99 to Nowhere

by DOMINO

  "We have a few make shift beds over there" Monroe pointed to a corner in the back of the room. A bathroom is down the hall where you can clean up if you want"

  "I'm not staying here—" I muttered.

  "You're not going back out there either" Rio interrupted. "Not tonight"

  "You're not my dad" I retorted.

  "No, I'm just trying to be a friend—"

  "I don't need any friends—" I retorted and rubbed my eyes, I was exhausted.

  "Look" He stood up, revealing his tall stature once again. "I understand you don't give a damn about anything right now, but—"

  "Rio—" Monroe interrupted. "Let him be—"

  "She’s not a he" Rio replied.

  Monroe and Cleo’s eyes were filled with surprise. "I'm sorry. I just thought—" Monroe stammered with embarrassment.

  "She's doing that on purpose. Listen to her voice man; she doesn't sound like a man" Rio rolled his eyes at Monroe. "I knew she was a woman when she first walked in here, kind of angelic—"

  I didn't like the way he looked me over. "Thank you for feeding me and letting me get warm" I said, scratching my head through my hat. "But I'm not staying here"

  "Yeah you are" Rio replied sternly. "If you walk out there, I'll just follow you, you'll die out there tonight. I don't like being helped either, but even I know I can't make it out there tonight" He pointed. "We're sleeping over on that end and you can set up over there so you'll feel safe, alright?"

  I looked at Monroe and Cleo's wide eyes before I agreed and walked over to the other side of the room. I threw my backpack into a corner and looked back at him, he was still watching me.

  "I'll cut you open of you even come near me" I threatened before I sat down in the corner.

  He nodded and walked over to the other side of the room where Cleo was already throwing a blanket over his back.

  "Nighty" Cleo sighed and pulled his blanket up to his chin.

  "See ya in the morning" Monroe huddled next to him.

  I pulled out my blanket and wrapped it around me. Even though I was inside, there was still a slight draft coming from somewhere, but knew it was better than being outside. I curled into the fetal position and closed my eyes. The last thing I remember were Rio's green eyes on me, and for some reason, it gave me a bit of comfort

  FOUR

  I woke up the following morning to find Rio's black fleece blanket thrown over me. I tried not to smile while I rubbed my tired eyes. The room was empty, except for Rio. He was sitting at the small wooden table looking at me. I sat up immediately.

  "What time is it?"

  "You got somewhere to go?" he asked with his mischievous grin.

  "Yes, I do" I replied haughtily.

  "I swear" He crossed his muscular arms. "I've never met a stuck up homeless girl, ever"

  "I'm not stuck up" I frowned and made sure my hat was still on my head.

  "Where are you from?" He asked curiously, his green eyes penetrated my being. I never encountered green eyes so bright. "You're not from here are you? You passing through?"

  I held my lips tight; I didn't like telling anyone my personal business. I didn't like letting anyone in. "None of your business" I answered with a frown.

  "None of your business" He mimicked and shook his head. "You’re a priss"

  "Yeah, prissy girls sleep in the streets, right?" I rolled my eyes and looked around. "Where are the others?" I didn't feel comfortable with his green eyes on me.

  "Gone"

  I raised my eyebrows. "Gone? Where?"

  "Oh, you can ask questions, but I can't?" He shook his head and took off his hat.

  I watched him run his hands through his shoulder length dark hair and swallowed, he was incredibly cute.

  "I was just, forget it—" I replied. I was irritated that he made a good point.

  "Cleo is back on the street, he's kind of a—" He shook his head.

  "Kind of a what?" I asked, anxious to know what he didn't want to say.

  "Well, he's on the street again and Monroe left for Memphis this morning. He's been doing odd jobs around town for a while, saving up money for a bus ticket. He left on the first one out this morning; he has an aunt there or something"

  "Good for him" I whispered, wishing I had family to run to.

  "Yeah, good for him" He whispered and fiddled with his thumbs.

  "You?" I asked curiously. "You have family?"

  He revealed his deep dimples and shook his head. "Take from them everything, but give them nothing, huh?"

  I was confused and tried to understand what he was saying. "I don't get it"

  "You, I don't even know your name. You want all of these questions answered, but you aren't willing to give an inch"

  I licked my lips and looked around me. I pulled the blanket up to my chin and stared at his tapping black boot underneath the table.

  "Maxx, that’s my name" I whispered.

  He cupped his hand to his ear and smiled. "What? What was that?"

  "Maxx" I smiled lightly. "My name is Maxine, but Maxx for short"

  He stood up and walked toward me. I was cowering in the corner when he approached me with his hand extended.

