Exhale

Chapter 20: The High Costs

Well damn. I'm still hungry.

9:48 pm

Marley

I've been sitting here for the longest. Dad was supposed to meet me 15 minutes ago. But the big CEO is nowhere to be seen.

I still haven't shared my results with him, but I'm so scared that he'll feel guilty.

I keep all our calls short, but lately I haven't been answering. Every time he asks me how I'm doing, I cry.

Don't even get me started on Marissa; she's trying to get me expelled from NYU. You don't know how many times I've caught her spies following me around the city.

Last time I saw her, I had to give the truck back. Dad said we'd get a new one, but for now, I don't mind walking.

It's ten o'clock now and dads still not here. I try to call, but it's going straight to voicemail, so I leave him a message and start walking. There's a taco spot around the block.

The closer I got to the surface street, the more. I could hear the traffic. Nothing like nonstop honking.

I turned the last corner, making a left, and the taco spot is open.

"Thank you, universe."

You can't even see the doorway from the long ass line outside, there's a tequila cart, and damn, I'd hate to be the bartender.

When I finally find the door, it flings open before I can even try. The most stunning woman I've ever seen stepped out behind the door.

"Oh shit, I'm so sorry!" She scrambles, trying to carry so much.

"I always do that, it's such a bad habit." She pulls her pink curls to the side.

"It's cool." I smile. "I got out of the way just in time." She nods in agreement.

"Here, let me lend a hand." I grabbed some of her bags and sodas as she got situated.

"Damn, where's the party at?" I said laughingly. There are so many tacos.

"West thirty-seventh and Broadway. I usually hate office parties, but. I needed the night out."

I nodded. "Sweet free tacos."

She grabbed all the bags. "Exactly, you're a lifesaver. Thank you."

"Anytime." I placed the sodas in her trench coat pocket.

"Enjoy your night."

She blushes. "You too."

That was awkward. I shrugged. Banker's Tacos is honestly a strange name. But what the hell. When I walked in, I came to understand why Pinky was in a rush.

This place is chaotic, with so many baseball hecklers, and it reeks of beer and desperation. I've changed my mind about the tacos. 

Meanwhile, at Emmy's

Zuri

I ordered breadsticks instead of a milkshake. Roman is still ordering.

Meanwhile, I'm hiding in the bathroom, locked in a stall, sitting on a toilet with my legs up. 

Just when I thought she couldn't stoop any lower.

Every time I think I can do things on my own time. Someone comes along pushing my boundaries and forcing my hand. I sit in thought, and all the memories come flooding back.

Glimpses of my childhood self being kicked and dehumanized. The sound of my ribs cracking and the smell of my hair being burned out of my scalp.

Being bathed in cold water and waking up to beatings so brutal I wanted to die. The image of me hiding my infant brother in a box under the bed, and my mother getting boiling water thrown at her.

I close my eyes, and the sting of my tears forces them open. My stomach ties, and my breathing stops. A sharp pain shoots through my temples, and my whole body starts pounding.

.

.

Woah my heart just dropped. 

Any Thoughts??

See you later. :)