A Step Too Far

Maybe he was feeling sick? What if he was catching a cold from their walk a couple days ago? But that didn't make any sense! It might be fall, but this was the south. It didn't get cold here till *at least* October, "Shaannnee," she called softly, slowly opening the back of the van and peaking in. He really was sleeping? "I get that we headed in late, but dang." she chuckled lightly, holding her hands on her hips as she stood over him. Her heart hummed at how relaxed he looked drooling on his pillow. His dark brown hair hung haphazardly over his eyes. It was so cute!

Though his blankets were almost over his head, she could see that shape of his arms crossed over his chest. He was snoring, dead to the world. He usually slept in on off days, but this was late even for him. His body had been under a lot of tension recently. It didn't like the new job he'd started taking on the side. Not now, but to the outside world, they needed to keep up appearances or they'd get caught.

Jesseye sighed since she knew she had to wake him, "Ssshhaannnneee," she elongated coo, shaking him lightly. He didn't respond so she shook harder, "C'mmoonn," she whined, huffing as she straightened up.

He groaned into the air and tried to swat her away. "Stoppp."

Suddenly Jesseye's mouth was as dry as a desert. His cover had slipped off his shoulders to reveal his bare chest. Hot color flooded into her face. "I-um," She gulped and glanced to the open back door. She couldn't be here. He only had boxers on! And his, and his, oh! She needed to leave, "You, you can, um sleep more," she mumbled before fleeing the van and slamming his doors shut.

Shane groaned at the loud noise. "Dude. Jess, really?" Grumbling under his breath, he rolled over, his back now facing the blacked windows.

Jesseye sunk down against the metal garage wall, swallowing deeply. "Ooh Lord," she moaned in dismay, clenching her eyes shut. She shook her head while bawling the fabric over her chest. She bit her lip at the wild drumming in her ears. She did not need to see that. Her imagination worked too well... and now, it was in a frenzy.

Welp, he was awake now. Shane moaned before giving in and opening his eyes. He ran a hand through his messy hair and sighed before pushing the back door open.

Jesseye heard a noise. She prayed it was Jazza. For a second she dared to look up. Ripped skinny jeans, 21 Pilots T-shirt. It wasn't. She exhaled a sigh and her eyes fell to the ground.

He cocked his head at Jesseye. Her cheeks were pink. Upon realizing why, his lips twisted devilishly on one side. He had nearly forgotten. She liked him.

Jesseye knew she probably looked like a bashful idiot. 'Please Lord make him pass by.' she prayed, looking up to the sky.

He didn't. Shane knelt next to her and whispered, "You like what you saw?" Into her ear.

Her muscles jerked with his answer. The rich silk of his voice easily stoked the torturous fire already consuming her thoughts.'God, please, please,' she begged inside her head, 'Take this away from me! I can't help him like this!'

Tracing from her ear, along her jaw, to lift her chin and stare into her wet eyes; he saw through her meager layer of composure. It was obvious. She was absolutely desperate for him. All it would take was one more tap, one more stoke, and she'd break. He couldn't pass up this chance.

"I can show you more if you want." He whispered before standing back up and winking at her.

Instead of leaving her to suffer, he watched, he waited. Either way she was doomed to fail. They always did. She would she take his bait, pull him back down to her level and kiss him, or lash out for his insensitive teasing.

Before she could recover enough to take option one, he shoved his hands in his pockets and stepped out of her reach, "Why, why are you doing this to me?" she choked out the third option he hadn't even considered.

He scoffed and started in inside towards the kitchen. He had seen her eyes. This was option one in disguise.

It wasn't. Jesseye had indeed broken. She drew breaths in shakily, sobbing into her legs as her body continued to pulse despite his absence. Why, why wouldn't He take this from her?

Shane, ignoring the pitiful noise just outside, poured himself some cereal. Jazza looked up in concern at her sound, standing quickly to her feet, "What did you do to her?" she asked harshly. He shrugged. She'd calm down in a minute.

Jazzebella sighed deeply, bending down then gently pulling the weeping woman into her arms,"I know. I know, it's hard." she whispered sympathetically, stroking the long scarlet tresses flowing down her back.

