Page 29 of Brutal Knight

“Yes you can.”

“No,” I pushed her hand away. “That’s yours. And I don’t need a ribbon.I’m a guy.”

“I can give it to you if I want.” She scowled, and her hand went to her hip. "Besides, I know you want it.”

“Why’d you think that?”

“Because,” she said haughtily, “You keep staring at them.”

"That doesn't mean I want it." My face was red.

She stepped in closer to me, her hand going to my cheek. "You can't hide from me, Knight. I know you better than anyone else." She placed the ribbon in the palm of my hand and folded my fingers over it. "Keep it." Then she kissed my cheek.

I looked away. "Are you sure I can't get you a better shell?”

"No." She held it to her chest. "I love this one."

"Okay." I tried to pretend that her words didn't make a warmth fill me, even more than her kiss on my cheek. I shoved the ribbon in my pocket, then wrapped an arm around her neck, holding her close as we walked. “Let’s go to your house, I bet your mom and dad are making a birthday cake for you.”

She glanced away from me and towards the ocean. “I don’t know.”

“They have to. I heard your parents are working for my Abuelo now." I was so excited Abuelo finally hired her dad. I’d been pestering him for years to do it. Now they would have money to buy her clothes when she had a growth spurt.

"I know." She stared at the ground as we walked.

"Aren't you happy about it?” I asked.

“Of course,” she nodded, still not looking at me, but pretended to study the shell closer. I frowned, but didn’t say anything as we made our way down the street. When we got to her house, she led me around to her back door. "Wait here."

I shoved my hands in the pockets of my shorts and shrugged. “Kay.”

She disappeared, the screen door slapping the frame behind her. As soon as she was gone, I pulled my hand out of my pocket and studied the ribbon she'd given me.

She'd been right, I was obsessed with those ribbons because they reminded me of her.

And now, she'd given one to me, when she probably didn't have money to buy another one.

Well, that was going to change. I knew for certain that the men who worked for Abuelo had lots of money.

I fidgeted while I waited for Tatiana to return, and tied the ribbon around my wrist, liking how something ofherslooked on me.

The other girls might make faces at me because of it, but I didn't care.

They could go fuck themselves for all I gave a damn.

I liked hanging out with Tatiana. She talked back to me whenever I was being a jerk, instead of just taking it like all the other girls. She also had a sweetness and innocence about her, and didn’t know things lots of other girls her age knew. I liked to see her blush. Those were only a few reasons I liked to hang out with her.

I got tired of waiting and walked up to the doorway, listening in.

I wasn't sure why, but Tatiana didn't like coming here that much.

I know she didn't have much but I didn't care about stuff like that, and I was bored, just waiting here.

Making sure to be real quiet, I snuck inside, closing the door softly behind me. The kitchen was empty, and there was no smell from the oven. No sign of presents or a birthday cake.

I heard a bumping noise towards the living room.

"Tati," I whispered, creeping around the ugly, puke green table and chairs. The orange flooring had several broken tiles, and there were dirty scuff marks on the bright mint walls. I peeked around the corner, and saw Tatiana standing there, her back to me.

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