The Bad Side

"For everytime you told me no."
      — Anonymous

    "You never came back," Isaac said looking down at his scuffed shoes. "I need you, Manny."

My heart nearly burst from its cage. My lips shut tight, clogging my throat with unwanted saliva. He was here. He was here! Isaac looked at me helplessly, large black bags underneath his sepia eyes. His black hair hung over his forehead, clinging to it for dear life as water from the storm outside slid down his cheeks.

He looked exactly as he did before crank.

He looked like my old Isaac.

"Why are you here?" I choked out.

Isaac took a step towards me, but I flinched, causing him to wince in pain. It hurt him.

Well he hurt me. Damn him.

"Manny, when you left, I couldn't do anything. You are my everything. I want you to come back to me."

I let out a heavy breath. "Y-you don't deserve me. You used me!" I shouted out.

My lower lip trembled and my hands buzzed and shook. "I don't want to come back. I don't want to see you do crack, or have sex with random girls. I can't do it. I'm over that life."

His face crumbled.

We were locked in a stare contest. I refused to back down and look away. Isaac was scum to me. It was destroying. I wanted to make myself better. After I got settled I was going to quit prostituition, save up for a college and then become something. He was trying to ruin my dreams. Turn me into Detroit ghetto trash.

He didn't want me to get sucessful.

"Manuel, I'm —"

I quited him.

"I'm Elliot now. Now get put of my house!"

Isaac now had it. He came towards me at lightning speed and grabbed my cheeks with his hands. Surprisingly, he was gentle.

His lips met mine, rhythmically rubbing and biting me. I kept my mouth shut as he tried to excite out a passion that had long died.

Isaac pulled away, dissapointment etched onto his features.

"Is that what you wanted?" I asked harshly. "There. Leave."

"I never meant to hurt you, Manny. I'm getting help. I don't do crank anymore. Business fell after you left. I'm broke. I don't have anywhere to go. I can't afford anything. You're my only hope!" He pleaded.

I wrinkled my nose. "No drugs?"

He nodded tearfully.

"Are you lying to me?"

Isaac swallowed something in his throat. "I'd never lie to you, Manny. I'm so sorry for forcing myself on you. I never meant it."

I narrowed my eyes. He was pitiful now. No longer the man I once knew, I signed.

Crack had ruined his looks, his life, and his reputation. He was just a harmless fly.

I slammed the door and licked my dry lips. "You get two nights here. That's it. Don't bother me. Don't talk to me. Don't steal my stuff. You break any of those rules, you are leaving."

Isaac broke out into tears.

"Thank you so much, Manny!" He cried, sinking to his knees.

I ignored him and walked past his soaked body, heading into my room. I grabbed random clothes and tossed them out the door. After the door slammed, I heard him grab them and walk away. My face was stoic. I couldn't believe myself. I left Isaac in my home. He just seemed so helpless.

I hope I wouldn't regret it.

—

    On my fridge was a sticky note. In crude, child like handwriting the paper said: "thank you manny I'm grateful I made brekfest."

I ignored his mistakes in spelling, and looked at the table. A plate of burnt eggs and bacon laid on the table. I sighed and ate half of it, before throwing it out. The bacon was half raw and the eggs were just blackened and disgusting. I rinsed my mouth out with tap water, then tossed my backpack over my shoulder.

I locked the door behind me, heading down the street. It took me twenty minutes to walk to school. I didn't mind. It gave me time to think and listen to music.

After unplugged in my MP3 headphones, I turned on some random songs on my iPod. I bobbed my head to the beat, staring down at the cracked sidewalks. Blurs of red and green blinked above me, and I glanced at it. It was a broken stoplight. I paused and watched as workmen used large machines to reach the light and then use their tools to fix it. It was something ordinary, but for some reason I was urged to watch.

"Hey, Elliot!"

I turned around, face to bumper with a red faced Gabe. He had his hands wrapped around the grey steering wheel of a deep cherry red Porche Panamera.

I waved, pulling out a headphone.

"Hi Gabe. I'll see you at school." I started on my way towards Gerring, when Gabe sped up, beeping his horn.

"What the hell?" I asked.

Gabe pointed to the passenger seat. "Hop in, Elliot. I'll give you a ride. It's gonna rain in a few minutes."

I raised an eyebrow. "What about Gwen?"

His eyes twinkled. "She gets scared by my driving. My dad drives her."

I sighed, opening the car and tossed my book bag in the back. Gabe grinned at me and revved the engine. I snapped on my seatbelt right as he whizzed past the red light and to the other side of town to Gerring Academy.

