June 14th, 2017

|Journey|

"A whole year... She's really gone." I thought.

I sat at the bar going through pictures of us together.

Up until this day, I still don't understand how she even ended up out there.

Or Who killed her...

She was a friendly ass person so I don't know who would want her dead.

I dont even want to think about her death but it's hard. She went missing for almost months and I spent everyday looking for her. I couldn't sleep, eat, or anything.

Now it's been a whole year and still nothing... I want to keep searching for her but the police called it off.

No leads, no witnesses, no nothing.

It's like looking for Waldo, except Waldo is no where on the page with all those people around.

I loved her with everything in me and I swore I would protect her.

"Ugh.." More tears streamed down my face.

"Hey sweetie, should I make you another? You seem to be in the dumps today.." The red headed bartender asked. I nodded.

A few seconds later she came back with my drink.

Straight vodka.

"Now this is the last one okay? I need you to make it home tonight," She laughed. Her smile was pretty. She had been trying to make me laugh all night.

I normally don't drink but I took things hard.

I miss her soft touch... her honey toned skin... her natural scent of lavender all over her body... her smile... her contagious laugh... the way she looked at me as if I meant everything to her.

Sometime I did feel like she lost interest in me, but I never paid attention.

She started being sneaky, and I never took it past just wanting her own space.

So many small red flags I looked at, but love is a blinding thing.

We were together for almost 3 years.

I downed my last shot wincing at the burning sensation in my throat. Shit feels good at a time like this.

I wonder if she felt that same burn screaming for me to come save her...

I shook my thoughts. I noticed a girl sat next to me. A brunette. Im wasn't sure if she was white or hispanic. That is until she turned to me and showed me her icy blue eyes.

"You need a little more than vodka sweetheart." She said placing a $20 dollar bill on the counter and nodded her head at the bartender.

"Nah this good enough," I said lowly.

"Mmm," she mumbled grabbing her glass.

I have to admit she was beautiful. Her vibe was a little more... edgy than sweet.

"Let me guess, someone left you or passed recently?" She asked starting straight ahead.

I raised my eyebrow knowing she hit the nail right on the head.. sort of.

"Don't think anything weird ma, most people drink to make the pain go away. You don't look like a regular drinker so it has to be deeper than that right? " she asked facing me.

"Sure..." I said softly. "Its been a year since my girlfriend went missing. No one knows what happened to her." I said starting to feel sad again.

"Tragic ma... what was her name?"

"Tyra Gatlin." I sighed looking down.

"Oh I heard of her... Sad situation. Hopefully she can be found safe and alive." She said smiling.

"Thanks..." I raised my hand to wipe the tear rolling down my cheek but she grabbed my hand instead.

"Please allow me," she wiped the tear for me. "You're too pretty to be crying ma." She smiled once again.

I smiled internally. She was pretty sweet for a stranger.

"Come on, I'll take you to get a bite then home." She said.

Now as good as that sounded I don't trust strangers.

I mean look what probably happened to my late girlfriend.

"I don't know. Im not too fond of you yet. Im not even sure what your name is." I said nervously.

She chuckled, "No worries babygirl, ny name is Vinny." She said.

"Journey..."

"Beautiful, How 'bout this... I'll let you drive to where you want to go." She offered dangling keys from her hand.

I thought about it. "...Mmm okay." I grabbed her keys and followed her out the door of the club.

I followed her to an matte black jeep. That hoe was pretty as hell just to be all black.

"Now you're not thinking of a way to carjack me right?" She laughed.

"Nah.. Nah.." I snapped out of my thoughts.

"Good cause I would've found you and it wouldn't have be pretty." She winked. 

I swallowed..hard.

Feel that edgy vibe?

I unlocked the car and got in.

Wait nigga, you just gonna forget your whip?

"Shit.." I whispered.

"What?" She looked over buckling herself up.

"My car.." I said pointing in the direction of my car. I couldn't even see it cause her tint looked very fucking dark almost illegal.

"Get to where you want to go and we can figure that out when we cross that bridge." She said getting onto her phone. She had that privacy screen on her phone so I couldn't see shit that she was doing.

