Troublemaker

Third Wheel

When I got home that night I took a long shower with Vladimir's words still in my head "be careful playing God. You can easily play Devil as well". I fell asleep in my bath towel. When I woke I was so happy it was Sunday on Sundays the shop was closed. Usually on days like these I would plan my next jewelry store to rob but nowadays I was cleaning up my fresh cuts. "Fucking hell" I said loudly applying the alcohol to the cut on my leg. I threw out the empty bottle it was the second one I bought this month. I looked in the mirror and it hit me damnit I forgot to call Charlie. Now due to a smashed phone I had to go see him face to face. So I proceeded to lay out my clothes: blue spaghetti strap flannel shirt, distressed blue jeans with black booties. I got dressed and grabbed my metro card and "emergency kit". Time to visit Richville.

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I've always felt out of place all my life so when new and old money was staring me down it was nothing new. I had walked into the condo complex lobby looking a bit on the trashy side wearing baggy clothes hair in a slightly curly black fro. Not only looking trashy I was a few shades darker than what these rich people were used to seeing in the complex. I walked to the receptionist she tried look preoccupied when she glanced at my scar.
"Excuse me I'm looking for Charlie Rose?"
"Who are you?"
Honestly I've taken shit enough to last me a month. I clenched my jaw and balled my hand into a fist.
"I'm his sister"
"Are you really?"
I felt my head explode and whatever nerve I had left was gone. I leaned over the receptionist table and got in her face with no care about being seen. She jumped back a little "Look I've had a long night. Fuck with me if you want but I don't have the patience. What room is he in? " I growled. She quickly typed away on her keyboard "H-he's in 1029A floor 10" she stuttered her hand shook a little as I smiled and walked over to the elevator and pressed the button to go up. Charlie was one of the lucky ones when I went back to my second foster after I escaped my third one I found out he was taken in by some nice people. When me and Charlie found each other a while back he told me he was taken in by a nice family he tried to go around the fact that they were rich to not make me feel bad. He said they owned a chain of jewelry stores and when he was 18 they made him manger of a store in Hell's Kitchen. Out of respect and love I never robbed that one. I made it to his floor a walked to his door breathe finally I knocked. He opened the door he wore a grey long sleeved thermal shirt with grey, blue, and red flannel sweatpants. He was barefoot with his shoulder length hair out it was a mess.
"Ziana" He gasped
"Hey Charl-"
He hugged me deeply I was so shocked I felt his heartbeat faster against my cheek. Arms around me tight his hair in my face I slowly accepted the hug wrapped my arms around him too. I never been hugged that deeply with so much concern. I can truly say it's foreign to me.
"Ziana. Are you okay? I was calling you all night"
"I um it's a long story"
"Come in tell me"
He pulled away and let me inside. His condo was something else it didn't compare to my little apartment. Pretty paintings and expensive furniture he even had the plants I would give him ever so often. I sat on the black leather couch trying to get my lies right. He poured some coffee in a mug and walked over sitting on the couch. He handed me the mug.
"Here"
"Thanks"
I took a sip and a deep breath.
"What happened"
"I was closing up shop last night and when I was walking home I heard a explosion and some of the building fell on me and I smashed my phone"
"Oh my god are you alright?"
"A piece of a building fell on me"
My patience was so shot I didn't realize how rude I was being. I didn't mean that shit.
"Oh uh-"
"I'm sorry I snapped I'm still a little in shock"
"It's okay"
Being here in Charlie's condo in his presence I felt safe like I did when we were kids. Last night made me realize serious everything was becoming I lived in this cushy fantasy that everything was okay and stealing and playing "superhero" wasn't going to get me killed. But I was wrong. If I was going to die or some shit Charlie was going to know how I felt that I refused to take to my grave. I laid my hand on top of Charlie's on his lap putting down the coffee he looked into my eyes like he was looking into my soul. I leaned in to see if he would accept my actions. He did and leaned in too pressing his lips against mine tasting his tongue as he did mine. We finally pulled apart
"Is this what you want?" He said in a low raspy voice
"Yes" I answered
I felt hand slowly lift up my shirt I knew I was gonna be here for a while and I was okay with that.