Pieces (Riverdale #1)

by Janine Infante Bosco

  “Come on.”

  “Where are we going?” She said as he dragged her to the stage. “Oh, no. Jake! I’m not ready, yet.” But she had no choice they were on the stage before she could say another word. Jake grabbed the microphone.

  “Hey, all. I hope you all are having a good time. My name is Jake, and this here,” he pointed to Cara, grabbing her hand and pulling her next to him. “… Is Cara. She’s a little shy, can we give her a big welcome.”

  Everyone in the audience shouted. Nick put his two fingers in his mouth and whistled.

  “Yeah, Cara!!” Sam shouted beside him.

  Cara smiled at the crowd, her cheeks turning pink. “I’m going to kill you.” She muttered under her breath.

  “See Cara, they love you already.” Jake said to her, but smiling out at the crowd, obviously ignoring her.

  “Is he a regular here or something?” Luke asked Nick and Sam. Sam shrugged, a huge smile on her face, obviously enjoying Jake’s shenanigans.

  “He’s got a couple of screws loose lately, huh?” Nick asked Luke.

  “You’re not kidding.” Luke leaned back in his seat and took a swig of his drink, watching his brother amusingly.

  The music began, a slow beat filtered through the speakers. Jake looked at Cara, and nodded towards the teleprompter. “If you don’t know the words, they’ll be right there for you to read.” He said so low that only she could hear. She looked at him, her face a bundle of mixed emotions. He took her hand and winked at her lovingly. He gave her hand a slight squeeze and looked out towards the crowd and began to sing. Her eyes were glued to the screen of the teleprompter as he sang. The song Jake had chosen for them was called Beneath Your Beautiful by Labyrinth.

  His voice was delicate as he sang about a girl who was out of his league. A girl who had built walls around her heart, hoping no one would climb them. Jake vowed along with the words of the song that he’d be willing to try.

  He turned to face Cara. She was holding the microphone just staring at him, her eyes questioning him. He merely nodded before he began again and with the next verse, he asked for permission, to be the one she let in behind those walls. He moved the microphone from his lips and took her hand in his.

  “It’s okay. It’s just you and me.” He said softly and pulled her closer to him. She swallowed and brought the microphone to her lips. She sighed and then glanced at the teleprompter. Her voice catching slightly as she sang the first verse.

  “You let all the girls go, Makes you feel good don’t it”

  Jake let his eyes will her to continue. He secretly hoped she would understand the hidden meaning behind the words she sang. He watched her read the words on the screen, cementing them in her memory before she turned her eyes back to his.

  Cara followed the words displayed on the screen, and realized she was singing to Jake about a man who had let the girls come in and out of his life but they never got to see the real him. Behind the façade, behind the Broadway show, there was a man there begging to be seen and asking her to be the one who saw him.

  He grinned widely as she sang the verse, belting it out beautifully. She squeezed his hand and he felt like she squeezed his heart. He watched her mesmerized. She closed her eyes and tapped her foot to the beat of the music as she hit the note right on key. When the crowd started to hoot and holler she opened her eyes and grinned at him. He draped his arm around her shoulders and lifted his microphone and in unison they sang the final verse. The words they sang, a promise to climb those walls together and if they fell, they would fall as one.

  Jake leaned over and pressed his lips to Cara’s forehead. She looked up at him from under her lashes and smiled at him. Applause rang out throughout the bar. He glanced down at the table, they were occupying to see Sam, Luke and Nick standing up and clapping their hands.

  “Well, that was some acclamation if I ever heard one.” Luke said, clapping his hands, staring up at the stage.

  “That was beautiful! Oh my God, I had no idea they could sing that well.” Sam said as she brushed the few tears that had fallen down her face. “I mean I’ve seen them dance together. They think they’re J.Lo and Pitbull after a few drinks.” Nick handed her a few napkins. “Thanks.”

  Luke nodded in agreement with his sister. “What do they call it? When they get in a circle and have the people crowding around them?” Sam threw her back and laughed at her brother, watching as he ogled some girl who passed him by.

