Page 109 of Silent Damage

Gabe

Jason cracks open a Budweiser as I settle in a lawn chair next to him in the backyard. The sun has just dipped below the horizon, but the world is still visibly lit. The tree I like to draw sways in the breeze, and I sigh with relief that it’s actually a nice temperature for once.

“This is good,” Jason says before chugging some beer.

“Yeah,” I reply.

I’ve kept my promise—I speak to Jason. Ever since my diatribe after his fight, the words flow, but only with him. With Jason, I can just let go. I’m pulled back to a time before it all happened, and I can just be.

“How was work?” he asks.

“Not bad.”

“Cool.”

I sit for a moment more, twiddling my thumbs as Jason drinks more beer and leans back in his chair.

“Did you meet with Tobias today?” I ask.

“Yeah,” is all he says in response.

“And?”

Jason takes another sip of his beer. “He wants me in the theft vertical.”

My heart sinks into my stomach. “Is…is that dangerous?”

He shrugs, not making eye contact with me.

“W-when does he want you to start?” I ask.

“Monday.”

That queasy feeling in my stomach intensifies. “Like…you start stealing stuff on Monday?”

“I start training on Monday.” He looks at me, then nudges my arm. “Don’t worry about it, alright?”

“Just be careful,” I urge softly.

“Always.”

We sit in silence, and my heart rate accelerates as I think about him breaking into homes or banks or whatever.

I take a breath, fully prepared to tell him how much I hate this, but I stop myself.

Jason wants this—he literally fought for it.

And I have to accept that.

But I can also help.

“Want to go to the Kitty Cat Club with Felix and Torren on Friday?” I blurt out.

He stops drinking his beer, and his eyes slowly pan to me. “For what?” he asks.

“T-to have fun,” I stutter.

“Fun? Are we all gonna fuck?” he asks in disbelief.