DAVINA
Inside Aaron's car, with the radio playing some pop song I didn't recognize, I tried to ignore the throbbing in my temple. After all, bad days happen, but mine seemed especially committed to not ending.
''Thanks for getting me out of that idiot's clutches. It was stupid of me to stay after class to talk to you '' I said, letting out a slow breath, still remembering Tom's pretentious smile.
Aaron snorted, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel.
''You should situate the guy. He's a teacher, one complaint, and he'll be off your back in no time.''
I turned my head, arching an eyebrow.
''I'm not going to ruin anyone's life, Aaron. Besides, a student having an affair with a rich teacher? You know who's going to be the villain in this story.''
GUTEMBERGMy apartment was too quiet. The only thing that broke the silence was the sound of the city lights coming through the windows, illuminating the white marble and the perfect lines of the kitchen. It was the kind of place that should make someone feel on top of the world. To me, lately, it just seemed empty. My sister wasn't there. Again. Her room was dark when I passed by, and something told me that she had gone to our parents' house. This bothered me more than I wanted to admit. Not that I could blame her, they can be persuasive when they want to be.''Are you going to tell me what the hell that was all about last night, or am I going to have to get the truth out of you? '' Vincent's voice broke through my thoughts.He was leaning against the bench, with that casual air he always carried, but his eyes... His blue eyes were dark, almost gray
Gutemberg (Ghost). "Ghost, wake up." Someone nudges my arm and by the firmness of the touch, I can tell it's not a woman. I mutter something and pull the sheet up, covering half of my face." Wake up! Here is notmotel, no.Wait, maybe it's a woman.This voice…"My husband is coming, you need to go!" I pull the sheet down, spotting a pair of legsturned and feminine,Lucky me, rising the look capturethe short shirtand thenthe front commission.Fuck it! Othe two melons aresofed upthat are almost jumping in my faceand demanding a bite. Oh! They havemarks ofbikini.I love these marks."Are you married, beautiful?" I open an indecent smile, passing my tongue between my lips without deviating from the beautiful pair of breasts." Ok… joking with my face?" She says, acquiring an annoyed expression that makes me want to roll my eyes,but I stay neutral, just staring at her and waiting for an answer." Serious?"Speaks, with both eyebrows raised." What's serious, honey?" The brunette makes a sound
DAVINAThe sweet smell of the strawberry sauce Grandma made is still strong when I walk into the kitchen, despite everything being clean and disinfected. She said that this is a special cake, because it is part of a large order that she received, and that the money would be used to rent a commercial space to start her bakery. Like an ant after candy, I follow my favorite scent until I trace the clear plastic container, emblazoned with your unique brand logo. That I made myself on my cell phone, on the marble bench that separates the part with the stove from the table we use for meals. I ask the exaggerated pink bow she puts on all her orders, and I read the name written in icing on top of the cake.Pryia.The middle sister of the owner of the hill.I knew she was having a birthday today, I was woken up by the fireworks display that her brother organized exclusively for today, but I didn't know that it was Grandma who was preparing all the sweets and cake, I thought that the order she
DAVINA"Are you crying."It wasn't a question, yet I denied it."I have to go. " I said as soon as I received the rest of the money."I know you, Davina " Timmy gripped my arm gently but hard enough to make me stop and look at him." Your impression. I muttered, already regretting having asked for his help.""I doubt.""We were friends, remember? I know every part of you. " One of the guys who was passing by and overheard the last bit of the conversation, let go The lascivious laughter, whistling and joking. I get angry and pull the arm.Without looking back, I leave Timmy talking to himself. Got enough shit in my truck to worry about your feelings today, who knows, never. I go down the slope running, almost tripping over half a dozen balls of plastic scattered across the floor, balancing me at the last second."It has to be Davina "one of the boys growls, I think it's the son of a bitch madam Sirilla, the grocery box where grandma buys most of her ingredients. I shoot him a look that
GUTEMBERG (Ghost) Every government has laws. Every crime has a purpose. Every society has rules. It's pure logic, we're just so obsessed with the idea of freedom that we don't see the obvious. We are still the same. Turns out it's so much more, It's easy to pretend there's no control. The laws in the criminal world are simple, but here there is a crown, a prickly and bloody, an ammo belt under the head, and each decision is minimally thought out to cause the smallest impact. Which also means that the king's orders must be obeyed. I clear my throat, scratching the back of my neck as Timmy cleans his pistol. As if last night never existed. "Are you well?"he asks with a smile provocative on the lips, glad enough to make me opine how many times has he participated in torture. Many must be the answer. For someone like Timmy, born and raised in the community, episodes of violence come naturally. But no for me. I try not to look like I'm about to puke just looking at all the blood al
GUTEMBERGI slide the gate bolt slowly, checking over my shoulder to see if any lights have come on since I locked the front door, when I realize they haven't, I let out a sigh of relief and look down. I stare at my bare, dirty feet, then scenes from last night explode inside my head and the smell of blood hits me.The blood is stuck to my clothes and skin, a clear note of what I've done.In my right hand, my phone vibrates non-stop.I crush the urge to answer the call and throw the device away, it hits the wall and falls to the floor.My parents have an important place in society, a place inherited from my father's family, a place my mother will never relinquish, a position I have never had the option of denying. To all the important people in San Diego, I am Gutemberg Ramsey, a promising lawyer with a penchant for dangerous sports, fast romances and a born activist. To the underprivileged part of West City, a place we call the Hill, I'm the right-hand man of the local drug dealer.
