by S. N. Garza
“Ha.” I shrugged my shoulders and got the other two cans I brought with me. I sure as hell wasn’t going to leave them here. I might need them some other time. I began walking down the alley to get to the nice neighborhood before I got to my side when I heard a heavy sigh behind me.
“Come on, then. I plan on being here the rest of the night. Waiting for a shipment to come in. You can sleep on the couch.”
“Nah, that’s alright.”
“No, sir.”
“No, sir. Thank you though.”
“Are you going to sleep when you get home? Don’t you have school tomorrow?”
“Yes, I have school.”
What was this guy getting at? I told him I’d be here tomorrow after school.
“Names Johnny Myers. I own Southern Ink. If the reason why you left is at home then you are welcome to crash here. No judgement. Come on, now.”
I thought about it for a minute and then figured, what the hell? I sure as hell didn’t want to go home. It had been a particularly bad night. He had stumbled upon a photo of him and mom and they had looked happy. Then he saw me, and I knew I looked just like her. And he wanted to crowd me and slap me around. I had rushed to my room, got my backpack and left from the bedroom window. I had stolen a lock and chain for my bedroom and dad never tried breaking down the door.
There had been only so much bullshit I could take from him and then I had to escape that shit.
Johnny had led me in through the backdoor, and made sure he locked up when I followed him into a break room. The couch there wasn’t big enough for me, but at least I could curl up and pass out for a few hours. I went to sit on the couch and somehow, sitting on that couch felt better than anything I’ve ever had the pleasure to sit on. And that was saying a lot. Johnny left the room and was back with a bottled water, a thick blanket and a granola bar.
“Eat and drink if you need it, here a blanket. Get comfortable and rest. I’ll wake you up in time to get going and to school.”
“Why are you doing this? Sir?”
“Because I see something in you boy I hadn’t seen in a long time.”
“What’s that?”
“Maybe someday you’ll figure it out by yourself. Now, get some rest.”
)()(
When I heard those fucktards outside, I had planned on ignoring them. I didn't want to deal with their bullshit but when I heard a female whimper, something about that made me become instantly alert and took off like a jet. There was a girl lying face down in the dirt and although I should have stopped and helped her first, there was no way I was a going to let Geoffrey Romoth and his cretins get away with bullying a girl. That just didn't sit right with me.
I caught up to them easily, grabbing one by the back of the shirt and yanking him backward and to the side until he slammed against a building wall. I didn't have time for him. My goal was Geoffrey. The ring leader. I did the same to the next guy, God, they were fucking pathetic.
And they called themselves football players. Romoth shouldn't have looked back, because when he did there was a falter in his steps as he walked into a pot hole. As he went down I tackled him. I pinned him to his back holding his arms down with my legs.
Grabbing him by the scruff of his neck, I brought him close.
“Bullying a little girl? Didn't you learn manners?”
I laid a punch to his face and he tried bucking me off him but I outweighed him by at least twenty pounds.
“Stupid lesbo was asking for it.”
“No girl asks to be raped and beaten you sick little prick. Go near her again and I'll make you regret being fucking born. Worthless creep.”
I shoved him back and got up.
“Don't even think about trying to come after me Romoth. You and your boys are no match for me.”
“We’ll see about that.”
I ignored him and hurried back around the corner to see the girl huddled into herself. It took a few minutes and a little coercion and she let me take her inside SoIn. When I picked her up, she was surprisingly light for a girl who looked like she had some meat on her bones. She wasn't a big girl but carrying her I definitely felt her soft curves underneath my hands.
Her shirt had been ripped and she has the beginnings of a shiner. She was clutching her stomach as I sat her down.
Her name was Penelope Handleman. Such a pretty name for a pretty girl.
I went to go grab her a SoIn shirt to change into as Johnny asked if I was done with my smoke break. Hell, I hadn't even thought about taking a drag after going after those idiots. I sure as hell hope they don't try to press charges against me.
I shook my head but that wasn't enough so satisfy Johnny so he followed me back.
“What’s going on, Deke?”
I said nothing as I walked into the break room and let him see for himself.
He cursed low as he caught sight of Penelope.
“The hell happen, son?”
His dee gravelly voice made her flinch and I couldn't help but react the way I did. I stood in front of her so she didn't have to see the rising anger in Johnny’s eyes.
“Boy, I'd never hurt a little girl and you know it.”
“It's okay. I'm Penelope Handleman. You can call me Penny. I tripped out back and stumbled. Deke here just offered to help me out. Just let me know how much the shirt is and I'll get out of y'alls hair.”
I looked at her credulously. Did she really think that was going to fly?
“Fucking hell, you fell? Penelope—
“Penny.”
I pinned her with my death stare but that didn't stop her from pinning me with one of her own. Her hazel eyes burned with green, browns and blues swirls.
“Penelope that is not what happened.”
“Says you.” Damn she was stubborn. She looked past me and when I turned I saw that Johnny was not even looking at her but at me. His eyebrows were raised and he looked like he was about to smile. I pinned him with the death stare but he just rolled his eyes. “If you don't mind, I'll pay for the shirt and go home. My parents are probably worried.”