  “They battle one another.” She said half laughing, half crying. They looked back at the stage when Jake spoke again.

  “Thanks you guys have been great, we’ll be back.” He kissed Cara’s hand and jumped off the stage. He held his arms out, and she jumped into them, helping her off the stage.

  Jake had felt Sam’s arms envelope him from behind. “Jake! That was so fucking good.” She smiled over his shoulder at Cara. “And you Miss. Thing, Completely blew me away.”

  Cara laughed, but then she covered her mouth with her hand. “I can’t believe we just did that.” She looked at Jake, grinning widely. “Thank you.”

  He stepped out of his sister’s hold and walked into Cara’s arms. He hugged her tightly, lifting her off the ground for a moment. “You’re my beautiful.” He whispered into her hair.

  As the night progressed, Jake made it on that stage at least three more times. He stumbled into the men’s room, one hand covering his eye. He was having a great time, the music was great, and the karaoke was fun. Only one problem, in the middle of dancing with Cara, he lost a contact. One eye down, and blind as a bat, he hoped he’d be able to find his dick to take a piss. There were two guys standing at the urinals, with their backs towards Jake. Jake shrugged and decided to flush his eye out at the sink, while he waited his turn.

  “Did you see that Cara girl dancing?” Asked one asshole to another. Jake’s antenna’s shot up at the mention of Cara, and shut the water off. How did they know her name? Oh, that’s right asshole. You introduced her to the entire bar.

  “Now, that’s a nice piece of ass. Wouldn’t mind, getting a piece of that.” Said asshole number two.

  Oh really? Jake turned to the two schmucks, having a pissing contest. He stalked over to them, one eye shut. Before asshole number one could reply, Jake grabbed them both by the back of their heads, and slammed their faces into the walls of the urinals.

  “What the fuck?” Asshole number one said as he grabbed his nose, that was gushing blood. They both turned around to face Jake. That’s when Jake grabbed their heads again and banged them into each other’s. Both assholes fell to the floor. No one talked shit about his Cara and got away with it. Cracking his knuckles, he turned and strode out of the bathroom.

  When he walked out of the bathroom, he spotted Cara, waiting outside in the hallway for him. He smiled at her. “Come on, we got to go.”

  “Why?” She asked, and he grabbed her hand. “We’re having such a good time. I don’t want to leave yet.”

  “Oh trust me, we have to.” He covered his eye with his free hand and hurried back towards their table.

  When Jake made his way blindly, to their table, Sam and Nick were going back and forth about some sort of nonsense, but he had to give it to his friend, he managed to get her to sit on his lap. He rolled his good eye and patted Nick on the back. “Time to go, lover boy.”

  Nick looked up at him hazily. Oh man, he didn’t have time for this. In about ten seconds, all hell would break loose when those two jerkoffs crawled out of the bathroom, looking for him. “Come on. Sam get off his lap. We got to go.” His sister heard the urgency in his voice, used to his shit by now, and scrambled off of Nick’s lap.

  “What did you do?” Sam asked him, before turning to Cara. “What did he do?”

  “Oh for the love of God, can we just get out of here.” Jake said, exasperated.

  “What happened to your eye?” Nick asked, as he threw some money on the table and grabbed the car keys from his pocket. At least he was moving, quickly.

>   “I lost my contact. Shit. Where is Luke? I can’t fucking see guys, can you help me out. We need to get Luke and get the fuck out of here.”

  Nick rubbed his face and let out a strangled breath. He handed Sam the keys. “Here, take him out of here, I’ll go find Luke.”

  “There he is!” Jake heard asshole number two shout.

  “Ah, shit! Come on Jake!” Nick said when he looked at the two bloody men stalk through the crowd.

  Cara and Sam followed Nick’s gaze. Cara eyes widened. “What the hell did you do?” She asked him.

  He looked at her sheepishly with one eye. “Can we talk about this later? I’m about to get my ass kicked.”

  “Get him out of here.” Nick told Sam. “And bring the car around, I’ll be right there.”

  Sam nodded and grabbed Jake, pulling him through the crowd, with Cara, right behind them.

