Page 36 of Nine

“I’m still not convinced,” he says.

I roll my eyes.

“What do you want to hear? That I need you, because you make me feel a certain way. That every time you talk to me I can’t breathe. Maybe you want to hear that I hate myself for feeling this way. I know. You probably want to hear that when you look at me the way you do, I can’t even feel my face. Is that good enough?”

Suddenly the door swings open and Bones interrupts, which seems like something he’s pretty good at lately.

“Jesus, you two are all kinds of messed up. One moment you’re screaming at each other, and the next moment you’re about to bump fuzzies."

Trig looks up, but doesn’t move off me. He just slides his hand out from my underwear.

“Is there something you want, Bones?” Trig says in irritation.

“I’m about to go get some Chinese food. I need the keys.”

Trig looks at me, and then back to Bones.

He pulls himself up off me, and then he grabs my hand and pulls me up to a sitting position.

Trig takes a bundle of keys out of his pants, and throws them to Bones.

“There’s another car here?” I ask.

I wonder where it’s hidden. I didn’t notice a garage or shed when we pulled up. It must be a small one, or maybe it’s hiding out there amongst the bushes and trees.

“Yeah. It’s in the garage. It was my brother’s car.” He looks at me hard. “Don’t get any funny ideas.”

I look down. There goes that thought.

“Cool. What do you guys want?” Bones asks.

“They don’t carry what I’m craving for,” Trig says as he looks at me.

“Yeah. Okay. I’m just gonna get whatever then. You two freaks can stay here and scream at each other or fuck each other numb. Either way, I don’t give a shit. See you in a while,” Bones says, as he turns to leave.

Trig walks over and positions his body between my legs.

“Were you serious about what you said, right now?” he asks.

I reluctantly nod. He runs his thumb over my bottom lip.

“Nine, I want you to go–”

We suddenly hear shots being fired, so we both jerk away. Trig pulls his gun out from behind him.

“Stay here,” he yells.

I watch as he pokes his head out of the room first. He slowly walks forward with his gun pointed ahead of him. Now it’s just me and I’m all alone. My heartbeat increases. I can no longer see or hear Trig. I’m pacing back and forth. I hear more shots being fired, and then Trig runs back into the room and grabs my hand.

“We have to go,” he shouts.

I can see worry in his eyes.

“What about Bones?” I ask.

Trig ignores me and drags me out through the patio door, and around the back of the cabin. We stop at the corner wall. Trig sticks his head out.

“Who are they?” I ask quietly.

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