by DOMINO
"Maybe—" I answered, knowing I wasn't going to tell him a thing.
"What do you wanna know?"
I clenched my teeth and stared up at the ceiling with frustration. "You're the one that said you would tell me about you, remember?"
He continued to smile. "Okay—" He cleared his throat and leaned onto the table. “I’m a secret agent that finds runaways and turns them in to the cops, kind of a snitch"
I stared at him, not amused by his joke. "Is that supposed to make me laugh?" I stared at him blankly.
"I wasn't trying to" He leaned back against the booth. He stuck his straw in his mouth and pulled off the wrapping with his teeth before he spit it out on the table.
"That's gross" I replied and continued to study his calm demeanor. "Tell me the truth"
"I just did" He replied. "My name is Rio Barden; I'm 22, and entered the agency when I was 21. I turned over Cleo and Monroe this morning, but something about you made me not want to turn you over. I know you're still in the system, foster kid, right?"
Alarms went off in my head as I looked him over once again, he wasn't telling lies. I snatched up my jacket and backpack. I was scooting out of the booth when I heard him break out in laughter.
"Damn your easy" He continued laughing and held his hand to his stomach.
I threw my mitten in his face. "That's not funny, don't—don't do that ever again" I fumed as I sat on the edge of the booth. The thought of being put back into the foster system was more than I could bear.
"Hey, I was just joking. You gotta loosen up a bit Maxx" He said once his laughter died down.
I wasn't laughing or smiling, I was pissed. "You're stupid jokes aren't anywhere near funny"
He put his hand on mine and looked serious. "I just want to see you smile" He removed his hand when he realized I was staring at it. "You have a pretty smile; you need to do it more—" He licked his lips and slid my mitten back across the table and I snatched it up. "Hey, our pizza's here"
The smell of it made me forget why I was mad when he picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.
"Wait" I held up my hand and looked more furious.
He held the slice of pizza in his hand and looked at me with his mouth open. "Why?"
"You, we—" I shook my head.
"We what?" He asked curiously and glanced at the dripping oil from his slice of pizza.
"We have to say grace" I mumbled and stared down at the pizza.
I heard him sigh and then heard the pizza drop to his plate. He held out his hand to me and I stared at it.
"Well, we hold hands right?" He motioned with his fingers for me to take his hand.
I picked up his hand, closed my eyes, and said a quick thank you, before I let his hand go.
"Thank you" I softly replied before he picked up his slice of pizza.
"No problem" He studied me and his expression softened. "I guess any food we manage to eat we should be thankful for, right? Thanks for reminding me" He smiled again and I picked up my slice of pizza and began to eat.
"You’re welcome"
SEVEN
"So, why are you so religious when God has you living homeless on the street?" He asked after he picked up his third slice. "Forsaken us all is what I think, that's what I told Father McDowell too"
"There's a reason for everything" I replied and put a pepperoni in my mouth. "Maybe I was sent to help you be grateful for what you do have" I narrowed my eyes at him.
"You mean be grateful for nothing?" He scoffed and shook his head.
I twisted my lips and savored the flavors of the tomato sauce in my mouth. "Eh, maybe you're right. I think God gave up on me a long time ago, but I'm always grateful for food"
He chuckled and licked his fingers. "So now can I ask you where you're from?"
"Soon as you tell me about you, I don't think your twenty two—" I answered.
He ripped apart a piece of garlic bread and put it in his mouth. "Seventeen and I can't wait until I'm eighteen, it’s right around the corner. I tried to get emancipated, but that fell through. A bunch of malarkey down at city hall, no legal ID, and no birth certificate. I applied for it a week ago, so I should have it soon—" He frowned. "Why didn't you try to emancipate yourself?"
"I don't know how, and besides, I belong to a foster family" I glanced out of the window to make sure I didn't see any of them. Mr. Johnson wanted me back and I knew he was still looking for me. "I belonged to many foster families"
"Haven't we all, the one before my last—" He shook his head. “I got put out for—" He stopped and sipped on his water.
"For what?" I asked curiously, when he grew quiet.
"Nothing" He frowned and wiped his hands on his napkin.
I was now more curious than ever. "Come on, who am I gonna tell?" I coaxed.
"I slept with their daughter" He said flatly and stared at me.
He sighed deeply, stared down at the pizza, and I knew he was serious.
"Did you; were you in love with her?"
He scoffed and shook his head before he wiped his mouth with the soiled napkin. "No—"
"Then why do it, why sleep with her if you didn’t have feelings for her?” I realized I sounded like a hopeless romantic and frowned. “Forget it" I waved it off, remembering most men only wanted one thing.
"And her mother" He said softly.
I grimaced at the statement. "You made love to the daughter and the mother?" I asked with disgust.
"No, I screwed the daughter and the mother. I think you have to be in love to make love, right?"
