Avery and I have been friends since we were in diapers; our parents are childhood friends and have been neighbors for most of their lives as well. As kids we were inseparable and where you saw one, the other wasn't too far behind. We listened to the same music, we liked the same style of clothes and shoes, even our personalities were almost the same. But freshman year of high school, Avery's family had temporarily moved to stay with her grandmother in the city, about thirty minutes away. Despite her parents making that long thirty minute drive to work, Avery transferred schools. And since we both didn't have the means to travel that distance, we barely got to see each other during that year.
I was extremely excited when she called to tell me the news that they were going to be taking residence next door once again. Except when they moved back, well, Avery was a little different.
But what was three years ago and now she's a mixture of old and new Avery. I supposed I can't really talk. I've done quite a bit of changing of my own when she was gone— fell into the wrong crowd and all that. I have a real penchant for making bad decisions and getting into trouble. I guess maybe that's why I didn't bat an eyelash when she admitted that she worked as a prostitute on the weekends. She had been worried that my opinion of her would change and that I wouldn't want to be friends with her anymore; that she felt guilty for not telling me. I shrugged it off. After all, the things I've done... Well, let's just say I have absolutely no room to judge. So, I don't.
A while ago, she booked a room in a seedy hotel that was located in a really bad neighborhood. She had to spend that weekend alone. While making a run to a convenient store next door, she got jumped by six girls. Outnumbered, they beat the shit out of Avery and stole her money, cellphone, and mp3 player. It was nearly an hour before she was able to get help. If it weren't for a stranger walking home, who knows what would have happened. In the end, Avery suffered multiple bruises, contusions, lacerations, and a few fractured ribs. I've been spending the weekends with her ever since. I'm no stranger to violence and I've taken up a habit of always having a knife on me. So, I'm not worried about being able to defend myself. All that aside, I'm also her eyes and ears for anyone familiar that we might run into since she didn't want her family to find out how she was spending her weekends.
"Where are you going to go while you wait?" Avery asks her voice full of concern. Tonight, we did the same thing that we've done for the last three months— it's a routine now. We got ready, we packed up, and we came to the same two-star hotel, in the same crappy neighborhood to spend the weekend. Luckily my older brother was able to swing by the liquor store for me because having a few drinks honestly makes the waiting that I have to do a lot easier. I'm not as restless when I've been drinking.
"I'm not sure and it's not like I can drive around since I've been drinking. How many do you have anyway?" I question as I hide the bottles that we brought with us.
"Well, I'll be with this guy for two hours and then I have two more scheduled after him. I won't be done until four in the morning. Are you sure you're okay with waiting that long?" She takes my phone off of the charger and hands both items to me.
"Yeah, I'll be fine." I wave a dismissive hand as I check to make sure I have everything I need. "Be careful and call me if anything. I don't care what for." I say with a pointed look. After a couple of jokes about the different types of trouble I could get into— like finding a willing body so that I can get laid while I wait— we finally say our good-byes. I wobble my way outside and take a seat on a bench that is in the middle of the hotel's outdoor courtyard. Getting myself situated, I pull out my cellphone and headphones. I mentally cursed myself out when I realized that I forgot my car keys upstairs. Oh well, there isn't anything I can do about it now and it's not like I can go anywhere anyway, I thought to myself. I've got everything I need; after all, browsing the internet can provide hours of entertainment.
I've been watching brain numbing videos for at least an hour and noticed that I'm no longer alone. A guy in his mid-twenties is pacing near the hotel exit with a phone to his ear. I was so focused on my own phone that I didn't even see him there. I figured that since it had been a while since anyone came out here and how late it is, I wouldn't be seeing anyone else for the rest of the night, so his appearance is a surprise.
Looking at him from under my lashes, I take in his height and size. He is extremely tall— well over six feet— and bulky compared to my petite and slender frame. His features are rugged; making him appear to be the brooding type. From where I sit, I can see his dark military-cut hair and I assumed that his eyes are equally as dark. Even in the dim lighting I can tell that Mr. Yum's skin is only a shade or two darker than my own.
Mentally shrugging, I turn back to my cellphone to look up more videos. Checking the time, it's just after one in the morning and I sigh at the thought of how much longer I'm going to have to wait before I can head back upstairs. "May I sit here?" The deep timbre voice causes me to shiver. Looking up to address the speaker, I wasn't surprised to see Mr. Yum standing before me and waiting for my answer.
"Yeah, help yourself." I respond and turn back to my phone. If I thought he was good looking from afar, his looks were damn near devastating up close. It took all I had to not drool all over myself. And fuck did the man smell fucking good! He took a seat at the opposite side of the bench and his scent drifted to me on the breeze- like pine, leather, and musk. All male. My tummy fluttered as I discretely inhaled his aroma. I don't give a fuck what anyone says, sweet smelling colognes are stupid, and there isn't anything sexier than a man who smells like a man should.
We sat for a while, I watched videos and he tinkered on his phone as well. I was worried at first that it would be an awkward silence, but it wasn't. It was a companionable silence shared between two strangers. "Aren't you a little young to be out this late?" Mr. Yum asks. His question was so random that I couldn't help but jump a little.
"I'm eighteen." I answer with a smile. I know what he sees when he looks at me. The same thing everyone sees: a girl who appears no older than sixteen, at the most.
"Are you really?" He prods incredulously with both of his eyebrows raised.
"Yeah." I shrug. "It's because I'm short."