  "My damn girl, what have they done to you?" He asked when I flinched at his extended hand. "I just wanna shake your hand"

  I exhaled and stuck my hand out of the blanket. I shook his hand and felt how warm he was.

  "Nobody's done anything. I just don't trust anyone is all, including you" I quipped.

  His eyes widened. "But we just met" He replied in a high-pitched tone. "That's not fair"

  "Life isn't fair" I replied coolly.

  "That's true. If it was, I wouldn't be here" He replied and looked around.

  I furrowed my brows and stared at him. "Where are you from?"

  "Chicago" He answered quickly. "You?"

  "I don't know" I answered.

  "Well, where were you born?"

  "I don't know"

  He stared at me, trying to figure out if I was telling lies. "You don't know or you don't want to tell me?"

  "I don't know and don't care. It doesn't matter, because it won't change where I'm at this very minute" I answered with frustration.

  "Then where do you wanna go? Where do you wanna be?" He was persistent with questions.

  "Why are you asking me all of these stupid questions?" I asked with irritation and stood up. I picked up his blanket and tossed it to him. "Where is the bathroom?"

  "Right back there" He pointed. "Water doesn't get too hot, but it's warm enough"

  I snatched up my backpack and walked out quietly, hoping he would be gone when I got out.

  FIVE

  I pulled out the last pair of clean panties I had in my bag and made a mental note to steal some more. I tried to dry my long blond hair the best I could, knowing if it wasn't dry, I would get sick when I went back out into the cold. I braided it into one long braid and stuffed it back into my hat; I wanted to look as much like a boy as possible. I hated the way men looked at me. I didn't want to give them any ideas, and the more unappealing I looked, the better. I touched my face in the small mirror before I walked out to find Rio stuffing his backpack.

  I wanted to ask him where he was going, but declined. I walked by and began to fold up my blanket. I looked in my backpack and unzipped the secret compartment to make sure my two dollars was still there.

  "Where are you going?" He asked after he threw his bag over his shoulders.

  "I don't know—" I answered and watched him zip up his bulky down coat. I pulled down my hat and flung my arms through my jacket.

  "You know, you really need a better coat then that" He looked it over. "How the hell do you stay warm in it?"

  "It has a lining" I responded. I turned around, ashamed, once I realized he was still staring at me. "Where did you say that Cleo was going again?"

  "You wanna join him?" He furrowed his dark brows.

  "No, maybe" I shrugged.

  "You don't even know him�
�� He paused and studied me intently. “Are you?” He looked me over once more, trying to read my thoughts.

  "Am I what?" I asked when his face took on a concerned expression.

  "Are you down with him?" He looked disappointed. “Are you?”

  "What do you mean, am I down with him? I'm not sleeping with him" I shot back. I was offended.

  "I didn't say screwing him. If that's what I meant to say, I would have" He shoved his fingers into his gloves. "You on drugs?"

  "No!" I almost yelled. "No, no I'm not on drugs. I have enough problems"

  "That's good to hear" He replied. He shoved his hands into his coat pockets and smiled lightly.

  "Are you?" I shot back.

  He chuckled and shook his head. "I have enough problems"

  I nodded. "Well, it was nice to meet you Rio, take care” I threw my backpack over my shoulders and walked past him out the back door.

  "You too" I heard him say before the door closed.

  The snow stopped and the sun was blessing us with warm rays, but I knew it wouldn’t be for long. The freezing wind was still present to let me know it would be another cold night. It pierced my nostrils as I turned to walk up the street. I was standing on the next block when I caught Rio walking off in the distance. I watched him until he was out of sight. I felt somewhat bad I was mean to him, and as brief as it was, I missed the short conversation he and I shared. I shook off my feeling of guilt and walked slowly up the street. I was happy it was Monday and the college library was open, I would spend most of my days there, reading books to take me away when I could get away with it.

  Getting comfortable in a chair in a sunny corner, I pulled out a book and began to read, and wonder, where I would get something to eat for the night. I listened to a few college girls talking about what they wanted for Christmas and grew envious.

  "My dad said I can't get the BMW, so he's getting me a Prius instead. Can you believe it? How would I look driving that crap? My mom's gonna try to convince him to get me the BMW though" A tall brown-haired woman said loudly, interrupting my train of thought.

  I looked up to see her waving her arms dramatically to the two other girls that seemed captivated by her.

  Spoiled wench.

  I frowned and turned my attention out of the window. The sun was coming through the large paned windows and it made me long for summer.

  "Excuse me dear, are you a student?" Said an elderly woman that wore the badge, Millington College Librarian.

  I stared up at her red reading glasses in shock. I felt the world was focused on me when the group of girls stopped talking and looked over at me.

  "I, I just came in to read a few books. I thought it was open to the public" I stammered.

