Dumb Girl

by C. R. Jane

  Graham… I didn’t know what he wanted, other than revenge.

  The guy wouldn’t be getting that. Not now that she was with me. I stopped on my way in. That was the problem. Was she really with me? We’d just had an incredible reconnection. But she wasn’t anymore mine than she was Graham’s. Charles’s. Steve’s. Did I want to fight them for her?

  Was Holland ever going to be the kind of person who just settled down? Would she be as interesting to me if she were? That was the thing. My kind of fucked-up matched her kind of fucked-up, and her kind of fucked-up didn’t follow rules.

  I guessed we were going to have to figure this out as we went along. I didn’t even know what that was going to be.

  My fingers twitched. That had been happening more and more since I put eyes on her yesterday…

  Was it yesterday? Was it two days ago? I needed to lay off the gin. It was messing with my head.

  I walked into the hotel room. Holland sat at the edge of the bed, staring forward. She didn’t even turn when I came in. I closed the door behind me.

  Setting the grease-filled burgers I’d brought down on the small table in the corner of the room, I turned to her. “Let me guess? Steve?”

  Charles had already seen her and not elicited this kind of response. She lifted her eyebrows to stare at me. “How did you know?”

  “Well, if it had been Graham, you’d be prone on the floor from the verbal lashing he’s dying to give you. This is milder than that, so it has to be Steve.”

  She leaned back on her elbows and stared at me. “I wouldn’t have pegged Graham as the one who would be this angry.”

  Okay. So she didn’t want to talk about Steve. I’d leave it alone. For now. “Who would you have guessed?”

  “Well, I’d never have pegged the four of you together, if I’m being honest. Not the four of you. But, since that happened—”

  I motioned toward the food, and she rose, cutting off what she’d been saying to make her way over. She sat down, and I took the sandwiches out of the bag before handing her the burger I’d gotten for her.

  Watching her take a bite made my dick hard. Fuck. I’d always wanted this woman, and I always would. The trouble—or maybe it wasn’t trouble—was that the others did, too. Nothing was going to be simple with Holland. I took a bite of my own burger and waited for her to swallow before I prodded her to continue. I’d been the one to interrupt her to begin with, but eating was pivotal. It came before everything else. She was at least ten pounds skinnier than the last time I saw her, and being beat up the way she was, it was going to take a lot of food to give her energy to heal from that.

  “You were saying? Who was going to be mad?” I suspected I already knew her answer.

  “You.” She nodded toward me. “We tended to have rip roaring arguments. I would have thought you would be the one waiting to give me a verbal lashing.”

  I leaned forward, taking her hand. “I’m dark. You know that. When it comes down to it, I’m not set up to do easy and lightweight. Up and down. I get you. I mean, I don’t think I’ll ever one hundred percent understand all your secrets, all your shadowed places that you hide from the world, but I see them. I always did, Holland. So no, I’m not going to yell at you for having to live whatever life this is you have to exist in. I imagine it’s not of your own making. Like all of us, we have to walk the path our parents put us on. Was it your parents who did this to you?”

  She opened and closed her mouth. Not yet. She wasn’t going to let me know. That was okay. My hands itched to sketch her just like this. Staring at me on the verge of revelation, on the way to giving me her secrets.

  Holland rubbed her eyes. “Jamie, I have to pull another con. To save all your lives. It’s the con that no one has been able to do. Not one of the girls. If I don’t do it, we’re all dead. I don’t know… that is to say, I’m not sure I can make this happen. I think you should run. All of you. To the ends of the Earth. Some island where no one can…”

  I squeezed her fingers. “Let’s not flee just yet. Talk to me about what you have to do.”

  “I…”

  The door opened and closed. It had seemed a good idea to share keys when we’d first checked in, but now I wanted to yank mine back from all of them. Immediately, if not sooner. I straightened my back. If it was Graham, I wouldn’t get in the way of his conversation with Holland, but I…

  Charles entered, closing the door behind him. He’d changed his clothes, and his hair was wet, which meant he’d showered. Holland’s gaze brightened when she saw him. I waited for the jealousy that should strike me at that sight, but it didn’t come. Interesting…

  “How’s the patient?”

  She visibly swallowed. “I think I’m slightly better. Thanks for breaking a toilet for me.”

  He shrugged. “It was nothing.”

  Charles met my gaze, and I’m not sure what he saw there before he turned his whole attention back to the girl we were both obsessed with.

  “I see your diet hasn’t improved.”

  Her smile shocked me. “Sorry, doctor. I’m still not taking very good care of my heart.”

  He shook his head, but it was with actual amusement in his gaze. “When you’re done clogging your arteries, come with me. I’ve got some stuff in my room so that I can treat your wounds better.”

  I just bet he did. He couldn’t possibly think I’d fall for that? He wanted her all to himself. I narrowed my gaze. No, he didn’t think I would. Charles was way too smart for that. Okay. This was a test. Was I going to interfere?

  I rose. “Sounds good. I’m going to sketch. Go take care of our girl.”

  He didn’t ask for or need my permission. Still, I liked giving it as though he did.

