Aaron Calloway

Knowing that the mystery girl is Cassie is a problem. For me anyway.

I don't make friends with those I meet on the job, no girlfriends, no nothing; if it's a job where I have to get close to someone by befriending them or dating them, I'm never around long enough to be traced back to.

It's a safety issues for me and those involved, even though I've never spoken to Cassie. No one knows that Sam Brown is a fake name so it's not like my identity is in danger, it's the fact that after I've dealt with Turner I'm leaving so I can't get involved with Cassie.

No matter how much I wanted to. The thought of her was stronger than the smell of petrol from my motorbike.

I went to Palmer's with the plan to ignore Cassie, the only reason I was interested in the mystery girl was because she was attractive - a good way to have some fun, if you know what I mean. So when I arrive, I walk past her so many times ignoring her glances at me.

She and the old guy, Winston, talk a lot and she looks so happy with him.

I found myself getting distracted throughout the day by Cassie, she is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen so I did all the work for today so I could go home early and away from Cassie.

All of the boxes we needed to do had been cut open and given to Luke and Michael to stack the shelves with.

There was nothing else to do.

I just finished up and was wiping my hands with a rag when I hear Winston say, "We were only gone for a hour and you managed a three man job." I look over at Cassie to see her reaction. "Guess I did." I tried to look away from her shy smile but it was captivating. What is wrong with me.

I sprinted over to Victoria's office to tell her I finished for the day.

"Hey Sammie." She dragged my name out while she rocks in her chair.

"Hey, I've finished up for everyone." I point with my thumbs behind me to the area we work and just blink at her, hoping she gets what I'm saying.

"Oh yes, aiming for employee of the month I see." She winks at me and walks up to Cassie and Winston.

"Hey guys, why don't you head home early seeing as Sam has done such hard work." After they nodded, I raced to my locker when Victoria turned to me, if it wasn't necessary to talk to her I wasn't going to; besides I'm dying to get out of here.

I rushed out to my bike and saw Cassie walking out, I waited until she was a distance away so she didn't think I was following her.

I watched as she walked down a busy street. Sometimes stopping and stares up at the sky or to pet the dog that's tied to a pole and begging for attention.

I don't know why I feel so attracted to Cassie, I shouldn't care, I don't care.

Yet it didn't stop me from continuing to follow her home.

Today Cassie walked the longer way to work.

Yes, I'm kicking myself for following her again but I convince myself it's because I'm looking for Turner and Cassie just happens to be there also.

There's a florist shop on the way, not surprised that she stopped to smell the flowers, I noticed she hung around the carnations - gently stroking the petals and picking them up to inhale the aroma.

Cassie turned around like she heard something with soft wrinkles above her brows in utter confusion; she's adorable, She's childish.

A man came out from the shop wearing an apron - clearly an employee - he gets close to her and it looks like he is smelling her hair. The urge to get off my bike and beat the shit out of him was overwhelming but I contained it at the last minute. What am I thinking, right now? He said something to Cassie making her jump and she pulled away from him, he left and Cassie held onto her bag tightly and continued to walk to work.

I waited a couple minutes after Cassie to go into Palmer's for me to walk in. Can't have her thinking I'm following her because I'm not.

I walked over to my locker and saw Cassie was already there, she squealed and clutched her chest protectively. She's so dramatic.

"Didn't mean to scare you Cassie." I stare at her waiting for a response, studying the different shades of blue in her round eyes, in the meantime.

"Uh you didn't, don't worry." Oh Lord, could she get any cuter, annoying, her cheeks are flaming red, and her voice nervous. Good to know I can make her sweat.

I don't deny I'm attracted to Cassie but that is all, she's just something to look at while I wait for Turner.

Victoria showed up an hour late and wouldn't leave me alone, telling me all about how terrible the traffic was and that she was anxious being so late. Blah. Blah. Blah. I escaped her iron grip just minutes ago and finally got a moment of silence, Cassie is on the other side of the room cutting up boxes.

I got up to pick up a stack of boxes to move in front of the crate I'm using as a seat and turn around to see Cassie hovering over the sink by the lockers, I noticed she's covering her left hand so I walk over and see that she is bleeding, right as she reaches for a towel I turn her by her shoulder and take her hand in mine.

There is blood all over her hand, dripping down her wrist onto her sleeve. I take a towel from above her and wrap her hand tight. She winces.

