Part of The Game

XVII

Tanya's view

"Wait, run that back." I said, sitting up.

"My name's Bryan and I shot you." The boy repeated.

"Bryan, how old are you?" I asked.

"15."

"Then, why the fu-" I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

"He was hired." Dave said.

"What?" I asked, opening my eyes.

"He was hired to shoot you. Got paid 20,000 dollars to help his mom with bills."

"Come here, Bryan."

"Tanya." Dave said.

"He's 15, I'm not gonna do anything to him." I rolled my eyes.

Bryan sat down by my feet and put his head down.

"I'm sorry." He mumbled.

"It's fine." I said. "So, a guy came up to you and offered you the deal?"

"Yeah." He said.

"Was he alone?"

"When he came up to me, yeah. But, there was a woman in the passenger seat of a car that wasn't parked too far from us."

"Okay." I said. "So, it was probably his car. Did you see the woman?"

"Not really. I just know that she was light skin."

"Alright. Dave, I'm tired."

"Okay, let's go." Dave said. "You need a ride, Bryan?"

"Yeah, if you don't mind." Bryan said.

"Alright, let's go."

Bryan noticed my crutches and helped me up. I struggled to walk a little bit and again Bryan noticed it.

"I can carry you on my back." He said. "It's the least I could do."

I looked at Dave and he nodded. I sighed and hopped on Bryan's back. Dave grabbed the crutches and we went downstairs. When we go to Dave's car, Bryan gently placed me in the back seat and Dave put the crutches on the floor before shutting the door. The boys got in and Dave pulled off, following the directions that Bryan gave him.

"So, Bryan, you go to Sheldon?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"How those grades looking?' Dave asked.

"Good, except for math." Bryan mumbled.

"What're you taking?"

"Geometry."

"Well," Dave said. "you got a nerd in the backseat who can help you."

"I'm not a nerd." I laughed.

"It's fine." Bryan said. "I'd feel bad asking for favors."