6– The long way Home

MARYJANE

I’m not sure if I want to walk home today. I’m afraid of seeing Stranger again because everything seems to go wrong when he’s around.

Although he scares me, there’s part of me that’s drawn to him. I think it’s his eyes. The brown-red color always has this smoldering look when he’s staring at me. It’s inevitable that I can’t hold his intense gaze, and my eyes always break away and look at his lips. How does someone that tough have such soft lips?

I recall the way they feel against my skin, and wonder what they’d feel like on other places on my body. I turn bright red. What the hell am I thinking? I’ve never gone past kissing a boy, but I’m thinking about a random man kissing various parts of my body. I need to stop.

Against my better judgement, I don’t drive to work. I almost forget to cross the street when I’m walking home but remember the wrath of Gustavo and quickly skitter across. I’m hugging the cars that are parallel parked when I see him slam open his workplace doors.

Oh no.

I try not to make eye contact with him as I pass by. Maybe he won’t yell at me if I’m following directions.

“Maryjane,” he says.

How does he know my name? Gustavo walks across the street and stands in front of me, so I can’t continue walking home.

“S-sorry, do you want me to take a different way home?”

The corner of his mouth turns down. “Walk on the sidewalk. It’s dangerous to walk in the street.”

Is this a trick, or does Gustavo just have mood swings? I cower as I look at him, trying to decode his intentions. He’s a Mafia member, so he’s probably well-versed in psychological manipulation tactics.

“But I thought you didn’t want me to walk by your building,” I squeak.

“I’ve changed my mind. I’m,” he exhales, as if the next words are very hard for him to say. “Sorry about yesterday.”

I can tell how hard it is for him to apologize, so I’ll accept it.

“S’ok.”

“You headed home?” he asks.

“Yes.”

“I’ll walk you.”

What? No, I don’t want Gustavo walking me home. He’ll kill me in the alley or nip at my flesh again, and I’m disgusted to say I want the second option.

“That’s ok,” I say. “It’s only three blocks away. I can make it.”

“I’m going the same way. There’s a small diner to the left of your apartment.”

Hancock Street Café is a diner that caters to the workers in the area. It can’t be seen from a major street, so it’s always empty. I get the feeling it’s not just a diner, but it may be the skeptic in me.

“I just—ok.”

Gustavo doesn’t talk as we start to walk home. Why would he offer to walk me home if he doesn’t want to talk? He can strike up a conversation about anything. If he’s feeling friendly enough, he can even thank me for saving his life.

The sidewalk is so small that it makes the silence even more deafening. I can’t bear it.

“What’s your name, anyways?” I ask.

“Gustavo Silver.”

“Gustavo Silver?”

“That’s what I just said.”

That’s lame. Why would anyone choose to go by that last name, instead of their first? His first name must be horrible for him to go by that. Either way, I refuse to address him as that.

“No, your first name,” I say. “Not your last name.”

“I go by my last name.”

“That’s…weird. I can’t call you Gustavo Silver. Tell me your first.”

“Not a chance.”

I pause. There is no way I’m calling this man Gustavo Silver. Sure, he may be the Devil with the way he acts around me, but that name is ridiculous.

“I’m going to call you Gustavo,” I say.

“What?”

“I can’t call you Gustavo Silver with a straight face. Sorry.”

“I just…” he stops walking and turns to me. “You know what? It’s fine. Whatever.”

We resume walking, and his hand accidentally brushes against mine. Electric tingles run through my body as his rough skin runs over mine. I like how different it is compared to the smoothness of mine, and I have the urge to rub against it again.

“How do you know my name?” I ask.

“Tony.”

“Oh…right.”

I wish he’d carry a conversation with me. I can’t stand how one-sided this is.

“How are your stitches holding up?”

“They were great. When I went to a doctor to get the bullet removed, he was impressed at the quality.”

I wait for him to say thank you. He doesn’t. I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but it still irks me.

Finally, the street to my apartment.

“Uhm, I’m going to turn here.” I point down the alley that leads to my apartment complex. “I’ll see you later.”

Gustavo glares at me. “Listen to me, Sweetheart.” He comes towards me and pins me to the wall. “Don’t you ever walk down that alley again. If anything were to happen to you, no one would see it.”

Why would anything happen to me? There are only industrial workers here, and all the ones I’ve met are nice.

He leans into my ear and whispers. “There are bad people other than me. But unlike me, they won’t hesitate to hurt you.”

I wait for him to nibble my flesh, but it doesn’t come. My body groans in frustration as he pulls away from the side of my face.

“So.” He gently lifts my chin upwards. “Take the long way home.”

“O-ok.”

He leaves his body pinned against mine for another moment before pulling away. “Let’s go.”

I want to scream at him to get back here and kiss my neck. Then, I want to scream at myself for having that thought. My life has been nothing but trouble since I met Gustavo. I’ve stolen, helped a criminal, and had obscene thoughts about a near stranger.

I have a feeling he’s not leaving any time soon.

Gustavo walks me towards the building and Rina’s outside of the complex.

Oh god no. I can’t have my new friend thinking I associate with these types of people. He’s got to go.

“Um, this is far enough,” I say. “I’ll see you later.”