by Sean Platt
She poured them both cold glasses of milk and asked about their date. Then she asked Jordyn about herself, how she’d met Bobby, and other questions which inevitably led to stories, many stories, about Bobby as a kid. The time he tried to pet a skunk and wound up having to take three baths in tomato juice; the time he caught his first fish, then reeled it in, saw it was a catfish, and it scared him so much he threw the fish, and the pole, into the lake. She told Jordyn about his kindergarten trouble, for pushing Emily Reynolds, whom he had a huuuuuge crush on; and some sweet stories about him and his father. After the tale, she pulled out a stack of photo albums.
Jordyn and Bobby exchanged several glances as his mother endlessly rambled, clueless to his embarrassment.
“Do you all want some more milk?” she asked after an hour.
“I’ll have some water, please,” Jordyn said, if only to give Bobby a break.
As she went to the kitchen, Bobby whispered, “I’m soooo sorry. She doesn’t get a lot of visitors, so when she does, look out, she will talk your ear off.”
“She’s cute.” The woman was overwhelming, sure, but it was nice.
Bobby smiled. “She’s not always this chatty.”
“It’s okay.” Jordyn smiled.
This sure beat going home to a mortuary, and a father too drunk for dialogue. He was doing better and taking his meds, but there were still days where he was in a dark place. On those days, Jordyn kept to herself.
“Here you go,” said Bobby’s mom, handing Jordyn a tall glass of ice water.
After a few more stories, Candy yawned and said, “Okay, I’m gonna hit the hay, let you kids have some alone time.”
She winked, and Jordyn blushed.
Bobby barely covered a laugh. “Goodnight, Ma.”
“Goodnight, honey.” She hugged Bobby and then kissed him on the head. She turned to Jordyn. “It’s good to meet you, Sweetie. Bobby had better bring you around here more often.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Bobby said, his face going red. Then once they were alone, he apologized again. “I’m so sorry!”
“It’s okay. She’s awesome. And she gave me a hug and a kiss.”
“Yeah, she kind of is,” he admitted.
It was nice to see a high school boy who wasn’t embarrassed by his mom, or rude to her. When Jordyn was in fourth grade she had a crush on a boy named Spider Gentry. He was a charmer to girls, but whenever he was around his mom and dad, Spider had been an insufferable jerk. Jordyn’s mom said, “If you want someone who will treat you right, watch how they act towards their parents. That’s how they’ll eventually treat you.”
“Hey,” he said, “I want to show you something else.”
“Oh?” Jordyn said, eyebrows arched, wondering if this was his plan.
They’d only kissed and fondled. While she was attracted to him and had imagined doing more, Jordyn was also terrified. She had no experience with boys and didn’t really know what to do. And she didn’t want to make any mistakes that would mess up their relationship. Things were great. Why risk ruining them?
“Come with me,” Bobby said, leading her toward the back of the kitchen and through a door into the pitch-black back yard. “Wait.” He ducked back inside and flipped a switch.
The yard was illuminated by lights, strung from one tree to the next in a canopy of color. Blues, reds, greens, and yellows spilled from the trees onto the garden. The strings converged on a large oak tree with a wooden tree house built right into its heart.
Jordyn gasped. “Is that an actual treehouse?”
“Yeah. My dad made it for me when I was a kid.”
“Wow!” she said, approaching the tree, tracing her fingers over the wooden pieces of ladder nailed into the trunk.
“Can I go up? I’ve never been in a tree house before.”
“You’ve never been in a tree house? Wow, that’s just sad, Ms. Jordyn. Let’s fix that glaring omission from your childhood now, shall we?”
Jordyn bounded up the trunk like a giddy child, then stepped inside the house, surprised by its size. She could easily stand without hitting the roof.
Bobby climbed in behind her. “Welcome. You are officially the first girl to ever come up here.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls.”
“Only the pretty ones.” He sat on the floor, reached into a basket filled with cold sodas and snacks, and grabbed a can of Coke. “Want one?”