He had a good point. "Why did you do it then?"
"Why not, they both wanted it, so I did it" He answered casually. "You want dessert?"
"No, no thanks" I replied, wondering how a homeless guy had enough money to blow on dessert. "You should probably save it"
"I'll get more" He replied. "Chocolate or strawberry?"
"What?" I asked curiously.
"Cake? I'll say chocolate, since you're so moody, must be that time of the month, right?” He displayed a triumphant, but devious grin.
I couldn't help but smile. "That's none of your business"
"There's that smile I was working for" He grinned after my smile broadened. "I'm right, huh?"
"No you’re not and it's none of your business if I am" I tried to look mad.
"I need you to find something else to say besides, none of your business" He motioned for the waiter again. "We're gonna milk this place until it's time to get out of here, alright?" He whispered after the waiter took his order.
I realized he was growing on me. I got comfortable in the booth and watched him rub his bottom lip as he talked to the waiter.
"My name is Maxine Gray—" I confessed, after the waiter walked away.
He smiled. "Nice to meet you, Maxine Gray"
"Nice to meet you too, Rio Barden" I replied sarcastically. "So, is Cleo really on drugs?"
His bright expression dimmed as he chewed on his straw. "Yeah, I met him when he tried to rob me one night down on 71st street. He's alright, but he's out there. We're friends, but he's not one to be trusted. One reason I had to keep my eyes on you last night—" He paused and took the straw out of his mouth. "I mean, he's a good guy and he has good intentions, but when he's pining for drugs, his personality changes, and he’s a totally different person—"
I knew exactly what he meant. I had been in many of foster homes where someone was a drug head or an alcoholic. "I understand" I nodded in agreement. “Thanks for watching over me”
He nodded. "He told me he stopped you from killing yourself" He narrowed his eyes. "Is that true? Were you trying to end it all?"
I took a deep breath and rested my head against the back of the booth. "I was just, I don't know" I said softly, hoping he didn't persist for more information.
"It's alright—" He looked at his watch when the waiter brought out a dish with a large piece of chocolate cake on it.
"Wait, where's the other fork?" I asked and watched the hot
fudge dripping from the top of it.
"It's for you, I hate chocolate cake" He smiled. "You go on, it's all you"
I shook my head and dug my fork into it. "You don't know what you're missing" I said after I took my first bite.
He smiled and scooted out of the booth. "Gotta use the bathroom, be right back" He winked and sauntered away.
I put another piece of cake in my mouth and smiled. This is freaking fantastic! I rolled the chocolate around my tongue and closed my eyes after I finished the last bite. I rubbed my stomach with content and waited for him to come back. I realized he had been gone for a while, and then it dawned on me; he snuck out and left me to pick up the tab.
Son of a bitch! I looked around and motioned to the waiter.
"Excuse me; did you see where the young man I was with went?" I asked politely.
"Yeah, he left. Is there anything else I can get you?"
My heart stopped. His mouth continued to move but the words were silent as I swam in fury.
"Uh yeah, can I have a hot cocoa? Please?" I asked and sunk back into the booth. I closed my eyes, thinking about Rio, and how I considered trusting him.
I knew he was a piece of crap, I knew it. He probably lied about everything; Rio's probably not even his name!
I sat in the booth until I finished my cocoa, hoping he didn't lie about working at Maldonado's and prayed he would be there. I planned on slicing out his lying tongue, right after I snuck out without paying.
EIGHT
I walked the next nine blocks in anger. My body didn't feel the cold as my temperature rose with every step I took, angry and furious that he set me up. I knew where Maldonado's was and I shoved my mittens in my pockets when I caught sight of him. He was standing in front of it, talking to an older man before he followed him in.
Guess that's one thing you didn't lie about, bastard.
Walking around town admiring all of the Christmas lights and decorations, I was mentally wishing I had a loving home to walk to when I noticed a woman walk by with a heavy fur coat. I spied the large diamond on her finger and assumed she must have money. I've stolen from people before, and decided that I needed to do it again, and prayed I would be able to get away with it. I always felt it was okay since I didn’t use the money to buy drugs and only used it for survival.
I followed her into Clarin's department store. I was happy I was able to clean myself up so I didn't look too bad. I licked my finger, rubbed some dirt off my jeans, and pretended to be interested in pantyhose, right after I shoved a package of underwear under my jacket. I studied her purse and was happy it wasn't zipped up; making it easy for me to slide my hand in and grab whatever was on the inside. I was praying I got her wallet on the first try. I walked up behind her in line and bumped into her. Sliding my hand quickly into her purse, I knew I had my hand on her wallet. I shoved it into my jacket and strolled out of the store.
My breath was visible in the air, coming out in short white puffs, as I scurried up the street to the next block and down an alley. I crouched behind a dumpster and opened the wallet. Smiling, I pulled out a wad of fifty and twenty dollar bills.
