“What kind of scholarships?” I asked, straightening myself.
Mrs. Mercury smiled she caught my interest. She walked back to her desk and returned with a stack of pamphlets.
“Here you go,” she said handing them to me. “The film scholarships require video entries of your work. You have an excellent eye, I don’t see why you can’t win.”
I met her gaze.
“Thank you,” I said genuinely.
I was very grateful for Mrs. Mercury and her encouraging words, thankful there was at least one person in this world who was concerned about me. The Super-8 Dawn gave me was going to come in handy. All I had to do now was figure out which of my stories to film.
Stuffing the pamphlets inside my backpack, I waved to Mrs. Mercury before I left the room.
After seventh period when the last bell rang, I walked down the hallway toward the parking lot where Julian was waiting for me to give me a ride to pick up my car, I saw Eddie standing by my locker. But I didn’t bother to stop.
“I need to talk to you,” he said walking parallel to me.
“About what?” I snapped. Eddie had been ignoring me all day, and suddenly he wanted to talk? I wasn’t in the mood to entertain him today.
“Is it true what they’re saying?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I responded playing coy.
“They saw you leaving with him Friday night.” I picked up on Eddie’s accusatory tone but shrugged it off. Although we were not a couple anymore, it annoyed me how possessive Eddie acted.
“If I did, it’s really none of your business.” I was getting irritated.
“I’m just looking out for you, Alexis. As a friend, and maybe as—”
“Maybe what?”
“I don’t know. Something more.”
“When are you going to get the picture? We’re never getting back together!”
“Why not?”
“Because you cheated on me!” I almost screamed but lowered my voice when I realized people were staring.
He let out a sigh. “So that’s it, uh?”
“I’m done. I can offer you my friendship. You’re lucky you’re getting that.”
Eddie turned away from me then flared his nostrils. “What the hell is he doing here?”
“Who?” I asked confused.
I followed Eddie’s gaze, and right below the school steps, Milo was leaning against his motorcycle, enjoying the admiration from the girls at my school.
My jaw hardened, and I felt like my world was going to fall apart. What was he doing here? As if dealing with one asshole wasn’t enough, now I had to deal with another one? I glanced around in search for Dylan hoping he was with Dawn somewhere—the reason for Milo’s visit—but it was just him. There was no way he came here for me. Or did he? No. Of course not. Why would he? There must be another reason. My mind was racing simultaneously with my heart.
I considered walking back into the school and taking a different route, but it was too late. The moment Milo laid eyes on me, his smile widened like he’d just hit the lotto.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
Keeping my distance, I continued walking in the direction of Julian’s car.
“Hey! Girl in the black Mustang,” Milo called after me.
My face turned beet red, and I felt like Milo had punched me deep in my gut. He had my journal.
“What’d you say?” I asked horrified.
“Girl in the black Mustang, from the comic?” He took out the journal from his back pocket and leafed through the pages. I rushed to Milo and tried snatching the journal, but he lifted the book high in the air and out of my reach. He chuckled, pleased he hit a nerve.
“It’s not a comic book,” I said gritting my teeth. “Can you please give me my journal?”
“Only if you go out with me,” he said. “I couldn’t stop thinking about the other night, you know. Your legs wrapped around me…” He spoke in a slow sensual voice a little too loud, some of the kids heard him then the whispers began, the giggles, the stares.
“Shut up!” I growled. “You know this”—I pointed at him—“whole bad-boy persona with the motorcycle and the leather jacket is kinda lame and a bit of a cliché, don’t you think?”
He chuckled. “I invented the bad-boy,” he purred. “All the other wannabes are just a bunch of posers.”
I crossed my arms and huffed. “Whatever.”
“I’m free tomorrow.”
Why was Milo pursuing me? There were so many girls out there who were by contrast far more prettier than me. Didn’t he have enough notches on his belt?
“I’m not,” I said.
Somehow, I grabbed one end of the journal, but Milo kept a tight grip on the other end. He pulled me close—so close our faces were a mere inches apart. I sucked in my breath paralyzed by the dark intensity in his eyes until they softened.
