(9)

"No luck today either.", Jenice said. 
"Yeah, I don't think he's on foot today.", Al replied. 
"Yeah, otherwise we'd seen him already." 
They started to clean up their stuff. And put them away in their big bags. 
"Want to hang out somewhat longer?" 
"I don't know, the serial killer is still on the lose." 
"What are you worried about? I am still with you and I am not even a girl. Or am I?" 
"No, you're not!", Jenice chuckled. 
"Well thank god! Otherwise there was something wrong with me!", Al laughed. 
Jenice grinned. She found it very uncomfortable to hang out with Al since of late. Because of what happened when they were drunk and she still hadn't figured out her feelings for him. That's why they didn't walk hand in hand or anything. Eventually she just agreed to her friend to hang out with him. 
"This time no booze.", she grinned. 
Al laughed with this joke, even though she did mean it. He knew she meant it and he wouldn't want to repeat those events either. If there would be another time coming, he'd do it the right way. He loved her too much, to hurt her like that again.  
"Let's go somewhere else too.", he said. He didn't want to go to that squat anymore. The memories which they had of that place would hunt them. This wouldn't be fun for them both. Jenice immediately agreed to that. Al thought deeply for a moment and then decided to ask her. 
"Maybe we should go to my place?" 
Jenice flinched at this for a moment. She thought for a second but agreed to the proposition. Al spotted the doubt in her posture and he understood why. They went to his house anyway, where he motioned almost instantly that she could take place on the couch. She sat down on the black leather couch and from the kitchen he shouted: "Do you want something to drink?" 
"Water would be fine.", she yelled back. 
He came out of the kitchen with a glass of water for her and a bottle of beer for himself. He smiled at her.  
"What shall we do now?" 
"I don't know! Hey, wait, you take me to your place even though you have no idea what to do?" 
"Kind of, yes." 
She sighed and shook her head. She looked around his house. It wasn't too shabby, like their own house. No house would be nice in these parts of the city. Her eyes fell on him and she saw he was staring at the table, but nothing was there on the spot he was staring at. He was feeling a bit uncomfortable, she noticed, she was too herself. She was sad that it had come to this. They had been such good friends. And one situation was going to mess it all up. Would she let that happen? Would he let that happen? She sighed softy and laid her head against his shoulder. He was surprised by this and even blushed a bit for a little while. 
"What are we going to do, Al? Will we keep up? Will we mess up? What is it that we want? Are we together or are we not? Is it love or loneliness? What is it?" 
Al felt a bit startled by these words and all the questions fired at him, as he hadn't thought of it like this. He went with his hand through her hair. 
"Jenice, I really do love you. I actually was in love with you for a very long time. But I was too afraid. I knew you weren't in love with me and you are protect property of another gang. What was I supposed to do? I am glad John didn't threaten to murder me at all. I am also surprised by that." His hand stroked her hair and neck. "Besides I was too scared to get turned down. And well as a gang member I am used to girls chasing me not the other way around, you know? Jenice, if you feel that I don't do this out of real love for you or real dedication, I will back off. Really, I don't want to force you, nor do I want you to feel forced. Just know that I do love you sincerely." 
This made her blush. She never knew he really felt like this about her. Normally she could read people like a book, why couldn't she see this coming? Had she been blinded by her admiration for John? Or was she just oblivious to these kind of emotions? Or maybe she didn't want to know and just blocked the thought out? She wouldn't know, but all these questions kept being repeated in her mind. She took his hand and put his arm around herself.  
"I love you too.", she said with a blushing face looking straight at him. He felt himself getting filled with joy and kissed her passionately. She caressed his face.  
"I will not hurt you.", Al promised. And she smiled in return.

When the evening began to fall Jenice had to tell Al to bring her home. 
"Is it that late already?", Al pouted. 
"Yes, now take me home. There's a serial killer on the loose, remember?" 
"Yeah, I know. Let's go." 
Al drove her home in his car. They could talk about bits and things all day long and make jokes and laugh together every time again. Even in the car they could keep talking after being a full day together. Jenice loved such days full of fun. But everything is going to change, now that they have expanded their relationship. She feels the change in the air, in his aura, in her soul. It was everywhere and it made her scared. But this she didn't want to tell Al. She didn't want to make him worry about anything that has to do with their relationship. He pulled over. 
"And here we are." 
Jenice nodded and got out. 
"See you tomorrow." 
"Yep, until tomorrow.', she replied and watched him drove off. 
She sighed and started walking towards the house, which was a few meters further. She opened the tiny gate. But the sound of a car caught her of guard and she wanted to see who'd drive into this street. The car was one that was unknown to her. She ran her hand through her short hair. And watched the car until it left the street. Then she entered the house to find only her sister and John. 
"Jenice! Have you eaten already?", Alice asked directly. 
"Yes, but not enough to call it a meal." 
Alice went to fetch a dish and warmed up some food for her sister. 
"Where have you been?" 
"I was at Al's place. We had no luck finding Arnold or any other suspicious person.", she said turning her head to John. 
"Arnold was driving around, so you probably wouldn't have seen him on the regular places." 
"I don't even know what kind of car he has." 
"You should ask Alice, but I don't think she knows anything about cars and certainly won't tell differences from other cars in the same colour." 
"Yes, that is completely true.", Jenice sighed.  
Alice came in with a dish and cutlery for her sister. She placed it on the table.  
"Your dinner is served.", she smiled. 
"Thank you." 
Jenice took a chair and sat down, devouring her meal that her sister had made. Alice looked up to John in confusing as Jenice acted out of character. But John just shook his head lightly, because he didn't had any answers either. He patted her head to reassure her. But deep down he was worried too.