  She looked me over and tried not to frown. "The public library is down the street. If you want to stay in here” She pointed indiscreetly toward the floor. “Then I need to see your student ID"

  I smiled with hesitation and began to put my jacket on. I was embarrassed and wondered where I would go for the next couple of hours to stay warm.

  "Maxx, did you get that info for our macronomics class?" Rio asked loudly as he approached me. "Excuse me miss" He grumbled and brushed her lightly to the side. "If we don't have that turned in our finals will be crap" He turned to look back at her with an evil glare. "Is there a problem?"

  "I'm sorry; I didn't see her check in. Do you have your ID on you?" She asked and crossed her arms.

  "I don't believe this crap, as many times as I come in here I would think you would know me by now" He muttered as he dug into his backpack. He pulled out an ID and held it up to her nose. “Now, is there anything else?"

  "I'll need to see hers as well" She countered with embarrassment and shoved her reading glasses up further on her nose.

  He threw his arms up in the air and shook his head in dramatic disbelief. “I don’t believe this crap, really I don’t” He glared at her. "Wait a minute, what's your boss's name? When he finds out that you're humiliating the niece of one of our schools biggest contributors, your ass is grass" He whispered through clenched teeth. "I suggest you get over there and tell those girls to be quiet so we can study for our finals"

  She swallowed with embarrassment and walked away with her nose in the air.

  I exhaled relief. Thank you, I mouthed before I put my backpack over my shoulder.

  "Thank me later, we better go" He whispered and made me follow him through a row of bookshelves and down the stairs.

  "Where are we going?" I asked as I tried to keep up with him.

  "I got a place for a few days, just for the next three days, so let's go" he answered, glancing around him

  I grabbed his arm once we were outside of the library. "Thanks for getting me out of that, but I don't, I don't know you well enough to stay with you Rio"

  "You did last night" He furrowed brows.

  "We weren't alone" I replied and glanced back at the warm library.

  "Then you can earn your keep too. I'm washing dishes at Maldonado's tonight and it includes food and a place to stay. I'll wash, you dry, and we'll both eat and sleep, alright?"

  His green eyes urged me to say yes. I looked around at my snow-covered surroundings and knew it was a deal I couldn't refuse.

  "Alright—" I agreed.

  He smiled and motioned for me to follow him down the library steps.

  "Good, they get a lot of business and it would probably take me all night before I got some rest" He turned and looked at me. He was walking backwards down the street so he could look me in the eye. "Plus, they got the best spaghetti in Millington—"

  "Oh really?" I grinned.

  "Yes really, so let's go Miss. Maxx"

  SIX

  He took me to a small pizzeria that I walked past many times and held the door open.

  "What are we doing here?" I asked walking in.

  "Eating, duh" He nudged me ahead to an empty booth. He sat down across from me and took off his hat. "We can eat a pie and drink a hot cocoa’s until work time" He grinned.

  I studied his grin. "Are we eating and ditching?" I whispered and looked around at the faces of people sitting by us.

  "No—" He smiled. "Why, is that what you do?" His green eyes twinkled.

  "No—"

  "But you have, huh?" He chuckled and unzipped his jacket. "Take off your jacket and get warm"

  "Hasn't everyone at some point in their life?" I asked and took off my jacket.

  "Take off that hat too?" He continued to grin. "I already saw your hair in the library and I know you're a girl"

  "You followed me?" I asked slowly removing my hat. "You followed me" I smoothed down the stray blond strands that fell into my face.

  "Maybe" He chuckled before the waiter brought us two glasses of water. "We'll have the large—uhhh" He studied the menu and then glanced at me. "Can you give us a minute?" He asked the waiter that nodded and walked away. "Forgive my rudeness, Miss. Priss, but what has that stomach rumbling right now?"

  "It’s Maxx and I want the meat pizza" I replied dryly.

  "Woman after my own heart" He grinned and folded up the menu. He tapped the menu lightly on the table and stared at me. "How did you end up here?"

  "I don't wanna talk" I replied. I turned my attention out the window at passing cars, wishing I could hold one up and drive to nowhere.

  "Well, let me tell you about me then" He said and motioned to the waiter that we were ready to order. "Right after I order your meaty pie"

  I watched him order the pizza and studied his full pink lips and handsome features. His deep voice was soothing, yet playful, when he laughed. I studied his hands, his nails were clean, and I could tell he did his best to take care of himself, even if he was homeless.

  "Alrighty then, meaty pizza on the way" He grinned and rubbed his nose.

  "Go on" I motioned, suddenly curious about him.

  "Oh" He smiled, pretending he forgot about the conversation. "Me, right?"

  "Yes, you" I sighed.<
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  "Then you, right?"