He Found Me

Damn Right

Alex's POV

I flip through my closet, trying to decide on a shirt to wear. We can go girly, or boyish, or even androgynous. I wonder what Aaron would this is cute? I'm already wearing ripped skinny jeans, dark of course. It is autumn, after all. I decide on a white button up and a green sweater overtop. To makeup or not to makeup, that is the question. I decide to do a light coat: foundation, blush, setting powder, mascara, lipgloss. Barely noticeable.

"Bye Pip!" I say, petting my cat before putting my keys, phone, and wallet into my purse and heading out the door. I walk to the subway casually, pausing briefly to pull my hair up before walking down the stairs. I pull out a copy of a Shakespeare play and start to half read, scanning the crowd as I do. I see a mop of curly black hair. Shit. I snap my head back to my book as I see the figure turn around, praying he didn't see me.

"Hey Lexi!" He says, now in front of me. "Where ya going?"

"Meeting someone." I say, not looking up.

"Funny, that's what Aaron's doing too!"

"Cool."
Shrug. He doesn't bother you anymore.

"Don't you know Aaron? He's on your case. The one with the roses." He says, obviously trying to get me to admit something.

"Cut the shit, Jefferson." I snap, looking up from my book. "You're not getting me back. And we both know you don't really love him. You're using him." I start to walk towards to train, looking back at him one more time. "And so help me if I find one more rose petal in my home." I step into the train right before the doors close.
I don't even know who "he" is, but Thomas is surely back with someone. His needy ass. And I know it's not a she, because Thomas is gay. Although, it's very possible that he's dating Aaron, he knew that Aaron was going out today. He doesn't suspect Aaron of cheating, if they even are an item? I shrug it off. Keep reading.
I shove my book back into my purse as I step off and up the stairs, walking to the park. I scan the crowd, my eyes landing on Aaron, who is wearing a purple T-shirt and black skinny jeans, a grey hoodie tied around his waist.

"Hey!" He waves.

"Hi!" I say, my hands suddenly sweaty. "How are you?"

"I could be better, but I can't complain." He says with a smile. I notice a bruise on his arm, another on his nose.

"This is a weird question, but do you happen to be dating Thomas Jefferson?" I ask. He looks down a little.

"Yeah..."

"You're sure everything's alright?" I ask again. He kicks at the ground a little, staying silent. I look around awkwardly, deciding to show him my experiences with Jefferson. I roll up my sleeve, revealing a dozen or so cigarette burn scars and a few scars from where he would scratch me with his goddamn acrylic nails. Stiletto. "He used to beat me, too." I say, more quietly than I anticipated saying. I suddenly realize that I'm tearing up, but I see Aaron look up and at my arm in horror.

"But he still loves me. He just gets mad sometimes." Aaron denies.

"He doesn't, trust me." I say.

"He does. You're wrong." He says. I can hear his voice crack a little.

"Okay." I say. I don't want to upset him. "Anything you want to do?" I ask, changing the subject.

"Well, actually-" his face lightens up as he whistles and clicks his tongue a few times. Up runs a little pug, eagerly wagging her tail with a tennis ball in her mouth.

"Awwwww!" I say, reaching down to pet her. "What's her name?"

"Theodosia." Aaron smiles. He takes the tennis ball out of her mouth and holds it in front of her for a second before throwing it and telling her to fetch.

"Cute!" I smile at him. I can't get Thomas off my mind, though. Aaron's nose looks horrible; no doubt that Jefferson did that to him. I'm most likely the cause. Nice going, Alex.

"God hates you!" I hear shouting to the left of me. When I look I see two girls kissing and a religious man yelling at them.

"Hey!" I start walking towards them. He looks up at me, then back at the girls, throwing a rock at them.

"This ain't your fight." He says firmly. I look at Aaron, who is desperately waving me back to him. Sorry, I say with my eyes.

"I'm sorry sir, but my friend over there is a cop, and I myself am a lawyer. We'll both tell you that the law prevents acts such as throwing rocks at peoples as that is assault. Not to mention discrimination." He looks a bit stricken down, but refuses to stay silent.

"You can join em in hell, for all I care." He frowns at me. I smell his breath quickly before speaking, then glance at his left hand.

"We'll see each other there, I'm sure. What, with you not telling your wife about your drinking problem?" I accuse, hoping I've landed something. I grin as his eyes widen.

"Stupid little fuck." He mutters as he walks away.

"Sorry." I say, jogging back over to Aaron. "Those kinds of people just-"

"I know." He says, cutting me off.

"Then why didn't you say anything?" I ask.

"It's not my fight. Not my place to assert my opinion." He shrugs, petting Theodosia.

"But they were getting hurt. You're a cop, for Christ's sake!"

"I can't do much but tell him to stop if he's just throwing a pebble. Sorry."

I sigh. "It's fine. I just don't get it, how you can conceal your feelings and opinions all the time."

"When my parents were alive," He slumps down onto a bench, "they taught me that the best way to win people over was to agree with them. Always. Just stay neutral. 'What do you think about it?' I don't really care. Whatever you guys want."

"Oh. When my parents were alive I was fighting to stay alive. Literally." I say. "My dad was a drunk who overshared his opinions and my mom," I stifle a sob, "always told me to be true to myself."

"I miss them." He looks up, closing his eyes. I take his hand, a little worried that he'll push me away. Surprisingly, he doesn't.

"You're not alone. Want something to eat?" I ask.

"Sounds great, actually!" He brightens up.

"What do you want?" I ask.

"Oh, I don't care. Whatever you want." He says.

"No, what do you want?" I ask again. He sighs a little.

"I really would like some ramen noodles, and like, an ice cream." He admits with a smile.

"I've got ramen noodles and ice cream at my house!" I say. "Wanna go there?"

"God, I would love to, but Thomas might get worried if I'm gone too long." He checks his watch anxiously.

"Damn right I'll be worried." Jefferson says from behind us.