I look into her eyes and all I see is fear.

I carry her hand, to try and hold onto the bleeding, into Victoria's office. Cassie stops right at the door and shakes her head at me, eyes wide.

Of course she's hurt but doesn't want to bother Victoria. I drop her hand and bang on Victoria's door, when she opens it she stares up at me; batting her eyes again.

I look down at Cassie's hand hoping Victoria's eyes will follow mine.

"Oh my. What happened?" Vanessa tries to take a closer look but I stood in her way, this isn't the time to ask such questions, Cassie's cut is deep.

"Cassie cut her hand, can you take her to the hopitel?." I say it in such a dull tone. "Fuck, I can't leave here, you're going to have to take her." I nod, trying not to get mad. I'm supposed to stay here and watch out for Turner, you know my job?

Not leave because Cassie can't use a knife.

Victoria just stares at me and I nudge my head to her car keys, she mumbles 'Oh yea, right' and chucks them at me.

Victoria has watched me every day coming and going on my bike.

She should know I can't take someone who's injured on my bike so if I have to take Cassie, I'm using Victoria's car.

I quickly drag Cassie to the car and open the door for her, once she sits down, I lean over and put her seat belt on for her - assuming she couldn't get it on herself.

I take a few steps around the car to the drivers side, I check that Cassie's seatbelt is on properly before starting and the car and racing off.

The ride to the hospital was quiet. I enjoyed it until the road became bumpy causing Cassie to wince out in pain. I hated hearing her in such a way, I want nothing more than to take her pain away, I wanted to tell her to shut up.

When we arrive, I am quick to get Cassie out of the car and into the hospital. Cassie zoned out and didn't notice me watching her, "Can you walk?" I tried to hide my irritation but my voice betrays me. She nods up at me, having to crane her neck just to look at me.

Cassie walked into the ER and I walked behind her. I walked over to the receptionist, telling her that Cassie cut her hand.

She gave me a clipboard with a form to fill out and told me to sit down. I walk back over to Cassie and go to hand her the board but she's out of it again, I touch her shoulder but I don't think she can feel it. I'm starting to get more irritated.

"Cassie.. Cassie!" She looks up at me but continues to say nothing

"I said do you think you can fill it in or do you need help?", She's really freaking me out, wasting my time.

"Cassie! Where are you right now?" She finally say, "Ah I'm here, sorry I was just thinking about.. stuff." Stuff, my ass, I think she's lost to much blood and is becoming faint, I make her sit down.

She takes the board and is reading over it, scribbling the pen over the blank spaces. I look at the people walking in, giving her the privacy to answer the questions when she leans back and her eyes roll into her head, her face pales.

"Hey Cassie... Cassie! Cassie open your eyes"

"Wake up Cassie"

"Cassie, please, wake up!"

The nurses rush over and tell me to move but I don't let go of Cassie.

She opens her eyes and lets out a confused moan, I can see it in her eyes, just like the eyes of the guy I went to war with. The nightmares take over her when she fainted, nightmares I have the urge to want to protect her from. The guys I saw this with were big and strong but still would shake when they slept. Cassie looks so small and fragile.

The nurses finally brought over a wheelchair. I hold Cassie in my arms and carefully lifted her into it. I listened to everything the nurses and doctors said about Cassie because I knew she didn't, Cassie passed out due to the sudden loss of blood and she admitted to only having eaten breakfast.

If she lived with me I'd cook for her every day.

We were moved into a room, Cassie in the wheelchair next to me, by a nurse named Tessa, she clacked at the keyboard everytime Cassie or I said something. She then flicked through the pages Cassie half filled.

"Do you have insurance?" Cassie paused and so did I. By the look on Cassie's face I know that she doesn't.

"Yes." I answer for her. Cassie looks up at me and opens her mouth to say something but I just frown at her. She's not refusing my help.

Obviously I can't use my real insurance because it has my name on it but I will pay for her bills in full, anything to get out of here quicker. Cassie gives me a droopy smile and I cannot help but smile back. What are you doing, Aaron.

Tessa looks at Cassie's cut, frowning and typing at the keyboard again, it's making me nervous. I just want her to be okay, to hurry up.

I look down at Cassie while she looks up at me, she looks so out of it.

"Yea It's gonna need stitches honey." Cassie's eyes go wide and she starts to shake her head. She grabs my hand tight, and I whisper, "It's ok, it won't hurt."

