Overlooked(2)(97)
Welcome to the Jungle (Emily)
I can’t believe that just happened. The way Steel took that guy down was crazy. He was serious when he said he wouldn’t let anything happen to me. But are the other people here really in need of a physical threat? He told me they were all cool, and that it’s the people who come to the carnival that I have to be careful of.
“We’ve got twenty minutes, let’s go get you some clothes,” Steel says, arriving back at the trailer door.
“I can’t buy clothes in twenty minutes.”
“Sure you can, we walk into Walmart, you load up the cart and we leave. There’s one just down the road, we passed it on the way in.”
Looking down at my Burberry dress, I remember the last time Maddie, Courtney and I went shopping. It took all day, and we each ended up with two outfits, not including shoes.
That life is over now. Somehow it doesn’t even seem to matter. I’m here, I’m free to do whatever I want without being judged by all my neighbors, and I have Steel at my side.
Even if he did just go a bit psycho on that guy and everyone else here, he’s never done anything even remotely like that before. He seems stressed about making me feel comfortable here, and I’m grateful for that.
I give him a half smile, “Okay, we’d better go now.”
We drive the short distance, grab a cart and enter Walmart. The smell is the first thing that hits me, it’s plastic or something. Not like the perfumed boutiques I’m used to.
The only other time I’ve been to a Walmart was when I had to buy camping gear. I’ve never been anywhere near the clothing section. It’s kind of exciting, discovery something new.
Steel leads me to the women’s clothing area, and begins pulling summer dresses off the racks.
“What size are you?”
“It depends on the store.”
“In this store.”
“I’m going to have to try in on.”
“Ain’t got time.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Let me see it,” I say, and grab the dress from his hands.
I walk over to a mirror and hold it up to be, pulling it across my hips.
“This looks good,” I say and fling it into the cart.
It’s actually a cute dress, a floral design with a skater skirt. Steel starts pulling more off and putting them in the cart. He doesn’t even look at them to see if they’re nice or not. Oh well, they all look pretty similar anyway.
“How many do you need?” he asks.
“I don’t know, seven? Plus some shorts and t-shirts, plus some leggings, and some sweaters.”
“My shit fits in one backpack,” he says shaking his head.
“So what, I’ll put it in the trailer. Or my trunk. Whichever, we have room for it all,” I shrug.
“And you can afford all that?”
“I’ve had a job for years,” I say screwing up my face. I remember him saying the same thing to me. Besides, all this is going to cost less than my dress anyway.
“Fine.”
“Anyway,” I hesitate, “That was pretty extreme back there, attacking that guy like that.”
“He was fucking asking for it.”
“Yeah, but still, you jumped on him.”
“That’s my buddy Razor, he was trying to get a reaction out of me.”
“Your friend?” I say, raising an eyebrow.
“I hope it didn’t upset you or nothing.”
“It’s just a little freaky, is all. I’m not used to seeing such physical violence.” I struggle to keep the volume of my voice down.
“I had a strong message to send. I sent it.”
“Should I expect to see a lot of fighting?”
“By me? Only if someone touches you.”
“And others?” I ask, cocking my head.
“Not much. Sometimes if someone does something stupid. Usually because a townie starts something.”
I trace his face for truthfulness. I’m not sure if I can handle a lot of violence around me. His face is full of concern, and he strokes down my arm. He says it’s the case, and I trust him.
It’s not like I’m about to run home now, when I haven’t even been gone twenty-four hours. My life would be worse than it was before. The town would never stop talking about me, and my parents would criticize me all day long, forever and ever.
“And you promise me you’re not going to be violent and start attacking people, your friends or otherwise?”
“I can’t make that promise. If someone disrespects you, you’re damn straight I’m going to beat his face in.”
“But I’m telling you, I don’t want you to. I don’t want you fighting. I can’t handle that. It’s a step too far for me”