The Kiddie Pool

Four walls yellowed by nicotine but for a ghostly rectangle of white, where a Fugazi poster hung. Paint peeled where the tape was yanked as it was removed, rolled up and put in a box by the door. He’ll bring it with him, to his grown up apartment with his future wife. I wonder if it will go back on a wall, or remain in the box. I doubt they’ll hang it in their bedroom. They have a real bed. That’s why he’s leaving me the thin, black futon on the floor.

He places the ring of keys into my open palm. I tense up at the feeling of our skin touching during eye contact. He says, “Please make sure you pay rent on time. On the first. You know, cause the lease is in my name, and I’ll be the one in trouble if it’s late.”

Fuck.

I completed the drivers ed class he teaches and got my license, but he still subs in my science class, so I won’t be able to avoid him. Although, I rarely attend, but that was the point of my moving in here. I’m not making it to school from my dad’s in the suburbs. I can’t s…