DAVINAThe blanket I chose earlier today, the same one I've been using since I was thirteen and welcomed as a favorite after Grandma confessed that she sewed it herself, barely covers the bed, leaving a third of the mattress exposed. The thing is, I refuse to change the blanket and get a new one.Even with the bedroom door locked, I can hear my parents arguing, every day they find a new reason to fight, even if the reason is something silly like leaving the orange peel in the sink. It's nonsense, we all know that Mom blames Dad for Pryia's departure. Another piece of nonsense. My sister has always hated this place and was going to leave sooner or later, it just happened to be soon enough to drive Mom crazy.I throw myself back on the bed, drowning among the lined pillows. My sister used to tease me about this as a child, pointing out how strange I was for having so many pillows around me that there was no room left for me on the mattress.The memory makes me look away, at her empty, t
DAVINA'' Mrs. Carter? One minute, please.''I freeze in place, my breathing wavering when I hear his footsteps behind me.He shouldn't be talking to me here, not when we're alone. Someone might notice.'' What? '' I ask, but my voice is so low and hoarse that it's more like a grunt.Tom looks around before closing the distance between us, then when he's sure there's no one near, his fingers touch my cheek and lips.'' I missed you this weekend." His tone is sweet, so sweet that I want to smile, but I can't. He and I aren't going to happen anymore. It's not going to happen anymore.'' And your fiancée? '' a wrinkle appears between his eyebrows and his body tenses, but all he does is shake his head. I still hoped he would deny it.'' I don't love her.'''' She's expecting you, baby. '' I accuse, pulling away from his touch.'' Yes, she set me up. I'm going to marry her just to give my daughter a family. ''I wrinkle my nose.'' Fine, then go back to her and stay away from me.'''' No,
GUTEMBERGMy apartment was too quiet. The only thing that broke the silence was the sound of the city lights coming through the windows, illuminating the white marble and the perfect lines of the kitchen. It was the kind of place that should make someone feel on top of the world. To me, lately, it just seemed empty. My sister wasn't there. Again. Her room was dark when I passed by, and something told me that she had gone to our parents' house. This bothered me more than I wanted to admit. Not that I could blame her, they can be persuasive when they want to be.''Are you going to tell me what the hell that was all about last night, or am I going to have to get the truth out of you? '' Vincent's voice broke through my thoughts.He was leaning against the bench, with that casual air he always carried, but his eyes... His blue eyes were dark, almost gray
DAVINAInside Aaron's car, with the radio playing some pop song I didn't recognize, I tried to ignore the throbbing in my temple. After all, bad days happen, but mine seemed especially committed to not ending.''Thanks for getting me out of that idiot's clutches. It was stupid of me to stay after class to talk to you '' I said, letting out a slow breath, still remembering Tom's pretentious smile.Aaron snorted, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. ''You should situate the guy. He's a teacher, one complaint, and he'll be off your back in no time.''I turned my head, arching an eyebrow. ''I'm not going to ruin anyone's life, Aaron. Besides, a student having an affair with a rich teacher? You know who's going to be the villain in this story.''
