I'm obsessed, I have no other defense for this.
I lifted my hand asking Gus to stop. The tattoo machine stopped and I pulled my phone out. A grin pulled on my mouth as 'V' flashed in my screen. I knew i enjoyed it too much when she called. Well when it was anything to do with her really. Pressing answer I put the phone to my ear.
"Well, V what ca-"
"You know what?" Her pissed off voice cut me off and I found it amusing. I was in for a good night, a pissed off Mars is a dangerous but fun Mars. "I think I've done a real good job helping you out, or did I imagine that?" She asked and my smile fell immediately, she's pissed at me? I don't think that's ever happened. Annoyed and accusatory, sure but never like this.
"You know I appreciate you" I tried to lighten her mood.
"Not good enough" her voice was so cold I felt the unfamiliar drop in my heart at the idea I some how upset her. Only person to get that feeling from me was my Abuela.
"Okay, V, I'm real confused. I was under the impression when we parted on our last favour we were good"
"Oh" she laughed out "so did I. Then I get stuck on this stupid jury duty, that I didn't ask for!" Her voice was almost shaking "then, to make my week better you send your boy in to threaten me? To turn the verdict. There are eleven other people in that room, boss"
I sat up frowning and heart pounding in both anger that one of his guys threatened her, and dissapointment to hear her speak to me like any other person who had betrayed her.
"Hey" I started
"And then!" She kept going. "We voted for your girl!" I winced at the implication but figured it smarter to let her get this out "Dispite the racist asshole up my ass the whole time! Not my fault she broke her damn parole by having a gun. And I still get vandalised. So here it is. Let me just run my math by you. I was threatened to go her way, we went her way! And I still get out with 'muchas gracias bitch' should I have voted for the lying white boys?" She asked her breathing laboured from her anger. "So now" she took a breath her voice cheerful but fake "from now on. Don't call me. No favours, no flirting, no get out of jail" The line went dead and I pulled the phone away staring at the blank screen.
"Trouble in paradise or something?" Gus asked
"Yeah, or something" I nodded closing the phone in my fist "do me a favour, covering me and fit me in again tonight"
"Sure thing boss, I could use the break, closed up for the night" he put the tattoo machine down.
"Thanks Gus" I nodded lifting my chin so Gus could wrap me up. Bringing up Thumper's number I dailed
"What's up, boss?" He asked
"Round up. Now" I ordered and hung up. I was pissed. And sure more than I should be but damn, did they not see how invaluable she was, even with an 09er boyfriend? How much she had actually saved not just mine, but the entire clubs assess?
-
I went into him, Thumper himself admitting to subtly pushing on her. He took the beating, the boys who helped him with her car also taking a beating. They hadn't known the details. They just knew Anissa had been arrested.
"That girl, saved our asses more times than I can count. She may not have the opinion on Felix's murder that I like but I know one thing, she will find the truth. No matter how long it takes!" I stepped back opening and closing my bruised hand. "Hell she kept me and at least three of us outta jail. Do you really think she cares what colour skin anyone has?" I asked Hector came next to me crossing his arms looking a little pissed off.
"Who's idea was it to go threaten her?" He asked and I had to hand it to Thumper, raising his hand and accepting his role.
"Anissa ain't a bad girl" he hopped up, wiping blood from his nose "I just wanted to get her loose, and those guys did it" I nodded and agreed. She did what she needed, and I expect her to have a gun in her line of work.
"And V didn't think she was. You wanna pray she doesn't retaliate" I warned him and the two on the floor.
"What can she do?" Thumper asked letting out a pained laugh "she's one girl"
"The better question is what can't she do" I snapped "you don't think she can make our lives hell? That she can't turn in the tapes to have Bootsy and Sully back behind bars? And that's just for start" I shook my head. I hoped she'd let me talk to her tomorrow, and yeah for the gang but I wasn't entirely sure I was ready to lose the light that was Mars. I hated it but she made it easier to breathe in this god forsaken town. Made it bearable and reminded me that there were people who just wanted good all round.
No matter how cynical she seemed to be, I wasn't ready to let go. I could imagine what it'd be like with her all I wanted, that was enough. I was just lucky she could stand me. Even if she'd never want me that way.
"I'll talk to her" Thumper nodded looking to Bootsy and Sully. "Let me fix it. I can't be the reason they go down" I wasn't even sure if she'd accept the apology. I'd never heard her so pissed off and it had certainly never been aimed at me.
