The Deadly and the Dangerous

Chapter 5

As I finish up my cigarette and sigh. I’d light up another one but they aren’t cheap. And money is tight, especially when I’m trying to save up to get my own place. I’d do just about anything to get out of that hell hole. I just want to live a life without having to watch my back 24-7.

Imagine what that would be like, no Kyle, no abusive father, just me in my own space. Safe. Hell maybe I’d even get a dog just to be safe. One of those big ones that look like they could eat you. Haha, that would be amazing.

“Yo Kas, what are you smiling about? We gotta get home!”

“Just fantasizing about the future. Lead the way Z. I’m right behind you.”

Zayn grabs my wrist and gently places my hand in his arm. And with a goofy smile plastered on his face he begins skipping to the car. I laugh and join in the skipping.

“So what does the future look like for the mysterious B*tch of Hellebore High?”

“Haha Well a nice house with a big fenced-in yard. A Tibetan mastiff. Lots of tattoos and all this will happen as far from here as I can get.”

“Well I hope I’m somewhere in this future of yours.”

“You will always be a part of my life Z. Your my best friend plus who do you think is doing my tattoos?”

He laughs. “I see how it is, just keeping me around for the ink eh?”

“OH yeah, that’s all your good for ya know?” I ask sarcastically.

“I knew it.” He says putting his spare hand to his heart. “You only want me for my talent, bet your gonna lock me up and sell my drawings for profit!” he says being insanely over dramatic.

I laugh and wipe a tear from my eye. “I’ll keep you in the basement, sell your drawings and make you give me all the free tattoos I could ever want. Feed you nothing but crackers too.”

“Ohh how generous! I get a free roof over my head and I even get to eat!”

“Yeah, free housing and free food , can’t go wrong with that!”

“Now those crackers, are they the good stuff?”

“OH God no! You don’t get Ritz crackers nuh uh. You get the super stale crackers from a convenient store!”

“Ooh lucky me!”

We both burst out laughing as we get to his mom’s Van.

“Good to see you smiling Kasim.”

I chuckle, “Thanks, mama Bear. It feels good too!”

“Good to hear, now get yourself into this car so we can go home and have some nice fresh pizza!” She says with a smile.

I Hurry into the Van and buckle up. Zayn sits beside me and ruffles my hair.

“Hey!”

“OH hush, you know you like it!”

I stick my tongue out at him and he just laughs.

“Mommy can Kas and I stay up and watch movies tonight?”

“Kat hunny it’s a school night!”

“But I wanna spend time with Kas!” Kat says close to crying.

“Kathrine, you know better, than to argue.”

“But mama!”

I lock eyes with Carolyn in the mirror and she sighs. I shrug.

“One movie that’s it! Ok?”

“Thank you mama, thank you, thank you, thank you!”

I chuckle and look at zayn.

“Guess she was right.” I whisper.

He nudges my arm and chuckles. “Mom can’t say no to her, look at her, she’s got that puppy dog face perfected!”

“She learnt from the best!”

“Who me? No!”

“You and your dramatics.”

“You love it and you know it!”

“You wish!”

“Oh I know it!”

The rest of the ride was filled with laughter and I couldn’t help but wish this was my life. A mother who loved me a brother who teased me and looked out for me. Car rides filled with laughter. This is a real family, what I had is nothing close to this.

I’m just lucky I have these guys in my life to show me what a real family is like. If I didn’t imagine how grim my future would be. I could have thought what I’m going through was normal, that all family’s were like this.

Once we got to their place we all exited the car. I told Kat to go pick out a movie and told zayn I’d be inside in a second. I stopped Carolyn before she went inside and asked if we could talk. Of course she said yes.

"What did you want to talk about Kasim?”

“I just wanted to thank you, truly you do so much for me and I just wanted you to know I appreciate it.”

“OH hunny, it’s no big deal really.”

“But it is! Your risking your job to protect me, your looking after me when you have three kids of your own to take care of. I know I can be a burden sometimes but I just had to let you know how much it means to me.”

“Now Kasim I never want to hear you call yourself a burden again. You are family. I promised your mother that I’d look out for you and I don’t break my promises. And even if I didn’t promise her I would have still looked out for you. No one and I mean no one deserves to be going through what you are. And whatever I can do to help you I will do.”

She wipes a tear from my cheek. I quickly look away. "Thank you, it means alot."

"I know dear, now get inside and clean yourself up, Jerry's making Fresh Pizza and it should be almost done."

I smile at her and go inside. I walk through my second home and easily find my way to the bathroom. I shut the door behind me and chuckle when I see the duck with sunglasses on the shower curtain. I'm glad they liked it. I quickly turn on the tap at the sink and wash up my face removing all my makeup. I look into the mirror and can see a bruise forming near my jaw. unfortunately I didn't have my bag with me to cover it up but I will definitely have to use more concealer now. I quickly finish up in the bathroom and make my way to the dining room. following the smell of homemade pizza.