~*~ Bed of Lies ~*~
Promptly at five, AJ pulled into the parking lot. He looked at his watch then looked around for Andi. Spotting her coming from the library, he took a deep breath and looked at his hands. He had to get them under control before she saw him. He knew she was nervous enough about telling her grandfather. No sense letting her know he was too.
As she approached the car, AJ jumped out so that he could open her door. He greeted her with a kiss, "Hey, beautiful."
"Hey you! No disguise today?"
"And no flowers. One day and you’re already slipping," teased Tabitha.
AJ laughed, "Think she’ll forgive me?"
"Probably," sighed Tabitha as she watched Andi wrap her arms around AJ’s waist.
"How were classes?"
"Pretty cool," said Andi cheerfully.
"Boring," yawned Tabitha.
"Well, if you’d paid attention the FIRST time, you wouldn’t have to sit through it again," scolded Andi.
"Hey! I can’t help it if I was in lust that semester," said Tabitha defensively.
"In lust?" AJ’s eyebrows cocked in curiosity.
"That was the semester she discovered a certain blonde by the name of Nick."
"Ah!" laughed AJ as Tabitha blushed.
"So what are you two doing tonight?" asked Tabitha attempting to get the attention off her.
"Meeting Andi’s grandfather."
"Yikes! I’m glad I’m NOT you. Isn’t it a little quick though?"
"I want to beat Seth to the punch," sighed Andi resting her head on AJ’s shoulder. "I don’t want Grandfather to think I’m hiding something."
"So, this must be ‘Lover Boy’," came a voice from behind them. "Not exactly your type, Andrea."
"What are you doing here?" Andi’s voice revealed the fury that flashed through her.
"Came to get you. Your grandfather is waiting to talk to you. Let’s go," said Seth confidant that Andi would do as he said.
"Andi’s not going anywhere with you," said AJ holding on to her. "Who the hell are you?"
"AJ, this is Seth. Seth…AJ McLean."
It didn’t escape his attention, or Seth’s, that Andi had introduced him as AJ. Seth now said, "Is that suppose to impress me that you’re with some wanna be pop star? He looks like a freakin’ drug dealer to me."
"You should know," mumbled Tabitha.
"Let me guess, you’ve already talked to Grandfather," said Andi.
Seth gave her a malicious grin, "He’s willing to overlook your sluttish ways thanks to me…AND if you move the wedding up."
"MY sluttish ways? Oh just lovely," said Andi sarcastically. "What exactly did you tell him?"
"Nothing that wasn’t the truth…how you’ve slept with all my friends and now a complete stranger.."
"BASTARD!" seethed Andi as she pulled away from AJ to slap Seth. "You KNOW full well it was YOUR idea."
"MY idea? Andi, you’re delusional. What kind of drugs has AJ been giving you? This isn’t going to look good for you."
Andi was getting angrier with each breath Seth took and AJ could see her body shaking. This was not a good sign for them and he wasn’t sure what to do.
"Andi, calm down," said AJ putting his hand on her. "Come with me so we can talk." AJ led her away from Seth and Tabitha and took her in his arms. "Calm down, baby," he coaxed.
"He’s lying, Alex. He’s already talked to Grandfather and turned it all around and told him lies," raved Andi.
"Shh, you can tell him the truth."
"You don’t get it, Alex. Grandfather wants Seth to be the next chief…he’s gonna trust every word he says."
"He’s gonna take his word over yours?"
"YES! Alex, I can’t lose you…not now."
"You aren’t going to lose me, baby. I made you a promise and I’m going to stick to it…no matter what. This will all work out for us."
"There are NO guarantees, Alex. Everything I was going to use against Seth, he’s already turned around and is using against me." Her fury was now desperation and tears stung her eyes. "I have to face him."
"We’ll do it together."
"No, Alex. I need to do this on my own now," said Andi. "I’ll go with Seth now."
"Are you sure? I don’t want him to hurt you."
"He’s not gonna hurt me. Call me later?"
"How about you call me?" suggested AJ pulling out his cell phone. "Take this and all you have to do is push 3. That’s the house. I’ll stay close to the phone until I hear from you."
"Thank you, Alex."
"Andi, it’s going to be okay. Your grandfather will listen to you and he’ll see your side."
"I hope you’re right."
"You’ll see. What’s your schedule for tomorrow?"
"I have a class at 8, 10, and 2 with a two and a half hours for lunch."
"How about I meet you for lunch?"
"Aren’t you busy?"
"Not for lunch. How about I get us something and we’ll meet here? Then I can take you wherever you want to go?"
"I’d love that."
"Go on then and call me when you can." Andi started to leave but AJ caught her. "WHOA! Aren’t you forgetting something?"
Andi looked at him. "No, I don’t think so."
AJ pulled her back to him. "WOMAN! You’d BETTER give me a kiss."
Andi laughed and stepped back into his waiting arms. Standing on her toes, she held his sides for balance and placed a sweet kiss on his lips. Whispering against his lips, "I love you, Alex."
AJ felt his heart flutter and wrapped his arms around her. "I love you too. Please, be careful."
"I will be."
AJ walked with her back to where Seth and Tabitha were waiting and Seth gave a triumphant sneer to AJ.
"I knew she’d come to her senses, McLean. Hope you enjoyed it while you had it because that kiss was the last you’ll EVER have of my woman."
"Oh shut up, Seth! I am not some piece of meat that you can beat your chest over and claim as yours," glowered Andi. "Tabitha, I’ll call you later."
AJ kissed her again and watched as she followed Seth to his car. She looked back at him on final time before getting into the car and he saw the fear in her eyes.
As Seth pulled away, Tabitha looked at AJ, "I can NOT believe you just let her get in that car and leave you like that!"
"She wanted to do this alone. Seth’s already done enough damage. She’ll talk to her grandfather and hopefully things will work out."
"I sure hope so for both of y’all’s sake."
"You said something under your breath, when Seth said I looked like a drug dealer. What was it?"
"I said ‘He should know’."
"What did you mean?"
"I have heard that Seth is dealing but I’ve never actually seen it."
"Does Andi know?"
"I don’t think so. She would tell her grandfather if she did."
"Why?"
"One of the things about the tribe is they do follow the laws….what’s against the law in society is also against tribal law. Seth would be in serious trouble if the tribal leaders found out."
"What would they do?"
"Turn him over to the cops."
"You need to find out…for sure," said AJ turning to look Tabitha straight in the eye. "Andi may need this."
"I’ll do what I can but Seth will get suspicious if I try to score with him."
"Figure something out and let me know."
"How?"
AJ grabbed her notebook out of her hand and reached into his car to grab a pen. Scribbling a number quickly, he handed it back to her. "This is my number at home. Call me if you find out something."
"I don’t suppose you could scribble Nick’s number too, could you?"
"Tell you what. You find out for sure and I’ll hook you two up. How’s that?"
"Cool!"
"I can’t lose her, Tabitha."
"I promise, I’ll do what I can to help you. Andi loves you…not Seth."
"I’ll see you later. I need to be at home when she calls me."
"I’ll see you later, AJ."
Tabitha watched as AJ got in his own car and followed Seth’s car out of the
parking lot. She shook her head and headed to her own car. Hopefully, this would
all work out for Andi and AJ in the end.
