by Addison Jane
Heath peeked through the doorway and held his hand out to me.
“Um, I’ll be there in a second, I’m just—”
“Fay, now.”
The glare I hit him with was only returned, but his was a lot more powerful than mine. I didn’t put up much of a fight, taking his hand with a dramatic sigh and following him into the kitchen.
“Dad…” Heath caught his father’s attention. He was standing next to Bray at the counter, inhaling the sweet smell of the food that was now spread out amongst five plates, steam rising into the air. “This is Fable.”
The color of his eyes was the first thing to hit me, they were blue, identical to Heath’s. And while his face was a lot softer, more relaxed than Heath’s normally harsh look, there was no doubt they were father and son.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you, Fable.” He stepped around the counter and just as I thought he would reach out and shake my hand, his arms wrapped around me and he pulled me into his chest. I wanted to say it was awkward and that I couldn’t wait to escape. But it wasn’t, and the fatherly embrace had me feeling weak. His full beard that contained specs of gray throughout, tickled at my cheek and brought a smile to my face.
When he finally pulled back, he held me at an arm’s length with his hands at my shoulders. “Well, aren’t you beautiful. Have you ever thought of acting?”
“Dad…” Heath warned.
“Well actually…” I started with a wide smile.
Arthur’s laughter boomed loudly. “Yup, you’ll fit in great.”
“Can we eat? I didn’t slave over a hot stove for this to go cold while we all coo over Fay.” Bray pouted. “No offense, Fay.”
I giggled. “No problem, it smells amazing, and I’m super hungry.”
We each took a plate and headed into the dining room that held the most beautiful wooden oval table I’d ever seen. Braydon sat at the head, holding his shoulders back proudly as he licked his lips and eyed the meal in front of him. Heath and I took the seats opposite Arthur and Flick, who lay her head on her father’s shoulder and smiled brightly. You could see clearly how much these children loved having their dad home. Part of me wondered why I didn’t feel any kind of envy toward them for having two such amazing parents. But I was beginning to feel like maybe it was because I wasn’t on the outside looking in on a perfect family anymore, I was a part of the picture.
“How’s school been?” Arthur asked before he filled his mouth with a spoon full of pasta.
“A piece of my writing got accepted into a magazine. It’s nothing big, but it publishes a handful of high school pieces every month.” Flick grinned at her dad excitedly.
He placed his hand over hers. “If it’s big to you, then it’s big. Don’t talk it down. I’m so proud of you, baby.”
“Thanks, Daddy.”
He turned his attention back to the table. “Boys?”
“Nothing epic to report, Pops,” Braydon answered around a mouthful of food.
“Heath?”
“Just training. Beat my personal best for breast stroke,” Heath informed his father.
Braydon almost choked on his dinner as he tried to smother his laughter. Heath reached over and pounded him on the back, a little too hard maybe.
Arthur narrowed his eyes at his youngest son. “Grow up, Braydon.”
Bray saluted him as he continued to cough and hide a smile.
“Fable, how’s school?”
The answer popped out before I even thought about it. “Different.”
He chuckled softly. “Helen said you’d made quite an impact. I hope you haven’t let it bring you down. High school is only a few years out of your life, then you can move on.”
Heath’s hand drifted to my leg, and he gave a gentle squeeze. I know it was meant to be reassuring, as were Arthur’s words, but they served more of a reminder. How long until I could actually move on from what was beginning to seem like a never-ending life at the bottom of the stairs?
Arthur went on to tell us about his latest movie. He only had tonight and tomorrow morning to spend at home before he had to catch another plane back to Florida, where they were shooting for the next two weeks before moving on to New York.
His life sounded like a whirlwind, constantly traveling while they were shooting and popping home every couple of weeks. But the passion in his voice when he spoke about his job was fascinating, and the three siblings hung on his every word like they were small children listening to a bedtime story.
“Oh,” I suddenly burst out, stopping Arthur’s latest story about a demanding starlet. “Did Twisted Transistor end up agreeing to do the movie?”
We may not have had any music other than Layla and Daisy’s instruments, but I was obsessed with finding old gossip magazines in the rubbish and they, without fail, always had a story about either Ryder or Ryker, the twins who headed up the band.
Arthur laughed. “I can’t say it’s confirmed just yet, but I talked to Ryder just a few nights ago, and it’s looking like he’ll be on board.”
I took a moment to swoon, as did Flick. The boys both rolled their eyes, but I could tell they were excited too, unable to hide their smiles.
It was getting pretty late, and Arthur had ordered Heath to bed so that he was prepared for his meet tomorrow. He explained that it was almost the end of the season, and while he swam all year round, there would be reps from colleges around the country at this particular event. So it was important that he made an impact, if he was going to gain their attention and draw them back in next year, and possibly gain a scholarship.
We said goodnight as he disappeared to finally answer his phone which had rung off the hook during dinner, but that he’d refused to acknowledge.
As Flick and Bray slipped into their own rooms, Heath paused outside of mine.
“Inside, Fay.” He walked forward, forcing me to step back until we were both inside and he could shut the door behind him.
