by A. V. Scott
“Is there a time when you’re not joking?”
“You’ll have to spend time with me and figure that out by yourself,” he said.
She thought about it. She could stay home like she had been all day and cry or she could spend time with a guy who easily makes her laugh. “Okay,” she said, finally giving in. “But it’s not a date,” she warned and then gave him her address. After they’d hung up she realized that she hadn’t asked him where he was taking her and that was very important. Without that information she wouldn’t know what to wear. So, she called him back.
“Hello,” a woman’s voice answered and Melissa quickly hung up the call. I guess I must’ve dialed the wrong number, she thought. She dialed the number that called her last, this time double checking for accuracy and once again a woman picked up the call.
What the hell? She thought. “Hi, I’m looking for Claude?” she asked, wondering who this woman was. He couldn’t have asked her out on a date while being already involved, right? Then she remembered that Jonathan proposed to Valerie while being engaged to her so it was very plausible. She became very angry and by the time he got on the phone, she was boiling hot. “I can’t believe you asked me out on a date while there’s a woman at your place!” She screamed.
“Who that?” He laughed, tauntingly. “Are you jealous?”
“This is not the time to be joking. What you did was disrespectful and you don’t deserve to breathe.”
“Oh really?” He asked, with a low chuckle. “Are you done?”
“Excuse me?”
“That woman is my mother,” he explained and instantly Melissa felt embarrassed.
“Fine,” she said. “Well, I need to know where we are going so I know what to wear.” She pounded her fist against her head unable to believe what just happened.
“You can wear whatever you like,” he said. “See you in an hour.”
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
An hour later, Melissa was sitting in the passenger side of Claude’s car, picking at the skin on her bottom lip. She was wondering when he was going to bring up the fact that he had seen her on television or ask her about Jonathan. She surely wasn’t going to volunteer the information.
“Are you nervous?” Claude asked.
“No,” she quickly put her hand on her lap. “Look, about earlier…”she paused.
“Oh, you’re not used to apologizing huh?” he said, grinning at her as he drove down Broadway.
“I do too. I’ve just never had to say it,” Melissa said. Thinking about it he was right. She couldn’t remember the last time she really apologized to someone. Then again, she’d never needed to.
Claude turned into a parking garage and valet the car, opening the door for Melissa like a true gentleman.
“Thank you,” she said.
He smiled, holding an umbrella over both their heads. They only walked for a minute when Melissa saw the awning to Phantom of the Opera. She sighed, remembering that Jonathan was supposed to have taken her there and never did. As she walked past she felt raindrops on her head and turned around. Claude had stopped walking and was holding the glass door open for her.
“Aren’t you coming?” He asked.
He didn’t know it, but at that very moment, she could’ve kissed him.
After Melissa stopped being upset that she hadn’t dressed up because Claude hadn’t told her where they were going, she let herself enjoy the show. And she cried, through the entire thing.
“That was beautiful,” Melissa said as they walked back to the parking garage.
“Yes it was. Can you believe I’ve seen it eleven times?” Claude said.
“Seriously?” She didn’t expect him to be the type of guy who liked Broadway shows let alone see one that often.
“Yup,” he said. “Hey, I know a really great place to have hot chocolate,” Claude said as they got back inside his car.
Seeing as she had had a good time so far, Melissa agreed to go. When they arrived at Max Brenner’s Melissa was speechless.
“I used to come here a lot as a kid,” she said as they sat down. Besides the menu, nothing had changed. It looked exactly like it she remembered.
“Yeah?” Claude said, looking up from the menu. “I come here at least twice a week. There’s something about their frozen hot chocolate that keeps me coming back.”
“There’s something about it that keeps me avoiding it,” Melissa said. “Like the calories.”
He looked at her, quizzically. “What do you have to worry about? You look great.”
She knew he was being nice but she blushed. Then again, was he just being nice or did he actually think she really did look great?
The waiter came over just in time to break up the sexual tension that was starting to heat up. “What can I getcha?”
“I’ll have the frozen hot chocolate,” Claude said.
Melissa laughed.
“What?” He asked, laughing. “I can’t help it.”
She nodded her head. “Everything looks so good,” she wasn’t sure what to choose until a picture of something very delicious caught her eye. “Can I have the Pearl Sugar Chocolate Waffle please?”
“Coming right up,” The waiter said and then walked away.
“That sounds delicious,” Claude said.
“Too bad. I don’t share,” Melissa said.
“Me either,” Claude said looking directly at her. She instantly blushed but when a couple seated next to her began pointing at her and whispering, she regained her self-control and looked at Claude.
“Can I ask you something?” Melissa said, in a low whisper.
“Shoot.”
“How come you haven’t asked about…you know?” She couldn’t even bring herself to say it out loud.
“Whether you’re a top or a bottom?” He said, tauntingly. “I didn’t think it was appropriate.”
Melissa gasped and threw her table napkin at him. “Rude!”
“You’re starting to scare me,” he said, holding the napkin in his hand. “I’m going to have to tie your hands together so you don’t throw stuff at me.”
