Just The Boy Next Door

~20~

-In the Mind of CC-

I watched the girls walk happily down the street, giggling among themselves, and I couldn't help but lose my breath when I saw Selena. She had really come into her own and began to blossom into an amazingly outspoken woman since her arrival that one faithful night. I loved seeing her with DJ and Naomi, too; they were all close, and almost always together now.
While I watched the three girls approach, I tied the bandana a little tighter on my head, and ran my fingers through my poor attempt at hair brushing.
I really need to make it a point to brush my hair every day, I thought. She likes playing with it.
DJ made a beeline for her front door as Naomi waved and went inside, leaving Selena with a worried look plastered on her face, staring at her phone.

"Hey Beautiful." I smiled brightly.
"Hey, yourself," she looked up at me and returned the smile, beautiful and angelic.
Her eyes were a beautiful dark blue, not light blue like Andy's.
"You doing okay?" I was trying not to sound overly concerned, which I'm sure failed instantly.
"Yea," she sighed deeply, "She left me another voice mail."
"Your mom?" I was alert and ready to pounce at the thought of that woman.
"Yep," she entered her pin for her voice mail and played it loud enough for me to hear.

"Selena, hi it's mom again. You didn't return my phone calls so I got worried. I really hope you are staying about from Andy and his friends. Especially that one, the wild child, Christian, I think? Anyway, I bet you are wondering how I found out who all of these people are; I do know where you live honey. I was driving to the stadium for a job interview and spotted Ashley on the porch, you running to the door and into Christian's arms. You hugged him way, way too long, Selena. Why couldn't you have stayed at Harvard, and become a lawyer, or a doctor? He is just like your cousin; no good. If I find you are still seeing him, I will remove you from that house as quickly as you came. You are starting to become a tramp."

The phone call ended, and Selena was in tears, cheeks a bright red. Grabbing her in my arms, I held her for what seemed like forever, rubbing her back for comfort. I was scared for her, yes, but I couldn't let her see that. I was more that sure she knew, any way. After Andy and DJ talked to everyone about what she did to Andy over Winter Break and how angry it made Andy, I never wanted to meet this woman; well, unless it was her funeral.

"Baby, I won't let anything happen to you," I nudged her forehead with mine, getting a weak smile in return.
"Christian, I'm just so scared," she sniffed up her tears, "What if she does something stupid? I couldn't handle that. Not right now."
"I won't let that happen," I placed my lips on her forehead out of habit and kissed it, "If anything happened to you, I don't know what I would do."
Giggling, the raven haired girl looked up at me and smiled, brighter this time. Placing her forehead against mine once again, she began to calm down. I moved my hands from her back to her face, cradling it softly.

"Lena, I want to keep you safe," I kissed her forehead again and looked deep into her eyes, "But you need to stay safe, too. Please; for me if not for yourself."
Nodding, the girl giggled as she brush a vigilant hair back behind my ear.
Smiling, I took her in my arms and met her lips with mine, hugging her like there was no such thing as tomorrow. Pulling apart, her lips flushed slightly and eyes shining, I held her one last time before going inside.

"Nothing is going to happen, babe," I snarled at the thought of Maggie showing up, "Nothing."

Notes

CC is falling for Selena, and she for him. But will Maggie leave the two of them alone?