Zakhary
The look the kid gives me is deadly. He shakes his head and answers, “Yes. I can answer a phone and write down information. Look, Dax told me I had to play nice, but if you’re gonna…”
I have to interrupt him, “Tishina. I have reason. Before I take you home, we talk about new job, okay?”
Kai side-eyes me as he responds, “Okaaaay. Where? Apparently, Mack’s still floatin’ around out here tryin’ to cause problems.”
I tighten my grip on the steering wheel at the mention of his name. The day Otets called me and informed me of what, no who, had happened to Kai, I was furious. I wanted to go after him, to end him, but I was told to stand down. Mack was Otet’s, and I was to simply play my part.
Taking a few breaths to regain my composure I could speak again, “You answer phones and set appointments at Slavic Skin.”
“The weird tattoo shop downtown? That’s gonna be a hike to get to. My knee isn’t 100%. Plus, won’t they want me to work weekends too?” he asks, fingers drumming on his thigh as he shifts in his seat. The way he keeps looking around, I know he is nervous.
“Hold on, I start beginning. Dax need no money, Otets taking care for that. And, new order from Otets today. We pay for your school. Wherever you want to go. There is good school downtown. You live in dorms there, work Slavic Skin. No more transfer, straight to Amtrak,” I continue speaking, not allowing him any opportunity to cut in.
Stopping at a red light, I turn and watch the information sink in.
“We all talk. This good for you. We get you set up for spring classes in whatever program you want,” I finish as Kai looks out the window and refuses to look at me. “Kai? What is wrong?”
Kai wipes his hands on his pants, reaching for his pack of cigarettes, he lights one and begins to speak.
“I dunno what I wanna do. What would I even go to school for? And how does this paying for my schooling work? Will I have to pay this back? Will Dax be able to move in with me when he gets out? So many questions.”
Hearing the hitch in his voice, I can tell I am doing a bad job explaining things. We are offering help, but no concrete answers for either of them. So, I take a deep breath and try again.
“Slushat, I know it is scary right now, but plan will work. Take few days, think, talk to Dax. Do not have to decide everything right now. Just know we are here and ready to help both where we can. Money is no object for us. Ponyatno?”
Kai nods, still avoiding looking at me as we pull up in front of his house. I see the way his face is twisted in thought with all the information that has been dumped on him since this morning. He looks over at me as he opens the door, “Da, thank you,” he tosses over his shoulder as he climbs out.
I watch him go, and notice that he heads to the backyard, not the front door. ‘What is he up to?’ I think, quickly brought out of my thoughts when I hear glass breaking.
Kai
Exiting the Jeep, I make a beeline for the backyard, thoughts racing.
Idea after idea pinging around my head like a pinball.
I storm around the corner of the house and stop in my tracks, staring at the van that once seemed like a place of solace.
After the accident, Seb moved everything that made it my safe place up to my room.
Something about not hurting myself more or some bullshit.
Huffing as I glance around I spot the baseball bat on the porch.
I walk on auto-pilot towards the porch, picking the bat up, I turn to stalk towards the damn thing that has become more a source of pain and less a place of escape.
Full of pent up rage, sadness, and grief, I was such a mess and I needed to let it all out.
Thoughts of every time Dax left me being in this damn van ate at me along with the thoughts of Mack hurting Dax over and over again, hurting Mel.
Then, add finding out about Mack’s involvement in losing my dream of being an Army Officer.
To say I was pissed was an understatement.
We needed a fresh start and what Zak was offering was perfect, but first I had to do this.
Letting every ounce of rage fuel me, I swung the bat, connecting with the windshield.
Watching the glass crack and spread like a spider web felt good.
Feeling the release, I swung again, wailing on the hood of the van, the side mirror goes flying as I swing, connecting with the door leaving a crater-sized dent in my wake.
With every swing, I feel more like the old me.
The way the bat connects, the feel of the grip, the crunch of metal and glass.
Every bit of anger at Mack for literally taking everything from me is left behind in dents scattered across the van.
The anger at myself for pushing away the greatest thing that had ever happened to me, scattered in shattered glass.
I swing the bat over and over again until I run out of breath.
Breathing heavily I let the bat drop at my feet, staring at the ground as I turn and lean against the side of the ruined van.
Glancing up, I realize that Seb and Zak had stood watching.
