For the next few days Levi and Alice didn’t talk much, other than casual hellos

and goodbyes. Levi continued being drunk each morning that Alice picked him up and

she didn’t want to talk to him while he was like this. The first few days Levi didn’t really

mind the silent treatment, it made interacting with her a lot less complicated. But he

didn’t understand that he was pushing her away each day, the first real friend that he had

begun to make in his life.

“It’s the last day I have work before I get the next 3 days off. Everything was

going well, and I thought I was making a new friend. He was a little… odd at first. But

after getting to know him (Despite all the rumors) he seemed like a genuinely good guy.

Now I’m seeing a not great side to him and I’m not sure I’ll want him around. We

haven’t really been talking these past few days which kinda sucked because he was

actually making work a little more fun. I’m in no place to tell him to change though. I

barely know him. I just wish I could get to know him more, but at this rate I don’t think I

will. All this has been keeping my mind off…well everything else which I guess is good.”

Alice’s alarm went off letting her know that it was time to get Levi and head to

work. Alice made her way to Levi’s; she was less enthusiastic than usual. Levi got in and

said “Morning…or afternoon I guess.”

Alice fake smiled, “Hey.” She noticed that his breath didn’t reek of liquor today.

“So how was your night?”

“Good, I actually got some sleep and spent the day watching tv on my phone.”

She thought to herself that maybe Levi just seemed off because he hadn’t slept.

“Nice, so when’s the last time you slept?”

“Besides last night, like 3 or 4 days ago.”

“Wait, seriously? Do you have like insomnia?”

“Yeah, I guess.” Levi just brushed her comment off and stared out the window.

“So, is it normal for you to not sleep and is that why you drink?”

Levi chuckled “Something like that, but it’s pretty normal for me to not sleep. It doesn’t really bug me; I’ve actually

gone weeks without sleep before.”

“Weeks?!” Alice was shocked, Levi didn’t seem like the type to exaggerate so she

believed him when he said he’s gone weeks without sleep. The real question was how

many weeks?

“Anyway, so I was thinking of getting a TV tomorrow. Want to come?” Levi

asked, expecting Alice to agree enthusiastically at the idea of hanging out together.

Alice hesitated before responding, which surprised Levi because she was the one

who was so adamant about spending time together. “Maybe, I don’t know.”

All of the sudden Levi was regretting not having a drink this morning “Oh,

alright.”

There was a moment of silence before Alice spoke again, “Can I be honest with

you?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t you be?” Levi didn’t think there was any reason that she

should tell him anything but the truth, unless it was a more sensitive matter.

“I just didn’t want to come off as pushy, but these past few days you haven’t

really been the greatest people to be around.”

“Is it because I’ve been drunk?” Levi started to figure out what’s different lately

and that was the only thing.

“Sorta, you’ve just been kind of dark, don’t get me wrong because a drink every

once in a while is fine. But the way you have been acting just seems a bit excessive.”

Alice was very hesitant, not wanting to come off as if she was telling Levi what to do.

“Oh okay.” Levi was caught off guard by this revelation.

“Yeah…” Alice trailed off.

There was more silence between them, but this time it was Levi that spoke first.

“So, you’ll hangout with me as long as I show up sober?”

“It's not really that, if you have a few drinks I don’t care. But EVERY single day

is just a lot, and I don’t want to be around someone like that.”

That’s when it clicked for Levi, how his actions affected those around him. He

had never had a friend or anyone close to him, so the concept of people being positive

and negative influences on each other were foreign concepts to him. “Alright, I’ll take it

easy on the on the liquor then.”

Alice was a bit surprised at how smoothly the conversation was going, maybe it

really was just the lack of sleep that was making Levi act so differently. “Cool, so what

time did you want to go look at TV’s tomorrow?”

Levi reclined his seat and said, “I don’t know, it depends on when I wake up.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Alice laughed, “We’ll talk more about it later then.”

The 2 pulled into the warehouse and got out of her car. They both stopped though

when they heard a man letting out a nasally laugh and shouting, “That is too good!”

They turned around and saw their tattooed coworker, Kevin. He started making

his way towards them with his hand on his stomach as if he was going to laugh until he

threw up.

“Can we help you?” Alice asked with annoyance in her tone.

“I mean I was hearing the rumors, but I didn’t believe them. That a girl as fine as

you is hanging around with this freak. Now that I’ve seen it with my own 2 eyes though.”

He continued laughing, “This is too good!”

Alice just shrugged him off and said, “C’mon Levi, let’s just ignore him and get

this day over with.” She grabbed Levi’s hand and tried to walk away, but he wasn’t

moving an inch.

“Why is it so funny for her to be seen with me?” Levi asked as he stared Kevin

down.

“Is that a joke? Man, you must really be as stupid as you look.” Kevin sneered.

Levi started to walk towards Kevin.

Kevin kept running his mouth, “I guess it’s good news though because if she’d sleep with you then she must be easy, so I’m pretty

much in.”

Levi got face to face with Kevin as Alice shouted, “Kevin shut up, Levi just leave

him.”

Kevin stared down Levi and said “Damn freak, she’s got you on a tight leash.

Why don’t you go inside and leave her here with me. I’ll get what I want from her and

you can have my leftovers.”