  Nick moved through the crowd, keeping a watchful eye on the two bloody messes that were in search for Jake. That kid had some anger issues; either that or he was just bat shit crazy. He spotted Luke at the bar, talking to some girl. He walked over, and stood beside him, his back against the bar, so he could still keep an eye on the two guys hunting Jake. “Luke, we have to go, wrap it up.” Nick said, feeling sorry he had to cut Luke’s fun short.

  “Nick, I’m kind of busy here.”

  “I get that, but your one eyed brother beat the shit out of two guys in the bathroom.”

  “Damn it, Jake!” Luke muttered, slamming his fist against the bar. Nick rolled his eyes, at least he knew where Jake got it from. Luke bid his farewell to the girl.

  Sam pulled up directly in front of the entrance to the bar, and waited for Nick and Luke. She tore her eyes from the door, she was watching so closely, to sneak a glance at her brother through the rearview mirror. “Are you going to tell us what happened?” She asked shortly.

  “In a minute,” Jake said, clutching his chest with his free hand. He felt like someone sucking all the air out of him.

  “What’s the matter?” Asked Cara, noticing he was obviously in discomfort.

  “I don’t know.” He took a deep breath. “I’m having trouble breathing.” He exhaled slowly.

  “Maybe you’re having an anxiety attack.” Sam said, dismissing it. It served him right, for, acting ridiculous. “Here they come.” She said and climbed over the center console, into the passenger seat, so Nick could drive. Luke opened the rear gate of the truck and climbed into the third row. The rear gate was still open. Nick peeled out of the parking lot, just as the two guys had made their way to the parking lot.

  “Man, the trunk is open!” Luke shouted. “I’m getting too old for this shit.” He said, breathless and reached over and pulled the trunk shut.

  “Jake, you’re sweating like a farm animal!” Cara said as she reached over his body to open his window, so he could get some air. He wished he wasn’t having anxiety attack, because he would’ve taken complete advantage of her right then and there.

  “Is he okay?” Sam called over her shoulder.

  “I’ll be fine.” Jake choked out, the air felt great and he started catching his breath. “Maybe I’m the one getting too old for this shit.” He said thoughtfully.

  “You think?” Luke said, smacking him upside his head.

  Chapter Eight

  Cara climbed the grassy hill, regretting her decision to wear her new boots. It had rained the night before, leaving the cemetery a muddy mess, and her boots were getting demolished. She frowned down at them and continued her trek up the hill. She spotted the willow tree that was just beginning to bloom, and smiled. Her mother rested right next to it. In the summer she always found herself sitting under that willow tree, with a book. She’d sit there for hours and just read, lost in her book, feeling close to her mom.

  When she made it to the willow tree, she stared down at her mother’s headstone. She brushed away some of the dirt that was on it and stared at her name. Corrine Sloane. Beloved Mother. She could still remember the first time she went to her mother’s grave. She was fifteen years old, and her father had never taken her to see her mother’s final resting place. No many how many times she begged, the heartless prick never once took her.

  On her fifteenth birthday, she had been at the Lanza’s and Deb had a birthday cake waiting for her when they got out of school. Cara had burst into a fit of tears, when she saw Deb holding the cake for her. It had taken her five minutes to stop crying and explain to her that she had always wished to celebrate her birthday with her mother.

  Without any hesitation, Deb placed the cake in a Tupperware container, grabbed the candles and told Cara and Jake to get in the car. She drove them to Riverdale Cemetery, and when Cara had told her, she had no idea where her mother was buried; Deb went into the main office and found her plot number. A grounds keeper had to escort the three of them up the hill and show them where her mother was buried. The marker had long faded and all that was there was a slab of concrete. Her father had never bothered to put a headstone up. She made a mental note then, to always look for the giant willow tree. The three of them sat under that tree, and Deb lit the candles on the cake. She and Jake had sang, happy birthday to her and when she blew out the candles she would’ve sworn she felt her mother’s presence.

