Birds of a feather // Gus Bell // Boy swallows' universe

2

                                                                                                 Eli

I've been standing in the kitchen for the last 30 minutes peeling some potatoes for tea, while slims behind me cutting up some fish. Gus on the other hand Gus is laying on the ground drawing like usual, but with Tara by his side.

 "Hey slim you're in the paper."  I say looking underneath the dirty pile of peeled potato skin.

"I saw that."  Slim dryly replies.

"Is that the guy who put you away?"  I stated. 

 "Corrupt psycho that he was." chuckled Slim.

I slowly turn my head towards Gus and Tara, making sure they could read my worried expression.

"So, did you kill that taxi driver, or didn't you?" Eli says.

"ELI!" Tara yells at the boy 

"What do you think?"  slim eerily says as he turns around to face Eli, ignoring the girl standing up for him.

 "I Dunno. I don't think you're a violent person" Eli honestly said.

 "Never underestimate what any man is capable of" Slim raises an eyebrow at the boy. 

Eli turns around to face slim.

 "So do you think Lyle's gone back to dealing smack?"  Eli confronted wanting to know.

"I Dunno. Why don't you ask him?" Slim replied.

"I didn't want to put him on the spot, he's doing his best I suppose." Eli says.

 "you're a good kid" slim says with honesty.

 "You reckon?" Eli says being surprised to his response.

" Yeah, just stay out of people's business and let Lyle deal with his own shit."  Was the last thing slim says as he turns back around, continuing to cut the fish up.

"Hey guys sorry to go so early, but I've got to go home and cook up some for dad and me" Tara says standing up, grabbing her stuff heading for the door.

"Bye Gus. Eli and Slim" Tara smiles 

"Bye Tara!"

"Bye Russ"

We all say while Gus smiles and waves. Why can't he ask her out already?

                                                                             The next day

     6:15am                                                                      Tara 

I wake up to the sound of my loud, annoying ass alarm, slowly yet quietly stepping out my bed walking down the hall of the quiet house. I reach the bathroom, hopping in and letting myself feel the warm water down my body.

After I was finished my shower, I put my school uniform on. Today I'm wearing a skirt with a long sleeve sweater on top, to cover the marks my father has left the other night. A tear escapes my eye at the thought of that night. But was soon interrupted with a yell outside.