That desperate look. A look of pain and sadness and living in lies… and I knew everything he said was true. And everything Penelope said wasn’t.
And I had ended up in the mix of the storm.
Brian turned his head and winced, bracing for my fist.
My fist shook as I held it back in the air.
I didn’t hit him.
“Show me the proof.”
* * *
That baby is not yours, bro. I can prove it. Text me now.
I tucked my phone into my pocket.
I was not in a good place.
In more than one way.
Just being in Vera’s driveway… this was the spot where it all happened.
Of course it was.
How fitting for so many lies to be thrown around that involved both Penelope and Vera.
Brian was the one telling the truth.
“Everything she told you before was true,” he said. “She was pregnant. I’ve always been the father of Greta. Okay? I knew she was doing what she did with you… others… I don’t know. I just love her. In some crazy sense of everything I just love her. And now with Greta…”
“Why did she tell me she was afraid of you?”
“Because she is afraid of me,” Brian said. “And my family. And even her own family. I want to take Greta and care for her. She doesn’t want me to. So she ran off and came here. Telling everyone she was going to Paris for fashion. Hiding here. Lying to everyone here. Burning bridges, right? That’s the only way she knows how to survive.”
I shook my head. “This is…”
I looked back and saw Penelope standing with Greta. She was caught. Redhanded too. But she never admitted anything ever. She just stood her ground and tried to swim in the lies.
Penelope slowly bent her knees and put Greta to her feet.
Brian set his attention to his daughter and Greta smiled big. And I mean big. She knew who he was. And their connection was real.
Which made me…
A fucking sucker.
I walked toward Penelope.
She didn’t try to do a thing.
In fact, she had the nerve to grab for the passenger door.
“Let’s get out of here,” Penelope said to me.
“Are you fucking serious?”
“Yeah. He gets what he wants. I get what I want.”
“You told me she was mine.”
“To protect her and us,” she said. “Oh well.”
“It’s not oh well,” I said. “I can’t believe I fell for it again.”
I turned.
“She was never good for you anyway,” Penelope said.
“What?”
“Vera? Seriously? Never.”
I gritted my teeth. “That’s why you did this?”
“Are you kidding me, Hil? I had to hear about you nonstop. All she did was ask questions about you. Day in and day out. She stole my phone and sent herself all your songs. She used to sneak out of the house and go play guitar to learn your songs.”
I stared at Penelope over my shoulder.
“I’m not lying,” Penelope said. “Whatever. She’s a bitch anyway. She hated me because she kind of knew we had history. I finally just told her to shut the fuck up about you. I couldn’t stand it. Then she went to one of your shows. And that just…” Penelope rolled her eyes. “She came home that night and was running through the house. So happy. So excited. Then fucking Veronica had to get in on it too.”
“What do you mean?”
“She loved seeing her sister happy,” Penelope said, rolling her eyes. “She used to love seeing me happy. We would stay up all night and draw together. We would design stuff. We’d drink a little. Laugh. Sleep next to each other. But then that fucking changed because of you, Hil. Veronica loved hearing about you. And Vera was so in love with you. It was so sad to see. I had to do something. I’m sorry, Hil… wait. I’m not sorry. I mean, hearing her talk about you… it got to me.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” I said. “You’re going to tell me now you love me? That hearing Vera talk about me made you love me again? And then you fucking lied about your daughter to get me to attack Brian?”
“And you listened,” Penelope said. “Because you know what we have is real and true.”
I swallowed hard.
“We have nothing,” I said. “And you have nothing. You never had anything to begin with. Just thoughts. And lies. And you fucked everything up on your own.”
“She doesn’t deserve you,” Penelope said. “Simple as that.”
“Get the fuck out of here,” I said. “Out of everyone’s life.”
I walked away from her.
I had nothing else to think or say.
As I passed by Brian, he hugged Greta tight.
In some fucked up way this was all too real to deal with.
But when it came to real…
I ran to the steps and hurried up to Veronica.
She looked pissed.
“You’ve been touched by Penelope,” I said.
“That cunt,” she said. “I can’t believe what she did…”
“I’m sorry all of it happened,” I said.
“I thought she was my friend. We met online through class and it was just… she was so cool. So casual. Fun. Funny. I don’t know. Then she told me so many stories. Of her life. Her parents. She never once said you were the father of her baby. Until this morning.”
“That’s what she does,” I said. “She knows when to hurt someone. And then the ones closest fall for it. I can’t believe I fell for it. I thought Vera was part of it all. The way she acted… her lies…”
“She wasn’t lying though, Hil,” Veronica said. “She was scared you would hurt her. She had never before felt the way she felt about you. And it was a lot for her to figure out at once. I thought she was crazy at first. Seriously. She was falling for you so hard just by your music alone. Then she got to see you. Meet you. She got your attention.”