  The following year when she went back on her birthday, alone, she had brought a cupcake for herself and one solitary candle. She searched for the willow tree, and made her way to her mother. Instead of staring at a piece of cement there was a beautiful headstone marking her mother’s place of rest. Cara touched the stone to make sure it was real, and noticed there was a beautiful bouquet of pink roses nestled in front of the stone. She kneeled down, placing the cupcake to the side, and opened the card that was addressed to her.

  “Dearest Corinne and Our Sweet Cara,

  We wish we could’ve met the wonderful woman who brought this beautiful girl into our lives. We will always be in debt to you for giving her to us. May you rest in peace.

  Cara, may all your birthdays always be full of love and the memory of your mother.

  Love Deb & Joe”

  When she thought of that day she still cried at the beautiful sentiment. The woman, who had been like a mom to her, had given her a piece of her mother back. And so on her twenty-ninth birthday, she kneeled before her mother’s head stone, placing a bouquet of roses in front of it. She ran her fingers over her name and smiled.

  “Hi, Mom, sorry I haven’t been here that much. I may not come to visit as much as I’d like, but you’re always on my mind.” She smiled and folded her hands in her lap. “I miss you so much. I tell myself it should be easier as I get older, but the truth is it’s not. No matter what age I am, there’s always something I wish I had my mother for. It’s true what they say; you’re never too old to need your mom.” She smiled sadly, and looked down at her hands. “My life hasn’t changed much. Well, except for one thing.” She bit her lip and glanced around the cemetery. All she could hear was the slight noise the, leaves made as the wind caused them to brush against each other. “Things are getting strange between Jake and me. I don’t know how to explain it.” She paused. “That’s a lie. I know exactly how to explain it, I’m realizing I’m in love with him, and probably have been for a very long time.” She leaned back on her heels and took a deep breath, feeling the weight from her admission, ease off of her chest. “I don’t know what to do with my feelings, mom. Part of me wants so badly to tell him and then I hear this voice in my head, telling me I’ll ruin everything. I’m so scared.” She whispered to her mother’s stone. “I’m so scared I’ll lose them all if things don’t work out between me and Jake. They’re the only family I have, and Jake.” She shook her head as her eyes filled. “Jake is everything to me. He’s my friend, my confident, my light at the end of the tunnel, with him in my life, I feel like I can go on, that I’m not alone.” The tears fell freely. “I look at him, and I see his imperfections, and they don’t matter to me. I know he’s wild and reckless, but I kn
ow his heart. Mama, he’s got the biggest heart and I want his heart. I want him. I want to be the girl that’s enough for him.”

  She wiped the tears from her cheeks and stared up at the sky, willing her tears to stop. “He knows all of my flaws. He knows I’m broken, and he still looks at me like I’m the best thing to ever happen to him. When he stares at me sometimes, I feel like we’re the only two people in existence.” She sighed and became quiet for a while, soaking up the serenity. “I wish you were to push me in the right direction.” She said finally, and then remembered the cupcake and the tradition. She lifted the little white box and took the cupcake out of the box. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a candle and a lighter. Cara stuck the candle into the creamy frosting and her fingers maneuvered the lighter. She held the cupcake in her palms and stared at the lone lit candle. No one was there to sing happy birthday, so she closed her eyes and made a wish, hoping her mother would hear it. She blew out the candle and opened her eyes. “Happy Birthday, to me.” She whispered.

  Jake knew where Cara would be, for the last fourteen years, she always visited her mother on the morning of her birthday. His heart ached for her, and wished she hadn’t lost her mother. If Corrine hadn’t died, maybe Cara wouldn’t have endured all the pain she had. He couldn’t erase the bad memories, he concluded, but he could damn well give her the best birthday ever, and that was exactly what he set out to do.

  Jake spotted the willow tree perched on top of the hill. He climbed the hill, his long legs making the strides quick. When he spotted her, kneeling beside her mother’s head stone holding a cupcake, his heart clenched. He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat and buried the emotions that he was drowning in. He forced his feet to move, and though they felt like lead, they moved. She must’ve sensed she wasn’t alone because he hadn’t made a sound, and she still turned around. Her hazel eyes staring at him, like he was a figment of her imagination. He pushed his sunglasses up on top of his heads so she could see his eyes.