Glove Boxes
Callum
The cool air mixed with the lingering snow creates a layer of fog on the ground.
I sit outside the gym, waiting for Scarlett to finish her early morning session.
I haven’t slept in over seventy-two hours, but for her, it’s worth it.
Watching her keeps me awake. I don’t need any stimulants when I have her.
She went in about forty-five minutes ago.
I have some time to kill. I reach into the glove box and pull out her file.
I open the manila folder and read it again.
They describe everything about that night on paper—from what she was wearing to who slipped the drugs in her drink.
Why was she chosen? Why did she stand out to them?
Maybe they ran out of girls who aren't from here to take prey on. There’s always an increased population in Millhaven with the University.
I keep my eyes on the gym door, waiting for her to come out.
It took me a while to understand why she boxes.
I know that it’s an outlet for her that I used to consider cute—now I find it fucking brave.
What pushed her into it? Boxing isn’t something that you just fall into—you have to claw your way in.
And considering Scarlett’s soft appearance, I wouldn't have guessed that it would be her thing. She’s the countries average height, five six, with skin that should be kissed and not punched.
Being pushed to the edge too many times shoved me into boxing.
I didn’t adapt easily. I fought my way up to the top in different underground leagues.
At first, boxing was a form of release. I’ll never forget the way I felt after I killed someone for the first time.
I needed to turn all my emotions off. I didn’t want to feel the pain or guilt, just like I didn’t want to feel warm blood all over my hands.
I knew that The Society had pledges fight underground sometimes, I asked a couple of second years about it before I was even done my first week.
They didn’t know where the league was, or when it was held.
They were being used for their money or power, not their ability to take lives.
I quickly learned that it was every Tuesday and Thursday, behind one of the local downtown buildings. You wouldn’t know by walking past it. The men who run it don’t care about your social status—just that you’ll keep your mouth shut.
I’ve never kept track of how many people I’ve killed.
That would makes each death too real. It makes them worth something, and they can’t be, not to me.
Living in a small town forced me to attend most of the funerals of the people whose lives I’ve ended.
I shook the hands of their loved ones and told them that I was sorry for their loss.
But really, the only thing I’m sorry for is letting The Society control who I kill.
If it were up to me, there would be a hell of a lot more.
Now, boxing isn’t a coping mechanism, it’s a need. A craving for more blood on my hands.
The gym door opens. A well-groomed man comes out.
Immediately, I know who it is—the owner, Ricco.
I’ve seen him train with Scarlett before.
He’s a middle-aged Puerto Rican man with his hair parted and pushed off to one side.
You can tell that he takes care of himself in an athletic way.
He doesn’t seem very tall from where I’m sitting.
My eyes follow him to watch what car he goes toward. He turns to mine.
He approaches my window, and I roll it down.
“Can I help you?”
I look behind him and notice the gym’s outdoor cameras. He’s probably been watching me sit here since Scarlett went in.
“Just waiting for someone,” I say.
“Oh, who are you waiting for?” The curiosity in his tone doesn’t fool me. He already knows the answer.
“Just a friend.” He leans against my car. One of the most insulting things you can do to a man is touch his car, especially when it’s as nice as mine.
“I know everyone inside, and I know who you’re waiting for.
” He’s not playing nice anymore. He thinks he can intimidate me—cute.
“Don’t show up here looking for her. I know who you are, I know what you do.
She—” he hesitates. “She is good. She doesn’t deserve all the bad that you’ll bring into her life.
The danger, the lies. I know she’s an adult and she can do what she pleases, but this will always be her safe place. And you aren’t welcome here.”
I’m not offended. Most people know who I am. He’s looking out for Scarlett and that means something to me. The fact that he knows who I am and still came out here to threaten me shows me that he’s willing to protect her, and that’s all I need to know.
“You protect her in there, I’ve got her out here.” I say, just loud enough for him to hear me.
He stares at me long and hard, like he doesn’t know whether he should trust me. He doesn’t say anything else. Instead, he looks around the lot and walks back inside. We aren’t enemies—we’re playing the same game, for the same person.