I swallowed against the lump in my throat. “You need to get some sleep.” Heath had to be up at five, and at the pool by six so he could prepare for his race at 9.00 a.m.
“Dad likes you.” His words soaked in and elation spread through me.
“That’s great. I think both your parents are pretty amazing.” More than amazing.
“They are,” he agreed with a smile. “I think that’s why you fit in here so well.”
I frowned. “Heath…”
“No,” he stopped me before I could say anything more. His hand reached out, wrapping around my neck and pulling me closer to him. “You are amazing. You’re brave, and caring, and you’re honest. I know this has been hard, scary even, but don’t give up.” His words were so soft and so sweet. I felt them in my body and my bones.
Heath lit up my world in a way I’d only ever imagined in dreams. His affections were so new, but I welcomed them with open arms.
He drew my head to him, brushing his soft lips against my hair. “I’ll see you at the pool in the morning.”
Words seemed so useless in that moment, so I just watched as he stepped out and the door closed.
We hadn’t discussed what was going on between us. I wasn’t sure exactly what it was that was building, but I knew one thing for sure, I didn’t want it to stop. Heath was the guy that every girl wanted, but for all the wrong reasons. He was sexy, mysterious, and had the world at his disposal. But that wasn’t the guy I saw. It wasn’t about how much money he had, or whether being with him would make others envious. It was the way he built me up, how he made me feel like there was nothing that could stop me. He was sweet and sensitive and full of life, and I could see now exactly what Eazy was talking about.
Sometimes you need to know that there’s something better out there in order for you to fight for it.
I wanted to fight for it.
I wanted to fight for him.
Diamond Cross cleaned up at the swim meet. Straight wins across the board, with Heath not only beating another personal best but totally scream
ing past the school’s record with over a second to spare.
I stood with Arthur, Bray and Flick and we all screamed as the announcer informed the crowd of Heath’s epic lap. But I still couldn’t help but giggle as I saw him in those skimpy swim shorts that he wore. But they were growing on me.
The heat of the indoor pool area was starting to weigh on me, so after Heath’s last race I excused myself while the others stayed for one more to cheer on Lucas. Heath told me that Lucas lived with his dad. His parents had separated when he was barely one, and his dad had never remarried. His mom lived about an hour away. She got nothing out of the marriage and had remarried and had another child not long after the divorce. Apparently, his little sister would be at the party with him tonight.
The cool air of the woman’s bathroom was a refreshing change of temperature. I stepped up to the large basin and turned on the tap, filling my hands with water and splashing them on my face. I took no notice when the bathroom door clicked open, but that mistake didn’t go unpunished.
“I told you to stay away from him.” The soft whooshing of a bat swinging through the air was followed by a dull thud as it connected with the back of my thighs. My painful scream echoed in the room, and my legs gave way from beneath me, dropping me onto the dirty tiled floor. Squeezing my eyes tightly shut, I couldn’t stop the flow of tears as I whimpered, the back of my legs pounding in agony.
“You should have listened,” Jay hissed, standing over me. The wooden bat she had in her hand was slung casually over her shoulder. I couldn’t reply, the pain of the shot she’d delivered had numbed my senses. I tried to breathe through it, but it was excruciating. “Heath doesn’t need his reputation and his future brought down by some filth like you.”
“You’re insane,” I finally managed to force out through my gritted teeth. I hooked my hands on the basin and used it to pull myself to my feet. “What the fuck is your problem?”
“You are my problem. You’re like a little lost puppy that someone kicked to the curb and Heath is obsessed with trying to rescue you.” Her nose wrinkled.
“I don’t need rescuing.”
She rolled her eyes. “You might think you had a hard life before, street kid. But you’re weak. I’m willing to do what I have to do to secure my future. Can you say the same?”
The words that she’d meant to bring me down and make me feel like shit had the opposite effect. They fueled me.
“And you might think that no one will stand up to you. Everyone is afraid to take on the queen, right?” Her eyes lit up. She obviously enjoyed being acknowledged for her ability to rule over the school. “Well, I’m telling you right now, it’s a long fall from the top.”
She scoffed as she looked over my head into the mirror above me, brushing a stray strand of blonde hair away from her face and straightening her back.
“I looked at your records you know.” Her tone was casual, conversational. “One false move from you, and they send you into foster care. Or worse. Back to your dear old dad.”
My lip raised in a sneer. “What’s your end game here, Jay? Get Heath back? Live happily ever after. Because I’m pretty sure, he doesn’t want a psychotic bitch for a girlfriend.”
“Says the girl who lost her mind and stabbed her father,” she snorted. “You gonna tell Heath? Call the police? Because the record of anyone believing your bullshit is already nil.”
I took a step forward, fury building inside of me. She didn’t move back, but her face did change. It was no longer smug. It was angry.
“Go on, street kid. Hit me. That’s what you want to do isn’t it.”
I did want to hit her. I wanted to drop her to the floor and make her feel the same pain I was feeling. She taunted me. She wanted to play a game. Torture me. Make me break so she would finally get her way and I’d be gone.