I looked over my shoulder to see her stand but her arm was still clutched to her stomach.
“What's wrong with your stomach?”
I could tears clouding her eyes and I knew she was close to being past her limit. How I knew? No fucking idea but I felt it. What the hell was wrong with me?
Her blouse slipped and revealed the delicate flesh of her collarbone to the top swell of her breast.
She just shook her head.
I turned back to Johnny to find him gone. Hoping he was taking care of my next appointment, I walked past Penelope and grabbed the first aid kit in the cabinet. I returned to her, and sat on the coffee table across from her. She was huddled into herself.
“Penelope. He’s gone. Why didn’t you say what happened?”
“It’s none of your concern. Thank you for helping me. I’ll pay for the shirt, but I need to get home.”
“Sweetheart, your brow is bleeding and you look like your growing a shiner. The corner of your mouth is cut. What else did that asshole do to you? What’s wrong with your belly, Penelope?”
“He punched it.”
My hands fisted in the shirt I had over my lap. Fucking Romoth. My hands automatically went to her hair, which was damp and straggly from being pushed down into the wet pavement. I brushed it back and went to open the first aid.
“I’ll clean the worst of it before you change. You don’t want to get the shirt bloodied.”
She nodded and I swear the tears in her eyes were bubbling once again.
“Cry if you have to, Penelope. He scared you, didn’t he?”
She nodded, keeping her head down. I put the crook of my finger under her chin and lifted it until I could see her beautiful multicolored eyes.
“Trust me, sweetheart. He won’t ever be messing with you again.”
One lone tear fell and it was like someone had taken over my body. I leaned in and kissed away the tear on
her cheek. Other than the widening of her eyes and a small gasp, she didn’t’ say anything.
I got to work on her brow, she hissed in pain as I cleaned the cut there and at her lip. Rage settled through me, a burning desire to go find those shitheads and really pound into them.
“Thank you.” Her voice was small, meek and shaky.
“What for, sweetheart?”
“For saving me. And for not telling your boss.”
“I’m sorry it happened to you. I’m glad I was there. And I’ll tell him.”
“But—
“Penelope, I beat them. If they press charges, I want Johnny to know ahead of time.”
More tears formed. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Deke. I hope they don’t. But if they do, I have no intention of keeping it to myself. Maybe I should take some pictures. Just in case.”
“You don’t have to. I knew what I was doing.”
Her hand reached out and settled on my arm. “It’s the right thing to do. I hate that I have to see them in school, but I’m not the type of girl to just let—OH NO! My backpack!”
She tried standing, but wobbled instead.
“Penelope, sit tight. Here.” Passing her the shirt, I stood up, doing my best not to intimidate her, but not wanting her to panic about her belongings. “You’re looking better. Switch into the shirt and I’ll go out back for your things, okay?”
“Thank you.”
I took a little chunk of her hair, twirled it around my finger and winked before drawing back and leaving.
This day had started out so ordinary. But there was just something about her that just clicked right in my brain. This girl brought out a side of me I didn’t know existed.
Chapter 3
Penelope
The bad boy in town was being nice to me. He rescued me. I was in one of his classes in school. Algebra. I sat in one corner in the back as he sat in the other. Always last to enter and always first to leave.
Of course he never noticed me. I was a freshman. He was repeating his senior year for skipping too much last year. Although he had a reputation before I ever saw him. He was a ‘miscreant’, my mother said. A ‘good for nothing’, my father said. Maybe he was just misunderstood.
I took me a good minute or two to stand up, my body ached something fierce. I unbuttoned my top, and since my bra was just as damaged and damp, I took it off too. I slipped on the surprisingly soft shirt with the tattoo brand on it when I heard a choking sound.
I popped the top over my head quickly to see Deke standing there, his mouth wide open and his eyes wide like saucers as they zeroed in on my chest.
“SORRY!” I quickly turned and hurried the shirt over my head. “Stupid.” I whispered to myself. More tears bubbling in my eyes. “Stupid. Stupid.” I was scared out of my wits to turn around. I showed the shirt down and refused to turn. Naturally he had to come in at that exact moment. I was half freaking naked and he saw all my chub. And my big boobs. I felt the flush of embarrassment rise all over. Why was I being such a watering pot?
“I’m so sorry, Penelope. I should have knocked. It was my fault. I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t see…much.”
A harsh laugh ripped from my mouth. Sure he didn’t see much. My gigantic boobs were totally out on display. Sometimes I wish they were small. So no one made fun of me or made sick jokes behind my back. I didn’t think I was fat. Not really. I was a size ten. My mother had hips, and boobs. Although I think mine were bigger than hers but I wore big enough clothes that they didn’t really notice. At least my parents.
I heard his heavy steps walking towards me. I tried to make myself smaller but that was not happening. Deke was taller than me, a whole head and then some above my whole five foot two.
“Yeah, didn’t really convince you? But I promise I didn’t mean to do that. It was disrespectful and like I said I should have knocked. However, that little laugh right there, makes me think you have an issue with your body.”
