Tré Calling, chapter 11

I precariously made my way through the door; observing the damage that had been made to my new home. I noticed a piece of paper carefully tacked down to my kitchen door, and I picked my way over to it, tears spilling out of my eyes.

I hear Tré clambering up the stairs behind me.

"Hey, what's taking so-" He cuts off his sentence as he surveys the mess that was once my apartment.

I quickly grab the note from the door and spin round to face him, wide eyed.

"What the hell happened here?" Tré asks.
"I-I-I don't know. It was like this when I got up here," I stutter, as Tré makes his way over to give me a big hug.
"I'm calling the police," Tré states as he lifts his phone out of his pocket.
"No!" I say suddenly, pulling the phone away from him.

Tré looked at me with a question on his face.
"Um...well, it's probably just vandals. We don't want to waste their time."
"Right... "
"But I think I'm gonna have to move again."
"Why? It won't be difficult to clear this stuff up."
'Yes, but he knows my new address now.' I think.
But I say, "Yes, but I don't feel safe here anymore."

"I know! You can come and stay at my place. At least until you can get yourself back on your feet."
"But...Tré... I don't want to mess up your life too... "
"No, no. I insist."

He doesn't understand just how much I could mess up his life.

I protest as he gathers up some of my stuff and carries it out to his SUV. However, his will is strong and he won't budge.

"You're just as stubborn as I am," I mutter as he starts to drive.
"Like a mule then?"
I glare at him and start to play with my t-shirt hem.

***

As Tré stumbles downstairs to make me an ice cream sundae, I open up the scrunched up note inside my pocket and read it; my eyes pricking with tears.

Nice try, but no luck, eh?

Red hot fury replaced my sad demeanour as I ripped the note into tiny pieces and threw it out of the window. However, the moment of rage was soon lost, and I reverted to tears once again.

Tré came back up to see me punching the pillow. I felt sorry for him. His life was probably a hell of a lot better before I came along and started being awkward.

"Hey! What'd my pillow ever do to you?" He questions; trying to make light of the situation.
I sniff and place the pillow down, looking up at him hopefully and opening my arms for a hug.
He willingly accepts my gesture and gives me a big bear hug, comforting me beyond words.

"Can I have my sundae now?" I ask quietly.
Tré laughs as he passes it over, but then adopts a more serious face. "Maria, I think we should tell the police about this, honestly."

I nearly choke on a piece of banana when he mentions this, and I quickly make to cover it up.

"Tré, this has happened to me before, and I-"
"This has happened more than once?" Tré says loudly, looking shocked and angry.
"I mean... this has happened to my... friend before; and it didn't do her, or anyone else for that matter, any good by telling the police."
Tré raises his eyebrow at me, and I look down to my sundae. Suddenly, I'm not so hungry. With every objection Tré makes to my supposed naivety, I feel a little more queasy inside.

"Maria," Tré states, holding one of my hands. "You know I'll stand by you, right? If you need anything at all, just give me the word and I'll-"
"Thanks, Tré," I cut in, smiling at him.
He smiles warmly in response and leaves the room, leaving me to sit and eat my sundae.