Starting this off right,
Teej
The Walk Back
“It’s just so funny seeing you here, you know? I mean, I know we always talked about you moving out here with me, then you went off to school— I just never thought I’d get you to do it though.”
“I needed a change of pace, and it’s definitely weird knowing we’re in the same city after so many years.”
“Sooo, how’s the new place look? First time you’ve had a real place to yourself, right?”
“It’s still a wreak, I haven’t gotten a chance to unpack—“
“Oh, I know. There’s so much to do around here. Like last week, me and Mel; you remember Mel?”
“How could I—“
“So, we’re not planning much, so we go over to this place, Aqua 83, like…North of here? Just thinking we put on a little tease. Oh Silvia, they were desperate as they were good looking. You find anyone yet?”
“Not reall—“
“You’ve got to come with us; we’re doing it again tonight!”
“I don’t really have the money, not to mention my closet—“
“Fuck off, I’ll lend you something. We’ll dress you up; you’ll be looking ‘fit as evah’. They’ll be drooling for you. Seriously; drinks were flying around us, you won’t need a cent.”
“I just don’t think—“
“We need to introduce you to the town, get you back out,” Jenna persisted. “And we should do something about this colour. Doesn’t seem that…you.” She picked at the streaks in her hair.
The two met when they were girls which seemed to serve as the staple of their relationship. This continued history had somehow kept them in contact over the years, despite their differences and distance. Jenna was the tall, thin blond that purposefully grabbed the attention of the room. This level of confidence and background of wealth secured her a formidable position as a receptionist at a law firm. It didn’t require much and it paid for her lifestyle. She didn’t aspire to be much either; wealthy, drunk and having the intention of finding someone to take care of her. Until she found ‘Mr. Right,’ that duty had fallen on Silvia’s shoulders more than once.
When they were kids, Jenna had lived just down the street and served as some sort of safe haven for Silvia. Having all the latest toys and the space to put her up; it became like a second home for her. When her parents would fight or she ever got scared, Jenna’s house welcomed her with open arms; countless nights having sleepovers in the basement. As they grew up and their interests changed, somehow they always found time for each other.
Silvia gave her a look and sighed. “You know I’d love to go out with you, Jen. I’m just still tired from the moving. Can’t we like, go to a movie or something?”
Jenna stopped walking as if to process what had been said. “I guess. You just have to promise we’ll go out soon though; fair?”
“Thanks, I just don’t have the energy today.”
“Understand, just lemme call…” She pulled her mobile from her pocket and hit the speed dial. “Hey, it me….Yeah, I’m fine, but listen, I dunno if I can make it out tonight….No, got a friend who— Would you now?” She giggled. “I doubt it you— Hey, I’ll call you tomorrow, alright? Yeah….Bye.” She turned back to Silvia. “I’m all yours for the night. Did you want to invite Mel?”
“That wasn’t her?”
“No.”
“Who was that?”
“Just some guy I met,” she smirked.
“Just some guy?”
“For now.”
They continued a few more blocks before passing a series of restaurants which slowed their progress. Nothing luxurious and you did have to question the quality, more so whether it was safe for human consumption. Nevertheless, it remained fine for wise residents, but often fooled foreigners.
Jenna’s stomach slowed to a crawl.
“Heard anything bad about this place? Let’s stop here.”
Silvia frowned, “I don’t have any money actu—“
“Silvi!” Silvia cringed, “you know you don’t have to act like that. You’ve been through, like, a lot; we’ve been through a lot. If I can help you get back on your feet,” she always hated the name, “the least I can get you is some lunch.”
She knew she meant it too. As they passed through the double doors out of the heat and into a cool, what appeared to be authentic Mexican.
“I’ve been looking for a job though,” Silvia piped. “Already applied to a few. Hoping I hear from some soon.”
They stood gawking to take a look at what was listed.
“Whaddya say? A burreetoe?” She mocked and placed an arm around Silvia.
“Sure. When’d we start doing that?”
“That one time you picked up from that party? Daren’s?”
“I drank too much that night.”
“Two burrito’s with guac,” Jenna yelled to an awaiting attendant.
The sweet old woman smile. “Any drink?” She gestured to a looming cooler filled with an assortment of suitable refreshments.
“What about Mel?”
“She’s got two legs. Anything to drink?
“No, it’s—“
“Two waters,” Jenna waved to the cashier.
“You guys get on alright?”
“We understand each other better. We go out and everything there aren’t many problems. And I still have no idea how she can afford her rent. And she always looks amazing.”
“We’ll you seem to—“
“You have no idea. Remind me to show you this one thing though. We don’t want you looking drab at the theater.”
“What? This?”
Jenna ignored it and checked her phone. Despite its pitiful size the restaurant still looked empty. Near six, it doesn’t inspire confidence to their meal.
“I’ve had it before, it’s fine.” She read the expression of Silvia’s face. “Mel said she already ate and stopped at the liquor store; might make the evening more interesting. Walk, eat, and talk?”
Collecting from the counter, two foil wrapped objects and bottles to support, Jenna’s place resided not much further, if you took a shortcut through the park. The duo entered the gates, exchanging various stories until Jenna began on a soapbox on something to do with celebrities. Silvia tuned out to examine the subtle beauties of the sparse, misplaced forest.
You could escape the dreary street landscape; she admired the effort and beauty it somehow kept. The dirt paths which ran all throughout the park were lit by colonial cast-iron lampposts, offset by everything beyond the towers that crept above the tree line.
A quarter left to go when a rough individual rushed up to them. He snatched Jenna’s bag, she screamed. Aiming to slip by Silvia, her resistance came as a bit of a shock to the petty thief. Clipping his calf, he stumbled forward. Catching his step, he turned to give her a left hook. Silvia ducked and kicked the foe in the torso; she followed through with a fist. Finishing the combo, her opposing heel smashed the back of his skull. He dropped to the dirt as the handbag collapsed in turn.
Jenna scuffled to reclaim her possessions, cautions of her unconscious attacker. She turned to Silvia who remained stagnate over the mugger, continuing to tense.
Jenna finally spoke up, “I heard something like you were getting into fights. Wow! Like, all those tricks you used to do must’ve helped. Didn’t seem like you to go out and— you alright?”
“I’m fine,” she laughed in nervous clusters.
“What happened?”
“I took some self-defense classes; nothing huge. You should try it.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so……should we just leave him here?”
She shrugged. Scurrying away from the sight, they emerged from the park, thankful to be out in the open again.
Silvia broke the silence this time, “You should really try taking some classes though.”
“You know I was never into trying those twirls and things you used to do. Not my place of expertise. In case you forgot—”
“No,” she chuckled. “You mean when I tried to teach you to backflip on the trampoline.”
“My parents got rid of that thing thanks to you.”
“I warned you not to get too close to the edge. It taught you to be tough though,” Silvia attempted to reason.
“I didn’t need to be toughened. I just need a big strong man to take care of me—“
“As the suffragettes roll in their graves. How’s the search going?”
Jenna forced herself to be unenthusiastic, “We’ll see how this one turns out. He’s certainly sweet.”
“Do I get a name?”
“We’ll see if he’s worth one.”
Ascending up to the door, they disappeared into Jenna’s complex.
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