by Holly Hood
Mason always said I was the most amazing looking girl, that my body drove him crazy. He said I was made that way to work all the men up. I always thought he was failing at romance when he said such a thing.
But as I watched him watching us, it was obvious whose body was drawing all his attention. Lainey grabbed my arm and started running toward the water. I quickly shook my sandals from my feet as our feet hit the water.
We both went under simultaneously. The soft lull of water filling my ears and shocking my hot skin. I immediately opened my eyes, a million particles floating past my face as I swam. I could see Mason and Lainey standing a safe distance away from each other. I stretched my arms and legs, swimming further.
When I swam I felt like life was pulled from my shoulders and tossed to the wayside. I was weightless. And something was holding me up for once. I didn’t have to try to do anything, no matter what I did I was secure when I swam. And nothing mattered.
My entire life I never knew what it felt like to have someone worry about me. No one ever cared about me. And living my life that way made it hard to be normal.
I didn’t want to be sad. I didn’t want to feel sorry for myself. It was hard to when you never do anything else. When I lived with my mother I never saw anything good in her. I never saw much of her at all. She was never there, she never cared and I was alone almost every day of my life.
I got used to it. And I learned that my best friend was myself. But even I didn’t have what it took to make me feel loved or care for.
And like a leaf in a stream, I was swept through life like a current. It never mattered what was happening around me, I still had to move on.
My mother was never angry and bitter like Wanda. She was the opposite. My mother was overly emotional. She was always crying or upset about something. She never said why, she just went on her way.
Men were her comfort, a sort of torture and at the same time a soothing place to run to. She was a beautiful woman with a broken soul. And there wasn’t one day in my life that I felt like she was my mother. She was a woman living under the same roof as me. I was a burden in her home. A burden she ignored and never looked at.
I resurfaced once my lungs were on fire and begging for air. Mason’s body was floating off in the distance. Lainey trailing behind him, they were having a conversation as they drifted further away.
I decided I had enough swimming and headed back up the hill, grabbing my clothes from the ground. I started walking. They would never even notice I was gone. And this gave Mason the chance to make Lainey happy. I knew Mason liked to make people happy. He would never treat anyone badly if he didn’t have to. And there was no reason to treat Lainey bad. Deep down Mason was a nice guy.
As I headed through the trees I hoped I knew the way back. Birds chirped overhead, making my walk seems more like a fairytale then real life. I plucked a leaf from the passing bush, small trickles of water slid down my body and fell on the ground with every step I made. My hair pelted my back with a continual current of water.
Twig crackled behind me and I spun on my heels and screamed. It was Noah. He had on board shorts and a towel slung over his shoulder.
“Were you trying to go back?” he asked.
I couldn’t form words I was to startled to see him. He waited for me to say something, but all I could do was nod.
“Well, you’re going the wrong way,” he said turning around and heading back the opposite direction.
I stopped in my tracks, worried going back with him wasn’t the best idea. But pushing all the negatives vibes away I followed him, until I realized we were nowhere near the house or water anymore.
“This doesn’t look like the right way,” I said. Noah turned and shrugged.
“I’ve lived here my entire life. Of course it’s not the right way,” he said, watching me.
I kept my expression stoic. I wasn’t going to panic. This wasn’t the worst thing that ever happened to me.
He grabbed me by the arm, squeezing my arm tightly. “You think it’s okay to make me look like a fool?”
I pulled at his hand. The grip he had on my arm nearly crushing my arm.
“I don’t like looking like a fool either. And I wasn’t about to let you do what you wanted to do.” My heart was racing, my mind waiting for the next thing to happen—whatever the next thing was.
“I don’t like girls like you. You and your so called family come here pretending to need a place to stay. But I know you’re all a bunch of con artist. I know you are,” he insisted.
I pulled away, backing in tree when I tried to get away from him.
“I’m not a con artist. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Let me go before you do something really stupid,” I said.
Noah shook his head, wrapping his arms around me. He kicked my feet out from under me with one quick kick to my legs. We fell to the ground with a thud his body falling on top of mine and knocking the air out of me.
“You were willing to let my dad have what he wanted. Weren’t you?” he asked, pulling at the strings of my bathing suit top. I closed my eyes, his hands clamping down on my throat. Noah was nuts.
“Just tell me. I want to hear you say it. Say you were going to bang my old man,” he pushed my face into the dirt and leaves.
“No.” I choked, his hand crushing my windpipe.
“What kind of girl does that?”
“I don’t know,” I said, squeezing my eyes tighter so I didn’t have to look at him.
“Tell me right now. Say it!” He grabbed my face, nose to nose with me.
“Let me go,” I screamed, lifting my head from the ground trying to get loose. Noah slammed my head back down forcefully.
“My parents may be stupid, but I’m not. Tell me why you guys are here,” he said again, spit flying from his mouth, anger radiating through his entire body. All the way to the hands that were pinning me down.
He pulled back and slapped me across the face. And then he waited, when it was clear I wasn’t going to answer him he slapped me again.
