He’s perfect. I need to get his name tomorrow and start working on how to get him over here so Uncle Dumbass can meet him. Chewing her lip, she continued to go through her day, analyzing the people she had met and her choices along the way. I need a different group for lunch, too. Maybe nose-ring will have some friends and I can tag along with them. They may have forced her to be there, but they couldn’t tell her how to act or who to hang out with.
Reaching the part about her new job, an idea sprang into her mind, and caused her to giggle. There’s a phone store right down the strip from work. If I hurry tomorrow, I can get there early and find out about getting one for myself. At the same instant, she realized that would be even better, as her uncle would be putting her old phone on his plan. If he’s keeping tabs on me, he won’t know anything because my real phone will be private.
She continued to smile at her deviousness, feeling proud of her plans for extracting her revenge. Tossing her useless cell on the nightstand, she stood and got ready for bed. Then, grabbing her books, she put her schoolwork in order. Staring at one of the pages a few minutes later, she wondered how far she would be willing to go in her rebellion but quickly decided failing classes wasn’t something she was prepared to do. At least not yet.
At eight o’clock, Pete stood up to stretch and cut off the PlayStation. “That’s it, boys. Time for baths an’ bed.” He liked the way they grumbled slightly and reassured them they would have plenty of time to play in the days to come. Herding them down the hall and into the bathroom, he felt almost happy to be settling into a routine with them. If only their sister could be as compliant.
Half an hour later, he tucked them in and switched off their light. Glancing at the room down the hall, he grimaced with an annoyed sigh. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a box of cigarettes. Smacking it against his palm a few times, he packed it, then opened the cellophane. Closing the front door behind him, he knew taking up the habit would make a good excuse for being outside whenever he needed to make a call.
Sliding one out, he flicked the lighter, then reached for his phone. Watching the smoke rise from the tip of his alibi, he listened intently, waiting for John Cross to pick up the line. “Hey, bud, it’s me.”
“Yeah, I know,” his old friend quipped. “Who else would it be? You left kinda sudden las’ night,” John observed.
“Yeah, I got interrupted. Listen, I need to make this quick. I’m gonna need someone after all.” He drew a small drag and exhaled the cloud of smoke. “Let me know if you can swing it. She got a job, an’ I’m gonna let her do her thing for a while, see if she’ll settle in. I am gonna bring the boys this weekend, though. We can get started with them.”
“Yeah, we can swing it. I already got my boy set up over there with you guys. I’ll let him know. Where’s she working?”
“Some burger place across from the apartment. You know, the one we ate at when we moved the furniture in here.” Pete flicked some ash.
“Ai-ight. Anything else?”
“Nope. I won’t call again, but you can leave me a message if you need to. Otherwise, I’ll see you Friday night at the diner.” He didn’t wait for a response, ending the call and smothering the butt with his boot. On his feet, he noticed the blinds were swaying slightly in the narrow window next to the door, causing him to smile. Yeah, she’s watching me.
Back inside, Bailey in fact waited for him, having noticed he had gone out again. “I didn’t know you smoked.” She glared at him warily.
“Yeah, well, there’s a lot o’ things you don’t know about me.” He didn’t look at her as he locked the door. “Go to bed, Bailey,” he commanded, not wanting to fight with her.
Lifting her chin, the girl made her exit, half-heartedly willing to comply.
Closing the door to his own room, Peter pulled his shirt over his head, noticing the slight light-headed feeling he had picked up from his time on the porch. Brenda’d sure be pissed if she knew I was smoking again. He had kicked the habit years ago after a great deal of prodding on his wife’s part.
Standing at the dresser, he lifted an old wooden frame that held a picture of her. “I really do miss you, babe. An’ I sure as hell could use you right about now.” His wife had died from cancer three years before—his soul mate. It had been rough, but he had finally started to feel like his old self again. Or at least he had until he got a call from his mother that sent his world into a tailspin once again.
It had been nothing short of a miracle getting everything set up—something he would have to thank John for over the weekend. He had purchased a family vehicle, convinced his boss to allow him to move to an office job for a couple of months, and even had someone in the company help him secure the apartment. “Ungrateful wench,” he muttered under his breath as he dropped his jeans and climbed into the shower.
The boys are happy though, his thoughts continued to churn. And they’ll make a nice addition to the group, after all. What we’re gonna do with the girl, I don’t know yet. I guess we’ll have to wait and see if she can make it on her own.
Six
On with the Show
The following morning, Bailey rose early, getting dressed quickly and taking over the lavatory for her morning ritual. Thank God Uncle Loser has his own, meaning she only had to share with the boys. One more thing I miss about home—my own bathroom.
Observing herself in the mirror while she curled her crimson hair, she thought about nose-ring and what kind of girl he might be attracted to. I may have to do an overhaul. Some black dye, maybe even pierce a few things myself. She gave her reflection a crooked grin at the thought of being bad and damaging her anatomy for the boy. I’m sure it won’t come to that.
In the kitchen, her uncle had again prepared a nice breakfast for the two of them but refrained from speaking to her, beyond a cursory, “Good morning.”