“Well, if you don’t say things like that I won’t have to throw anything at you,” Melissa retorted. “And you know what I mean. I’ve been all over the news the last couple of days. I’m surprised the waiter didn’t ask for an autograph.” She stared at him, waiting for an answer.
“You would’ve told me eventually, when you were ready,” he said. Once again, he found a way to make her feel safe and comfortable. She didn’t really like that it was so easy for her to like him. But it was a nice feeling to have.
When they were done, he drove her back home, opening the door again for her and thanking her for going out with him.
“You don’t have to thank me because it wasn’t a date,” she said, smiling.
“Oh really?’ he said, walking her to the entrance of her apartment building.
“Yup,” she said.
“Then if it wasn’t a date you won’t mind if I do this,” he said, turning her around gently to face her and then he did it, he bent down and kissed her. It was a very soft and passionate kiss. Like the kiss Jake gave Molly Ringwald in sixteen candles, except she wasn’t sixteen, even if her heart was beating like one.
#
Melissa flung her purse on the antique foyer table and took off her shoes. As she let down the bun on her head, she replayed the last three hours in her head. She couldn’t believe so much had happened in only a matter of days.
Her lips still tingled from Claude’s kiss. She couldn’t believe she let him kiss her and that she kissed him back. Even after he admitted that he knew about Jonathan he didn’t stay away. She wasn’t sure if it was because he really liked her or maybe since she wasn’t emotionally available to him, he was taking advantage. Yeah, that was probably it, she thought. He knew that she was vulnerable right now and had probably planned to suck her in all along, only to spit her up when he was done with her.
&nb
sp; Men! She screamed in her head as she walked into her living room. She plopped down on the big taupe couch in her living room and for once this week was thankful that the television remote was close by. All she needed to do was extend her arm to reach it.
Click.
Nothing happened.
Click. Click.
She pressed the ON button a few more times.
Still nada.
Looked up on the wall where the Forty-two inch flat screen had been installed, she screamed so loud that she was sure the neighbors heard her. She couldn’t believe what she was looking at. It was an empty wall. The flat screen was gone. She quickly grabbed her cell phone.
“Angie! It’s gone!” She cried.
“What’s gone?” She could hear the sleep in her voice.
“Only the best invention made by man!”
“Someone stole your vibrator? That’s nasty.”
“Eww. No. My television. It’s gone.” She couldn’t believe it. How does a television just go missing? Her heart was hurting again. She spent all winter saving up for this television. It had a picture in picture feature so that she could watch two shows at once and even let her surf the web right from the comfort of her couch.
Jonathan never understood her fascination with this television. He rarely watched TV, saying it was a waste of time and would much rather spend his time on the computer watching the stock market. ‘If it doesn’t make me money I don’t want it.’ He’d say. That’s why he didn’t want to pay for it in any way. So, Melissa had to purchase it on her own.
“Are you sure?” Angie asked.
“Yes I’m sure. I’m looking right at the god damn wall! It’s gone!”
“Is there anything else missing? Are the burglars still in the house? Did you call the cops?” She threw so many questions at her that Melissa wasn’t sure which to answer first. She quickly crouched down on the living room rug. “I don’t know. You’re the first person I called,” She whispered.
“Mel, get out of there and call the cops!”
“Hold on,” she said.
“What? Is the burglar still there?”
Melissa couldn’t remember if the front door had been locked or not when she arrived at her apartment. She did use her keys but couldn’t recall hearing the lock unlock. So, she stood up slowly, inching her way toward the bedroom. The door was slightly ajar. She peeked in. It looked as if a level ten hurricane had made the bedroom its main target. The mattress was over turned and barely sitting on the box spring, all the contents from the dresser were on the floor, her shoes were thrown around and even her jewelry box had been emptied unto the floor.
“Wow.”
“What?” Angie asked again.
“They ransacked my bedroom!” She said, flopping down on the carpeted bedroom floor and taking it all in.
“Did they take anything else? Get out of there!” Angie pleaded.
“I’m going to have to call the cops.”
“Great idea. I’m already dressed and heading out to you as we speak.”
“Okay,” she said and hung up. Looking around, she began to feel overwhelmed with the thought of having to clean up the mess. Feeling depressed, she dialed 911 and explained to the operator what happened. She had never called 911 before. It was strange telling an unfamiliar voice on the other end of the line that she had been robbed.
“A police car is being dispatched and will arrive at the address you provided shortly,” The operator said.
“Okay. Thanks,” she said and hung up the call. She paced around the apartment until she heard a loud knock at the front door. Surprisingly, she didn’t have to wait long.
“Miss De La Rosa,” a husky voice beckoned from the other side of the door. “This is NYPD.”
Slowly, she made her way to the front door and verified it was indeed the police by looking through the peep hole. If they weren’t real cops, they surely had the best fake uniforms she had ever seen. She unlocked the door and peeked out.
“Miss De La Rosa, I’m Officer Barry and this is my partner officer Lehman,” The police officer to her motioned over to another police man square to his left. Then they both showed her their badges.
“Come in,” she said, stepping to the side.
“Did you see them leave?” Officer Barry asked as he made his way through the apartment, gun drawn.