I fought hard, trying to punch him in his smug face, but was only crushed by body.
“You need to get far away from my house, you and the rest of your so called family. And if you don’t, I will tell my mom what kind of girl you really are, because I don’t like you, any of you.”
“Fine,” I breathed, my head pinned under his elbow.
“Are you guys wanted? Did you do something?” he pressed.
“No!” I winced as he tugged my head to the side by my hair.
“Then why are those broads so sneaky and strange acting all the time?”
“I said we would leave, just let me up.” I begged.
Noah sat up, he squeezed my throat with one hand, pushing into my shoulder with the other to keep me in place. It was all a game to him. He stared down at me, as if I was a wild animal he could torture. Even if he was angry, knowing what kind of people we were he should have known better then to mess with us. I wasn’t sure how or why he knew, but he did.
I gasped as a large branch crashed down upon his head.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Mason yelled, swinging the branch at Noah over and over again. Noah blocked the brunt of his attack with his arms. To caught off guard to defend himself.
I jumped to my feet with the help of Lainey.
“Noah what is wrong with you?” She exclaimed in tears.
“Mason, stop!” I screamed, grabbing Mason’s arm and stopping his assault on Noah. I pushed him away.
“Let’s go right now,” he demanded, taking hold of my arm. I pulled away, grabbing a hold of him instead.
“That’s right. We need to go, all of us,” I said, giving him a serious look.
Mason turned around, looking at Noah. Noah picked himself up from the ground. His face was fine, but his arms were scratched and bleeding.
“You two aren’t related. And those woman your with are bad news. Not to mention her and her scheming ways. My parents
have a lot, and you’re not taking what’s mine,” he said breathless, trying to explain himself.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Mason asked. “Beating Kendall senseless is not going to fix anything. And if you think that about us, why would you want to mess with us then?”
Noah shook his head, checking his face for blood. “I don’t want you around my family.”
Mason nodded and grabbed me by the arm again. “Fine, not a problem.”
Lainey chased after us. “Are you guys in trouble? If you’re in trouble just say so. I know my parents would help you out.”
Mason laughed and kept on walking.
“Lainey shut your mouth. Just let them leave.” Noah called after her.
“Your just kids, we could help you,” she begged. I looked at her, wondering what it was she thought she could possibly do for us.
“Lainey, you’re a nice girl, but there’s nothing you can do for us,” Mason told her. He stopped walking, lost.
“Our parents have a lot of money. If you’re in trouble because of those woman just say so and they will help you. I know they would,” she said again. Noah stood behind her in disbelief.
Mason released his grip on my arm and got in front of Lainey. He stared down at her intensely. “Leave us alone. You don’t know anything about what is going on.”
“But there are things all over the news. And according to all of you, you guys were near those parts where they are saying these things happened.” She blabbed.
I was blown away. I was trying to make sense of what she just spilled. Trying to figure out if I head what I thought I did. That Lainey and Noah believed we were criminals on the run.
“Lainey, shut up already. If they are do you think it’s good to point it out to them?” Noah yelled at her. He started pacing the forest floor.
“I think they are good people. I don’t want anything to happen to them,” she said.
Mason sighed. “There are a lot of bad people out there, Lainey. I know Kendall and I are not them. I appreciate you worrying about us, but Kendall and I are going to be fine. And we will be out of here as soon as tonight,” he said.
“What about you, Kendall?” Lainey asked, grasping for straws. Noah looked at me, even he seemed concerned suddenly.
“I think we have outstayed our welcome. And I think you’re a nice girl, but Mason and I are and always will be okay,” I said looking away from the disappointment on her face.
“Well, let’s head back then. I apologize for getting all crazy. You guys should really watch yourself,” he said. “Read the papers more often or something.”
Mason threw his arm around me. The cat was out of the bag, he had every right to now. We didn’t admit to anything. But we all silently agreed that we understood what was going on. Noah didn’t want his family harmed because of us. He wanted us gone, so that was what we would do. I knew agreeing to leave was enough to keep him silent. And if not, we always had a way to stay one step ahead.
June 28th
The night was as dark as tar. Little specks lit the night sky. I watched them silently, leaning against the door frame. It was almost two in the morning. And we were about to leave.
I could hear the hungry bull frogs croaking. Their sound soothing rather than annoying, it fit right in with the country life Roger and his family lived. Every moment was even better than the last in this place.
I wished to myself if I ever got to choose a life to live that this would be the kind of life I wanted. To live in an old country home, secluded, with my family. Breathing in fresh air on a daily basis, with the water only footsteps away through the trees, it made everything simple. Peaceful.
I laid eyes on Roger as he traveled across the lawn. A newspaper tucked under his arm. He stopped at the bottom of the stairs. His eyes were filled with questions and concern. I knew he would never have the guts to ask the questions he wanted to ask. He had morals, a man with worn out blue jeans and flannel shirts, he was in all sense of the word a man.
“Hey there, Beautiful,” he said, climbing the stairs.
“Evening, Roger,” I said softly, keeping my eyes on the stars, the stars that I had wished on a million times in my life.
