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Micah
Whatwasherproblem?
That fiery blonde sure was out of control as she had that little outburst. The crowd is still staring at me as we watch the taillights of her bike drive away.
“Hey, don’t let Stella get to you, Micah,” I hear someone say beside me.
Shrugging my shoulders, I turn to Tank, the guy who set up this race. “She doesn’t bother me,” I say, though I feel a lump beginning to form in my chest.
I have seen girls get angry before. Especially, after I had hooked up with them and then left them once we were finished. They would scream, cry, and stomp their feet like dramatic little toddlers. If anything, it had made me laugh watching their hysterics. But something about the way Stella reacted, had an unsettling feeling growing deep inside of me. There was an emotional storm that erupted from her, one that came from real pain and agony.
Tank goes to hand me the money, but I shake my head, no. “I didn’t come here to make any money,” I tell him.
Tank’s eyes go wide as he looks from the large stash of bills in his hand and then back to me. “Man, this is a lot of money,” he says.
I glance around and start to notice how much I truly stand out around here. Everyone is wearing torn or dirty clothes, off brand shoes, and I see the decrepit buildings all around us. This is the ‘bad’ side of town where poverty is the norm and money like this is hard to come by.
“Yeah,” I agree, though in my world, a thousand bucks barely covers a purse for my mom. “Give it to that girl, Stella,” I reply.
That wild look in her eyes is now cemented in my eyes. I shudder at the thought, which causes alarm bells to wail all through me. Why do I care so much what that chick thinks? We are from different worlds, but still, I feel guilt creeping over me, and I hate that feeling. Hell, I hate any feelings.
“I doubt she will take it. Stella may need the money, but she has a stubborn streak and is prideful. She drives me crazy, but I respect the hell out of her,” Tank admits, chuckling as he thinks of her.
I had only just met Stella, but I saw that pride and stubbornness that Tank was describing. I knew it wasn’t any of my business, but I couldn’t help but ask, “Why does she need that money so bad? Can’t her parents help her out?”
A girl who has long legs, jet black hair, and piercings all along her right ear, struts over to us. Tank smiles as she nestles against him, and I can tell she is his girl. “You may not know us,” the girl begins, “but we all know who you are. Stella doesn’t have parents to ask for anything. Her mom is MIA, and she never knew her dad. Stella is good people, though, and has to fight for the little amount that she has. Don’t get it twisted, rich boy, you don’t belong around here,” she sneers.
That twist of pain resurfaces, and I hate how it is killing the high from my race. Hearing that Stella is basically on her own, just makes me feel like shit. That crazy look in her eyes wasn’t just from her anger from losing to me, but it was from years of being alone. In my world, I never went without anything. My parents loved me and showered me with gifts and more money than I probably needed. I guess sometimes, I forget that there are people out there less fortunate than me. Who have it tough and don’t live like royalty.
Tank looks uncomfortable for a moment. He whispers something in her ear, and she scowls, but gives me a menacing look before she turns and walks away. Her words strike me. I had never been made to feel unwanted anywhere. Hell, people around Savannah pay me and the rest of my gang to just show up to their parties. Being part of the Antoni Mafia Family makes me powerful and popular, but for some reason, around here I am the one looked down on. I have never felt this way before...and I don’t like it.
“Ignore Rose, she is just...”
I cut him off before he could finish. “No need to explain. Look, I see that me being here is clearly causing a problem. I will just head out,” I tell him.
Tank just nods knowing that I’m right. Why I thought coming down to this side of Savannah to race was a good idea, is beyond me. I just wanted a new thrill-- a new place to get wild, but what I got was an uneasy feeling. Tank gives me the money, even though I refused it. I stuff it in my back pocket and get the hell out of that place.
***
The next day, I’m lounging out by the pool when Gabby plops down beside me on one of the sun chairs.
Her red hair is pinned up in a tight bun and her green eyes sparkle against the bright afternoon sun. It’s Sunday, and we like to relax on this day.
“What’s wrong with you?” Gabby asks, as she places large, black sunglasses over her eyes.
“Nothing,” I mumble out.
Closing my eyes, I try and pretend like I had fallen asleep, but Gabby knows better.
“Don’t pull that with me, Micah. You aren’t hung over because you didn’t go out partying last night. Ason and Talon are playing video games in Ason’s theatre room, and they didn’t mention anything about you all fighting, so something else is going on,” she states matter-of-factly.
I hate how Gabby always knows when something is wrong with the guys. She may not be my blood, but she’s my sister and my family. I know she won’t stop pestering me unless I explain what happened, so I just sigh and open my mouth. “I had a race last night that didn’t go as planned,” I begin.
I hear Gabby laugh. “Did you finally lose?” she asks, enjoying that thought way too much.
“No, I didn’t lose,” I grumble out. “I won...”
I let that linger in the air for a moment. I hear the chair shift as Gabby sits up. Even though my eyes are closed, I can feel her watching me.
