Pick-up Stix

I looked inside of the truck at Raven. She was sitting quietly in a far corner hidden in the shadows. It was hot out, so she found a way to stay cool and out of everyone’s way at the same time. “You can walk Raven up so she can take a look around. I’m sure that’s something you won’t get the third degree for since you’re technically not moving anything.” I whistled to Raven and she walked up and stood between Sam and Alex. She looked like she was ready to take a nap. “Let me go grab her leash out of my car; I’ll be right back.” I shielded my eyes from the blaring sun as I dug into my pocket to get the keys, slowing my pace when I saw someone standing by my car. My stomach sank when I recognized who it was. “How’s the move going?” Jordan asked smugly as I pushed by him to get to the passenger side of the car where Raven’s leash was. “Why are you here, Jordan?” I sighed. “I’m here to get my stuff.” I didn’t bother unlocking the car when he answered. “What stuff?” “The furniture you’re moving into your place; that stuff. It’s mine.” “Now wait a minute, you gave all of that to me for the apartment I was staying in!” “Yeah, an apartment that was in my name that I paid for every month,” he jeered. “I never said, ‘Here you go, Alora. Have some free furniture.’ I only got it so you’d have a furnished place, and a bed to sleep on. I’m not that heartless.” “But you’re heartless enough to come here and take it back? We’ve moved just about everything in already; you can’t do this! You don’t even have a place for any of it!” “All it’ll take is one call to a professional moving company, and they’ll come get everything so your friends don’t scuff any of it. I can just sell it to make my money back; maybe replace some of my old furniture with it.” I watched as he pulled out his phone and prepared to call whoever it was he had in mind to come and get all of the furniture we worked hours to get up three flights of stairs. I tried to think of something to say to make him reconsider, but the only thing I could think to do was text James so he’d come down and try to help me reason with him. I pulled out my phone as well and did just that, then put it back in my pocket after I sent the message. “Who’d you text, Mommy and Daddy?” Jordan mocked. “What’s going on?” James made it down just before Jordan mashed the call button. He trotted over to the both of us and stood by me as he caught his breath. That was fast, I thought. “I’m here to get my furniture,” Jordan said curtly. James wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Well that’s not happening. We worked all day getting that stuff up there. If you wanted it so bad knowing it was yours, you should’ve said something when you knew she planned on moving in the first place. You’re out of luck.” “No, Alora’s out of luck. I paid for that furniture, so it’s mine.” “You don’t even know if you’ll keep any of it; you said might sell it all,” I argued. “Really?” James went into his back pocket and fished out his wallet. “How much did you plan on selling it for?” Jordan’s face went stone cold. “You can’t afford it.” “Try me,” James challenged. They stared each other down; neither of them moved a muscle. I could tell the gears in Jordan’s head were working full speed. I knew he wouldn’t come up with a ridiculous amount, but I also knew that he’d come up with an amount that was higher than what he originally paid. No one would be able to challenge him on it because we had no idea what he paid when he first bought everything. “$3,500,” Jordan finally barked. “For a queen-sized bedroom set, dining room table, and front room furniture?” James said with a raised brow. “It’s high quality furniture.” “I’m not saying it isn’t.” James dug into his wallet and pulled out a blank check. “Alora, do you have a pen in your car?” I didn’t hesitate to unlock the car and grab one from the glove compartment along with the leash I originally went to the car to retrieve. They were still staring each other down as I handed him the pen. He leaned against the passenger window and quickly filled out the check, initialed the bottom, and handed it to Jordan. “I threw in a few extra bucks to cover the gas you wasted coming over here for nothing.” Jordan quickly folded the check and shoved it into his back pocket. “It better not bounce.” “Trust me, it won’t.”