When I woke up, Matt was already gone. Men have never stayed in bed with me in the morning. It didn't matter that Matt hadn't done anything with me. I looked like a starfish on the bed. Yeah, I sleep not like a princess at all. Most likely, I just pushed the poor guy out of the bed area.
A wonderful smell coming from the first floor brought me back to reality. He said he would keep his word, so could he have made those pancakes? That would be great, because my stomach was growling so loud that it sounded like a whale.
I got out from under the blanket and rubbed my eyes. It wasn't a very quiet night, yeah? There was a crumpled note from the unknown leather idiot on the bed, which meant that I hadn't dreamed it all.
Leaving the room and going downstairs, I found my new neighbor in an apron, preparing the promised dish. I must have been very quiet because the poor guy jumped when I called out to him.
"Damn it, Errin. You're going to give me a heart attack." He threw a kitchen towel at me and quickly turned away to continue cooking, receiving only my laughter in response.
"I'm sorry, chef. How did you sleep?" I stood next to him and started making my morning coffee. "Want some coffee?"
"Thanks, but I've already had three cups today."
"Sorry, next time your thuggish friends come out of the closet, I'll wait for your alarm clock."
"Don't be so rude, princess. How are you?» Matt easily flipped a pancake with a spatula and tossed it into the air, making it do a double somersault before landing on the other side and continuing to cook.
«It's been worse sometimes, so... Im okay.»
«I'll finish breakfast, then we'll eat and go to one place.»
"No problem, I'll go get ready then."
I brought my makeup bag to the kitchen to get ready for the trip after breakfast and save time. I decided not to stray from my previous attempts to change myself, so long eyeliner, false eyelashes, and provocative contouring would be with me again.
"You know that this women's crap can't hide your cheeks, right?"
"That's sexism."
"Everything I say is sexism for you."
"Because you're sexist, Matt."
"You can call me Eugene, by the way." I put the brush down on the table and looked at him intently. Did he tell me his real name? "I know your real name, so I think it's perfectly fine for you to know mine. Compensation for the hardships of life."
"Nice to meet you, Eugene." I held out my hand, and we shook hands. "But I think in public we'll have to call you Matt, and you can call me Gloria."
"Agreed, that's a good idea. And, for your information, these are Aunt Erica's famous pancakes!" He leaned toward my ear and whispered, "She hated being called Grandma."
It was so cute that I couldn't help but laugh. It had been a long time, if ever, since I had felt such a sense of home. It's so strange to realize that Matt, or Eugene, grew up in this place, and yet his adult life turned out so badly. It's not fair.
He placed a plate with four fluffy, perfectly round pancakes in front of me. The aroma was divine; I had never smelled anything like it, even in restaurants. Perfectly orange, with a thick creamy yellow layer. My neighbor poured maple syrup over them and added sliced bananas and chocolate. My God, it's a masterpiece.
"If you feed me like this, I won't be able to leave here in two weeks because they'll have to roll me out."
"Great, because I'll break my teeth on your bones. So give it a shot."
To dip a bit of fruit in chocolate and honey, I broke off a piece of pancake with my fork. The smooth taste was amazing, and it wasn't at all sweet like I thought it would be. Eugene used dark chocolate instead of milk, which let the honey bring out the pancakes' sweetness and make them taste better. It really was amazing...
«Mmm, my goodness, you're like Gordon Ramsay.»
"If he heard you now, you'd be in big trouble for insulting him like that." Eugene laughed, but I could tell he was pleased that I liked it.
"Learn to take compliments, if not for yourself, then for your grandmother, whose recipe is so amazing."
"Thanks." He smiled and threw a towel over his shoulders. "Finish up and get ready, we have to go."
I ate breakfast and put on makeup in less than 15 minutes, and I couldn't wait for our trip to begin. Don't get me wrong—I'm not talking about a date.
In that way, Eugene doesn't interest me at all. But right now, leaving the house knowing that you're not alone is worth more than gold.
My friend opened the car door for me and let me sit in the front seat when we left the house. As we drove away, I began to wonder where we were going.
"We need to get a gun and pepper spray for you. Do you know how to shoot?"
"I haven't done it before, but I don't think it's that hard."
"Next, we'll spend some time at the range. I got you a license and a gun permit as soon as I got your papers. I didn't think you'd need it so quickly."
"I see. Can I smoke in your car?" I asked through the window.
"Go ahead. Outside the window. The smell of smoke in the car bothers me."
I nodded gratefully, opened the window, and lit my menthol cigarette. I will never stop associating that taste with freedom. I started planning my escape while smoking, and every time I went out on the balcony of Mike's house for a smoke, I had time to think about the details of how to escape.
You could say that menthol cigarettes literally meant breathing freely to me, as paradoxical as that may sound.
I exhaled smoke again and again, periodically blowing smoke rings when we stopped at traffic lights. Until my attention was caught by a group of people standing around the corner.
"Hey, look, isn't that our guys?"
Eugene glanced in my direction and nodded.
"Damn, we have to get out of here before they notice us."
In the next block, I saw four red Ducattis and leather coats that I knew. A group of bikers getting together at a coffee shop? That's it? Did they also pet the cats?
Really, I do know that there are biker gangs that really do look out for animals. They look for people who hurt them, and... well, you get the idea. After that, they either give the animals to a shelter, take them to the vet, or bring them home to love and care for them.
What a crazy idea that big, beardy guys with scary faces would do such nice things, right? This is probably the story that has always warmed my heart.
Someone on a bike looked at us and gave a nod. Eugene saw it and sped off right away. I hope my new friends don't follow us.
We were at a store where we could buy guns in ten minutes. Thanks once more, Eugene!
"Which one do you want to try?"
