Black’s offer is so similar, but so different. If I say yes to her, then she’ll control me, but that feels more like a job and the money I make is mine. With Sean, I feel like a moocher. Freeloading isn’t my style, but I’m too poor and I’ve run out of options. Stay with the lying psycho or work for the other lying psycho.
Maybe I should buy a tent with the last of my money and become a hermit. I can camp out at Hecksher Park and steal hotdogs from other campsites. Why do all my plans suck? Before I can even think about it, we pull into the strip club parking lot. Sean cuts the engine and gets out. I kick open my door before he can walk around, and then slam it shut. I follow him to the door.
He knocks loudly. Trystan yanks the metal door open and stands in the doorway. He smirks when he sees Sean. “Need something, Ferro?”
“Not from you, you little shit.” Sean tries to shoulder past him, but Trystan won’t move.
“Nah ah.” He waggles his finger in Sean’s face. “Where are your manners? Your mother would be appalled.”
“My mother is already appalled, just like yours, except mine didn’t run off into the night.” Sean says the words lightly, but they sting like acid. I can see it on Trystan’s face.
Before the constant smile slips away, Trystan throws a punch. It catches Sean off-guard and connects with his cheek. In a blink, Sean reacts and the two of them are beating the shit out each other in the parking lot while I stand there, ready to collapse. Why do they hate each other? They seriously have so much in common that they could be brothers. Instead, they fight like lunatics.
More punches fly as the swearing and insults grow louder. I stand there with my arms folded over my chest, annoyed. A moment later, Jon is standing next to me. “Ah, what the fuck. They couldn’t fight inside?”
I glance at him. “So you’re not going to break it up?”
“I’ve tried before. Once the two of them start, it’s hard to pull them apart.” Jon sighs and runs his hands through his hair before walking toward the fight and bellowing at them to cut it out. As he predicted, they don’t listen.
Mel steps out next to me and glances at them. “Holy fuck. What a buncha stupid white boys. Why don’t they just invite the whole fucking police force into the bar? Avery, this has gotta stop. Like now.”
I agree and I’m too tired to think. It’s cold out here and I’m not wearing a shirt under Sean’s jacket. My body aches and is so tired that I’m ready to fall over. I could get Mel and leave, but I need to talk things out with Sean. I don’t want to walk around for the rest of my life never knowing what would have happened.
“Fuck it.” I’m exhausted and Mel notices. She also notices that I’m not really thinking. I go to the side of the building where there’s a spigot and twist it on. There’s water, but no hose. That’s not going to stop me. I go back to the door and rip off the thick plastic CLOSED sign.
“Uh, Avery…” Mel tries to stop me, but I don’t listen. If they want to act like children, then I’m treating them that way.
I twist the faucet until the water is spewing out and then press the piece of plastic against the metal head. It wouldn’t work if they were at the other end of the parking lot, but they aren’t. All three of them stop when they get blasted with freezing, cold water. Trystan has a cut on his cheek and when it mixes with the water, it runs down his face in a river of red. Sean’s temple opened up again and the side of his face is covered in blood. I stand there spraying them as they stare at me and I don’t stop until Sean steps away from Trystan.
I’m soaked too. The water sprayed everywhere, soaking me to the bone. When I finally drop the piece of plastic, I say, “I’m going inside, and if you guys have half a brain between you, you’ll follow.”
Mel is on my heels when I walk through the door. “Holy shit! You’re going to get killed by a rock star and two of the Ferro brothers. I can see the headlines now, Poor Little White Girl Never Knew What Hit Her.”
“I’m not in the mood, Mel.”
“Of course you are!” She’s chipper for someone on the run.
“Mel, I need to talk to you. A lot of shit’s gone down and I’m exhausted.”
Her smile fades. “No problem, Avery girl. Let me find you some dry clothes, or do you just want pants? That bra-only look is so 1980’s, by the way.”
I forgot. I’m standing there, dripping, with the jacket hanging open. Everyone is staring at me. There are a few girls inside, along with Bryan Ferro. I expect him to tease me, but he doesn’t. He scolds Mel, “Hurry up and grab her a sweatshirt. She’s freezing.” He walks over to me before Sean is inside and the look of concern on his face kills me. This guy who is always laughing and he has no trace of a smile on his face. “How are your stitches holding up?”