Feel free to point out any spelling, grammar, or spacing errors. I would really appreciate it and will fix them right away :)
***
Ch23: You're Just As Dark And Twisty As Meredith Grey
"I don't know," I shrug. "All he said was that he wanted to show me something."
"Is Josh going to be upset?" Pipper asks as I move my phone to my other ear.
"It's not like that," I exhale. "Josh knows I don't like Vincent like that."
"You better hope he does," Taylor chuckles. "I'd be upset if my girlfriend was going somewhere with a hot trouble maker dude."
"Well, you don't have a girlfriend," I roll my eyes. "How would you know?"
"I'm just saying," she says. "I'd be upset about it."
"Josh is different," I tell them. "He won't be upset."
"Any guy would be upset," Pipper explains.
"I have to go," I ignore his comment before hanging up.
"You ready?" A voice asks and I see Vincent leaning against my door.
"Yes," I put my phone in my pocket.
How long has he been standing there? Did he hear what I said?
"Let's go then," he says before walking out of my room.
"Right," I nod following him.
***
"Meet Sirius Black, " Vinny says as he introduces me to a 1990 black Jeep Wrangler.
"You named your car Sirius Black?" I ask. "After the character from Harry Potter?"
"Of course," he nods. "Such a noble character deserves a good tribute."
"I didn't think of you as a Harry Potter fan," I smile as I open the passenger seat and get in.
"Kitten," he gets in the car and turns the ignition on. "There's lots you don't know about me."
***
"We're almost there," he states as he turns driving into a lonely narrow street.
Surrounding the street there's nothing, but trash and tagging on the grey cement walls.
He takes another small turn and we're directly in front of a large mechanic shop.
The building has bright yellow letters painted on at the top that say Jason's Mechanic Shop and its all surrounded by large thick fencing. As we drive in I begin to notice the many junk cars parked everywhere on the right side of the place only leaving a small entry way for one car to go through.
Vincent turns left and then turns the car off. We're left facing what looks like a homemade working station.
He has carports made out of a metal frame and a thick tarp thrown over them that he tied at the ends to keep them from sliding off. Around four of these carports cover the area, but near the front is a large metal container.
"I'll show you around," Vincent says as he gets out of the car and I nod before following. He walks towards the metal container and gets inside. I follow behind and as soon as I walk in I feel a wave of heat hit my entire body.
I look around and on the left side are all sorts of tools hung with nails on the wall. On the right are plastic baskets containing wires or more tools. Then besides that is a large speaker which appears to have been fixed because some of the parts don't match. Finally, at the end of the wall is a desk with two small drawers and on top of it is a small cardboard box with different colored papers inside.
"This is my office," Vincent explains. "I know it's hot. I'm working on getting a fan in here."
"That be good," I nod. "So this is where you work?"
"No and yes," he says as he walks out the container and I follow him. We both walk into the area underneath the carports.
"This is where I work," he says and I look around. To the left of the container, an area I hadn't been able to see, is a long metal box pushed against the back wall with two car seats placed on top. On the left side are gas containers hung up with a metal cable on the fencing. He also has a foldable white table laid against the fence. Of course, the area is covered with another homemade carport.
"I like it," I smile. "You seem to have put a lot of effort into it."
"When I first came, sophomore year," he says. "I only had one of these carports and a wooden old box too keep all my stuff in."
"You've grown the place since then," I chuckle. "You have five now and a metal container."
"A truck driver sold it to me," he explains. "He said it was too small for him to do anything with it."
"You found good use for it," I say and he nods. "So, why are we here? I know this is where you work, but I don't get it."
"Right," he nods before walking towards the area left of the container and talking a seat on one of the car seats. "Come sit next me."
I comply and go sit next to him.
"Why do you work here?" I ask.
"It's a long story," he exhales. "I guess I should start from the beginning, right?"
"Right," I nod.
"I use to live in Los Angeles," he says taking a deep breath. "My mom's always been a good mom. Strong and independent, but she was always at work. Never really home. I have no idea who my real father is, but I looked up to a guy they called Bone. He took me under his wing and raised me like his own kid. At least, that's what I use to think, but I know now that's not true."
