The Zodiac of PRA V: The Finale

Chapter 34

Erin and Doug returned home after getting the call from Ted that they caught the kidnappers but Jessie was nowhere in sight. Closing the door, Erin sighed while watching Doug’s slumped shoulder lower “I’m sure she’s in a safe place.”

“What do they want with her?” Doug turned to her confused “They killed the Commissioner and probably took whatever it is that they wanted.”

“Maybe they didn’t get what they were looking for?” Erin assumed.

Sighing as Doug slumped further into the couch, suddenly his brows wrinkled and he began sniffing the air “Do you smell that?” Erin wrinkled her nose as she nodded “Beef stew! Jenna’s making dinner.” Popping from his seat, he rushed down the hall to the kitchen in time to see Jenna squeezing out of the door.

“Hi guys! You’re home early.” She greeted.

“Awww…that’s so cute, you’re trying to surprise me. But I could smell the stew all the way out here.” Doug ruffled her hair adoringly.

Erin smelled something else as she turned her head “Something’s burning in there.”

“No! Nothing… nothing’s burning.” Jenna stuttered as she crossed her arms, still refusing to move.

Doug narrowed his eyes suspiciously “It’s a candle smell!” he accused while pulling her to the side so he can go into the kitchen. He found Ryan holding onto two white candles ready to throw it out into the backyard “Freeze!” Doug ordered. He circled around Ryan like a criminal “Candles. Dinner for two…” he glanced briefly at the decorated table “Just as I thought. You’re dating!!” he pointed at them.

Erin laughed, “It’s nothing to be ashamed of.” She looked at Jenna’s blushing face while Ryan smiled weakly “How long has this been going on?”

“Yes and how come I wasn’t told?!” Doug asked hurtfully “I…I thought we were… family?” his lips shivered as he moved to the table and covered his face.

Jenna rushed over as she apologized “I’m sorry…we didn’t want anyone to judge us or make fun of us. I swear, you would be the first one we tell when it settles down.” She reached for his shoulder the same time he whipped his head over at her.

“I can forgive you. But…I …I don’t think I can right now. Please…just go away.” He turned to the steaming soup and picked up the spoon as he scooped it into his mouth.

“Hey! That is Ryan’s soup!” Jenna pointed to Doug while looking at Erin “Stop eating!”

Erin sighed with a shaking head “Doug…” she turned her head when the front door closed and she could hear laughing, “You guys handle this, I’m going outside.” She nodded to Ryan and pointed to Jenna, who was trying hard to yank Doug out of his chair.

“Hi Erin.” Carmen greeted with a wide grin.

Luke on the other hand let go of their clasped hands the minute Erin glanced down “Hey, we…we just eh…came back from the movies. Excuse me, I have to use the bathroom. You two can talk…but not about me!” he quickly added with a nervous laugh when Erin flicked a brow upwards.

The minute he was gone Carmen turned to Erin with a girlish giggle “I don’t want to sound high school but do you know if he likes me?”

“I think so.” Erin tilted her head “He doesn’t hold hands with all the girls he takes home.”

Carmen nodded “I don’t know why I’m so anxious about this. He told me he likes me but I just want to hear it from another person.” Erin smiled without responding “Are you sure it’s okay with you? I mean, this has to be weird no matter how comfortable you might say you are.”

Erin sighed internally but continued to keep a straight face “I promise you Carmen, I’m fine with it. I wish you two the best of luck. He’s a great guy, treat him well.”

Without warning, she reached out and hugged Erin catching her off guard “You don’t know how happy I am to hear you say that.”

“Hey, hey don’t get too comfortable.” Luke’s teasing voice interrupted Carmen’s emotional moment “Erin’s not really big on affection, she might accidentally punch you or something.”

Carmen laughed as she moved closer to hug him “She’s okay.” She winked knowingly “Anyways, Erin’s not violent unless you provoke her. Not that you ever can.” She joked, “You can’t even give a decent kick.”

Erin snickered “The last time he tried to do a kick, he knocked over that lamp that I made him replace the next day.” She pointed.

“I can too kick!” Luke challenged as he took a few steps back and kicked his foot in the air. His knees bent while he leaned onto the sofa for help “See…nothing to it.” He groaned in pain while falling to the ground laughing, “How do you guys do it?”

Shaking her head as she chuckled “You are so lame, how you got Carmen to like you is beside me Luke.” Erin gave the frozen girl a double take “Carmen? Is something wrong?”