Bailey only grunted a reply, eager to finish and get down to the bus stop to await her prince charming. Gathering her things as soon as she finished rinsing her plate, she headed out the door and made her way across the compound.
The air felt a bit cool beneath the early grey light of dawn, and she stepped inside the small glass structure to take a seat on the bench. A few minutes later, she could see the young man making his way towards her, her breath catching in her nostrils at the smell of smoke that clung about him before she realized he still had the cigarette in his hand.
Grinning at her, he nodded before taking a lengthy drag, then using the glowing roll to indicate the approaching vehicle. “So, you like it here?” He bobbed his head slightly, dropping the butt in the receptacle by the door of the tiny hut.
“It has its perks.” She gave him a slow smile while tossing her crimson curls. Leaning slightly towards him, she cooed, “I never got your name. I’m Bailey,” and offered him her hand at the same time.
He reached for her, clasping her fingers firmly. “I’m Ked.”
“Ked?” She snickered. “That’s an unusual name.” She allowed him to hold her digits for a moment before pulling them away.
“Yeah, my parents named me Cedrick for some stupid reason. I don’ like it, so my friends call me Ked.” He grinned again, looking her up and down when she crossed in front of him to climb onto the bus.
Taking the window seat, Bailey wore a satisfied smirk when he sank down next to her, their arms brushing against one another. Making small talk, the pair arrived at the school a short time later and made their way to class. It turned out he was in the first two, and she easily wormed her way into his lunch crowd, catching a ride with them to a local sandwich shop.
On the ride home, she informed him about her new job, explaining that she had to hurry to change and get over to the store as soon as they were dropped at their stop. She liked the way he pouted slightly at the news and made a point to lay her hand on his arm when she said her goodbyes, playing the flirtatious game new and thrilling to her. I think I could get used to this, she giggled to herself on the way up the stairs.
/> Changing clothes in record time, she jogged quickly to the corner to cross the busy street at the light. Arriving at the cellphone retailer, she felt relieved to be waited on right away by a young man with bright red freckles, but the joy was short lived. After she had answered a few questions, he let her in on the bad news.
“You can’t get a phone.”
“What do you mean can’t. I have the money. Why can’t I?” She practically stamped her foot in disgust.
“Well, you can, but you can’t get one of these.” He returned the model she had been inspecting to its holder. “Come this way.” He curled his fingers, indicating for her to follow. “These are our pay as you go phones. There’s no contract. This you can do. You just come in and pay your fee every month, and no one knows the difference.”
Bailey crinkled her nose at the small selection. “Does it work like a regular phone?” She picked up a shiny silver one, turning it in her hand to see how it felt. “And why can’t I get one of the regular ones?”
“Because you’re not eighteen,” the young man answered calmly. “Legally, you can’t sign the contract. But…these work the same way and have access to the same network. It’s a little more expensive, paying month to month, but if you decide to skip a month for some reason, there’s no penalty.”
“Ok, I’ll take it.” She handed him the device. “But I can’t do it right now. I’m going to be late if I don’t get out of here.”
“No problem.” He nodded, pleased to make the sale. “I’ll put it back for you and get all of the paperwork ready. You want to come in after work?”
“I don’t know what time I get off,” she whined slightly, “but I can come again at the same time tomorrow to pick it up.”
“Great! It’ll all be ready for you when you get here. It won’t take five minutes to close the deal.”
Smiling, she clutched her oversized purse more tightly for a moment, rushing towards the door. Arriving at her place of employment at five on the dot, she huffed slightly, glad that he wasn’t upset she barely made it. “I guess this’ll take some getting used to,” she panted.
“Get here as quick as you can,” her boss agreed. “And don’t make a habit of being late. You’ll be fine. Now, let’s get on those new employee forms, assuming you would like to get paid.” Leading her to the back, he made copies of her ID and social security card.
Not sure what to put on most of the blanks, Bailey guessed at anything she wasn’t sure of, especially the questions regarding dependents and taxes. I don’t plan on working here that long, anyways, she rationalized. Although, having the income could prove useful. Chewing the cap on the pen for a moment, she recalled that she had already begun making plans as to how she would spend her new wages. So I guess I will see how it works out.
When her paperwork was in order, the girl followed a fellow employee out to the front, where she was given the task of keeping the dining room in order. By ten o’clock, she felt exhausted and tired of the burger joint already.
Here I thought I was getting out of being the maid, she complained silently to herself as she wiped down her umpteenth table of the night. Of course, I can’t quit. That would play into her uncle’s wishes, which she would do anything to avoid. Noticing the last patron finally gathering his schoolbooks to leave, she looked at the clock. Thank God. We’re closing.
Mark called her over while he locked the doors. “So, how was your first night?”
“It was great!” She flashed a fake smile. “I can’t wait to do it again tomorrow.”
“Wonderful.” He returned the grin. “Get your stuff out of the office, and I’ll let you out. And we’ll see you at the same time, then.”
