THE JACKAL'S GIRL

"When exactly are we going to go in Ava?"Emma asked in a whisper.

"Yes, when? We can't have anyone running into you two there" Jaden asked over the earpiece

"Just a little while longer you two". The security guy is still at the gate. If we jump in now...we would get caught. Just hold on"Ava coaxed.

She kept her eyes on the guard while hiding quietly in the bushes hoping he would leave that spot that he seemed to love suddenly.

"Are you sure Amelia wouldn't get mad at you two for doing this?"Jaden asked

"Would you look at that Emma? Someone is trying to bail out on us" Ava accused.

Jaden leaned on the car seat till he finally agreed with them in a defeated sigh.

"Maybe he deserves this then" he adds.

"No one breaks our friend's heart and gets away with it! How could he break up with her on her birthday? That is just cruel!" Emma pointed out.

"And we're doing this to do what? Get back at Amelia's ex?" Jaden asked

"If you hurt one of us, you hurt all of us!" Ava offered

"Why did I get dragged into this? Jaden asked again for the third time that evening.

"You have a car" the girls chorused.

"Right"

"He's gone. Come on"

Ava and Emma moved slowly out of their hiding spot and jumped into the compound. They sneaked to the back door and found their way up the stairs.

"It's dark in here Ava" Emma whispered.

"Hold on to my hand Emma. We're not going to get even so easily, are we? Come on" Ava took Emma's hand and took their steps up the stairs carefully.

"You know, you could use this motivation of yours on something else you know?" Jaden teased.

"If you want to be a killjoy, you can as well keep an eye out for us. Just in case our dearest one shows up" Ava advised

They arrived at the second floor and no longer than that, they found Joel's room.

"Well, well, well, look what we have here" Ava shuts the door quietly behind her.

"May our revenge begin" Emma and Ava did a fist bump and the duo went to different corners of the room.

Emma took Joel's laptop and knocked out all the letters on the keyboard.

Ava toilet papered the entire closet after which she poured a little something into all the body care products in the bathroom.

Emma pulled open his wristwatch drawer and gasped in surprise.

"My, my, my, look what we have here" she muttered. Ava joined her and gasped in shock too.

"These watches cost thousands of dollars," Ava pointed out.

"That jerk! Yet he never got her a birthday present! Such a jerk!" Emma picked one of the wristwatches.

"Now you're never going to wear them again" she smashed the glass on the watch and placed it back on the shelf as though nothing happened. She repeated the process for eight other wristwatches and was soon content.

"You girls need to get out of there! Joel is around" Jaden announced

"What? I thought he's not showing up until later at night?" Emma asked

"Get out of there! Now!"

"I was going to pour some water on his bed!" Emma whined.

"Let's go " Ava pulled Emma out of the room, closing the door quietly. They hurried down the stairs and made use of the back door, jumped over the fence in the gardens and were soon in Jaden's car.

"Success!" Ava cheered as she gave Emma an high five.

"Who would believe that you two are fully grown, women?" Jaden asked as he drove off.

"Depends on who's asking" Emma offered.

Jaden flicked his tongue.

"Where are we headed now?" Jaden asked

"The club!!!" The girls cheered loudly

"I texted Amelia, she's got no choice but to come with us" Ava pointed out

"We're going to get Amelia?" Jaden asked

"Affirmative"

**************

Amelia wiped the bow of sweat on her forehead as she took one more look at the wall clock...

Her shift was over. Like thirty minutes ago!

She waited patiently for Diya to show up before heading for the change room. She worked in a luxurious cosmetic store and her shifts were from the afternoons evening

"I am so sorry" Diya mouths as she heads for the change room.

At least she didn't have to wait an hour before Diya showed up.

A few minutes later, Diya walks out of the change room in her uniform heading toward Amelia's position.

"I'm so sorry. I lost track of time "

Amelia smiled.

"It's fine"

She walked straight to the change room to change into something more comfortable. A pair of jeans and a random hoodie. She strapped her bag on and headed out of the store quietly.