Her face pale like a ghost as she pointed to Luke “You…you’re not Brad.” Head twitching as she denied it “It can’t be…”

Just then Doug, Jenna and Ryan emerged from the kitchen arms linked together “We’re okay now!” Jenna announced. They paused when they noticed Luke on the ground and Carmen’s hand shivering as she pointed to him.

Erin turned to Luke with widened eyes “Carmen, what are you talking about? Of course he’s Brad.” She motioned for Luke to get up.

Spinning her head at Erin, she looked horrified “He fooled you too?! He’s not Brad. I can prove it. During college, Brad and Ah Gam joined a track and field team doing the 100 meter race. There was this race that they were in together, maybe it was rigged or something but there were a few nails on the ground and Brad stepped on one that pushed into his heel. He had to have surgery leaving a big scar at the bottom of his right foot. This guy doesn’t have a scar!” she pointed her finger at Luke threateningly.

“Damn it, I owe Mia a hundred bucks!” Doug cursed to himself “Just another week…”

“Carmen, I can explain…” Luke began but was quickly denied when Carmen pushed his hand away “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to lie—”

“But you led me on to believe that you were Brad!” She reminded him.

“Carmen, calm down.” Erin coaxed “This is Luke, Brad’s twin brother. We ran into each other last year. He was kidnapped and adopted by this family in China when he was first born. I did a little research and found out the truth about his identity.”

Carmen backed away in total shock. She grabbed the back of the couch for support “Oh my God…I can’t believe this…So you knew about this?” she asked, Erin nodded guiltily.

“We didn’t!” Jenna exclaimed “Luke, shame on you!” she scolded.

“Where’s Brad? Does he know about his twin brother?” Carmen asked.

“Spiritually, he knows.” Jenna replied while making a sign of the cross.

Ryan nudged her as he shook his eyes “Stop.”

Luke sighed as he lowered his head in shame “He passed away over four years ago.”

“What?!” Carmen shook her head “I…I don’t believe it. He can’t be dead…no, it’s not true! You guys are lying again aren’t you?”

Erin was sympathetic “Carmen, I watched him being shot to death in front of me. He’s gone, I was in denial too but the truth of the matter is, he’s gone. I’m sorry that we lied to you but…”

“It was my idea, really. Don’t be mad at anyone else.” Luke said honestly.

Carmen snarled with disgust “You used your dead brother’s identity to pick up girls. Well, why in the world would I be mad at that? Actually, it’s quite romantic!!” Carmen snapped as she turned her heels and ran for the door.

“Carmen!” Luke was prepared to chase her when Erin stopped him.

“No…let her cool off.” She instructed.

“I warned you.” Jenna shook her head with a sigh.

Doug nodded in agreement “Yeah.” His eyes turned from Ryan to Jenna “I’m still hungry!” he got loose from their linked arms as he charged for the kitchen.

“Doug!!” Jenna groaned while Ryan laughed.

“I really screwed this up.” Luke buried his face into his hands “I should have told her from the beginning.”

Sighing, Erin smiled “Look on the bright side, at least you don’t have to worry about the sky falling on you.” Nodding to the stairs, she linked her arm around his “Come on kid, I want to show you something.”

Halfway up the stairs, Luke thought of something “You’re not going to make me hold my ears and kneel in front of my brother’s shrine again are you?”

“No!” Erin laughed, “That was just a joke, I thought you knew? It was Jenna’s idea.”

“Of course it was.” Luke said with suspicious eyes.

Taking him into her room, she crawled under the bed to pull out a plastic container “Brad use to write these inspirational sayings whenever he ran into a problem. Whether it dealt with the team, missions or just daily life with me. I kept them all for moments when I felt like strangling someone.”

“It’s usually the same person right?” he hinted.

“Look kid, I’ll chop your tongue out if you do that again.” She warned while digging out the notecards.

“Do what?” he asked innocently.

“Yes, that’s it, act dumb. Like I’ll know the difference.” Erin rolled her eyes. She pulled out the stack and showed it to him “Read them.”

Luke sighed tiredly and read out loud the first card “Life has many faces, when it shows you something you don’t want to see, punch it.” He tilted his head at Erin “How deep.”

“Keep reading.” She said impatiently.

