Page 17 of Hunter
“Don’t I know it.”
DIEZ
Of all thefucking places for him to be, why did it have to be here, tonight? As if this shit wasn’t complicated enough, now I gotta deal with him and his bullshit.
I could probably figure out a way to get outta here, but now I fucking feel bad running out on Alvino Rossi like that. Especially after he had my back.
The black leather couch doesn’t look new, but it doesn’t look decrepit either. I sit down, and my whole body sinks into the cushion.Damn, I know I’d have a solid few hours of sleep here. Fuck it, I’ll stay.
I start untying my black combat boots. When I found these at Goodwill, I fucking fell over. They were in perfect condition and I’ve worn them every day since. They’re one of the only things I love.
I place them beside the side of the couch, right by my bag, before taking off my ruined sweatshirt.¡Carajo, wey! Ahora tengo que tirar esto. Fuck! Now I have to get rid of this.
I carefully remove it along with the long-sleeved shirt that I wore underneath, and am now topless. I cross my arm over my chest to hide my non-existent boobs, while I rummage in my bag for new clothes. I also pull out a garbage bag to stash the blood-stained sweatshirt in.
I never wear a bra. I have a few bralettes that I picked up from the Salvation Army, but I don’t wear them if I’m layered up with shirts. I tuck my hands into the sleeves of the oversized long-sleeved HU men’s baseball t-shirt that I grabbed outta the lost and found bin in the Athletic Center. It’s fucking crazy the shit that I find in there.
I use the women’s locker room to shower and hide out in, especially in the winter. It’s the only building on this fucking campus that’s open 24 hours, even when school’s on break. It has its own mini cafeteria that has fucking to go meals packed up and ready for them to grab whenever the precious student athletes want. HU cares more about their fucking Devils than anyone else.Es tan estúpido. It's so stupid.
One of the women I know from the shelter got a job as a custodian there, and she hooked me up big time. She gave me a key card last year in exchange for helping her niece study for her AP Calculus test. Shorty scored a four and a scholarship to some state school, and I get a hot shower every day. A few times a week, she even swipes me a to-go meal when there are leftover sandwiches.
Ugh, why are they still talking? I thought tattoo guy was tired?Their voices are seeping through the door, and now that I’ve committed to sleeping here, I’d like to fucking get some of it. I turn over and try to smother my face with the stretched-out neckline of my shirt, but it’s no use. I can still fucking hear them.
“When did that happen? You're always neck deep in sorority sisters.”Aye, Diosas, I just threw up in my mouth. There’s no fucking way that I’m gonna listen to this shit.Uf, es asqueroso.Ugh, that's disgusting.
I know he’s some fuck boy. The other girls who tutor don’t shut the fuck up about him when I have to go to those fucking bi-weekly meetings.
I hate going to the Tutoring Center. It’s all the way on the other side of the school and a pain in my ass. These fucking meetings are always after the shelter closes, so I’m fucking pissed whenever I have to go to one.
My favorite way to pass the time is to watch these sorority girls throw fucking tantrums over me, saying no to them. Nearly every single one has asked to either cover his session or take him on. I always say no, just to fuck with them.También es divertido.It's also fun.
“They mean nothing. Just fuck holes.”¡¡QUÉ PINCHE PUERCO WEY!! WHAT A FUCKING PIG.My body revolts against this fucking conversation, and I dry heave just hearing this shit.
“And her?” I roll my eyes.Of course, there’s another one.I sit up and reach over for my soda and take a big fucking gulp to get the nasty ass taste outta my mouth that I now have.
“She—.”Corre rápido, chica. Run as fast as you can, girl.Whoever the fuck she is, she should fucking run.
And I should try to sleep so that I can avoid killing him for the next three hours. Because if I have to hear him talk about this for one more fucking second, I’m not so sure that I’ll be able to let him live until I wake up again.
“SHUT THE FUCK UP! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOU’RE FUCKING VOICE ANYMORE,PENDEJO!”Es literalmente por tu maldita seguridad. It's literally a warning for your safety.
“Those other girls might just’ve been for you to get your dick wet, but this one’s got you by the balls.”And you both make my stomach roll.
“¡CÁLLATE, CARAJO!”I yell out and throw my boot at the door. And now it’s finally quiet.Gracias diosas. These idiots understood the fucking assignment and shut their mouths.
I aggressively adjust my makeshift pillow and grab the blanket off the back of the couch before giving it an angry sniff. It smells clean and feels soft, so I throw it over myself and curl underneath it.
It’ll take me a while to shut my eyes. I’ve trained myself to be on high alert when the world tries to fuck me up. I’m never a hundred percent at ease.
I honestly don’t think I’ve ever been at peace a day in my life. It’s like I’ve been living in a constant state of fight or flight. And both are fucking exhausting.
Gangbangers don't like it when there's any resemblance to peace. They love drama too fucking much. They feed on the chaos and feast on the violence. The streets are their fucking playgrounds.And sometimes I was a toy they played with. Hombres tan horribles. Horrible fucking men.
And because of my past, I don’t want any fucking problems with whoever thosepandillerosare or who they run with.
Maybe it would be best if I showed up here for a minute. Act like I work here until shit dies down or something else pops off. It would at least give me somewhere else to go that's not the shelter or the streets.Puedo ver cómo va. I can see how it goes.
I turn over under the blanket, lie on my back, and exhale a breath while staring up at the ceiling. I can feel myself sinking into the couch and getting comfortable. Feels like a mini reward for surviving this weird fucking night.
