Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Sarah's first thought after she woke up was it is exhausting being her. She has pretended to be someone she's not day after day and she was getting sick of it. There was no way she could do this anymore.

Her body was fighting to wake up but her brain? It was miles ahead. She sat up and took a deep breath. There was no way that she could deny it any longer. running away never helped. This was would be the third time she had to relocate. She didn't want to leave Liz.

At first, Elizabeth was her best friend, then, when in a drunken daze, made each other their blood sisters. Now, all she could think about was her naked and lying next to her in her bed. If anything, she knew she had to make the call before Liz gets hurt.

Sarah moved off the bed and to the closet. Picking a graphic tee that said "You Suck," she pulled skinny jeans on and tennis shoes. She grabbed her purse and opened the door, pausing at Liz's room to listen. She didn't hear anything. She found herself shaking her head at her actions. Walking out of the apartment and down the stairs outside, she made for the closest mini-mart.

Exchanging two dollars for change, she then walked to a payphone two city-blocks away from her apartment. She pulled a piece of paper out of her purse, put money in the payphone and dialed the numbers, dread filling her soul.

"Detective Thomas, speaking."

"Detective Thomas? It's Jennifer Blake. Is there anyway we can meet?"

"I'll take a coffee, please, black."

The waiter told them it will be a couple of minutes and then walked away.

"What's wrong Jennifer? Has he found you again? Tried to contact you?"

She shook her head roughly and swallowed.

"No, nothing like that. Someone's been following me. I've only seen him once but I know that he's still there, even though I haven't seen him since. I'm living with a friend now, Detective. Her name is Elizabeth and she's such an amazing person. I couldn't stand to see her get hurt."

She swallowed again. The waiter dropped their coffee off and left the check at the table. She waited a couple of minutes before saying anything.

"He hasn't been caught yet?"

Detective Thomas shook his head no.

"You're the only witness we have for this and we don't have a need for you until we can find him. Jose Garcia is a dangerous man, Jenny. It's best if you keep your cover for now. I'll put a police officer on watch outside your apartment."

Jennifer/Sarah nodded her head in agreement.

"I appreciate that, Detective. It'll make me feel better. I'll be in touch."

She stood up and walked out the door, turning right. She looked back to see Detective Thomas turning left. She breathed in heavily and sighed.

She didn't even get to finish her coffee.

When Sarah got back to the apartment she noted that Elizabeth was gone and she felt sadness and disappoint overwhelm her. She didn't want their friendship to end nor did she want to put her in danger. Her life was in upheaval and there was no way she would drag Liz into it. All she wanted was peace, safety and the lull of a boring life next to her.

She walked to the kitchen and decided to make spaghetti. She set the pot of water on the stove. While waiting for it to boil she started making the sauce. Sarah's mother, before she passed away, taught her the family's recipe for the best spaghetti sauce. It was the only thing she could bring with her from her past, including her memories. She remembered being taught the family tradition every time she came home from school.

Until she turned sixteen and got dragged into some nasty business. Her neighborhood had been full of trouble and it wasn't hard to find it or have it find you. Threats, blackmail, desperation and loyalty got the best of her and she wasn't proud of it. She tried her best to get out of Jose's reach and the only way to do that was to go to the police. She found they were just waiting for someone to come forward with information.

Then Jose threatened her and her family's life. He made good on that threat.

Tears were streaming down her face as she remembered and, making sure the sauce was good and the noodles were simmering, she walked to the bathroom and blew her nose, wiping the tears from her face. The door opened as she was walking back to the kitchen.

Elizabeth, Benji and another man walked in behind her, laughing. Liz's face went still when she saw Sarah standing there.

"Hey."

"Hey."

Benji and the guy shifted uncomfortably.

"This is Charlie, Sarah. Charlie Sarah."

Sarah couldn't help but smile at Liz when she tried to introduce them. She was always bad at that.

"Nice to meet you Charlie. Nice to see you again Benji, its be too long."

Benji, thankfully, smiled back at Sarah in agreement.

The silence was deafening.

"I'm making spaghetti. Please stay for dinner!"

Elizabeth smiled a little at that. She turned to look at Benji and Charlie.

"Well I did promise you dinner for helping me and Sarah makes the best spaghetti."

They smiled brightly at that.

They ate with minimal conversation, not for the lack of trying though. Benji brought up that Marcella was extremely happy with the work that Elizabeth had brought in that day. Sarah knew that Liz was a brilliant artist and was happy that her work was going well. She brought up that Liz should expect all of her paintings to be sold at the showing.

She learned that Charlie was the one that Elizabeth went on the date with but it looked like Benji was the one that ended up in a relationship with him. She didn't feel comfortable enough to ask how that happened.

The dinner went on and they complimented her cooking, which she blushed at and accepted demurely. She chanced glances at Elizabeth occasionally, trying to gage her reactions to everything. She seemed unmoved, which wasn't like her. After they ate, Benji and Charlie had thirds, Benji asked if he could see what else Elizabeth was working on. They went to her studio while Charlie stayed to talk to her.

Within minutes Sarah could tell that Charlie was going to bring up something and she braced herself for the question.

"I can tell you like her Sarah. What gives?"

That was not the question she thought would have been asked.

"I have some things going on that I'd rather not drag Liz into and we're friends. Nothing more."

He snorted at that.

"No. You like like her or on your way to being in love with her. I can tell, Sarah. There's something else going on. You need to figure it out soon or your going to lose her forever. Liz is a trustworthy person and whatever you're going through right now, you can tell her and she'll help you with it."

Sarah sighed.

"Not this time, Charlie. It won't work like that, this time."

"Why not?"

She thought about it for some time.

"It's something I can't talk about. It'll haunt me for the rest of my life and I can't do that to her. She deserves so much better than me. I can't give her what she wants even though I want to. I don't want her hurt."

Her tone was definitive and Charlie nodded his head.

"You can still talk to her."

Sarah was already shaking her head no.

"I'm working on it but until it looks like it's finished it won't happen. I'm sorry for it."

Charlie stared at her for a second before nodding.

"I can see that you have your mind made up about it. All I can say is that I know you care a lot for her and whatever you're going through that you don't want her involved in, and I respect that, she'll find out one way or another."

Sarah stared at him, fear in her eyes.

"That's what I'm afraid of."

(A/N: *unedited*)