Chp 18
~Chapter 18~
After a few more minutes, AJ pulled himself together and left the grave yard. He felt somewhat better knowing that his father did indeed care about him and that he felt remorse about his absence from AJ's life. The streets were fairly quiet and the usually warm Florida breezes had a certain face-biting cold to it. Maybe it was just because he was feeling like crap emotionally. He continued to aimlessly wander the streets until an unfamiliar voice called out…
"Hey, Desmondontidae!"
AJ turned around and came face to face with a tall and angry-looking man, who looked to be about his own age.
"Do I know you?" he asked puzzled.
"No, but you definitely know my sister Antonia."
"John?"
"Yes."
They stood there staring at each other like in those old westerns. John broke the deadly silence with a grunt.
"Where is she?"
"If she wanted you to know, she would have told you."
He grabbed AJ roughly by the collar and practically lifted him off the ground.
"Don't get smart with me! Tell me where my sister is!"
AJ knew better than to challenge John. He was considerably bigger than him both muscle-wise and in height. AJ didn't say a word.
"John! Let him go!"
They both turned to see a very unhappy Toni with fire in her eyes. "Let him go now!" John loosened his grip and stepped towards Toni. She backed away.
"Don't touch me!" Then, she ran to AJ's side. "Are you ok?" she asked concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Good. John, what did you think you were doing?! Why are you here?!"
"I've come to bring you back home. Come on, let's go. We can still make it by sunrise." He tried to grab her arm, but she moved it away from his grasp.
"I'm not going anywhere!"
"Toni, don't argue with me! You're going home now!"
"You can't tell me what to do! I'm not a little girl!"
"Listen---"
"No, you listen! All my life you've told me what I should or shouldn't do and I'm sick of it! It's my life! I do what I want to do with it and I want to stay here with AJ!"
"Why?! Why are you risking your life for him?! A total stranger! When you could be home with us, your friends and family, safe and away from harm!"
"Because! Because…" she tried to think of an honest and inarguable reason. "Because…"
"Toni, he's right," replied AJ sadly. "All I'm doing is putting you in danger. You have no reason to be here. Go home."
"AJ, no…"
"You heard him, Toni. You have no business being here."
Toni felt a stream of emotion rush throughout her body and that's when she knew the answer.
"Yes, I do! I have a very good reason to be here! I'm staying! I'm staying because, because…because I love him!"
The two men stared at her in disbelief and surprise.
"You do?!" they both asked in unison.
"Yes," she answered calmly then looked at AJ. "I do." She knew her brother couldn't say anything to her. Although, he seemed like a brute, he was really a hopeless romantic at heart. He believed the only one true reason to do anything that seemed crazy or unreasonable is because of love.
"Toni, are you sure?" John asked her softening up.
"Yes, I am. I love AJ and I'm going to stick by him, even if it kills me, and there's nothing you can do about it. Satisfied? Now go home."
He scrutinized her eyes closely. He knew she meant it.
"Good bye, Toni," he said softly. "I love you, sis, and I always will."
Toni smiled and hugged him. "I love you, too, bro. Bye. I'll see you soon, ok?"
He nodded and started walking away. But then, he turned around and looked straight at AJ, who was still in shock.
"Take care of her. You're a lucky man. Goodbye, AJ."
That was the first time he called him by his name.
"Yeah, bye," he replied still stunned. John disappeared into the darkness.
"He'll be ok. He's a big boy," said Toni smiling. She started walking away. AJ caught up with her.
"Toni, I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything."
"But…"
"Come on. If you're done sulking, let's go home."
They walked side by side, not looking at each other and not saying a word. They were almost at his house, when suddenly…
"Toni, I love you, too."
She stopped dead in her tracks. "You do?" she asked looking deeply into his eyes. He stepped closer to her and gently removed a red lock from her eyes.
"I do."
Their lips met, and finally they succeeded in indulging in a long and passionate kiss. A kiss they wanted for so long that served as a sure sign that their friendship had blossomed into something more.
Chp 19
Chp 17
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