Chelle Bliss - Untangle Me

“Can I get a bottle of vodka, please,” Kayden asked the older gentleman. The man didn’t seem to be happy to serve us.

“Ten bucks,” the man said.

I looked around while waiting for our purchase. People were drinking out of brown paper bags, no cups, just their bottles wrapped up hiding the contents. What exactly is this place? The man placed the bottle on the counter wrapped in the same brown bag all the patrons were drinking from. Kayden grabbed the bottle, immediately pulling me towards the door.

We walked out at a quicker pace than we entered the store; walking through the crowd still stood near the door. The men were talking, but I couldn’t tell if they were talking to us.

“No man, we’re good.” Kayden said.

I looked at him, “What did they say?”

“They asked if we wanted to buy any drugs,” he said.

He heard things I didn’t, probably saw things that I missed.

“No,” he said again to the men as we reached the car doors.

We climbed in and closed the door. Kayden didn’t waste any time, starting the car quickly and locking the doors.

“What was that place?” I asked once safely inside.

“I have no fucking clue. I’ve never been in a place like that, and I’ve been in some crazy ass places,” he said shrugging his shoulders.

I laughed. “Baby, one word I could never use to describe you is boring. I’ve never had a dull moment since you’ve entered my life and there’s always a new experience.”

This man had made my life more complicated, but more full of life, than I had ever thought possible. I couldn’t stop laughing thinking about all the crazy shit that’s happened in the last six months. Kayden added the color to my gray life.

Kayden found Jim’s place easily with the help of the GPS. Under a large oak tree, the white tiny trailer sat, within thirty feet of a train track. I expected it to be small, but I never imagined it would be puny. I don’t know how the three of us would fit inside that small dwelling, but I didn’t care. I just want to close my eyes and sleep.

“If you want to go, I’ll make up an excuse. We can just visit for a little while,” he said.

“Oh no, I’ll be fine, Kayden, I’m just tired.”

The door to the trailer opened and a tall thin man emerged. He approached the car wearing a pair of gray sweatpants, a white t-shirt, and a goofy smile. Kayden climbed out, but I gave them a moment giving myself a little pep talk. Just breathe…

“Dude, it’s so fucking good to see you,” Jim said wrapping his arms around Kayden.

I climbed out of the car, walking towards the guys.

“You too, man.” Slapping him on the back Kayden turned his attention towards me. “Jim, this is Sophia.”

I held out my hand to greet Jim, but he wrapped his arms around me, enveloping me in a hug. “It’s so good to finally meet you, I’ve heard so much about you,” Jim said.

“It’s good to meet you, too.” Kayden had told me wild stories about Jim and his carefree lifestyle. I was happy to meet another friend of his, one that he’d been friends with for years. Jim helped Kayden find a job after his arrest; he was already working in New Orleans. Jim knew his troubled past and rotten luck in love, he didn’t judge Kayden, and for that I already liked him.

“Lemme show you guys around,” Jim said walking towards his home.

There wasn’t much to see, but we walked around listening to him. The trailer consisted of one room, filled with a bed, couch, television, and mini kitchen. There was a small closet attached with a bike inside. Jim lived modestly, but he had been kind to offer us a place to stay for the night, but where were we going to sleep? I didn’t quite know until Jim started emptying out the closet.

“I’ll put my bike outside for the night. I have a mattress I can put on the floor for you two. Don’t mind my clothes, just move them out of the way if you need to,” he said.

Kayden looked at me, watching my reaction for anything resembling horror, but I didn’t move a muscle. I didn’t care where we relaxed and slept for the evening, even if it was a closet.

“You guys want to order pizza?” Jim asked.

“That’d be great.” Kayden responded.

Jim couldn’t seem to sit still, he seemed nervous. I don’t think he was used to having people in his cramped space. Kayden and I sat on the couch while Jim moved around the space, talking non-stop with Kayden about work and life. I sat quietly on the couch listening to the boys, watching them interact. I know Kayden had missed his male friends; Suzy and I were only so much fun. Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice Jim heading for the door until the noise it made me jump.

“Where’d he go?” I asked.

“He wanted to smoke some weed, but I told him he needed to go outside,” Kayden said.

I kind of felt guilty in that moment. It’s his home and I’m the guest. I didn’t smoke it myself, but I didn’t think poorly of him for it either. “Why?”

“I told him you don’t smoke and that you work in a school… you can’t be around that type of shit, Sophia.” Kayden looked at me like I was crazy for even needing an explanation.

“Oh, he didn’t have to for me. I feel bad you told him that Kayden. It’s freezing ass cold outside,” I said.

“He’ll be quick and he’s a big boy, he can handle the cold.”

Kayden kissed my forehead before standing up to peak in the closet. “You going to be okay staying in there tonight?” he asked.

“Sure, I don’t care at this point. I’m tired and cold.” I shrugged my shoulders.

Jim walked through the door with the pizza in hand. There was no table space to eat, but we’d make due. We ate our pizza on the couch and Jim sat over the edge of the bed facing us. The guys continued their conversation about cable… boring subject for me.

“So what do you do, Sophia?” Jim asked.

I held up a finger, still chewing my food. Swallowing hard I replied, “I’m a school librarian.”

“Wow. You’re the first girl he’s been with that actually has a career. You’re nice, too, unlike the last one.” Jim rolled his eyes showing his hatred of Lisa. Not a single person I’ve met in the last so many months had a nice thing to say about her.

Kayden poured himself a drink. “Either of you want one?” he asked holding the bottle.

“A small one please,” I replied.

“No thanks,” Jim said.

Kayden filled his glass halfway with Vodka. My throat burned thinking about the taste. Kayden handed me my drink and sat down next to me. I watched as he gulped the liquid in his glass, not even a flinch. I wrinkled my nose as I took a sip, the smell harsh.

“Heard from the bitch lately?” Jim asked.

Kayden explained everything, told him about all the bullshit he had to deal with over the months. Jim agreed with me that Kayden needed to talk to his probation officer, Jim seemed to know a thing or two about the law, having been arrested a time or two in his life. Maybe Kayden would listen to someone other than me; he usually listened to my advice, but he felt I was too naïve about the legal system.

I rubbed my hands together; they were cold from the drink and the decreasing temperature in the trailer. The sun had set a dew lined the windows. “I’m sorry guys. I don’t have any propane to heat the place. I only have a tiny space heater.”

The expected low tonight would be close to freezing and we wouldn’t have any heat to keep us warm. I hate being cold, my body used to the heat of central Florida. “It’s okay, Jim. I’ll just put on some extra layers,” I said. Damn, I never slept with many clothes on, always feeling suffocated. I was already freezing in my jeans and hoodie and knew I’d look more like a kid in a snowsuit with the amount of clothes I’d need before the end of the night. I felt a bit crabby in this moment… the evening hadn’t turned out like I had expected, but they never did lately.