Dreamland Dimensions

Chapter Seven: Exposed

The air was piercing cold, sending a chill throughout my body and making me tremble. I couldn't see the stars from the street corner, my breath formed a cloud in front of me as I sighed and tucked my hands into my jacket pocket. "It's cold as fuck man" Groaned Dudley, leaning on the brick wall behind me. I looked back to see him tightening his hood and stuffing his hands into his pockets. "I hate the cold" He stated, squatting down. "You sure they coming?" I asked, looking both ways on the street, "You said $270 right?". "That's what Ruby said" He replied, "She gone be here". It was getting close to winter, I could feel it in the air and it was the times like this I missed home even more. Not the home with my mother and Troy but where I lived with my grandmother.

I stared up at the sky, the street light polluted the night and made it impossible to see the stars.

"Here she go!" Called Dudley, jumping up and running to the street curb. A white 1996 Nissan Maxima pulled up, curly-haired redhead girl rolled down the window and leaned out, "Hey Dud. This yo boy you been telling me about?". Dudley looked back at me, smirking and nodded, "This my nigga from middle school, we hooped together". "Don't be shy boy!" She blurted, smirking and waving at me, "Come speak!". I rolled my eyes, sighing as I took my hands out of my jacket pocket as I walked over to them and waved. "What's up?" I muttered, nodding. She looked me up and down, kicking her lips, "You really 14?". I nodded, looking at the two giggling girls in the backseat now visible to me and shrugged, "Why?". The redhead girl looks into the backseat muttering something, the girls get silent and she turned back smiling sweetly, "You just cute as fuck". "Ruby come on, it's cold man" growled Dudley, taking his hand out of his pocket and shaking her hand, "Quinton, you want this rachet hoe number?". "Fuck you Dudley!" She hissed, swinging at him, "I'm not a rachet hoe!". I didn't know what to say, I didn't have any experience with any other female besides my mother and Anastasia. I gave her my cellphone, the phone Anastasia got for me and she dialed her number in. "Text me cutie" giggled Ruby, pulling off slowly, "Later Dud". We stood there as the car disappeared in the distance, Dudley nudged me and threw his arms around my shoulders.

"Let's go eat nigga, I'm starving" laughed Dudley. We weren't friends, we just went to the same school and hustled on the same block.

We knew nothing about each other besides that we both were broke and needed cash. I nodded, following him as we walked down the sidewalk. "You cool Quinton...I know we didn't talk much on the team or in school but like running with you been real" stated Dudley, walking ahead of me, "I was an only child and both of my parents died...I ain't have a lot man, no family and never a real home". He was an orphan, parents died when he was 3 years old and he moved around a lot. "When I got on the team a lot of those guys were dicks, bro" He continued, stretching his arms up and yawning. His breath blew out like smoke, he tucked his hands into his pockets and smiled at me, "But you treated me like a human being...I appreciate that".

It was strange, I didn't understand what he meant when he said that I treated him like a human being.

I didn't know what being a human felt like, I never felt as if I had existed until I met Anastasia and sometimes I still feel like I don't exist. How could I make someone I barely knew feel a way I've never felt my entire life? Dudley's smile was sincere, content and warm. I smiled in return, patting his shoulder and nodded, "No problem". Smiling hurts and pretending is tiresome. He's fooled just like everyone else by my falseness, I commend myself for another outstanding performance. "You got this look of sadness though" Muttered Dudley, looking at me, "Like you'd rather be anywhere else but where you are right now". We stopped at a café, Dudley pushed the door open as we entered and took a booth by the front. "I feel that way too" He blurted. I looked up from the menu, his eyes looked sad as he read the menu and shrugged, "Anywhere but here".

Although the scars were invisible and hidden, the pain could still be seen.