Bad Luck Katie

Men and Boys

What the hell am I doing?

Katie sat down on the bench and leaned back, looking up at the hazy sky. After an awkward phone conversation with Jules, she agreed to meet him at the bus stop across the street from the gaming store. As cars zoomed past her, she contemplated whether to get up and leave.

"Hey."

She sat up straight, her nerves on edge.

"Hey," she said, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Ready for some fun? You look like you need it," he said.

"Okay," Katie said, her voice squeaked. She grimaced.

"I don't bite, you know. You don't have to act shy around me."

"I-I'm not," Katie replied, a hint of irritation in her tone.

He cocked an eyebrow. Amusement on his face. "Whatever you say." He took a step forward and glanced back. "You coming or not?"

She dug her nails into her palms to calm her nerves. "Yeah," she said.

He walked with a swagger, as though he didn't have a care in the world. She wished she had that kind of confidence. What did it feel like not to worry about anything - food, clothing, a place to live? Lost in her thoughts, she realized that the boy had walked much further ahead of her. She quickened her pace to catch up with him.

He stopped abruptly. She almost face-planted into his back. He faced her, scrutinizing her features. "I need to know if you're up to this," he said. "If you don't want to be here with me, just say the word."

Katie gulped. "It's not that," she replied. It's just...," she fidgeted.

"Look," he said. "You're safe with me." The gentleness of his tone eased her distress.

"Okay," she replied, berating herself for her disquietedness.

They entered a convenience store. A security guard eyed them both as they walked by. Jules sneered at him. Katie noticed the sudden change in the boy's demeanor. "Let's get a few things," he said, taking her hand.

They turned the corner out of the security guards' sight. He looked around for cameras.

He released the blushing girl's hand to take a few snacks, stuffing them into his pockets. Katie looked on in shock. He motioned to her. She hesitated. "Go on," he said. "It's okay."

She grabbed a bag of salted peanuts, contemplating.

He nodded, urging her to take it.

Sweatbeads peppering her forehead, she pocketed it.

They headed for the exit.

"Stop right there!" the security guard said, the gun in his holster visible. "Empty your pockets."

"We didn't take anything," Jules said. He took a defiant stance.

"Don't play games with me, boy," the security guard said. "You two stole merchandise."

The boy clinked his tongue. "We did not," he replied. "You have no right to detain us. You're violating my rights. One phone call to my attorney, and I'll sue your ass into oblivion."

Watching the heated confrontation wide-eyed, Katie didn't know what to do. The boy had balls of steel. She gave him that.

After a long stare-down, the security guard huffed. "Get out of my store."

"No problem," said the boy with a grin, relishing his victory. He glanced at Katie, who stared at him with disbelief and apprehension.

His exuberance faded. "Let's go," he said.

Walking ahead of him, Katie made a fast exit.

"Wait up," he called behind her.

Sighing, she turned and gestured with a questioning hand. "What was that all about?"

"Did you see how he acted in the store?" he asked. "He treated us like delinquents because he was on some power trip. I can't stand people like that."

Katie shrugged. "So why steal then?"

He smirked with a glint in his eye. "Because I can," he replied.

Her heart thumped in her chest at his candid response. She thought it a cliché, but no one had ever impressed her like him.

"Tell me this," he said, snapping her attention back to the present.

"You liked it, though? Didn't you?"

Katie fixed her gaze on his eyes, her eyebrows furrowed, challenging him. "This is not about me," she stated firmly.

He countered. "Isn't it, though? Why are you always so jumpy?"

"I don't have to explain myself to you," she said. "Don't turn this around. I asked why you acted like that in the store."

"Because he was a jerk," the boy stated. He rubbed his forehead, fluffing his hair. "Can we forget what happened and enjoy our snacks? I don't like you scowling at me."

Katie's lips curved into a smile as she replied, "Okay."

The warm feelings dissipated when she arrived at the shelter that evening; the staff confiscated her peanuts and issued a verbal warning.

Dinnertime halfway over, Katie headed to the dorm, ignoring her grumbling stomach. Finding the room empty, her roommate nowhere around, Katie mouthed a prayer of thanks. She showered and changed for bed.

Climbing into bed, she nestled under the covers and replayed the day's events in her mind.

A knock at the door jolted Katie out of her thoughts.

"Room check."

Katie recognized Yvette's booming voice and frowned. It was too early for room check. Pretending to be asleep, she flipped to her side.

The door slowly creaked open as Katie tensed up. She could barely make out the silhouette of a large figure in the narrow strip of light filtering through the doorway.

The door finally closed after a minute that seemed to stretch on forever.

Katie released the breath she had been holding. For a shelter, the atmosphere felt more like a prison.