“Them? No. How do you know it was them? When I got home there was no one here. Is that necessary?” She asked, referring to the guns.
“One can never be too careful Ma’am,” Officer Lehman said as he followed the first officer.
She locked the door behind them and wiggled the doorknob just to make sure it was indeed locked before joining them in the living room. When they were done confirming that there was no one in the apartment, more questions followed.
“What time was it when you left your apartment today?” Officer Lehman asked her.
“Eight-thirty in the morning. It’s the time I always leave to work.” Melissa said.
“And what time did you arrive home?” Officer Barry asked, taking out a notepad.
“A quarter after midnight.”
“Where were you?”
“Um, with a guy,” she was starting to get nervous. “It wasn’t a date. Even though he kissed me.” She smiled as she remembered how it felt to kiss him.
Both cops looked at each other.
“What was stolen?” Officer Barry asked.
Melissa pointed to the wall. “A seventy two inch flat screen.”
Both officers looked up at the wall. She could tell by the look on their faces that they felt for her loss.
“Anything else?” Officer Barry asked, jotting something again in the notepad.
“I - I don’t know. I haven’t really noticed,” Melissa looked around the apartment trying to see if anything else was missing. She really couldn’t tell with the size of the mess the burglars had left behind.
“Ms. De La Rosa, do you know anyone who would have a motive to do this?” Officer Lehman asked.
The back and forth questions were starting to make Melissa dizzy. What? Was he implying that she knew who did this? How dare him. “No. I don’t,” she said, cocking an attitude. Then she remembered about the guy who had been following her the day before today. “There was this guy.”
“What guy?”
“I don’t know. He was following me all day yesterday. I didn’t think anything of it at first because well, it’s New York and all. But, after a while, it felt creepy.” A cold chill ran down her spine.
“Most of these crimes are committed by someone close to the victim,” Officer Lehman stated looking at his partner as if they knew something she should know. A victim? The word felt dirty. She wasn’t a victim. Her apartment was the victim.
“Look, I don’t know who did this and I don’t know who was following me. Plus, it’s not like I was assaulted. Some destitute crack head that needed to get high stole my TV with the intentions on selling it. He’s probably already passed out in a crack induced coma in an alley somewhere,” she said screaming.
“We understand you’re frustration but are you sure you can’t think of anyone?” Officer Barry pressed.
“FREEZE,” Officer Lehman drew his gun and pointed it in the direction of the hallway. Melissa jumped off the couch and hid behind the Officer Barry.
“Unless you plan on using the handcuffs Officer, you can stop pointing that gun at me,” Angie said as she pranced into the apartment and seductively leaned against the door jam.
Melissa couldn’t have been happier to see her. And she was bearing gifts.
“It’s okay,” Melissa said quickly. “She’s a friend. The very best friend a girl could have.”
After they hugged, she handed Melissa a venti latte and a croissant and then sat down on the couch next to Melissa.
“Is there anyone else who has a key to your apartment?” Officer Barry asked, sounding irritated.
“No,” Melissa said and then she remembered
about Jonathan. “Well, my fiancé. Well, my ex-fiancé. We recently broke up.” The look on the officer’s face was upsetting. “But he would never do something like this,” she added quickly.
“You’d be surprised what people are capable of,” Officer Barry said.
“No. You don’t understand. Jonathan wouldn’t do this,” She said, defending him. She didn’t know why she was defending Jonathan. After all he had done to her she should be throwing him under the bus without a second thought. Heck, she should be driving the bus repeatedly over his body.
“Just to be safe, what’s his full name?” Officer Barry asked.
“Jonathan Henry. But I don’t see the point. He wouldn’t do this.” He doesn’t steal televisions, he steals money and cheats on his fiancé, she almost blurted. Come to think of it… what if Jonathan did do this? What if shit hit the fan and he had to steal the TV for money. Anything is possible. The universe has proven this fact time and time again. It was something that Melissa was starting to get used to.
“Oh, you’re the girl from the TV,” officer Lehman said.
Angie smiled, thinking that they were talking about her but then she realized that the officer still had his eyes on Melissa. “You were on TV and you didn’t tell me?”
“I wasn’t really on TV. It was more like a picture of me,” Melissa told her.
“When? Why?” Angie asked.
“Seems this young lady’s ex-fiancé is wanted by the FBI, CIA and IRS,” Officer Barry explained to Angie.
“Wow, I wouldn’t have thought Jonathan to be a big time thief,” Angie said.
“Yeah. He emptied out my bank account,” Melissa said, ripping open three sugar packets and pouring the contents into her coffee cup.
Whether it was lack of believing there was a real crime committed here or motivation to actually do his job, the officer began to focus his attention to Angie who was silently indulging in her mocha frappe.
“Where were you tonight between the hours of eight and midnight?” The officer asked Angie who was too delighted to see men in uniform.
“Me? Seriously?” Angie asked looking at her in disbelief that they were actually considering her as the burglar. Melissa shook her head and gave her a nod letting her know it was okay to answer. “Well officer if you must know, I was nursing a bangover all day. It wasn’t until Melissa called to tell me the horrible news that I actually regained any energy and then of course I rushed straight over.”