“When a lie comes out, its like a long knife being pulled out of your heart. The truth is like a papercut. Quick and painless.” Luke raised his brows intrigued “Apparently, Dai Lou never had a papercut.” Erin sighed and he quickly laughed “Okay, here’s the next… Failing in love is like taking off a band-aid. With each yank, it is less painful.” Nodding briefly, he moved on to the next “It is emotionally draining to hate a person but to love a person is the most unconditional thing in the world.”

Erin smiled at the last saying “He never had a problem putting feelings into words, but he could never say what was on his mind when it came to me. Once in a while, he would show me these cards.”

“Such a shame.” Luke said sadly.

“Why?” Erin asked.

“Because if you would have showed me this sooner, I would have confessed to Carmen that very minute.” Luke shook his head.

Erin laughed “I’m sure she’ll laugh about it once she cools off.”

“Maybe ten years from now.” He exaggerated while rambling through her box “Hey, what’s this?”

Smiling with a distant look, she answered “His diary.”

“He had a diary?!” Luke was in shock “Wow, if I didn’t know better, I’d say he’s gay.” He turned to see Erin give him a look that could burn through walls “But you would know.” He laughed weakly “Let’s read it.” Trying to change the subject.

“No. That’s invading someone’s privacy.” Erin shook her head.

Luke placed a hand on her shoulder “Erin, I hate to break the news to you but he’s dead.” She lowered her head and he quickly felt bad for cracking the joke “I’m sorry…I keep doing that.”

“It’s okay.” Erin assured him “I guess, I always felt that if I read it, the memories would come rushing back to me and it would be harder to let go.”

“It’s dated 1995-1997.” Luke pointed out “Isn’t that the year when he was in college?” Erin nodded slowly “So read it. Think of it this way, those were the years that you didn’t know him. I hear it’s the most important time in a person’s life. It’s when you’re discovering who you really are.” He pressed.

“I think YOU want to read it more than I do.” Erin pointed out.

“Yeah! Read it!” Luke thrust it into her hands “Maybe it’ll say something about Carmen.”

“You are so sick.” Erin grumbled as she opened the black leather cover and read a few lines “December 15, 1995. I was shopping at the mall for Christmas presents for my two close friends when I saw Ah Gam shopping too. Nosy, I decided to follow him to see what he was buying me for Christmas. I followed him for a few blocks outside the mall and when I was about to scare him, a girl appeared. She gave him a piece of paper and he walked across the street. I continued to follow him, I didn’t expect him to…”

“What?” Luke asked when she faded away. She flipped through the pages and began reading it quietly to herself. Her eyes widening with each page “Erin…what does it say?”

“I have to go.” Erin left the open box as she took with her the diary. She felt a cold feeling wash over her as she raced out the door, not giving Jenna or Ryan a second look.

Chapter 35

Erin hopped in her car and sped down the street towards Devin’s home. Knocking on his door as she realized her heart was racing. Gripping on the diary as she knocked again and also pushed the doorbell. He appeared this time in a pair of jeans but no shirt, smiling as he tilted his head playfully “I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”

“Stop, we don’t have time.” She barged into the home and waited for him to close the door “Don’t you ever wear clothes?” she asked out of the blue.

“I have a guest over.” Devin crossed his arms covering his pecks.

“I don’t care. This is huge.” She emphasized and waved for him to come over “This is Brad’s diary back in college. I have never actually read it but Luke convinced me that it could have a connection to our secret assassin Ah Gam. Read this part.” Erin opened to the page she was reading and gave it to him.

Devin’s frown grew to confused “It sounds like…”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought too. Why do you think I came over here at this time of night?” He opened his mouth to say something but she quickly shut him out “No, don’t answer that.”

“Erin, if this is who we think this is…we have quite a dilemma.” Devin shook his head.

“Damn straight we do.” Erin nodded vigorously. She was pacing like a person with ten cups of coffee “What do we do? Do we point out the person to the team? I want to give everyone the benefit of the doubt but Brad’s diary clearly states the truth. We don’t know about the past…we don’t know if betrayal is the key.”

Devin was growing dizzy from following her paces “Erin, calm down.” He stopped her with his hands on her shoulder “Whatever happens, we’ll stay cautious around her. Does anyone else know?”

“No. The minute I found out, I drove to your house. I figured you would want to know.” She was calming down but her heart was still beating. His face was inches from hers and she could etch out every feature of his face.

When she turned away and wiggled out of his grasp, he looked at her strangely “What’s the matter.”

“Nothing.” She shook her head again and crossed her arms, a clear sign she didn’t want him to come near her.

