C17 17

Gigi squeezes my hand tightly as the doctor runs the small device with clear liquid all over her belly. On a screen, next to the table, you can see some white, black, and gray spots.

-The fetus is three weeks old- murmurs the doctor, lowering his small glasses over the bridge of his nose. Gigi loosens her grip on my hand and I move my fingers to get the circulation running through them again. She lets out a sigh and I see her more relieved. The doctor extends a white towel towards her. - Here, clean yourself and throw the towel in that basket. Then you can go home. See you in a month to see its evolution and check that everything is correct- he says before disappearing through a door and leaving us alone.

- Oh god ... it's from Mark- she murmurs as soon as the doctor disappears- I don't know whether to be happy or cry ...- she says, wiping his still flat belly.

-Within what fits is good.

-Yes, but not quite. I have been calling him every day and I have left him three thousand messages, and he ignores me. I thought we were in this together, you know ... I thought ... -sighs.- I thought he was going to support me and that maybe we could raise him together- Then she shakes her head- I've been deluded for thinking that- she says getting up and throwing the dirty towel into the basket. Then we headed towards the exit of the consultation.

-Gigi, maybe he just needs some time to digest the news ... it's a very important thing, something that changes your life and well, I think you should leave it alone for a while until you get the idea. Or so I would.

-Maybe you are right- she says, giving up. We both left the hospital and a cold breeze like ice hits all the parts that are not covered by my clothes, I even feel that it gets inside me, causing me chills. I hug myself and let out a sigh that makes steam come out of my mouth.- Well, thank you very much for everything Eden, you make me feel ... less alone.- she says with a smile. And I'll give it back to him.- But I have to go, I'm staying.

-With who?- I say raising an eyebrow, with a seductive face.

-With Jason.

-With Jason? Jason Cooper? Jason my best friend? -I make a face of terror.

-Yes ... What's wrong? We have only remained as friends, nothing more. -She shrugs.

-Jason never meets someone as friends, Gigi. I'm just telling you to be very attentive to your movements, because, at the slightest gesture you make, he will believe that he likes you, believe me, Jason is like that.

Gigi laughs and I watch her nose start to redden from the cold.

-Okay, I'll keep that in mind. -Then check the time on your mobile.- I'd better get going, or I'll be late.

-Okay, I'll call you later, bye- I say dismissing her, she kisses me on the cheek and makes a goodbye gesture with her hand before starting to walk down the sidewalk to her car. I head in the opposite direction and look for the bus stop to go home, I go up and look for a seat, when a message enters my mobile.

Scott: Eden I need you :(

Eden: What do you want heavy?

Scott: Azael isn't home and he doesn't take my calls. Surely if you call you will take it.

Curiosity invades me from one moment to the next and I feel a tremendous desire to know where I was able to go with an injured leg and a broken arm.

Eden: And what makes you think that? Besides, it's not my problem Scott, I think he's grown up enough to know what he's doing.

Scott: Yes, if it is, why has he taken my car, my newly repaired car, my baby, my son ... :(

Eden: And what does that influence me?

Scott:...

Scott: You just give him a call, will you? And then we'll take care of finding you.

Eden: You will say that you will be in charge of finding him, I have things to do ...

Scott: I have things to do too ... I don't keep my house and I feed myself with the money the goblins give me from their magic cauldron on the other side of the rainbow, you know.

Eden: Okay, I'll call him. But shut up now, please.

Scott: ;)

I'm going to go into calls when another message appears.

Jason: What are Gigi's favorite flowers?

Eden: You're not dating Gigi! And you are not bringing flowers to your date!

Jason: So he told you ... That's she likes me.

I let out a frustrated sigh.

Jason: Well, I'll buy tulips.

The best thing I can do now leaves him insight because I don't want to be an edge. I call Azael and on the fourth ring he picks it up.