Not that I should come off as—

"Nosey?" She butted in.

"I-I... U-Umm.." I stumbled.

"Chill baby," she chuckled. "Start the car and lets go you burning time."

I let a breathe out following what she said. I started the car and drove down the street to Taco bell.

"Taco bell? Out of all places? What are you? A broke ass college kid with no financial aid left?" She laughed.

"Okay first off, fuck you. I would rather eat oodles and noodles or beanie weanies." I scoffed.

"So you are a broke ass college kid?" She raised her eyebrow.

"Junior year baby and broke as ever." I smiled.

We parked and got out.

"Oh yea? What ya grades looking like?" She asked.

"Umm.." I wondered.

"Umm in not a grade, you failing that bad?" She looked at me.

"What? No.." I waved my hands around. "Im taking 4 classes right now, I have two As, One B, and my other class Im flunking in." I admitted.

"Hmm.. I don't expect you to be passing with flying colors, but lets make a deal hm?" She said holding the door open for me.

"To make a deal I would have to know you longer than tonight right?" I said walking up to the counter.

"You will trust me.." She smirked. "Order, I'll get a table," She walked off after handing me $20.

I knitted my eyebrows together but eventually I ordered what I usually get. "2 chicken quesadillas with a few mild sauce packets and a cheesy bean burrito."

"Okay anything else?" The guy asked.

"-Oh and a Frozen Baja Blast."

"Okay $12.86," I handed him the bill and received my change.

I grabbed my slush and walked over to sit with Vinny. The more I stare the more I see how really fucking attractive she is for a white girl.

I sat down waiting on my food, "Here's your cha-"

"Keep it. Im good." She said. "Now back to our deal, If you can bring that last class up to at least a low B, I'll pay for your tuition next semester."

My eyes bulged. "You cant be serious?!"

"As a heart attack baby,"

A guy walked up to us mid talk to hand me my phone. "Thanks man," I said lowly. He nodded and walked off.

"No, I just barely met you no more than 20 minutes ago at a bar. I'm not taking your money." I said opening my quesadilla pack.

"Im not asking you, I'm telling you. Least I can do for a pretty ass girl like you is help her out to succeed in life right?" She smirked grabbing my slush and taking a sip.

"Hey! I don't know where the fuck your lips been. You could have herpes or some-"

"Oh shut up," She said mugging me taking another sip of my drinking then sliding it back to me.

"Whatever don't touch my shit." She started to get up out her seat.

She leaned down whispering into my ear, "Like this?" She laid her hand right near my now soaked area.

"You would want me to anyway hm?" She whispered. Her voice was smooth as hell. Silky to my ears.

"N-No.." My breathing hitched.

Is it the little bit of alcohol still lingering in my system causing me to arouse like this?

Gotta be.

"Get ya pretty ass up and lets go." She said standing back up straight.

Yes daddy..

"I haven't even finished my food!" I said.

"Girl fuck that food, I got plenty for you to eat," she smirked at me going towards the door.

I blushed slightly and grabbed my food following after.

We got back in the car. She said I could drive myself home.

"Question. Your name is Vinny-"

"Thats a statement mama," She said typing away on her phone.

I mugged, "Okay let me finish though," I said feeling a bit annoyed. "Anyway, I'm asking about your race."

"White and Italian." She said.

"Mom was from Missouri. Took a trip to Italy and met my dad." She said. "One student visa and a hotel later, I was conceived." She smiled.

"Oh cool, what does your Vinny stand for?" I asked pulling onto my street.

"Dont worry about that." She said.

I shrugged and finally I made it to my house.

"Phone.." She demanded with her hand out.

I was confused at first but then handed her my phone. She put her number in and saved it.

"You should text me again tomorrow when you wake." She said.

"I'll think about it." I said.

"We don't get paid to think mama," I gave her a 'bitch shit up' look.

"Yea okay, like I said I'll think about it." I got out the car and walk to my front door. She pulled off not too long after me getting inside.

"The people I fucking meet I tell you." I said to myself.

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