He didn’t take the hint as he stepped closer “No, something is bothering you. What is it?”

Swallowing her pride, she found it hard to fight the feelings as she prepared to tell him “Well, you know that other night when I came over and…” her voice faded when he turned to the hallway with a short smile.

“Honey, what’s taking so long?” the same girl Erin saw the other night walk out wrapped in a sheet of blankets, obviously naked underneath.

“I’ll be right there.” Devin nodded her back to the room as she obediently obliged “What were you saying?” he asked Erin with a more intense look.

Chickening out, she shook her head “Nothing…I was going to apologize for the way I stormed out of here. It was very rude of me.”

“Oh.” Disappointed, he nodded “Well, it’s getting late. Do you need a ride back?”

“No, I drove.” She answered.

“Don’t tell anyone about this until I do some more research.” He advised. Erin nodded as she saw her self out “Drive safely!” he called before the door closed.

Erin closed her eyes as she scolded herself for weakening. He has a girlfriend, who was she to play the third person? Shaking the uncomfortable feeling off her shoulders, she left the building. She was going to her parked car when her stomach grumbled, realizing that she had not have dinner. Erin walked down the street to find an open cart, the streets were as busy as any morning day. The fresh smell of fish balls filled her senses as she bought two sticks. Thanking the old man, she walked slowly back to her car while enjoying the food. Knowing that her stomach would not settle on the street food but she was in no mood to care.

When walking by an alley, she was looking down that the sticks of fish balls when she noticed a shadow making it’s way closer to her. Suddenly an arm whipped towards her face as she bent back and dodged another kick in the face. Erin lost control of the fish balls, she watched it roll to the ground “I was hungry!” Anger fueling as she fought back at the attacker and kicked him down after a few moments. He ran towards the alley as she followed him cautiously. Seeing a figure leaning against the wall, she backed away.

“We must stop meeting like this.” He said while throwing the finished cigarette on the ground.

“What do you want?” Erin asked.

Ah Gam laughed, “Why do you always assume that I want something from you?”

“Right, because you already took what you wanted. What does Jessie have that you guys need?” Erin cut to the chase.

“No reason, Hung Gor wanted her to help him with his meditation. He heard hypnotism is great for the mind. It had nothing to do with the Commissioner if that’s what you’re thinking.” He explained.

“Why did you guys kill him?” Erin asked.

“A three legged dog is useless when it can’t run anymore. Eventually, you’ll have to shoot the bastard to take him out of his misery.” Ah Gam said nonchalantly. His eyes wandered to the book in her hands that she refused to let go of “What’s that?”

Erin held the diary close to her chest “None of your business.”

Narrowing his eyes, he recognized it vaguely “Brad’s diary?”

“What’s it to you?” Erin snapped.

“You know something…” he was talking more to himself.

Refusing to acknowledge the comment, she stepped back ready to leave “If you don’t have anything else to say, I’m going to leave.”

“Wait.” He stopped her “There is something else.” Erin turned to him “I promised Hung Gor that I would not leak out this information…but I can give you hints. If you figure it out, then so be it.” Smiling slyly as he thought of how to say it “The next target is someone in the team…someone that had done someone else on the team wrong. Now revenge is requested by that someone. Another someone that use to be on the wrong team is asked to perform an…act, you could say.”

Erin analyzed, her eyes moving from the ground to Ah Gam “You mean…”

“You figure it out.” He sighed, “Now, if you will excuse me…I have explosives to buy and guns to steal.” Laughing with his head thrown back, he walked down the alley leaving her confused.

************

Darren stared lovingly at his wife from across the table. The restaurant was dimly lit, only one candle that sat between them “It’s so nice to be alone. We have to do this more often.”

Mia giggled “You’re just saying that because of last night.”

“I must say I was a little surprised when you came home and gave me that…surprise.” He grinned mischievously “Who gave you the idea to do that?”

“Erin.” Mia said slyly as she played with his hand.

“Really?” he tilted his head “I could have sworn it was your idea.”

“Maybe it was?” Mia said playfully.

Reaching for her hand as he pulled it up to his lips and kissed it softly when a perky voice broke into their romantic moment “Mommy, I’m all done!” Bonnie exclaimed as she ran her short legs to their table.

Darren shrugged with a laugh “It was nice while it lasted.” Mia helped Bonnie onto her chair while he smoothed the top of her head “My little Bonbon is so smart, she can go to the restroom herself.”

