Need Some Blood in the Cut

“It is definitely satisfying to destroy a man mentally and emotionally,” Renata said with a smile. “Sometimes it’s better to destroy a man’s ego when he says he can beat you in a boxing match and you prove him wrong on live television. Then, you destroy him physically, mentally, and emotionally. The trifecta of destroying a man.” She laughed lightly when the girl mentioned her friend. “Hope he doesn’t get into too much trouble then getting into all those fights. Maybe he should get his head checked out. If you ever want to learn some self-defense, I can totally give you some lessons sometime. Sometimes words just don’t cut it and you have to threaten to break a finger or three.”

Roni raised brows, this discussion was far more interesting than she had hoped for. “You did that?” The chances of ruining into a professional boxer seemed slim. “I support equality; destroy everyone. It’s only fair.” She let out a laugh. “I think his brain damage is too far gone to be saved now...uh-yeah, sure.” She mulled over the thought for a moment. It would only be beneficial, and if she had learned earlier, maybe her past wouldn’t have been so troublesome. “Uh-I’m broke as fuck. I can’t pay you for lessons.”  

“I only pick fights in grocery stores on Tuesdays and every other Friday. All the rest of the days are for fights in other places,” Renata joked. She chuckled lightly and leaned over to pick up some avocados and tomatoes. “In all seriousness, I generally don’t try to pick fights, but I find unwanted advances to be despicable. You have a sharp tongue on you. I like that. Very useful in this day and age,” she said. “Does your friend like picking fights in just grocery stores or do they not discriminate and just have fights anywhere and everywhere?” She smiled at the younger girl as she picked up an onion next to her.

“Yeah, the tongue makes up for the D.N.A. that gave me wrists the width of a string bean.” Fragility wasn’t in Veronica’s nature, but her appearances never received that memo. She shrugged. “It’s fun watching the hard-ons cry because their little feelings got hurt. Easier than giving them a black eye.” Her fingers hadn’t stopped fiddling, but the beat had changed. “I think he just sticks to grocery stores; he likes to pray on the senior citizens that can’t fight back. I think he was smacked in the head a few too many times on the football field.” 

Being in the supermarket with her daughter, it was almost comforting…well it was until she saw someone touch the girl’s shoulder. “Oy! Leave the girl alone, geeze,” Cheyenne muttered, shaking her head. “You heard the girl, not git!” she told him, watching the male run off. “You okay?”

Debating on whether or not to spit the half-blow bubble into the stranger’s face, Veronica’s thoughts broke at the sound of a woman’s voice. Saved by the bell. The man’s scurried demeanor only further proved his pathetic nature. “Hmm? Yeah, fine.” She shrugged her shoulders prepared to turn back to the boxes of cereal. “You save a lot of people from the Creeps of Westport?”  

“Thanks Weasel, but I think I’m all good for now.” He spoke as his gaze dropped to where her fingers had been drumming, “Have you always been this annoying?”

“You still a social pariah?” Her gaze followed his, but her fingers continued drumming. “Have you always looked like  a naked mole rat?” 

Viola looked up the moment she heard a voice with a clear tone of aggression in it. She looked up just in time so see someone grab the woman standing only a few feet away from her, and her eyebrows shot up in surprise. She had never been a fan of body contact when you didn’t want it. “What’s his problem?”, she questioned, eyes narrowing slightly at the guy. “Does he think it’s just okay to touch anyone without permission?”

Raised eyebrows and an icy stare eventually succeeded in the release of her shoulder though she was tempted to pop a bubble in the man’s face. A voice cleared her from her thoughts as he sauntered away. “No idea. Jackasses in this small town don’t need an excuse to invade your personal space.” She leaned lazily against the handle of her cart. “It’d be more bearable if someone introduced these hillbillies to Colgate.”

“Hey, get your hands off her,” Renata said, pushing the guy away from the shorter girl. “She doesn’t want you bothering or touching her, so back off.” The guy narrowed his eyes at Renata and spat, “Aren’t you that boxer who got arrested for assault? I doubt you want people to know you’re assaulting someone else.” Renata stepped closer to the man and pointed her finger at him. She leaned in closer so he could hear her clearly. “You’re goddamn right. I was arrested for assault with deadly weapons which happen to be my hands because some pig thought he could put his hands on me. I did it once before and I’d be happy to do it again and put you in your place. I suggest you walk away now or I’ll knock you out and string you up a flag pole so the crows can peck out your eyes.” The man backed off and put his hands up in surrender. Renata turned to the younger girl and pushed her hair back behind her ear. “Hey, sorry about that. I should have let you handle it. I just really hate assholes.”

