"The black one?" Caleb asks as we walk out of the apartment, not bothering to lock the door. Caleb packed up the car with everything of mine and what he'll need of his, we're off to hide in plain sight. After tonight, Caleb and I are going a road trip to Vegas.
Caleb talked to the manager who was so anxious to be rid of Caleb that he only asked that he pay one hundred dollars extra on this months rent. Caleb's friend who took Taz is taking the furniture.
"Yes, red isn't my color." I say stepping into the elevator. Caleb presses the L button-Lobby- and I feel the slow delayed sensation of falling.
I look over at him, standing about a foot away he's got a cotton, white buttoned up to the collar, with thin, vertical, sky blue stripes and kakis on. His hair is messily-perfect and looks amazingly soft after his shower. His eyes are that mystical, sparkling silver and his expression is all teeth.
"You look good." He says, looking me up and down, I don't dare turn and reveal the slitted back.
"Thanks." I say glancing at my feet. His fingers whisper over my neck, "How'd you cover those up?" He whispers, like if he says 'bruises' I'll break or something.
"You don't have that much cover up left." I smirk at him.
"Damn! I really needed that!" He huffs smiling. I laugh and the doors crack open revealing the dingy lobby. We walk out the front door as Caleb saluting the manager, throws his left arm around my waist pulling me into him as we walk, our thighs brushing with each step.
"Hey!" I squeal in surprise.
"What?" He says smiling his lips at my ear.
"We're sleeping together remember?" I can feel him smiling as he kisses my ear, blood rushing up to well in my cheeks. Caleb's laughs and presses the unlock button on his key chain.
The big black truck beeps and Caleb releases me, walking around to the drivers seat. I breathe deeply inhaling the cool damp air of August in Minnesota.
I climb into the truck pulling my dress back down my thighs, kicking off the strap-y black heels as the truck roars to life. "Isn't it a little light out for a party." I say looking around at the 3 pm sky. Lunch today was a sandwich which is now replaced by a small hunger.
Caleb shakes his head as we drive, "Party's in South Dakota."
"Hm?!" I say in disbelief. Caleb just smiles.
"Don't worry we'll stop for chow."
I sigh and look ahead at the road.
"Wanna play 20 questions?" I ask playfully.
"Didn't we play last night?" He asks one eyebrow edging up.
"Yup but I only used six." I smile.
"Fine."
"Number 7? ... Oh! Uh, how are you paying for all this?" I ask, a question that's been biting at me since I met Caleb.
His face contorts and his eyebrows scrunch together.
"I've been working since I was 14, I inherited all my parents things, including money from their house and just their money in general. And they definitely weren't poor." He glances at me, smiles, and quickly looks back to the road.
"Eight?" He questions. I feel like I just cracked a safe filled with secrets that I'm not allowed to see. I snap out of my daze and think.
"Can I turn on the radio?" I ask.
"Of course, and that counts you know."
I turn on my favorite alternative rock station and drift into my thoughts with The White Stripes 'My Doorbell' echoing through my head.
I never took the time to really realize how Caleb must have changed after the incident. He's thick outer shell, a layer of him so thick that there's almost no room for anything to weasel it's way through to the center. A false layer of confidence, a mask for a lack of self-respect.
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The Tattooed Flower
عاطفيةEven if this ends badly, I wont regret it. Maybe all of this will be gone for me one day, but I'll still have the memories. And that might just be enough. Tattoos on my mind that I can always go back to... *** When a young girl's composure and contr...
