02-14-2025, 12:50 PM
Rachel listened as he spoke, giving him her full attention. She didn’t interrupt, even when he said the word drugs. She didn’t even react. She was fully listening. She heard him say he might even love her, but she could understand why he had hidden this from her. The fear he chased was different than the kind of fear of losing someone.
Cruz had changed, and Rachel wasn’t sure how she felt about those changes. If they were legal drugs, she probably wouldn’t have had much of an issue - even if it didn’t thrill her, but the illegal stuff was in there too. The way he spoke made it sound like he was addicted, or close to it. This had been going on for awhile. Cruz had wanted to be more independent- going as far to rebel. Rachel wanted more independence too, but she wasn’t sure she could go down the same path.
Rachel looked at the coin - an odd grinning face on it. It all felt off to her. Something itched in the back of her mind that this wasn’t a good thing. She reached for the coin but Cruz pulled his hand back. She took the hint and didn’t push any farther.
”Do you really think you love me?” she asked, wondering if she felt the same.
Cruz gave her an incredulous look. ”I don't make elaborate reservations and hotel plans for just anyone. It wasn't about getting into your pants. I wanted it to be special because I think this is great, we are great. So yeah, I think I'd call what I feel love."
She gave him a smile. She didn’t think he had been just trying to get into her pants. She had felt that way too. And she still did. Even with everything he just said. ”I think that too - I think that I love you too.”
Rachel went back into thought, her eyes going back to the strange coin in his hand. She thought of the two girls in the bar - she had felt they were trouble and was now convinced of it. Something was wrong with it. Something was very wrong. Whoever these people were - they weren’t Cruz’s friends. They wanted him for something.
Rachel was unable to stop the tears from coming now. Not because she was upset about what Cruz being on drugs or even the possibility that their relationship might end, but because she was scared for him. ”I don’t like it. It feels wrong. I don’t know why, but it does. You asked if I ever felt truly afraid, and I do now. I’m afraid you might be in very real danger.”
Cruz had changed, and Rachel wasn’t sure how she felt about those changes. If they were legal drugs, she probably wouldn’t have had much of an issue - even if it didn’t thrill her, but the illegal stuff was in there too. The way he spoke made it sound like he was addicted, or close to it. This had been going on for awhile. Cruz had wanted to be more independent- going as far to rebel. Rachel wanted more independence too, but she wasn’t sure she could go down the same path.
Rachel looked at the coin - an odd grinning face on it. It all felt off to her. Something itched in the back of her mind that this wasn’t a good thing. She reached for the coin but Cruz pulled his hand back. She took the hint and didn’t push any farther.
”Do you really think you love me?” she asked, wondering if she felt the same.
Cruz gave her an incredulous look. ”I don't make elaborate reservations and hotel plans for just anyone. It wasn't about getting into your pants. I wanted it to be special because I think this is great, we are great. So yeah, I think I'd call what I feel love."
She gave him a smile. She didn’t think he had been just trying to get into her pants. She had felt that way too. And she still did. Even with everything he just said. ”I think that too - I think that I love you too.”
Rachel went back into thought, her eyes going back to the strange coin in his hand. She thought of the two girls in the bar - she had felt they were trouble and was now convinced of it. Something was wrong with it. Something was very wrong. Whoever these people were - they weren’t Cruz’s friends. They wanted him for something.
Rachel was unable to stop the tears from coming now. Not because she was upset about what Cruz being on drugs or even the possibility that their relationship might end, but because she was scared for him. ”I don’t like it. It feels wrong. I don’t know why, but it does. You asked if I ever felt truly afraid, and I do now. I’m afraid you might be in very real danger.”