ZZZ

"I dunno man, we're not trying to get ambushed again."

"I know, I know. It won't happen again, I've, uh, dealt with them."

TJ paced the floor of his room with his phone to his ear. It's been long enough, he figured, since a certain few people interrupted is month 'get the shit beaten out of him' session. Until now they had been ignoring his phone call and texts until now.

"They aren't going to do that again, I promise. And if they do I'll beat the shit out of them myself."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure." He just had to make sure they weren't following him, maybe take a different route avoiding passing their houses. "C'mon, I'll even buy you a new pair of brass knuckles

"Alright, fine. When's good for you?"

"Tomorrow or next weekend."

"Tomorrow. We're going somewhere next weekend. Same time as usual?"

"Same time as usual. Thanks."

God, finally. It's been too long since he's gotten beaten within an inch of his life. He feared that they weren't going to do it anymore but money was a big enough motivator for a lot of things. Well, if he was going to come home bruised and bloody, TJ had to make sure he had the stuff to cover it up. He walked to his dresser and looked over at the corner that he kept his usual foundation and concealer. He was running low and had meant to buy more but it slipped his mind when a certain group of five wouldn't leave him alone.

Welp. If he wanted to have some fun he needed to get to the mall.

ZZZ

Alone.

TJ wanted to go to the mall alone but he wasn't that surprised when he bumped into Vince on his way to the bus stop. He was on some sports team or whatever; didn't they practice on the weekends, too? TJ didn't ask him. That would give Vince the false idea that he gave a shit about their lives.

"I'm glad Spinelli doesn't wear makeup. I would have no idea what to buy her, from here," Vince said. He followed TJ as he walked through the displays, occasionally poking around.. They had rearranged the place since he'd last visited. "What are you in here for? Buying something for a girlfriend you haven't told us about?"

TJ shook his head. "It's for me," he said. ". . .Maybe I'll get something for Becky, her birthday is coming up."

"No way. You don't wear makeup."

"I do."

"What for? That's kinda weird, man," said Vince.

"It's good for covering bruises." He stopped when he found his favorite brand. Turned out they had a new foundation. Not that it mattered, he wasn't going to change things up now. Not when this shit was so expensive. . .

"Why do you need to cover up bruises? Are you going to get beat up by that group like the last time?"

"That's the plan," he said. "Is that a problem?"

"Kinda? They beat you up pretty bad, and you weren't even with them for that long," said Vince. "If that's how bad you area a few minutes into it, how bad does it get after the whole thing is over?"

"Real bad. It's great, isn't it?"

". . .No, no it isn't, Teej."

TJ shrugged. "You all aren't going to follow me there, are you? Because it took me forever to get back in contact with those guys again."

Vince was, for a moment, stumped for what to say. None of them wanted to see him how they did that night, blooding, bruising, and barely able to stand. They were supposed to be backing off the whole TJ getting off on hurting himself thing, but shouldn't he say something if he was planning on getting beaten withing an inch of his life?

"Stop looking at me like that," TJ said. "If it keeps you guys from following me, they aren't going to kill me. They can't keep getting my money if I'm dead."

"I guess that's a good point."

Having found everything he came for, TJ lead them to the cashier. The girl behind the counter was trying to strike up a conversation, but it was difficult to do when he only gave her one word answers. Vince wasn't going to add to the attempted conversation; the sooner he got out of here, the better, but that didn't mean he didn't pick up certain things about it.

"You know she was flirting with you, right?" Vince asked once they left the store. "And you just kept brushing her off."

"I was trying to buy something, not get a date," he said. "I barely know her."

"That's the point of dating someone, dude," said Vince.

"I'm not interested."

"But she's hot."

"I swore I told you guys I was asexual already," he mumbled. "I'm not interested, okay?"

"So you don't want to go out with anyone? Not just that girl but anyone at all? I get that you don't want to be friends with us, but don't you ever get tired of being alone?" Vince asked.

". . .Look, I got what I came here for, so I'm going home," he said. "Don't follow me."

While he watched TJ walk away, Vince asked himself if it was something he'd said. By some miracles he was able to have some sort of conversation with the guy before something he said pissed him off. Still, there was a small victory to be had in talking to him for as long as he did.