Tears of Black

By: Alexandra

Chapter 2

I've lost nearly everything. I've lost everyone. Hana sat on the front step, her scoffed shoelace less converse's dug at the grass. An unlit cigarette wedged between her peeled and cracked lips, it felt aggravating. She had never smoked. Neither did she plan to. Comfort. It was a weird odd comfort that made her feel superior to the world around her. Entitled to everything while in reality she was entitled to nothing. She owned nothing. Instead, she was a nothing. A small speck unnoticeable to everyone.

Welfare whores. Lazy bums. A ragged bitch. That's how it was in Rhode Island anyway. That's how the world saw people like her. Shamefully, she once felt and thought the same way. But now in supposed paradise, she was one. Except she didn't even get welfare. Nothing. She looked to the side only to get the bent cig plucked from her mouth.

"Hey! You have no right-"

"Say that to the badge," Danny responded, and sat down next to her. He wore a grin that spoke cockiness, and he sprawled back, his arms resting behind his head. Hana turned to the side and took another cigarette from her pocket, looking over her shoulder. Danny's eyes were closed, but he knew very well. "What's the point? What are you? That kid from that movie? Man! My daughter made me take her-what was it? It was some cancer-"

"The Fault in Our Stars," Hana said, realizing how pretentious she looked. "And no. It's just calming."

"Usually you're supposed to light them. Of course you wouldn't know that."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're a child!"

"I'm an adult," she corrected, kicking the pulled grass over the walkway, trailing dirt around. Danny watched and then looked at her.

"Was that necessary?" he asked, his hand out. Hana stomped her shoes and brushed her hands off, a small tint of red appeared on her face. "Was it? Did you get a kick out of it?"

Frantic, Hana said, "I'm sorry." With her foot, she pushed the grass over the bare spot. Danny sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"All I'm saying is that when you pulls someone's grass up," he started, leaning over her. "You don't! You just don't. It's rude. Wonder why nobody rents to you. You'll ruin their lawns. They don't want grasszilla." Hana snorted, covering her mouth to suppress any laugh that may or may not resemble a drunk pig. He threw his hands up, "what?"

"Grasszilla!" Her stomach cramping, she fell over and rolled on the grass. Her knees were bunched to her chest, her hands glued to her bouncing tummy. Danny watched in interest, a small smile tugging upward. "Grasszilla!"

A few minutes had passed by before Danny finally felt obligated to lift the girl off the ground and dust her hoodie off. Wobbly and unbalanced, she took a few steps. Out of breath. She hasn't laughed so hard in weeks, but on the inside she felt that it was just another form of stress. A bomb that was implanted inside her and this was the explosion.

"Okay there?" Hana nods, choking on her giggles. With one pat on the shoulder, Hana collected herself and with one cough, she straightened.

"Well, this grasszilla is sorry for ruining your grass."

"Oh, I'm glad you feel that way," he said with a bit of sarcasm. He jingled a pair of keys, motioning to the car. "Time to go." Hana raised a brow. "If I leave you here I may not have a lawn. Now, get in the car."

"I was always told-"

"Not to get into a car with a stranger. Get in the damn car," Danny said. Hana did. After a few minutes of nothing but engine, Danny looked over with a wrinkle in his brows. "You fuckin' kiddin' me right now?"

"What?"

"You should be fucking dead. All I need is a piece of candy." He stuck his hand out the window, waving it and whistling. "Come here-"

"Shut up," she snorted, and took her hand, raising it high before swiping it across his head.

"Hey! Assault and battery against a-"

"Self-defense!"

"Self-defense my fuckin' ass," he said, driving away from the house. "You can jump out anytime." Danny's ears perked at sound of a click, and shot his eye at the door. Frantic, he leaned over and slammed the door shut. His heart pounded as another car drives by. "What is wrong with you?!" he asked, fixing his posture. From the side of his eye, he noticed she was smirking, holding back a chuckle.

"You told me jump out."

"Yeah, on the cliff! Where my car is in no danger."

"People in Hawaii are weird," she snorted. "Who drives on cliffs?"

"People who drive with aggravating passengers."

"Your bald spot is growing red," Hana pointed out. He looked back over at her, and stopped the car short. Multiple cars behind beeped in frustration.

"Did you eat your Wheaties this morning?"

"Did you use Nair shampoo?"

"Where's that girl from last night? You know, the one who didn't say a word?"

"How old's your daughter again?" Hana asked, directing the conversation. He continued to drive, and nodded.

"Thirteen."

"You look a little old for a thirteen year old daughter," Hana commented.

"I'm not old!"

"Is that how you sleep at night?"

"How about you keep it quiet," Danny said, putting his hand up. "Shuffle near the window. We're coming around a cliff!" With a click, Danny once again stepped hard on the break. "The hell, woman!" Hana laughed, shutting the door.

"Sorry," she said, coughing. Danny pointed out to the ocean.

"Wait until we get to the cliff, and then jump out."

"Noted."

For the rest of the ride, she sat there quiet and in deep thought. Every so often to see if she was sleeping, Danny would glance over, smiling to himself. While she looked profound in pain, she was still a twenty year old girl. And she showed it this morning. While in the police academy years ago, Danny remembers the psychology course that was required. Laughing and joking was a small sign of defense. Or maybe avoiding the truth. Then the other side of his mind fought the fact that she was indeed just a twenty year old girl who perhaps just found herself in a sticky situation. Maybe there wasn't much more. He nodded to himself in concentration as he pulled into work.

Didn't make sense. Lunatics, crazies, and nut jobs made sense. But he was trained to deal with them. Nothing trained him for something so personal. He took one last look at Hana. Slowly, she faded into an image of Grace. He smiled then blinked before turning on his heels and walked.

"Come on."

Author's Note: Thank you so, so much for all your support! I never thought in a million years that I would get a single review! Never mind 6. Seriously, you all are awesome.

Sorry that this is another short chapter. It was a bit hard for me to write. I wasn't sure how I wanted her personality to be.

Please read, enjoy, and read.