“Are you sure it’s safe to let her go like that?” Mia leaned in closer “We could be watched.”

“We can’t live in fear, Mia. That’s the last thing I want to do.” Darren assured her.

Bonnie giggled as she pointed to her dad “Mommy says daddy is a scaredy cat.”

He raised his brows at Mia but smiled at Bonnie “Honey, mommy is crazy when she forgets to take her pills. Whatever she says about daddy, it’s not true okay?” he said sweetly.

“Okay but mommy says I’m not allowed to remember anything that daddy says about mommy.” Bonnie shrugged as she toyed with her food.

“We’re such great parents.” Mia said with a sarcastic smile “I’m surprised she hasn’t burn down the house yet.” She laughed while Bonnie’s eyes bulged out at her mother “Don’t do it!” Mia scolded suddenly.

Darren laughed “Paranoid aren’t we?”

“Just a tad.” Mia smiled wryly. Her eyes wandered away and caught something out of the ordinary “Why does this always happen when we go to dinner?” she cursed.

“What is it?” Darren looked up after she mumbled something he could not make out.

“Nothing. I’m going to the restroom.” Mia got up as she quickly walked towards the restroom. Turning her head, she realized it was clear to go when Darren was busy feeding Bonnie. She sidestepped towards the exit and followed the figure she recognized in the black trench coat.

It seemed like over twenty minutes before Mia finally returned. Darren looked at his watch a few times until he spotted her rushing to their table “I was about to call Ted for a search warrant.”

“Sorry. It must be the potatoes, you know how raw potatoes make me…you know.” She was breathing heavily while fanning herself “Is it hot in here?”

Darren was not buying it “Why are you out of breath? Sounds like you went for a jog or something.” She burst out a cackling laugh as he stopped his drink halfway and gave her another strange look “Are you sure, you’re okay?”

“Of course!” Mia exclaimed brightly while finishing her cup of water. After dinner, they headed to the waiting limo but Mia had something else on her mind “Hey, I just remembered. I promised Erin that I would drop by today…we…eh…we’re planning Reina’s bridal shower.”

He frowned “But their wedding isn’t until another six months? And it's almost ten thirty.”

“It’s never to early to plan.” Mia said with a wide grin “You two go home first, I’ll be done in an hour or so. I’ll take a cab.” She insisted.

“Okay…don’t be late.” Darren ushered Bonnie into the car while giving his wife a last glance. She was acting weird.

**********

Erin came home feeling unaccomplished, it happened each time she saw Ah Gam. The tugging in her heart seemed to grow but the gut instincts told her not to worry. Luke was up waiting for her, he had fallen asleep on the couch. She walked over and pushed at his head “Hey…kid.”

He looked up with fluttering eyes “Erin. You’re home. I was worried…” he covered a wide yawn.

“Go to sleep. I’m safe now.” She pulled him to his feet and walked with him up the stairs.

“Where did you go? I’ve never seen you so disheveled.” Luke said with concern.

“You don’t need to know.” Erin smiled “Last time I remembered, I was the big sis.”

“Could have been.” He corrected and quickly hit himself “Crap, I keep doing that. What is the matter with me?”

She giggled lightly “It’s okay. Someone has to make light of the situation for me. I can’t be sad forever.”

“I’ll join you.” He sighed “I called her ten times and left her ten voicemails with apologies and I even lowered myself to groveling but she hasn’t answered.”

“I wonder why.” Erin snickered “Just let the situation cool down. I’m sure she’ll be able to forgive you one day. Maybe on her death bed…” she couldn’t help but add.

He pouted when he reached his bedroom “Well, I can’t think about it anymore. I’m tired.”

Suddenly, Doug’s room opened. He was dressed and ready to leave “Bye guys, I’m meeting a friend. I’ll be back, don’t wait up.”

Erin’s brows wrinkled while Luke thought out loud “At this time of night? Must be a girl.” He turned to Erin with a sleepy smile “Night.”

“Night.” Erin said unconsciously as she returned to her room.

Chapter 36

The following morning, the team was called in for a meeting by Devin “Change of plans team. Time Square on Sunday, we’re splitting up.”

