Cigarettes and Skittles

Chapter 3

It was 10 past midnight and Abel was tying his shoes on to go for a jog. Listening for any kind of movement to see if anyone’s awake at the hour, he sneaked out from the sitting room’s window to avoid risking waking anybody up. As he stepped into the crisp November air, he pulled his jacket closer to retain some body heat. He started to pick a pace and was soon jogging around the neighborhood. On his second lap, he noticed some movements near the house of that crazy skittle chick.

Just to be sure, he hid behind some bushes nearby to observe. The guy is lanky and was covering his head with a hoodie cap. I mean if he is a guy. He was looking at one of the window’s on the first floor of the house and was probably figuring out a way to climb there. I started to think about what to do about the situation. I mean he’s probably a robber or what if he’s a serial killer and by the time police get here he kills people, can I let that happen with me being here. And as he started to climb the pipe, all rational thoughts left me as I ran to yank him away from the pipe. As my first punch landed straight to his eyes, his hand went up to defend himself and he started to shout profanities while one of his landed on my nether regions. Groaning in pain we started to kick and punch left and right when a loud booming voice stops us mid-brawl

“What’s going on?” standing there with a shotgun in his hands was a large middle age mustache man. “Sir this guy was trying to break into your house” as I pulled the cap covering his face, a woman in her 40s shouted 

“Cody! what are you doing here and what is going on?” Just then Ruby comes out of the house recognizing me “Abel why are you here around this time” amidst all this confusion, chaos and familiarity, Ruby’s father puts his gun down and asked for an explanation.

After 15 minutes of me and Cody explaining our version of what happened, it turned out he sneaked out and was getting back to his room where I attacked him misunderstanding him for an intruder. While Mr. Flores yelled at Cody for being irresponsible and acting like a child, Mrs. Flores gave him an ice pack for his now blackening eye. Oops!

“So are you and Ruth in the same classes?” Mrs. Flores smiled at me while looking at Ruth and me back and forth, figuring out our ‘friendship’. Oh yeah her name is Ruth. 

“We share English class only, mom” Ruth tells her mom, red faced. We do?

“Okay so why are you out so late Hudson” the mustache man asked me in his gruff voice. 

“I was completing my laps for upcoming baseball team trials” I lied through my teeth. Ruth looked at me with scrunched eyebrows while the two adults seemed to be satisfied with my answer. Cody has long ago left for his room, I get a feeling he isn’t exactly a fan of mine.

“I should head out, goodnight Mr. and Mrs. Flores. Ruth.” bidding them goodbyes, I quickly got my ass out of there. Dropping the idea of further exercise, I walked straight to my house.

~

It’s Friday finally and I’m happy for two reasons. First, it’s nearly the weekend and after this crazy week, I could use some time off and second I’m getting my bike back today. I missed it so much, I absolutely despise walking to places. As I came downstairs into the kitchen to have breakfast, it was still a whooping half hour before the school started. Everyone at the table looked up at me as if I grew two heads, 

“Good morning everyone! What’s for breakfast mom.” kissing my mother on the cheek, I sat down in one of the dining chairs. Surprised by my display of affection but still happy my mom put a plate in front of me “I just made eggs and toast.” 

“Perfect!” I took my plate and started eating. In less than 5 minutes, I downed the plate contents into my stomach. “Mom, remember about the time when you said you’ll give back my keys today?” I said, keeping my dish in the sink.

“When have I said that” 

“What? How can you not remember? You handed me the coffee to give to Ruth-”

Tossing me the keys, she smirked “Ruth huh? So you guys friends or something now”

“I can’t even” picking up my bag from the floor, I went out the door for my pride and joy, my motorbike.

After taking it for a ride, I reached school just in time for the first period bell. Since I was in a good mood I decided to attend the first period. Here we go.

The rest of the day went by pretty much in a blur. Man attending classes is so effing boring that I slept through most of it. Since Kai already left before last period, the rest of us decided to reach his condo just after class. 

As I parked outside the kai’s condo, Max’s car still wasn’t here. He and Dan went to pick some food for us. Buzzing me in, Franco led me to the sitting area and went back inside. 

“ You want to hear something funny. Antonio has registered for the next fight with you. Apparently, Jack cried to him, being the p***y he is” showing his phone screen of the fight details, Kai continued “who are we to deny some easy extra cash, in addition to Dan’s scheduled fight this Sunday, we making money baby” Kai doesn’t fight, not because he isn’t skilled it’s because his dad will lose his s**t if he did. It’d be the final straw for him. So, he does what he’s best at- managing our money and scheduling our fights. He also helps with our practices. 

“Can you help me with the hook, I was a little off the other day and I think I can do this a bit better”

“Right now?”

“No after the fight. Off course right now, you stupid cunt.” Groaning and making unintelligible noises he finally gets up to follow me to his condo’s gym.

After a rewarding practice session, me and Kai crashed on the couch where Dan and Max were munching away at the orange chicken like the fat pigs they are. 

“Oh you are already practicing for the fight on Sunday” burping and putting the empty container at the table, Dan washed the food with a big gulp of diet soda.

“So should you. Instead of sitting here lazing around like a pig.” wiping my sweat on my t-shirt sleeve, I closed my eyes to put my eyes on rest.

“Ohh someone’s being a grumpy ass. Are you hangry Abbie?” Max used his high-pitched voice and the nickname he uses to irritate me. Too lazy to actually respond, I just flipped him a bird while everyone else laughed.

“I am going for a shower, Abel please shower before eating” oh did I mention Kai is bit of a germophobe, yeah he is. “Yes mom” groaning I got up and went for the other shower.

Even before I reached the sitting area, I could hear the voice of the guys and a girl? It can be one of Max’s friend. Yeah he’s pretty flirty but he doesn’t sleep around, he likes to go on dates and brings girls here sometimes. Girls don’t appreciate nice guys. 

“Yeah Janet is pretty cool like that. She helped me fix my car once and-” 

Why are they talking about my mother. As I rounded the corner, I came to see the guys sitting around the couch with her standing there.

“You’ve got to be kidding me”.