Chapter 5

I got dressed for my dinner with Shelly. I put my tight dark red blouse on that V necked to let my cleavage show. A tight pair of black jeans that hugged my hips. I put my white tennis shoes on and left my house. My hair up in the half bun. The rest fell behind me, as the curl still wouldn't go away. It was like it was wanting to stay on my head. I parked going to our meeting spot. I was a few minutes early and she hadn't showed up yet. I sat on the bench outside the restaurant. It wasn't too long till I saw her car turn the corner and park. I stood as she came walking up. Wearing a knee long skirt that swayed with her hips, a short sleeved blouse that looked the same design as mine. She was always the one wearing the dresses, I took to pants most the time. I smiled as she came up.

"High five girl!" She exclaimed. With my eye brows arched I held my hand up to receive hers.

"Starting a fight between Jason and mom."

"And I deserve a high five for that?"

"Of course! You must be getting to Jason bad."

"Whys that?" I asked as we made our way into the starting to crowd restaurant. I smiled at the hostess as she picked up two menus and lead the way to our in the back booth. I always enjoyed going places with Shelly. I got first class treatment. Always at the diner but never at more expensive places. We sat, looking over the menu. I already knew what I was getting but it was fun looking over the items for new ones.

"The argument was about you." I looked over at her as she turned her attention to the waitress. "Red wine and peach tea."

"Oh.. um….. Peach tea too no wine though." She nodded and walked off.

"You had called yourself the black sheep of the family."

"Yea." I said putting the menu down as she continued to look. She always got something new and would let me try it. But I wasn't that bold.

"I heard them arguing in the hallway. I stood by the door way. He told her it was her fault for making you feel that way. That ever since father past away she has been nothing but a bitch to you." I gasped.

"He didn't say that… in church!" She nodded.

"He sure did." She came by with our drinks. "Few more minutes." Shelly said as the waitress nodded and went to another table. "He's right though. I think that's why he made Jason promise to give you a job at the mansion. Mother had always smiled at you, treated you like a daughter because father told her she should. But since he is gone there is nothing that's stopping her from making you feel like a black sheep. You know, father wanted you to marry Jason." I swallowed a small piece of ice as she said that. I looked over at her as the waitress returned. "Go a head and order Candice."

"Fettuccine Alfredo please."

"Chicken?" The young girl asked I shook my head.

"No thanks." She nodded. Shelly looked over the menu again.

"I will try the shrimp fettuccine Alfredo." She said. The waitress smiled.

"I will be back with your bread and salad." We both nodded then she looked over at me.

"He saw how we all played together. How Jason would tease you. How well you got along. When he had asked Jason about it he didn't say anything. Just asked his father to mind his own business. He was going to be ruler soon and he will have to marry the women mother chooses for him."

"How did they ever meet anyways?"

"Olyvia is mom's new friends daughter."

"Oh… the really wealthy people that I was introduced to at her birthday."

"Yea them. If you ask me mom was planning this the moment father became sick so that Jason didn't get any bright ideas."

"We shouldn't fool ourselves, Shelly. He has no interest in me. He was playing with us because I was your friend and forced to live with you. That's all it ever was." Shelly just looked at me as I looked at the other guests."

"You really think that?" She asked.

"Of course what else would there be. Besides, if it was anything to do with loving me he wouldn't let his mother get the better of him and tell her to shove the wench in the closet were she belongs…"

"Potato bag and down the dam would better suit her." I shrugged.

"I was trying to be nice." She laughed.

"Don't be nice to her. I'm not." I laughed with her while the waitress came with our food. "Anyways.." She said mixing her plate.

"He would tell her so. And rather she approved or not it wouldn't matter. I came from a wealthy family. I still have the money that father gave me."

"She doesn't think you do. She thinks you spent it the moment you turned 18 that's the reason father wanted you to be working for Jason." I shrugged.

"She can think whatever she wants. I do have plans for that money and I'm not changing them for anyone." She nodded as we ate.

"I plan to help you, you know."

"What about Jason and the business?" She shrugged.

"The way Jason's talking he is going to higher a few people to work for him. I don't want to be part of the family business at all. If wench is going to come and stay at the palace. I'm not staying. I don't want her negativity to ruin my days then have to go work with Jason. I'll pass." I nodded knowing exactly what she was thinking. "Jason was going to start hiring people after those rooms are cleaned up so not so soon after you leave, I can work with you."

"With me, not for me." I said. "We can be partners. I am looking for a building with an apartment above it."

"There are a few around. Not many anymore."

"I know. But it's my ideal building."

"I can take your parents house." She said pushing her empty plate away. "That way you wouldn't have to sell it."