The sound of thunder seemed to alert her a little. She's been like a zombie all afternoon and much of everything that happened at the store was more of a blur.

And now, it's about to rain...

And she's got no umbrella...

Just magnificent!

"Surprise!" Emma and Ava chorused as soon as the windows of the car went down.

Amelia regarded them for a minute.

"No. I am not in the mood to go anywhere with you guys" she replied as she walked on.

"It's about to rain. Get in " Jaden instructed.

She couldn't deny a ride...not when the weather is changing...

Amelia took the offer and joined Jaden in the front seat.

"Come on Amelia. You've been like this for more than two weeks now. We're starting to get worried about you Melia" Ava said, holding her friend's shoulder from behind.

"I'm fine. There's nothing to worry about" she said pointedly.

"If we have no reason to worry then let's go party. All we ever do is work our lives out. We never got to loosen up a little " Ava pleaded.

"I'm not in the mood for this you guys really" Amelia sank onto the seat...

"If it would make you feel better, I popped out all the letters on that jerk's keyboard" Emma offered.

"What?" Amelia's eyes grew wide open, she turned to face Emma who offered her a shrug.

Ava wanted to wipe Emma's mouth shut with a decent slap on the chin.

What happened to the don't tell Melia part?

"Yeah, what?" Ava asked Emma with a meaningful look.

"What? She's not supposed to find out?" Emma asked....

As much as she would love to smack that nonchalant look off Emma's face, she had some convincing to do.

"Come on! All you ever do is work!"Ava coaxed in a childish whine.

"Don't tell me you two did something to Joel that I know nothing about?" Amelia asked glancing from Ava to Emma.

"I didn't do anything. You ask the person who said those words" Ava said glaring at Emma

"She was going to find out anyway. We all know what this Joel guy is like. Complete jerk"

Emma is unbelievable! They could have conveniently changed the topic and they wouldn't have to talk about this.

"What is she talking about?" Amelia asked Ava. For all, she knew Emma wouldn't come up with something that crazy.

"AVA HANTON!" Amelia called.

"Come on! Why do you suspect me first? It could have been Emma's idea or Jaden's!" Ava defended

"Hey, I wouldn't do something like that for any reason," Jaden said

"Let me guess they dragged you into it?" Amelia asked

"We were worried about you since.....you know" Ava sighed

"You and Joel broke up," Emma adds.

Jaden and Ava glared at her.

"If we're going to talk we can as well go straight into the point right?"

Emma has always been the one for being straightforward

"We felt bad about that jerk going scott free. Not after everything!" Ava said.

"And you decided to be what? An executor?" Amelia asked

Ava shook her head.

"We broke into his house"

"What?!" Amelia asked in shock

"Once again, it was Ava's idea," Emma pointed out.

"Way to go Em," Ava said in sarcasm

"Hey, I wouldn't want anyone getting the wrong idea," Emma said in her defence.

"You were with her?" Amelia asked Emma.

Emma shrugs

"You two could have been arrested! For whatever reason, that freak can think it!" Amelia scolded

"And we didn't get caught!" Ava pointed out.

Amelia glared at Ava, making her wipe her mouth shut in a thin line.

"Why would you risk your life like that?" Amelia asked

"We weren't risking our lives to be clear but..." Emma shrugs.

"Come on! He deserves it! We all know that unless we all want to deny it" Ava said glancing from Jaden to Emma.

"He deserved it, Emma said.

Jaden sighed...

He agrees too.

"Don't ever do that again! It is my problem and I would appreciate it if I fix it myself. Are we clear?" Amelia asked

Ava nods.

"We all know Ava is going to do this again right?" Emma asked

"Do you still have that paper tape Jaden?" Ava asked

"Yeah." Jaden passes the paper tape to Ava who forcefully tapes Emma's mouth. They do this to her whenever she'd crossed the line. Or when her facts aren't helping the current situation.

And besides, Ava wanted to get back at her for not being able to keep her mouth shut.