“Your candy-colored lips look ravishing,” he murmured. “I wonder what it’s like to kiss them.”
My heartbeat escalated, and my lips twitched in response. Breaking eye contact with Milo, I brushed away any attraction I felt for him. Resist, Alexis, resist, I told myself. I’m sure this was part of his plan—lure the girl in, sleep with her, then toss her aside.
I stepped back taking hold of my journal.
“See you Friday then.” He grinned at me as the girls from my school flocked around him.
There were a string of emotions stirring inside me—annoyance, frustration, anger, and I knew Milo wasn’t going to back down so easily. No matter how many times I rejected him, I had a feeling this wasn’t going to be the last time I saw Milo James.
“Eighty dollars? Dusty, you’re killing me here!” I’d been arguing with Dusty for the past thirty minutes, but he wouldn’t budge. “It’s not my fault you decided to go hunting over the weekend!”
“It’s not my fault you decided to leave your car at someone else’s house,” Dusty countered.
“Can I get a discount? It’s the least you can do,” I pleaded.
“No can do.” Dusty crossed his arms exposing his greasy elbows. “This is a business, not a charity.”
Country-ass bastard. I bit my tongue hard pissed over the amount I had to pay The Bone Yard—the only wrecking service in town—to get my car out since I left it at Mason’s after the party Friday night. I tried picking up my car over the weekend, but it was closed. A ‘We’ve Gone Hunting’ sign was posted on the door. With gritted teeth, I signed over the paperwork and took my keys to the designated parking location.
My gut twisted in sheer horror when I saw my car. Every single window was busted, ‘Demon Whore’ and ‘Filthy Girl’ was spray painted all over in red. On the verge of tears, I slid into the driver’s seat brushing pieces of glass off the dashboard. There was a brick on the passenger seat that said, ‘Satan’s Allegiant.’ I was crushed. It was going to take every penny in my savings to replace the windows and have the car painted. With no job, it meant I would have no money left over to move to Los Angeles. The blood in my veins began to boil as I wrestled with anger and rage. Who would do something so awful?
I already knew the answer.
About fifteen minutes later—after cruising the few hang out spots in Dixon—I found Eddie, Mason, and Vance carelessly laughing in the patio of The Swirling Vanilla. I stormed toward them and threw the brick on the table causing their milkshakes to splatter all over the place.
“What the hell?” Mason yelled at me.
“Who did it?” I demanded. “Which one of you assholes wrecked my car?”
They all looked at each other, clueless. “What are you talking about Alexis?” Eddie asked confused.
“Someone broke the windows in my car after the party and spray painted de—” I stopped unable to finish. “Demon Whore.”
Mason glanced at the words on the brick then looked at me with an icy glare. “Maybe if you weren’t a quill lover this never would’ve happened.”
Not willing to control my rage, I sla
pped Mason across the face that left him pretty shocked. He flinched then knocked his chair over. I stood my ground ready for whatever happened next. The fighter inside me wanted to beat the crap out of him. My dad taught me how to box when I was younger just in case I ever needed to defend myself. Now was a great time to use those skills.
“You crazy bitch!” Mason lunged at me, but out of nowhere was pulled back by Julian. He took Mason by the collar and shook him around like a rag doll.
“Do you kiss your momma with that dirty mouth of yours, Mason Sutherland?” There was a fury in Julian’s eyes I’d never seen before.
“Fuck you fag,” Mason spat trying to put up a fight, but Julian was too strong and tall for him.
“Call me a fag one more time, see what happens! I oughta stick a bar of soap in your filthy mouth.” Julian slapped him around a bit longer until Eddie pulled him back.
“Julian that’s enough!”
Julian straightened his shirt and regained his cool composure. “Keep your boy on a leash. ‘Cause next time, I won’t be so gentle.” He snapped his fingers at Mason causing him to flinch again. Julian slid his arm around mine and led me away.