“No thanks.” She sat beside Bobby and looked around.
The wooden walls were filled with writing in pen, from various kids claiming their presence, a few initials with hearts, some scratched out with a knife, and a few insults — exactly what she’d expect to find in a young boy’s treehouse. It had a sleeping bag, a pillow, a small fridge, a fan, and a shelf with paperbacks and comics. There were also a few metal and plastic lunch boxes. It even had plexiglass windows which, Bobby explained, were fully functional.
“Wow, this is like the coolest treehouse ever. Do you still come up here?”
“Sometimes, when I want to get out of the house and relax. Read some good literature.” He handed her a couple of 90s era comics in Mylar bags. “These were my dad’s.”
She opened one. The New Mutants number one. The art was awesome. “Cool.” Jordyn carefully returned the comic to its bag then handed it to Bobby. She saw something behind him, written on the walls in big black marker: Calum & Bobby: Blood Brothers For Life
She laughed. “Oh, that’s so adorable.”
“Yeah, that’s from last week,” he joked.
“Blood brothers?”
“Yeah, got the scar and everything,” he said, holding up his right palm.
She put her fingers on it, feeling for a scar that she couldn’t see. “I don’t feel anything.”
He looked at his palm and shrugged. “Hmph, guess it faded.”
“How long have you two been friends?”
“Since I was ten. I’d just moved here from Jersey one summer and didn’t know anyone. And I didn’t fit in, at all. I was like this city kid moved to the backwoods. I mean it was really Rednecksville when I first came here. Anyway, I immediately caught the attention of some assholes who started bullying me. And I was sort of a Mama’s Boy, so I didn’t fight back.”
“Aw,” Jordyn said, putting his hand in hers.
“Anyway, Calum was the shit back then too. We met one day down by the creek and just hit it off. And then when school started back up, all the kids who’d messed with me were suddenly kissing my ass.”
“Because of Calum?”
“Yep. He saved my life.”
“Wow.” She traced her fingers over his, wanting to say something, but unsure of how to raise the question. “Do you feel like you owe him?” She couldn’t make eye contact, and looked down instead at his hand in hers.
“What do you mean?”
“I dunno, it’s just that he’s a jerk to you sometimes, and I don’t know why you don’t tell him to knock it off.”
His hand flinched, ever so slightly. What if she was wading into waters she wasn’t prepared for? She’d heard stories from Brianna and the other girls about “bitches” trying to come between the guys over the years, and how they always found themselves outside looking in once the dust settled. Sometimes Jordyn felt like the girls shared these stories as not-so-subtle warnings.
Still, it was hard to sit by and watch Bobby take shit from Calum. It seemed to be worse than ever since the play. Calum’s digs at Bobby had grown less subtle; he punched him in the arm hard and gave him hateful looks.
Brianna was a bit more subtle, still being nice to her face, but Jordyn could feel the girl’s hate like heat from a furnace. In the past week, she had felt increasingly like an outsider. Jordyn couldn’t help but feel like Bobby was slowly being phased out, and didn’t even seem to notice.
“He’s not bad. We bust each other’s balls. It’s a guy thing. We all do it.”
Every instinct told Jordyn to quit. If Bobby didn’t have an issu
e with the way Calum treated him, who was she to make it a problem?
“Yeah, but he seems to tease you more than the others. Don’t you think?”
Bobby withdrew his hand.
Crap!
He looked at her, confused. “What do you mean?”
“Never mind.”
“Obviously this is something you’ve been thinking about. What is it?”
“He’s just kind of a dick to you, is all. But maybe you’re right. Maybe it’s just a guy thing, and I don’t get it. Forget I said anything.”
Bobby was quiet as he finished his Coke, staring out at the night sky.
Now she felt terrible.
Rain began to fall, tapping on the roof and hitting the plastic windows like rice at a wedding.