-Do you miss me, baby? - he murmurs as soon as he picks it up. A pressure settles in the lower part of my stomach and I feel my guts churn. Is this the famous butterflies? I hope it's just wanting to go to the bathroom, why don't I want to feel this towards him.

- Um ...- I clear my throat- Scott wants to know where you are, why don't you take his calls, and why you have his car.

-Hey, calm down, beast- he says hoarsely. Damn you.- Where are you?

-On the bus, I'm going down Grand Park Street. -Then I reconsider.- And what else does it give you?

-Come down.

-What?- I ask confused.

- Get off at this stop. -the bus parks and the two exit doors begin to open.

-Why?

-I'm on the Heavy Blood- I hear a glass break and then someone mutters something- I need you.

These last words he mutters before hanging up make the blood in my body pump faster, so I stop looking at the people getting off the bus and when there is no one left, under me. I don't even know why I'm doing it. I should do everything I can to get away from him. Even move! Because lately all I do is hang out with him and do him favors. What's more, the last time I saw him, we slept together. Too close together, to tell the truth.

I look at the large square surrounded by small trees shaken by the wind, and I see the installation that Azael has indicated to me almost at the end of it, so I start to walk there. I look at the sign with the name of the place and gulp. Several kids a little older than me, amusedly watching me while they smoke a cigarette in the hall. They are dressed in black, with studded vests, ripped jeans, and various rock group T-shirts. Some wear a white patterned bandana tied around their heads. They start to bother me so, without thinking about it, I push the double doors that have a small round window and go inside. A guard in a black suit and hairless looks at me with a serious expression in what appears to be the entrance of the premises, since in front of me there are two doors just like the ones I just entered.

-Today is Friday.- he says in a deep, almost robotic voice- Key?

What? What key? I make a face of not understanding.

-Invitation? -Ask again.

-Well ... you see ... Azael invited me.

The guard makes a mocking expression and looks away to fix his eyes on me again.

-Don't tell me, you're just another crazy bitch for him who tries to sneak in to see him.

-What?- I say confused. A slightly older man, with a biker look and a very long beard, walks out of the doors in front of me, letting the smell of cigar and beer pass with him. Then he comes out.- He's my boyfriend. -So.- Do you think that a girl like me looks like she's sneaking into a place like this because she's crazy about him?

-And isn't that what you're doing? - Shit- Come on in. -He adds later, seeing my expression.- But if there is an incident, you're going to have problems. I don't want to have a bad blight on Azael, so you better not bother him.

Why is Azael so important? And why does this gorilla-looking man seem afraid of him?

-Can you tell me where it usually is?

-At the pool table. But hurry up to find it, the Poker Blaze will begin. -He answers opening the door with one hand so that I can pass. I smirk at him and go inside.

An old rock song is heard through the speakers and suddenly I am surrounded by a lot of people pushing me from side to side, at the bar, there are several waitresses devastated by the extreme demand for alcohol. I make out some steps at the back of the room that leads to a higher room with a pool table in the center, cut off by a red velvet rope. I start to push people and make my way between them until I reach the steps, receiving various complaints and elbows. I remove the rope that prevents my passage and goes inside, but I am stopped by two other two gorillas that take three heads from me.

-Where do you think you are going? - asks one of them, intimidating me.

-Leave her Bill! Come with me! -A tremendously familiar voice speaks behind the backs of the two guards. They stand aside without protest and let me pass. I make a self-satisfied face and brush my hair off my shoulders with one hand.

I see Azael with a pool stick in hand, walking towards me, with his particular torn black jeans, a white T-shirt that makes his tattoos show through, and a leather jacket. I approach him, pissed off, shortening the space between us, and several of his friends who look similar to him, look me up and down with mischievous smiles.

-What if I'm a nut who sneaks in here to see you?- I ask him crossed my arms. I can feel my nostrils open slightly as I breathe. He gives a hoarse laugh that sounds like music to my ears. Oh my God. I don't know why he never laughs, why he has a beautiful laugh. He takes a step forward with his arms folded, as do I, and with one hand tucks an unruly lock of my hair behind my ear.

