The boy with the yellow scarf

Chapter 19: Things are looking up but that was a low bar

Jesper

"What the fuck, Gatsby------what the hell happened to you?" Shane basically tugs me in the apartment after staring at me for a solid minute.

I gesture very emphatically to my mouth.

"Okay---okay---fuck sorry---fuck let me get something, stand there---for god's sake go to the kitchen---Jesus----" he says, hastily going to sort through his backpack for---wire cutters. Clever. He's wearing just loose pants and has a spiral squiggly tattoo on one shoulder. That's new. It wasn't there last night.

I obey, going to the kitchen.

"Do you need like---right you can't take anything---right," he says, bringing the wire cutters. "This---this is probably gonna really fuckin' hurt."

I nod and make a universal 'speed it up' hand gesture.

"Got it---got it, okay try to stay still now Gatsby," he says, using one hand to keep the back of my head still as he tries to cut the wire as gently as possible. He gets two wires cut before I just rip the rest out, gasping in pain.

"Well, that was hardcore. I could have kept cutting," he says, holding the wire cutters.

"I hated not talking---Jesus," I sigh, spitting blood into the sink. I rinse my mouth. My lips were bleeding. Are bleeding. Still are bleeding freely. "Can I use this towel? There's already blood on it. I'm going to use this towel."

"Use the towel---what the hell?" he asks, staring at me.

"Um---I've had a bad week," I say. I did change into a decent jacket and better shirt and pants but I'm aware I still look like I've been hit by a train.

"Are you---------aware that the last time I saw you you were asking me to leave your house?"

"Yes, I'm sorry about that that person has been follow me ---"

"Let me finish, Gatsby------over thirty years ago?" he asks, folding his arms over his bare chest.

"So no, that part was new. Good to know. As I said. I've had a bad week," I say, nodding.

"What is going on with you?" he asks, shaking his head, "Who—did that to you?"

"I don't actually know. It's probably safer for you if you don't know," I say, shrugging, "It's-----not great. You know what? I should probably get out of your life I apologize—"

"Don't walk away! You're soaked in your own blood you don't look like you've slept in days---- just tell me the truth," Shane sighs, looking me up and down.

I actually laugh. I don't remember the last time I told someone the unadulterated truth. It's always just bits and pieces of it. so far abridged from who I actually am that I don't know myself anymore.

"I've nearly died more times than I can count and I have at least three curses on me right now. Trust me, my good man. You do NOT want me anywhere near your life," I say, walking towards the door.

"You just show up to have me cut your face open and you're going to LEAVE???"

"Yeah. Thanks for that," I say, waving as I leave. Now that I can speak and eat and drink I'm starving. Time to go home and change. You know what would do me good? A nap, and food, and water, and a nap. And then I could stroll into town. See how much time has passed. If no one remembers me then I can probably rob them again. Shiny jewelry. Fat wallets. I try to think of other things that make me happy.

"I told you I smelled it," I walk directly into someone, who turns out to be Val, who just picks me up and moves me. With love. I think.

"Jesper! What happened to you!" Sunna clutches my arms fervently and searches my face, then immediately begins dabbing it with a cloth. "Are you all right?"