//------------------------------// // Big Dummy! // Story: Punkbabii! // by HelloPussy //------------------------------// School ends at 4, but Bow picks me up at like 3:30. It’s a little after noon now, and I’m hiding in Braeburn’s bathroom. He has porn mags on the back of the toilet. I don’t even look at them as I got my eyes on my new hairstyle. It looks good. He left a bit of a side swoop with the blue and he gave the rest of my head a clean fade. The top will definitely be longer than the rest of my head when it starts growing back in.  I can hear a hiphop song through the closed door. I obviously don't know it since my parents monitor all my music because they are fucking obsessed with me. I guess I like it. I don’t even know anymore. My heart is beating way too fast to even pay much attention.  There’s a girl on the cover of the porn mag. Pink hair, purple skin, huge blue eyes. She’s staring right at me, I swear. I try to ignore her, but her eyes are like calling me, telling me to pay attention. I sigh and I decide to just look at it to get this over with. Naked chicks with big boobs and ass? What’s the big deal? It’s, like, so not impressive.  The cover is all crumpled. I don’t even get to open the first page before something falls out of it. It’s a polaroid and I’ve never seen one of those in person. It looks as vintage as in the movies. Braeburn has all the latest tech but an old school camera? It’s kind of quirky, I guess, so I squat down to pick it up from the back of the toilet. It’s got this smooth texture, it’s a bit wet, and I turn it around to see what’s on the other side.  AJ is staring at me. She’s on a bed. She has no pants— “You okay in there, little lady?” There’s a knock on the door that causes me to jump. All the blood in my face just drains as I feel like I’m back in Cloudsdale, in that community center, just dreading having to leave the female locker room. I rush to tuck the picture back into its hiding place. He knocks again. I put the magazine down and flush the toilet.  “Coming!” I turn the tap on next and give the bathroom one last look to make sure it isn’t obvious that I was snooping. My heart is still beating. My face is still pale as fuck. Braeburn is standing right in front of me when I open the door. “I really like the cut.” I say as casually as I can.  He’s staring at me all funny. It’s the way Blaze does sometimes and it makes me really want to just go home. “Why thank ya, ma’am.” He’s using a funny voice but it just makes me more uncomfortable. “You feeling peachy keen?” There’s this lump in my throat that’s hard to swallow down when he leans down a bit to meet my gaze. I just turn my head away.  I’m still smiling because, I mean, I’m so not gonna show I’m scared or anything lame like that. This guy is so cool, right? I should, like, not be scared, but I’m also really confused right, and I’m just trying not to cry. “Is Mac still in the living room?”  “He’s actually ‘bout to head out real quick to pick something up for me.” My heart sinks. Braeburn sees it by how small my pupils get. “Don’t worry now. He’ll be back before sunset.”  “Wait, he can’t leave without me because I gotta be back at school at a certain time—“ I see Mac in the hallway behind him gathering his keys from a glass bowl near the door. Braeburn is still in my way. I quickly duck under his arm before he could try and reposition himself to block me. “Big Mac, can you take me back now?” I’m practically sprinting at him.  He turns to look at me. “Eeyup,” he’s putting on his boots, using the wall for balance. “When I get back.”  I’m trying really hard not to cry. “No. Now.” I demand and my eyes are burning so badly.  “C’mon, Dashie. You ain’t wanna listen to more music with me?” Braeburn’s directly behind me, touching my shoulder, and this causes me to put my back to the wall instead so I can easily see the both of them. “Listen to this one? Don’t that beat make you wanna move your body?” He sways and snaps his fingers.  I’m clenching my fist now because that’s not what I want to do. That’s not even close to what I want to fucking do. “Big Mac, take me home.”  I was trying to sound stern, but now I’m just whining like a brat. “Please.” I add in hopes it’ll better persuade him.  Mac and Braeburn exchange a glance. They’re speaking a telepathic language and I just feel so in the dark. There’s a moment of this.  “She ain’t wanna stay, she ain’t gotta stay.” And Braeburn shrugs, but I can tell he’s irritated.  Mac puts on his other shoe then opens the front door. “Let’s go.” He says it super coldly, and now he’s making me feel like I’m a bitch for wanting to go home.  I push myself off the wall and I try to find my own shoes quick enough to catch up with Mac. He’s already off the porch. “You’re welcome whenever,” Braeburn is still standing there just watching me. I feel like if I don’t hurry I’ll be stuck in here with him. My stomach really hurts now and I don’t know why. My legs also feel funny and I can hear my heart just pounding in my eardrums. Mac’s truck beeps and he’s getting in. “My place is yours.” I just grab my remaining shoe and bolt out of there.  I’ve never ran so fast in my life.  When I get to the passenger side, Mac doesn’t help me up like usual. He just starts the engine and waits for me to get in by myself, but his truck is like super lifted and I’m pretty short, and my legs are shaking, and I’m just crying. He’s looking at me like I’m just so fucking annoying, and I don’t understand what I did. I didn’t mean to anger him, or offend him, or even Braeburn.  I just want to go home.  I eventually make it in. “I’m sorry, Mac.” And that’s me sniffling and snotting all over his seatbelt when I put it on. He doesn’t say anything to me. He just turns the radio on and drives.