Page 15 of Rue

“Up,” Mig demanded, coming closer.

Sailor jumped up, and as soon as she did, the other man started pulling the bedding off the bed, leaving only the mattress.

Mig took her tray from her and set it on the little table, then motioned her to sit down.

Sailor sat down gingerly, grimacing at how sore she was and how uncomfortable the hard wood of the seat was.

Mig stood waiting after the other man left, staying quiet. The man returned with new sheets, re-made the bed, and brought another comforter.

When he left, Mig went with him.

Sailor ate quickly, then fled back to the bed to curl up in the blankets as she shivered. Had they turned on the AC? Turned it down? Why was it getting so cold?

Mig opened the door an hour later, and Geo returned, looking her over with a sneer as Davon followed him in. Davon had one of her bags and a large make-up case, and he hovered there momentarily, looking at Geo guardedly. “Is there like, a stool I can use or somethin’?”

Geo jerked his chin at Mig, and Mig stepped out to yell down the hall.

“You got 15 minutes ‘n I wanna see ’r,” Geo told Davon as Mig returned with a tall stool.

“I don't think I can do it that quick,” Davon shook his head. “I got a crash course real quick, but it’s my first time doin’ it, and it’s gonna take a minute. I’ll hurry though, ‘n bring ‘r in as fast as I can.”

Geo snorted, looking Davon over. “Aight,” he finally shrugged, then turned and left with Mig.

As soon as the door closed, Sailor stalked up to Davon,climbed up on the stool, then slapped him as hard as she could. “You’re a DRUG dealer?” she demanded in a whispering hiss.

He turned back to her, looking down at her with a dark expression. “No, Say, I ain’t a fuckin’ dealer,” he told her angrily. “Don’t fuckin’ lay hands on me if you don't want me layin’ hands right back. I don't fuck with drugs, and neither does your boy. That ain’t his game.”

“I SAW him out there with those dealers in front of Grams!”

“They ain’t his, if he was with ‘m, it was for somethin’ else. Prolly tryna deal on his turf. Sit down, Say, I gotta get this done,” he demanded, taking her by the arms and making her sit on the tall stool.

Sailor glared up at him. “If not drugs, then what? He RAPED me, Day! He raped me and left me for dead! I thought I was going to die that night!”

“Lift your chin,” he grumped, tilting her face up and opening the box he’d set up on the side table.

“How can you work for him, Day?!?” she asked again, her heart hurting. “I thought you were a nice guy!”

“Who I work for don't change who I am, and you don't know me, Say. You know the kid you saw at school, not the man who works with his crew. You know who I let you see. Be still, Say, let me do this!”

“I don't want all this shit on my face!”

“It’s not your choice! He told me to do it, and I will!”

“Day… can you get me out of here?” she asked quietly, pleadingly.

“I can’t,” he whispered, shaking his head as he started applying make-up. “I’ve thought about it a lot and don't see any way to do it.”

“I need to get away! I’m all my mom has! My Gramma too! I can call her neighbor to heat up food for her, but only if it’s already there! Please, Day, I…”

“Sailor, I can’t,” he interrupted angrily. “Please stop! I… saw your mom. She was afraid at first, thought I was there to rob her. I think your mom is racist,” he half chuckled. “Convinced her I was your friend, and I came to help. Made her some eggs? There wasn’t much there to give her.”

“There’s money in my bag? Could you get her some groceries and…”

He shook his head quickly. “I called Social Services. Sorry, I can’t go there every day, multiple times a day, Say.”

“What about my Gramma?” Sailor asked, her eyes filling with tears.

“Gimme her info, and I’ll do the same for her,” he shrugged. “I got my own family, Say. I did pack up a bunch of your stuff, though. It’s out there somewhere. They put it off to the side. Come on now, I need to do this.”

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