The Real You (BWWM)

17: A new me

August 16th, 2015 

After I got the job done, I staged the scene. I threw things on the ground, positioned my parents and my brother in the right spots, and put some valuable things in my bag to sell later. I took my clothes off and put it in a plastic bag to dispose of later. I went in the bathroom with the box color hair and look at the instructions on the back. I decided to go daring and chose dirty blonde. I look at my dark cocoa brown hair one last time. I close my eyes and take in the whole situation. I can't believe I just killed the people who matter the most to me. I can feel the tears well up in my eyes. But rage swallows them back. Rage at Charlie. Rage at life. Rage at myself. To think any man could actually love me. It's completely ludicrous. I can feel my blood boiling. No, I can't put my anger out on myself. I need to focus on Charlie. I need to get to him and give him what he deserves. 

Everything is ready. I do a mental checklist in my head. 

Money. Check.

Knife. Check.

Dirty clothes. Check.

Burner phone. Check.

Bloody gloves. Check.

All that's left to do is get out of here. Never come back. Never look back. Before I leave, I take down the photo of me and my family at Disney 10 years ago. I smile at the thought of happier times and head out. I slowly walk out the door and run out so no one will notice me. 

I take a bus down to the strip club to talk to Sandra. I remember from the schedule board that she's on stage preforming. I take the back door inside instead of making a scene from the front. I watch her behind the stage preform. The men all call out for Scarlet (Sandra's stage name) and she gives them what they want. I have to give it to the woman, she's good at her job. But she always tells me to get out of this hell hole. To do something better with my life. But its too late for a better life now. She waves goodbye to the audience and walks off stage. She stops right in her tracks when she sees me, surprised at the sight. My eyes are red and swollen from crying all night, my hair is poorly cut and colored, and I'm dressed in all black. "Baby girl (my stage name), what happened to you?" She quickly walks up to me and holds my head in concern. 

"I'm fine, I just have to get out of here." 

"Did Charlie do something to you?" I can hear anger rising in her voice. She's never liked the thought of me and Charlie together. Hell, she doesn't even like the thought of Charlie. I shake my head. "I swear to god if he did I'll-"

"No, Its just hard to explain right now. I need the name of the guy that does fake ID's. I have to skip town for a while." I can see the concern growing on her expression.

"His name is Carlos and he works in the Lake Worth Crossroad plaza at the tattoo parlor. Ava, please tell me whats wrong." I sigh, tired of her badgering.

"I'm going to Seattle to find Charlie. You'll find out soon enough what I did. Just promise me," I walk closer to her and hold her hands close to my heart. "promise me you won't tell anyone where I am or what I did." 

"Ava Just tell me-"

"Please Sandra." I look her straight in her face she and slowly nods her head in agreement. 

"I promise." I pull her into a tight hug, knowing  I won't ever see her again. "Be safe baby girl." I let go and manage to flash her a weak but sweet smile. 

"You too."

I catch the next bus to Lake Worth and walk to the tattoo parlor. There's a man sweeping the floor when I enter. "Sorry we're closed."

"Actually, I'm here to see Carlos." He pauses mid sweep and looks at me with a cocked eyebrow. 

"Speaking." I adjust my standing awkwardly. 

"I'm here for an ID. Sandra sent me." He nods his head and smiles, motioning to follow him in the back. 

"She warned me about you." He says jokingly. He stands behind a camera and points to a blue wall. "Stand there and smile." I obey his instructions and smile softly. The camera light quickly flashes and he starts to type on a computer. "Name?" I think of something quick. 

"Casey Young." 

"Where do you want this to be from?" I pick something randomly from my head. 

"Atlanta Georgia." 

"Birth date?" 

"April 9th, 1996." He looks up from his computer skeptical at me. But then he shrugs it off. I see the card scan out and he hands it to me. He lends his hand out and I take it. I let a small sigh out. "Thank you." He looks at me doleful and smiles. 

"Tell you what, how about I give you a free tattoo. To make you really look 21." I smile softly at him and nod. 

"Lets do it." 

I look in the mirror, amazed at the art inked on my arm. "What do you think?" He questioned me. I'm at a lost for words. The flowers uniquely fade as if time aged them. The vintage style clock lays perfectly under the roses. The whole tattoo is wonderfully established. 

"Its perfect." I scan my body. Its funny. In a matter of hours, I'm a whole different person. I've done things people would never wish on themselves. I've created a whole new life for myself. I'm a new  me.