Page 64 of From the Ashes
“Hi. Now get lost.”
“But I just wanted to chat,” he grinned, his hands trying to smooth out his stained and wrinkled t-shirt. “Can’t you give an old friend a couple minutes?”
“We arenotfriends,” Nix snarled.
“Oh come on! You’re not still mad about high school bullshit, are you?” He looked at me for support, but I just continued staring daggers at him. “All that stuff was just a joke, anyway. Where’s your sense of humor?”
I couldn’t tell if his slurring was getting better, or I was just getting used to it. Being drunk at three in the afternoon on a weekday seemed like a weird choice, but this was Jordan after all. I’ve heard he’d gotten himself married and had a couple kids. I wondered where his wife was and why he wasn’t at his cushy office job in the next town over that he liked to brag about to anyone that would listen. I also noticed a pale patch of skin around his ring finger where a wedding bandshouldhave been. Seemed like the star football player of Creekside wasn’t such a catch after all.
“It’s not funny that you’re a dickhead,” Nix shot back. “Now piss off or I’ll have you kicked out.”
Jordan’s entire demeanor shifted in an instant. “You know, you queers need to learn to show a bit of respect. It’s no wonder everyone hates you. You’re mean as shit.”
“Great. Thanks for the tip. Now go away. We’re busy.”
Jordan scoffed. “Busy being a couple of fags.”
Nix was on his feet in an instant, his fist already full ofJordan’s collar.
“Don’t you say that fucking word again or I’ll–”
“Go ahead,” Jordan grinned. “Hit me. Do your worst. You know I deserve it.”
Those last few words brought me to my feet. My heart was pounding, but this time, it wasn’t because I was scared or anxious. Jordan was up to something, and I had the sudden feeling that Nix was in danger.
“Phoenix,” I said, placing my hand on his forearm. “Let him go.”
He stared at me, flames burning in those green eyes of his. I could tell he wanted to beat Jordan into the dust. Hell, I wanted him to do that. But something wasn’t right.
“Please, Phoenix.”
Without a word, he let go of Jordan’s collar, a shuddering breath leaving his body.
“What’s going on here?”
All three of us turned, the diner owner standing only a few feet away with his hands on his hips, his brows furrowed.
“This drunk asshole is harassing us,” Nix said, pointing at Jordan.
And Jordan, being of little intelligence, didn’t try to defend himself or even pretend to be sober. Instead, he looked the manager square in the eye and said, “I can’t believe you let these fags in your restaurant. They’re gonna infect all the food. Are you letting all your customers know that you’re letting all thesediseasedqueers eat here?”
The coiled up anger in the pit of my stomach suddenly sprang free and my body reacted of its own accord. It was as if I were watching a movie as my hand shot out and grabbed Jordan by his greasy hair. With one swift movement I brought his head down, smashing his face against the table. Being drunk, he didn’t have the reflexesor the coordination to stop me. He let out a grunt as he struck the wood, then crumpled to the floor in a heap. I stared at him for a moment, watching the blood trickle out of his nose. His chest rose and fell rhythmically as he lay there, completely unconscious, another one of his teeth lying on the floor beside him.
“Looks like he tripped,” I said calmly as everyone else in the diner turned our direction.
I lifted my gaze to the owner who stared back at me with wide eyes. Nix was standing beside me, his jaw hanging open in shock. There was a beat of silence before the owner finally found his words again.
“I suppose that’s what happens when you get shit-faced in the middle of the afternoon,” he replied, a grin curling up at the corners of his mouth. “I’ll call the police to come get him. Why don’t you two get out of here?”
“Right,” Nix stammered, taking my hand.
“Next time you come in,” the owner added. “It’s on us. Sorry for the trouble.”
“The pleasure was all mine,” I replied before I let Nix drag me out of the restaurant.
“You knockedanotherone of his teeth out,” he hissed the moment we were outside. “What the hell Charlie?”
“He had it coming,” I shrugged. “Clearly he needed to learn that lesson again.”