“It’s convenient that it hasn’t happened to your home,” Suburban Karen said.
“It’s convenient it hasn’t happened to any home on our block, or the next two blocks over,” Jasmine countered. “In fact, if Irecall, someone said your house has been targeted three times now.”
“Makes me wonder if maybe they’re only aiming for the bitches who run their mouth,” Miguel said, announcing himself as he strutted down the driveway and toward Dylan’s car.
Snickers from two other teens living in the house trailed behind Miguel. Dylan did his best not to join in with the laughter at Miguel’s bold and abrasive entrance, instead focusing on ensuring he grabbed everyone with an appointment this morning.
Chelsea strutted alongside Yazmin, her vibrant bi-colored hair sparkling under the sunlight.
Yazmin had a deep amber complexion, complemented by the white jersey she wore to show off her school spirit. Unlike most of the teens in Dorothy’s Home who did their best to blend, Yazmin worked hard to leave her mark by joining every varsity sport she could land. Volleyball, soccer, and track team. It kept her busier than most and often left Dylan playing chauffeur after practices and games when needed.
Most of the kids just wanted to survive high school, finding themselves thrust into a new district and a confusing home after losing their old life because of a lifestyle their parents refused to accept.
Not Yazmin. She’d apparently been very active in athletics at her last school until she’d been outed as the lecherous lesbian in locker rooms. Between teammates who feared her, a school that didn’t support her, and a family that refused to accept her, it didn’t take long for her to find her way at the doorstep of Dorothy’s Home.
Thankfully, the high school all the teens attended now had a very strong anti-bullying policy and had grown to acceptstudents from all walks of life. Mainly due to a decade of persistent community campaigning by Jasmine, who made herself vocal at every single PTA meeting.
“How dare you speak to me that way?” Suburban Karen’s offended expression mixed with furious contempt as she locked her eyes on Miguel.
“And how dare you offend my eyes with that tacky ass dress and heavy blush that does nothing to hide that corpse-like face you’re walking around with.” Miguel didn’t mince words with anyone. It got him in trouble at school on more than one occasion. With staff and students. It didn’t make him any less mouthy; in fact, it only added to his cutting comments.
Dylan didn’t have to strain to smile now, giving Suburban Karen a big ole grin as she absorbed the depths of Miguel’s insults. Honestly, she was quite fortunate that they had an appointment to keep; otherwise, Miguel could fill his entire morning picking this headache of a woman apart.
“Good luck,” Dylan mouthed to Jasmine, who simply gestured for him to get out before her headache got any bigger.
Miguel had taken the passenger seat, leaving the girls to cram in the backseat. The drive quickly turned into a chaotic whirlwind of chatter.
“And where were you last night, mister?” Miguel asked, pointing his phone like a mic.
“Out.”
“With Kaiden?”
“No,” Chelsea said. “He’s always hanging out with that juvie dude.”
“First off, his name is Rus, not juvie dude. Second, he was never convicted of anything,” Dylan said. “Third, juvie is for children.”
Chelsea tsked. “He looks like a child.”
Miguel smacked his lips in response. “Don’t be talking about my short king like that.”
Dylan focused on the road, ignoring their back and forth. It became clear that Miguel had a crush on Rus. It seemed everyone did.
“So, what’d you do that had you out all night?” Miguel asked, turning his attention to the girls in the back seat. “You know, Dylan’s been MIA from the house quite a bit lately. Always out and about, living his best life and having sleepovers God knows where.”
Chelsea and Yazmin ‘ooooed’ in the back seat, followed by some lewd gestures. When Chelsea made gagging noises, the cacophony of chaos caused Dylan to lose sight of the road and suddenly slam his brakes at the intersection.
“Fucking hell,” Miguel shouted.
Dylan’s heart pounded, pumping adrenaline through his stressed veins.
“Q and A is over,” Dylan said. “Just be quiet, please.”
“Welp, we can cross back shots off the list of what you were doing last night,” Miguel said with the smuggest flair of sass. “Because no one laying it down is going to be this wound tight.”
“Yup,” Chelsea and Yazmin asserted in unison.
Thankfully, it didn’t take much longer to reach the dentist’s office, and they sent Miguel in first to have his braces adjusted. Chelsea and Yazmin lost themselves on their phones since thewaiting room was flooded with small children. It offered Dylan a bit of peace. He used the time to check his own phone.
