The Secret The Cheerleader Doesn't... - Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Jennifer's Pov
I was born in Cape Cod, New Jersey.  Its a fairly small town with about 27 hundred residents.  My parents were born in New York, then moved to the island for work.  Growing up in Cape Cod was fine.  Us kids were brats and we always got into trouble. I hung around with druggies, alcoholics, and girls who did some calls.  Met them while I worked at part-time waitressing at Mr. Chris's Diner for about 9 years.
Around two in the morning, they would pile in and eat up.  Many times I had to kick people out... too dangerous and shit.  Well, this group of outcasts came trotting in one morning.  I had just graduated college and was interning at the local district attorneys office.  There was a chick who lead the group.  She wore a nice fur coat, heavy makeup and short dresses.  She was smoking a cig as she entered, throwing her hair around and laughing it up.  I was maybe an hour away from clocking out, so I had no patience.
A girl I worked with at the time, Sally, whimpered, "They have to sit in my area?"
Knowing she was some freshman in college, barely beginning to understand real life, I decided to take them up, "I got you."  Walking over, I could smell the weed on them.  It almost burned my nose hairs off.  The closer I got, the more disgusted I became, "Welcome to Mr. Chris's Diner.  Today we got half off on milkshakes and if you get the fish and chips, be prepared to use the restroom."
"Half off on milkshakes?" Some dazed guy asked, "Well shit... I want two then."
"Which ones?" I asked.
He was too busy chatting and fucking with his boys.  I cocked an eyebrow, pissed.  Then the chick spoke up, "Yo Vinny, which ones?"
"Does it matter?" He laughed, spitting a bit.
"Bitch, if you don't give this woman an answer, I'm have to call papi to come deal with your cracked out ass!" She was snapping her fingers and moving her head.  She wasn't too bad.  She knew how to deal with her mutts.  When the fucker told me what he wanted, I left to put in the order.  Coming out of the hall, I ran into the chick, "Hey, sorry for my boys.  They all coked out and shit."
"As long as the bill is paid and no damage is done, I don't give a damn," I shrugged.
She chuckled, "You sound like my lil brother.  He's a prissy ass mother fucker.  Tryin' be an engineer I think."
"What college does he go to?"
"He just graduated from Montclair... a scholar is what mama calls him," she pursed her lips, then gave me a look, "you should meet him.  He way different from me."
"What ya mean?"
"He wants to be some suburb livin' fucker... wants a trophy wife and white picket fence," she grabbed a piece of paper and jotted down a number, "you look like you want that life."
Grabbing the paper, I chuckle, "So you pimp out your brother?"
"Only to the good girls," she teased, "my brother don't need some girl like me.  My body is fucked... so is my soul.  My baby bro needs a good woman... and you look like you can be that."  She patted my shoulder and left for her table.
Staring down at the paper, I mumble his name, "Ignacio Costa."
Little did I know how important he would become.
~
Present Day
Waiting in the elevator, I open my gmail to see a few emails I needed to go over.  Some were about old cases and others about reports.  The usual bs I live with.  Once the doors opened, I walked out and headed over to Ani's desk.  For the past four days I have been bringing her coffee and breakfast.
I enjoy spoiling her.
Today she was furious... probably angry over what had happened with Cassie.  This morning as I was getting ready, Ani called me and vented.  Apparently Cassie took my advice and finally decided to walk away... I guess the girl has a brain.
"Still upset?" I took a seat beside her, watching her snatch the coffee.
"You have no idea," she mumbled, leaning back into her chair.  After I told Ani the truth of that night, she and I have become... friends?  I have no idea how to define this relationship.  She calls me when she's stressed, we have dinner together, we look over cases and help one another.  It's odd.  "How am I supposed to tell the kids?  Why the fuck is Cassie being unreasonable?" She complained.
"Why are you so upset?" I asked, watching her whip her head towards my direction, "It's not like you love her... why are you upset?"
She dwelled on the question; sucking on her lip, "I'm not... because Cassie is making a life altering decision... it affects the children, our lives, especially hers.  Cassie cannot live alone and raise children alone.  She's not mentally capable."
I was becoming angry.
Why does she give a damn how Cassie will do?
She doesn't love Cassie, yet she is acting all possessive and territorial... what the fuck?
Chuckling, I lean back and nod, "So... you are just being selfish?"
"What?" She asked, "How?"
"You don't love Cassie, yet you won't let her go.  You want to hold her tightly in your palm and use her as a toy... that's pretty selfish," I said.
"I don't see her as a toy."
"Really?  When was the last time you two actually had a heart to heart?  Not Cassie having a breakdown, not her being hospitalized or needing medication.  I'm talking about you and her, sitting down and having a conversation about loving one another and your relationship," I spat, glaring at her, "where you listened to understand her, not to study her."
"I don't study her," she rolled her eyes.
"Really?  Could have fooled me," I got up and tossed my cup away, "when you figure out what you want to do with Cassie. come talk to me.  I'm tired of you coming to me and wanting someone to lean on, then going back home to another."  I turned to leave as she called out.
Livid.
That's what I felt.