"It doesn't matter to me what happens to it. I don't want to be reminded of them every time I go into the library. Or the study." The waitress came by as we dismissed desert, got up, and paid. We always fused over her paying for mine and she was always the one grabbing the check.

"Ride with me. I will bring you back to your car." I nodded as I followed her to her car. "Well, we will work out something. It just would seem odd to go to an apartment to see you."

"Yea but I will own it all my own. After my schooling next week, I can do anything. Jason still throws it in my face that I know nothing about business when I have been taking classes this whole time." She chuckled as we got in her car.

"Well, I still can't believe that Olyvia needs to know where he's at and who hes with at all times." I shrugged looking out the window.

"That's what he chooses to do. I can only do what I am doing until D day or he opens his eyes and realize that if he can tell a stranger that he loved her then he didn't need to be with her."

"I agree." She parked and we got out. We were walking up to the building. We looked at the posters and decided to switch things up and see the scary movie. She loved them while I got really involved in any movie I saw and hated seeing scary movies in the theater. But we did see what I wanted to last weekend. We paid for our tickets and waited at the concession stand for the next available teenager to help us.

"Well, at least we still…."

"Shelly!" We both turned to the male voice that we both knew belonged to Mike. We both waved at him, then I stopped as I saw the black head bent, hands in pockets, lean man walking behind Mike's jogging. "Hey girls what are you up to?"

"Not much." Jason caught up to him and stood a few feet behind him.

"What are the chances right?" He said almost excited that he had bumped into us. "Jason wanted to see a movie since Richard wasn't here. Richard hates scary movie and that 'From the Beyond' looks awesome."

"Really! That's what we are going to see!" Shelly said acting excited. I walked forward as they stood behind me. I ordered what I wanted as I listened to them.

"But Candice hates scary movies." Mike said.

"Yea but we saw 'Like a rock' last weekend so it is my pick." Shelly exclaimed. I pretended to be interested in the teenager who was filling my cup, then the popcorn, adding some butter to it. I leaned against the glass counter and sighed. "Besides, she has my arm to claw. She'll be alright." I took my snickers, pop, and popcorn giving the teen the money. I turned handing Shelly the popcorn. I hated pop corn. We always shared a drink. Jason took my place at the counter as we stood talking to Mike. I could feel Jason's blue eyes on my back.

"Well now you ladies have two strong arms to claw and hang to." Shelly laughed as I sipped the Dr Pepper.

"I am sure that Candice would enjoy a strong arm to hang on." She said. "Theater 2?" She asked. Mike nodded. "Awesome! See you guys there." She grasped my arm linking it with hers as we walked to the theater.

"Great!" I exclaimed. "We just had to see a scary movie the same time Jason is!" I exclaimed as we climbed the stairs to the middle. "Any way you can hang onto his arm and I can take Mike's." She chuckled as we sat right in the middle.

"Don't you want to get him to break off with Olyvia?"

"Yea but how is hanging unto his arm in a scary movie do anything?"

"Well, more physical contact. Maybe that's exactly what you need. You know, make him want you."

"Desire! That's not what I want."

"Shh here they come. We will see what they decide to do OK." I sighed nodding. Jason had leaned against the wall letting Mike go up first. He came around and sat next to Shelly as he watched Jason move up and around missing our seats all together. Maybe he will sit by himself. That would be respectful to Olyvia right. Since he wasn't suppose to be around me at all. Work was going to get rather interesting if that was the case. Mike sat next to Shelly.

"What the hell is Jason doing?" She asked him turning in her seat to watch him. Mike shrugged. I didn't pay any attention to it as I opened my candy bar and watched the previews start on the screen. The lights started to dim as she turned to me and shrugged. I breathed easier and relaxed in my seat. A few minutes later the seat next to me moved and I jumped. Jason sat, setting his drink on the other side of the arm rest. The arm rest that was between us went up as now I had nothing that was protecting me. "What were you doing?" Shelly asked. 'were doing' I wanted to know what the hell he was thinking then.

"Nissa and Dean is up there. I thought I would say hi." Shelly and I looked behind us. The pregnant Nissa waved at us as Dean did the same. She wasn't too far along. Just far enough you can tell she was starting to show. I looked back at Shelly as the previews were over and the movie began. The room became dark and the beginning scene started. Jason's arm went over the seat behind me. I looked over at Shelly as she looked from his hand to me. I bit my lower lip and looked back to the screen.

