Dirty Nails by Regina Bartley

would just breathe, and do what I was told.
    Sketch never bothered talking to me either. Something was up with him and Max. I didn’t bother asking though. Those two always seemed to be up to something. The busier they were, the less they noticed me. I could handle that.
    When I woke up this morning, my head was pounding. I didn’t even want to lift it off the pillow. I was freezing, but my body was sweating all over. I don’t ever remember feeling that sick. My head would barely lift above the pillow.
    I stayed in the bed for as long as I could. Eventually I had to get up before someone came looking for me.
    My body was so cold. I slipped on a hoodie and a pair of loose fitting sweatpants. There was a knock on my door, and when I stepped out of the bathroom Sketch was already standing inside. He hadn’t waited for me to open the door.
    “Max is looking for you. Jared has been standing outside the door for hours.”
    I stumbled across the floor, barely able to lift my feet.
    “Shay, what’s wrong?” He rushed over to me.
    His hands reached for my face. “You’re burning up.”
    “I don’t feel good Sketch.”
    The lines in his forehead bunched together in concern. “You need to lie down Shay. I’ll go let Max know. Where does it hurt?”
    “Everywhere.” I grabbed his outstretched hand and let him help me back into the bed. My head felt like it might explode.
    “Just lay down. Don’t get up. I’m going to get Max now.”
    I didn’t reply, just looked into his eyes. The moment didn’t last long. My eyes were too heavy to keep open. He drifted away quickly.
    Not sure how long I had lain there before Max came in.
    The door made a loud bang and roused me.
    “What are you doing Shay? You’ve been acting weird for days, now you’re sick.” So he did notice.
    I slid my hand up to my ear to try and help drown out his loud voice.
    “Get up. You’re fine.”
    “She’s clearly not. Look at her. She needs a doctor.” Sketch said from across the room.
    In a flash Max had Sketch slammed against the wall. “I suggest you keep your mouth shut.”
    What the fuck?
    Max was beyond angry. Carefully I slid my legs from under the cover and over the side of the bed. Sketch was eyeing me. Max’s hand was still wrapped around his throat. I could tell by the look on his face that he was about to break Max. Literally tear him to shreds. He could probably do it, being the beast and all. The only problem was that Max was a trained killer. He’d be gone in a second if he didn’t shut up.
    “I’m up,” I called out.
    Max let go of Sketch. His eyes were like icicles, cold and dagger like.
    “Enough of this nonsense Shay. I don’t have time for this.” His arms were moving quickly and he couldn’t focus. I’d seen him like this before. He was tripping the hell out. It scared me. It happened when he got angry. He’d just flip.
                  I stood up slowly.
                  “You have work to do.” He yanked my arm.
                  “Please Max, you’re hurting me.”
                  “I said I don’t have time for this.”
                  He pushed me hard. I lost my balance and fell to the floor. There was no way I could move. My whole body ached all over.
                  I couldn’t get up.
                  I couldn’t.
                  “It hurts huh.” He kicked me. “Does this hurt? Huh? What about now?” He kept kicking me.
                  I sank down further.
                  It hurt.
                  It hurt so much.
                  Each blow came harder and faster than the next. My vision started going and I felt like I was drifting outside of my own body.
                  I cried, but I don’t know how I managed to do even that. The pain was too much.
                  Why?
                  Stop please. I thought, but I