-Are you jealous, love?- he asks with a seductive smile and her face very close to mine. I take a deep breath and roll my eyes.

- You would like more- I hit his shoulder, causing him to take a step back- and don't call me that.

-OK love.

- May I know what you needed me for?- I say looking around me. The people in this place are like a mixture of rockers, bikers, punks, and members of illegal bands all mixed. And it seems that they are waiting for something anxious for something to happen. At that, a man in a suit and mustache on the bar speaks into the microphone, interrupting our conversation.

-What is happening to Middtoooon? -draws the letters abruptly, you can tell that he is a little overloaded with beers. -Do you know what day is todaaaay !? Today is Friday, mothersfuckers!!

So get your asses ready why he's coming... The Poker Blaze !! - shouts.

Everyone starts clapping, whistling, and yelling. I do not understand anything.

- Come with me ...- he says, taking my hand to drag me towards a door on the side of the room. Instantly, I feel a tingling in the contact area and heat rises to my cheeks. How is it possible that my hand fits perfectly with yours? Even though he is so big, it almost covers mine completely.

He opens the door and I see a large room with dark green painted walls, a table in the center, and four red velvet chairs with gold trim, were three other boys of similar ages to ours are sitting, and in the arms from their chairs, a girl, something that doesn't seem morally right to me. I saw one of them at the entrance, and when he looked at me, he smiled at me.

-I want you to be my partner at Poker Blaze- Azael murmurs looking into my eyes.

-Me? But I don't know how to play! Have you thought this through? -I make a scared face and he laughs.- The last time I played a board game it was to a goose, and I lost.

-You don't have to do much either. Just listen to me.- Azael sits in the only free chair and I sit on the arm of this one, it's a bit uncomfortable, but I don't say anything. At that, the door of the room opens and the same man with the mustache appears with the microphone and makes a signal to the guard at the door. The gorilla removes the rope that prevents the passage and a lot of people begin to come towards us until they have surrounded the table and filled the room.

-The Pooker Blaaaze is going to start! -announces the man with the mustache.- I'm going to remember the rules: First, it's not worth betting less than a thousand dollars- I gulp. OMG. What kind of game is this? - Second, the players' partners cannot oppose what they say, and if not, you know what happens ...- the man takes a pistol from his belt and leave it in the center of the table. I look at Azael scared, with a face of not understanding anything and he winks at me. Shit.- Third, if the round ends with an even-numbered chip, the last pair to roll must leave more money on the table, according to the range of the number that has been thrown, but if a round ends with an odd number ... This last pair to throw must be tested by the pair that has the highest number in the sum of their last two cards or leave the same amount of money on the table as there is already. It is understood? -People yell yes, but I have not processed it yet.- Fourth, the game lasts forty-five minutes, whoever wins the most rounds wins and will take all the money bet.- Fifth and last, whoever wants to stop playing, you must leave the same amount of money on the table that you already have, without receiving anything, and if not, you will receive a shot.

- Azael...- I whisper.

How dare you bring me to such a place? He looks at me and gives my thigh a squeeze with his hand that makes me swallow hard. Meanwhile, the man with the microphone distributes the cards and some chips.

How do I think of listening to Azael and coming to this type of site? I'm an idiot, and this happens to me for not getting away from him from the beginning.

I look around me, the opponents glaring at each other as if they are arguing who has the most power over the others. People look at us excitedly, as if they have been waiting all week to see us. And then I look at the gun, checking to see if it is real.

And yes, it is.

-Everything will be fine. We are going to win this shit- Azael whispers to me without taking his eyes off me. The boy who was at the entrance and now in front of us does not take his eyes off me and looks at me with a malicious smile on his face, dark. And Azael has noticed.

-Starts the game!