The first half hour wasn't bad. Your normal pop out of no where ghosts. Of course I was a sucker for them and jumped placing my hand on his thigh only because it was there. It didn't leave his thigh for the next fifteen as event after horrid event happened almost as if there was no pause in it at all. I gasped, turned and covered my face in his shirt when some girl was about to get her middle cut right in half. I grasped his shirt so tight it came out of the tucked hold of his jeans. I looked back up at the screen my cheek resting there as I felt his arm around my shoulder pulling me to him. It didn't register that his arm was around me. His face looking down instead of at the screen. I felt his lips land on my head and suddenly the guy on the screen wasn't as interesting rather or not he was getting his hand rolled in a new paper printer. I didn't dare turn my head knowing that his lips were ever so close to mine. I kept the grip on his shirt my cheek on his side as if I didn't feel his brief lips on my head. Then came the ugly ghost again out of no where. I hid my face again in his shirt. I felt him chuckle as if he was laughing at me. I looked up at him, down at my hand then straightened his shirt out as his arm was still around my shoulder. The credits started to roll and the lights turned back on but his shirt was no where near as neat as it once was before the movie.

"Well that was definitely interesting." Shelly said. I moved away from Jason and looked over at her as Mike stood and stretched. "Can't say there wasn't anything new in it."

"Nothing new!" I exclaimed as I saw Mike chuckled and heard Jason next to me laugh. I looked over at him as he straightened in his chair standing as well. Shelly stood as I followed suit taking my purse. "Those guts that slowly fell from that girls body was taking it into left field!" I exclaimed as we walked out the theater. Jason behind us as Shelly threw the cup and her pop corn bucket in the trash.

"It wasn't that bad." Jason said. I felt my cheeks pink as I could guess what wasn't too bad about it. I sighed.

"Well, lets get back to the restaurant. Your car is probably the only one in the lot." Shelly said as I noticed it was rather late. Almost midnight. "It was fun guys. Definitely a treat."

"I can take Candice back to her car if you want Shelly." Jason offered from behind me. She stopped a few feet behind Mike who looked up at Jason as I stood almost frozen. I breathed in as both Mike and Shelly looked at me. I turned to him, my hands folded in front of me.

"I think Shelly can manage to drive me to my car. It's not far anyways."

"And you can't use the excuse that its on y our way home because we live together." Shelly said, low. She seemed to sound a little peeved at her brother. Jason stepped closer to me as I didn't shrink back. Shelly grabbed my wrist, jerked me so suddenly that I ended up stepping on her foot. Jason moved quick as his arm came around my waist to catch me and Mike caught Shelly in his own arms. I heard Shelly cry out and turned. Jason's arms were still around me. I pushed his arm off of me, giving him a mean look before I went over to Shelly.

"What happened?" I asked her as she winced.

"I twisted my ankle!" She exclaimed then looked past me at Jason. "Good going big brother!"

"OK Shelly. No need for the sarcasm. Are you OK to drive?"

"I don't know. It's swelling."

"Better get her home, Jason." Mike said.

"Drive her home." Jason said. "Your car is at the palace anyways. Drive her car home and I will take Candice to her car. I shouldn't be long."

"I can do that. Remember what…."

"Take Shelly home." He said. Shelly looked up at me biting her lower lip as I sighed. 'He always gets what he wants.' I mouthed to her as she kept a grin from showing. Mike helped Shelly to her car as I turned towards Jason.

"Alright big boy. You got what you want. Now drive me the ten minutes to my car." I walked past him as his blue eyes followed my irritated motions. I waited for him to unlock the door of his porche. I got in and closed the door buckling the belt as he got in the driving seat not even bothering with his belt. He looked out the rear view mirror as Shelly's car took off. This was not the Sunday I wanted at all.

"Now, explain yourself." He said not even turning the car on. Turning my head, looking at him with my amber eyes. My hair moving in my eyes as that blasted curl came into my view. He didn't even have the keys in the ignition. His arm on the door window folded to support his head. His other arm over the back of the seat I was sitting in as he looked, lazy eyed at me. I turned looking straight out the front windshield as I placed my elbow on the car door, my hand on my cheek as I listened to his breathing.

"You might have me here, in your car, but I don't have to explain anything to you."

"Picking up on Shelly's stubbornness huh." Even his voice was low and husky. I stayed looking forward as he looked over at me. I quickly calculated how long it would take me to walk to my car, for him to catch up to me or even get out of the car and come after me. Either way we weren't close as we were now if I got out and ran for it. I wasn't use to thinking things through I normally just had the guts to go do something, except when it came to Jason. He set every logical thinking, every way of my life into a whirl pool.

"You should be getting back to your ball and chain at home. She will see Mike come in wondering what had happened to you cause I can guess that he's going to help Shelly to her room. Besides, we both need to get up in the morning."

"We both know I don't get sleep."

"I try to and as I didn't get much last night I would like to get home."

"To a house you want to sell."

"To my home." I said looking over at him. "Like I said earlier what I do with that house is none of your business. It is all in my name, my responsibility if I choose to move on then that is what I am going to do."