Got my fucking attention? Seriously? She just walked up to me like she knew me. She was right there in my face. Fucking with my heart. Of course she had my attention.
“And then all this shit goes down,” I said.
“I should have… I don’t even know. Penelope told me that you two dated for a bit. I got into the music from her. Vera from me. And then… this…”
“I told Vera she was a liar,” I said. “I threw her in the same water with Penelope. That probably wasn’t fair to do. I just need to talk to her. I fell in love with her. I had no idea it was going to happen either. She was just… crazy… pretty… always in my fucking way…” I smiled.
Veronica smiled back.
I heard a car door slam and turned my head to see Brian getting into his car.
Through the passenger window I saw Penelope.
There goes the happy family, huh?
“She needs help,” Veronica said. “I didn’t know what Brian meant at first, but I get it now. Between his parents and her parents, they were looking for her and getting worried about Greta. I had no idea.”
“Where’s he taking her now?” I asked.
“To family,” Veronica said. “And I hate to say this, but who fucking cares, right?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Where is Vera? I need to see her.”
I took a step and Veronica put her hand out.
“Don’t do this,” I said. “I hurt her. I didn’t mean to do it. I love her. Trust me. This whole thing…”
“Hil, shut up,” Veronica said. “It’s too late.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“She’s gone.”
“What?”
“Vera’s gone,” Veronica said. “I stayed here because of some work I have. There’s people inside… to take pictures of it all…”
“I don’t understand.”
“To keep the image,” Veronica said. “I begged them not to do anything when Brian showed up. But I have to go back inside.”
“Where the hell is V
era?”
“She’s in Alaska.”
“Alaska?” I yelled.
“Yeah. On a cruise. My father is meeting with some investors.”
“No,” I said. “No, no, no…”
“They’re gone, Hil. I swear I wouldn’t lie to you.”
“I’ll text her,” I said. “I’ll fucking fly to meet her right now.”
“Hil…”
I turned and ran down the steps.
Veronica called out my name.
I ignored her.
I got into the SUV and looked back to see the carseat was gone.
Everything hit my shoulders.
I texted Vera.
I love you, beauty. We need to talk.
Veronica went back inside.
And I was alone.
Waiting for a response from Vera.
One that would never come.
Chapter 21
I grabbed Max’s thumb and stared into his eyes.
He was on his knees in front of me.
Right behind home plate.
“Hil, please, man…”
“I told you. The bat or the thumb.”
Max swallowed hard and looked to his right.
On the ground was Aaron.
He chose the bat.
Chances were he was going to be pissing blood for a little bit. Which was good. It would toughen him up.
“I don’t want to get hit with a fucking bat,” Max yelled.
“Good,” I said. “So thumb it is.”
I twisted with a hard jerk and Max’s thumb popped.
He let out a scream that echoed across the baseball field.
He fell to the ground and I walked away.
I lit a cigarette and just stared forward.
It was all I could do.
Just stare the fuck forward.
Uly and Ash were waiting for me just outside the baseball stadium.
“That wasn’t needed,” Ash said.
I lunged at him, grabbing his shirt, pinning him against the side of the ticket booth.
“Say that again, bro,” I said. “Just one more time.”
It was silence.
Except for Belle.
Because what would be a situation with Belle getting involved?
“You’re an asshole, Hil,” Belle yelled.
I let Ash go and walked toward her.
I felt Ash behind me.
Things were going to explode again.
Soon.
For good.
I stared down at Belle.
My eyes were enough to speak.
She turned bright red and got out of my way.
I walked to my motorcycle and finished my cigarette.
I looked around, looking for someone else to take care of.
The goal was simple now.
To make everyone feel the pain I felt.
Vera didn’t want to answer my texts. That was fine. She wanted to go to Alaska and do her thing. Fine again. Fuck, maybe she was back by now. Or maybe it was some kind of really long trip.
Either way… oh fucking well.
I spotted Werthwood’s car.
It was all cleaned up.
Everything looked perfect on it once again.
Today he left the top down.
So it was just prime for a little fun, right?
I flicked my cigarette away and walked to the car.
I jumped up on the trunk of the car and stepped down into the backseat.
Then I sat down.
I lit another cigarette.
A few people noticed. I waved them over to me.
I wanted a crowed for this part of the show.
Just to make sure the truth was said and seen.
“Hil, what are you doing?” Uly asked as he, Ash, and Belle joined the gathering.
I ignored him.
I had nothing to say to Uly.
Or Ash.
Or Belle.
I was putting forward a path of destruction that anyone could follow. Like breadcrumbs on a trail. So nobody got lost. The point was clear.
I want all of you to fucking hurt.
I sat there in silence and smoked.
Waiting for the right moment.
And when it came…
“What is going on here?” Werthwood’s voice boomed.
I stood up.
My feet on the backseat of his convertible.
