Twilight Rays

12. For a slight second

Jo was still visible from the living room but I was already back to Raja.
"What just happened? You do know him!"
"Now, you agree on not going to his house?"
"Raja, that's not it. The guy is a jerk. Why do you think he took a chance to come here? I'm sure he did it for me. Or... You."
"And he wasted his time, didn't he?"
"This guy... I should've never trusted him. He... he used to beat Clara up! He..."
I sniffed, stopping the tears to fall down. This was a close one.
"Come here." Raja said, hugging me. "I'm sorry I didn't show up earlier. I was hoping he wouldn't come for me but..."
"He did. Maybe it's a good thing you're leaving soon. He won't bother you in London."
"Yeah, true."
I remained in his arms for what seemed like forever. His chest (and hoodie) was the most comfortable thing ever.
"He didn't hurt you, did he?" He whispered in my ear.
I shook my head, then buried my nose in his hoodie. Smelled so good.
"Do you work today?" I whispered.
"No. Why are you whispering?" He said in the same tone.
"Time seems to be moving slower when sounds are almost unperceptable."
"Hum, pretty. You came up with that?"
"Huhum."
Another pause before he wondered:
"What are you doing?"
"For a slight second I thought I was back to prom.
"Okay, that explains why you are humming."
"You should've asked me." I blurted out.
"Huh?"
I bit my lip, wondering whether or not to repeat.
"You should've asked me to dance."
"DeeDee would've disapprouved. You would've said no."
"Depends. Did you smoke before?" I said, causing him to laugh.
"I think so."
"Oh, I would've declined. Makes me nauseous."
"For real?"
"That's how my dad stopped. I kept puking in his car."
Raja laughed again, of his contained laugh that made his dimple come out.
"Oh my, good thing I stopped too, then."
"Don't you dare start again. Or deal. Or join Jo's gang."
He didn't say anything.
"Raja? Promise?"
"I can't..." he admitted slowly.
I yanked myself out of his arms.
"Why not?" I snapped.
The magic was gone. Back to reality, princess. Aladdin is a bad boy.
"I can't tell you..."
"You're in Jo's gang too?"
"No!"
"What then?... You're dealing?"
He hesitated.
"Are you freaking kidding me!?!!"
"I can explain... I'm just selling it!"
"It's even worse! You're out of your addictions but still feel no shame walking around, selling weed to junkies!"
"Twilla..."
"Don't you 'Twilla' me right now! You're pathetic."
"I'm sorry, it's just that I need money for that trip and I ran out of options..."
"Oh, is the option 'Don't go to jail' even crossed your mind?" I catched my breath one moment then ordered:
"Get out. Get your disgusting guts out of here."
And I was already gone, locking myself up in my room, holding back my tears. It took a while, but I finally heard the front door being locked -Clara had given him a key. I called my sister, but she didn't pick up. I called her two more times before she answered:
"What?"
"Come back", I cried in the phone, unable to stop myself. "I know what's going on with you but I..."
"What do you mean, what do you know?"
"Come home, Clara, I just wanna make sure you're still there!"
"I'm on my way home, moron, calm thyself!"
"Alone?"
"No, Jo's with me."
"Then don't come."
I heard them sigh.
"OMG, TNT, what's wrong with you? It's my home too, you can't just force me to stay outside! I'm already there anyway." Clara moaned.
And she hung up. "He can't see me like that, he can't..." I muttered, suddenly incredibly tensed.
The door flew open.
"Okay, princess, the game is up!" he yelled.
I lost my mind.
"It's all your fault! Raja's dealing again because of you!"
"Really? Wonderful!"
"Jo, leave her alone! Just get those bags and leave!"
The bags. I didn't even know where they were.
"What bags?" I asked worriedly.
"None of your business. Jo, how much?"
"One plastic bag. I'll come another day for the rest."
Clara walked out of the entrance, leaving me with Jo.
"Guess you got your heart broken, huh? You girls are all the same."
"I can beat you up. Nobody will get me on a gang."
"Is that so?"
"Wanna bet?"
"No, don't wanna hurt you."
"Like you cared. Just get your philthy bags in your pick-up already."
Clara came back, and she was MAD.
She pinned me on the door and yelled:
"Where did you put them?"
Tears flowed back as Raja came into my head.
"Ra- Raja hid them. Or took them."
"And why's that?" Replied Jo.
"I don't know, I just told you he's all yours!" I yelled back.
"Calm thyself, for God's sake!" screamed Clara, banging my head against the glass.
What was up with the fancy vocabulary?
"You're hurting me! Let me go!"
"She's coming with us." Jo said to my sister.
"That was not planned, Joseph, she has nothing to do with this!"
"Let's go, ladies."
He grabbed me by the hair and pulled me outside, Clara following him.