VENICE: PART FIFTEEN

"It made no sense...there are so many gaps that I can't figure it out." Felicity and Jenn looked concerned and they should be. I looked like a mess and no makeup or spa day could fix that, and I sounded crazy. I know I sounded crazy. I was sitting in our favorite cafe and my hands were in my hair. I wanted to pull at it and maybe cause myself pain. It could be the only time I'd for sure know if I was going crazy or not.

"What doesn't make sense?" Jenn asked and I looked at her and sighed.

"Well for starters, the fact that this person started popping up in my life the minute these papers appeared. The at Kalique's shop, the the cafe, and now he had evidence from my school about Oliver." I rubbed my temples because Felicity looked at me skeptical. I was trying to explain something important, why was she giving me that look? I looked at Jenn instead.

"Oliver? We know a kid called Oliver?" Jenn asked and I nodded answering...

"Gym rat?" She nodded in understanding now. Nobody in school was unaware of how seriously the guy took his art and gym works. He wasn't a bad person, but he was my suspect number two. The first was this Mr. perfect. I hated how things didn't make sense to me until now. I wanted to scream, he had an answer for everything and his vibe was off and it felt like I was in a cage of some sort around him and he was outside observing me. 

"So Q's demeanor doesn't sit right with me, sorry. I know he is helping but I feel like I should be more aware of him and its overwhelming." I said and Felicity just sighed folded her arms and leaned in. 

"You need to focus on your studies you're a senior in high school and you need university entry. Besides I told you Q isn't like that, he's worked with my brother for years." She said and I was close to letting out a scoff. I say my life is in danger cause I feel unsafe and the first thing you think about is school? Are you fucking kidding me? What was her deal with him anyway? Nobody was perfect, we all have a twisted side of ours and Felicity you throw a comment like that?

"What's your fucking deal with him?" I asked because right now I was brain dead, paranoid and exhausted. I really didn't have the patience to sugar coat my question. Jenn shakes her head at me but I ignore it because whatever mood she has been in for the past week was driving me nuts. 

"I have no deal about him, all I'm saying is you're basing something off gut feeling. The guy has done nothing to make you feel that way, and yet because you suddenly notice him he's a threat?" I was going to control myself from strangling someone, cause what the actual fuck? I suspected him because the guy was fishy! He didn't fit right in my radar and that was concerning me much more than I let on in the surface. 

"Felicity, don't start with me, I'm being stalked!"

"Then report it and let actual detectives do their job, this frustration you're feeling is self-inflicted. Let them know about it and let them deal with it." I sighed and laid my head on the table and let out a breathy laugh. I wasn't going to argue with logic like that I just wish she could be more empathetic than this.

"You didn't answer my question. Truthfully, what's your deal with him?" She leans back on her chair and picks up her bag and turns to me as she was about to walk away.

"No disrespect Venice, but that's none of your business." The she exists and Jenn and I are completely shocked. That was so unlike the friend we knew about and it shocked me and broke me at the same time. And she was the third person to do this to me. And it sounded like a brainwashed convoy that wouldn't tell me the truth about anything. 

* * *

"The inventory for the ink?" His eyes landed on me and gave me a little wave before going behind the counter to retrieve a little handbook. He flipped through it as he pushed his curly locks back and I tore my gaze away as he pointed down at the book.

"Looks like we didn't get a restock last month, and this month either." Kalique says and I nod somehow more disturbed that this place was clean too. Q returned the book and told me goodbye before putting his apron and going to prep in the back. Kalique glanced back at his direction and nodded slowly.

"This is why I like this guy, organized to a fault. I can never find a mistake in the things he does around here huh?" I wanted to scream, why was he saying that about him too? He wasn't some angel, he was a human being he made mistakes and I swear it wasn't going to stop me from trying.

"Almost too perfect." I comment.

"We all have our flaws, but Quincy is a good kid. I really wish I'd keep him forever I'm glad you guys are friends." I wasn't his friend, I was another woman around him who found him both attractive and dangerous and the fact that things seem to be lighter with him since the day I came to cry to him about Jace's death. He seemed lighter and more understanding than when we first talked. I didn't question people's character on first meet, but all I saw in his eyes were crazy and lust. Weird fucker.

* * *

"Did Felicity just say that? What the fuck?" Jenn said and I shrugged and let it go. Right now I wanted to breathe and take a break on all this.

"I have no idea what the problem is but she sure as hell likes talking about him." Jenn smiled and shook her head at me. I raised my brow at her and she leaned in making me do the same so she could whisper something to me.

"You are super dense if you don't know why Fel is acting like that." She says to me and I am on the verge of glaring.

"Oh, so she has a justification for acting bitchy these days? Really?" I say and Jenn rolls her eyes. I was being insensitive but I wasn't allowed to be nice all the time either. 

"No, you dense idiot. She likes Q."