"It's for a lady, so I think something small. Right, Gloria?"
I didn't respond to Eugene but just kept looking at the display case with the guns. I have no idea how to use one of these things.
"Gloria?" Eugene nudged me slightly.
"Oh, yes. I'm sorry, I was lost in thought... What did you say?"
"I said we need something light and compact, right?"
"Yes, yes…"
"Then I can offer you several options: Glock, Ruger, and Walther. They're all pretty small, mostly 9mm caliber." The salesman showed us the display models and started offering them to me to hold. "If I were you, I'd go with the Glock. It's a bit bigger, but it's a timeless classic."
I held the gun in my hands and couldn't even imagine the power that was now available to me. It was so heavy; I thought it would be much lighter.
"What's that one?" I I showed the dealer one of the guns behind him. It was much more beautiful and bigger than the ones he was selling. It had a carved pattern around the handle that made it look a little like snakeskin, but only slightly.
"Your girlfriend has good taste."
"Oh, we're not..." Eugene and I spoke at the same time, and to be honest, we were both embarrassed. The salesman interrupted us.
"Sig-Sauer. Please try it." It was heavier than the others. But it was as if it had been made for me. However, I hope I'll never need it. "It's a sports gun. It's not a cheap model."
I knew that you couldn't tell I had money by my appearance. And actually, I didn't have any. I didn't want to make Eugene spend money, so I just put it aside.
-"It's fine with us." Eugene quickly jumped out from behind me and raised his hand, making it clear that he would not put up with any arguments. "Please give us some bullets and that pepper spray."
"Are you crazy?"
"I'll give you one more little gift. To say sorry."
"As an apology, don't you think you're becoming my slave?"
"I'm not stopping to do anything I don't want to." He slightly winked at me.
I smiled and saw a bright pink spray paint on the back shelf.
- Give me that spray too, please. - Both men looked at me strangely. - What? If I am going to be cheeky, go all the way.
We walked to the car after leaving the store. I lit a smoke and leaned against the bumper before getting in. There was no need for us to stay for long, but I liked being outside longer.
Eugene must have gotten all of this. Across from me, he stood still and crossed his legs.
"How did everything happen? When did things go wrong in your life?"
At first, he didn't seem to get what I was saying, but then he did. I was talking about his life in general.
"Why do you ask?" He looked at me with eyes that seemed a little sad. I knew he already trusted me. Who else could you trust besides someone a gang of thugs would want dead? So all secrets are going to be dead with me.
"Well, I get how it happened to me—a broken family, traumatic events in childhood, etc. However... Your family was wonderful, your house was lovely, and your grandma made the best pancakes. When did all of the peace and wealth go away?"
"When I was 17, I wanted to make money and joined the Rotten Crowns."
"Is that what I think it is, our guys on red bicycles?" - He smiled slightly, and I let out another cloud of smoke.
«Yeah, well, I was there for about 10 years, was a pretty close member of the group, made a lot of friends in all circles, which is why I'm still alive and why they don't touch me.»
«Then why are you so worried about me? And how did you end up killing their leader?"
«I'm worried because you could become a weapon of revenge, but I'll tell you the details another time. We need to go to the shooting range to practice. Especially since, as you said, the cyclists are already approaching."
Sure enough, I heard the familiar sound of engines in the distance. Time to get out of here. I quickly stubbed out my cigarette on the sole of my sneaker and jumped into the car. Five minutes later, we were at the shooting range, and thank God, no one was following us.
•─────⋅☾⊱♰⊰☽⋅─────•
I stood with my feet shoulder-width apart, wearing special glasses and earphones, holding my new gun in my hands. The target wasn't very close, but it wasn't far either. Eugene told me to try aiming at the cardboard man's head, or at least somewhere.
First shot. The recoil was so strong that it felt like my shoulder had been knocked out of its socket.
"Hold it tighter. You'll get used to it, but you have to hold the gun steady, especially when you shoot."
Second shot. Also missed. But the recoil wasn't as painful anymore. The downside of this gun was that it had to be reloaded constantly, which was valuable time. But it was my fault; I chose it.
After 10 shots, my friend and teacher in the same human had apparently grown tired of watching my pathetic gun skills.
«Look, you have to do it like this; let me show you.» Eugene stood behind me, pressing his body close to mine. He was so tall that the back of my head barely reached his chest. His large hands came down on mine, and he took my wrists with the gun in my hands, placing his finger on mine and on the trigger. He was so close, even at night our bodies seemed further apart. He leaned toward my ear and said, "Carefully, gently, aim... and pull the trigger."
He pulled the trigger with my finger at the moment when I felt his breath on my neck. And wow—the first shot hit the target!
"Wow! I did it!" I was thrilled like a child! I hit the target the first time!
"Now you try." He moved away from me, and I fired shot after shot, hitting the target every time. Although not in the bullseye, I didn't miss, which meant I could at least delay an enemy if necessary. «Well done, princess!»
I started laughing and jumping up and down with joy at learning how to use a weapon. It's so strange and scary, but in the current reality... God, I hope I never have to use it.
«I'm proud of you. Come on, this is worth celebrating.»
«McDonald's?»
«Damn yeah, girl» We took off our headphones and glasses and headed straight for the exit of the shooting range in high spirits.
But when we got to the car, an unpleasant surprise awaited us. Three people from the Rotten Crowns were already standing there. Ugh, what kind of name is that? Disgusting.
«Stay behind me, Errin. Got it?»
«Yes.»
"Don't take out the gun, no matter what, understand?"
"I'll think about it."
We got closer, and my heart started beating much faster. Tonight flashed before my eyes. But for some reason, I was sure that my Boogeyman wasn't here.