Page 15 of A Sinner's Saint

“Hey yourself. What’re you doing?” I ask her. Just hearing her voice calms me more than anything I could smoke.

“Homework. I have a geography essay due at the end of the week,” she says.

“Why are you studying geography?”

“I want to see the world one day, and I can’t do that if I don’t know where everything is, now can I?” Cammi says.

“I can show you the world. Name a place and I’ll take you there,” I tell her.

She laughs. I’m not joking, though. “I’ll keep that in mind. What are you doing right now?” she asks me.

“Sitting on my balcony smoking a joint, wishing I was in bed with you instead,” I admit.

“Maybe you should do something about that, then,” Cammi suggests.

“Yeah? You want me to come and pick you up?” I offer.

“My parents are out. They won’t be back until late. Why don’t you come here?”

“Be there in twenty,” I tell her. “And, Cammi?”

“Yeah?”

“Lose your panties. You won’t be needing them,” I say before cutting the call.

I stand, stub out my joint, and walk back through the doors to my room. I spray a shit-load of deodorant all over my body so I don’t stink like weed.

Then I walk into the bathroom and scrub my hands three times before I give up. They’re never going to be clean enough. I shouldn’t be touching her with these hands. The hands of a killer. If she knew, she wouldn’t let me anywhere near her.

Chapter Eight

Ishould have gone to his place. What was I thinking inviting Vin here? He shouldn’t be driving if he’s been smoking, but then again, when is he not smoking? I want to call him, tell him to wait for me to come to him. But it’s already been twenty minutes since he hung up. He’s probably already on the road, and if I call him now, I’d just be adding to the danger of him driving. I think.

This is insane. I don’t know why I asked him to come over. I do know that I want to see him. He left school early. Without a word. Not that he owes me an explanation for his coming and goings. I just… thought I’d see him at the end of the day.

I pace up and down the foyer, waiting for him. When I spot a pair of headlights out on the street, I pull the front door open and run outside. I meet Vin halfway across the yard, throwing my arms around his neck.

“I’m sorry,” I tell him.

His body stiffens and then he relaxes and tugs me closer. “What’s wrong? What happened?” he asks.

“I made you drive here and I shouldn’t have. You shouldn’t be driving if you’re high, Vin. Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?” I step back slightly, keeping my arms around him.

“I’m not high, and you didn’t make me do anything. I wanted to come here.” He smirks. “Were you worried about me, babe?”

“Not at all. I just don’t want to be responsible for your untimely demise.” This time, when I step back and drop my arms, Vin lets go. “Come on, let’s go inside before the neighbours call my parents and tell them you’re here.”

“You know, sneaking around like teenagers is kind of fun.” He laughs.

“We are teenagers.” I turn back and frown at him. I can’t pretend to know what kind of life Vin has led. I know that it’s not all cookies and warm milk after school. People say the eyes are the windows to the soul. And Vin’s? Well, there is a lot of darkness in them.

“Right. Lead the way.” He laughs, but does little to hide the pain I recognise behind his façade.

I take Vin up to my bedroom. When I look around the space, trying to imagine it from his point of view, all I see is a mess. My bed is unmade, my pink-and-white polka dot comforter half offthe mattress. The drawers on my white dresser are slightly ajar. I rush over to shut them.

“I’m sorry. I should have tidied up.”

“It’s… not that bad?” Vin says, but it sounds more like a question.

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