BULLET

The drive back was mostly spent in silence. Enid would occasionally ask for a direction to make sure she was going the right way. She hadn’t stopped at the school bus, not wanting to waste time, knowing how fast a wound could worsen if not taken care of properly. To the blonde’s surprise, Wednesday broke the silence.

-Why do you have your birth certificate?, questioned the older girl.

Enid glanced at her for a moment and then looked back at the road, her hands slightly tightening around the steering wheel. Wednesday had shared with her, it was only fair that she’d do the same, no?

-I ran away from home when I was 18. I packed the necessities, such as my birth certificate and left. That is why I joined the marines. It was either that or becoming homeless., explained Enid, her eyes not leaving the road.

Wednesday just watched her for a moment before finally asking the question Enid had been dreading the most.

-Why did you run away?, asked Wednesday curiously.

The blonde sighed a little but quickly gave in.

-My parents arranged a marriage for me with a 30 year old man when they found out I was gay. When they found out I had a girlfriend., replied Enid hesitantly.

-You’re gay? That explains…some of it. But why did they arrange a marriage? No one does that here in the U.S., wondered the older girl.

-You’d be surprised by how many parents still do that. Plus, they used their beliefs and the fact that they’re mormon as an excuse to do so. They were apparently just trying to save me from having to go to hell or some bullshit like that., shrugged the blonde.

-Didn’t you have any family you could have gone to?, frowned Wednesday, not sure why the only options were homelessness and the army.

-I did, but they would have snitched on me. I tried. I went to my oldest brother. After one night, my parents showed up. I had to literally RUN away., sighed Enid, replaying it in her head.

-Your own brother? That is cruel. And that is me saying it., replied the smaller girl.

-I know, right? But yeah, after that I spent a few days at Yoko’s place and then joined the marines cause I knew that it was only a matter of time before my parents would come knocking at her door., stated the blonde.

-Yoko? Was she your girlfriend?, wondered Wednesday.

-What? No. Ew. No. She’s my best friend., chuckled Enid, making puking noises.

Wednesday smiled a little, which seemed to be a miracle for Enid as she caught a glimpse of it.

-I’m sorry that you had to run away from home., said Wednesday truthfully.

-It’s alright. I knew I would eventually break off contact anyway., shrugged the blonde.

The older girl just hummed and then looked out the window, falling back into a comfortable silence. Well, only for a moment.

-What is your family like?, wondered the blonde.

-Complicated., shrugged Wednesday.

-Wow, thanks for painting me the picture so clearly., scoffed Enid.

-My parents are still deeply in love, after decades of marriage. It’s disgusting. My little brother is pathetic, although I do care about him. My uncle is a lunatic, which is why he’s my favorite. And that’s about it., shrugged the older girl.

-Oh wow. Must have been a hard childhood, having loving parents., replied the blonde girl.

-It was torture. They were all over each other all the time. Makes me sick., stated Wednesday.

-Not a big fan of affection, are you?, chuckled Enid.

-No. I am not., shrugged Wednesday quickly.

-I could tell., nodded the younger girl.

Enid then pulled up to the gate. She watched as a camera focused on Wednesday’s face and then opened the gate for them. She drove inside and parked the car by the garage. Within seconds, everyone was standing outside, curiously looking at what they had managed to find. Enid got out first, instantly looking at Bianca.

-Wednesday needs your assistance. Take her to her room and take care of her leg., said the blonde as she walked around the car.

She opened the door for the smaller girl and helped her down. Bianca walked up to them, letting Wednesday support on her. Enid held the older girl by her waist until she was sure that Bianca got her.

-I did my best to disinfect her wound. The cut isn’t too deep., stated the blonde as she let go of Wednesday.

-I’ll take care of it., nodded Bianca as she guided Wednesday inside.

Meanwhile, the boys were already unloading the truck. They organized the tools, putting the things from each list on a pile. Enid grabbed the duffel bag and walked to the garage, going down the trap door. She checked every gun she had found at the police station, cleaning them and then putting them away safely. She heard someone come down and join her. Yoko.

-Hey., said the younger girl.

-Hi., replied Enid, continuing to clean the guns.

-What happened to her?, wondered Yoko.

-Some guy sliced her leg open with a key., shrugged the blonde.

-Where is the guy now?, questioned Yoko.

Enid didn’t respond, which of course was a response.

-Oh. I see., added the younger girl.

-What’s up, Yok?, said Enid, looking at her best friend.

-Nothing. You two just seemed…calmer., stated Yoko.

Enid looked back at her guns, continuing to clean them.

-She’s not as bad as I thought she was., shrugged the blonde.

-Amy said that you weren’t being nice to her last night., continued Yoko.

-Yeah, well, she was provoking me. If Amy hadn’t shown up, Wednesday would have ended up with a crooked nose., nodded Enid.

-What happened?, asked the younger girl.

-Did you come down here to interrogate me or something?, scoffed the blonde.

-No. I’m simply doing the job you gave me. Keeping an eye on everything and keep things in order. Making sure everyone is feeling alright., replied Yoko, treading lightly due to her friend’s short temper.

-Hm. Right., nodded Enid.

-So? Do I have to worry about you two sharing a room or spending time alone? Possibly hurting each other? With a key?, continued the younger girl.

Enid frowned and put the gun down. She turned around to look at her best friend.

-You think I did that to her., stated the blonde.

-I mean, I wouldn’t be surprised., shrugged Yoko.

-Wow, Yok. I thought you knew me better than that., replied Enid, hurt by her friend’s words.

-Well, I’m sorry but we both know how you can get when you lose your cool., replied Yoko.

-I have ways of dealing with my anger now. Okay? I’ve changed., stated Enid with a sigh.

-Alright. I believe you. I’m just looking out for everyone., said the younger girl.

-I’m not a danger to us. I could never hurt the people in this group., replied the blonde.

Yoko nodded and gave Enid a quick side hug before walking back out. Enid sighed a little, knowing that Yoko wasn’t entirely wrong for assuming that Enid had hurt Wednesday. The blonde wasn’t proud of the things she had done when losing her cool. But if the marines had taught her anything, it was discipline and self-control. She knew how to channel her anger and use it for the greater good. She was determined to prove it to Yoko that she had changed. The blonde then hurt smaller footsteps. She glanced down, seeing Amy.

-Hey, no no. You’re not allowed here., said Enid, immediately picking the kid up and walking back out with her.

She closed the trap behind herself and locked it.

-I just wanted to ask you if you wanted to join us at the pool., pouted the little girl.

-Oh. Uhm, yeah. I’ll be there soon. And no swimming in the pool if there isn’t an adult around, okay?, said the blonde.

-Okie., grinned the girl, running away the second Enid let her down.