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“Why can’t we call the cops? You a criminal too?” I ask, taking a step back.
Not the smartest thing to accuse someone of being right after you were almost raped, idiot.
“No, but I don’t want to be questioned by one.”
“Is that yours?” I nod toward the backpack.
“Shit, hold on.” Mark darts over to grab the bag and slings one strap over his shoulder before walking back to me. “Look, if you gotta call the cops I get it but tell them you don’t know who helped you, okay?”
“You homeless?” I absently smack my forehead. “Shit, that was tacky. I’m sorry. Do you have somewhere to go?”
“Been on my own for a while now.”
“How old are you?”
“How old areyou?”Mark echoes back.
“Twenty-one.”
Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that it’s my birthday. Happy fucking birthday.
Mark eyes me skeptically but seems satisfied with my answer and nods. “I’m seventeen. Eighteen in a few weeks,” he tacks on as if that makes a difference. “Look, I don’t need cops sniffing up my ass, and I sure as hell ain’t going home. Just forget you met me.” Mark pivots toward the street but not before kicking good ‘ol Travis in the head. “Just making sure he stays down until the cops get here.”
“Wait!” I reach out and grab his arm. ‘Where’re you headed?”
“Nowhere in particular.”
“Want to come with me and Stella?”
Mark glances around the deserted lot before answering, “Who’s Stella? I didn’t see anyone out here but you and these two slimy dickheads.”
“Stella isn’t a person.” Smiling, I hitch my thumb over my shoulder to point at my van. “She’s my Volkswagen Bus, my home away from home.”
“You seriously named your VW?”
“Hey, if men can name their cars, why the hell can’t I?”
Mark shrugs and looks between me and Stella. I won’t force him to come with me, but I have this strange need to help him out, especially after he saved me. I just hope he takes me up on the offer.
“You sure you got room?”
“Plenty of room.” I unlock the van and slide open the panel door, showing off the inside. It has a cooler, bean bag chairs, shag rug, and a couple of smaller chests that hold my clothes and some food. I place my guitar next to one of the chests and tell Mark to hop in the front.
“Pretty cool setup.” Mark smirks at me as he climbs in the passenger seat. “Where ya headed to?”
“Nashville.”
“Haven’t been there yet.”
“Sure you want to go with me?” I ask, starting the van.
“Don’t have nothing better to do.” He glances at me out of the corner of his eye. “Besides, I think I better stick with you and make sure you stay out of trouble.”
“Believe it or not smartass, this is the first time something like this has happened.”
“One time too many.”
He’s not wrong. I should’ve paid better attention to my surroundings and had Gary walk me out, but I was too lost in my head. It takes everything in me not to run over the two fuckers who are still out cold, but I don’t want to get blood on Stella. She’s too pretty to dirty up with their evil. I pull out onto the road and look over at The Nightly Habit one more time.