Clinging tightly her sister, Jesseye's head shook over and over. She couldn't, she couldn't calm down. How could she? She was in love with a man who didn't care! He saw her attraction as nothing but a blade to cut her with. And it hurt, oh it hurt.

Jesseye gagged when she heard his footsteps pass her. Apathetically he positioned himself in his van's passanger seat with the door open. Oh how her dark sister's gaze burned into his back. Guilt seeps in.*

Shane's eyes dropped from them to the dirt by his feet. Silently he ate his sweet cereal, listening to his best friend cry. Why weren't either of them talking? Why wouldn't Jesseye look at him?

He sighed deeply at himself. Because his father had rubbed off on him. He had played a cruel trick on her, and his presence here only made it worse.

With a sigh, he slipped off the seat and walked out down the road. He make her suffer anymore. "I'm such an idiot. Of course she didn't do anything!" Oh he wanted to punch himself. "How could you play with her like that?!" He exclaimed, angrily kicking up the dirt.

After Jesseye had no tears left to cry, she rose shakily to her feet, "I-i, I need to be alone." she said hoarsely, stumbling into the building then up to her room. She buried herself into her bible, needing the comfort more than ever. He understood. This was how He felt every, single, time the Israelites turned away from.

Her black friend sighed deeply while shaking her head, "I'm sorry, Jess," she said, glancing up to the window up top

Jesseye finally comprehended why He never just destroyed them and started over. God, their protector, their provider, loved them, so, so dearly. It didn't matter what they did, He couldn't break His promise and let them drown.

But Jazza could. She leaned against the garage, her dark eyebrows furrowed and her arms crossed; waiting like a Pharisee for the prodigal son to return so that she could deliver the punishment he deserved.

*&^%$#*&^%$*&^%$*&^%$&^%$*&^%$*

"You don't know *nothin*!" Jazzebella exclaimed stomped her foot as he neared.

He jumped and backed away from her, "Jazz calm down." He ordered her a bit worriedly.

Immediately she forced her face close his, "Why'd you do that ta her?!" she demanded an answer to her question.

"I-i was just playing with her," he tried to lie to her. Jazz grit her teeth then spat at his feet, "I didn't mean to."

"You didn't mean to? You didn't—Oh," she growled like an animal and shook her mane of dark curls, "You know she likes you. Now she feels like shit!" she yelled in his face.

"S-She does?" He asked at a near whimper. "I thought she might but hasn't she.."

"NO!" she roared with angry fury, "And If ya know what's good for ya," she started loudly, gripping his collar in her hands. His eyes widened. "You'll take your cut and find ya own digs!" she shoved him back and was not bothered in the *least* when he stumbled into the building. "Cuz I won't havin you hurting my sis."

He grunted in pain, but furrowed his eyebrows in sadness. "W-What?"

"Go!" she commanded, jabbing her hand out to the side, "Jesseye is the sweetest, most thoughtful girl there is! You're *lucky* to have her 'fections."

Shane nodded, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I guess that settles it." He muttered in a tone low, staring mournfully at the ground. This was what he deserved. He didn't even have to pack. "I'll get my cutt and go." He said blankly before entering the shop for the last time.

"Good choice." she commended him cooly. Silently and furious, she showed him to the safe and opened it. She watched him with a mean glare while he grabbed his bags of cash. If he dared to take no more than agreed, she'd kill him herself.

He placed the small duffles back into his van and sighed deeply. "There's still plenty of money." He assured her humbly, closing the doors. "You and Jess won't have to work much harder to get the money she needs." He said as he turned back around to face her. "I took less than my share."

The furious woman nodded, her arms crossed, "Good. You've hurt her enough today." she snarled at him. He sighed and stood there for a minute. She refused to speak any further.

"I'll miss you guys." He said sadly, walking to the front and climbing into the front seat. She scoffed and slammed the door after him. "I know you're mad, but," she snarled a warning as he rolled down the window, "Would you just..let Jess know I said goodbye… and that, I'm sorry?" He asked shakily before cranking the vehicle.

"Sure." she said sharply before storming back inside. He drew a shaky breath then he slowly pulled out of the shop. The first people who sincerely cared about him, the first truly family he had ever had, he just lost. Tears built in his eyes as he drove towards the edge of town. Where was he gonna go now?