Kevin’s words sent chills down her spine, she knew that he was a bit off, but she

didn’t think he was this bad. As Alice watched the confrontation she started to worry, but

not about Levi’s safety. She was really concerned about what he was going to do to

Kevin. If Levi could take on a group of guys twice his size, then Kevin didn’t stand a

chance. She’d never seen Levi mad like this before, she was afraid he might kill this

asshole.

Levi stayed silent and Kevin started to get agitated, “Back up, Freak!” Kevin tried

to push Levi, but he stepped to the side while sticking his foot out and pushed Kevin to

the ground.

Kevin got right back up and got into an odd-looking fight stance. “Oh, so it’s

gonna be like that! Alright, square up bitch! I’ve got 5 years of kickboxing under my belt,

you’re done for.”

Kevin threw a kick to the side of Levi’s torso, Alice gasped, and Levi took the hit

and grabbed Kevin’s leg. Kevin tried to break free but couldn’t get out of Levi’s hold.

Levi pulled Kevin in closer and swept him off his other foot. Levi let go and Kevin fell

onto the ground, this time before he could get back up, Levi threw a punch right in the

middle of Kevin’s face. His nose broke and spurted out blood.

Levi got on top of Kevin who was covering his bloody face, then Levi started

throwing more punches. Kevin tried to protect his face as best he could, but he was no

match. After more than a couple hits, Kevin fell unconscious, but Levi didn’t stop.

“Levi, stop.” Alice said under her breath, but he still didn’t stop.

“Levi!” She shouted, but it was like Levi couldn’t hear her. She started to run

towards Levi, who wasn’t letting up on the bloody and unconscious Kevin. She tackled

Levi off of Kevin and the 2 tumbled for a second before stopping. Now Levi was on the

ground, and it was Alice who was on top of him.

She stared down at Levi who had some blood sprayed on his face, he couldn’t

look her in the eyes. “Levi?” she didn’t know what to say to him. She wasn’t afraid at

what she just witnessed, she only interfered for Levi’s sake. She didn’t want to see him

get locked up for murder from something so pointless.

Levi took a deep breath and made eye contact with Alice then said “I’m sorry. I

should have let it go.”

Alice got off Levi and sat beside him, she didn’t know what to feel or what to say

in this situation. “Why didn’t you stop?” She asked.

“I was just so angry from everything he was saying about you.” Levi continued to

lay on the ground as he answered.

“Why? It wasn’t even bothering me that much, he’s just some idiot who doesn’t

know what he was talking about.”

“It’s just you’re the first friend I’ve had and if the town wants to spread its rumors

about me that’s fine. But you don’t deserve it, so this’ll be an example to the rest of them.

To mind their own damn business.” Levi sat up after he finished talking and Alice

hugged him.

“Thank you, but that’s no reason to go to prison for aggravated assault.”

“You don’t have to worry about that, the warehouse has cameras and it’ll show

how he started it.”

After Levi finished talking, Alex emerged out of the front door of the warehouse

and walked up to Kevin. Alice and Levi stood up, unsure about what was going to happen

now. Levi was definitely out of a job though. That much they were sure of.

Alex stared at the bloody Kevin and asked, “You dead?” while poking him with

his foot. Kevin coughed and groaned. “Damn shame.” Alex looked over at Levi and

Alice, then shouted, “You 2 alright?”

Levi and Alice exchanged confused looks then gave Alex a nod. Alex started to

make his way over to the 2 of them. “I was watching the cameras, I already called an

ambulance.” Alex looked back at Kevin and yelled “Kevin, you tell them that you fell

down some stairs or you’re out of a job.” Kevin groaned in what was assumed to be

agreement. Alex looked back to Alice and Levi then said “I’m sorry about all this, Alice.

Levi, thank you for looking out for her. You 2 should take the day off for now. We’ll call

it a paid vacation day. Today was gonna be a light one anyway, so you won’t be missed.”

Alice gave Alex a quick hug and said a heartfelt thank you. Then Alex gave Levi

a handshake and a nod. Then they went their separate ways. As Levi and Alice drove off,

the 2 were silent. Both were coming to terms that all that really just happened.

“Want to come have dinner at my place?” Alice asked, her mood seemed like it

had done a complete switch from dreary to happy.

“Sure. Is it okay if we stop at my place first so I can get some fresh clothes and

cleanup?” Levi used his shirt to wipe the blood off his face and hands.

“That’s probably for the best, I don’t need you ruining anymore of my towels.”

Alice said this very casually and was surprised at well she had been handling this whole

situation as opposed to last time those men confronted Levi. Alice thought that it might

be because she knew she was safe with Levi, around other people she had a sense of

paranoia and uncertainty of what they would do.

With Levi it seemed so simple, as long as you didn’t do him wrong in any way he was more or less docile.

Alice had been showing him nothing but kindness and honesty, so Levi had begun to feel a sense of

loyalty towards her.

Despite this loyalty, Levi still had something nagging in the back of his head that

was telling him to still be on guard around her. As he looked at Alice on the drive to his

place, some part of him wanted that nagging voice to go away, he wanted to be able to

finally feel a complete sense of ease after all these years. Maybe then he could put to rest

those haunting memories of the hell he had endured.