Matt turned to him oddly “But I thought we decided--”

“I’m calling it off.” Devin cut him off “We’ll partner up in groups of two. Mia and Erin, you two will be in the mall, search the floors for anything or anyone out of the ordinary. Matt and Jenna, I want you two in the streets, cover a block radius around the mall. Doug and Ryan will be outside the mall, there is a little coffee shop there, consider that your hideout. Reina, I and Carmen will stay inside the van and make sure everything is in order. Darren, I want to hang around the roof of the building across the street from Time Square. Set up a sniper gun just in case you notice that we need help.”

“But Devin, I should be out with the rest. I am the Captain. Couldn’t I stay with Erin and Mia?” Reina tried.

He shook his head firmly “No. This is the plan until further notice.” Devin looked around the curious faces “I don’t want to bring more attention on us. We won’t meet until Sunday morning at 7am sharp in this building.” He turned to Mia with a finger pointed, “I don’t want to hear complaints.”

“I wasn’t going to say anything.” She turned away with a sarcastic look but turned to Erin with widened eyes, surprised at how he knew she was going to say something.

“Meet at the weapons room and get your vests fitted. We’re walking into a trap but it takes a brave team to enter the lion’s cave. But we won’t get eaten, right?!”

Mia wrinkled her brows “What?” the rest stifled laughs.

“That’s all for today. Everyone try not to get kidnapped.” Devin cracked, he chuckled but no one else thought it was funny “Sorry. I forgot about Jessie.” Clearing his throat “Meeting adjourned.” He was ready to leave when he pointed at Carmen “I need to talk to you about something.”

“Okay.” She nodded while looking around the table and followed him out.

The minute they were out of the room, Mia leaned into Erin “I think they’re going to do it in his office. Did you see the way he was giving her suggestive smiles?”

The group groaned while Erin rolled her eyes “You are always the last to know.”

“What? What happened? What did I miss now?” Mia was upset that she wasn’t told.

Jenna sighed, “My uncle has a girlfriend.”

“He cheated on you?” she spun around to Erin looking appalled “What a pig!”

“Mia, we’re not dating.” Erin said without feeling.

Turning to Doug, she pointed while he tried hard not to explode with laughter “You lied!!!”

“Doug!” Erin frowned with a shaking head.

“Ah, the life of an agent. Gossip, lies and…Mia.” Matt cracked making the group laugh.

They moved out of the room when Erin turned to Darren, who had been less than talkative the entire time “Anything wrong?”

Shaking his head, he smiled “No, just a little tired from last night.”

“Mia kept you up again?” Erin asked with a knowing grin.

“No. I don’t sleep well without her next to me.” he frowned and turned to find his wife talking to Matt and Reina “Didn’t you two stay up late last night planning Reina’s bridal shower?”

Shaking her head, she answered, “If we did, it must be in her dream. Are you sure?”

“She insisted on it. It was really weird, we were having dinner at Monet’s last night and suddenly she gets up to go to the bathroom for almost half an hour. I figured she had a stomach ache or maybe there was a long line for the restroom? She was completely out of breath by the time she came back and was jittery, it only happens when she’s caught in a lie. Before we left for home, she suddenly remembers that she was to meet with you.”

“You don’t think…” Erin couldn’t get herself to say it.

Darren sighed, “I hope not but she’s been very strange lately. A little moody and snappy if I must add. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was having an affair.”

Erin spun around to make sure Mia wasn’t within ear distance as she pulled him further away “Darren, that is a big accusation. Don’t worry yourself without raw evidence.”

“I know.” He nodded “I won’t. But she obviously lied. She didn’t come home until almost midnight. What am I suppose to think?”

“Midnight?” Erin asked, brows furrowed.

“What?” he questioned.

Shaking her head, she answered “Nothing. I was just wondering where she could have gone.” He nodded slowly and she felt empathetic “Don’t worry too much. I’m sure she’s not, she loves you more than life itself.”

“Things change…feelings change.” Darren sighed sadly, already defeated in his own mind.

Glancing at her watch as was ready to head out “I have to go.” He nodded. Erin took a cab to the little restaurant overlooking the beach, where Mia took her too a few months back. Waiting to see if he would come like he normally did. She ordered breakfast and ate slowly but still no sign of him. After having lunch by herself, she realized that maybe he would not come that day. When she paid the bill and was ready to leave, she saw him walking with his pants pulled up and his shoes in his hand, walking along the sand.

It had been going on for months that she had come to watch him. He did nothing the whole day, only watch the waves crash until sunset and he was off again. Going home, she assumed. For some reason that day, she decided to approach him. Walking quietly against the sand, she stood a few feet behind, having second thoughts she decided to leave when his voice stopped her “I was wondering when you would approach me.”

