03B

A new story for this Wednesday, kids. Take a ride to Mango Avenue with me?

The lights were fuel to her blood, the music fire to her bones. The air smelled like the burning, potent mix of cigarettes and beer and she laved and drowned in it. She loved  running rampant in nights like this, in her favorite heels, her micro minis, in the arms of some boy she'll forget about in the morning. Mango Avenue was but a hunting ground at this time of night and she was on the prowl for her next unwitting victim.

She liked them tall and pretty, like they’d all come to church with mama on Sundays. Plus points if they smelled good. If they had a car, then she was theirs for the night.

They were all faces, names, placeholders. Her heart belonged to none.

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Josh was being throttled by the wild Mango Ave crowd. It was gigs like this that made the camera on his neck feel like a burden instead of a gift. Parties with scantily clad girls, people rubbing against each other, and awful music that pressed on his eardrums--- it just wasn’t his crowd. He wished he could crawl into a hole and wait until this apocalypse was ove, which was approximately, well, hours from now.

Huh. Just great.

He wished he could stay at home and watch GoT and get paid for it.

Apocalypse was also sure to come, Joshie boy, if you didn’t pay the rent on time, he reminded himself. He didn’t want his ass sprawled out on the streets of Mabolo anytime soon--- so, here he was camera in tow, on the lookout for the night’s delights. On what those delights are, he still wasn’t sure.

Until he caught a glimpse of flowing, curly hair with that tell-tale streak of blonde.

Josh groaned. Could the night get any worse?

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She turned around as she felt eyes burning at her nape. The smile died on her deep red lips.

“I didn’t realize I’d be babysitting tonight,” said the guy over the din of the bass.

Plaid shirt.

Unkempt hair.

Camera.

Her heart stuttered against her will.

“What are you doing here, Josh?” she shouted.

Josh merely raised his eyebrows at her made-up face and outfit as if saying I should ask you the same thing.

“It’s none of your business,” she spat and turned around, long hair flying in her wake. Josh didn’t miss a beat. He matched her stride and leaned into her ear and practically shouted

“Does tita even know you’re here?”

She wished he’d go away. He was near enough that she could feel the heat of his arm against hers and she told herself she didn’t like it one bit. Her heart was beating so, so fast. It didn’t have anything to do with the alcohol. He stalked her until they reached the back of the crowd.

“Fuck off!” she screamed.

“Stop shouting!” he said, brows knitting together, “What is it with you, Nik?”

“What is it with me?” she asked back, trying not to flinch at the disappointment in his eyes, “What is it with you? Can you just please leave me alone? I was minding my own business.”

“You’re running around with boys you don’t know and drinking like a stambay for months now,” said Josh, “Months,Nik. Don’t think I don’t know, I see you around these places often enough.” he paused as if he’s run out of breath, “And your mom’s been calling my mom about you and your...escapades. She sounded...concerned.”

Nikki seethed. Their moms were best friends. Maybe she and Josh had been too...until that one night.

She shook the memory off her mind as the rowdy crowd caught up with them.

“You don’t have to look out for me if that’s what you’re thinking,” she said, pushing against the press of bodies that have now surrounded them. “It’s not like we’re friends, Josh.”

Nikki swore she saw a flash of hurt cross Josh’s face.

“Ow!” she swore as someone shoved into her. Josh now looked concerned as another pushed behind him as well. The crowd seemed to close in on them, pushing and pressing and shoving roughly against each other, squeezing the air out of her lungs. Warning bells rang in her head. This felt like---

Josh swore softly, his eyes suddenly alert.

“It’s a stampede, Nik. We have to get out of here.”

The next thing she knew, Josh’s hand was around her arm and her heart was rising up on her throat and he was pulling her away.

To Be Continued

Author's Notes

How are you liking this short story? I have a good feeling about this. I love the feel of adventure and writing a maldita character.

So a few things:

Mango Ave - a popular strip of clubs and other night haunts. Famous for young people who don't know any better. Haha.

I'm excited for next weeks episode. Let me know what you think! :)

All the love,

K x