Making a mad dash for the back, she opened her tiny locker and tugged on her bag until she had wiggled it out, giving the door a slam. “Good night,” she bade her new employer at the exit, pausing to look up at the overcast sky when she was outside. Drawing a deep breath, she sighed, well, I survived my first day, while hearing the lock click behind her.
Crossing the street in the dark, she made sure to use the light, surprised at how much traffic still roamed about. People in Texas must keep far different hours than they did back home. Letting herself into the apartment, she discovered her uncle sitting in a recliner built into the end of the sectional sofa, bare chested and reading a magazine.
“Hey,” she breathed. “You waited up for me?”
“Of course,” he replied curtly. “I kept some dinner warm for you.”
“Ah, thanks, but they let me eat at work.” She made her excuse and scurried down the hall, closing her door gently behind her. The man had muttered figures under his breath as she left the room, putting a grin on her face. Dropping her purse on her desk, she quickly gathered her night clothes to take a quick shower and remove her makeup before she climbed into bed.
The following day amazingly similar, the young man at the cell store had her phone ready, exactly as he said he would. Placing it in her bag, she couldn’t wait to get home and start to work on her new Facebook page. Being placed on dining room duty again, she sat to work clearing tables for the rest of the night, and her mind soon began to wander, with the ridiculously easy task she earned twelve dollars an hour to perform.
First, she thought about her new profile and what she would put on it. Deciding that she wanted to be a different person than the Bailey she had always been, she devised several changes that would definitely be made. She also became a little sad she had already given her name as Bailey to her new classmates, since this would have been the perfect opportunity to change it if she had ever wanted to.
Eventually, her mind settled on her parents and the fact that they had died so unexpectedly. They had never been a deeply religious family even though she attended services from an early age. Bailey had begun to suspect years ago that doing so was all part of the act—all part of the front that the family presented to the world—and nothing more. Nonetheless, she wondered if they were in heaven, looking down upon her and judging her actions.
A forlorn funk settled over her, and she wiped angrily at the grease spots and piles of ketchup left behind by the patrons. Allowed to eat a small meal during her fifteen-minute break, she sat quietly, suddenly wishing she had been more choosy as to where she had taken employment. Cheeseburgers and French fries might be every other teenager’s ideal meal, but she was accustomed to finer restaurants where a waitress took your order at the table. This will get old quick.
Noticing a young man with spiky blond hair take a seat in the corner, she recognized him from the night before. He’s studying or something. She eyed his books and papers as he got comfortable. And he was the last one out last night. Glancing at the clock and ending her break, she stood to dump her trash. Returning to work, she again became lost in thought, this time purposely avoiding her parents and choosing to focus on the things that she could change about her life and future.
Closing time arrived eventually, and the young man gathered his things and left, seeming not to notice the girl who had bustled around him while he read. Again, her boss allowed her to grab her purse and take off as soon as all the tables were wiped down but this time with the promise to teach her something new over the weekend.
“I come back at the same time tomorrow?” she inquired, realizing that it would be Friday. She suddenly wished she had the night off in case Ked were to ask her on a date.
“Yes, only we close later, so you won’t be getting off until midnight both tomorrow and Saturday. After that, I’ll have you on the regular schedule, and you’ll know your shifts ahead of time and can plan around it.” He smiled at her when he spoke, obviously pleased at her performance thus far.
“Great.” She managed her own grin. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.” Hearing the lock click in the door behind her, she made her way over to the light. Pressing the crosswalk button, she waited impatiently for the signal, then made her way to the apartment via the stairs. This time, her uncle wasn’t waiting for her but di
d come out of his room long enough to be sure she had closed and locked the front door behind her.
So what, she muttered to herself, alone in her room. At least I finally get to work on my profile. Making her shower quick and slipping into bed, she turned on the device and pulled up the app. She set up her new profile using the last name Mason instead of Dewitt. Like stone, I refuse to be broken. She smiled to herself as she worked, and her bedside clock read well after midnight before she set it aside and finally fell asleep.
Seven
Biding Time
Bailey awoke later than usual the following morning. Frowning at the flashing red numbers, she cut off the alarm and rushed to the bathroom, getting dressed and hurriedly putting on her makeup. Not taking the time to curl her hair, she brushed out her auburn waves and twisted them up into a quick bun. Flying out to the kitchen, she sat down and devoured the morning meal, ready to leave and hopefully still make the bus.
“Not so fast,” her uncle interceded. “I’ll give you a ride this morning. We need to talk anyways.”
Bailey froze, petrified by what he might have discovered and want to discuss. Between the secret phone, Ked, and her plotting, she had become a nervous wreck. “Ok,” she replied in a shaky tone. “Is everything ok?”
Peter picked up on the slight tremor in her voice and wondered briefly if she had actually heard his conversation the other night when she had been watching at the window. “I’m taking the boys to The Ranch this afternoon, for the weekend in fact.” He settled back into his chair, awaiting her response.
Bailey’s jaw dropped. “The ranch? What ranch?” she demanded loudly, only taking a moment to piece a few things together. “You really don’t live here, do you?” she accused.
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