I headed home, hurrying through the cold. October was particularly colder than usual, and even as thick as my coat was, I could still feel a chill cut through it. As I huddled up, I thought back to Veronica. As far as I could tell, that duster was probably her only source of warmth. Was that really enough to get her through the night?

I slowed to a stop. I slowly looked back towards the direction I came from. For some strange reason, I thought she’d be behind me, thanking me for what I did. But that’s too much of a storybook cliche, and unfortunately the ones I get don’t really work in my favor. I could have easily gone back, though…

“What else can you offer her? You gave her everything you could.”

The thought bounced around in my head. The feeling of futility that permeated my life always came around. It kept telling me “forget her, she’s just a blip in your life.” The voice was right. It usually was. It was right about those feelings of inadequacy, failure, and probably about the future too. When you’re an anxiety riddled mess who relies on your single income sister to survive, there aren’t a lot of options.

And yet… I still felt that thread tugging at me. I couldn’t explain why, but some force started to pull me back. And yet, just like the bridge, another force had other plans.

“Hey, buddy. Fancy meeting you here.”

A strong arm wrapped itself around my neck. Even just hanging over my shoulder, it felt like an iron grip that kept me from wiggling loose. Just as well. I felt my blood run cold as I slowly turned my head and looked up. A big galoot of a being sneered back at me with a sick grin. It belonged to the person who made my life a living hell. Ryan Kirsten.

In life, people are more complicated than they seem. Sometimes people have layers, something that you wouldn’t expect to make them tick. You see this nearly six foot tall man who looks like he’d be picked up as a pro wrestler, with fiery red hair that complemented the fire in his eyes and lit up that pitch black alley, and you’d wonder, “This is a guy might just be misunderstood, or someone who’s angry at the world for some injustice brought upon him.” There’s always something going on for somebody.

Nope. This guy was plucked out of an 80s sports rom-com to make my life a living hell. Jock? Check. Insistent that I be his punching bag? Check. Angry at me for petty reasons? Ask Jessie. She dated the guy. She’ll probably also tell you never date a guy two years younger than you. I’m not saying it’s the ONLY reason. It’s no secret his dad rides his ass in athletics because… well, to be honest, physicality is all Ryan has. Unfortunately, he had a lot more of it than I did. It’s why he could so easily guide me into a nearby alley despite any attempt at resistance.

“So, Jack, mind if we talk?”

His forearm tightened around my head even more. Whatever word I tried to eke out simply came out as a sound I’m pretty sure was never uttered by a human.

“Principal Harris called me in. He said I was causing trouble with some other students. Now you didn’t happen to have a talk with him, did you?”

He glanced at me. Despite the sick little grin he loved to give me, brandishing his teeth like a shark ready to chow on some chum, I could see his veins starting to pop from his neck… and I’m pretty sure I felt one trying to crush my head. He wasn’t just out for fun… he was out for blood.

“I… din’... shay… an’thin’!”

The words were barely audible, let alone discernible. In case you’re wondering: yes, HE’S the reason I looked like I was battered with a baseball bat, and no, I DIDN’T rat him out because this was exactly the kind of situation I wanted to avoid. A lot of good that did me. Didn’t help that whatever I said fell on deaf ears.

It took a moment before he unwrapped his arm and sent me spinning into an alley wall. I took a deep breath, trying to regain any air I could. I was already barely able to stand. The sudden blast of a putrid smell didn’t do me any favors. A sewer line and probably some remnants of a drunkard all hit like a perfect storm. I gagged as I lifted an arm up, begging for a moment.

“Ryan, I didn’t talk! I NEVER do!”

With imperceptible speed, a jab knocked me back. The force of his fist in my face and the wall behind me as my head whiplashed backwards already put me into a punchdrunk state. All I could do was gasp out and fall on my ass. I grabbed my nose as I leaned forward, trying to catch my bearings.

“I want to believe that buddy. I really do,” he replied mockingly.

He grabbed me by the collar of my jacket and hoisted me back to my feet in one fell swoop. He placed his hands on my shoulders, gripping them tightly. His fingers dug in between them and my collar bone, causing a shock of pain to shoot throughout my body. Before I could even shout out, he clasped a hand over my mouth. His grin started to sink away.

“You see, that’s what I’m talking about. Instead of taking your hits like a man, you’re starting to bitch out. You couldn’t even keep your mouth shut here. So why shouldn’t I think that maybe… maybe you took a chance when you had a breather?”

