Truth Forever 20

Truth Forever 20
Cali

“Are you sure this is going to be ok?” I couldn’t help but be nervous. Gemma’s tiny apartment was like a safety blanket. I didn’t want to leave behind. Going outside was risky. She might have said everyone was fine with me now, but that didn’t make it true. Gem wasn’t club. I doubted she had insider information. 

“Cali, you have been cooped up for two days. People are starting to notice that I have been coming home straight from work.” She gave me a pointed look, and I couldn’t help it, I giggled.

“You are such a party animal.” I rolled my eyes. 

“You knows it.” Her laughter joined mine, but she sobered almost instantly. “Seriously Cali, you need fresh air. We could take a walk. Maybe go and get coffee or “ her eyes found mine. “Maybe we could go to Cooks?”

“No.” That was the last place I wanted to go to. I was more likely to run into Truth there then anyway else. What a walking talking contradiction. I had come here to talk to him, but now I was here. I was petrified.  “Not Cooks.” I caught her eye. “Not yet, ok?”

“Cali stop being such a baby. Everyone will be happy you are back, they have missed you.” She reached over, squeezing my hand. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you as well.” 

“Then it’s settled.” she stood up Her arms stretching above her head. “We go and day drink our weight in vodka shots at Cooks.”

She wasn’t going to drop it. “Fine if you want to spend your day off at the place you work in fine. But if I get shot. I am so going to haunt you.” I waggled my fingers at her. “And I mean some serious haunting action. I will make it my undead life’s work to make sure you never get laid again.”

“Your undead life’s work?”

I nodded seriously. “If I get shot, there will be no more dick for you.”

She giggled, hugging me tightly. “I’ve missed you.” She said again as I patted her pack. 

“I have one person I want to see first if that’s ok?” I reached to slip my phone into my bag. 

“Truth?” Gemma couldn’t keep the Hope from her voice.

“No not Truth. I need to see Gent.”



Gent looked up as I pushed my way into the tattoo parlour. His chiselled face broke into a wide smile as he heaved himself out of the chair by the window. 

“Well if it isn’t my favourite girl in the world.” He stopped a foot in front of me. Eyes sweeping down my body from the tip of her head to my shoes. “And Gemma is here as well.”

“Asshole.” Gemma flung herself into the chair he had vacated. 

“So you’re back, huh?”,

His stare was made me feel uncomfortable, and I fidgeted from one foot to another. 

“Took you long enough didn’t it?”

“You’re pissed at me?” I asked him softly. Surely he had heard about what had happened between Truth and me. In the weeks I had spent with these people, I had learnt one thing for definite. Everyone here loved to gossip. 

“Of course I am, you should have come home ages ago.” He hugged me to his chest, and I let out a sigh of relief. “I heard what you did for Truth.” He stepped away but kept his hands tight about my upper arms as he stared at me. “That was some good work.”

Truth. 

My eyes skipped away. “I was just doing my job Gent. It was just my job.”

His eyes crinkled. “You keep telling yourself that Cali. If it makes things easier for you. You should know he’s been beating himself up about what happened.”

“So He should.” Gemma quipped from her place by the window. “He pulled a gun on her.”

Gent shot daggers at her. 

“I’m sorry he was hurting,” I whispered. I didn’t know why I was apologising. I shouldn’t feel guilty.  “I….”

“You’re home Cali, that’s all that matters. Come on let’s go.”

I blinked at him in surprise. “I was kind of hoping you would add to my tattoo.”

He eyed me wearily. “I will tattoo anything you want babe, free of charge but we need to go to Cooks.”

What was everyone’s deal with trying to get me to Cooks? “Why?”

“Because everyone will be heading there today to celebrate Chelsea being home.” He answered simply.

“I’m not sure I am ready to see everyone.”

“Well, they all want to see you.” He winked. “And Truth will literally murder me if he finds out I had you here and didn’t tell him.” He pressed his hand to his heart. “You wouldn’t want that on your conscience, would you?”

I laughed. “No, I wouldn't.” I straightened my spine. I couldn’t put it off any longer. Even though I was so scared I felt like I couldn’t breathe, it was time to face my fears. Specifically Truth.  “Ok, let’s go and day drink our weight in vodka.”

Gemma bounded to her feet with a whoop. “Now, you’re talking.”



Cooks hadn’t changed. 

Even on a workday, it was reasonably busy. And most of the people that were leaning against the bar or sat around the small tables were bikers and the women who hung around them.

Both club girls and old ladies. I spotted Avery straight away. She was sat next to Ruin, but as soon as she spotted me, she elbowed him roughly. Getting to her feet, her pretty face broke into a wide smile.

But it wasn’t her that got to me first. It was YB. He came up behind me, his arms around my waist and swung me around with such force my feet left the floor.  “Cali….”

I squealed. The room tilting as he spun me around again. “Put me down.” I tried to swat at him, but couldn’t twist around far enough to do it. 

“Put her down.” Gent punched at his shoulder, and Young Blood dropped me almost guiltily. 

“Sorry, Cali.” He shrugged sheepishly, stepping back so Avery could take his place. 

And that was it. I was hugged from every angle. Sometimes so hard that it felt like they were going to snap my spine.

“Cali?”

I turned my head towards Fender. The laughter dying on my lips. What was he going to say?  For several long seconds, we just stared at each other. A hush fell over the room. Everyone was obviously waiting for him to speak. To pass judgement. 

“Welcome home.”

That was it, he didn’t say anything else, and I didn’t get a chance to reply. A commotion at the entrance drew everyone’s attention in that direction.

Wicked barrelled through, his face split in a wide grin but his grin faltered when he saw me stood there. 

And it didn’t take long to realise why he suddenly looked so uncomfortable. My eyes shifted behind him as Truth stepped into the room.

Over his shoulder was a woman. A very young, very attractive brunette. Who was squealing and kicking her legs playfully.

Something broke inside of me. 

“Cali?” Truth froze. He didn’t seem to know what to do with himself, and that made two of us. I didn’t know what to do or say either. This wasn’t how I imagined our meeting to go.

I hadn’t expected him to have moved on. 

“Cali, it’s not what it looks like.” Gents hand came down gently on my arm, and I shook it off angrily. 

“This was a bad idea.” I let my eyes meet Gemma’s. “I’ll see you at home.” Straightening my shoulders, I headed towards the door. Nodding my head at Wicked as I passed, I managed to keep my composure. I wasn’t sure how. But I did. 

The trick was not looking Truth in the face. Not evening glancing at him. “Cali?” His voice sounded tortured, but I barely heard it as I pushed my way out into the rain. 

“That’s Cali?” I heard the girl say behind me, but I didn’t turn around. Instead, I ducked my head into my chest and started to jog down the wet street.

I was a damn fool. I shouldn’t have come back here. Of course, Truth would have moved on. He probably had a girl in his bed the day I left. 

He wasn’t in love with me. 

It was time I realised that.