Veronica continued to pop her bubblegum as the scene unfolded before her. It was far too much energy for her to step in but brows raised at the women’s confession. Interesting. She peaked as the weight was released from her shoulder, though nothing of surprise of reassurance crossed her features. “Yup. Thanks.” Her expression was dry, “Less for me to deal with.” A shrug only added to the atmosphere. “You pick a lot of fights in grocery stores? I’ve got a friend you should meet.” 

“I might be a pig, but this porker’s never had a STD scare.” He grinned toothily, “I paid attention in health class. Wear a condom, get tested– all that shit.” David placed a hand on his chest, “Don’t hate the player, hate the game.” He turned the radio on, fiddling until a station with soft rock came on. Background noise, it filtered the quiet pauses between them as he drummed his fingers against the steering wheel.

Her question made him balk, but padded with Roni’s invasive queries and her attitude, he managed to swallow down a quick response. Instead, he turned, cocking a brow. “I’ve also never gotten anyone pregnant.” The dark haired male rubbed at his cheek, focusing for a second as he changed lanes. It surprised him how easy it was to be candid with Roni. “Matthew has a kid, he’s doing fine.” David shrugged. “I’m old enough to not think that it would have ruined my life.” Would he have wanted it? “Yeah, I think.”

“Yeah? I think you’re living in denial.” Or maybe an alternative reality. With how much she’d listen to him brag; she’d never believe he wasn’t just another among the statistics.Eyes watched as he turned on the stereo, rolling at the sound of an overplayed song but her foot tapped anyways on the dashboard. 

“That you know of...” Plenty of people hid pregnancies form their one night stands. What was the point in bothering the father if he didn’t have any intention on sticking around in the first place. It spelled for a broken home. A snort sounded at his comparison. “Yeah--Matthew’s doing fine because Mommy’s around to babysit; and he had Mckenna. Completely different situation. They were actually in love.” At least with that, they had a chance at raising a kid from a young age; but Roni only pulled from the small tidbits that were shared with her. Who knew what variables lie within the full story. “Really?” Surprise painted her features. Not because she didn’t believe that at somewhere deep down David had an instinct for fatherhood. After all, she’d seen him with the kids on his team. “Maybe it wouldn’t have ruined your life but did you ever think you might have ruined it’s life? I mean, that girl as a mother? Really? She seems fucked up enough to battle for custody just to toss the kid to the side once she’s won.” 

A long groan sounded deep in his throat, Ryker rolling his eyes despite the pain blossoming in his cheek. “I was hoping to get an idea of what your life is like,” he quipped as he struggled to his feet, lifting his arm to wipe at the blood on his lips. His eyes scanned over the other before him now, a brow peeked, “Not as fast as they started calling you Weasel.” Even with the dread on his mind, the taste of betrayal on his tongue, and the alcohol swimming in his system, Ryker was still quick to quip back. 

“You could have just asked; I would have gave you a tour. Day in the Life.” Her hand stayed fitting on her hip, resisting the urge to reach it out as an offering. She couldn’t tell where he stood just yet. “Are you sure about that? I heard you fucked up bad. I’m surprised you’re still walking.” After all, they’d done much worse for less betrayals. “Careful they don’t try to make an example out of you.” Rude, it sounded, as it rolled of her tongue but beneath the tone was sincerity. “We have ice behind the bar, you want some?” 

“So I guess I’ll walk ‘em to the door, then.” He pulled the car out of the lot, muttering under his breath, despite a wry smile that found it’s way onto his lips. “Lazy bitch.” David made a face, sliding his sunglasses down his nose to peer over at Roni over the tops of them. “I literally think they would’ve found a way to make me look bad regardless. I needed a steady stream of college girls to get me back on track.” He turned down the street; “Look at me now, at the peak of my game. You should try it, a little staycation.” David’s smile faltered. “I didn’t know about that.” Happy to not think about it, Roni had a great way of bringing up what he wanted to forget. Within his chest, his heart picked up a kickbeat and he swallowed. “Nothing. The baby’s still dead.” 

Lazy. Sure, she protested doing anything she deemed unnecessary but her refusal came from the deep seated hatred of his sister. How the trio functioned together, she couldn’t understand. She could swear on the surface that her distaste extended to the older Corvin, but here she was, seated in his car. Why she turned to him in the first place so long ago, she couldn’t remember. “You’re a pig,” The disgust was clearly written into her features. “and probably patient zero for the new chlamydia epidemic at UGA.” She needed more than a staycation to escape the doom of Westport. “I know a shitty lawyer if you need one.”

Roni sight turned to the passing trees outside the vehicle; it wasn’t a topic they’d usually discuss. Something that potentially tangled in something more than just jabs and insults. Of course he wouldn’t know, she knew as much that his fling with Alexis was just that. A fling. Roni had a very clear opinion that Alexis wouldn’t have told David even if it was his. “Would you have wanted it?” The invasive questions continued pouring. A timid interest in other’s opinions of parenthood. “Or does hit it and quit it apply to the consequences as well?”