I struggled harder. Without even thinking, I bit down on his hand. He shouted out as he recoiled. I staggered forward, finally feeling a brief moment of freedom. It was short lived as a hook went sailing into my jaw from the right. I didn’t even realize I was on the ground until several hits later. All the while, I heard the indiscernible rambling of someone who felt I needed to “learn my place” and get “buried under the football field.”

Eventually the hits stopped coming. I heard another voice. It was muddied, but I could make out some of it. It was calm, yet heated. Whoever Ryan was talking to didn’t take his machismo with any sense of seriousness. Eventually, I heard something hit the ground hard. It was silent after that. Despite me being punchdrunk, some fear took hold of me that he might have legitimately hurt someone else, nevermind the panic of what he’d be willing to do to a witness. 

A pair of hands hoisted me up to my feet. I gasped out as I tried to push myself back, hoping I could break free from Ryan’s grip. In my fervor, I slipped, falling back to the ground on my back. All I could do was moan and mumble incoherently as I tried to process everything that was happening. A pair of footsteps approached me before a figure kneeled over me.

“You alright?” a voice asked calmly.

I recognized it right away. I lifted my head and found myself staring at Veronica. She gave me a curious look, awaiting my response. I mumbled something under my breath as my head sank back to the ground.

“Well, you’re alive at least,” Veronica said nonchalantly. “Alright, up you go. On your feet! One, two, three!”

Veronica grabbed me by the collar and pulled me up with surprising ease. I staggered for a moment as she grabbed me. I nearly went limp in her arms.

“‘Ey, now, drank a little too much punch?”

I looked up at her with a befuddled expression. She grinned back at me.

“Still a sourpuss,” she quipped. “C’mon, let’s get you out of ‘ere.”

“R-Ryan… he’s-”

“He won’t be bugging you. We had a little chat. Now come on. Easy, mate.”

She guided me down the alley. I shook my head as things slowly focused. I looked to the side and saw Ryan, sprawled out and unconscious with a singular large red welt plastered on his face. I looked towards Veronica, stunned. Her smirk widened.

“Told you I’m a big girl.”

All I could do was nod as we made our way back to the street to a nearby bus stop. It felt like agony. My entire body was quaking all over from the various shots and blows thrown and kicked my way. Every breath was followed by a little grunt. Veronica simply sat with her legs crossed and her arm along the bench’s backrest. It was eerie how calm and poised she was.

When I could actually move my arm, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my cell phone, an old fashioned flip phone because what else could I afford? I called Jessie, hoping to get a response. It didn’t even ring.

“Hey, this is Jessie! Leave a voicemail and I’ll-”

I snapped the phone shut and groaned quietly. When she worked a double shift, she’d usually be too wrapped up in work. I should have expected as much.

“Guessing you wouldn’t have a car, would you?” I joked.

“It’s on loan. Not getting it back for another week.”

I let out a pained laugh. I grabbed my ribs, gently massaging them. I guess he got a good kick in there, too. I looked back at Veronica.

“I thought the bridge was a one-time deal?” I asked.

“Nah,” Veronica smirked as she shook her head. “Charity’s a one time deal. You get what you pay for.”

She gave me a wink. I could feel my face go flush again… assuming it wasn’t just the bruising and swelling from the ass-whooping I just suffered. My attention was grabbed by the hiss of a bus slowing to a stop. The door popped open, beckoning me to enter. My gaze shifted back to Veronica. As it did, her fingers slipped into my jacket pocket. I looked down to find several $1 bills sticking out as she pulled her hand back.

“Bus fare. If you have more work for me… I’m sure you’ll find me around, yeah?”

I nodded with a slight smile. I sheepishly looked at the ground before getting to my feet and walking onto the bus. As I got inside, I pulled out the cash and pulled out what I needed. One bill in particular caught my eye, with a little note scribbled onto it.

You get what you pay for. - V

Next to the “V” was a little doodle of Veronica winking back at me. I looked back over my shoulder. Her smirk widened as she gave me a two fingered wave. The doors suddenly snapped shut on me. I awkwardly waved back as the bus suddenly jerked forward, making me nearly lose my balance. I quickly made my way to a seat in the back of the bus, keeping her in sight for as long as I could. The entire time, until we turned a corner, neither of us broke eye contact.

As she disappeared from view, I shifted back into my seat. I held the bill with the note in my hands and stared at it. I stared and stared for as long as I could for the entire bus ride and when I got back home. Even in the dark of my bedroom, as I laid in bed, a street light cracked through my crooked blinds, illuminating the bill. And that whole time… I smiled. Genuinely.

I don’t think my face hurt that bad from a smile in years.