Bad Judgment

*CHRIS*

“When are you coming back?”

“When I get off break.”

“You left two hours ago, we’re getting backed up.”

“Carlos, chill. I’ll be back in a few.”

“Hours or minutes?”

“Why?”

“Unless you want to get sued or reported, I’d come back. The customer has been asking for their car and I can’t keep misleading them.”

“Just tell them I went to get some more parts.”

“I—“

I quickly hung up the phone. The longer I stayed on the phone, the more I risked getting caught.

I followed a car because I mistakenly thought it belonged to Ayana’s triflin’ ass. I told myself I wouldn’t make that same mistake again.

This time, during lunch I rode past her house again. She and Jamira were really making this shit hard for me. I hadn’t seen either of them or their vehicles since that night.

I decided that if this was going to work, I needed to not only get creative, I needed to think this through.

Which meant even if she hadn’t shown up yet, she’d come back. And when she did, I’d be there.

Usually when I rode by, her mom would be there. This time, she wasn’t.

Perfect.

That was my time to strike.

I took off my shirt and replaced it with a pest control one I’d bought online.

I had to make things seem normal so I even got the backpack sprayer I filled with water in case someone was watching.

I went around the back first to scope everything and see where the best location would be.

I looked up at the trees and thought they were perfect, but quickly decided against it because of the weather and animals.

Next was a rock that was close enough to the door to work, but that was way too close to the ground.

Anything could happen, including me getting caught.

Then I spotted a bush just off the edge of the porch that was in perfect range and full of leaves. Most importantly, it had no flowers, which meant not only was no one tending to this bush regularly, but no one would notice whatever had gotten trapped inside.

That was all I needed.

I pulled a camera out of my pocket and anchored it against the branches underneath. I tucked it away so it wouldn’t be seen at first glance.

I’d already set it up the night before and connected it to my phone. I opened the app to make sure everything was working properly, and sure enough, it was.

I could even take pictures without drawing attention. With everything coming to my phone I wouldn’t have to come by as often and I could watch without the neighbors finding out.

A small snicker left my lips as I thought about how clever this was.

“You can’t hide forever, Mira.”

….

*KACIE*

The atmosphere around Walt’s place had been cold and awkward for reasons that shouldn’t really matter. It was like even though Eric wasn’t physically there anymore, his presence still lingered.

I kept thinking about what he told me. He said so many disrespectful things, but the only thing I couldn’t seem to forget was when he said Kayla had been getting bullied and that I had no idea.

It was true. I didn’t, because every call from Clearview made me even more agitated than I already was. Eventually, I decided they’d have to figure it out

I faintly remembered her trying to tell me something about her new teacher, but I’d been so preoccupied that I couldn’t recall the conversation.

Every day I went to work, pulled doubles, and got thrown into back-to-back shifts before my off days, I told myself that this was for her.

In reality, it was never for her. It was for my own safety and security so that for once in my life I could rely on myself.

Not once did I ask what Kayla wanted or how I could make it up to her.

Maybe I am a piece of shit.

But at least I didn’t abandon those who were by my side when it mattered.

Still, no amount of convincing made things any better or easier for me.

With Kayla gone, I began drinking religiously so I wouldn’t have to hear his voice in my head.

On top of that, Josh had been calling and threatening me in between his fixes. Every time he said he was clean, he’d relapse and the cycle would start again. This time I wasn’t his punching bag.

He still had an effect on me and my life.

That was devastating.

I thought the alcohol would make me forget my problems, but it only created new ones. Now I had to deal with Walt and his feelings.

He was off-limits and I should have honored that.

He was there.

I was drunk.

I was horny.

I was making a terrible mistake.

No.

Mistakes happen when you walk into something unaware. I knew what I was doing. So that made it a terrible…decision.

It wasn’t bad—it just wasn’t right.

When I’d try to look at him, my heart sank further into my chest. It burned with the uncertainty of our friendship and our relationship with Eric.

Every time he tried to talk about it, I’d walk away or pretend I was on the phone because that was somehow easier than saying “I know you had a good time, but we can never do that again. And by the way, your life may be ruined because not only is my brother overbearing, so is my ex. Also, I may just be fucked up in the head.”

He deserved a conversation. I just wasn’t ready to give it to him.

Not yet.

I saw Walt watching our favorite show and I wanted to watch it with him. It was so hard to just be there in the moment.

He would look my way and I’d put my head down. During commercials, we’d normally talk about what we’d seen so far, but this time we didn’t.

The tension had gotten so high that I texted Eric to ask if I could get Kayla.

When he didn’t respond, I scrolled endlessly through my phone going back and forth between apps.

After thirty minutes of uncomfortable silence, I texted Eric and told him I was getting Kayla.

I didn’t care that he still wasn’t talking to me. I just needed to leave.

I quickly grabbed my keys and left without a single word.

Once I got in the car, I let out a breath I’d been holding since the day Eric came. Some of my muscles eased.

The drive to Eric’s was uncomfortable and very nerve-wracking. Every mile closer made me choke on every word I intended to say to him.

I tapped on the steering wheel and shifted in my seat.

When I got to the parking garage, I cut the engine and leaned back in my seat.

I sat there frozen in time while my palms became wet.

After several minutes of fighting with myself, I finally got out of the car.

Here goes nothing.