"Then how are you going to afford another house?" I looked forward again not able to take that look in his blue eyes.

"I don't see that any of your business either. You sure have an odd way of being a fionse."

"Sitting in a car, talking to my sisters best friend that has lived with us since she was ten. There is nothing wrong with it."

"Your voice, your eyes." I looked back at him as the look was still there, cloudy and even more lazy. "The way your acting, your…." I screamed as the window next to me shattered.

"Candice!" I heard Jason as the man in the black mask stuck a gun at Jason right in front of me. The gloved hand right in front of me as Jason sat straight up. His hands up as the man looked from Jason to me. A grin on his face as now the door was opened, the seat belt cut with a knife as I gasped. The man gripped my arm, my purse falling in the car as he pulled me out. I heard Jason get out of the car as the man's arm came around my waist holding my arms to my side. The man moved away from the car as Jason slowly got out of the car looking at the man as now the man was laughing.

"I couldn't have picked a better person to rob." Jason's hands were next to his head, as he slowly walked around the car.

"Look, man. If it's me you want, money, I don't care. Just don't hurt her."

"You mean her." The gun went to my head as I felt the cold barrel against my temple. I swallowed, feeling the man tighten his grip around me. I closed my eyes, breathing heavily, hoping that Jason wouldn't do anything stupid just to save me. "Men in love are always the funniest to get what I want." The man laughed as I felt the gun move along my temple.

"I'll make a deal with you. Let the girl go, you walk away. If you don't, the police are on their way here. I can promise you first man to be put to death." He laughed again.

"Hmm… how about I take no money, not even your car and leave with this sweetie." I felt his tongue on my cheek as I moved away from him. He smelled of alcohol. Strong whiskey. I almost gagged at the smell of it on him. Jason's arms went next to him, his hands in fists as he caught my glance. The man started to back up the gun going back at Jason's direction. "Or I can just shoot you here. Wouldn't that be a great headline for tomorrows news. 'Our King shot dead in the middle of Fan Flick Theaters parking lot.' That would be great to add to my collection. In fact, the best." I saw his finger squeeze the trigger slowly. I stepped on the man's foot as the gun went off.

"Jason!" I exclaimed as the man stumbled back wards with me still in his arms. He had let me go and I felt the pain of the butt of the gun between my shoulder blades. I fell to the concrete ground not able to see what went on. The pain going through my body as I closed my eyes. I had to get up. I tried to sit up, the pain going through my head. I could hear police cars coming around the corner.

"Candice, stay there!" I heard Jason. I couldn't see straight as it was but the blurry blinking lights came into view. I did as Jason said and sat Indian style on the ground.

"Ms. Fairchild, are you alright." I heard someone next to me a hand on my back. I winced.

"I just… got hit with the butt of the gun between my shoulder blades."

"Do you need a medic?"

"No…" The police officer helped me to stand then I was in familiar arms. An arm around my waist, his front supporting my weight as I wasn't able to stand straight for the life of me.

"Sir?"

"I am fine." I heard Jason's voice above my head. "Make sure I get the man's name and family first thing in the morning. Fax it to the office."

"Yes sir." I felt his hand in my hair as I laid my cheek on his chest feeling the tears run down my face. I heard his heart beats and that only made me cry even harder. I gripped his shirt, crying into it as if I wasn't feeling his warmth at all. As if I was dreaming that he was alright.

"Jason!" I said hysterics taking over as I looked up at him. My face running with tears as I could see him clearly. My grip on his shirt tightened even more. "He was going to shoot you! I didn't want… I couldn't… I didn't want to loose you!" I exclaimed the tears streaming down my face now.

"Oh Candice…" He said his voice low. His lips came down on mine as I gasped in. I returned his kiss tightening my small grip on his shirt as he pulled me to him. His hand going into my hair as his other pulled me closer to him. My heart sped up just as it did last night. His scent driving me to change the kiss more passionately and he moaned. "Hmm…." He pulled away just when I felt he was going to trace my lips with his tongue. He didn't move as his hands were now on either side of my face. I looked at him, as the tears fell down my face. "Come on, you need to get home." I nodded as he grasped my hand taking me to one of the police officers. "Jim."

"Yes sir?"

"Candice needs to get her car from the restaurant. Please take her to get it, follow her home and make sure she gets in safe."

"Yes sir. Come on Ms Candice." I nodded not really seeing anything. The police man escorted me to his car, started it and drove off. "I wouldn't worry about a statement. I am sure Jason will take care of that." I nodded looking out the window. He came to my car and I got out of the passenger side of the police car. I was glad I had put my keys in my pockets. I pulled them out, got in and drove home. The police man followed me, waited for me to get in and drove off.