Savior of Mine

SoM 3: Bloody Hell

I finally had stopped and looked up to see some guy stroll in and look at me for a second. What's the matter dude? Never seen a kid run a gas station? The face on that guy.

He kept staring at me then went down the aisle and I went back down to the book until he got up to the counter. I closed the book set it to the side as he placed his drink and a protein bar down.

"You like sports?" He asked. Normally I avoid small talk altogether with guys because most of them are creepy, but he seemed like a genuine guy, so I answered honestly. That never happens but it's been a good day so far.

"Sure. I guess you could say that." I said while scanning the items and pressing the button on the register.

"Yeah, that says high school sports. I'm a teacher at the one down the road. What school you go to?" Now, this was a personal question and from a grown man, nuh uh. Not only was that creepy as it was but imagine me saying "Oh, I don't go to a school, hence why I'm not in class right now.

"$9.58 please." I said bluntly. You don't know me, and I don't know you so back off dude. I finally looked at him expecting the money, but he just took a good look at me before reaching for his wallet. He didn't even have it out yet.

"Who did that to your face, kid?" He asked with genuine concern. That's new. Well besides Sophia but she's an old lady she cares about anyone. It's like he was taking each cut, bruise, mark and scab in and took forever just to get a couple bucks out.

He finally had it all out in his hand before I had to actually reach over the counter and grab the money from his hand while he just stood there. What the hell's wrong with him? Like so what, a few cuts big deal dude mind your own business. Like damn.

"Hold on, I need to find change." He said before searching his pockets. This was taking forever, and two questions was enough.

"Okay seriously though what the hell happened that got your face sliced opened?" He questioned again trying to get his hand out of his pocket.

"You know what? It's fine, here," I said grabbing a couple quarters out of the donation dish for child hunger.

"Look at that, thanks for donating to child hunger. Have a good damn day, sir." I said and grabbed the money and turning my head toward the cash register. I guess something else caught his eye about me because he didn't move.

"Holy shit, you're bleeding." He said almost raising his voice. Although thanks to good ol' Dereck. I couldn't hear a word he said. See I forgot to mention one little thing:

One night, about a week after my mom died, my friends had just found out about it and offered to take me on a fun little hangout to get my mind off things. It was the day after the funeral too and I was just devastated. I didn't actually have a good relationship with her but she's my mom, you know?

So, we hung out for a little bit, didn't do anything bad or illegal but I had so much fun, and it really did help me. Once I had gotten back home it was like 11 o'clock at night and the lights were still on.

I had just gotten used to Dereck being aggressive toward my mom and I, so him being a little mad from me being out all night was expecting. But it turns out he had started drinking a little more and more, I guess from stress or whatever? I don't know, but anyways.

I walked in and he immediately flipped out on me. Screaming at the top of his lunges at me. It was only 11 o'clock. Heck, I've been out later than that and he didn't mutter a word to me. I was so confused that I just started to walk to my room that at the time in that house I had down the hall. He made it clear he wasn't done talking and grabbed my arm to which I fought him back on it. He had never lashed out on me to the point it got physical because he was too busy beating on mom to notice any shit I'd do, so this was quite new to me.