Dirty Deeds

Last Night

Tori

My dad used to be a heavy sleeper, but when Mom died, he became the lightest sleeper in the existence of the universe. At first, he’d even have me sleep on the couch while he slept in the recliner just to keep an eye on me. I hated it, but I knew my father needed to know I was OK.

For some reason, the event at the store didn’t put me in a bad mood except for I really wanted a candy bar and now I had no candy. If anything, I’d tell ole forest eyes to f**k off right now if I could.

My father was in his office trying to find out anything about the hit on the store. Leroy was going to be fine. Dad couldn’t find out a damn thing. No surprise. The string of robberies in the city spanned so many months with no leads.

I couldn’t even sneak out if I wanted to. He’d beg me to leave my door open, but I told him I just couldn’t, but I wouldn’t lock it. I needed my space. He said it was OK. I wasn’t a child—I was a legal adult, but I barely made any money walking dogs and babysitting. Dad had taken me out of my grocery store job after Mom died...

I did it to appease him and I loved my dad. I hated seeing him go through the loss of his wife, but I felt like no one cared that I’d lost my mom—even Dad. I don’t think he really knew the impact it had on me.

I put my headphones on and turned up the tunes—if only to drown out my thoughts. My history book beckoned me, but I was so sleepy that it sat on the bed, unopened.

I didn’t wake up until the next morning and I felt like I’d been hit by a car. I struggled to get my s**t together, pull my clean clothes on and fix myself up to be a little presentable.

Dad was busy making breakfast, but there was no way I could eat something as simple as eggs and bacon. No, no. I had to be difficult and grab some chips from the pantry and Coke from the fridge before I kissed him on the cheek.

“Hey wait a minute!” He called as I gripped the front door knob, “Are you,-”

“I’m fine, Dad!”I called as I headed out the door and to my car. The crisp air hit me like a ton of bricks and I didn’t want to go back inside so I settled for a hoodie I’d found buried underneath some blankets in my car. The blankets were supposed to go to the local homeless shelter so I’d have to get on that soon.

My mind went back to the night before when I pulled into the back lot of Foley High.

I tried to find a spot far away from Tommy Knox’s group, but much to my chagrin, that seemed to be the only spot.

There they were: Donnie, Shane, Tommy and Glenn—who wasn’t even supposed to be at the school, but he’d failed senior year and was gracing us with his presence yet again. There were at least four or five other guys hanging out with them. They were scarier when they smiled at you like they were up to something.

And they were ALWAYS up to something.

Tommy

There she was.

I smirked as she stepped out of her beat up clunker of a car. Not that the rest of us had any money for a decent vehicle, but hers was definitely a piece of s**t.

“You’re burning oil,”I told her as she grabbed her bag out of the backseat.

“Huh?”

“I said..”I pushed myself off of Donnie’s hood and headed her way, “You’re burning oil.”

Tori backed away from me, “Oh, yeah...I’ve been meaning to change it.”

“Do you have some with you?”

“Yeah..” She definitely didn’t want me around, but she knew I wasn’t going anywhere. I watched as she headed to the trunk, pulling out a bottle of oil.

“Flip the hood,”I told her, grabbing the items.

She hesitated, but knew better than to question me. I wasn’t doing this good deed because I liked her. I needed to know if she knew something about last night.

I was all up in her hood and she stood back from me.

“I’m sure you know how to do this,”I said.

“I do. I haven’t really had the time...”

“You need to take care of your car,”I told her, although I didn’t care whether or not she broke down on the side of the road, “Another hit in your neighborhood last night, right?”

She breathed in deeply. I made sure to stay quiet so my friends and brother wouldn’t hear me.

“Uh, yeah..”

This girl was in my face last night and is not talking to save her damn life.

When I was done, I tossed the empty bottle behind me into a ditch. She scowled and picked it up. Miss f*****g environmentalist.

“Rag?”

“I don’t think I have one.”

“Donnie! Gimme an oil rag!”

Finally done, I looked over at her. Her eyes were lowered when she thanked me, taking the rag wrapped funnel back to her trunk.

“Gotta make sure to watch these fluids, Tori,”I was on her now, flush with her body almost. I could smell a fruity fragrance, probably her shampoo or soap. It was intoxicating, but I also hadn’t had s*x in forever, “You were running so low, I’m surprised the car didn’t die on you on the way here.”

“Gotcha,”She gave me a thumbs up, “Thanks again, Tommy. You saved my ass. My dad would have killed me if I wasn’t careful with the car.”

I knew her dad was constantly losing his s**t over his only child. Ever since her mother died, he’d kept her under lock and key practically.

I leaned in a little closer and I could smell the fear exuding off of her. She finally looked at me, her hazel eyes were a kaleidoscope of browns and yellows and a tint of green.

“I’m glad you were here to help,”she said as if speaking was going to drive me away.

Could she see me? Like, really see ME without the ski mask on?

I could tell she’d stopped breathing so I pulled back. I had to test her.

“Well, it must be your lucky day, beautiful.”

Her gasp told me what I needed to know. She turned on her heels, but I caught up to her and grabbed her elbow.

“What do you want, Tommy?”She whispered as I hurried us inside the building.

“Don’t lie to me, Tori.”

She was trembling now, “About what?”

"Last night."