"Try" I approved "look out for a tazer or a pit though" I warned
"If it satisfies her, right?" He winced and I sighed my hand coming to my head.
"Go home. All of you, Abuela has a barbecue tomorrow and she'll have all our asses if we ain't there. Stay out of trouble" They nodded and gave 'yes boss' getting on their bikes. I leant against my own shaking my head and hoping she'd be calmer in the morning.
We came early, parking near her usual spot hoping to catch her. My knuckles hurt like a bitch but if it helped her see I had dealt the punishment, tried to make it right she'd give him a chance. Plus, at school he'd be saved the angry pit at least.
"Maybe she'll feel a bit threatened with us all here" Hector thought aloud.
"Yeah, you guys take off" I ordered so it was just Thumper and me. She finally pulled in and I straightened up nodding to Thumper. He limped over to her car, now free of the vandalism. I bet she stayed up late to clean it.
"Save it Thumper. Catch me in an alley I got shit to do today" she said coldly
"Look, I just need a minute" he tried.
"No I got the message. Muchas gracias" her voice was like venom. She walked passed him and this idiot made a grab for her shoulder. She froze and the flicker of fear before she composed herself made me sick. I pushed off the bike and her eyes landed on me. Looking me over her eyes squinting before turning to look back to Thumper and pulled out her taser. He quickly let go raising his hands.
"I'm sorry. Anissa is a friend and I just-" he took a breath "don't blame the others for it, was all me. And if you need taze me, or do that Mars magic to get back at me I get it" he lowered his head and I saw her arm relax, the grip on the taser laxing "I didn't know about the parole" he explained.
"You look plenty punished to me. Get out of here" she waved him off.
"What will you do?" He asked "Bootsy and Sully didn't-"
"You look like a wounded puppy. I'm not doing anything"
"But later?" She looked over her shoulder at me, anger clear.
"I'll think about it" she sighed looking back to him. She waved him off and he hobbled off looking at me, guilt and his apology clear. I tipped my head toward school and he kept going. I looked back and she was sat on the hood of her car, elbows on her knees as she looked at the hood. Taking it as a sign I could approach I walked over and leaning against her car next to her.
"That true?" She asked casually and taking my wrist looking over my knuckles.
"I'd never order a threat on you" I admitted "its a little dissapointing you thought I would"
"Like you didn't order the drive by on Logan and me?" She asked finally looking up to me.
"I didn't" it was the truth. She was always with him then, making a call like that would be no way to know she was in the car.
"Thanks for getting pay back for me" she didn't sound thankful.
"Are we good?" I finally asked. She looked at me and the look of hurt and pain took my breath from me.
"I don't know. I thought you knew me better than someone who would make a call based on colour or zip codes"
"V, it wasn't me!" I swore "I left mid tattoo to go sort this shit, to tell them the exact same thing" I hated how she was weighing up the words, my actions. The shaken trust was not something I thought would ever bother me. But I wanted to cave Thumper's head in for making her doubt me.
"Yeah?" She asked looking to my neck frowning at the, in fact half done tatt. Gus was spent and I was going back after school before the barbecue. Closing her eyes she leant against me almost as if all the energy had left her.
"Your boys are good" she said suddenly "I think you lay into Thumper enough to warrant punishment" She got up, putting her bag on her shoulder. I quickly stood to follow her.
"And me?" I asked. She didn't answer digging into her bag and pulling out her handy absence slips and writing on it. Handing it to me and walking off into the crowd. I looked down turning the pink paper over. 'You're excused from the dog house. V x' I couldn't have stopped the smile if I wanted too, barely controlling my face from closing my eyes from relief. I looked up to find her at the door grinning at me and giving a quick wink before walking in. What was it with me and blondes I can't have? Though, at least this one is real.
"We good?" Sully asked from the table to the left of me.
"Yeah. We're good. Probably wouldn't ask her for any favours anytime soon though" I assured the guys sat there.
"And me?" Thumper asked messaging his bruised jaw.
"She says your beating makes you even. I'd still do a little redemption though if I were you" I advised
"She's good people" Hector chuckled and I could see the respect he had for her. I nodded in agreement. Certainly didn't deserve all the shit that happens to her. Or the way everyone treats her. The bell rang and I put the absence slip in my pocket and headed in. Not sure if I should be embarrassed or co concerned I knew I'd be keeping it.