I know that Ricco and Scarlett have a good bond. He’s been there for her through some of the darkest times in her life. I respect him for that. He’s lucky that conversation went the way it did, it was off to a rocky start when he leaned against my car. I guess I can forgive him for it.
Not long after Ricco goes inside, Scarlett pushes the exit door open. She has her gym bag in one hand, and her car keys in the other.
Her rosy cheeks are flushed, and her hair is pulled back out of her face. She has no idea how beautiful she is.
It’s just about winter and there’s no snow on the ground yet, but she only has a sweater on.
She’s going to catch a damn cold. She scans the parking lot, like she’s looking for someone.
When she crosses the lot toward her car, her head moves from side to side, and it looks like she’s biting the inside of her cheek.
At this rate, I don’t know how she hasn’t noticed me.
What is she looking for? Or worse, who is she looking for? I must know.
I slowly get out of the car and quietly shut the door. She unlocks her door as I come up behind her.
“Who are you looking for, Angel?” I whisper in her ear.
She jumps and turns around. Once she realizes it’s me, she hits me with the bag in her hand.
“You idiot!” She yells in a high pitch tone.
“What? You were looking for someone, I figured it was me.” It wasn't, but I’m not going to be the jealous boyfriend.
“I wasn’t… I was just making sure no one was coming.
” She looks to the side. Doesn’t she know anything about lying.
Trust is shown by keeping eye contact, but not too harsh, or else it looks like you’re trying too hard.
Just enough and with a smile. That usually shows that someone is trustworthy.
I add teaching her this to the long list of things I have to show her.
I don’t say anything, I just raise my eyebrow. By now, she must know that I know she’s lying. Her face turns my new favourite colour. Scarlett red.
“You were looking for someone, who was it.” Just about all the patience I have has gone out the window. I’m going to go from nonchalant to serial killer boyfriend in about two seconds. “Scarlett.” I warn.
“I didn’t want to worry you.” She looks to the ground.
“Worry me with what? What happened?” My heart beats faster. A million different scenarios run through my head before she tells me what happened.
“I got a note on my windshield. The other day, Sophia and I were talking in the parking lot on campus, and when I walked back to my car there was a note. I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“Where is it?” It comes out a bit abrasive, but I need to see it.
“It’s in my glove box, just let me get it.” She reaches in across the driver’s seat, opens the compartment, and pulls out the note.
I look at it, trying to decipher the handwriting. At first, I wonder if it’s Dad’s writing. Luckily for him, it’s not.
“Was there anyone around when you saw it?”
“No, I looked through the lot and didn’t see anyone.”
“When was this?” My tone is short.
“A couple days ago.”
“When, exactly, Scarlett?”
“I don’t know Callum, um, two days ago?” She expects comfort that I can’t give her right now.
“And you didn’t tell me?” I look away. I can’t give in, not when her safety is at risk.
“No Callum, I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want this reaction. I didn’t want you to get upset. I know that we both have a lot going on and I didn’t want to add to it.”
“What do we both have going on?” I know what she’s been up to, but she can’t know about all that I’ve done.
The only person I can be mad at is myself. She somehow received a written threat, and I didn’t know. It slipped through the cracks on one of the only days I didn’t wait for her when she was done class.
“From now on, you don’t go anywhere alone.”
“Pft, yeah right. That isn’t happening, I—” Her face scrunches as she tries to finish her sentence.
“You don’t have an option anymore, Angel.
I won’t follow you to classes, but if you’re at school, I’ll be on campus.
If you’re at the gym, I will be waiting outside.
And if you’re at your house, I’ll be staying the night.
And when I can’t, someone I trust will sit outside your house down the street.
Do you understand?” She needs to understand the severity.
She gulps and nods, sensing that none of this is a joke.
I rub her face with my thumb, finally giving her the comfort she wants.
“Your safety is my main priority.”
She closes her eyes and moves her cheek against my palm.
For a moment, we stay there. The softness of her skin against my tainted flesh reminds me of what I have, and that I’ll do everything in my power not to lose it.