“Wow, tell me how you really feel, Imi.”
“She’s totally into you. She sees me as a threat,” I told him, rolling my eyes.
Yoss laughed lightly and then leaned forward, just slightly, his forearms brushing against my knees and I shivered. Why was he always making me tremble?
“And are you?”
“Am I what?” I asked, swallowing thickly. His eyes burrowed holes through me.
“A threat,” he said softly.
I giggled and looked away. “Why would I be a threat to anyone?”
“Imi.” Yoss touched my leg. Then his fingers were on my chin, gently turning my head so that our eyes met. “I—”
“Yossarian! Come on!”
Yoss snatched his hand from my face and stood up abruptly. A man that I didn’t recognize came over and Yoss looked ready to bolt.
“Yoss, we’ve got to go. It’s getting late.” The man looked down at me and smiled. It was a strange smile. I couldn’t tell if it was genuine or sleazy. He wasn’t much older than Yoss, maybe in his late twenties. He was a big boned guy though it was obvious he had lost a lot of weight. His skin seemed to hang off him in folds. His face was bland and non-descript. Like someone’s uncle that only came around for family reunions. Not someone you would remember.
“Who are you? I’ve never seen you around before,” he mused, cocking his head to the side as if I were something sort of adorable.
I glanced at Yoss, but he didn’t say anything. His entire body was taut as he shuffled restlessly on his feet.
“I’m Imogen Conner. I’m a friend of Yoss’s,” I told him.
“It’s nice to meet you, Imogen Conner.” His smile grew wider. “I’m Manny.”
Thiswas Manny?
When Yoss had mentioned Manny before, I had imagined some burly dude who laid the smack down if anyone got out of line. He was the supposed protector of the kids out here. This guy didn’t look like he could take care of himself, let alone anyone else.
“You’re a lovely girl. How old are you?” he asked and I thought his question strange. What did my age matter?
Yoss stepped in between Manny and me, shielding me from the older man’s view. “She just turned nineteen,” he interjected before I could say anything.
I frowned. Why had he lied about my age?
“Are you sure? She doesn’t look a day over fifteen.” Manny’s voice was sweet as sugar.
Fifteen? Did I really look that young? And why did I feel like my looking young was a bad thing? Not for Manny. But for me.
“I’m sure. She’s nineteen,” Yoss said firmly. I noticed his hands curling into fists and I wished I could see his face. He and Manny stared at each other for a long time. The tension was tangible.
“Okay, well that’s a shame. But you’ve got a lot to do tonight, so come on,” Manny said, stepping over the piles of Yoss’s blankets and clothes. The older guy stopped and waved at me with the same odd smile that I couldn’t quite read. “Nice to meet you, Imogen.”
I didn’t wave back. The whole interaction had left me unsettled. Manny joined two younger boys by the staircase. Manny gestured for Yoss to follow him.
“I’ll see you later,” Yoss said, grabbing his toiletries and shoving them in a plastic bag.
“Where is Manny taking you?” If I hadn’t wanted him to leave before, I really didn’t want him to leave now. I had a bad feeling and it wouldn’t go away.
Yoss closed his eyes briefly and he seemed to be in pain. “I’ve got to. I just—” He shook his head. “Shane said he’d come by in a bit. Hang tight until he shows up. I’ll be here in the morning when you wake up.”
“Promise?” I asked, my voice breaking slightly.
Yoss finally looked at me, his eyes meeting mine.
