The Stop

Chapter 5

Asia found herself sitting in a booth at the Circle K while Peaches was in the bathroom.
She started feeling bad for herself. Peaches lied and said that Aunt Mary can give the money to her but Aunt Mary cussed Peaches out and told Asia that she didn't have it.
"I ain't no piggy bank!" She yelled. Nine times out of ten Aunt Mary did have the money but she wasn't sharing with Peaches or Asia.
Asia never did this before. She pulled down the already short skirt that showed a portion of her upper thigh. The smell of fried chicken tickled her nostrils and made her stomach growl. She only had cereal for breakfast. A sandwich and a bag of chips for lunch. She managed to find some change to get a can soda which Peaches drunk half of it. She refused to drink after her.
It was a warm night for early spring. She looked out the window as trucks either went by or stop for the scales in the back of the Circle K.
She forgot her nerves and checked out the different customers and characters who came to the store to fuel up or to refresh themselves. She saw families and truck drivers or working people who came to the store. Black, white, Hindu, and an occasional Asian American. They were all people either trying to leave or go home. Like Grandma said, "Everybody has a story."
Truck drivers would come in to get a drink or a snack or to weigh their load. Then some would hit the interstate. That stretch of highway that took them somewhere.
The cashier kept watching her. Asia guess that the Hindu told her to watch her and Peaches.
Peaches came back from the bathroom. She was talking to someone on her cell.
"So when Big Daddy gonna come through..." she asked in this over the top wannabe sexy voice. "I need some money."
Asia turned from her cousin to see a white girl talking to a old crackhead. He must was dropped off by one of the truckers. The girl looked to be in her twenties. She had stringy greasy hair, it was mousy colored. She wore a old torn confederate flag tee that was mad into a mid riff. She wore boots and cut off shorts. She must have know Peaches. The both of them greeted each other in excitement.
"Hey Gurl...long time no see..." said the white girl hugging Peaches. She had a little too much White Diamonds on mixed with sweat. She was cute but she had a muffin top and flat ass.
"Gurl... it's been a while. Me and my man is good..." said Peaches. Asia rolled her eyes. Nico pimped her off. He wasn't much of a boyfriend to her. " This is my cousin Cinnamon..."'she introduced.Asia smiled. She didn't need to know her real name anyway. "This is Violet.." The girl's smile seem real genuine Asia's fake nervous smile. Peaches was asking about someone else.
"You heard they found Lissa's body like a couple of days ago..." said Violet. Asia was straining hard to get the tea. Asia got 'the docks' but her attention went to the Hindu that was eyeing their booth. The black cashier came near the bathroom pretending to mop.
There was an old lady working in the hot foods section who was eyeing them too.
Then a tall white man came into the store. He knew the Hindu cashier so they struck up a conversation. They white guy with his beard and Stetson kinda remind her of a red neck cowboy.
Violet said she was going to the bathroom. Peaches offered to go with her.
Asia just sat and stared out the window.
"I am not helping you, Asia..." said Jamal after she cornered him by the gym a week before he left. "How if it's not mines."
"It's yours...you took my virginity..." Asia said. There was a shamefulness that washed over Asia. He shrugged his shoulder and grin. That's when Asia just hit at him. All the weeks of ridicule from her classmates, mother, and him led to the attack. He got a few slaps in. Then his mother wanted to press charges against her. She scratched his face up good.Ma only said, "You reap what you sow."
"You look like you lost your best friend." She looked up to the older white cowboy smiling at her. Asia quickly wiped away the tear that barely escaped her eye.
"My name's Charles." He said holding out his very white hand.
"Cinnamon..." she introduced. She took his cold hand. The stores air conditioning was on even though it was pretty mild outside.
He sensed her observation. "My Mom always said cold hands, warm heart." They both laughed. "Why is a pretty girl like you sitting here?" He asked.
She sighed. "Trying to escape..."
"That's all of us. You want a soda, a cup of coffee?" He asked. " I know I am a stranger."
Not wanting another soda because she had to already pee and not liking coffee, she turned him down.
"Well, I am not going to..." he started. The Hindu man came over and in his broken English asked, "Are you purchase something?" He asked. At first Asia didn't understand.
" Oh I am waiting on my cousin..." she tried to explain. She thanked the white guy and went to the bathrooms to find Peaches. She opened the Ladies Room to find Violet putting a needle in Peaches arm.