A cigarette between my lips.
I put my head back and grinned at the sky.
Time for some bad fun to happen.
* * *
I sat back down and looked at Werthwood.
“Philip, get out of the car,” he said.
“Fuck yourself.”
There was a collective gasp.
“What did you say?”
“You heard me. You fucking beer gut carrying piece of shit.”
“Holy fuck,” Ash said.
“Hil, stop it,” Belle said.
I laughed. “Hey, Werthwood. Are you still fucking Belle’s mother?”
“I will call the police,” Werthwood said. “I’ll call security.”
“I’m not moving,” I said. “So come on. Let’s go.”
“Let’s go?” Werthwood asked.
“You know, man, I have a problem right now.”
“You have a lot of problems,” Werthwood said.
“You never apologized to me. To us. To Them.”
“Apologize for what?”
“For what you did. What you accused us of. With this piece of shit you call a car. You said we stole it.”
“No…”
I stood up and put my foot up on the top of the driver’s side seat.
“Don’t make me go crazy here, Werthwood!" I yelled. "I will go fucking crazy!”
His eyes widened. “Are you high, Philip?”
“Oh, yeah, man, I am ripped out of my mind,” I said with a laugh.
I took a drag of my cigarette and flicked it at him.
He swatted the air and stepped back. “You’re done. Done!”
I jumped out of the car and landed right in front of him.
I stood taller than Werthwood.
He looked afraid.
And everyone around me was very uncomfortable with what was happening.
I didn’t give a fuck.
I wanted them to be uncomfortable.
“You accused me of taking your car,” I said. “And the rumors were spread. What if my feelings were hurt? I’ll have your job by Monday. You ready for that?”
The side doors opened and out walked security.
The fucking prick was looking for help.
I stepped closer to him. “You fuck me I fuck back. I don’t care who you are. You want to kick me out of here? Do it. I’ll have your job. I’ll sit in your chair. I’ll run this fucking place.”
“Don’t get cute with me, Philip,” Werthwood said.
I swung my foot back and kicked his car. “Oops.”
“Go ahead,” he said. “Everyone is watching.”
I climbed back up to the car and pointed to someone. “You saw that?”
The person didn’t make a move.
“Better yet… who told you I stole this car? That Them stole the car?”
“Werthwood,” the person said.
“That’s right,” I said.
I pointed to someone else. “Who told you Them stole the car?”
“Werthwood.”
“Fuck yeah,” I yelled. “Now say it with me… Werthwood did it! Werthwood did it! Werthwood did it!”
Slowly everyone chimed in.
They knew the path I had been on the last few days.
Anyone who looked at me got hit.
And if you were a girl, I’d wink and then find your boyfriend and take him down.
Nothing was going to stop me.
Even as the two burly security guards that protected BFH from the bad guys like me grabbed at me, I waved my arms like a music conductor.
Everyone
chanted and cheered.
Werthwood did it.
The security guard pulled me out of the car.
One put my wrists behind my back.
The other grabbed my shoulder and threatened me.
I looked at Werthwood.
“How about that apology now?” I asked.
His nostrils flared and his face was red.
That was good enough for me.
No, wait, it wasn’t good enough for me.
Nothing was good enough for me.
There was only one thing good enough for me.
One person.
One…
Vera.
* * *
I sat in the room with no windows.
On a bench against the wall.
The walls were an ugly yellow color.
I knew the room all too well.
It’s where the bad kids had to hang out. And either wait for their parents, the guidance counselor, or the cops.
For me, I wasn’t sure who was coming.
If anyone at all.
Fuck, maybe I’d just live in this room.
Slip me a cigarette and a burger every few hours and I’d be fine.
Oh, and something to drink.
And not water either.
Fuck that.
Water was for pussies.
I wanted…
The door opened and Belle stepped into the room.
I laughed.
I put my hands down to the bench and spread my legs.
“If you’re not going to sit on me, then get out.”
“Don’t be an asshole,” she said. “Even if I wanted to sit on you, you wouldn’t let me.”
“Try me, beauty,” I said.
“No,” she said.
“Then what do you want?”
Belle walked to the bench and sat next to me. She put her hand to mine.
I looked down at her hand.
“I had no idea how bad it was,” she said. “With Penelope. Uly told me everything. Finally. I mean… everything. He and Ash. And what just happened…”
“What? That I fucked up again? I’m used to it, Belle. It’s what I do.”
“Hil, fuck off,” Belle said. “You never got closure.”
“What?”
“Your father hurt you,” she said. “He’s a loser. You never got an ending to that story. And him just coming and going messes with you. In your mind, money fixes it all. That’s how your mother deals with it. But you never dealt with it. So no wonder the thing with Penelope became what it was. She was the same thing. Coming and going. Knowing how to get to you.”
HIL: a bay falls high novel Page 19
