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“No, it’s not like that! Not at all!” Jimmy said quickly. “Well. At first, maybe sort of? But everything is okay now. I mean, see, he only came to me because he was trying to get to Augustus since your dad is investigating him, but then Maury had told me that Cold might be willing to make a deal, and he’s not worried about Augustus anymore anyway, and—”
“Whoa, whoa! Slow down!” Anna looked horrified. “Wait, wait, wait. So, this deal to pay off your debt came about because Cold thought he could use you to manipulate Dad?”
“No, well…” Jimmy grimaced. “It sounds really bad when you say it that way.”
“Yeah, it sounds pretty sick.” Anna didn’t even bother to hide her contempt. “What the hell were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that I had no job, no money, and no one else to fucking turn to,” Jimmy replied honestly. “Yeah, it’s not a perfect fairy tale or anything, but it’s worked out. I’m happy. I’m doing just fine now, thank you.”
“Getting shot at is just fine? Yeah, Dad told me about that too.”
“That doesn’t normally happen!” Jimmy protested. “I mean, there’s just a lot of stuff happening right now, and uh, you know. Gangster related… stuff.”
“Jimmy, you have your whole life ahead of you,” Anna scolded. “Why don’t you just get out of here and finish school? I still can’t believe you dropped out! I didn’t believe Dad when he told me. You were doing so great!”
Jimmy tried to pull away but Anna held his hand, prompting him to argue, “Look, things are just… complicated.”
“I’m worried about you,” Anna said sincerely.
“Yeah.” Jimmy scowled. “So worried you waited until today to find me.”
“Jimmy, I’ve thought about you all the time. I’m—”
“Didn’t you say you’ve been back for months?” Jimmy glared suspiciously. He had been happy to see Anna, but the timing of her sudden visit was quite suspect.
“Yes, but Jimmy, I’ve been really busy!”
“Busy? We haven’t spoken in years, Anna. You ran off to Raleigh for school, and I never heard from you. Not a letter, not a postcard. After all of this time, you just come flouncing in here, concerned and caring and you act like nothing happened.”
“I’m sorry, Jimmy.” Anna frowned. “I really do want to try being friends again.”
“Do you even remember the last time we talked?” Jimmy’s eyes slowly filled with tears. “Thanksgiving, I think? Like, five years ago? Six? When me and Augustus got into that big fight about my dad. Which, by the way, ha! Not once have you asked about how my dad is doing. Not once have you asked if he’s okay or how he’s holding up.”
“Well, Jimmy, he’s in prison,” Anna said softly. “What do you want me to say?”
“Maybe to actually give a shit?” Jimmy spat. “To maybe think for yourself for once and not parrot back everything that Augustus fucking says?”
“Jimmy!”
“Come on, if Augustus told you the moon was made of ice cream, you would ask what flavor.”
“That’s not true, I do question him! Constantly!”
“Not about my dad.”
“Jimmy, I’m very sorry, but your dad is exactly where he belongs. In prison,” Anna said, her voice strained yet firm.
She might as well have slapped Jimmy right in the face. He swallowed back a fresh wave of bitter tears and asked flatly, “Why are you really here, Anna?”
“Dad wanted me to try and talk some sense into you.” Anna crossed her arms. “See if it’s not too late to save you before you get yourself killed.”
“So you came to do Augustus’ dirty work?”
“I came here because I’m worried about an old friend.” Anna pressed forward and touched Jimmy’s leg. “We used to be so close, Jimmy. I still do care about you, believe it or not.”
Jimmy shook his head, pushing her away. “And I care about you. But this is what my life is now. I’m finally getting shit straight. I know it doesn’t look like it, but I am. I have a new job that pays really well, and I’ll be able to get my student loans under control in just a few months. I mean, crap, I actually will be able to go back to school eventually. I’ll be able to pay for it all myself. And I don’t care what you or Augustus or anybody says about Cold. You don’t know him like I do. There is so much good in him. The way he cares about the people close to him, how he tries to help them. He really believes in me. Something you and Augustus never did.”
“Jimmy,” Anna pleaded, “you’re talking about a convicted murderer. A criminal who—”
