beyond the boundaries*
chapter 08
Amanda sat in the cab alone. She still couldn�t get her mind off of what Josh said last week and her and Eve fighting. They still weren�t talking. Her cell phone ringing interrupted her thoughts.
�Hello?� She said
�Hello sweetheart how are you?� Her father said
�Hi Daddy, fine.�
�Good. So I hear you�ve been kind of down lately?�
She sighed, �Did Eve snitch on me?�
�No, what happened between you two?.. Johnny told me that he noticed you two were quiet to each other lately.�
�It�s just that me and her got into a fight last week.�
�About what?�
�I don�t wanna talk about it.�
�Amanda.�
�What?�
�Don�t be like that� what happened?�
�She�s mad because I wouldn�t tell her what�s none of her business.�
�And that would be?�
�If I wouldn�t tell her why would I tell you?�
�Cut the attitude young lady. You two better learn quick how to get along or else I�ll go there and straighten it up myself�got it?�
Amanda sighed, �Yes.�
�Now get back to work. Talk to you later.�
�Yeah, bye.�
�Amanda��
�What?�
�I love you�be careful.�
�I will, bye Dad.�
�Bye.�
Amanda hung up the phone. She leaned back running her fingers through her hair.
�Why does my life have to be so complicated?�
�I ask myself that everyday.� The cab driver said
�Huh?�
�I said I ask myself that same thing everyday.�
�Oh.�
She thought to herself �Mine has got to be 10 times more complicated than your man.� She looked over at the guy. He looked in his late 20�s, dark brown spiked hair, average sized built guy. �Dimples� She thought as she noticed them when he smiled. �How cute!�
The cab came to a stop. She grabbed her purse, paying the driver before she left. She stepped out of the car and shut the door.
�Thanks for the ride man.�
�No problem�have a nice day!� He smiled and winked.
She closed the door and walked to the entrance of the airport. The guys were going to another state again. This time Chicago, Illinois.
Amanda put her luggage in the compartment above her seat. She sat in her seat getting comfortable.
�Hello Ms. Amanda.� Chris said
Amanda looked up. �Hi Chris, you sitting next to me?�
�If you don�t mind.�
�Not at all, go ahead.�
�Ok, I have to go to the bathroom real quick though.�
�Okay.�
Chris disappeared to the back of the plane. Amanda looked up seeing Josh entering the plane. He saw her and winked, she smiled and winked back. Joey was walking right behind Josh and he saw Amanda wink at him. He smiled and raised his eyebrows up and down at her, returning the wink. She laughed smiling at him.
Joey sat down next to Josh a few rows away from Amanda and Chris. �OMG C, Amanda was checkin� me out.�
Josh laughed. �O-K Joe.�
�I�m serious�you think she�ll go for me? Do you know if she�s got a boyfriend?�
Josh shook his head, �She has a boyfriend.�
�Really? She never talks about him. How long?�
�I don�t know Joe.�
Joey shut up after that. Chris walked by them.
�Hey Chris come sit over here.� Josh said
�Nah it�s alright, I�m sitting with Manda.� He said
�Ok.� He looked over towards Amanda. She was looking at him, she smiled.
Chris went and sat down next to Amanda.
�So Amanda�anything new?�
�Nothing really�I think I might be coming down with something.�
�Aw poor thing�you been taking your vitamins?�
She laughed, �You sound like my mom. She always made me take my Flintstones vitamins.�
He laughed, �How cute�you have any brothers or sisters?�
�No only child.�
�Oh, you have a picture of your mom and dad?�
�Um�a really old one.� She got out her purse. She took out a picture of her and her mom. She handed it to Chris
�Wow, this is a really old. How old are you here?�
�About 4 or 5.�
�Your mom is pretty�we know where you got your looks from. You look just like her.�
He said. Amanda smiled.
A tear ran down her cheek. Chris looked at her.
�Aw, are you ok?�
�I�m fine, I just miss her.�
�Where�d she go?�
�She left when I was about 5.�
�Left, like where?�
�She died.�
�Oh I�m sorry.�
�It�s ok�but please don�t say anything to anyone. I can�t get personally involved like this.�
�Oh, ok. I promise I won�t say anything.�
�Thanks.�
�No problem.� He wiped the tears away and gave her a hug.
�Your so sweet Chris.�
�I know.� He laughed.
The two continued to talk for the rest of the flight. They were crackin� each other up, laughing so hard and being loud. Everyone kept looking at them. The flight finally ended and everyone went outside quickly to go to their next hotel.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
�Ok these are the assigned hotel rooms, listen up.� Mike, one of the bodyguards said.
�Justin and Chris, room 218�Joey and Lance, room 220�JC and�Amanda?�uh there must be some confusion, room 219. We�ll check up on that�Ok, Marcie and Brad, room 221. Maybe you two can switch?�
Everyone got their keys and went to their assigned rooms.
