Eight

                                    

                                          
4:00 A.M. 
September 2023
I was woken up by the door to my apartment opening and closing. My hand slipped under the pillow and pulled my gun out. My room was blanketed in complete darkness. The only light came from the street light that cast a single stream of light through the partially closed curtains. I slowly stood from the bed and quietly made my way to the bedroom door. The hinges creaked as I opened it, making me wince. I stopped only opening it enough for me to slip out into the hallway. 
I made my way down the short hallway, peaking my head around the corner to look out into the living room and kitchen. A figure stood in the kitchen at the skin, leaning on the counter. As quietly as I could I padded my way towards them. My gun was up with the safety off, ready to shoot just in case. The clor I got though the clear the person came. “Tess?!” She jumped and spun around. “Jesus, yn, what're you doing?” 
I flipped the safety back on and dropped my gun to my side. “What am I doing? What the hell are you doing in my apartment?” I asked, setting the gun on the counter. I turned the lantern that sat on the table on so I could see better. Then I went to the one in the living room and turned that one on, too. “Why are you here and not at your and Jo…holy shit! What happened to your face?” She had a busted lip and a black eye. I walked into the bathroom and got the first aid kit And walked back out into the living room. “Sit down.” 
“It's nothing. Just a misunderstanding. But that battery that Joel and I were supposed to be getting was fucking sold. Then the fucking fireflies blew something up and I ended up in lockup.” She flinched when I pressed a little too hard on the cut that was on her lip. “So Joel doesn't know yet and you don't want your little boyfriend seeing your face.” Tess sighed and pulled away from me and stood up. “No, Joel doesn't know. I came here first to clean up and get my thoughts together.” 
“Right. Well, lock the door on your way out. I'm going back to bed.” I stood and started walking down the hallway to my room. “We're not together! He doesn't see me that way!” I rolled my eyes and kept walking until I got to my bedroom door. Before I went inside she said something else that had me freeze with my hand on the door handle. “I know how you feel about him, yn. I've known for a long time. I've seen the way you would look at him and act around him.” She paused waiting for me to deny it like she used to when I was a kid. But what use would it be to lie? 
“I'm guessing you made your feelings known and he turned you down. That's why you went to Bill and Franks. Joel is and always was too old for you, yn. You're thirty-five and he's fifty-two. That's a seventeen year age gap. I mean his daughter…his daughter was a year or two younger than you.” I could feel the tears trying to break free but I refused to let them. I cleared my throat and nodded my head. “Yeah, I was young and stupid, Tess.” I turned and looked at her. “If I remember correctly you weren't much better at that age either. You were fifteen with what was it?” I tapped my finger against my chin making a show of trying to think. 
“A nineteen year old boyfriend. Oh and let's not forget that Andy was almost ten years older than you. So don't lecture me on being attracted to an old man. What is it really that you don't like about me liking Joel? Is it really the age gap or is it that you like him too and don't want your little sister stealing him from you? Hmm? Is that it? Because let's face it, Theresa, at this point age doesn't really matter. Like you said, I'm thirty-five. That means I'm a grown ass adult woman who can fuck whomever she likes. Now, get out of my apartment.” 
6:00 P.M.
I was relaxing on the couch reading when someone knocked on my door. I tried to ignore it. Today was supposed to be my day off and I wanted to relax. I want to sit here and finish my damn book but no, the person on the other side of the door knocked louder. “Okay! I'm coming!” I marked my page and slammed the book closed before slowly standing up. Another knock pushed my anger over the edge and I yanked the door open. “Fuck sake I said I was coming!” 
Tess stood on the other side with her fist raised. “What the hell do you want?” I asked, crossing my arms. “I need you to go over to Joel's,” she said. I let out a humorless laugh and shook my head. “Absolutely not.” I went to close the door but Tess stopped it with her foot. “Please, yn, I need you to come with us.” Ibraird my eyebrow, “Come with you where?” I asked. She let out a heavy sigh and looked down at the dirty floor. “Outside the walls.” 
“Are you fucking crazy? Why the fuck are you going outside the walls?” I asked. “I'll explain everything to you later but right now I need you to go to Joel's and wait for me. I need to go see someone real quick.” I didn't say anything and she looked up at me with pleading eyes. “Please. I promise I will explain everything to you.” I took in a deep breath through my nose and closed my eyes. “Let me change and get my bag in order then I'll go over.” She nodded her head and moved her foot. “Thank you. I'll be back as soon as I can.” 
I closed the door and shook my head. “This better be fucking worth it.” I went to my room and changed into a pair of jeans, a tee shirt, and flannel, then pulled my boots on. I made sure I had an extra pair of clothes, extra ammo, a first aid kit, my book, a couple bottles of water, and some jerky in my bag. I grabbed my Walkman and a couple cassettes on my way out as well because if I needed to be stuck with my sister and Joel I was going to need something to block them out. Before leaving my apartment I looked around just to make sure there wasn't anything else I was forgetting before walking out of the door. I made sure the door was locked behind me and went to Joel's place just across the hall.