"Why not?" I ask.
"He was just using me," he says. "I didn't know life wasn't suppose to be that difficult until I came here. . .Anyway I looked up to Bone and he taught me everything I needed to know about being in the streets. I learned how to fight, how to hold a gun, and how to survive without the need of my mother. . . My first day of freshman year I meet this girl called Janet. A stubborn bright red head and she infuriated me. I think that's why I liked her so much because she managed to make me feel at least something. So we started hanging out and eventually I fell in love with her.
"She was everything to me. . . . .When I turned fifteen and was about to enter sophomore year Bone pulled me aside and started talking to me about this group of guys he had. He said they were his family and that he wanted me to be a part of them. I was young and stupid so I agreed. Having a large family sounded amazing and I desperately wanted that. Of course, he told that I'd be a part of something dangerous, but that it was okay because we had each other's back no matter what. . .To think I was actually excited about being a part of his stupid little gang. The Zelos they called themselves.
"I told Janet about it and she freaked out. She said I had to get out of it, but I didn't listen. So I went to meet the gang and they told me I had to go through initiation. A ritual that would prove my loyalty to them. They said it would happen that same night and I told them I'd do it. I'd do anything to be a part of their family. Bone told me I was being brave and that he was proud of me. . .It was fucken lie, but I didn't see it then.
"So I went that night with Bone and they took me to an abandoned building where they handed me a gun and said I'd have to kill someone," he stopped talking and I could see his hands shaking.
"It's okay," I frown. "You don't have to tell me."
"I kept telling myself that I could do it," he ignores my comment, his voice shaking. "They waited for my response and I told them I'd do it. I said I'd kill someone. How the fuck could I have I said that?. . . . .But I said it and so they shoved a girl with a bag over her head in front of me. The girl kept crying and trying to say something to me, but her mouth was covered and I couldn't understand her. . . . .So I pointed the gun at her head and took a deep breath, but I couldn't pull the trigger. I tried, but I just couldn't do it. "
I found myself releasing a breathe I didn't know I was holding in. His hands seem to be shaking harder and he looks pale as if he was reliving it all inside his head.
"Bone yelled at me that I had to do it, but I just stared at the girl unable to move. Then I lowered the gun and told them I wouldn't. They all just looked at me like I was a disgrace. . . After a few seconds Bone picked the girl up and took off the bag over her head. . .And there she was. Janet. Tears streaming down her face and she was looking at with utter terror. . .I had almost killed her and she knew it. The way she look at me, I don't think I'll ever be able to forget it. It's stuck in my mind forever. . . .
"I yelled at Bone to let her go, but by the time I could even think about doing anything two guys grabbed me. Bone dragged her away until I couldn't hear her screams anymore and then in the distance I heard the gun shot. I knew they'd killed her. At least I thought I did. . .I didn't know what to do I was filled with rage and I tightened my grip on the gun in my hand. I killed them Elliana. . .Two of them at least. I shot them straight in the head and then I ran.
"I ran until I couldn't anymore and I called Josh. We'd been friends for a while and I told him everything. I knew the gang would be after me. I knew too much. . .Josh told me about his uncle's house and how he was leaving. He said I could go with him and I agreed. So that's how I ended up here in that house," he exhales and I just look at him unable to think of anything good to say.
"Oh," is the only that comes out and he nods.
"I work here," he says "because I only rent the place and it's in Alex's name. I can't put my name in a public record. The gang would find me."
"What about school?" I ask.
"School files are private," he explains. "That's also why I work at night. The clients leave the cars to Jason. I don't have any contact with them I just come at night and work on them."
"This is where you come," I scoff. "I had something else in mind."
"Something like what?" He asks and I shrug.
"Some scary alley or something," I laugh.
"Why would I go to an alley?" He laughs.
He laughs.
An actual real genuine laugh.
Isn't that such a nice sound?
A/N : Hey Everyone!!!! Hope you liked the chapter.
I'll update soon...
QOTC: What do you think about Vincent's story?
Comment & Vote
Love, Pam
January 17, 2017