Ashtyn
IknewWestwouldbe pissed at me.
I knew it when I said the words to Bronx, although I wasn't quite expecting the level of his anger. He didn't show up to school on Wednesday or Thursday. By the time Friday came around, he was back in school and I thought he would've calmed down a bit, but I was wrong. He didn't come to the cafeteria at lunch and he skipped art class, which left me alone with Mr. Reynolds.
Mr. Reynolds didn't say anything inappropriate to me on the days West was gone, barely even spoke to me, which I was thankful for.
At least Cade was there.
I told him that I talked with Gabby, but couldn’t get a read on what she was thinking. I completed my promise of relaying Cade’s message to Gabby, so it was no longer my business and I wasn't going to be involved. Cade shrugged it off like it didn't matter.
No big deal, baby girl. I'm already onto someone else.
I didn't know what to do with the situation, since Gabby was my best friend who I've known for years, and Cade was a new friend who was growing on me–somewhat. My best bet was to stay out of their business and let them figure the shit out for themselves. I had enough problems of my own to deal with.
Since West didn’t go to school until Friday, and then spent the day avoiding me, and I wasn't about to go poking around his house, I didn't get my car fixed. Gabby was nice enough to lend me some money to have it towed to my house, so that's where it sat. One ugly, rusty, huge-ass lawn ornament.
Gabby gave me rides to and from school every day, which meant my tab to pay her back was growing to astronomical levels. She lived on the north side and school was somewhere in between both of us. I didn't want to bethat friend–the one who takes and takes and never gives, or never pays back.
Luckily it was Friday night, and I would spend the next six hours serving drinks and staving off unwanted gropes from guys old enough to be my father...
I applied smokey eye makeup in the mirror of my dresser as I waited for my Uber. It would end up costing a fortune to get to and from work using the app but I didn't have any other choice. I wasn't going to ask Gabby for more favors. I'd hoped to have my car fixed by next week.
I checked my hair one more time. I decided on a high ponytail and prayed it wouldn't give me a migraine before the night was over. I studied myself in the mirror and adjusted the cropped t-shirt I was wearing. It was tight and exposed my midriff and belly button ring, and just a sliver of my swallow tattoo, but it was more modest than anything else I'd worn to Aces in the past.
I still had to wear an obscenely short black skirt though, so I added a pair of fishnets and my Doc Martens to conceal a little skin.
I didn't have it in me to be "on" tonight. My mind was all fucked up from West being mad at me. Usually, I was the one pissed at him. He was always goading me, picking on me, trying to set me off. Now he was mad enough to ignore and avoid me.
My phone buzzed and I thought it was a notification saying my Uber was close, however...
My knees buckled as I read the text.
Remington: There's a little gift outside for you, baby sis. This is just a sampling of what's going to happen if I don't get my money. NO COPS AND NO HOSPITALS. If you take him to a hospital, you'll pay. We know where you sleep.
Pinging a moment after the text was a photo of me sleeping in my bed. The photo was taken from outside my bedroom, through the sheer curtain.
Suddenly my brain registered the message's meaning. I burst through my bedroom door and ran to the front of the house. As the door swung open, I saw a dark body-shaped figure at the end of the driveway and a light-colored car peeling away.
"Rem!" I screamed as I ran for him.
He looked awful. His thin face was swollen and covered in blood. I touched his cheek and he winced. He was somewhat coherent, which was a good thing.
"Rem! Remy, can you hear me?" I couldn't tell how bad the damage was but there wasa lotof blood. Most likely from a head wound. They tended to bleed a lot.
"Ash?"
I tried to lift him but he was too lanky and heavy for me. "Shit, hang on, okay? I need to get help."
There was only one place to go for help and unfortunately, that person was currently pissed at me and hated Remington with every fiber of his being. I didn't have another choice.
I ran to West's door and banged on it while ringing the doorbell. "West! Bronx!"Bang bang ring ring ring.
The door flew open and West stood before me, wearing nothing but a pair of gray sweatpants. His hair was damp like he'd just stepped out of the shower. "What the fuck happened? Why are you covered in blood?" He grabbed my hands to inspect them.
"It's not mine. It's Remington's. He was beaten and dumped off. I can't pick him up by myself. Can you help me get him in the house?"
"Shit..." We ran over to where Remington still lay. He groaned and clutched his stomach. "I'll call 911."