“I heard you guys are heading out,” he said, joining me. He took a look at the stars, running his hands across the railing, not speaking just enjoying the view.
“Yeah, we’re leaving. It’s been nice. I really like your home,” I rattled. I wasn’t the kind to create wonderful conversation with a man I barely knew.
“What do you like about it?” He leaned against the railing.
“It’s relaxing. And really pretty,” I said with a shrug.
Roger moved past my compliment, I could see in his eyes he was about to burst if he didn’t say something. I swallowed, afraid to stay still. I knew Noah was an earshot away more than likely. And Mason was probably crouched underneath the porch waiting to attack if he tried anything.
“Lainey came to me concerned about you and Mason,” he said finally. He crossed his arms across his chest and studied me very closely.
I sighed, not sure what to say. “Did she say why?” I looked into his eyes. I knew when you wanted to come across as honest you made eye contact. I came from a family of con artist I knew it all.
“That’s not important. The important thing is me letting you know that if you need to say something you can right now.”
Silence crept into the moment, curling its fingers around us. We bother stayed still, in place. I was trying to come up with something to say.
“I don’t know if you know this or not Kendall, but I am worth a lot of money. I come from money. I am willing to help you and Mason out,” he said.
I shook my head. My legs heavy like lead. The thought of anyone knowing about any of our misdeeds was the worst thing that could ever happen. I never wanted anyone to know who the real Kendall was my entire life.
I was seven years old the first time I felt like a wreck. I remember the first time I saw with my own eyes what wrong really was like. My mom and Wanda got into a big fight. Of course this was when they spoke. Mom bolted out the front door of our house in her red dress. The old wore out one she had since I could remember. She was barefoot and drunk.
And then I saw Aunt Wanda flying down the street, trying to run my mom over with her car. I imagined how great it would be if she hit her. I was seven and I would have been happy to see my own mother plowed down by a car.
I sat down on our porch steps, chaos all around me. The sun preparing to set, it was a beautiful moment in spite of Aunt Wanda’s screeching tires. It didn’t take long before I couldn’t see my mom anymore; she was busy running between cars and mailboxes trying to outrun Aunt Wanda.
Eventually they found their way back home. Aunt Wanda acted as if nothing even happened. Momma was sober from the bedlam and running. She walked right past me going back inside, not a care in the world.
That was the day I knew we weren’t a normal family. We were the rejects. The trash that didn’t care about anyone else, we just did what we wanted.
“This one time she almost strangled my mom,” I confessed, looking away from Roger.
“Wanda?” Roger asked. I just nodded my head.
“She choked her until I thought her eyes were going to pop right out of her head. I never saw someone’s face look like that before. That was the day I knew Aunt Wanda was a bad person,” I said, I hardly could breathe anymore.
Roger stayed still. He let me keep right on talking. I’m sure I gave away more then I should have. But for some reason I felt right doing so. Like for once I wouldn’t regret it. I didn’t care.
“And Payton is just as evil. Mason is in the same situation I am.”
My thoughts drifted back to the times Mason and I would talk about all the horrible things we did on the run with Wanda and Payton. The only part of my life I shared. And Mason could always win or tie any story I had about Wanda. He proved Payton was just as nasty as Wanda.
> We both were screwed up. We both knew that, it was what made us closer.
“You’re a young girl. You have the whole world in the palm of your hand and you don’t even know it,” Roger said, giving me a crooked grin. “You could have anything you ever wanted out of life.” He elbowed me in the side playfully.
“I must admit I am surprised by you, Roger,” I said, holding tight to the railing. I looked at him, a smile creeping up out of nowhere.
“Now why would that be, Kendall?”
There was nothing complicated about Roger and I. We were just two people.
“I expected a long drawn out lecture about how sorry you are for me and my life.” The wind blew my hair against my face as I stared off, my eyes locating every lightning bug appearing and disappearing.
“I’d like to say I knew the answer to your problems. I’d even like to fix what is going on, but I think you’re the only one who can fix this. And I think you know it,” he told me.
I nodded, wishing I knew what that even meant. I had no clue how to fix any of it.
“What do you want out of life, Kendall?” Roger asked, touching my hand gently.
“Peace. I want to be able to trust someone. And maybe a giant bathtub I can use whenever I want,” I said, smiling at the thought of it.
Roger chuckled. I felt a bit stupid. I didn’t have high hopes. I barely had hope at all.
“This is the only advice I can give you,” he stood straighter, his shoulders relaxing some.
“What’s that?” I asked curious.
He headed down the stairs not finishing his sentence. He motioned me to follow. I looked around, heading down the steps slowly, a bit nervous to be sneaking around right before we were leaving.
Roger nowhere to be found in the darkness, his shadow vanishing beyond the doors of the workshop.
I hurried after him, adrenaline surging my body, my heart leaping out of my chest, my stomach clenching in sort of a panic.
“I want you to take this,” he whispered as soon as I was inside, his figure hardly evident in the darkness. He pushed some kind of envelope in my hand.
