Page 5 of Bristol

If she does, then she probably doesn’t want to go home or anywhere close to it. If the media gets wind that she’s no longer in captivity and hasn’t come forward, they are going to ask so many fucking questions and it’ll look like she actually did play a part in their deaths.

I lock my phone and toss it on the chair next to me. Movement out of the corner of my eye catches my attention and I see a wild-eyed Bristol standing in the doorway of the hall.

“Uhh, hey,” I stammer, tripping over my words. I know she can’t hear my thoughts or see the things I was reading, but it still makes me uncomfortable for her.

“Hey.” She walks into the living room cautiously and sits down on the smaller of the two couches.

“Did you sleep okay? You were really out of it, so I just put you in bed and let you be.”

“Yeah. As good as I could under the circumstances. Thank you,” she shrugs and averts her eyes from mine. She looks around the room, her eyes scanning over the paintings hanging on the walls that Slim just had to have as decorations in here. He said it, ‘completes the room’.

“Is there anything I can do for you? Are you hungry? Want to go somewhere? Need anything?” I ask. I want to help her in any way I can. She’s got to be about ready to lose her mind.

She shakes her head. “No, I don’t think so. I need to figure out what I’m going to do. This is all so… overwhelming.” Tears swell in her eyes and I fist my hand at my side. I’m angry for her. For all the things she’s experiencing right now. Her dark blue eyes have a depth like the ocean and the tears in her eyes are like waves cresting and crashing into the sand.

The brokenness I see in her makes me want to find some fucking glue and piece her back together. Her long brown hair cascades over her shoulders and is wild from her sleeping on it. The oversized t-shirt she has on hides her body.

“I want to help you.”

She looks at me, her eyes meeting mine for the first time since she came out of my room. I bet she smells like me after sleeping in my bed. My dick starts to harden, and I sit up in the chair, thanking God I’m wearing jeans that are tight enough to hide my growing erection.

“You can start by helping me figure out what to do from here. What do people my age do? I don’t have a diploma or a degree. I’ve got no work experience. I have no money. I have nothing,” she hangs her head and I want to hold her and tell her it’s going to be okay, but I don’t know that. I don’t know how to make everything okay for her.

“Bristol, there are some very complicated things I need to tell you. But I don’t want to overwhelm you even more right now. Let’s just focus on one step at a time right now.”

She cocks her head at me but doesn’t speak. She simply nods and sits back on the couch.

“Can we start with clothing that isn’t too big?” she asks.

“Yes, absolutely. I can get one of the ol’ladies to take you shopping.”

She shakes her head no. “No. No. I don’t have any money. I just meant is there anyone that might have something I could borrow.”

“Don’t worry about that. I can take care of it for now. You need clothes. Clothes that actually fit you.”

She wants to fight me on it but oddly enough, she doesn’t. My phone vibrates in my pocket and I check it to find the text from Joey about our emergency meeting in the group text.

I shoot Slim a text asking if Princess is busy today. It’s Tuesday and I think she works a waitressing job. At least she did the last time we talked. It doesn’t take long for him to respond. She’s off today. Good.

I tap his contact info and call him.

“What’s up? I just saw the text about church. What’s Princess got to do with that?”

“Nothing. I need someone to take Bristol to get some clothes. You know, female shit.”

“Shit. As long as it’s an opportunity to go shopping and spend money, she’s in.” I can practically see him rolling his eyes through the phone. Princess spends every penny she makes on clothes, shoes, jewelry, and anything else that sparkles and catches her dainty little eye.

I chuckle. “I hear that.”

“I’ll tell Princess to get ready and send her by to get Bristol.”

“Cool. I’ll let her know.”

I feel Bristol watching me intently from the corner of my eye and I fight the urge to smirk. I end the call and look over at her. She looks oddly excited.

“Princess is about to be on her way. I figure it’ll take her about an hour to get here, so you’ve got a little bit of time.”

“Thank you!” she squeals and disappears down the hall back to my bedroom. I’m not sure what she has in there, if anything, but I don’t question it. I figure she can use the privacy and space. I didn’t have parents growing up, just the typical foster parents that I got a new set of every couple of months because I was unruly. My parents didn’t want me, at least my mom didn’t, and she left me outside of a hospital. That’s when the state stepped in and I ended up in the system.

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