And just like that, a light rain became a deluge — trapping them in the treehouse at a most uncomfortable moment.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I just really love you, and I hate to see someone, anyone, be mean to you.”
His eyes locked onto hers. “You love me?”
She couldn’t read him. Her heart was racing. Before she could weigh the words, Jordyn said, “Yes.”
Oh shit, did I just tell him I love him? LOVE?
Too late to take it back.
Yes, she did love him, at least Jordyn thought she did. That must be what it was when she couldn’t think of anything else, and everything about him gave her butterflies. But it was way too soon to tell him.
He kissed her.
Her heart raced faster.
His hands explored, moving under her dress.
She was surprised when her hands didn’t stop them.
Then everything happened.
And that felt right.
**
Later she’d be riddled with worry: Did I sleep with him too soon? Was the condom foolproof? What if I get pregnant?
But for the moment, life was perfect.
She’d masturbated, but it was night and day, the difference between touching yourself and feeling someone inside you. She wanted to go again, but—
“What time is it?”
Jordyn fumbled for her purse.
Bobby grabbed his phone. “Eleven-forty.”
“I need to get home.”
Bobby was already standing. “Shit. Yeah. Sorry.”
They quickly dressed, then headed down the ladder planks, getting soaked in the rain. Instead of going through the house, where they might run into Bobby’s mom, Bobby led Jordyn through the gate to the front yard.
On the way home he said, “Can I ask you a question?”
“Okay.” Jordyn was nervous, wondering if Bobby’s question might have something to do with the sex being bad for him.
“What’s wrong with your dad?”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t have to tell me, but I noticed that time he came to visit me … it seemed like he was talking to someone when he walked away.”
Shit.
Jordyn sighed.
“What?” he said.
Jordyn had spent years covering up her father’s illness. He didn’t want anyone to know, and she didn’t want to share his secrets. And because of that, she stopped having friends over. She’d gotten tired of lying to them, saying her dad was just playing around, when he was, in reality, sick.
But she was also tired of lying. And she wanted to be honest with Bobby, especially after such a tender moment. It would feel good to have someone else shoulder the burden. “You promise not to tell anyone?”
“Of course,” he said.
Jordyn told him everything.
* * * *
CHAPTER 37 - JORDYN PARISH
Jordyn did not want to go to Calum’s seventeenth birthday party but avoiding it wasn’t an option.
Everyone who was anyone at their school would be there tonight. Their absence would be noticed. Things were icy between Bobby and Calum, and Jordyn knew people were whispering that she was the cause of it.
Things were fine between the boys before she came along.
On the drive to Calum’s mansion, Bobby said, “Thank you for coming.”
“Well, I’d never leave their shit list if I didn’t.”
“I think a lot of it is because we all don’t spend a lot of time together. They don’t know you like I do.”
“So, they do hate me?”
“No. I mean, nobody’s said anything to me.”
“Well, I can’t help it if my father doesn’t let me party all night.”
Bobby laughed. “Yeah, I don’t know what his problem is — expecting you home before dawn, and sober. What a dick!”
Jordyn laughed.
“Well, not to worry, my dear. I will have you home before midnight tonight.”
“Thanks. I’d hate to see my father kill you.”
Jordyn didn’t dare tell Bobby that her father wasn’t even home. That he had business in South Florida for the weekend. Even though he still had his private PI’s license, he barely ever worked. But an old friend needed him to help consult on something.
It was good to see him working again, and maybe get his life back together. He’d been on the pills for a few months now and rarely drank anymore. He was even waking up early, exercising every morning like he used to do almost fanatically back when he was a cop.
Not telling Bobby he was out of town meant two things: she would be home at a decent hour, and Bobby wouldn’t get shit-faced.
As good as things were between her and Bobby when they were alone, he was always so different around his friends — especially Calum. He drank more, smoked weed, and acted like they did. Sometimes she wondered if he was two people, or putting on a show. And if it was an act, which one was true? The nice, sweet guy she knew or the obnoxious frat boy?
