Hardcore

Chapter 1

Light streams from the window as I enter the empty room, followed by the landlord. For me, it's more than an empty room, but a new beginning. A promise of hope for things to get better in my life, even when I can't see the light.

"This would be your room," Mark tells me, waving his right hand to show me. I barely smile. I don't really care about what the place looks like, as long as I have a place. "So, what are your thoughts?"

"Who's my roommate?" I ask, pointing at the other room across the hall. Mark shoves his hands in his pocket and nods. "Ah, yes, Samson Grant. Would you have any concerns about living with a male?"

I shake my head, with a small smile on my face. "No, I wouldn't. How much is the rent each month?"

"Three hundred and fifty," he says, looking around the room. I look at the light pouring into the room and sigh. I need to escape from my demons, and if this is where I have to do it, I'll take it. This was the best price that I could find downtown, so I wasn't going to complain. The fact that someone didn't take this well-kept apartment already was a sign from the universe that it was meant for me.

"So what do you think?" Mark asks, smiling.

I raise my eyebrow. "When do I get to move in?"

***

I throw down my bag in the corner and collapse on my bed. My sister, Serenity, barely even moves to say hello, instead, she remains focused on whatever she's watching on television. I roll my eyes and turn my face to the wall, looking at all the cracks. Soon, my father will be home, and he'll bring his goons with him. I know I should hurry up and get dressed from work, but I'm compelled to stay here and fall asleep. I jump when I hear the door burst open, and turn to see Keon. I snarl at him. "What the hell man, do you have to make so much noise?"

He rolls his eyes and pokes my sister. "Don't you have work? And why were you downtown?"

"None of your business," I snap at him, getting up and grabbing my work clothes. The show goes on commercial and Serenity turns to me. "What does he mean, you we're downtown?"

"Sere, I will talk to you later, okay?" I look at her, my heart already falling through my chest, but I know I can't stay here, rotting away. Sooner or later, my hands were going to get blood on them, and I just couldn't let that happen. I turn to her Keon, hating his big mouth. "Mind your own business, ace. Besides, Serenity, we technically live downtown."

"We're borderline downtown," Keon remarks, and I glare at him, but he doesn't shut up. "We're basically considered the suburbs."

Ignoring Keon, I go and take my shower, knowing that my rent wasn't going to pay for itself. Working my ass off between my daycare job during the day, and my nights spent at a local club, I needed to rest. My body was exhausted, and I needed to focus on me for once and what I wanted for myself in life. I couldn't do that if I had to look over my shoulder every five seconds.

The bathroom door opens, and I peek at the intruder from behind the shower curtain. "Serenity-"

"I don't blame you, Taryn."

I sigh, feeling the water get colder even though I didn't touch the temperature. "Serenity, I didn't want to tell you like this. That cousin of ours screws everything up because he doesn't mind his fucking business."

"I'm not mad."

"Yet," I add, because I know I would be mad if my big sister was leaving me to the wolves. "You know he's going to hold onto you, and I can't go against that. The law doesn't care for us like that."

"I know, and I won't hate you. You don't have to explain anything to me, because I know, you'll come back to me. You can't help it, Taryn. You always come back for me."

She leaves the bathroom, shutting the door behind her, and I can't help but wince. My mother died six years ago, leaving my sister and me with my father. My father wasn't the best role model. He was always running around with his stupid deadbeat friends, gambling. If there was anything that my deadbeat father loved in this world, he loved to gamble. It was how he managed to pay the bills, barely. That's the most he does. I pay for the groceries, the school fees that Serenity has, and everything I need, I pay for it. After doing it for so long, I lost myself. Working two jobs when I shouldn't be the adult in this situation. Taking care of both me and my sister made me a mother by force, and even though I love my sister, I can't continue to live like this.

Keon whistles when he sees me. "Looking sexy, mama."

I narrow my eyes at him. "You are a pervert. Leave."

"I'm helping Siren with her homework." Keon grinned, and I rolled my eyes at his nickname for her.

Serenity turns around and faces me. "If you don't leave now, you're going to be late."

"Don't worry about me, Serenity."

She shrugs. "Someone's gotta do it."

"I'm ten years older than you," I pointed out, putting my Nike sneakers on. I give her a hug and kiss her forehead. "I can worry about myself."

Keon frowns. "How come I didn't get a kiss?"

I smack him with my bag and run to catch the bus, and I'm just about to reach the bus stop when a car hits me. It isn't enough to force to send me flying, but the car still hits my thigh, and I know there's going to be a bump there later.

I pound my fists on the hood of his car. "What the hell, man?"

He rolls down the window. "I'm so sorry! Are you hurt?"

I see my bus coming and stick my middle finger at him, but can't but take in his features. His hair was cut low, and he watched me with those dark brown eyes of his. His dark brown skin looks so smooth, I have the urge to run my hands all over him. I narrow my eyes at him, shaking my head of those thoughts. "Watch where you're going next time!"

Rubbing my thigh I swipe my bus card and get on the bus, that's obviously packed because of the buses in the city suck. They were either running late, didn't show up, or they were packed to capacity, and the last thing I wanted to do was smell someone's horrible body odor. If I had spent more time, and money on myself, I probably would've had a car by now. Shaking my head of if's and but's, I turned up my music and tuned the world out.