn’t perfect I know that but he would never sleep with you I mean he’s not a child rapist” Casey narrowed her eyes “That’s not what he told me he said he loved me and that I was more than a child” Stella opened the door “I don’t believe you get out of my house and stay away from my fiancé” she shut the door. Casey glared at the door then looked at Stella’s car she wandered into the garage with the spare key she had stolen. Anthony’s home phone rang he answered it “Hello?” “Is John there?” “Who is this?” the person on the other end didn’t say anything “I said who is this?” “I need to speak to John” “Casey? Is that you?” “Let me speak to John dammit!” she was getting angry “Fuck you bitch!” he hung up. Two hours later she had left over eighty messages for John on Anthony’s answering machine. Silence as the four of them sat in the living room when the phone rang “That’s it!” Anthony yelled picking up the phone “Listen to me you stupid little bitch if you don’t stop calling here I’ll…” “Anthony?” the voice was different “Who is this?” the girl on the other end was crying “It’s Taylor there’s been an accident tell John that Stella’s been hospitalized they’re getting ready to take her into surgery it’s her heart…” “Oh my god! All right” Anthony hung up “Guys she tried to kill Stella…” John, Anthony, Chad, Clara, Flea, and Taylor sat in the waiting room for the doctor. Stella had been in surgery for six hours. The doctor finally emerged from ER looking Stella’s charts over “How is she?” “She’ll live but I should tell you in the accident glass from her windshield struck her in the face…” “What are you saying? Does she look the same?” John was desperate “She looks fine other than a few bruises and cuts on her face but Stella is permanently blind her optic nerves were sliced in half the rest of her eyes will heal but the nerves and tissues weren’t able to be salvaged” “Can I see her?” right about that time two policemen came in “We’re looking for a John Anthony Frusciante and a Chad Gaylord Smith?” Chad and John looked at one another “That would be us” Chad said “I’m afraid you boys are going to have to come with us” “What’s this about?” “We have a warrant for your arrests” they didn’t understand until they saw Casey with her parents and other cops coming from an examining room “Her…you lied to them! YOU SET US UP!” John screamed after her. Casey’s dad saw them he came running toward them “You bastards!” “DADDY PLEASE” Casey screamed. Stella was awake in the morning with Anthony and Flea by her sides “Someone’s in here I can feel your presence…who is it?” “Anthony and Flea” Anthony said reaching for her hand she squeezed it tight “I’m blind Anthony!” she screamed “Shhh I know they’re taking the bandages off today” “Tell me what my face looks like” “Well…” “I mean after the bandages are removed” there was an awkward silence “Something’s wrong where’s John?” Anthony looked at Flea but Flea just made a signal for him to tell her “John and Chad got arrested last night on statutory rape and sexual assault and battery on a minor” Stella choked a little “I know John and Chad didn’t do it…did they Anthony?” Stella sounded a little unsure “Well…you want the truth?” “No, I want you to lie to me dammit! YES I WANT THE TRUTH!” “Well as far as we know John did Chad did nothing he tried to get her to leave John alone” “Why would John do that?” Stella was upset “She manipulated him she’s smarter than the average fourteen year old girl” “She cut my brakes didn’t she? The car they said the brakes had been cut…I wouldn’t listen to her and she tried to kill me” “Yeah but there’s no proof of anything you, John, or Chad have to say” “Dammit! She can’t get away with this it’s just not right.” “I can’t believe she took it this far” John said moving around in his cuffs “Yeah they could at least have taken these damn cuffs off of us” Chad beat them against the cell doors “What’d we going to use as our defense?” “Well I’m genuine on my account you have a bit more to worry about” “We’re both fucked if you haven’t noticed you didn’t do anything but you might as well as say you’ve committed the same fucking crime she’s not going to rest until I’m hers or dead and she’s taking everyone down with us that stands in her way like you and Stella what do you want to bet Anthony and Flea are next?” “Shit! I have an idea but you’re not going to like it…” Anthony and Flea drove to John and Stella’s house to see all the lights on they were to come and pick up John’s belongings and move him to another place away from Casey’s house. “You want me to go in with you?” Flea asked “Nah I’ve got it you watch that house if you see anyone coming you honk that motherfucking thing like your life is the one in danger” Anthony climbed out. He went inside to see candles lit all around the place he saw a shadow moving from room to room he knew someone was inside “Casey?” he whispered he then heard John and Stella’s bedroom door shut he walked cautiously toward it. He opened the door to see someone with their back turned they were wearing Stella’s clothes and they smelled like her and from the back view Anthony could’ve sworn she looked like her too. “Casey?” she turned “John? Oh John you came home I’m so sorry for what happened but it’s over now please forgive me for that I really love you” she was delusional she thought Anthony was John. In the candlelight she couldn’t tell that he wasn’t “What are you doing here?” was all he could ask at the moment “Isn’t it obvious that we’re meant to be together I mean I didn’t know it until the first time you kissed me and you said I was special…make love to me and we can leave this place and never look back” she stepped closer to him then got a rude awakening she saw Anthony. “What’d you want? Where’s John?” “Don’t you know little Casey? Where you put him and Chad both in jail” “Yeah well they deserved it” “I don’t see how you lied about Chad you tried to kill Stella and you manipulated John” “Very good but you won’t prove it none of you will no one will believe you” “Oh no” Anthony looked at a closet from across the room Clara jumped out with a tape recorder “He won’t but I will!” “Clara get the hell out of here now!” Clara ran Casey went to go after her Anthony stopped her he took the tape recorder from Clara. “All right you want to play a game? Want to be a woman?” “You can’t do this to me I’ll…” “You’ll what have us thrown in jail? Try to kill us like you did Stella? By cutting her breaks? Try to seduce us like you did Chad? Or take advantage of us like you did poor John?” Casey hit the floor thinking about everything that had happened. Clara came barreling out the house Flea saw her “What the fuck? What were you doing in there?” “Anthony brought me by here earlier he put me in the closet to tape record anything suspicious he knew Casey would be here…we’ve got to call the cops” Clara was trying to explain but Flea was too baffled so Clara climbed the door of the SUV and pulled out Anthony’s cell phone. “It’s all collapsing on you Casey we can end it now if you just come with me and Flea to the police and turn yourself in” she looked at Anthony “NEVER!” she knocked over a table of candles and fire got started “SHIT!” she ran out the room and to the attic “CASEY!” “LEAVE ME ALONE” she disappeared into the attic “Shit I’ve got to get out of here! But not before I get her first I’m not going to let her take the easy way out…” just then Clara ran back in “Anthony?” the smoke was thick he saw her he handed her the tape recorder “Go back out and don’t come in here and whatever you do keep Flea out of here too” “Anthony just come on…” “No! I don’t know why but I have to get her out of here so she can get some punishment” “Where’d she go?” “In the attic…GO NOW!” he shoved Clara out the door she looked back for a moment when Anthony took off his shirt and went upstairs to the attic. Anthony looked down to see the whole downstairs ablaze “Fuck!” he got up “Casey?” “ARGHHHH” she hit him with a baseball bat “BITCH!” Anthony screamed holding his shoulder “I’LL KILL YOU!” Casey stepped over the door when it flew open and knocked her into a wall and she was unconscious “I thought I told you to go outside?” Anthony yelled pulling Clara up with him “I knew that you coming up here alone was a bad idea lets just grab her and get the hell out of here” Clara said Anthony picked her up. They couldn’t leave through the door “SHIT!” “The window” “Fuck no! This is a four story house!” “Better than nothing!” Clara took a chair and threw it through the window “PAPA!” Clara screamed. Flea ran around the house “Clara?” “We need you to catch us have the cops arrived?” “No, but they’re on their way…who’s first?” “You go” Anthony said “No, he needs to get the heavier load down first so you can help me and her get it?” “Clara I said…” Clara shoved Anthony out the window. “HURRY PAPA CATCH HIM!” Flea opened his arms and Anthony landed on him “Get up you cow! Get up!” Flea pushed him away “THAT WAS VERY STUPID CLARA!” “Well now you two get into position to catch her” “Let her die!” Flea said bluntly Clara was getting her ready when she saw the fire had reached the attic “I need you guys in position now!” she rolled Casey out the window. Flea and Anthony caught her they laid her on the ground. “Hurry Clara!” Anthony called she leapt out the window and into Flea’s arms. The police had arrived Anthony picked up Casey while Clara and Flea were on foot the windows had shattered Anthony threw them all to the ground. John, Stella, Anthony, Clara, Flea, and Chad stood in front of John and Stella’s old house “It’s demolished” John said “Thank God we’re insured” Stella said hanging onto John “Where will you two go?” “I think we’ll move back to the old neighborhood” “Yeah that might be a good idea…” “There you are Ms. Decker shouldn’t you be in class by now?” “Well I was but I went to the library for some internet time and I just wanted to write an old friend a letter” “Oh have they written you back yet?” “No, I don’t think they ever will but at least they know I still care…” John got the mail and was flipping through “Bill, bill, you’ve won a million dollars, bill, shopping catalog, bill, what’s this?” it was letter he opened it up: John, I know right now you aren’t too happy with me but I hope that doesn’t mean you won’t let me apologize for my actions. I know I can never make it up to you I wish I could though especially for poor Stella. I heard she went blind from her accident. Well I’m getting all the help I need and Dr. Savoi says I’m making real progress. I hope everything’s all right with you. Well I have classes so good luck I’ll be writing again soon. Casey P.S. Tell your friend Anthony I said hi Casey stared out her small window looking outdoors to freedom. She popped in a Red Hot Chili Pepper CD into a small disc player then looked around her room plastered with Anthony’s pictures everywhere “Mrs. Anthony Kiedis…” THE END