Chapter 19: Private Radiance

Justin pushed through the group of men as hard as he could manage, “I said get the fuck outta my way?” He turned to them with a look that could melt ice.

“Sorry.” They backed away casually.

Damn right. Shifting his attention to the room where Celeste had locked herself, he knocked harshly, “Open up!”

On the other side, Celeste stood by the open door leading to the outside. She debated between opening the door and just leaving, wondering if that was Justin’s voice she heard surrounded by loud chanting. “Should I leave? Justin can find his way back somehow.”

Why the hell ain’t she opening this damn door? He wanted to get to Celeste before she started panicking and left.

Is that Justin? No it couldn’t be. He hadn’t said “chicken grease” so it couldn’t be Justin.

“Come on Celeste…open the damn door.” He leaned against the door sluggishly. All his strength was gone. His knuckles ached terribly as did the rest of his body.

“Chicken grease…” He mumbled, and then he suddenly perked up.

“Chicken grease! Chicken grease, Celeste open the door.” The door suddenly opened behind him and he dropped to the dusty concrete floor.

Celeste moved his legs aside careful not to injure him anymore, and then dragged him by the belt buckle of his jeans. When she had successfully cleared him from the threshold of the door, she quickly shut it before anyone had the time to notice.

“Justin? Are you okay?” She tapped the side of his face lightly.

Justin winced. “I felt that Celeste.” He chuckled.

“Oh sorry. Eww you’re still bleeding.” Celeste looked around for a towel or something to stop the flow of the blood from the deep gash above his eye and the one on his bottom lip. She spotted a white towel blotched with red stains, which she assumed was blood from a previous fight.

She settled back on her knees beside him. “I’ll be okay…Celeste stop!” He wanted her to stop as she began to free his hands from the tape and check for other injured areas.

Celeste quickly raised her hand from his bare bruised chest. “Don’t yell at me!” She warned.

“It hurts there!” Justin shouted again.

Celeste felt like an ass. She had forgotten that he had just finished a brutal fight and was in pain. She would be gentle. “Where’s the first aid kit?”

“Look where we at Celeste…ain’t no damn first aid kit.” He groaned.

“I found some fresh gauze bandages so you were wrong.” She boasted while applying the fresh bandages to his hands.

Celeste observed the bruises. His hands that were never once free of scars had skin peeling from the knuckles and cuts on the palms. She nearly gagged at the sight of them.

Celeste moved on to his face. Those bruises, more like gashes were worse. His cheek was discolored from the blow it received. And there was dried blood settling on his lips.

The bile was in her throat now waiting to escape like a terrified child running from his aunt’s firm hugs and sickening kisses. “Ugh…” Celeste’s hand shot up to cover her mouth.

Justin struggled to sit up. “Celeste?” She mumbled an incoherent response over her hand.

“What?” He pulled her hand away.

“Blood. Gag.” She jumped up dashing to the corner of the room.

“Damn.” Justin coughed. “I must be fucked up if you’re acting like that.” He attempted to laugh watching her.

“Oh c’mon Celeste” Justin started. “All that ain’t even called for. You not sick.”

“I almost was.” She defended turning to face him. “Why do you do it?”

Justin halted the task of wrapping his damaged hands. “What? Fight?” She nodded. He shrugged.

“Don’t know, cause it’s the only thing I’m good at it.” Celeste disagreed with his response as she helped him up from the floor.

He was good at other things besides fighting, taking care of her sister for example. Tati adored him and wasn’t scared to be alone with him. She couldn’t say the same for herself though. How pathetic, a three year old had more guts than she did.

Suddenly, Kyle entered from outside. “What the fuck are you doing here?” Justin grimaced as if he had a disgusting taste in his mouth.

“I was worried about Celeste.” He replied.

“Oh thank-” Justin halted her display of gratitude by gripping her hand. “Ow!”

“Sorry.” Justin said. His apology wasn’t even sincere. He was boiling; too focused on Kyle. “You don’t have to worry about her when she’s with me.”

“I wasn’t talking to you.” Kyle told him like Justin had a few hours ago.

I oughta snatch that smirk from his face and stomp on it. Justin felt the heat rise to his cheeks as he grasped Celeste’s hand tighter.

“Fuck you man.” Justin spat.

“No fuck you Justin. You think you so big and bad because you fight for a living and haven’t lost. I bet you, I could whoop your ass though.”