As we pulled up to the fancy looking high school, Gabe stopped me from leaving. He looked serious now, and it didn't suit his personality. "You're gonna try to befriend Gwen? Promise?"

I shook my head. "I don't go back on my word, Bishop. Thanks for the ride," I muttered and got out of the car before he could catch up. Just as I opened the front door, he jumped in front of me. He looked out of breath, hair disheveled, face red from sprinting with his below average height legs. Somehow, though, he managed to smile sweetly at me.

"I want us to be official friends," he said resolutely. "I'll even give you rides to school."

I smirked. "Are you trying to scam me into being your friend too?"

Gabe shook his head, arms and legs still spread in an attempt to keep me out of the building. His bright blue eyes glittered, and he paused. "I...think you're cool. So, I genuinely want to be your friend. No strings," he added, hands up in surrender.

I chuckled, crossing my arms. "No strings?"

He nodded vigorously, holding out a hand. "We buds now?"

"Buds," I confirmed. "But this has nothing to do with Gwen."

Gabe looked giddy. "Yeah, no problem, Elliot. Wanna head to class with me?"

I pushed past the short blonde kid, watching as his face fell in rejection. Looking over my shoulder, I watched his shoulders sag. I grinned.

"You coming or what, Bishop?"

The smile that grew on his face was brilliantly bright. He jogged over to me, his freckled face flushed in happiness. Guess finding a partner was hard in a snobby school like Gerring. Gabe talked my ear off as we got to class, and I couldn't help but be a little glad myself. He was a good kid. I liked him.

As I took my seat and waved to Gabriel, I faced Gwen, whose was neck deep in a book she was reading. I saw the title and raised a brow. It was called His Burning Ember. It sounded like some chick flick.

"Hi," I said to Gwen.

She ignored me.

"Hello?"

I frowned. I glanced around the classroom. A few other students were littered around. Some girl with braces and a glitter booking was conversing with Gabe. His eyes met mine and his ear became pink.

He liked her.

I turned around in my chair and looked at Gwen, who turned the page. I didn't hesitate to snatch the book right out of her tiny hands.

She gasped, eyes trailing up as she gazed up at me.

I was a giant to her.

With wide eyes, she cleared her throat. "Um, c-could I have my my book, please?" She said gently. Her voice was soft, quiet, and soothing to the ears. My surprise was evident — where I was from all the females sounded whiny, like a chain smoker, or babyish. Gwen had the right amount of husky and girlish rolled into one.

"Hi," I said, ignoring her request.

Gwen blinked. "Hi...may I please get that back?" She reached for it with her little fingers, but I put it up higher, wagging my pointer at her.

"Ah, ah, ah," I chimed. "If you want your book back, you have to sit with me at lunch."

The petite blonde looked taken aback. Her face looked terrified, her wide eyes filling with hopelessness and resignation. Her shoulders sagged in defeat. I almost felt bad stealing her book from her, but I reminded myself it was for Gabe and new school books. Besides, I couldn't stand avid readers. They mocked me. 

"Why?" She said finally, looking every bit crestfallen as I predicted.

"I need a lunch mate. You're a pretty little blonde. Bam!" I exclaimed, making fake explosions with my hands.

"Perfect combo," I said, smiling lopsidedly.

Gwen bit her lip. "Are you trying to get me to do your homework?"

I frowned. "No. I just need someone to sit next too at lunch."

"If I promise to sit with you, will I get my book now?"

I studied Gwen. Her big eyes and button nose gave her a doll like appearance, yet she wasn't really traditionally beautiful. Her whole style and face seemed to be pretty average and plain. Behind her wire rimmed glasses and doe eyes, I could see stars and wisdom floating around in her philosophical mind. Despite being ordinarily plain and dull, her wealth of information made me want to soak up everything she said. I was drawn to her intellectual curiosity and knowledge.

I'd never met anyone truly smart before.

"If you promise to sit with me at lunch, I will hand back your book," I said steadily, looking her in the eyes. I didn't want to look away.

Gwen took His Burning Ember and brushed hair behind her ear. "Thanks. I'm Gwen."

I nodded. "Elliot."

We shook hands, and something within me buzzed. As she let go of my hand almost instantly, I felt myself wanting to read the book she caressed gently. Maybe someday I'd enjoy reading as much as Gwen did.

Maybe that day would be when Isaac walks away forever.

I sighed. A guy could dream.

—
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