Part: 1

Slap!

The sound of skin hitting skin resounded in the air. “You useless piece of garbage!” My boss shouted, hurtling profanities at me. Ignoring the sting on my cheek, I repositioned my head, putting my focus back onto him. “I saved you kid…” he growled “…and don’t you forget that!” He lifted his finger, jabbing it into my chest.

The corners of my mouth twitched upwards at his irritation. “You’re slaps are just as pathetic as you are.”

A fire burned brightly behind his eyes as his hand snaked back up into the air. He pulled it back before going in full force and igniting an annoying sting across my face. I turned back towards him, my tolerance growing dimmer by the second. The look upon his face becoming angrier with my defiant glare, making him ready to strike again but this time turning his open hand into a raging fist. My eyes flickered towards his hand and a dangerous thought popped into my head but was immediately dissolved when two small arms slithered around his. “Sir!” The girl shouted at him “You need to calm down!” Fear was etched across her face and she made no attempt to hide it, but her soul was pure, she wouldn’t allow him to continue his banter. “I- it wasn’t his fault… it was mine.” His eye’s immediately locked onto hers and she took a shaky step back. Before things could go south, I jutted my arm out to block her from him.

“Don’t listen to her.” I said shaking my head “It was my fault and I’ll correct it as soon as possible.”

His icy blue eyes, bounced between us. His lips tightening into a thin line. “Fine!” He growled, giving in “But if it happens again…” he turned on his heels, letting his threat linger in the air as he disappeared behind his office door, letting it slam with a loud thud behind him.

“Why’d you take the fall?” Angel asked me.

Shrugging, I made my way to the back door and grabbed as much trash bags as my hands could carry. “Why do you even bother staying?” I asked, cocking my head in her direction, studying her expression.

“My father, is the only family I’ve got…” she paused to help grab the other two trash bags, before following me out the back door and into the alleyway. “… and until I’m eighteen…” she continued “…I’ve got nowhere else to go, I’m lucky to have a place to sleep and eat.” I nodded, listening to her ramble. Something dark danced behind those ocean blue eyes, for I could tell she said one thing but meant another. After disposing of my garbage, I grabbed the trash from out of her hands and tossed them over into the dumpster. Yawning, I slowly made my way back to the door, until she grabbed my arm. Confused by this, I turned to face her and raised a questionable eyebrow in her direction. A flash of desperation appeared upon her face, which didn’t make sense. “You know…” she began “You don’t owe him anything, you should leave.”