She seems to calm down but wouldn't let go of my hand.

This isn't going how I planned.

Tessa stitched Cassie up fast, making small conversation while she did.

"So how long have you two been together." She swung the scissors, pointing to Cassie then me. I dropped Cassie's hand. No, people cannot think we are together. Cassie got her hand bandaged up and was told all the instructions on how to take care of her stitches. I couldn't stop thinking about how people might think we are a couple.

I mean Cassie may be attractive but she's not worth it, I lie.

Cassie waited outside ER while I paid for the bill.

She opened the door for herself when I unlocked the car. I can tell she's upset that I ignored the dating question but what did she expect, me to say yes?

She deserves someone gentle, not a murderer.

"Where do you live?" Cassie looks at me confused.

"Aren't we going back to Palmer's?" Oh hell no, she's going home and resting and leaving me alone.

"What do you mean take you back to Palmer's? You got hurt Cassie, you're going home" She doesn't look happy at all, I feel like I'm going to get a lecture but she just says that she needs her stuff from her locker.

I said fine and drove back to Palmer's.

Cassie got her stuff from her locker and went into Victoria's office. Not even half an hour later she walks back out and straight up to a pallet, pulling out her knife. Oh no she doesn't.

"What are you doing Cassie?" I stand in front of her, blocking her view of the pallets.

"I...uh...I'm working, what are you doing Sam?" I love making her flustered. She is not getting out of going home, I mean why wouldn't you want to leave this shitty place?

"No you're not, go home. You've got your stuff." She tries to walk around me.

"No two hours left, so if you'll excuse me." so I grab her arm but she glares at me so I drop it. She's acting like a child. I watch her pick up a box, the bandage is too thick causing her to drop it. I rush over to her so worried that she's hurt herself again.

I mean worried I'll have to take her back to the hospital.

"Fine if you want to stay, sit there." I mean I guess this way I can keep an eye on Turner without her distracting me.

She keeps trying to help me but I won't let her.

"If I have to drive you to the hospital again because you can't listen, we're going to gave a problem Cas." My tone exasperated because she is a problem.

Not because I just don't want to see her hurt again.

Because I have made her sit there with nothing to do, she has decided to stare at me, watching me move; she doesn't know it but I'm subtly showing my arms when I pick up boxes or stretch showing my back off. She blushes and looks away, fueling my ego.

I'm making this worse.

It's finally the end of shift and Cassie agrees to go straight home to rest. I follow her like usual but this time to make sure she actually goes home. She keeps looking back like someone is following her when she walks by the florist shop.

That reminds me...

I turn my bike around and drive to the back of the shop, I park up behind a tree and wait for that creep to come out, leaving my helmet on.

Twenty minutes later he comes out with two big trash bags and dumps them into the overhead bin, I sneak up behind him and drag him to the ground in one swift move by the collar of his shirt.

"What the fuck." He shouts but my fist to his jaw shuts him up quick. I pound into his head thinking about how creepy he was to Cassie. He has blood all down his face and shirt. I leave him there unconscious and drive off.

I told Liam, later that night, about beating the guy up and he says it's because I like Cassie but I reminded him I just don't like men that purposely make women uncomfortable.

As I'm driving into work this morning I realized that it's Thursday and that Turner is showing up today. It's also the last day I can see Cassie.

My heart feels heavy.

I'm happy.

I have to make it really obvious to Cassie that I don't like her; the last thing I need right now is Cassie asking questions and leading anyone back to me. I can't wait to upset her.

I see her at the lockers and shove past her, Cassie looks hurt. Good. When I see Micheal wave at her, I glare at him but stop when I see Cassie glare back at me so I just roll my eyes at her.

Turner delivered at noon and I heard him say to Victoria that he is staying at the Bird View motel in room 415, if she wanted to come over which made Victoria keep trying to talk to me but today really isn't the day to deal with her so I ignore her after Turner left her alone.

I may be a dick but I'm not an asshole.

To make matters worse Luke and Michael haven't left Cassie alone and I can't handle how, happy they make her, annoying them all are.

I accidentally drop the boxes in my hand resulting in a loud bang that scares Cassie. Luke and Cassie both come over, Luke picks up a couple boxes and goes to hand it to me while Cassie reaches out to touch my arm. The thought of her touching me just makes me more pissed so I dodge it.

"Get off man, I got it." I say to Luke when he tries to pick up more boxes.