I’d done it before, and she knew it. I broke and stabbed my father. I thought it would make things better. That it would bring people’s attention to my life and things would change. I thought things would get better. They didn’t.
With Jay’s connections and confidence would it be history repeating itself?
She tapped on the bat in her hand. That simple noise reminding me of the pain she’d already caused me. My legs throbbed.
“Come on, Fable. I didn’t take you as the kind to back down.” Her words burned into me. Either way, she was going to win.
I hit her—she’d have me arrested and taken away.
I step down and give her the victory—she gets to feel like the queen she thinks she is, and once again, I’m the scum.
“Get out,” I growled through gritted teeth.
She flashed me a killer smile. “And I thought you were a worthy competitor.”
Then she was gone, without another word.
I knew what she wanted. She wanted this over with just as much as I did. But it wasn’t. Not yet.
My tears began to flow again as I clutched at my legs. After a few minutes, I finally found the strength to hobble over to the bathroom door and flick the lock. I unzipped my pants and moved back to the mirror, pulling them down to my knees and looking over my shoulder.
There were two bright welts across the back of my thighs, they were raised and angry, and purple colored bruising was already beginning to spread. My legs shook with the effort it took me to stand, but I couldn’t stop staring at the damage.
She was mental. Jay was power crazed, and determined to get what she wanted in any way she had to. I wondered how many times she’d gotten away with this kind of abuse and suffered no repercussions for her actions.
How had she become so confident and vicious?
Jay knew that she wouldn’t be opposed.
She was just like my father.
The thought chilled me to the bone.
I remembered the promise I’d made to myself that I would never become the woman that my mother was, and let someone else beat me down and break me. No matter what kind of power they held. I wouldn’t let myself be that person who cowered in the corner and acted like they deserved the abuse.
Jay thought I was weak.
She thought that I’d stand back like all her other victims and just take the abuse, that I wouldn’t fight back. But I’d done it before. And now I had so much more to fight for.
She played the game well, she knew that there was a lot at stake for me. Losing this would crush me. I was finally going to be able to help my friends find a new home, a new life. And I was going to be able to just live, not simply exist.
I had too much to lose to give up now.
I met Arthur, Bray, and Flick in the parking lot. They were all smiling and chatting in excitement about Heath’s accomplishments.
“You ready to go, Fable?” Bray asked as I approached them.
“Yup,” I answered, trying to ignore the pain in every step as my jeans rubbed against the wounds on my legs. I wanted to tell them, I wanted to cry, and have them pull me close and tell me that it would be okay, that she would have repercussions for her abuse.
But I knew that no matter how rich Arthur was, or how much power they held, it might not be enough. I needed more than just my word against hers because she wasn’t wrong when she said that people already doubted my word. All she had to do was make it seem like history was repeating itself, and I was done.
“Is Heath coming home?” I asked, biting my lip as I climbed in the backseat.
“Some scouts wanted to talk to him about his prospects for the future,” Arthur beamed proudly. “Unfortunately, that means I’ll probably miss him before I have to head to the airport but it’ll be worth it.”
“He’s really good, isn’t he?” I voiced for the first time my curiosity.
Flick smiled from beside me as Arthur pulled the car out and headed for home. “His coach thinks he could make the Olympic team.”
“Wow.” Feeling a sense of pride, I was excited for him. I wanted to see him do well, and was invested in his life, his achievements and success. I was start
ing to have feelings for him that I’d never had before, and they both thrilled and scared me.
I wasn’t willing to give up what we’d created so easily. But Jay was forcing my hand, and soon I would have to show her my cards. So I needed to make sure I had a winning hand.
We said goodbye to Arthur at the front door. He wrapped me in another of his big hugs, and I found myself sighing softly as I enjoyed the comforting cuddle.
The second his car pulled out the driveway, Braydon bounced excitedly. “Party time!”
I cringed. “Bray, I’m not feeling so great. I think I might have to sit this one out.”
Braydon frowned. “No way. You said everything was okay, that you’d come.”
“I know,” I said softly. “I’m just… it’s been a long week.”
I looked up at him through my long eyelashes. His face softened. I felt guilty knowing that I was using this shit as an excuse, but the reality was, I needed to gather my thoughts. Jay had thrown me off. She was doing exactly what she wanted and burying herself under my skin. I needed time to figure out how to deal with her before she got the best of me and I snapped.
There was too much to risk.
My head needed to be clear.
He sighed. “Heath’s gonna crack when he finds you’re not there.”
“Don’t let him come home. He needs to have fun, to celebrate. I’ll be fine.”
He nodded, taking a deep breath before he turned and walked away.
I went to my room and curled up on my bed. The pain in my legs throbbed, and I could feel a headache beginning to brew.
It wasn’t long after Bray left that there was a soft knock on my bedroom door. I stilled, wondering if it was Heath, but Flick’s soft voice called out, “Fable, there’s someone here for you.”
Frowning, I climbed from the bed and made my way out to the hall.
Flick smiled brightly at me. “They’re downstairs.”
When I reached the top of the staircase, my heart raced. “Layla!”