Justin took his words as a challenge. A challenge he was willing to accept if it wasn’t for Celeste pulling him back. “Get off me Celeste! I’m going to kill him.”

“No Justin you don’t mean that.” She used her soothing voice in the wrong atmosphere. Justin dismissed her, jerking away.

“Celeste let him go. I can handle him.” Kyle bragged.

“No, y’all need to kill all this testosterone. Please!” She begged to no avail. They were already heading towards each other. Kyle had even shoved her out the way to get a shot at Justin.

Justin watched her hit the wall, then murdered Kyle with his gaze. Fucking asshole.

Celeste groaned as she rested against the wall. She was in pain. I’ll be okay though. She convinced herself. She slowly realized that the person she was supposed to convince was not herself but Justin as she took in the sight of him and Kyle tearing at each other’s throats.

Justin was getting the best of him. She had to end this.

“Justin, I’m okay. I’m okay…Justin!” Celeste screamed to get his attention.

“Not now Celeste.” Justin advised while his fist connected solidly with Kyle’s jaw.

“No.” Celeste wondered where she’d gained the strength to push Justin off as she watched him roll to the floor. She offered her hand to Kyle.

Kyle coughed. “Thanks Celeste.”

Justin lied on the floor in shock. A minute ago Celeste had been focused on his injuries now her attention was directed elsewhere, at that shit-faced loser. He didn’t like that at all.

Kyle didn’t deserve her. He wouldn’t know what to do with her. And you do? He asked himself.  Damn right. He had cared for her and her sister, allowing them to live with him rent-free, without having to worry about where their next meal was going to come from. If anyone one deserved her it should be him. Whoa! Where had that thought come from?

Justin quickly stood to his feet dismissing the thought. “Celeste let’s go.” He left the room expecting her to follow behind him, but she didn’t.

“Come on Celeste.”

“But Justin he’s hurt. You hurt him.”

Why did she have to worry about everything?  Justin stalked over to her and dragged her out the door.

“Fuck him.” The door slammed behind them leaving Kyle feeling as cold as it was outside. But there was also a hidden smile…

~*~*~*~

“Celeste you’re not gonna talk to me?” Justin adjusted his cap on his head.

“I can’t believe you did that-”

“About something else please. He is the last person I want to talk about.” He grimaced in disgust just thinking about the one who shall rename nameless.

“You owe Bridget two hundred fifty-seven dollars and seventy cent for all the stuff she brought me.” Celeste did not look up to see the shocked look on his face, but she clearly heard his outburst.

“Two hundred fifty-seven dollars and sixty cent!”

“Seventy cent.” Celeste corrected.

She held up her hand to plead with him to let her explain, “Bridget said that I needed a whole new wardrobe. I bought Tati a few outfits and I got you some new boxers. I hope they are the right size.”

“If I wasn’t getting something I would be really mad.” He would just have to take out some money from the rainy day fund.

“That’s because you have a bad temper.” Celeste mumbled.

“What was that?” Justin turned to her. It was obvious that she had said something she didn’t want him to hear.

“Nothin’.”

“No you said something about me having a bad temper. Am I right?”

“Well you do!” After what he had just done to Kyle there was no way he could deny having a temper.

“You talking bout what happened back there? He provoked me Celeste and you know he did.” I’m not listening to this shit.

“Yeah he did but-”

“But nothing. He pushed you into the fucking wall and I saw the pain on your face so I gave him some pain. Simple as that.” Justin was starting to question if Celeste was right “upstairs” because any normal person would not have defended someone who pushed them into a wall.

“Well I should’ve been the one to kick his ass not you.”

He turned to her sharply.

“Okay maybe I can’t kick his ass, but I have a sharp tongue.”

“That you do.” Justin laughed for the first time since they had left Kyle.

~*~*~*~

“Maybe she’s asleep Justin.”

“No shit Celeste. Or maybe she just can’t hear us knocking at the damn door!” He shouted banging his fist harshly against Ms. Lou’s door.

“Shit.” Justin winced.

“Quiet!” A neighbor yelled.

“Fuck you!” He replied.

“You need to be careful with that hand…I know no shit.” Celeste rolled her eyes.

“Right…Okay fuck this. We can get half-pint in the morning.” He walked away from the door and opened his own across the hall.

He stopped to turn to Celeste, “Why don’t you ever follow me when I walk away?”

“I don’t know.” Celeste shrugged.