Erin turned with a simple smile “You saw me?”

“Every week.” Devin’s smile was different, he was not his usual smug self. She wondered what the beach had to do with his change of tone “What are you thinking?”

“Wondering what you are thinking.” She said honestly.

Sighing as he took a seat on the sand, not afraid it would dirty his slacks. Pointing to the seat next to him, he invited her with a pat “Strange isn’t it?”

“What?” she seated herself, careful not to sit too close.

“How different I am when I’m out here.” Devin read her mind.

Erin turned away with a small smile “You took the words right out of my mouth.” He chuckled softly to himself and continued to stare out at the beach “So, what’s your story?”

“Story?” he turned to her curiously.

“Sure, everyone has a story. I come out to the beach when something is bothering me. It’s my escape from pain, but for the past few years I found it hard to face the beach.” She looked down at the sand and picked up a pebble as she tossed it in her hand “It reminds me of him too much.”

Devin leaned back against the sand with his hand under his head “We are so different, but are similar when it comes to one thing.”

“What?” she turned to look down at him.

“Love.” He said simply.

“You come here to think about a love that you lost?” she asked.

He smiled in reply “You could say that. Although I find the sound of the waves very relaxing and it calms me.”

“Does your girlfriend know that you come here?” she spun her legs to the side to look at him easier.

“She’s not my girlfriend.” He said simply. Erin turned away, frustration building up slowly “I love it when you get angry, has anyone told you that you look even more beautiful with your nose flared like that?”

Realizing that he was teasing her, she cooled down “Why do you taunt me?”

“Because it’s fun.” He shrugged lightly “It’s my nature. But I must tell you that I have never enjoyed teasing anyone more than when I make you squirm.”

“I feel so special.” She said with a roll of the eyes. Glancing at her watch, she noticed it was dinner time “Anyways, if you don’t want to share your story, there’s no use in me staying.”

“Please…” he pulled her by the hand down to the sand “stay. It gets lonely.”

It was the first time she felt his sincerity through his eyes “Okay.” She hesitantly agreed, afraid to show him her weak side. But in truth, she wanted to stay. From that moment on, they did not say a single word to each other. Just sitting on the sand, enjoying each other’s company while they watched the sun setting ever so slowly.

*************

She returned home feeling like she had been floating on air the whole day. Jenna and Ryan were pacing the floors nervously “Erin! There you are!” Jenna exclaimed while tapping her watch “Do you know what time it is young lady? At least call home for dinner instead of worrying us like—” suddenly her eyes bulged out “Oh my God, I sound like Joe!” groaning painfully as she dug herself into the corner of the couch.

Ryan laughed at her gesture “We were just a little concerned.”

“Sorry guys, I didn’t bring my cell phone with me.” Erin apologized as she walked by him.

“Ga Jei, why do you smell like fish?” he wrinkled his nose strangely.

“What?” Jenna looked up “Fish? Did you go shopping for food without me again? I told you, the most fresh fish comes from Cheung Suk.” She looked down at Erin’s hands “Where’s the fish?”

Erin shook her head “I didn’t buy any.”

She turned her head to Doug rushing down the stairs, wearing a jacket “Bye kids, don’t wait up.”

“Where are YOU going?” Jenna asked tiredly.

“To see a friend.” Doug said simply and left the house without another word.

“I can’t keep up.” Jenna threw her hands up in defeat.

Erin was staring at the door for a few seconds until she decided to follow him “I forgot that I had to run …an errand.” She explained.

“Oh no! You’re not leaving us. I’m going with you!” Jenna declared “And Ryan is going too!” She added.

“I can speak for myself.” Ryan said and turned to Erin “I’m going too.”

“Fine, but we do not speak to anyone about tonight, not even each other.” Erin warned.

Jenna bounced up and down “Goodie! A secret! I haven’t had that in a long time!!”

“Honey, you need to get out more.” Ryan said sadly.

“Aww, you called me honey.” Jenna hugged him on the waist with a giggle.

“You guys want to be alone?” Erin asked as she opened the door and saw Doug’s yellow car pulling away “He’s getting away.”

“We’re following Doug?” Ryan asked.

Jenna sighed as she tugged him along “You have a lot to learn.” The three climbed into Erin’s car and drove off after Doug.

SIUBINGLIBRARY 2004