"You know I understand if you're having a bad day but don't mad at Luke for just helping!" Cassie yells at me but it's like a kitten hissing - just too cute, just pathetic.

I am quick to glare at her. She runs after Luke, leaving me to wallow in my own anger. 

  She doesn't deserve this.

I handed my resignation to Victoria and clocked out when Cassie comes up behind me.

"I get it if you're the strong quiet type but you don't have to be such a dick." I look at her and see how upset she is so I continue to clean out my locker, giving her the chance to vent. I want her to scream at me, punch me; give me a reason to dislike her even more.

"I'm talking to you dickface!" God, I want to tell her to shut up. Her whiny voice is getting on my last nerve.

"You're such a prick, you know, from day one you walk in here acting like you're better than everyone. Well you're not, Sam, you work in the storeroom of a grocery store like the rest of us!"

I lean forward and tuck a stray hair behind her ear, smiling, I lean even closer to whisper in her ear. She's really going to hate me now.

"Oh but I am better than everyone here sweetheart." I walk off leaving her gasping behind me.

I pull up at Bird view.

I take my bag into my hand and walk until I find room 415, I knock at the door and Turner opens it in nothing but a towel.

"I knew you would come sweetness -what? Who the hell are you?" I push him inside and overtake him when he rushes for the phone.

"I don't think so, Turner." I taunt him and his eyes widen when he hears me say his name. I grab him and kick a chair over.

"Sit." When he doesn't, I pull my gun out and repeat myself. I hate repeating myself. I pull open my bag and pull out a syringe, still holding the gun on Turner.

In the syringe is potassium, I place it at the base of his neck and empty it inside him. "What are you doing." he cries out and I sit on the bed waiting. He clutches his chest and falls to his side.

Potassium in high concentrations induces heart attacks.

I pick him up and put him into the bed, putting away the chair and making everything look normal.

My client asked to make his death natural so no one would question him over Turner's death. I pack my stuff up and leave, avoiding any cameras.

I text the client, telling him it's been handle and that I await the last of the money.

I go home and sleep. I don't wake up until noon the next day. Twelve missed calls from Liam as well as a thousand and one messages.

"Did you finish the job?"

"Are you seeing Cassie?"

"I know you like her. Deny it all you want lover boy."

"Dude, for fucks sake, wake up, it's 10am."

"Are you alive?"

"I'm starting to wory Aaron, call me back."

I hear keys turning in my door and the creak of the wood. I pull my gun out from my mattress and walk to my door, it opens and I kick his leg out from under him, I point the gun at him when he's on the ground.

"Oh my God you're alive." I'm tempted to kill Liam right here.

"Why are you in my house." I rub my face and walk into the kitchen.

I pour two glasses of orange juice.

"Dude what happened with Cassie and Turner?" I was hoping to forget the whole thing.

"Nothing."

"Nothing? What do you mean nothing? You killed him, right?"

"Yes, I killed him."

"And Cassie?"

...

"Aaron."

A knock at the door turned both our heads.

I open it to see an envelope on the ground with Sam Brown written on the top.

I close the door and walk back to Liam while opening the envelope, pouring the content onto the bench. Photos. Lots of photos. All of Cassie, me with Cassie, and me following Cassie.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I open my phone to the cameras around my house, one of Moreno's men dropped off the envelope and smiled up at the camera.

"A present from Mr Moreno." I'll gut him if he touches Cassie.

Liam looks worried. "Go see if she's okay. If they take her, they can use her to get back to you."

I left Liam and sped over to Palmer's.

I asked Luke where Cassie was, "What's it to you." I slam him into the wall by his neck. "Where. Is. Cassie." He mumbles that she left and I race into my car to drive to her place.

When I show up I see that her apartment door was ajar and her furniture was ruined, place trashed but no sign of Cassie. I'm starting to panic.

I run back down to my bike and I see her just approching the steps to her building with shopping bags, I check my watch and see that it's about an hour after Cassie would normally finish work, meaning they trashed the place because she wasn't there when she was meant to be.

I take my chloroform in a cloth and follow her.

I know she'll be panicked and I don't have time to explain everything to her, I have no idea if they will come back.

She stands at the door in shock, staring at the remains of her home all over the floor, grocery bags laid out either side of her.

I cover her mouth and she goes limp in my arms

I'm sorry Cassie.

Don't forget to vote if you are liking the story so far :)