Xander's Chance

"Hey."

"Hi, Jonny. This is Jessi."

"Yeah, I know."

She rolled her eyes. The punk had an attitude. "Listen, there was an …issue today at Xander's."

"He figured out why you were there."

"No, he didn't."

There was a pause.

"You still there?" she asked.

"I'll be right over." He hung up.

That's not good. Jessi started towards Brandon's to tell him to pack or hide.

A knock at her door stopped her. She crossed to it and peered through the peep hole, surprised to see Jonny's caramel features and black eyes. The teen didn't appear happy.

She opened the door. Jonny entered, his odd energy crackling around him. It filled the apartment and made the hair on her arms stand on end.

"I hope I didn't make this sound urgent or anything," she said.

"I was in the neighborhood."

Her gut sank. Was he watching her to make sure she did what he wanted? Her kids were home. How did she quit when he was able to hurt them?

He flung himself down into the oversized chair and lifted his boots onto the ottoman. His piercing gaze made her feel slightly ill. He seemed much older than his nineteen-year-old appearance.

"Um, I know you said Xander is different, but…" she shook her head. "He's a lot more than that."

"Hmmm."

"Why do I have a feeling you already knew that."

"You had a job. It doesn't matter what Xander is," Jonny replied.

"I know. I, uh, think we need a different approach."

"Like what?" There was a dangerous note in the teen's voice.

"Like he never takes off the necklace."

"Your problem to solve, not mine."

"Well …" Her eyes went towards the hallway where the kids were. Her heart was pounding fast and hard. "I'm wondering if I couldn't use a distraction."

Jessi waited, uncertain why the troubled look on the crazy teen's face still got to her, even knowing what she did about him. He seemed lost for a second then focused on her once more, the uncertainty fading.

"The idea has merit. Remove him from his comfort zone. It's something he taught me." Jonny shook his head. "I can use his lesson against him."

"Um, right."

"Find out his schedule tomorrow and tell me what day," he directed her. "I'll blow up his condo."

"My god! Nothing that bad."

"It'll destroy his comfort zone."

"I don't know … I mean, I'm not sure I can do this." Not that she'd miss the right angle hell that made her edgy, but blowing up someone's home?

"Why not?"

"Jonny, he bit me. Like, seriously, bit me," she said and showed him the two small scars.