Forrest

FORREST

Where the fuck is she?

SHE JUST left! I was just waiting for my break to chat with her, then I found her seat empty. There was no way she went with that jackass!

I had a few ideas about Megan’s history of hook-ups, but I was the last person to judge her—she was a consenting adult. I just didn’t want her to mix with that scumbag of all the people because he had a flashy card at his disposal.

“I’ll be right back.” I patted Dice on his shoulder and took off my apron.

My blood was already boiling, and I badly wanted to light a stick if I wasn’t still working. I strode toward the exit, hoping to apologize for butting into their chin-wag earlier.

She couldn’t have gone far. The smell of pees and cigarette assaulted my senses as I scanned the area where Megan could possibly park her car. I sprinted to the parking lot, thankfully, her car tail lights were still on.

A red haze gathered behind my eyelids as soon as I spotted her outside her car.

Shit!

“Megan!” I ran toward her, already quivering with rage. Pictures of her being harassed flashed in my brain when I noticed her on the ground, leaning against her car, seemingly shaking with her face buried in her hands.

As I got closer, I could hear her sobs that had me perplexed for a moment. This couldn’t be from drinking. I’d been watching her drunk her ass for years, and she was only on her second shot.

“Megan, are you okay?” I knelt in front of her and held her arms.

“Get off of me!” She jerked away from my grasp, terrified.

“It’s alright. It’s me, Forrest. Are you okay?” I spelled out and held her tightly as I inspected her for possible injury.

“I don’t need you! All of you, assholes!” She yelled between sobs.

“Just tell me if you’re okay to drive home and I won’t bother you again.” Damn it! What am I even doing here? It was because she was a friend of my girls, and they would knee my balls if they found out I left their best friend alone. And she’s Megan, dumbass!

“Just leave me alone.”

I loosened her arms on my grip, and there was no way I would hurt her further. When she tried to stand up, I followed suit and took a step back. And that was when a chill of apprehension swept over me. Her nose was bleeding and had a hand imprinted on her left cheek.

I was already balling my hands into fists before I could ask her. “Who the fuck did that to you?”

“I’m fine. Just go. Why do you even suddenly care?” She wiped off the bloodstain with the back of her hand and gave me a cold stare.

She’s a total mess. She wasn’t like this. I wondered what happened to her for the past few days. The Megan I knew was funny and flirty who didn’t filter and never cared how people would judge her. But this woman in front of me was a completely different person. She’s lost.

“Is that a handprint of that motherfucker?” The urge to lifting my hand to wipe the blood from her nose had me shaking.

Her chest puffed out, ready to throw me a pit. She was still crying though. Tears were streaming down her smeared face.

“If you didn’t stick your nose into and humiliate him in the first place, he wouldn’t have come to do this to me!”

I had to look away and gulped down an inhale of air. “He’s a jackass, Megan, but I shouldn’t have done that. I apologize for my abominable behavior earlier.”

and it’s not the first time like

mean? Do you know

“You mean if I fucked him?” Her brow

something inside me triggered, and I didn’t even want to think about it right now. It just hardened and twisted my gut even

about who you sleep with, Megan—”

you here and why did

your nose?” Jesus! I was a complete idiot. “Ice

handle of her car. “I don’t need your help. Not now. You should’ve talked to me a long time

“What do you—?”

filled her eyes. “It means I don’t

about came flashing back in my mind, making me shuddered. It felt like she was telling me that

not to say any words anymore. It was my fault she was harassed, but I had the feeling that

even care? Of

shoulder after placing an order to

and poured ice cubes for the order

He gestured his head to

haircut. I forced a swallow as I strolled my gaze from her shoulder down to her spine. I felt

throat. My mouth dried. “I-I mean who are they?”

don’t have any idea they’d be here tonight. Damn it! Why here? Don’t let those two manwhores get near my girls. I may need to look for a new job if Hughes and Williams touch a strand f hair of any of them. And I swear to god I will break their faces, friends or not.”

***

Mama! No, Mama!

abrupt than the previous nights. I walked toward my kitchen with sweat dripping from my forehead. I grabbed a glass,

window. I couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly. What happened at the parking lot edged my mind fiercely.

I don’t need

You’re

already standing in front of the tattoo parlor, Fluer.

“Coming?”

His body was tattooed just like mine, but he was skinnier

diagnosed Diabetic. And I felt bad that as young as nineteen, she had to suffer from that

she’ll be fine. It runs in the family anyway. My skinny ass is just waiting for its

area was painted in light gray, two shaded lamps were hanging loosely from the dark ceiling. Their masterpiece designs were framed and nailed proudly on

new design on

Its frightening black shiny wings spread widely that could soar across the sky. The striking claws were long, black, sharp, and curve pointed downward promising hideous

you think?” he asked

face, finding him showing me

I did this since the shop opened this morning. You should have at least a better word to say than just good.” His shoulders drooped, walking away to the long black

art, but I could appreciate a good one. And good was not the right word for his aesthetic

walked past him to the hallway. There were six small tattoo rooms. At the end of the hallway was Alan’s

“Yeah.”

rooms. I could still feel the biting sting of the needle piercing my skin when I got my first tattoo, but nothing

the single panel glossy

I entered and closed the

up at me. For his age, he was still a diet conscious and managed to stay fit. Though he had already wrinkles, and his olive skin started to sag around

and leaned my elbow on his wooden desk. Bartending was exhausting and tricky, but I liked this

wanna attract unwanted attention. Did you understand me?”

clean-shaven chin, waiting for him

moment, squinting his sharp whiskey-colored eyes on me. “How