“Well frankly my arm hurts and I’m tired of dragging your ass. So start picking up the pace got it?” Justin moved aside to allow Celeste to walk, or more like stumble ahead of him.

“Whatever Justin. Kyle was right about-” She paused when she caught Justin’s glare.

“Y’all two got something going on?” The dreaded question.

Celeste smiled.

“What the fuck are you so happy about? Answer the question. Please.” The addition of politeness at the end of his statement did nothing to stop the frown on her face.

“You do think you are big and bad Justin. I mean it wasn’t necessary to hurt Kyle like that and then you yell at me…and you know I hate that “word”.” She successfully avoided answering his question, instead opting to reason with him in a calmer tone then the one he exuded.

“What “fuck”? half-pint ain’t around. We are both adults here. Just answer my question.” Justin threw his body down onto the couch bringing Celeste down with him.

“Don’t you at least feel a little remorse for what you did?”

“Nope. I am a man of opportunity. I saw one so I took it. But I think I got my answer since you have failed to answer the question. But just tell me, what is the real reason you went shopping?” He figured it was to impress Kyle with her sexy new wardrobe. Why hadn’t I seen this coming?

The signs were apparent since the beginning of last week, especially when Kyle started coming around more than usual. There were days when as soon as Justin left in the morning Kyle would be just arriving. When is that ass gonna get a real job?

Now he knew who was responsible for Celeste’s everyday smile and radiance; certainly not he.

“…and then that’s when you saw us holding hands. I tried to explain, but you got all pissed and stormed off-”

“Celeste what are you talking about?”

“You haven’t been listening to anything I’ve said!” She had just exposed the reason she had gone shopping and why she had gone on a date with Kyle, but if he hadn’t heard her explanation then they were back at square one.

“No why didn’t you tell me you were gonna answer my question!”

Celeste closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the couch in exasperation, “Ugh Justin I’m too tired and my feet are killing me. We can talk about this another time.” She removed her shoes and massaged the soles of her feet.

“I’ll ask you in the morning. First thing. Because I’m sleepy too.” His eyes drifted close, but he turned on the television to keep himself alert.

“Ooh Rocky’s on.”

Celeste groaned, “No Justin I can’t stand to watch anymore fighting. I have enough nightmares of that hit you took to last me for a lifetime.”

Justin ignored her because his eyes were glued to the screen, “Oh this is my favorite part. Adri-anne!” He dragged out the name in perfect Rocky fashion even achieving the thick Italian accent. 

“Ce-leste!” His face distorted in distaste. “Ugh it doesn’t work with your name. Not enough syllables…” Then he paused and turned to her. “You were scared for me? I told you not to open the door. It’s ugly on the other side.”

“Yeah so are the men.” She cringed, reminiscing about the men who gawked at her like a Christmas tree on display.

“Well except for moi?”

“Hmm…well right now I’d say you fit right in.” The bruises on his face made him appear just as gruesome as the rest of those men.

“That shit ain’t funny Celeste. Stop laughing at me!” He reached over to pinch her arm.

“That hurts! Stop bruising me. God, you are so childish.”

“Oh yeah you gonna let me check for that bruise on your ass.” Justin grinned resting his head on her shoulder while gawking at her with dreamy eyes.

“Hell…no.” Caught off guard at first, Celeste forcefully pushed his face away from her. She had only been joking about that. There was no way Justin would ever see her behind or any other part of her body for that matter.

“Ow. Fuck! Celeste I got bruises on my face!” He repositioned the bandage over his scar.

“Just don’t ever hit me again.”

So much for wishful thinking. The next time he wanted to cop a feel he would make sure that she wasn’t aware of it. Like you tried to do when she was sleeping, yeah right. Even his conscious knew that wasn’t going to work. But what can he say he was an “ass man” and Celeste definitely filled the requirements in that department. Must be the jeans.Now that she was going to be wearing jeans more often it was going to be hell to keep his hands off her. Yes, he would admit it.

Suddenly something white caught his eyes.

“What are you looking at?” Celeste followed his gaze.

Justin quickly reached over her to grab the white envelope. It was clearly addressed to her, but he didn’t care.

Hey Celeste,

I left your bag of clothes in Justin’s room by the door. Hope you’re okay. I’ll come by to see you tomorrow.

The One and Only,

K.

“Fuck!” Justin crumbled the letter and tossed it across the room. Evidently it was going to be hell to keep his hands off of Kyle too.