Four hundred and eight four bucks! Oh yeah!
I was smiling ear to ear as I tossed her wallet into the dumpster and ran out of the alley. I decided I was going to try to check into a motel and buy myself something to eat, but not before, I got even with Rio.
Walking back to Maldonado's, I walked in and asked for the new dishwasher. The waiter told me that he wasn't working at the moment, but said he would be back after he ran up the street. I gave her $20 bucks to tell me which room he was staying in. She told me he was working for Carlos that had to go away for a few days and would be staying in his room over the diner. I thanked her and snuck around back and up the stairs to the room. I noticed Rio's backpack tossed on the small bed and went through it. I found his wallet, and realized he did tell me his real name, but it didn't matter anymore. I took out the two hundred eighty dollars in it and snuck back out.
Now he'll know what it feels like to mess with me.
I grinned when I heard him yelling my name as I crossed the street. I ran up the street and he continued to try to get my attention. I pulled off my red mitten and displayed my middle finger.
"Screw you!" I shouted and ran up the street out of sight. Bastard!
I was seething and knew I shouldn't have trusted him. I walked the next eleven blocks to a seedy motel. I knew they wouldn't have a problem renting me a room if I had the money.
"Two nights is all I need" I slapped one hundred dollars on the counter. The elderly attendant didn't say a word, he handed me the key and pointed in the direction my room would be in. "Thanks" I said dryly and walked out to find my room. "Room thirty three, great" I whispered and put the key in and opened the door.
The dank smell of mold hit me before I could exhale. I closed the door and locked it behind me after I cut on all the lights and looked around. The blanket had cigarette burns on it, as well as the rug. The TV was old and there was rust in the sink, but it was better than nothing. I cut up the heat to get warm and sat on the edge of the bed in front of the TV, waiting for the room to heat up, before I got undressed to take a long hot shower.
I rolled my eyes when I heard the banging on the wall next door, the loud moaning was more than I could bear, so I cut up the TV and got in the shower. I washed my hair with soap and was pleasantly surprised there was a hair dryer. It only worked on low so it took me over an hour to dry my long hair, but it was worth it. I felt brand new and pulled out my extra pair of jeans and black thermal to sleep in. I was still full from the pizza earlier, but knew I would be hungry later. I switched channels on the TV to get the time since there wasn't a clock in the room and was elated I still had time to hit the Chinese restaurant around the corner before they closed. I got dressed and ran out to get fried rice and chicken after I checked my surroundings. I was in the seedy side of town, and being a female out alone at night, wasn’t too smart.
"Thanks so much" I said to the cashier after she handed me my bag of food.
I rushed back to my motel room, walked in, and dropped the bag at my feet when I felt large cold hands over my mouth. I was screaming and kicking before I felt my body being thrown onto the bed. I dug in my jacket pocket for my switchblade and gasped with surprise when I saw Rio.
"Where the hell is my wallet?" He fumed before he locked the door.
I pulled out the switchblade and leaped across the other side of the bed, ready to fight for my life.
"Screw you and your money. You set me up you piece of shit!" I snarled.
"I went back; I went back and paid for everything!" He shouted.
"You liar!" I yelled. "You set me up!"
"What the hell is this then?" He flung a receipt at me. "Read it!"
I held out my switchblade and picked it up, fumbling for it at my feet since I didn't want to take my eyes off him. I looked at it and threw it back.
"You should have told me you were leaving" I was furious that he managed to get into my motel room.
"You ordered a cocoa and snuck out like fifteen minutes later. I was gone for twenty minutes, tops!" He spat back at me.
"You should have told me you didn't have any money!"
"I left my spending money on 99, in the chapel. I forgot I hid it under the floorboard so Cleo wouldn't try to steal from me. I didn't realize I forgot it until I went to the bathroom, and I knew if I told you I didn't have the money, you would think—" He looked baffled and ran his hands over his face. "You would think I set you up and it wasn't my intention. I walked out and ran back to the chapel; you can ask Father McDowell—"
"Then why the hell didn't you tell me?" I gritted my teeth. "Why the hell did you set me up like that?"
"I was—" He stared up at the ceiling. “I was embarrassed, alright. I was embarrassed"
"So you threw me under the bus instead of you looking like the cheap punk that you are?" I shook my head. "Get out!"
"Why would I go back then, huh? I knew you wouldn't believe me if I told you I had to go back and get my wallet, so it was just easier to leave and come back" He pointed at the floor. "I did go back; if I was trying to set you up, why the hell did I go back and pay, huh? I went back to the chapel, got my money, and then stopped, briefly, to talk to the manager at Maldonado’s, telling him you would be helping me"
I shook my head at him. "I don't care anymore, just leave"
"Look, the money in my wallet is savings. I never touch it. You can keep it, just give me the wallet back" He held out his hand.