DAVINAMy throat tightened, and the world around me seemed to crumble once again.The classroom seemed more suffocating than ever. Every second seemed to drag by, but my mind was elsewhere. I tried to concentrate on the muffled sound of the rain outside, but all I could do was go back to the problems at home. My father, the debts, Timmy. It was a weight that seemed to pull me under. Our family already owed money to Gutemberg, did my father really need to dig deeper and make new problems?''Davina! ''Tom's firm voice cut through my thoughts.I looked up and stared at him, not hiding my annoyance. He looked at me as if I were a personal challenge that he was determined to overcome.''Are you here, or do you prefer to keep wandering around in your own head?''I felt the whole room
DAVINAThe sky was beginning to lighten when I decided to leave. I didn't want to be there when Timmy came back. Facing that half-debauched, half-shy smile as we tried to ignore what had happened... no, I wasn't ready for that. In fact, I was trying not to think about it, but it was no use.Every step I took seemed to echo with memories of the kiss. The taste of him was still in my mouth, and the sensation of his touch... it just wouldn't leave my head. It was a mixture of warmth and chaos that I didn't know how to deal with. The way he held my face, the way his fingers seemed to want to say what words could not.I took a deep breath, trying to concentrate on the sound of my footsteps on the wet sidewalk. The rain had stopped, and the stree
TIMMYLeaving her behind made me angry. I should have stayed, made up an excuse that would convince Midnight and cause the rest of the guys to empathize, and stayed. But no, I had to take the call and abandon her warm, soft body. Davina is stubborn, hard-headed and full of ideas of revenge. And me, well... I'm a coward for trying to protect her from afar. But I know that this dirty side of life will only destroy her, and I can't allow that.Now, here I am, in the old plastic shed, waiting to hear Aaron's plan. Part of me wants to pick a fight with someone and get sent home, just to finish what I started with her, instead of getting stuck deeper and deeper in this hole with these guys.The smell of rust and mildew surrounds me as my footsteps echo on the crumbling floor. In the dark, I can barely see the shadows of the others, but I recognize the sound of heavy boots. Gutemberg.''T
TIMMYLeaving her behind made me angry. I should have stayed, made up an excuse that would convince Midnight and cause the rest of the guys to empathize, and stayed. But no, I had to take the call and abandon her warm, soft body. Davina is stubborn, hard-headed and full of ideas of revenge. And me, well... I'm a coward for trying to protect her from afar. But I know that this dirty side of life will only destroy her, and I can't allow that.Now, here I am, in the old plastic shed, waiting to hear Aaron's plan. Part of me wants to pick a fight with someone and get sent home, just to finish what I started with her, instead of getting stuck deeper and deeper in this hole with these guys.The smell of rust and mildew surrounds me as my footsteps echo on the crumbling floor. In the dark, I can barely see the shadows of the others, but I recognize the sound of heavy boots. Gutemberg.''Timmy," he calls, his voice low and rough, but I don'
DAVINA'' What are you watching? ''I asked, sitting down next to him. He gave me a sideways glance and pushed the bowl of popcorn onto my lap. I grabbed a handful and shoveled it into my mouth.'' Quiet, this is the best part.''I rolled my eyes, identifying the grotesque movie by the scene.The movie had barely started, and I could already feel the tension in the air. Halloween, a classic that Timmy loved, was playing on the TV in front of me. I pretended to be completely calm, but the truth was that horror movies always made me nervous, especially the ones he loved. The high''pitched sounds, the tense soundtrack... my stomach churned.Sitting next to him on the sofa, I pulled the blanket over me, trying to hide my discomfort. He was so focused that he barely blinked.'' You really love this thing, don't you?" I muttered, giving a smile to lighten the mood.He gave a crooked smile without taking his eyes off
DAVINAThe room was dark, and it took a while for my eyes to identify where I was. It was only in the dim light coming from the open window, through which lightning occasionally illuminated the space, that I identified Timmy's room. The simple decoration, without much identity, with only a banner on the wall of some strange horror movie, was different from his children's room, which was decorated by walls with hearts and children's drawings, since he shared the space with his younger sister. I looked at the clock on the bedside table, realizing that I had only slept for forty minutes.The shirt he'd given me was wrapped around my waist, and I was also wearing one of his underpants, a purchase I'd made myself from one of his drawers. I pulled the soft fabric of his shirt up to my nose and the smell of him invaded me. It was a comforting sensation, but also a dangerous one. I looked at myself in the bedroom mirror for a moment, my still damp hair falling around my shoulder
DAVINAThe square was deserted. Not even the sound of a breeze dared to break the silence. The yellowish lights of the streetlamps cast long, restless shadows, distorting the outline of the benches and sparse trees. My heart beat like a muffled storm. I looked at him with hatred. Ghost. That nickname came to mind as naturally as the contempt I felt. If Gutemberg had disappeared with my sister, then now I would disappear with his peace.I crouched down, clutching the shard of glass I'd found on the ground earlier. Just one blow to the rearview mirror... that's all, I kept repeating in my head. The thought of destroying something of his ignited a dark rage that I tried to control.But before I could act, I heard the familiar sound of a car door opening. It descended slowly, as if waiting for something. His silhouette stood out against the streetlamp, tall and calm. He always seemed to be in control, always one step ahead, as if I were the rebellious girl he could ignore. This irritated m