Seb moves to step toward me and I lick my teeth before speaking, “Get rid of it before I make it a bonfire and roast marshmallows in the wreckage.”
Leaving Seb to eye the damage I left, I walk towards Zak and he eyes me carefully. My chin is set and I open my mouth to speak right as my phone rings. Holding eye contact with Zak, I pull it from my pocket and glance at the caller ID.
‘Perfect timing,’ I think, taking a deep breath to make sure my voice is calm as I answer. “Hey, Baby. I’m home safe. Starting a new job in a few days.”
“You sure, Kitten? You don’t hafta do this if you don’t wanna. Even if it would be easier to make sure…” Dax says before I cut him off.
“I’m safe. I know. I’m gonna do it. How hard can it be? Plus I'm pretty sure the boss’ll make sure I have the time to come see you,” I look at Zak who just smiles and nods as I put my finger to my lips for him to be quiet.
I put the phone on speaker so Zak can hear Dax’s reaction to the news. I stare at the wreckage of the van, trying to decide whether or not to tell him about it when Dax asks a question that makes the decision for me.
“Why d’ya sound so outta breath, Kitten?” he asks, I look at Zak, who cocks an eyebrow and twirls that damn toothpick in his mouth as I think about how to answer.
“I needed to deal with some, um, well, emotions from today, so I took a bat to the van. I had just finished beatin’ the hell out of it when you called,” I answer, deciding to just be honest about what was going on.
Dax barely holds back a growl as he says, “Kai! Should you be doing shit like that with your knee still healing?”
“Well, it was that or find Mack. With the babysitters around, I knew that finding Mack wasn’t gonna be an option, so here we fuckin’ are.
I’m fine,” I say, rolling my eyes, annoyed at the question.
Eyeing the wreckage of what used to be our spot, I feel a twinge in my knee and grimace in pain.
I grip the phone tighter, sucking air through my teeth as I limp to the stairs to sit.
I groan, stretching my leg, thinking, ‘Maybe this change is just what I need.’
Letting out an exasperated sigh, “Fine, just…Please be careful, we just got to a semi-good place again,” Dax pleads before switching topics. “Did Zak fill you in on the whole plan?” he asks.
I roll my eyes at the phone as Zak, smug look firmly in place, grins cheekily at me.
“Yeah. He did. Ya know, I knew you had a hand in this, dammit,” I answer before continuing, “I’m gonna be movin’ this week, so hold off on sendin’ any mail ‘til I get you the new address,” I tell him, trying to keep the pain from showing in my voice.
I hear a sigh of relief from Dax as what I said lets both him, and Zak, know that I’m accepting the offer.
“Okay, well, just let me know. And send pics of the place when you get it all set up,” pausing for a minute, he continues, “Ay, I’m gonna let ya go so you can ice the knee.
Love you, Kitten,” he says. It seems I’ve forgotten how well he knows me, even though I tried to hide it, he still heard the pain in my voice.
“I know, I know. I’ll go inside to elevate and ice as soon as we hang up.” The automated voice comes on at that moment, letting us know we only have 30 seconds left. “Fuck. Baby, I love you and I’ll write very soon,” I say quickly. As the call ends Zak steps next to the stairs looking down at me.
“You really do this?” He asks, trademark toothpick stuck in the corner of his mouth.
Lighting a cigarette, exhaling the smoke slowly, “Yeah. I’m doin’ this.
It’s gonna take a minute to figure out what I wanna do.
But, seein’ him today? I fucked up. I have a lot to make up for,” I say, pausing to ask the question I already know the answer to.
“He set this plan in motion didn’t he?” I stare straight ahead, unable to make eye contact with Zak.
I’m done with the tears, I let it all out with Dax earlier and now it’s time to take my life back.
Zak ruffles my hair with a smile, “Da. I have to go. Things to put in place. Be ready to move Wednesday.”
Pulling away, I shoot him an annoyed look as I reach up to fix my hair. “Yeah. See ya Wednesday,” I say as he walks towards the front of the house.
‘I have two days to figure out how to tell the siblings and pack. But something is still bothering me,’ I think as he disappears around the side of the house.
‘I don't know who this “Otets” person is or why he’s so interested in my life. Hell, what kind of money is about to fund my life and why did I agree so easily? Guess only time will tell.’
Vanya