Page 1 of Frenemies

Two months ago:

A new pairof Christian Louis Vuitton’s were painfully beautiful. And I meant painful. The first few steps sent hot dagger slicing up your calves as the carefully crafted material dug into your heels and toes.

There was no ache worse than the one brought on by the perfect pair of stiletto heels, but it was all worth it because nothing on God’s green earth looked better than those shoes.

As I stormed through the hospital, listening to my Christian Louis Vuitton’s click, I couldn’t help but think of Chase. He was a lot like those shoes. Pretty to look at but painful to step into.

I’d never met someone so stubborn in my life. Every time I thought that man was letting me in, Chase would shove me back out. Did that mean I’d stop? Hell no.

Chase Mathers’ broken soul was nothing compared to those crazy Black Friday shoppers. That was a nightmare. Why I let Ava drag me with her, I’ll never know.

One thing was for sure. If I could survive them, then I could sure as hell survive him. I’d follow him right into the depths of hell and stab the devil with my brand new red pumps if that’s what it took.

I stepped outside and put on my sunglasses. The pinkish/orange hue of the setting sun was pretty but did it have to shine in my face?

I suppose it was more flattering than the lighting at last year's yearbook photos, and it was easier on the eyes than some of the outfits these people were wearing. I got that it was a hospital but come on. Orange did not belong with green under any circumstances.

My lip curled at an old man climbing out of a station wagon. His neon shirt physically hurt me. Where were his grandkids? Did they not care what he looked like?

There were plenty of things in this parking lot that disturbed me–mainly that man’s shirt and color choice–but no Chase. Someone in his condition couldn’t have gotten far. Quite frankly, I was surprised he managed to get out of bed at all. And where was the hospital staff during his miraculous escape? Sitting around with their thumbs up their asses.

Useless, all of them. It was their job to make sure patients didn’t do stupid stuff like this. This wouldn’t have happened in Ashen Springs. Louis Kessler knew how to run things. If one of his patients wandered off, whoever was responsible wouldn’t be employed for long.

Perhaps I should have a word with him? He could talk to the administration and have that nurse fired. I told her to stop bringing Chase those horrid meals. Yet, there she was three times a day, plastic tray in her hand. I could deal with that later.

Finding Chase was the only thing that mattered right now. If that stupid son of a bitch thought I’d let him throw himself a pity party and take off, then he had another thing coming. I swear to god if I got one single scuff on my new shoes. . .Chase thought he was in hell before—he had no idea.

“Son of a bitch.” Tanner muttered and slapped his face in his palm.

If he hit himself a little harder he might manage to knock some sense in that thing he called a brain. Why did he follow me anyways? Ava was at least useful.

I looked over at my friend, who was currently chomping down on a chili cheese dog. Where the hell did she get that thing? I didn’t see any hotdog stands out here.

Tanner let out a frustrated growl. “Motherfucker took my bike.”

“What?”

Ava licked some cheese off the corner of her mouth, making my eyes narrow on the half-eaten hotdog. Didn’t she know how many carbs were in that thing?

“My hog was right here,” Tanner waved at an empty parking spot a few feet away. “And now it’s not.”

Ugh, moron.

“Did you leave your keys in it?” Of course, he did. Idiot. He may as well have walked Chase out the door.

“No, I have them right…” he stuck his hand in his jacket pocket and froze. “Son of a bitch.”

Did I say moron, I meant idiot.

“So, not only did Chase take your bike, but he picked your pocket too?”

Tanner–one of the higher-up members of Chase’s little gang–didn’t notice the horribly wounded man stealing his keys? No wonder their criminal enterprise was failing. They may as well have the Teletubbies running things.

“Goddammit.” Tanner scrubbed his hand down his face. “How am I gonna explain where my bike is to Beast?”

Ava’s eyes lit up. “Was it a tandem bike?”

I muttered under my breath and shook my head.

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