He reached over and held her hand. “We’re gonna have fun tonight, I promise.”
“Well, if you’re in the mood for promises, make me one more?”
“Anything.”
“Just don’t leave me alone with Brianna and the others for too long? She hates me. And she only gets worse the more friends she has around.”
“Well, she hates everyone, especially herself. And Calum likes you. So whatever shit Brianna might be trying to stir doesn’t matter. You be you, and everything will be fine.”
“Be me? So, if I want to tell Brianna that she’s a two-faced bitch, I can do that?”
“Hell yeah,” Bobby smiled. “Everyone will love it.”
“Yeah, right!”
“And if that doesn’t shut her up, punch her in the face. Break that expensive nose of hers.”
“Wait, she had plastic surgery?”
“Oh, hell yeah. Got rid of a bump on her nose and got new tits when she was sixteen. Happy birthday.”
“No way.”
“Oh, yeah.”
Jordyn shook her head, laughing. “Oh my God. That is insane. Who gets their kids implants before they’re even out of high school? I thought that something you only saw on those MTV shows.”
“Up next on Real Teens of Creek County, can Brianna hide her baby bump for prom? Or will she need to get an abortion to fit into her slinky little dress?”
“She’s pregnant?” Jordyn said, eyes wide, wondering what other bombshell Bobby was going to drop.
“Oh God no. I was only joking. Shit. I think Calum would shoot himself if he knocked her up!”
Jordyn laughed.
Bobby stared at her, smiling like a satisfied cat.
“What?”
“You act like you’re above it all, but face it, you like gossip just as much as everyone else.”
“No, I don’t.”
“You were smiling soooooo big when I said she was pregnant. It’s okay to enjoy other people’s misery, you know.”
“I do not enjoy other people’s misery,” Jordyn said, crossing her arms over her chest and playfully pouting.
“Not even Brianna’s?”
“Okay, maybe just a little,” Jordyn smiled de
vilishly.
“See, you are one of us,” he teased.
“Shut up and drive.”
**
Within minutes of arriving at Calum’s mansion, Jordyn got a bad vibe. His parents were out of town. If this were a movie, it was exactly two scenes from mayhem. It seemed like every kid in school was there. The place was pounding from the bass. Pot hung in the air like a cloud. Red plastic cups peppered the yard, in hands and on the ground. The pool was filled with girls in bikinis and guys in their trunks, all of them horny and drunk. Alcohol was evident; pills were implied.
Jordyn wondered where Calum’s parents were. Who leaves their kid alone on his birthday? Was that something that cool millionaire parents did all the time? Or were Calum’s parents assholes, too? It took one to make one, so it was probably the latter.
Jordyn was sticking close to Bobby as Nate and Adam came up with bro-shakes and hugs.
Sammi hugged Jordyn. “Soooo glad you could make it!” Of all the girls in the group, Sammi was the only one who Jordyn believed genuinely liked her.
“I like your hair. You look so cute,” Jordyn shouted over the music.
Sammi’s hair was in short pigtails on top of her head. She was wearing a pink bikini top and surfer shorts.
“Thanks,” she yelled, then ran off, returning with two cold bottles of beer. “Here!”
Bobby took one and started drinking.
“No thanks,” Jordyn said.
“Okay.” Sammi cracked off the top and started drinking herself. She pulled Jordyn from Bobby. “Come on, lemme show you around the house.”
Bobby barely noticed, already joking around with his boys.
Jordyn reluctantly followed Sammi for a tour of “Casa del Douchebag.”
Jordyn laughed. It felt good to hear someone other than her voice dissent over the ruling class. She might have worried that Brianna or someone might overhear, but it was so damned loud.
They were upstairs in front of two closed doors. “And this is where Il Douche was conceived.”
Sammi was buzzed, and extra goofy.
Jordyn laughed again, looking around. The hall was otherwise empty. She whispered, “Please don’t leave me alone.”