The last ray of sunlight warmed my face as the sun set. Darkness quickly loomed over the rooftop of The Burning Witch Apothecary, the street lights turned on. I sat on the concrete ledge overlooking downtown Dixon contemplating my next move. Every store was closed, and there was a silence that fell on my mind that caused me to overthink. Now more than ever, I needed a job. I needed to find a garage to have the ‘Stang fixed, cheap.
“Did you know Mason’s dad has some kind of weird foot fetish?” Dawn said exhaling smoke from her joint. “He bought a bunch of foot worship massage oils and lotions the other day.”
Truthfully, I really didn’t care. Every single person in this town was a hypocrite. They tried to hide their demons with the roles they created for themselves by going to church and posing as the perfect family. But behind closed doors, they were sinners just like everyone else. Dawn knew it all since many of the good ole town folk shopped The Burning Witch online store from the discretion of their home. Or so they thought.
“Wanna hit this?” Dawn asked offering the marijuana joint.
“I get drug tested for sports,” I replied. Unlike Dawn and Julian, I wasn’t much of a smoker or a drinker. The effects drugs had on people didn’t sound too appealing.
I watched Dawn pass the blunt to Julian both sitting on beach chairs next to each other enjoying their high.
“I hate this town,” I said frustrated. I threw a few rocks over the ledge hitting one of the benches. The clanging sound of metal reverberated down the empty street.
“Tell me about it.” Julian exhaled. “This town is a deathtrap, the only way out is in a casket.”
“No, even after death you’re trapped here,” I said glumly taking a seat next to Julian. “Dawn, you should give me a job.”
“Y’know I would, but the shop is barely making any money now. My mom doesn’t even pay me to be here.” She coughed a little, then she and Julian started to giggle.
Dawn perked up suddenly like a lightbulb went off inside her head. “Dylan told me about the motorcycle races they have at an underground parking lot near the old stadium in Atlanta. I hear they bet big money. How much money do you have?”
Already this sounded like a bad idea. “You’re kidding, right?” I wasn’t about to bet my hard earned cash on a stupid race.
“You can double your money,” she suggested.
“I’m not much of a gambler,” I said shaking my head. “Besides, if I lose I’ll have nothing left to fix my car.” And I didn’t want to run into Milo.
“Just bet a little. Enough to fix your car.”
“Don’t listen to her, she just wants an excuse to stalk Dylan,” Julian said.
Dawn turned to Julian and playfully smacked him on the shoulder. “No, I don’t!”
We both shot her a pressuring glare to fess up.
“Okay, maybe I do,” Dawn said slumping into her chair. “He hasn’t called since we had sex.”
Julian nearly choked on all the smoke in his lungs, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“It’s not funny,” she groaned.
Julian scoffed. “Clearly your momma didn’t teach you not to let the boys touch you in your no-no square.”
“No-no square?” I asked.
“The part below the waist in between your legs. You figure it,” Julian told me. “How do you expect the boy to take you seriously if you’re giving away the goodies so easily?” Julian asked Dawn as seriously as he could.
“He was just so irresistible,” Dawn said with a frown. “All the rumors are true, you know. They really know what they’re doing,” she added in a dreamy state. “There was this energy that was constantly pulsating into me.”
Julian and I burst into hysterical laughter.
“It’s called the penis,” Julian said. “Look it up.”
“I really did not want to hear that,” I laughed. “Not to throw you under the bus Dawn, but I don’t understand how you’ve been seen with Dylan all over town yet no one is harassing you. I’m seen with Milo once, and suddenly I’m an angel sympathizer?”
“That’s cause every boy all the way to the next county over has hit that,” Julian said pointing at Dawn who frowned again. “So it’s no surprise she’s moved on to angels who don’t know about her reputation.”
“Whatever! If you two don’t wanna go with me, then I’ll go by myself.” Dawn got up in a huff.
“This bitch is gonna get herself killed.” Julian stood up and hollered after Dawn. “Ey, where do you think you’re going? You’ve been smokin’. Get your skinny little ass back over here!”