Amanda walked into the room, Josh followed close behind.
�You going to switch rooms?� Josh asked
�No, do you want me to?�
�Well no�but..�
�I don�t even want to be in the same room as her.�
�Geez�what happened between you two?�
�She�s mad at me cause I won�t tell her what she wants to hear.� Josh laughed.
�Why are you laughing?�
He stopped, �I�m not anymore�sorry.�
�I�m kidding.� She laughed.
He walked over to her and gave her a hug. He kissed her forehead. She looked up at him.
�What was that for?�
�Nothing, just felt like it.� She smiled. He leaned down and kissed her on the lips. They interrupted by a knock on the door.
�It�s open.� Amanda said pulling away from Josh.
Mike walked in. �Is it ok that you two are assigned in the same room? Marcie said she�d rather just stay in place.�
�Figures.� Amanda whispered. Josh chucked.
�It�s alright.� Josh said
�Yeah.� Amanda agreed.
�Ok, remember to be at the studio by 9 AM tomorrow morning.� He told Josh.
�Ok.�
Mike walked out closing the door behind him.
�I think you need to talk to Marcie.� Josh said
Amanda sat down on the bed. Josh followed her and sat on the bed across from her.
�Why?� She asked
�Because you two work together and you need to get along.�
�She can come talk to me when she gets over herself.� She laid down on the bed.
Josh laughed lightly, �You�re so cute.� He leaned over and kissed her forehead.
�Ha, ha.� She said
�I�m going to go take a shower. Get some sleep sweetheart.�
�Okay.�
She watched him walk into the bathroom and close the door.
She closed her eyes and relaxed. There was a loud knock on the door.
�God damnit. Go away.� She sat up waking to the door and opening it. It was Johnny.
�I have your bags Amanda.� He said
�Thanks Johnny.� She took them from him.
�So how�s it going with the guys?�
�Good, they all seem to like me.�
�Are you and Marcie good now?�
�Sort of�sorry about that, we won�t let out problems interfere our work though.�
�It�s alright. Have a good evening, goodnight.�
�Goodnight.�
She closed the door. She picked up her bags and walked to the safe in the room. She put her files, badge and gun in the safe before Josh finished his shower. Just as she closed the safe she heard Josh�s voice.
�Amanda.�
�Ah!� She jumped.
He laughed. She looked back seeing his head popped out of the bathroom.
�Yeah?�
�Sorry I scared you�have they brought out bags up yet?�
�Uh�yeah.�
�Can you get mine for me?�
�Sure.� She stood up and waked over to the door bringing his bag to him.
�Damn boy what do you have in here?� all your hair products?� She joked.
�Ha, ha. Very funny!� He said as she handed it to him.
�I�m kidding.�
�I know.� He smiled, then closing the door.
She breathed a sign of relief. �Whoa that was close!� She thought. Amanda walked over to her bag. She unzipped the bag opening it.
Lying in the middle of the suitcase on top of her clothes was an envelope with �Agent Amanda Jones� written in black permanent marker. She picked up the envelope, she pulled out the white paper. It said:
Dear Agent Jones,
How about you just cooperate and listen to what I have to say. I told you to tell Josh that you were with the FBI and I KNOW that you haven�t told him yet. So I will make a deal with you. I advise you to go with it. I want $10,000 by next Saturday or I will come find you. Got it? Take it to the diner 2 blocks away and give it to the cashier, don�t ask any questions just give it and go. It was a pleasure working with you! Thanks for your cooperation Ms. Jones.
�Oh my god!� She said
�What?� Josh said
She turned around seeing Josh with black drawstring sweats on and no shirt.
�Uh�uh�n-nothing.�
She got the letter and put it away.
Josh chuckled. �You ok sweetheart?�
�Y-yeah I�m fine�.super!� She put up two thumbs.
�Ok.�
�I-I�m gonna go change now.� She got her suitcase and took it to the bathroom with her to change into her pj�s.
Amanda walked out of the bathroom with black pajama shorts and a white wife-beater. She saw Josh sprawled out on the bed.
�You comfortable.� She laughed.
He smiled. �Yep.�
She went and laid down on her bed. She got under the covers and turned the light off.
�Goodnight Josh.� She said
He didn�t say anything. She heard him moving around. She felt her bed move and Josh got under the covers.
�Josh�what are you doing?�
�Going to sleep.� He said wrapping his arms around her.
�Uh, are you sure�someone might walk in?�
�Don�t be so worried baby.� He kissed the back of her neck, sending chills throughout her body.
�Ok.. I�ll try.� She said
�Goodnight sweetheart.�
�Goodnight.� She fell asleep with a smile on her face and feeling safe in his arms.