“Uh, hello. I’m a girl. I’m not exactly little and you’re the only person who has ever seen my…my…” I gestured to my boobs, which of course jiggled as I moved. I rushed to cross my arms and I peeked up Deke to see his expression. He was looking at my face with those warm grey eyes of his. “What?
“Yes. I’m sorry. I did see. You are gorgeous.”
I couldn’t control the roll of my eyes. “Thanks. I think I’m better now, Deke. Thank you.”
“I mean it. Don’t take it the wrong way. I’m not hitting on you.”
That seemed to make me feel worse. So I wasn’t even attractive. Not that I should even care about that but the only guy that was ‘attracted’ to me was Jimmy. Geoffrey’s little brother. And I didn’t’ even want his attention. He wasn’t who I’d thought I’d go for. I mean, of course Deke wasn’t hitting on me. He was older, he was seriously good looking with his jet black hair and grey eyes that seem to notice way too much. He’s probably had tons of girls. While me, the little ugly duckling could only grab the attention of an acne infested, unhygienic, greasy boy who thought of only being with me for one thing. He had been a friend once. But it was like my body grew over night and then he started asking me out and wanting things. I mean, hello! We were only kids for one. And two, when he ‘grew’ overnight, it was like he became this ogre. I remained friends with him because he’d been my only friend.
When I rebuffed him, that friendship faded into nothing and all I’ve had for the last two years were Netflix, and my flute. Hardly any real company.
“Penelope? I didn’t mean to offend you. You’re what? Thirteen? Fourteen?”
I glared daggers at him. Really?
“I am fifteen, almost sixteen. We share Algebra for goodness sakes!”
“Wow. I—wow. Well, I’ll be nineteen in January. Still too old for you.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Alright, little brawler.”
“Stop calling me that. I didn’t do anything. I tried fighting you, remember? I couldn’t even. I tried but he…”
My words caught off. I didn’t want to remember what he did. What he could have done. Would have done if Deke hadn't shown up. I felt a warm hand on my cheek and he lifted my face tenderly.
“I know. We’ll work on it.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“So. I know this sounds probably ridiculous, but I feel connected to you. Like I was at the right place at the right time. It had actually been another artist’s break but he got held up. So I took mine. Penelope, I don’t believe in coincidence.”
“Neither do I.”
He nodded and reached over to the couch to grab my backpack.
“Will your parents be mad if you’re not home for dinner?”
“Oh, no. They might worry, but…” I couldn’t help but falter in my explanation that this wasn’t the first time I missed the bus. That I ran late from my last class.
“You can tell me. I’m not exactly a gossip monger.”
That made me smile. He was just as alone as I was. “This isn’t the first time—
“They’ve fucking messed with you before?”
Deke’s rage was palpable. He turned and he slammed his fist into a locker. “I knew I shouldn’t done worse to those sorry mother fuckers. Fucking—
“No! Not that. What happened earlier was the first time that’s ever happened. I meant the whole walking thing. I usually take the bus, but I ran late. It’s happened a few times already since school began. Both my parents work six to six.”
“So you’re home alone? At night? By yourself?”
“Yeah. That’s what home alone means. My dad was laid off a while back. He took a serious cut in pay and my mom well, she couldn’t find a day job so they took shifts that were similar.”
“I don’t like that. That’s dangerous.”
“Can’t be helped. I haven’t had any trouble. I normally play my flute. Or I watch Netflix.” And I couldn't help but mutter under my breath, “I have etix iction.”
&n
bsp; “You have what?”
“Netflix addiction. I love watching Netflix.”
His chuckle was warm and gentle as his breath cascaded over my face. His cinnamon smell wafted over me and my sigh was one of contentment.
“I really should get going. I do have homework and I’m trying to get a solo in band for the Christmas play.”
“Sounds serious.”
“It is. Music is my passion. I love playing my flute. The sound of it just brings me peace. It’s therapeutic. Even when everything else feels wrong, that feels so right.”
“You make it sound like nothing compares.”
“Nothing does. At least, nothing yet. I have yet to find something that takes my entire focus like that does.”
“I like that. If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, I’d like to walk you home. Just to keep an eye on things. Make sure nothing or no one jumps out at you.”
A blush of excitement crept up my face at his offer to escort me home. “That would be really nice. Thanks. But I don’t want to take you from your work. I’ve done that enough.”
I stuffed my ruined clothes in my bag and I was about to slip it on my shoulders when he took it away and slipped it on one of his. His knuckles caressed the flesh at my jaw making my eyesight hazy. He really was terribly good looking.
“It’s okay, Penelope.”
“Penny. How many times do I have to tell you to call me Penny?”
“I like Penelope. Penny sounds like a little girl’s name.”
I burst out laughing at the comparison. Deke had a funny side. His smile was warm and I felt it all the way to the bottom of my stomach.
“Everyone calls me that.”
“Well, sweetheart. I’m not everyone.”
On that I wholeheartedly agreed. He was unlike anyone I had ever met
I shrugged because being this close to him made my skin prickle with awareness. I felt flustered when I shouldn't feel anything. This boy was way out of my league. Not only that, he was a bad boy. He had tattoos all over him. He had a reputation. My parents would not approve of him.
His finger tipped my nose and he walked around me, making me fall in behind him.
