Making memories in unlikely places

 

Truly, it was the last thing Stevie expected. What was J doing?

"What the hell are you doing here!" He lashed out at Liam. Of course, Carrie's co-worker said nothing, but looked down as if he was being just a bit coy after all. His voice was low as he spoke to J.

Stevie winced as if this couldn't possibly be happening. Not now. Not when the hot food was on the table. They needed to be sitting together and eating and find joy in the chill of the October night. Instead, J was pushing Liam toward the door. They needed to talk outside.

"What's this about?" Holly looked to Stevie as if he needed to stop this. Right now. "Is J not on the up and up with you?"

Of course, she had her way of bringing him down as if his relationship was solid enough with J. He pressed his lips tight. J had never mentioned anything about Liam. He shook his head, no.

"Are you going to just stand there!" Now she sounded like his Aunt who was always making him feel inadequate.

"They have something to discuss." Stevie knew to keep his cool. "Let's just sit down and eat."

"Why?" Holly swelled a frown but sat down to her place at the dining table and crossed her arms. Of course, a moment later she was already dishing out some steaming mashed potatoes. Carrie and Stevie sat quietly.

"I didn't even know J knew Liam," Stevie could barely say over a whisper as he looked at Carrie who only nodded.

Naturally, nothing was stopping Holly from having a good meal. She put the stew on top of her potatoes. 

"Well, come on yall," She looked at both of them. Still, Stevie wasn't hungry. He wanted to know what those two were talking about.

"When did you stop being Tobey?" J wanted to know. Of course, he didn't ask the question until he hit him in the eye and then gave him a sucker punch that led Tobey almost to the ground.

Tobey on winced. "I know I deserve that." He just didn't know if he could say enough to explain the whole ordeal to him. He cried in pain.

"I guess I thought I could just see it through," He felt he was about to cave. J was a lot stronger than he thought he would be. But then again, J was taller. "I kind of got in a fix." He sighed.

"Oh really?" J took a step back and looked Tobey over in the streetlight. 

"We..we were going to take over..something."

"Something?" J looked at him a bit bug-eyed.

"Really, it had nothing to do with you." Tobey nodded. "I guess we..we weren't that good at drug dealing after all."

J almost laughed at him. "Who's we?" J wanted to know.

"Devon, Carrie's brother."

"Does she know?"

Tobey sighed and shook his head, no. That's when he told him they'd kidnapped Devon.

"You better let the cops handle this," J told him. Of course, Tobey was certain it would be Devon's doom.