I woke up in Jay's bed the next morning, this time without my body curled into his. That's a first. The alarm clock read half past nine in the morning, everyone was already at school by now and the compound was probably empty too.
The bottom drawer still held my regular stash of clothes and after five minutes I was ready to punch something. I skated to the compound with one of Jay's extra boards, just like old times.
Ridgecrest was bustling with adults trying to either go to work out of the city or sell something on the street corners. My idle town wasn't the best looking thing in California, but it was familiar, and that was all I needed right now. Familiarity.
Kaydence was in his office when I got inside, the air reeking of bleach and cleaning supplies. The dude never touched a bottle of Windex, much less actually cleaned the whole thing, that's what the new initIates are good for.
"You in here?" I rapped my fingers across the thick oor and pushed in when I heard him grunt out a yes.
"Why's it so clean?" My nostrils tingled from the chemicals in here.
"Blood wouldn't come out with just one cleaning so I made some newbies do some volunteer work." He smirked a little but it didn't look like his usual sarcastic face. Something's off and it's unsettling if even Kaydence isn't even saying anything.
"I'm gonna workout for awhile, anyone else here?" I doubted anyone would be but maybe if I kept him talking long enough he would mention what's actually going on.
"Nah, just some OG's on the court. Hey, why aren't you in school?" His eyebrows creased in concern. Once upon a time, it would've been Kaydence helping me hide skipping school from Papa. Times really do change.
"Suspended for fighting." I shrugged like it was nothing but I was still pissed. Even thinking about Ava's face made steam come out of my ears.
"Mija, you know better than fighting in school, especially Northview." I do. The number one thing I've been taught, as a latina and a member of this gang, is to never start the fights. Especially around places like Northview, where the majority of people look at you weirdly if you're not the same skin tone as them.
"I know, I know, just stressed and I hadn't punched anything in awhile and she really did deserve it." It's not an excuse but I'll still say it. I would punch her again if I could.
"I'm sure she did, just be more careful, I can't protect you over there." As much as I wanted to be independent and not need his protection, I couldn't say I wasn't grateful for it. Juvie would beat my ass and the amount of times Kadence had bailed me out because of how powerful he is over here is overwhelming.
"I know." I waited around a second before he nodded his head, my cue to leave. Nothing about that conversation was abnormal, but I know Kaydence like the back of my hand and something is definitly wrong. I just know.
***
My muscles are begging for a break two hours later, my body thoroughly drenched in sweat and a little bit of knuckle blood. The compound is still silent, besides my heavy breathing, but it's not creepy or eerie, it's almost comforting. The punching bag is my asylum and it always has been, and now, I need it more than ever.
No matter how many hands I throw into the soft leather, or how many laps I run around the court, my thoughts always reverse to Eli. And how much I hate myself for ending things like I did. Maybe something's actually wrong with me. Maybe I have a brain tumor and that's why I'm being stupid. Because let's face it, there's no other word to describe how I'm acting besides stupid.
YOU ARE READING
penny.
Teen Fiction~ His face held a tiny smirk as he leaned down, caging me between him and the lockers. His eyes were angry pools of dark green, staring right through my fucking soul. His breath hit my ear, "I'm not giving up on you that easily, Izzy. Last night w...
