Chapter 3 Barney.

Barney is an outstanding man not only because of his physical presence although it is undeniable that his broad muscular frame suggests a strength tempered with grace he is also cool headed and kind and all the fixings.

"Good morning Leona" for a big tall man he eyes are always so shy, it's always so intriguing to witness "good morning Nile."

"Good morning big, strong and handsome. How's it shaking" just for mentions sake, there's a blush on Barney's cheek.

"can I speak with Leona? Alone. Please". Always so polite. My mind raced through all the things we could do alone. But never in the shop so what now?

Nile begrudgingly left into the back. She won't listen in but a bizillion questions would be waiting for me.

"My mother has threatened me" his mother is above quite a number of people on the scale of crazy "if I don't get married by the next two weeks, she swears to jump into the waters"

"oh" because what can I say because that woman would do it. Barney will jump right after her and drag her out but she'll do it. "Monik?"

"I want you but I know, you have made it clear. I can't have you, not the way I want. Courtesy demands that I inform you first. I will marry Monik if she'll have me and. I can't meet you anymore. Monik will be my wife and I will love her" he was determined and pious. This is good. Barney was always too good for me everytime we met up I felt like I was dirtying him up and I'll admit, it felt good.

Barney was the type of man that sees the good everyone probably because he has always been surrounded by good people. he saw the good in me too and in return, I stringed him along for almost five years.

"Monik will have you because you're a great guy" the closest I've come to having a friend I can really trust hundred percent. The closest I've come to the concept of love. Barney smile was sad which it shouldn't be. like Nile said, Monik is a splendid woman and she'll treat him right him if she doesn't I will decapitate each of her joints, weighing on them until she dies of pain.

"I want you to be happy and experience giving yourself to someone you trust and love. I wish that someone is me but even if it isn't, I know it will happen"

'it won't' I thought to myself. They're so many ways that could go wrong.

Barney hugged me forcefully, the hug lasted a

hot few seconds before he pulled away. This time his smile was less sad. "Make sure to come to my wedding. Extend my invite to Nile." then he left.

I stared at the door for awhile until Nile came back in from the back door.

"What did Barney want?"

"He's inviting us to his wedding"

"To Monik?!."

"I guess so" my voice was barely audible and rough.

Nile pouted "good thing I didn't place that bet."

Of course there's a bet.

I tuned Nile out again as she continued to yap. Which is probably not a 'good friend' thing to do but I was busy trying to understand this strange sense of loss I was feeling. It didn't make sense. Barney isn't dead we were just not going to shank anymore. The feeling of loss was soon engulfed by another more sinister feeling. I wanted to kill Monik not just a clean shot to head. I wanted to watch her bleed out. All the ways I could make her bleed ran through head with so fast and with so much intensity, my head started to throb.

It was not the tap on my shoulder that pulled me out of the trance, it was Nile's scream.

My butcher knife is right at her throat. The wound is not deep but she was bleeding and worried.. "are you okay?" ...about me?

"Leona?" She took the knife from me and dropped it on the table. "This is definitely going in my diary -ways Nile would have died".

Why is she joking around?! "Would you believe, I'm already at 'almost died' number five hundred and fourteen" the blood has stained the neckline of her skyblue dress "the last time, you were there. I got stung by a sting ray. Twelve people playing in the water and only good ole Nile got the zaps. Sting rays are not even supposed to be in these parts" she was laughing now. I haven't felt this overwhelmed in ages.

"Hello to this shop" a group of women came to the shop that I own and sold meat in the shop, that I own. My feet were still and heavy thankfully, Nile my employee that works in the shop that I own that I almost slit her throat.

Person me,I can't seem to think straight..

Nile attended to the customers.

"Oh dear Nilly, what happened to your neck" one of the ladies gasped.

"What did I say about calling me Nilly?"

"You said you'll slit my throat but you done gone and slit yours first."

They all let out a boisterous laugh in enjoyment. "Anyways I want eight pounds of beef, six pounds of some mutton and pork. Each"

"You having a party?"

"Guessed right, my son got straight A's for the first time in his life." She leaned in as if she wants to tell a big secret but she was intentional loud. "My husband said he cheated but who cares an A is an A if you ask me. Lord knows I never got one of those in my day" another round of laughter. "You're invited. Make sure to come Leo"

"What did I just say about the nicknames" Nile hissed.

"Deal with it Nilly"

I guess Leo means me.

One after the other the woman bought their meat and left in good spirits as if there wasn't a fresh slash on Nile's neck.

Customer after customer, one chatty neighbor to another, borrowers and returners of things. The day carried on with ease. Nile went back home to change her dress. She came back with a new dress and a hello kitty bandaid acting like nothing serious happened. I even convinced myself that the incident was a fluke. I have always been aware of my surroundings, knowing who from whom was my specialty. I can literally tell friend from foe just by their presence. I have never made such a mistake before so I'm either losing some of my killer's skills (which I may not be so opposed to) or I'm in bigger trouble than I thought.

Nile tapped me. Obviously she wasn't afraid of my earlier outburst. "everything's going to be alright"