Kisses after midnight (WICKED #0) | ✓

47

MATEO HAD BECOME ACCUSTOMED to grief so much it had settled in his lungs, heavily pressing down on him every time he breathed. He didn't allow himself to focus on that though, eyes instead trained on the crowd in front of him as he tried to find one of his best friends - someone who he knew this death had had a greater effect on than even him. Gabriela had asked if he wanted her to come along in his search, but he needed to do this alone and so he did, in the streets and corners he had gotten so used to taste blood between his teeth.

"Martinez, what are you doing here? Looking for another fight?"

He glanced back, the pale light of the street lanterns offering him enough to see the group of guys standing in the corner. With the sky as black as ink and no sound audible above the rustling of the wind, there was no one here on these streets save the sad and the lonely. Mateo knew that, knew that the way the shadows clung to them like bruises was only all too reminiscent of how he had been just a few days ago.

So he shook his head, a certain emptiness gathering in him which he couldn't shake. "No," he said," I'm looking for someone." He held up his phone, a picture of him and Jay grinning beside the principal lighting up the screen. "Have you by any chance seen the guy on the right?"

"Why are you shaking?" one of the guys frowned, a hint of concern in his eyes. When Mateo didn't reply he simply cleared his throat, not prying any further. "You and I both have been roaming these streets for quite some time, Martinez, but this is the first time I've seen you with eyes this clear. I hope you find what you're looking for."

"I hope so too," Mateo murmured.

"I can help with that."

Mateo practically whirled around at the sound, eyes widening once they settled on the girl standing in the  alley. Alina hadn't changed a thing, leaning against the wall with her bloodshot eyes and skintight outfit, though almost every inch of her was covered. Purple brushed the side of her jaw, but the bruises Mateo knew were there were hidden underneath her clothing. One of the guys whistled at her, but another quickly elbowed him in the stomach, his voice a cautionary whisper.

"That's Vince's girl."

"Vince?" he replied, eyes widening as he immediately snapped his gaze towards Alina," oh shit."

"Seriously?" another mused, placing a hand above his eyes and peering at Alina," I heard she looked crazy, but I suppose the rumors aren't true."

Mateo already grabbed Alina by her waist before she could jump, holding her back just in time. It was easy to see for him that she wasn't hurt or provoked, but just looking for a reaction, whichever way she could get one. Her smile looked as hollow as ever as she flashed it at the guys, blowing a kiss from over Mateo's shoulder.

"I have a knife in my backpocket if you want to see just how crazy I can be," she shouted.

"Never mind," one of them immediately murmured.

"So his name is Vince?" Mateo said, all focus back on the name he had heard.

Alina's expression immediately changed, the artificial amusement turning into a wary sharpness, one that cut into him like salt in his wounds. He had been so lost in himself that he hadn't looked for her as hard as he should have and the guilt was digging the glass deeper in his lungs, until he couldn't breathe anymore. Even after everything he was so useless, so unable to save anyone. For a moment he was a child again, sitting at his father's grave and counting the rocks in front of it like stars, his tears glittering on them like meteors.

"Mateo?"

He snapped out of it, eyes flicking to Alina, who had let her emotions fade into something more like concern. She blinked and the spark of it disappeared, like she didn't allow herself to feel anything. Somehow that hurt even more.