Smash!

•T H I R T E E N•

Riley's POV

I'm freezing my ass off. Shivering behind a dumpster in the alley where I attempted to rob Jamie I fight to keep warm. Stuffing my hands into the pockets into my black hoodie I fight to keep my teeth from clattering. I've been shivering behind this dumpster for hours, waiting. What time is it? It feels like midnight.

All my waiting finally pays off at the sound of a metal door scraping against the gravel. Yanking the black ski mask over my head I pull the black gun from my waistband. Despite purposely leaving the bullets in my car I double check that the safety is on.

I don't like what I'm about to do, but it needs to be done.

"Hey!" I bark, jumping up from my hiding place. The greasy hair man in knock off alligator skinned shoes immediately freezes up, his rat face gaping at me. He slowly raises his hands up by his ears, his face going white.

".... I-I-I d-don-n't w-want any tr-rouble, man." He whimpers, his bottom lip quivering. To bad, he's got trouble.

"You the asshole that owns this place?" I hiss, pointing my gun at him. His knees start to buckle, and he whimpers louder.

"Answer the question!" I growl.

"Y-yes!" He chokes. "I'll give you all the money in the register! Even the tip jar! Just don't shoot!" He begs. For a second I see red, angry red.

"You're the prick mistreating that nice girl." I growl, storming towards him. He stumbles back, trips over his feet and falls onto his ass with a thud.

"J-J-J-James?" The greasy haired wheezes. James? Fucking James?! He doesn't even know her damn name? Blood pounding in my ears, and fire burning through me I click the safety off. I'm pissed. I am fucking pissed off.

"AHHH! No! Don't s-shoot! Don't shoot!" He begs, raising his trembling arms over his sweating face.

"Listen up you piece of garbage." I order, looming over him. The sleaze ball nods frantically, droplets of sweat flying in every direction.

"I'm the fucking workers' union, and I'm here to enforce, bastard. First, you're going to give that hard working girl a raise. A big one. Second, she's getting a promotion with decent hours, and a day off whenever she damn well feels like it. Third, hire somebody to help the nice girl. Got it?"

"G-got it!" He breathes, staring down the barrel of the gun. I feel sick to my stomach. My insides are churning, I might barf any second now. I'm a monster. A terrible human being gunning down a person, making them scared for their own life. That's a monstrous thing. An inhuman thing. Doesn't matter if my gun is loaded or not.

"I'm a regular customer." I lie. "I've been coming in everyday, and I'll absolutely be coming everyday." I half lie, lowering the gun right between his beady eyes.

"See you tomorrow." I smirk through the ski mask, turning on my heel and marching off into the dark.

------

I hate myself. I think the words over, and over again as I drag my feet up the nine flight of stairs of Jamie's building. The look of sheer horror on Jamie's boss's face haunts me. Every time I close my eyes I see the desperate will to live in his beady eyes. The panicked wondering if he'd live.

Only monstrous people can cause those kinds of horrible things.

I don't even realize I have been twisting the key in her crudy lock for minutes. The small apartment isn't pitch dark. All the lights burn brightly, emulating strawberry blonde hair. Jamie is fast asleep on her couch, a chewed pen knotted in her red hair by her freckled ear, and bills littering the coffee table.

Suddenly all my self loathing vanishes, and all the right reasons why I terrorized that man comforts me. Knowing Jamie's luck she'll probably roll off the edge, and bang her head on the coffee table. Scooping the red head up in my arms I carry her through the apartment as gently as I can. Cradling her red head in the crock of my neck I try not to think about how good she feels against me. Soft, warm, and still smells like cinnamon and vanilla from the bakery.

Hesitatingly lowering Jamie into the little nook that is her bedroom I debate climbing in with her. I should get going on my nightly run. I don't even know why I went out of my way to come back here if I just need to leave. Tucking the blankets up to her freckled chin I run the pad of my thumb across her lips. The plush mouth sending my heart jumping against my ribs. I lower my head against hers, forehead resting on hers, noses brushing.

I can't believe it, but I love being close to her.

Pushing off the bed I rush out of apartment, each step putting me farther and farther from Jamie.