"I wouldn't want any patrol office to think I'm an accomplice to a kidnapper Ava," Jaden said, trying his best to steady his drive.

"Let go!" Emma snapped

"Keep that tape on or else!" Ava was threatened with a peppermint spray.

Emma frowned as she took her hands off the tape on her mouth.

"So you're coming to the club right?" Ava asked in excitement.

"No. I have to prepare dinner for Aunt and Uncle" Amelia offered.

"You aren't so fortunate with people are you?" Ava said in pity.

"Hey, she's got us," Jaden said with a smile.

"True"

"Come on Amelia! Take the night off. Those people were preparing dinner themselves before you moved in! What's changed now?" Ava asked

Ava has a point though. All she ever does is work and never a moment to herself... she was starting to lose focus on her life asides from that of other people around her....

"And if they kick you out of their house, you can move in with me! My mum would be more than happy to have you around!"Ava cheered

That was a nice offer too. Amelia couldn't deny the fact that she was getting tired of her aunt making life difficult for her. She couldn't move out since all her earnings went to her mum's hospital bills.

"You can take my condo. I am yet to find someone to take over the space since I moved out" Jaden offered.

Amelia smiled

"All so I can join you?" She asked

"Yes! So what do you say?" Ava asked expectantly.

Amelia sighed, this would be one heck of an argument with her aunt by tomorrow morning....

"Fine"

"YES!!!" Ava yelled in victory.

"Why the change of heart?" Jaden asked

"You're both offering me a place to stay. Why say no to that?" Amelia asked

Jaden was more than relieved to hear that Amelia would finally move out of her aunt's house. That old lady is the most ruthless woman there is.....

"Why are you smiling?" Amelia asked Jaden like he was being a total freak at the time.

"I'm glad you're coming with us. We weren't sure you'd come with us"

"Don't worry Amelia. I'll style you and make you the hottest girl in the club!" Ava said in excitement. She's been dying to style Amelia up like she's some kind of a muse...

"Should I be worried?" Amelia whispered to Jaden who flashed her a wink.

"I'll burst you out if things get crazy" he assured.

"I am so excited!!!" Ava shrieks.

Amelia found herself laughing at how crazy Ava was about the night out. The last time they had an actual hang out was during high school. They split up during college and did a reunion after graduation. They haven't hung out ever since. Sure they showed up at her work sometimes and created a whole scene with crazy customers in the store but she wouldn't count that as hanging out.

Now, they are heading to Ava's store; she promised to perform some magic on the girls and promised Jaden he would be left out.

No hard feelings right?

Amelia wasn't sure how to take the weird look her friends had on their faces. Most especially Jaden. She wasn't wearing anything spectacular in any way and yet they were all staring at her like that .....

Should she be worried?

"Should I take it off?" Amelia asked, not sure what to make out of the look on their faces.

"No!" They all chorused

Amelia narrowed her eyes at them.

"Then why that weird look? It's only a dress..."Amelia pointed out.

"And glam makeup. And all that curve" Emma shook her head.

"We're going to play bodyguards tonight" she adds.

"She'll be fine," Jaden adds with a smile.

"Thank you" Amelia replied

"Seeing you all love my little makeover, can we head to the party already?" Ava cheered.

Amelia's phone beeped; her aunt.

"Who?" Ava asked.

"My aunt"

"That witch" Ava spat.

She dislikes Amelia's aunt so much...she wasn't the nicest person to Amelia nor was she to her friends.

"Where are you? You are a rotten wretch! Will dinner cook itself? Uh?"

Emma rolled her eyes on hearing the old lady curse. Shouldn't that be a thing that a young person should do? Curse?

"I'm not coming home early tonight aunt" Amelia informs

"What? Can you hear this good for nothing wretch? Talking to me like that!" Her aunt yelled.

"Sara can handle dinner for the night. I'll be busy tonight. Have a nice rest" Amelia disconnects the line and places her phone in her pocket.

"I was going to tell her off big time!"Ava said.

"Now that's settled, can we go now?"