  Chapter 15

  Holly

  Past

  The watch finally made an appearance the next Wednesday. “Oh my goodness,” I exclaimed, staring at it closely. “Your watch is so nice. When did you get that?” I asked innocently.

  Brandon beamed with pride. “My dad gave it to me for my eighteenth birthday,” he explained. “It’s a family tradition that you get a Rolex when you turn eighteen,” he joked. He then grimaced. “Shoot, Holly, here I am bragging about my watch, and your grandma just died.”

  I smiled sadly. “I’m happy they got you that. You deserve good things to happen to you, Brandon,” I said quietly, actually meaning it. Brandon drew me into his arms and gave me a hug. I soaked in the warmth and affection that he was offering. I finally pulled away from him. He was staring at me with what appeared to be determination, but I wasn’t sure what he was so determined about.

  “You know, tomorrow is our one-month anniversary,” he said.

  I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t recall you asking me to be in a relationship,” I teased him.

  He grimaced again. “I kind of just…” His voice trailed off.

  I smirked at him. “Brandon, do you want me to be your girlfriend?” I teased again, and he flushed several shades of red.

  “Definitely,” he responded shyly.

  “Okay then. I’m your girlfriend,” I said with a flirty smile.

  “Okay then,” he whispered back.

  We parted ways after that, and I went back to my uncle’s house. No one was around thankfully, and I spent the evening alone.

  The next day, Brandon called me first thing in the morning. “What are your plans today?” he asked. “You ran off yesterday before I could ask you to spend the day with me.”

  I wasn’t sure if I wanted to spend the day with him. I knew it was time, time for me to get that watch, and I was dreading it. But I didn’t have a choice.

  “I don’t have any plans that don’t involve you,” I quipped back.

  “Great,” he said. “Can I pick you up?”

  I hurriedly told him that I would meet him at his house. I wanted Brandon to stay as far away from my uncle’s house as possible.

  I got ready quickly, pairing my only good jeans with a floaty red top that I knew was
great with my hair. I tiptoed down the hallway, never sure if my uncle was waiting for me. As I got into the living room, I spotted someone lying on the couch. I knew that my uncle’s workers were always in and out of the house, so I just glanced at the figure briefly. But that quick look was enough.

  A sick feeling curled inside of me, because Ashley was here. I took a step closer, the sick feeling intensified. A few steps more, and it was confirmed. It was Ashley. What was she doing here? She was supposed to have been on her way out, trying to get away from my uncle. Why was she now sleeping on his couch?

  I gently touched her shoulder. She looked like she was sleeping, but the dread only intensified when I felt how cold her skin was under my touch. I shook her once. “Ashley?” I asked loudly.

  Silence.

  I started shaking her harder, calling her name so loud that I was practically screaming. But it didn’t do any good.

  She was dead.

  I was paralyzed in that moment. Should I call the police? What should I do? My uncle suddenly appeared.

  “We have to call 911,” I cried out as I stared at his impassive face desperately.

  “Now, Holland, you know that won’t do,” he said. “Ashley disobeyed. She knew what the consequences were. And then she tried to run. This is her own fault,” he said calmly.

  I stared at him incredulously. “You did this?” I asked, as hot angry tears began to fall from my face. I had doubted that I was capable of crying anymore after Gran, but the hits just kept coming.

  “I believe you have a date to get to with Brandon,” my uncle responded in that same emotionless voice. I wiped my eyes, not even caring how he’d known that.

  “You’re a monster,” I hissed at him, unrecognizable rage coursing through my body.

  “You learned down in the basement that actions have consequences here, Holland. You will meet the same end as Ashley if you disappoint me like that.” He gave me a little half-grin that sent shivers down my spine. It was pure evil.

  “You better get going now,” he said before walking slowly out of the room, as if he wasn’t leaving a dead body behind.

  I didn’t recognize myself in that moment. It was like I was having an out of body experience. I walked away from Ashley’s body, not giving her a second glance, and practically ran to Brandon’s house.

  He was overjoyed to see me. I was on him before he could say hello. I just wanted to get a break from reality that only he had seemed capable of giving me as of late.

  “Whoa, whoa,” he said gently, holding me still as he worriedly studied me. “What’s going on, Holly?” he asked. He was giving me that same earnest look that he had when I had asked him for money so that I could get to Gran’s.

  “Help me forget,” I whispered to him. “Make me feel,” I begged. He released me gently, and this time, he didn’t try to stop me when I began to kiss him. Instead, he returned my kisses in earnest. Our movements were clumsy. Contrary to what the Gran’s romance novels had said, sex in high school was awkward and a little bit ugly. But it was exactly what I needed. I welcomed the pain when he entered me, feeling triumphant in this small moment that my uncle’s plan was going to fall through. So what if he killed me? He had taken everything else away from me. I’d probably rather be dead than be owned by him. At least this way, I was controlling something.

  When it was done, Brandon lay beside me, his arm around my waist, joy written across his features. “That was amazing,” he gasped, still a little out of breath.

  I smiled at him and gave him another kiss. It hadn’t been amazing, but it had done the job. For that brief moment, I had stepped away from my life.

