A man with dark brown hair, pale skin and dark circles under his eyes, was kneeling down over top of a homeless man.
“I love you, were the last words my mother uttered before she died in front of my eyes. It was a car accident, one that left me with a scar running down the side of my face.
I love you, was also the last thing my father said to me before he left. He said he'd be back from the liquor store but he never did come back.
So I ask you… what is love?”
“shudd up!”
“Yeah yeah, here.”
The man handed him a brown bag that had alcohol in it. In return the homeless man gave him a clear bag that had a white powder.
“You should get your life together, get a job or something you old bum.”
“Y'know, you're no better than I am!”
The man stood up, putting the baggy in his left Jean pocket.
“Stay warm old bum, I'll see you tomorrow!”
He said waving his hand In the air as he walked away.
As he made his way into a convenience store, he was greeted by a girl with bright pink hair.
“Bruce!”
“Well, well, if it isn't Faye!”
Picking up a packet of gum, she threw at his head. Before it hit him he caught it and put it in his pocket.
“Hey! No stealing!”
“You gave it to me dumbass.”
“Argh! Whatever dickhead!”
As she flipped him off, Bruce grabbed a white monster and a Gatorade.
“Same pack as usual?”
“Yeah, and a lighter.”
Handing her the cash, he pulled one of the cigarettes out and handed it to her.
“Stay safe Faye.”
“You too.”
Making his way outside he lit one of them and began walking down the street.
“Fuck I'm tired, what time is it?”
Looking down at his phone it read 10:48 pm.
“By the time I get home, she should be getting back. Guess I'll stop at the food truck.”
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Standing in front of the only food truck on the entire street, a large, six foot three man was standing there with his hand on his face dozing off.
“Rafael! Open at the randomist times as usual, how do you even make money?”
“What do you want Bruce?”
“Two bean burritos, pretty please.”
He said with a smile.
“Do you even got the money?”
“Heyyy, I got paid yesterday! I only ran away that one time, one time! And you still use it against me!”
Spitting at Bruce's feet, the man began making the food. The savory aroma had filled the moonlit street, causing him to drool.
“Here, and it's seven dollars.”
“C'mon, can't you make it six?”
Rafael held the bag over a trash can.
“Hey! Let's not do anything stupid now!”
Bruce quickly pulled out a twenty dollar bill and put it on the counter.
“See! I got the money! Now just carefully move it away from the trash!”
Rafael gave him back fourteen and began closing up the food truck.
“Hey, y’know you gave me bac-”
Without saying a word, Rafael waved him away.
“Take it easy Rafael, I'll see you tomorrow!”
After walking around twenty minutes, he finally made it outside his apartment. Before he had gone inside, he lit a cigarette, and leaned against a wall.
“Just getting home?”
A man wearing a suit which looked like it hadn't been washed in a week was making his way down the stairs in front of the building.
“Yeah.”
Bruce pulled out a cigarette and offered it to him.
“Nah, I can't smoke in my good suit. It will drive away the customers.”
“Made any sales lately?”
“No! Can you believe it?!”
Bruce looked him up and down with a slight chuckle.
“Not at all.”
“What's funny?”
“Nothing, nothing.”
The man sat down on the curb, Bruce could tell by his eyes that he was lost in thought.
“Goodnight man.”
He waited a moment for a reply but it never came. Making his way up the stairs, he looked back to see him sitting with his head down.
Now in front of his door, he could hear a slight commotion coming from his room.
“Ah, Lexi must have a ‘friend’ over, guess I'll give her, her space… fuck, I was trying to sleep!”
As he began walking away, a shallow voice could be heard calling his name.
“Br-bruce!”
Bruce quickly ran to the door slamming it open. It revealed a woman being choked by a skinny white man with tattoos.
“Bitch, get off her if you don't wanna die.”
Standing there, he looked at the man as though he was going to kill him.
“She t-tried to t-take my money! I'm telling you! Sh-she did! For real!”
“The fuck you saying?”
As Bruce started walking over to him, he let the girl loose and charged at him. Before he could reach him, Bruce's foot connected with his chest causing him to slam into a glass table shattering it.
“Fuck! Look what you did!”
The glass shards began cutting him, causing blood to get all over the carpet.
“You need to pay for the damages. You get that right?”
Trying to crawl away, Bruce grabbed him by the ankle dragging him back through the broken glass. Before he could beat the man anymore, the girl ran through the glass with tears down her face.
“Bruce stop! You're scaring me!”
Looking down at her feet, he picked her up and sat her on the couch.
“Why'd you do that? Now the boss will be mad that you got hurt.”
As he was attending to her wounds the man tried to run away.
“Hey!”
Before he exited the man froze in fear.
“Leave your wallet.”
Throwing his wallet on the ground he took off through the building.
“You need a better taste in men.”
“He seemed chill, and when he came back from the bathroom he changed completely.”
Bruce looked over at the bathroom, then at the glass and blood in the living room.
“Fuck.”
Lexi hugged him, her hands still shaking from the commotion.
“Hey just get some rest, I'll clean this mess up. Tomorrow, change the bandages and you'll be fine, I'll call him to tell him you can't make it to work.”
“Thank you Bruce.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“No for real, I don't know where I'd-”
Standing up, he picked her up and took her to the bedroom. Throwing her on the bed he put a blanket over her and turned the lights off.
“Sweet dreams bubbles.”
“I said don't call me that!”
As she was yelling he shut the door.
“Guess I'll start cleaning.”