Forever Altered by D.J. Pierson Read Free Book Online Page A

towards
the parking lot.  I’m sure he’s leaving,” Alyssa tells Tommy.
     “Let’s
go make sure,” Tommy says.  I follow him out.
     “Guys,
please.  I don’t want you two to get involved.  He’s not worth
it.  He would never physically hurt me.  Just let him go.”
     “We
are just going to make sure he left.  That’s all.  I promise,” I say
to her.  I touch her forearm lightly, but what I really want to do is
scoop her up and hold her for the rest of the night.  She doesn’t even
flinch when my hand lingers on her arm for a few seconds.  As the door
starts closing behind me, I add, “Don’t open this door without looking through
the peephole first.  We’ll be right back.” 
     Tommy
and I round the corner and sneak out the side door.  “What’s this guy’s
deal?” I ask him.
     “He’s
not all that bad,” Tommy explains.  “We used to all hang out.  He
just fucked up.  It happens.  Alyssa doesn’t deserve to be treated
like that, though.  She walked in as he was bagging some bitch. 
There,” he says pointing in Jeff’s direction and he starts jogging.  “Hey,
Jeff.  Hold on a sec.”
     Jeff
looks up as he paces around his older pick-up truck.  We finally catch up
to him.  “Hey, man.”  Jeff says recognizing Tommy right away.
     “You
alright?” Tommy asks him.
     “I
can’t believe I fucked up so bad.  I really thought if I just gave her
some time, she’d come around.”  This dude is visibly upset.
     “Yeah
you did.  I have to ask, why did you do it?” Jeff looks passed him to
me.  Tommy tells him, “He’s a friend.  It’s cool.”  It’s not
cool.  Right now I want to bash this guy’s fucking head in. 
     “I
don’t know how it happened.  This girl was just there and FUCK!” He
punches the side of his truck bed.  He takes a few minutes to calm himself
down.  “What’s she been up to?  How has she been?”
     “She
hasn’t been great, Jeff.  You messed her up pretty bad.  The girls
have been really worried about her.  She didn’t deserve what you
did.  I’m sorry, but I’m not going to lie about it.”  He actually
winces and I’m happy this news bothers him.
     “No,
I appreciate you telling me.”
     “Look,
man.  I really think it’s best if you just stay away from her. She’s
done.”
     “I
don’t know how to live without her,” he confesses.
     “You’re
just going to have to figure it out.  Come on.  If your sister’s
fiancé bagged some whore, what would you do?”
     He
sighs.  Tommy is being pretty harsh, but he’s got a point.
     “I’ll
give her time, but I’m not letting her go without a fight.”
     “All
I’m going to say is Jules and I haven’t been together nearly as long as you and Lyss were.  I’d still never do it.  I’ve
been pretty wrecked and Jules has always been the only one on my mind.”
     “Just
keep an eye on her, please.  Don’t let anything happen to her.”  He
holds out his hand and Tommy shakes it.
     “Always
do.  We all look out for each other.  That’s why I’m standing here
talking to you.”  Jeff nods at him.  “Jeff, I’ve never had a problem
with you, but I have to say this.”  He’s trying to figure out how to say
what he’s thinking.  “Don’t do anything stupid.  Push comes to shove,
I’ll pick Alyssa every time, if you know what I mean.”  I now have a new
respect for Tommy.
     “I
do.  Thanks, man.”  He turns and gets in his truck.
      “Take
care, Jeff.”  He doesn’t say anything else.  We watch him as he pulls
away until he is out of the parking lot.
      “Think
he’ll stay away from her?” I ask Tommy as we head back to the apartment
building. 
      “I’m
not sure what he’ll do.  I don’t know him that well.  But if I were
him, I’d put up one hell of a fight for that girl.”
      “You
have something for your girl’s friend, Tommy?” I wonder.
      “I
don’t mean it like that, Rocco.