*********

The loud music and the bodies swaying to the music felt new to Amelia as they walked toward the bar. She could barely hear Ava scream in excitement in here.

"You guys can settle at the bar, I need to check out that hottie over there," Ava said, making eye contact with a guy across the huge hall.

"And then what?" Emma asked, folding her arms.

"Steal his car keys..of course, I'm going to ask for his number" Ava rolled her eyes at Emma's words.

"Be careful, okay? You can't trust people you meet at a bar like this" Jaden warned.

"I'll be fine dad" Ava teased

"I'm just looking out for you. Ain't no crime in doing that" Jaden pointed out.

"Byee" Ava walks towards the guy and settles on a seat beside him. The conversation hits on quickly and before they knew it, he was asking her to dance.

"Should I call that a gift or what?" Jaden muttered as Amelia laughed. Ava had always been the one to get what she wanted.

The poor guy.

After the club, Ava would never call or text him again....

"Do you want to dance Amelia?" Jaden asked, offering his hand.

Amelia smiled.

"What an offer. No cheesy lines this time?"She teased

"We've gone past that. Come on"

"Fine. Can we stay here instead? I'm a bit exhausted from work" Amelia pleaded

"As you wish"

"And I'm out of here. I wouldn't want to ruin your love Dovey moments" Emma raised her glass in a cheer as she excuses them.

"What lovely dovey moment?" Amelia asked, a bit confused.

Jaden shurged

"I'm glad Pricy isn't here"

Amelia laughed. Pricy used to be a part of the click but, she travelled for her masters a year back.

She'd have made fun of Jaden the whole night, calling him a lover boy.

"Speaking of Pricy, she'll be back in a month" Jaden informs.

"Really?"

Jaden nods

"Ava and Emma..."

"They're aware"

Amelia cheered in excitement at the news. Pricy coming back would finally make the group complete!..

Ava joins them with a look of distaste on her face.

"Something happened to Mr charming?" Jaden teased

"Told me he had something to attend to. What a joke!" Ava gulped her entire glass while her friends watched with their mouths agape.

Ava is bound to get drunk.

"Slow down Amelia" Jaden cautioned

"I just lost my shot at a really good guy. Because he had worked on a Friday night at nine pm!" Ava pointed out.

"Easy there. I wasn't the one who got him busy alright?" Jaden reminded me.

"Did you get his number?" Amelia asked

"No.." Ava replied in disappointment

Amelia pats Ava on her back.

"Want my barbecue?" Amelia asked.

Ava nods as she settles down on a seat beside her.

Emma walks towards the bar with a guy fast on her heels.

"Hey, I only asked to dance," the guy said innocently.

Emma glared at the guy and that was all he needed to back off.

"Pest," Emma said, taking her seat.

"One moment you left to dance and the next you picked up a fight" Ava shook her head.

"That wasn't a fight Ava. I told him I didn't want to dance and shouldn't that be enough of a reply?" Emma asked

"We're not here to pick fights now are we?" Amelia asked, glancing from one girl to another

"Depends on Ava" Emma replied.

Ava rolled her eyes.

"Well, I'm starting to get bored now. Can we all dance or what," Amelia stood on her feet, dancing to the music.

"Come on!" She coaxed

"If that hooker brothers me again..." Emma clenched her fist.

"We'll be together. Come on!" She said again.

"There's nothing to lose now is there?" Ava joins Amelia and soon Emna and Jaden follow suit.

The quad danced the night away cheering and forgetting their worries.

Amelia felt like someone was staring at her...intensely....

She followed where her instincts directed her and soon found herself staring up at the VIP area.

A dark shadow, leaning on the wall and staring down at her.

She could barely make out his face but she was almost sure he had his eyes on her.

But Why?

Have they met before?

"What is it? Are you okay?" Jaden asked

"Uhm"?" Amelia returned her gaze to Jaden.

"Is something wrong?" He asked in worry.

"Nothing...it's just.." Amelia glances towards the spot the stranger had stood earlier....he wasn't there anymore.

Odd...