Nemesis: A Love Story

TESSA

There are storm clouds forming over into the west. Rain is coming. She loves the rain. The sound it makes against the windows, as it hits the concrete. Loves how it makes most other people scatter to the safety of cover.
Not her.
No.
She had been homeless briefly and when you are homeless you make do. You handle the rain because you know it can't last forever and everything will dry eventually.
Whatever that pill was, it was wearing off now and with it she feels her edginess creep back, slowly but powerfully, hidden in the shadows, like an age old enemy.
She plays over the meeting with Megan.
She hadn't been wrong.
Tessa isn't sharing.
Instead she listens as Rita talks about her youth in the gangs. Kat talks about several times she's attacked someone who looks at her the wrong way. She listens as toothless tough guy talks about his numerous brawls, his jail time, how many officers he's assaulted. Like it's a badge of honour or something.
His sidekick, Slim Shady. He just nods at everything Toothless says, like a good little puppet. Once and awhile he mentions how he's hit his mom. Gotten into some fights.
She doesn't believe him.
She says nothing.
Then it's The Suns turn.
Whenever she looks at him he's already looking at her. Half with interest. Half with a look like he'd like to choke her to death.
He doesn't flaunt his many escapades like the others.
He mentions a little sister.
He mentions his domineering father.
Another little boy with daddy issues.
Another age old story.
He says nothing about a mother.
He lets out just the bare minimum to get Megan to turn back to her.
"Anything to share today, Tessa?"
No.
"No"
She hears groans from the peanut gallery.
Lucifer leans forward.
"Do you know anymore words besides no?"
He's trying to bait her.
She knows his game.
She's observes him even when he's unaware.
Knows it's irking him that he can't get any info on her.
Can't get her to break.
Inside her head she confronts him about his blowjob buddy. Asks him, in front of all the others, if he's into voyeurism. Gets off on using girl as his basic sex slaves. She doesn't know for a fact that's the case. The redhead could be his significant other but by the way the other females gaze longingly at him, Megan included, she doubts it.
She saves him from herself.
He's staring still.
His hands clasped together.
He's agitated by her silence.
"So? Any?"
Those blue eyes grow darker.
"Yes "
That's all she gives him.
He smiles one of his knowing smiles. It doesn't reach his eyes. She doesn't think she's ever seen him smile for real.
Everything is controlled. Calculated. Strategic.
He pauses and looks away.
"I don't remember you letting us get away with this for so long, Megan"
Their therapist moves uncomfortably in her seat at her pets question.
The others nod.
Voice complaints.
Tessa continues to stare at him
This is their thing.
A stare down.
Megan is pitted between them and has a moment of clarity that she is the head bitch in charge.
"Everyone's journey is different. There's no judgement here." She won't look at him. Obviously aware of his anger that's now directed at her.
Poor Megan.
She ends that session. Lucifer storms out. His displeasure apparent.
Looking back now she's pretty sure that's why she was spoken to today.
He had a temper tantrum.
Tessa knows at some point this battle of wills between them is going to come to a head.
And she prays innocent bystanders are nowhere near by when it does.
She's got control now, she reminds herself. The rage is buried deep under layers of damage, sadness, and nightmares.
Unconsciously her hands fist at her sides as she take one step after another.
The rain starts.