“Chill, I’m going downstairs to grab some agua,” Dawn said disappearing through the door.
Julian sat back down for a moment entirely convinced Dawn had really gone downstairs for water until...we heard the ignition of her car turn on. We exchanged an alarmed look and ran to the edge of the building. Dawn’s Honda Accord raced down Main Street and out of Dixon.
I didn’t want to run after her, I didn’t want to go back into angel territory, but I had no other choice. I had to catch Dawn before she got pulled over or even worse—got someone killed.
CHAPTER
12
We followed Dawn to downtown Atlanta where she disappeared to a place known as The Underground, a once popular touristic destination filled with restaurants and retail stores. Today, many of the buildings above ground stood barren and vacant. The place was a playground for homeless people and thugs selling drugs. It only got worse at night. Anyone in their right mind wouldn’t venture through The Underground alone in fear of getting robbed.
As Julian and I rushed through the main court, we were approached by a bum asking for change. I dug my fingernails deep into Julian’s arm, I thought they might pierce through the skin. I was scared out of my mind but thankfully Julian didn’t mind. Julian shooed the homeless man away and navigated down the steps where a group of skaters was using the rails to perform tricks. Once we reached the lower ground, we stepped through a long row of doors where the glass was replaced by plywood painted with graffiti, and trash littered the concrete floor. I scrunched my nose at the smell of urine. This place was disgusting. Why would anyone hang out here?
“As soon as we find Dawn, we’re out of here,” I told Julian.
“You ain’t gotta tell me twice.”
The smell of cigarette smoke swirled thick in the air inside The Underground, industrial techno music thumped in the background. The interior wasn’t any different from the exterior, except it was alive and bustling with a melting pot of people; Latinos, Asians, African-Americans, Caucasians, every ethnicity was represented including the angels, all brought together for one purpose: motorcycles.
There was a road that extended for about five miles, old-style lanterns lined the sidewalks that once illuminated the restaurants and nightclubs popular back in
the 1960s. The angels were decked out in leather and showed off their motorcycles tricks to the gawking crowd. Along the sidewalk, the bikers were parked surrounded by girls and swarms of people checking out the motorcycles.
I scanned over the crowd searching for Dawn but instead found the red-head from Eve’s Paradise wearing a green crop top, fishnets paired with knee-length boots, and black shorts that looked more like underwear.
Damn it. If she was here, I’m sure Milo was too—somewhere.
“Whatever happens don’t leave my side,” I told Julian.
“Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in.” I heard Milo’s voice behind me along with the hum of an engine. Cursing under my breath, I waited a moment before turning around to face him. He looked hot sitting on his bike wearing a black leather racer jacket with a wife beater underneath. As soon as his eyes met mine, his lips pulled up into a smile.
The butterflies in my stomach somersaulted unexpectedly. I was horrified by my inability to control my body anytime I was near Milo. Every time I saw him, my body always experienced a sudden rush of foreign emotions. But my moment of weakness came and went like brain freeze. Not wanting to entertain him any longer, I scoffed and pulled away from his stare.
“Couldn’t wait till Friday, uh?”
“I’m not here for you.” I grimaced.
“Right,” he replied. “You drove all the way here”—he waved a hand around—“for this?”
“Yep,” I looked down to the end of the road and noticed a few motorcyclists lining up as if they were about to race. “I—came to bet on the race.”
“Is that right?” Milo said not at all convinced. He raised his chin up and narrowed his eyes assessing me before smiling. “Who are you betting on?”
I looked over checking out the competition where the racers were lining up. None had wings, so I wasn’t sure who was an angel and who was human. One racer wore a leather vest that accentuated his large muscles. His slick black hair was hanging loosely around his face. I recognized Trent, one of Milo’s friends, who was next to muscle guy. Then from around the corner of the street, the girl with blue hair cruised by wearing her signature steampunk leather attire. She looked like a total bad-ass.
THE TRAGIC + DIVINE Page 10