He ticks his chin, motioning to the cops outside.
“Yeah... I saw them,” I say.
“Hey, beautiful.”
A voice I don’t recognize echoes behind me, traveling to my side. I flick my head up and give the woman a glance.
“Do I know you?” I ask.
She rests her hand on my wrist, her chest brushing against my arm. Clad in a skintight dress and high heels that make her a bit wobbly, she gives me a come hither look.
A mane of platinum blonde hair frames her delicate face, blue eyes, and red lips, enlivening her features.
She reminds me of a high-end hooker; if cops weren’t outside, I’d almost believe her.
Her hand slides down my arm before smoothly slipping to my thigh. Leaning against me, she brings her lips to my ear as if she wants to tell me something, and then she flicks her hand up and gives my cock a long tug.
I stifle my reaction, my eyes sinking into hers.
“I’m looking for some fun. And you come highly recommended,” she says under her breath.
I peel her hand away from my groin.
“Do I?” I sneer.
This isn’t even subtle.
Brazenly, she slides her fingers back to my fly. I grip her hand and tear it off my groin for the second time.
“You give public service a new meaning, darling. Why don’t you go outside and join your colleagues?”
It takes her two seconds, and her smile drops from her face. She purses her lips and throws me a vitriolic look before straightening her back and pulling away.
“What did she want?” Scott asks.
“She was fishing. A cop.”
I toss my drink back, leave the cash on the counter and take the back exit, rushing out of the establishment.
The air is crisp, and a big, sullen moon reigns over the clear, dark sky.
Twenty minutes later, I stop by my house. The place is sunk in darkness.
I park the car in front of my place, and for a few moments, I just sit there, lights and engine turned off. Staring as if I were looking at a postcard from the past.
I watched this place crumble for years, switching from days of joy and light to nights of sorrow and despair. Stripped of all the good things that once had made its heart, the place died a silent death.
Nothing could’ve warned me back then that I’d change with it–– crumble with this place––and that I’d get broken, torn apart, and put together by the darkness, not the light.
As a teenager, I was curious, trustful, confident, and eager to learn. The world belonged to me back then, and I was loved, and love made me feel safe. It also made me dream big.
I had so many ideas I wanted to explore and so many questions I wanted to ask, and so many dreams as I believed in my future.
I wasn’t shy, and I was far from perfect. I was naughty and got up to some serious mischief, but I never crossed the line.
I spent time at home whenever I could. I read a lot and drew a lot. I also liked sports and girls, and I had many friends. Jacob was like a brother to me.
We buddied up and did a lot of things together, teasing Sara while keeping secrets from her. That changed a lot later, when we all grew up, and she captured Jacob’s heart.