  When we got dressed, Brandon wanted to make me breakfast, and I decided to let him. As he finished putting on his shirt, I eyed the Rolex that was sitting on the nightstand next to the bed. He must’ve seen my glance, because he picked it up and held it out to me. “You should have this,” he told me, the tips of his ears blushing adorably.

  I pretended to be shocked at his offer. “I can’t possibly take that,” I gasped at him.

  “It can be a catch up for all the birthdays I missed,” he told me. And there were stars in his eyes. Once again, I felt that twinge of satisfaction. Boy was in love with me. I could tell.

  “Brandon, I’m not going to take the Rolex that your family got you for your birthday,” I scolded him. I’d rather just steal it. I would have to steal it actually, because as soon as Brandon’s parents found out that he had given his maybe girlfriend of one month his Rolex, there would be hell to pay. He probably would have to ask me for it back and then there would be all sorts of issues when I couldn’t give it back, because it was in my uncle’s possession.

  No, this would be something that I would need to take, most likely at school when there were other people around and I couldn’t be pointed to as the culprit.

  Brandon was a little chagrined that I wouldn’t take the watch, but he soon forgot it as he made breakfast for me, and we flirted and kissed as he cooked. That was another thing that I had learned. Guys liked taking care of you. I was pretty sure that it made Brandon like me even more when I let him take care of me. It wasn’t the worst thing.

  We had sex one more time before I went home, even though I was sore. It was like I couldn’t help but distance myself further from my virginity. Brandon again tried to get me to let him take me home, but I wasn’t hearing it.

  I didn’t want to be around Brandon any longer, but I didn’t want to go home. Knowing my uncle, Ashley’s body would still be lying on the couch, waiting for me. Or maybe not… How long did it take for a body to smell? My uncle wouldn’t like that in his house. That was a better fit for the basement.

  Still, the thought of going back to the house made me feel sick. So I wandered around. I walked for hours, no particular destination in mind. No money to buy anything more than a coffee at a small cafe that I passed. Worry started to creep in as I walked. Worry about how my uncle was going to react. I could try to pretend like it hadn’t happened and fly to London to whatever buyer he had found. There were tons of girls that didn’t have a hymen who were still virgins.

  But I knew that probably wouldn’t work. Whatever son of a bitch he had found in London probably had experience with this sort of thing and would know immediately. And then that would make things even worse for me.

  I would just sit on it for a while, I decided eventually.

  I told myself that everything would work out, but I knew that I was lying.

  Nothing good ever happened to a girl like me.

  The body was gone when I eventually got home that night.

  But somehow, that seemed like a worse sign than if he had left it there.

  Stealing the watch was simple. After how much I had gushed over Brandon’s watch, he wore it every day that next week. He had to take the watch off for football practice each afternoon, and even though the football team had lockers, I had learned how to pick locks from Gran early on… another warning I should have probably picked up that Gran wasn’t exactly on the up and up.

  There were no cameras in the locker rooms for privacy reasons, and the hallway cameras were just for show, based on a conversation I had heard Ms. Jenkins and Principal Havisher having. Principal Havisher had been bragging about how the students could be controlled with nothing but “dummy” cameras.

  The joke was on him though, because I knew for a fact that most of the student body were now aware the cameras were fake. They were getting away with whatever they wanted, because the principal had stopped having teachers monitor the halls as much because of the fake cameras. Adults could really be idiots sometimes.

  During my last period, I slipped out of class twenty minutes after it started, using the excuse that I needed to use the restroom. I figured I had about ten minutes to be gone before the teacher would get suspicious. I immediately went to the football locker room, slipping in casually like I had every right to be there. I had learned that if you acted like you weren’t doing anything w
rong, people were less likely to notice you were in fact doing something wrong… it was a weird fact of life.

  Brandon had told me the team changed quickly and got outside to run laps, so I knew with the forty-minute wait that the locker room would be empty, and sure enough it was. The main problem that I had was that I had no idea which locker was Brandon’s, and I couldn’t exactly ask him. Not even the spirit girls were allowed to come in here to drop off treats, they had to give them to the players directly. I wasn’t sure how I was going to break into fifty lockers in ten minutes.

  Luck was on my side though. The locker room was a mess, and Brandon had left the bright red Nikes he had worn to school on a bench… I assumed in front of his locker.

  Sure enough, when I popped the spring in the locker, on top of Brandon’s balled up clothes from the day was the watch. I quickly grabbed it and hid it in the waistline of my jeans. I had worn my tightest pair so that it would stay. I had also intentionally worn a loose shirt so I could hide any bulge. Just in case I was caught in the locker room or coming out of it, I hadn’t wanted to have the watch in a bag that could be searched. After closing the locker and relocking it, I was done. This time, I couldn’t ignore the rush I felt about what I had just done.

  I was just about to go back in the hall when two things happened—I heard talking out in the hallway, and the back door of the locker room opened. With only a second to think, I ripped the front of my shirt and pulled some hair out of my ponytail so that it seemed a mess. Moaning a bit, I launched myself out into the hall, making sure that I stumbled as I did.

  “Ms. James,” a disgruntled voice called out. Sure enough, my math teacher, Ms. Franklin, was out there with a girl I didn’t recognize.